It's a New Day!

I love January 1st because it offers all kinds of possibilities, promises and hope for the year ahead.  It's a chance for new beginnings...and I intend to take full advantage.

So in keeping with the theme of "beginnings," I'd like to share some of my favorite breakfast ideas with you.  It's no secret that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.  Eating it revs your metabolism and sets you up for success throughout the day, skipping it leaves you feeling ravenous later on and making poor food decisions.  One of the best things you can do for yourself, your mood and your health is to get a good breakfast into you within an hour of waking.

Here are five of my favorite ways....

Suzanne's Granola
I like to make a big batch of granola on the weekend, so that I have it at the ready when I'm pressed for time in the morning.  Store-bought granola is often chock-a-block with sugar, so I prefer to make it myself and load it up with nuts and seeds.  When berries are in season, I add them to my cooked granola, the rest of the year I add banana chips, raisins and dried cranberries (go easy on them, though, because they are high in sugar.)  You can find my recipe here 

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The Puffy Omelet
I love eggs, and usually I just scramble them with a bunch of veggies, but one day something else happened.  I started out just making my usual veggie scramble, but then I probably got distracted ("shiny, sparkly"), put a lid on the pan, and when I came back I had this beautifully puffy omelet.  My kitchen accident became one of my favorite egg dishes.  Here's the recipe-non-recipe.

 

Huevos Rancheros

When I go out for breakfast or brunch, if I see huevos rancheros on the menu, it's all over.  I don't even  bother looking at the rest of the menu.  The best I've ever had is at Redd in Yountville.  My original recipe has changed because of Redd's dish; now I dip the tortillas into enchilada sauce in a skillet to coat the tortillas...that's the trick.

 

 

Breakfast Pizza

This raised a couple eyebrows (of doubt!) when I suggested it for breakfast, and I couldn't understand why.  Who doesn't love pizza?  And why would it not work for breakfast, silly monkey?  I made my own dough, but you can use a Boboli.  A little sausage, a little gravy made from the fat (OK, this lands in my 80/20 wheelhouse!), some scrambled eggs and scallions. BOOM!  Get the recipe-non-recipe here.

 

 

Soaked Apple Oats

Doesn't get much easier than this twist on oatmeal.  Soak 1/2 cup of rolled oats in a 1/2 cup of apple cider for about 20 minutes (go take a shower and it'll be ready). Stir in a pinch each of cinnamon, freshly grated nutmeg and salt.  Add chopped nuts and seeds and whatever fresh fruit is in season.  There's no excuse for missing breakfast with this easy option.

 

 

So here's to great beginnings!  Hope you have a healthy, happy, delicious 2014!

 

Cook Happy!



Most important meal of the day...

We've all heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.  You're literally "breaking the fast" (get it?) that your body has undergone during hours of sleep. Breakfast gets your blood sugar in check, jump-starts your metabolism and has been shown to aid in weight loss and weight management.  If you think skipping breakfast will help save you the calories, you should rethink that plan.  Most people who don't eat a healthy meal at the start of their day (protein + healthy fat + complex carbs) end up eating more during the day than they would otherwise.

Lately coffee has been my breakfast of champions.....not good.  Don't I ever listen to myself??  A few extra minutes of sleep or a "too busy"morning got in my way, and I was feeling it.  So this morning I woke up and decided that it's time to get back on track.

Making a healthy breakfast isn't time consuming at all. One of my faves is a peanut butter & banana smoothie: 1 banana, a couple tablespoons of peanut butter, a handful of ice cubes, and a splash of milk.  Some inspired Sundays I'll whip up a batch of my granola to have during the week, mixed with some plain Greek yogurt.  Both of these are fast and easy and give me the protein my body needs to start the day.  But if I have a little extra time, like this morning, I like to cook up some eggs.  Obviously great on the protein scale, but it also offers me a chance to sneak in some of the five veggie servings I try to get each day. Throw in whatever you've got: onions, mushrooms, bell peppers, squash. 

I whisked a couple eggs with a little water (makes it puffy and light), salt, pepper and a smidge of Gruyere (just a smidge, I swear!), some chopped chives and little strips of baby spinach.  I poured it into a pan over medium heat and let it sit, scraping around the sides a little bit to let the egg settle.  When only the center is a little loose, I popped a lid on it to cook it all the way through, and watch it puff up....

Once you take the lid off, the puff dies down, but it is seriously yummy.  And it only takes about five minutes (come on, you know you've got that).  I tossed a few fresh cherry tomatoes on top, and I'd call that a pretty yummy way to start the day, and it kept me focused and satisfied right up 'til lunch time.  So do your body a favor....feed it something healthy within an hour of waking (no, doughnuts don't count!)

Yum it up!

 

Breakfast Pizza

So let's talk again about my 80/20 rule.  80% of the time I'm a healthy eater, so I don't beat myself up if 20% of the time I stray from the path .  Well, this one is pretty much in the 20% club.  And I love it!

