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Scones are one of those indulgences that are simple to make and don’t need to be reserved for fancy tea parties. You can bake a bunch and they can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for quite a few days as a grab and go snack (you might want to heat them under a low broiler to get the texture back.) Scones are versatile as they can be flavored in hundreds of different ways.
Continue reading “Maple Ginger Whole Grain Scones”
Since I originally wrote this post I have come up with gobs of stuffed french toast recipes. It is my go-to breakfast. Sometimes I do pancakes, oatmeal, breakfast cookies and muffins, but this is my all-time favorite. From Pumpkin Ricotta to Strawberry Mozzarella, the choices are endless and all very tasty!
I love waking before the rest of the family to a quiet house. This is my go-to hot breakfast treat. It is so freeing to connect with myself and get some focus before the rest of my family gets up. The sandwiches can be set up and wrapped individually quite a few days ahead and kept in the refrigerator, so you can cook one up without having to drag out all of the ingredients again and again.
This breakfast has a wonderful balance of carbs, protein and healthy fats to give everyone a jump start to a busy day. It is fun to experiment with different ingredients. My stuffed french toast can be easily adapted to suit any taste preferences. It has a base of sprouted organic bread, a clean organic nut butter or low-fat cream cheese and organic fruit or fruit spread. I love dipping each bite of mine in homemade applesauce.
Here is what you will need. Mix up the ingredients according to taste preferences.
METHOD
Create sandwich, layer your spread of choice, fruit or fruit spread choice and any additions you might want on one slice.Top with an additional slice to create a sandwich.Put an egg in a bowl big enough to soak sandwich. Lightly season with salt and whisk the egg. Soak sandwich on both sides until it is nice and moist.
Pre-heat nonstick pan on medium high with cooking spray or butter. Place sandwich in pan and press extra egg out with a spatula. Cook until lightly browned. Flip sandwich, press again with a spatula and cook until warmed through and toasty. Top with any add-on’s (spices, sweetener, nuts, coconut, fruit sauces, etc.)
Some Favorite Combinations
Stuffed French Toast Recipe Links
Fresh Recipe of the week:This month we sip cool protein shakes in “Shake it up!” We cook Kitchari, a traditional Rice and Lentil dish from India. There are many variations included in this balanced dish! Also, Marla’s Stuffed French Toast. Great served hot or at room temperature as a hand held car/kid friendly breakfast on the go!
Fresh Ingredient: Wax Orchards fruit sweetened Fudge Sauce. Trust me here, you will not miss the fat and refined sugars. This is delicious! Used sparingly this is such a decadent addition to yogurt parfaits, shakes and even my Stuffed French Toast!
Fresh Tips: Play around with the way you slice and dice fruits and veggies. When you dine at different restaurants pay attention to how they cut the veggies for your salad etc., be mindful about the size and texture of your vegetables. For example, sometimes the kids will like their carrots cut into sticks other times into flat discs. With a good knife, Cuisinart and Mandolin slicer you can keep shapes and textures interesting! Be ambitious and mix it up!
Fresh Clicks: For Chocolate lovers out there you have got to try this lip balm called Chocolips. It is made from all natural ingredients with real chocolate. It also has SPF 15 to protect that pretty little pout! There are 6 flavors ranging from fruity, “Choco Orange” to dessert divine “Choco Mocha.”
Fresh Thought: To stay energetic throughout the day it is suggested that we eat mini meals (about 4 to 6) a day to keep blood sugar levels stable and to avoid the icky “crash.” In the same way you keep the tank full in your car, you need to do the same with your body, never let it go to empty. The first thing we crave when we crash is sugar. Well balanced, clean, frequent meals will keep the brain and the body charged and will help to avoid the sugar crash pig out!
Fresh Read: “Lunch Lessons: Changing the Way we Feed our Children“ by Ann Cooper and Lisa M. Holmes
This book gives remarkable insight on what our kids are eating (and not eating) in the school system. It focuses on providing our children with wholesome, nutritious, unprocessed, delicious food. There are loads of kid-friendly recipes as well.
Fresh Blog: http://www.lamomsblog.com/
This blog “showcase the ups, downs, outrages, struggles, victories, and everyday humor of motherhood. Our 350-plus writers are working moms, stay at home moms, city moms, suburban moms, and rural moms—but, most of all, they are opinionated moms.” Please note that this blog is not limited to the LA region. It covers quite a few territories, but so much of what they blog about is relevant no matter where you live.
This Kitchari recipe is from India. Kitchari basically means a hodge-podge or blend of ingredients. In the Indian culture, they place a strong emphasis on flavor and the energy that goes into preparing food. The positive energy put in during cooking provides a more nourishing and beneficial experience for those consuming the food. Yet another reason for us to create our own dishes and not buy prepared foods as we don’t know who is preparing them or exactly what ingredients are going into these meals. *Can you tell this is one of my first blog posts ever? Look at that photo!
Continue reading “Kitchari-Rice and Lentils”
Honestly I have avoided these for quite some time. I never really liked the idea of processed protein powder. Things changed a few months back when I started working with a dietitian. Part of the daily meals included the use of protein shakes. These shakes that I have come up with are so delicious!!!! I am happy that I have included them in my meal rotation as they are deeply satisfying. They remind me of delicious thick ice cream shakes from my childhood. What makes ’em extra great is that there is no guilt attached to it after enjoying!
The use of protein powder isn’t recommended for kids: these are for adults to use as a supplement to healthy, clean eating and exercise. Shakes without the powder are a fun, healthy snack for the kids.
If you want to make shakes for the kids you can replace the protein powder and water with milk, yogurt, juice or a combination of these three. I have a true love for stevia, my kids don’t like it so I use maple or agave syrup for them instead.
You will notice that many of my recipes throughout this blog call for Stevia. This is an all natural, zero calorie sweetener. It has no impact on blood sugar, so it is suitable for all. I find that Sweetleaf brand stevia, flavored drops are the best tasting.
Continue reading “Shake it up!”
