Weekend Breakfasts
Posted: May 22, 2011 Filed under: weekend | Tags: farmers market, Food Matters, french toast, mini doughnuts, peach, wedding, Zia's 3 Comments »N and I had a pretty busy weekend with a food movie (Food Matters) showing and raw food dinner – from Zia’s!!!! – along with a crazy 60th Birthday celebration for N’s dad. Even though our time was crunched I was still able to bang out two stellar breakfasts.
French toast with sunflower seed butter, granola and grilled MD peaches that I canned last summer.
I sort of hoarded the peaches in the beginning and now I am trying to get through them before the new ones are at the farmers market!
I love FT on the weekend.
Next we have doughnuts and coffee!
I had a lot of fun using my mini doughnut pan this morning but unfortunately the recipe I used is nothing to write home about.
They are still really cute though and the best part was actually located on the “ugly” side.
chocolate chips!!!!! I may have eaten all 12 throughout the day and this is why I do not have grab-able snack food throughout my house 
Wedding Update: We picked up out wedding bands today and they are exactly what we ordered. Simple and US. I really like that my band is just a simple white gold band and I am probably going to write a post about wedding rings and the hype that surrounds them. We also got all of our stamps for our wedding invitations, now I am just waiting for the actual invites to come back from the printers! Walk through with all parties involved on Thursday – this is so exciting because I get to talk design with my coordinator. Lastly my boutonnieres are being shipped!!!!!
I hope everyone had a great weekend!
What Have You Been Up To?
Posted: February 7, 2011 Filed under: Everyday | Tags: almond butter, brussels sprouts, french toast, homemade bread, hummus, mushrooms melt 2 Comments »My weekend through food and flowers…no humans were involved.
Mushroom Melts revamped with caramelized onions and roasted brussels
Loaf #3 a little brown, but I used real yeast this time and had a pretty good rise!
Best Breakfast in a really long time…
MY bread made as french toast with farm egg, cinnamon, almond extract and milk.
Topped with grilled banana, almond butter, raspberry jam, buckwheat and chia seeds.
Tulips from Momma Beans! They remind of the ones in our front house when I was a kid.
Almond butters. I’ll take a large regular and a small COCONUT almond butter! Yep! Slap that stuff on dark chocolate and call me an Almond Joy!
Roasted red pepper hummus made from bulk-bin dry chickpeas
I was able to run for 10min today without feeling like someone was stabbing me in the knee…it was a good day!
Weekend Breakfast
Posted: January 29, 2011 Filed under: grocery shopping | Tags: breakfast, french toast, produce, vitamins, whole foods Leave a comment »Good morning and happy weekend! I started my weekend off with some vegan french toast using flax instead of eggs because I want to save my farm fresh eggs for times when I can actually taste the egg ie egg and hummus sandwiches!
I used the last of my cinnamon raisin bread from last weekend dunked in flax, almond milk, cinnamon and vanilla.
Topped with raisins, pb and toasted buckwheat. Have you tried toasted buckwheat? It gives a delightful crunch to anything from french toast to oatmeal and it is a great whole grain!
After breakfast I headed to Whole Foods for my weekly shopping…here is what I got!
Pro to the duce! Yes, I would say 90% of my shopping is for fresh produce because I usually use vegetarian bulk proteins from the pantry.
- LOCAL Kale!!!!!
- Store roasted coffee – no idea
- Amy’s low sodium refried vegetarian beans
- Organic milk – PA
- Organic butternut squash
- Organic spinach – CA (I wish they had the MA kind again!)
- Organic frozen green beans
- Organic frozen peas – I always keep a few frozen veggies on hand for easy and they are usually picked in season and frozen.
- Organic plain yogurt
- Bulk chickpeas – for hummus!
- Bulk millet
- Sweet potatoes
- Brussel sprouts
- pita chips – for the hummus and they are Nick’s new thing
- Organic Cara Cara oranges – CA, but they were the steal of the day! The whole bag was $4 and the conventional cara caras next to they were 2 for $3 – score!