A few months ago I went on pizza-making binge. I learned how to make a great dough and perfected my own tomato-based pizza sauce.  Then I played around with a host of toppings.  I had A LOT of pizzas for lunch and dinner for about a month, and haven't been able to eat a slice since.  My hands-down favorite was Potato, Leek and Rosemary with Pt Reyes Bleu Cheese.  But that all changed Sunday morning.... breakfast pizza, anyone?

Start by rolling out the dough ( I used Mario Batali's recipe) on a lightly floured surface to the thickness you like.  (I like mine thin and crispy). Then sprinkle some cornmeal on a peel and place your dough on top.  The cornmeal will act like little ball bearings and allow your pizza to slide off the peel and onto the oven grate (thanks for the tip, Tom!)

Next saute some sweet or spicy sausage.  When brown and crispy, add a couple tablespoons of flour, stirring into the rendered fat to create a roux.  Then add some half and half (I'm partial to Straus Family Creamery) and continue stirring until thickened.  While that's going on, simply scramble a few eggs until softly set.  Don't cook them all the way through, because they will continue to cook in the oven.

Pour the sausage and gravy mixture onto the dough, top with the eggs, and sprinkle with chopped scallions.

Fortunately it bakes in about 10 minutes, because that's about all the time I could possibly wait to get this fabulous pie in my belly!  Burned the roof of my mouth on this one.....just couldn't wait.  You shouldn't wait either; try it tomorrow morning. You can thank me later...

Look at me....I'm a farmer!

My first two potaotoes!  I'm such a proud parent!

I am notoriously bad at keeping anything alive besides myself and my dog Maxx.  Seriously.  I had a fake ficus years ago and I came home one day to find a dropped leaf  on the carpet.  But last year I managed to successfully grow 2 tomato plants, so I was feeling a little cocky and decided to try potatoes along with tomatoes this year.  I was cleaning out my pantry and found a bunch of neglected red potatoes, covered in "eyes".  So into the ground they went and two months later, I dug up my first two beauties.

As a kid I used to eat fruit and veggies from my grandparents' backyard.  Still to this day I can't find an orange in any store that is as perfectly sweet and juicy as the oranges off my grandpere's tree.  You know that the produce you buy from local farms are just better tasting than anything you could ever buy in a store.  As it turns out they are generally more nutritious, too.  But the produce you get from right outside your back door is even better than those at the farmers' market.  I think it's the added flavor of pride!

I decided to prepare the potatoes as simply as possible.  I heated some olive oil in a cast iron skillet and added a large clove of garlic, sliced in half.  Over medium heat the garlic will infuse the oil with is wonderful flavor.  I cut the potatoes into bite-sized pieces and popped them in the hot oil.  After about 8-10 minutes the potatoes were cooked through and crispy on the outside.  A little pinch of salt and pepper, and call it a day.  I wanted to taste the potato, not muddle it with a bunch of other flavors.  And they were delicious!  The flavor was not overwhelmingly different from the ones I normally buy, but there was a noticeable richer flavor to them.  Again, maybe it was the pride.

I decided to continue with my "simple prep" concept and scramble some eggs to go with my potatoes.  In  the same cast iron skillet, I added a little pat of butter (don't be afraid of butter, just respect it) and tossed in some grape tomatoes that I halved. I love pan roasting tomatoes this time of year; they are so sweet and juicy, and after a few minutes in a hot skillet, their skin starts to burst and they soften to perfection. I whisked 2 eggs with a dash of milk, salt & pepper and poured it into the hot pan.  Turn the heat to low and add a little sprinkling of sharp cheddar and in a couple minutes your fluffy eggs are ready.  I topped the potatoes with the eggs. sprinkled some chopped chives and cut myself a crusty pieces of French bread.... this is a good way to start the day.  It's simple.  It's easy.  It healthy.  And best of all, it is super delish because it is all fresh and seasonal....

A good start

On Sunday nights I usually make a big batch of granola, so that I'm armed for the week with a healthy and quick breakfast.  Granola also makes a pretty yummy snack, too.  I know my limitations, so I don't have normal "snack food" in my house - no chips, crackers, candy, ice cream - they wouldn't stand a chance around here!  A handful of this granola with a little yogurt on top usually takes care of the snack craving.

Store-bought granola can often be so full of sugar that you may as well eat a Three Musketeer's bar for breakfast (shoot, now I'll be thinking about Three Musketeer's bars all day).  I have found some brands at Whole Foods and Trader Joe's that are pretty good, but I started making my own granola about 6 months ago.  I can control what goes into it, I can pronounce everything that goes into it, and it makes the house smell yummy.

