Oats Mc Go-Goats

It's no new revelation that breakfast is an essential meal. "Back in the day" I used to be a breakfast skipper, and in those "dark days," it would not be uncommon for me to reach for an undesirable mid-morning snack, traditionally in bar form, or overdo it at lunch and then feel weighted down and lethargic. Sound familiar breakfast skippers?  Breakfast is the meal that breaks your overnight fast. For skippers who are also getting the ideal hours of sleep, you could be going around ten hours without adding any fuel to your body. Imagine then, if you wait until lunch, you could possibly be fasting for 16 hours. That's long enough to put your body into starvation mode and slow your metabolism down. I spend a majority of my breakfasts holed up in my office with a Siggi's, fruit, and some yogurt topper in the form of a complex carb, but lately I've started creating an oatmeal bake. I'd heard about this mythical bake before. However, it wasn't until a friend of mine with a plethora of dietary restrictions (gluten-free and dairy-free) recommended that I give it a try.

The Morning After...

Using some of the remaining pesto, I added a tablespoon or so to a few eggs to scramble up with some thyme sautéed mushrooms...it was divine. I enjoy my green fix any time of day.

My Bananas Were Getting Old So....

I guess I am in a banana bread state of mind or I am not that creative when it comes to figuring out what to do with a bunch of aging bananas-either way I whipped up a whole-wheat banana bread studded with dark chocolate chips and sweetened only with honey. Perfect along side my Siggi's topped with chia seeds.

Banana Bread Pancakes

I got the craving for pancakes recently, yet wanted to step out of the box (literally and figuratively) and create a healthful and unique version. I uncovered a great recipe for these unconventional and tasty gluten free banana bread pancakes and studded them with blueberries.
I got the recipe here (thanks pesto)
This is not your traditional fluffy stack, but they put my craving at bay, especially with a decent drizzling of grade A pure maple syrup.
photo taken with instagram

Snowy Morning Breakfast

Pearled Barley, Parm, Black Pepper, Poached Egg

Pop It Lock It

Popping off the birthday celebrations in style with my all time favorite Russ and Daughters, courtesy of a very special radish head

Egg Mcmuff Muff

Sprouted Grain and Seed English Muffin, Williamsburg Mayo, Egg Over Medium with Cabot Clothbound Cheddar and Chili Flakes 

Wakey Wakey

Mixed berry and banana smoothie with fat free plain yogurt, almond butter, chia seeds, and a splash of OJ with Ezekiel sprouted grain and seed english muffin, Williamsburg Mayo, finished with sea salt. 

Who Needs Bologna?

Toasted multigrain bread with Dijon mustard, McClure’s spicy pickles, hard boiled eggs, hummus, red onion, and tomatoes. 

Avocado Two Ways

• Ezekiel sprouted grain tortilla with scrambled egg whites, Cabot Clothbound Cheddar, Williamsberg mayo and chili flakes (top)

• Ezekiel sprouted grain tortilla with scrambled eggs, red onion, organic cherry tomatoes, sliced avocado and Melinda's extra hot sauce

So Sprouty

In continuing my enjoyment of the sprouted grains, I made a breakfast tortilla. The warmed tortilla was layered with light laughing cow cheese, sautéed kale, an egg and finished with chili flakes….good morning!  

Huevos Rancheros con Matzoh

Wheat Bran Matzoh with warmed black beans, homemade pico de gallo and a poached egg.

Continuing my enjoyment of the black turtle beans, I integrated them into a Passover appropriate breakfast and enjoyed it with a "radish head". 

"Look Ma, I baked!"

                 Whole wheat carrot cake muffins with raisins, walnuts, spices and raw brown sugar.

I have never been a fan of baking. Mainly because to make a baked good truly taste delicious, you need all those “goodies” that I try and avoid or find alternatives for. To make these muffins I followed a recipe from the New York Times and augmented a few things. These muffins did not contain much sugar, nor did they contain white flour or butter. They did have low fat buttermilk (which has no butter, is low in fat and is a good source or probiotics), canola oil and two eggs. Needless to say, the outcome was a little disappointing and could have used the addition of all-natural pineapple juice plus chunks of pineapple for added moistness and sweetness. The muffins did taste good toasted and dressed up with some laughing cow light spread, which emulated cream cheese frosting! 

Most people are aware of the benefits of carrots and associate the benefits of beta-carotene with eye health. Beta-carotene, which is an orange pigment, is a precursor to Vitamin A and is made by plants. Because it gets stored in fat just beneath the skin, eating excessive amounts of carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkins or cantaloupe can impart a lovely sallow yellow color to your skin. Vitamin A plays a critical role in optimal health. Its versatility ranges from its role in vision, immunity, protein synthesis, cell growth and reproduction. A common symptom of vitamin A deficiency is night blindness, which is the lag in time it takes your vision to recover after being exposed to a bright light in a dark setting.

Beta-carotene is an antioxidant and may protect you from certain cancers and heart disease. This crunchy root vegetable can impart external benefits as well, and supports healthy skin, hair and nails.

And that’s what’s up doc. 

Hello

Multigrain flax waffle, freshly ground raw almond butter, banana, touch of grade A dark amber pure maple syrup and ginger kombucha. 

Egg white scramble with jarlsberg lite and chili flakes. Toasted Amy's peasant bread with "williamsburg mayo". 

Good Morning

Sunday Morning Quesadilla

With limited options in my refrigerator and a growling stomach, I had to get creative with what I had on hand.

Whole wheat tortilla with jalapeno gouda, jarlsberg lite, jonagold apple, horseradish, dijon mustard.

Egg white scramble, spinach, jarlsberg lite, shallot pepper with a multigrain waffle, mixed berries and grade A dark amber pure maple syrup.