- Organic onions
- Organic baby bellas – local
- bananas – costa rica
- Gummy vitamins – I have no idea where they are from, but it seems I will only take a daily vitamin if it comes in gummy form – I have this for my calcium and Omegas too!
All of this with the $16 vitamins was $70. A little high but actually food was only $54.
This is my list and meal planning for the week.
How do you plan your weekly shopping or do you at all? I find that it can be a pain in the butt but I end up saving money with planning like you do with so many aspects in life!
Have a great weekend! Nick and I are off to his sister’s engagement party tonight!
Life Outside The Cube
Posted: November 11, 2010 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: biking, bok choy, bread, cycling, french toast, green monster, muffins, persimmon, turnip 2 Comments »Thanks to those who served or are currently serving our country, I have today off from work!
When I get days off during the week I try and make the most of them so I never really sleep in. I was up at 7, which is 1.5 hours more of sleep and it was so nice to eat breakfast with day light and with the Today show!
Yes, I did just wake up and that is my “relaxing morning” giant coffee cup.
Sissy is excited to have me home and joined me at the table while I took some pictures of a delicious breakfast!
French toast coated with almond butter, grilled banana and chia seeds.
Breakfast just tastes better when you can see it!
After breakie and hanging out with Matt I tried to make Jenna’s beginner rolls, but they were like bricks…I tried to make a loaf, but I am calling them dunkers for a pumpkin kale soup I am planning tomorrow. At least they taste good and they chewiness has not stopped me from eating 5 already.
While these were “rising” I ran a few errands to Target and the library to pick up a book for my cooking class this weekend!
I am so excited to read this and to take the class the weekend. I will be sure to give a full report.
After a few bricks I headed out for a lovely bike ride!!!!!
I haven’t been on my bike since September when it started getting to dark to ride after work, and my legs + lungs could totally feel it!
I almost died on a few hills, but I made it! It was so pretty out there.
These ponies wanted to play, but I didn’t want to cross the street to horses I didn’t know!
I did my normal loop.
I think I need some new tape on my handle bars!
Thankfully Ashley and Julie have posted about how to do exactly that.
When I got home I was still pretty full from all of the dough balls I ate before heading out but I need some protein for recovery and some veggies…enter smoooothie.
Green monster with spinach, frozen cherries, 2 scoops vanilla hemp protein, skim.
I also tried to enjoy another persimmon, but yet again I thought it was gross. It sucks the moisture out of my mouth and it is so odd. I really wish I enjoyed it but I cannot get over the reaction in my mouth! Am I missing something???? Barf.
So obviously this was not enough for lunch after my bike ride so I made a batch of Anne’s cranberry pumpkin muffins but I omitted the walnuts.
They didn’t come out as flat as I wanted, but I love the pop of the fresh cranberry in this hearty muffin. I cut the sugar back from 1/2 cup to 1/3 and they still taste delicious!
Look at the cranberry oozing out! I am going to bring some of these into work for the few of us that make it in tomorrow.
After muffin consumption I headed out to yoga. Let me tell you it is really hard to go out of the apartment after it is dark, but I did it! And it felt soooooo good.
When I returned I was starving and cooked up a mix of veg in the oven that cooked while I showered.
No sun for dinner….In a small casarol dish went: bok choy, sliced turnip, mushrooms, goat cheese and tomato sauce – baked for 45min at 350.
Sprinkled with parm cheese and served with a brick from earlier in the day.
Simple ingredients and delicious flavor. I read about that in Alice Waters’ book today!
Well that about wraps up my day out of the cube. I just remembered I forgot to go to the dry cleaner but other than that I got a lot done today!
Sissy and I will be spending the rest of the night watching the Ravens! Things are not looking good…lets hope they can turn things around.
Happy Halloween!
Posted: October 31, 2010 Filed under: food | Tags: breakfast, french toast, pumpkin, waffles 4 Comments »I miss the days of old when Halloween was a huge night full of candy! When I was a child I was things like the Duke Blue Devil, a pumpkin, Starlight (Rainbow Bright’s Horse), a punk kid and an alligator. Those are the only ones I can remember off the top of my head. Last night I was a Gleek for a last minute Halloween party, but we were in such a rush I forgot to take a picture!