You can make one quick stop at the bulk bin aisle to find most of what you need: rolled oats (not quick cooking oats), nuts, seeds, dried fruit.  Nuts are one of the healthiest foods you can eat - in moderation.  They are high in fat, so go easy, but it's a healthy fat and it is one of the best plant-based sources of omega 3's.  There is a strong link between eating nuts and good heart health: the omega 3's and L-arginine found in many nuts have been shown to lower bad cholesterol, build strong artery walls, reduce plaque build-up and prevent blood clots. 

Be careful with the dried fruit; a lot of those are very high in sugar.  Check the labels.  I love dried banana chips, they are much lower in sugar than other dried fruit, so I add more of them to my granola and supplement just a little of the higher sugar fruits, like dried cranberries, cherries, and blueberries.  And try to go natural and avoid the packaged fruit that has added sugar (you know who you are, craisins) - fruit has plenty of natural sugar in them, you don't need anything but what nature gave it.  I'm going to play with drying my own fruit - my toaster oven goes as low as 150 degrees, which is perfect for dehydrating foods.   Hmmmm, does someone have a control problem??

Suzanne's Granola

2 cups rolled oats
3/4 cup chopped nuts - I use walnuts, almonds and pecans
2 tablespoons chia seeds
2 tablespoons sunflower seeds
2 tablespoons shredded coconut
2 tablespoons grade B maple syrup
1 tablespoon flax meal (for extra omega 3's)
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1 tablespoon coconut oil, melted
pinch salt
1/4 cup dried fruit - cherries, blueberries, cranerries
1/2 cup dried banana chips, broken into small pieces

Preheat oven to 325. Combine the first 11 ingredients (through salt) in a large bowl, mixing to coat all the oats.  Spread in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake for 15 -20 minutes, stirring halfway through, until toasted.  Remove from oven and add fruit.  When cool, place in glass container and store for one week.

I love mine topped with a little bit of Greek yogurt and a drizzle of local honey (honey from your area helps build your immune system as we get ready for cold season)

Holy Frijoles!

Let's talk breakfast....first of all, eat it.  It gets your metabolism going, gives you the energy to get moving, and helps keep you from over-eating or making bad food choices later in the day.  Most mornings I make either a smoothie, my homemade granola with Greek yogurt, or whole grain toast with peanut butter and fresh fruit. I go for a combination of complex carbs, protein and healthy fat; this will sustain you for a few hours until lunch or snack, depending on how early you eat breakfast.

But on the weekend I like to fix eggs.  Now, I'm all about simple cooking, but I cannot just make a fried egg or scrambled eggs.  Well, first of all, I don't really like fried eggs, so it's all about the scramble or the omelet.  When I was a kid my French grandmother would make "omelets" for my sister and me when we spent the night at her house.  It wasn't a fancy omelet, just eggs and some herbs and veggies...and she didn't fold it over; it was essentailly just a big ol' scramble.  I've been doing the same thing all my life.  It so easy to find opportunites to add more veggies to your diet, and this is one way that I do it deliciously and pretty effortlessly.

My favorite is a healthy version of huevos rancheros. The eggs and the beans give you lots of protein, which is a great start to the day.  And I've added some of the most healthy veggies on the planet - onions, peppers and tomatoes.  These veggies work hard, promoting eye health and blood sugar regulation while fighting cancer and heart disease.  Slip them into as many meals as you can! And then there's my favorite healthy fat, the avocado - the jewel in the crown, or the sombrero, as it were.  This is such a filling breakfast that you don't need anyting except a fresh fruit cup to round it out.

Suzanne’s Huevos Rancheros

Serves 4

4 corn tortillas

1 can black, pinto or kidney beans, drained

2 teaspoons olive oil

1 medium onion, halved and thinly sliced

1 poblano pepper, thinly sliced

¼ teaspoon cumin

¼ teaspoon chipotle chile powder

¼ teaspoon coriander

4 eggs

2 Tablespoons water (or milk)

Salt and pepper

¼ cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

2 tomatoes, seeded and chopped

1 avocado, chopped

1 Tablespoon chopped cilantro

Juice of one lime

Place corn tortillas in a clean, damp cloth and warm on low in the oven.*

Heat beans over low heat in a small saucepan, mashing them as they get tender.

Heat oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium heat, add onion and peppers, and cook 5 minutes.  Stir in the spices and push veggies to the sides of the pan.

Beat eggs in a bowl adding water (or milk), salt and pepper to taste.

Pour egg mixture into skillet and stir until eggs are cooked to your taste.

Sprinkle cheese over eggs.

Assembly:

Lay tortillas on 4 plates

Top with a quarter of the beans, then the eggs, the cooked veggies, the tomatoes, avocado and chopped cilantro. Sprinkle with a bit of lime juice.

*Note: If you can stand a little less healthy version, you can heat oil to just cover the bottom of a skillet, get it good and hot (a drop of water sizzles and pops when flicked in the oil – be careful, just a drop) and using tongs fry the tortillas one at a time for just a few seconds each side.  If the oil isn’t really hot, the tortilla will just soak up all the oil. Drain on paper towels.  (But you didn’t hear this from me!)