On this Halloween day I thought I would share some delicious breakfasts that I have been enjoying in their natural light glory. It is dark until I pull into work so breakfasts are usually eaten in the dark.
First up, French Toast!
Two pieces of Whole Foods Harvest Bread soaked in 1 farm egg, skim, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, ginger and vanilla.
Topped with banana, homemade maple almond butter, chia seeds and homemade peach almond preserve.
Next up…Pumpkin Waffles!
Waffle mix:
- 1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 cup pumpkin
- 1 mashed banana
- dash of the following: cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves
- vanilla
- 1 tbs flax
- ~1/3 cup skim
Toppings: maple almond butter, chia seeds, peach almond preserve and buckwheat for crunch.
Both of these are delicious and full of Fall flavors with a touch of summer through the addition of peaches.
Winter is coming….I think I need some more gingerbread!
Have a Happy Halloween!!!
Up And At Em
Posted: May 8, 2010 Filed under: saturday | Tags: breakfast, civic works, french toast, Sicily Leave a comment »Good morning! Time is already escaping me and it is only 7AM! I am trying to get to the Farmers Market before going to Civic Works and volunteering to make an Urban Garden for B-more. I am kind of excited, but it is 5 hours of moving compost with high winds and a chance of a t-storm. I just hope they don’t come together. I was thinking of going with cold cereal with yogurt, but I decided to treat myself. It is Saturday morning! It is also probably why I am running late!
2 slices of whole wheat dipped in skim, almond breeze, flax, 1 pollet and cinnamon.
Topped with defrosted frozen raspberries, pb, chia seeds and some almond vanilla granola + 2 handfuls of granola eaten while cooking.
Delicious!
Wonder what Sissy does while I take pictures outside?
She stalks the bird feeder. Doesn’t her white bib look pretty? We take her collar off at some point during the weekend to let her neck breath and so we can sleep in a bit without a bell ringing at 5:30AM.
Ok I have got to get on the road! I am going to try and document my experience, but we shall see!
Happy Saturday, make the most of it!
Toasty
Posted: April 21, 2010 Filed under: breakfast, Wednesday | Tags: french toast 1 Comment »Good Morning! My calf is still sore, but it isn’t any worse. One day at a time. At least we are expecting rain so I won’t be bummed not to be outside riding my bike.
I wasn’t feeling the oats this morning and I still have a lot of bread in my fridge so I went with french toast! I need to get back on the waffle train, but mixing did not seem pleasing this morning.
Two pieces of German dark wheat soaked in egg white, skim, cinnamon, vanilla and flax.
Topped with a heated apple in maple syrup and some of my homemade cinnamon vanilla almond butter.
Sissy likes to join me when I go outside to take my breakfast pictures
She likes to eat the flowers… I guess it is better than my vegetables!
Fingers crossed my calf has a speedy recovery! Any tips?
Where’s The Bread?
Posted: April 13, 2010 Filed under: breakfast, Tuesday | Tags: french toast 1 Comment »Well hello there! My plants made it through the night inside and are back out for some sun…to bad it is supposed to rain today 
I did not want oats this morning. It is weird how some days I NEED them and others I cannot stand them. I looked in the fridge and saw a lot of bread (I blame Wegmans’ amazing selection) so I decided to make some french toast.
Two pieces of Wegmans bread dipped in…
- skim
- egg whites
- vanilla
- cinnamon
- flax
I topped my toast with peanut butter, banana, strawberries and chia seeds. You can barely see the actual bread down there!
I would like to go strawberry picking this year, and I have my plant!
I seem to be running a little late…
got to jet!
Do you crave different things for breakfast or do you stick to the same thing every day?
More Figs!
Posted: April 10, 2010 Filed under: baking, saturday | Tags: egg sandwich, fig bar, french toast, orange, strawberries Leave a comment »Good afternoon. How are are you doing today?
My day started early this morning with a lovely french toast breakfast.
2 slices of Wegmans bread dipped in egg whites, cinnamon, flax, almond extract and skim.
Topped with dark chocolate pb and grilled banana. I think I actually like my bananas raw better. I like the temp and texture difference from the toast.
Still delicious though!
After breakfast I had to go to the post office and grocery store before coming home and bake!
The star of the show…
A lovely little fig! It was finally time for me to try and make my version of fig newtons.
In the food processor… the bar filling.
I used the same graham cracker recipe as before except I threw in some oats instead of WW flour… this actually made them less doughy and more like batter. It was nice that I didn’t need a rolling pin but it got me worried.
These actually came out better than I expected!
They were crispy on the outside crust and chewy on the inside. I would have liked to have a little more crunch, maybe I can par bake the graham before adding the middle fig? I just don’t want them to burn!
While these were cooking I made an AMAZING egg sandwich for lunch!
I used Ashley’s and Kelsey’s poke an spread method to cook two eggs and put them on a Wegmans bagel with 1/4 avocado, lemon hummus, lettuce and some hard cheese I got at Whole Foods.
I had a bunch of fruit on the side.
All together!
Alright time for me to get ready for the BB&Q festival!
Now if I could only find my date!
Racing
Posted: April 3, 2010 Filed under: saturday | Tags: Chocolate, enchilada, french toast, salad Leave a comment »Hello Hello! Happy Easter weekend! Sorry I did not post last night Nick and I were to busy playing guitar hero and watching Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution. Did you know that french fries count and a vegetable in school lunches???? Gross.
So lets back up to yesterday’s LUNCH
Organic pink lady slices and a lovely wrap.
Avocado, Hummus, last of the leftover baked tofu, cheese and spinach.
All day I just wanted to be outside! It was amazing weather outside and I just wanted to enjoy it. Unfortunately I was stuck in my cube, but my boss did let me go an hour early!
Just before leaving I had 1/2 a piece of banana bread made by my boss and her son yesterday. It was delicious!
I took my time getting home and hungout with Sissy a bit before going for a nice little run! I did my usual route but added a little bit going out so I could stop at the local market to pick up some more milk and then walked the rest of the way home.
When I got back I did some foam rolling and core work and hit the showers.
When Nick got home we walked to the wine store to pick up a bottle to have with dinner.
Hillinger pinot grigio. It was pretty good, but I do enjoy reds better. I just will never be a white wine type of person, but it does seem to taste better on a warm afternoon.
Along with my vino I used up some things in the fridge.
Leftover refried bean enchilada that had been in the freezer for way too long, but still came out delicious and a lovely spinach salad.
I can’t really remember what I put in the enchilada but it was something like ff refried beans, jalapenos, tomatoes, black beans, enchilada sauce, cheese and cilantro.
For dessert Nick and I split some chocolate over Jamie Oliver.
We played/sang the night away and went to bed early because we both needed to be up “early” in weekend time.
I had planned to go running this morning, but when I woke up I was pretty sore (in a good way) and it was a lot colder then I thought it was going to be. I am taking a more Zen like approach to running by doing it when my body is ready and willing instead of forcing it.
Speaking of running…
I signed up for a race! It is only 3.72 miles so I think I will be OK. It is local and a pretty big race around these parts. I have a few more I am eyeing, but this one is at the end of the month April 25th. I am hoping and I am running 4 miles with ease by that point. I am super nervous/super excited!
Because I was up to go running I did some icing, rolling and stretching.
I also had time to make a delicious breakfast!
Lovely french toast!
- Wegmans delicious bread
- egg whites
- cinnamon
- vanilla
- flax
- skim
I also threw my bananas in the pan while the toast was cooking.
Along with my bananas I topped the toast with vanilla cinnamon pb and some maple syrup.
This was delicious! So many seeds and grains.
Alright I need to pack for Easter and then Jen and I are going to the REI members only sale at 10AM. I am really looking forward to it. I only have 1 hours to look around though because I have to leave for Charm City trivia finals at 11, then we are off to CT for Easter!
See you tomorrow for a bunny recap!
