Category:

Breakfast & Brunch

Spiced Apple Breakfast Muffins

There’s nothing quite like the aroma of freshly baked fall-spiced muffins filling up my haus. Warm and comforting. A treat without being overly sweet. You can play around with which fruit and spices you add. You could also use hazelnuts or another kind of nut instead of walnuts. I used the gorgeous pink-fleshed Mountain Rose apples that I found locally here in Portland. If you can’t find those, I would recommend honey crisp or pink lady.

Spiced Apple Breakfast Muffins
[Makes about 12 muffins or 6 jumbo muffins]

1/3 cup + 2 Tablespoons coconut or olive oil
1 1/4 cup unsweetened coconut milk (or any other plant-based milk)
3/4 cup maple syrup
1.5 teaspoon vanilla extract
1.5 teaspoon apple cider vinegar

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1 2/3 cups almond meal
1 2/3 gluten-free flour blend (I used Bob’s Red Mill 1-for-1)
1.5 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1.5 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 Tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda

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1 1/2 cups apples, cored and diced (I used Mountain Rose Apples)

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To top muffins:
Thinly sliced apple (about 1 small apple)
1/4 cup chopped walnuts

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1.) Preheat oven to 350°F.

2.) In a large mixing bowl, whisk together wet ingredients until well combined. In a medium bowl, whisk together dry ingredients until well combined.

3.) Slowly add dry ingredients into wet ingredients, using a rubber spatula to mix under dough is formed. If dough is looking too dry, you can add a couple Tablespoons more nut milk. Fold in the diced apple.

4.) Line a muffin tin with parchment paper or simply grease with coconut or olive oil. Fill each muffin about 3/4 of the way full. Top with apple slices and chopped walnuts.

5.) Bake in preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick or skewer comes out clean. *You may need to increase cooking time if you are using jumbo muffin tins.*

October 15, 2018 1 comment

Breakfast & Brunch Main Courses

Baked Eggs and Herbed Cauliflower Rice Skillet with Oven Roasted Tomatoes

With so much devastation the world over and days that feel oppressive and discouraging, I always turn to food to lift my spirits, nourish my body and reconnect with those I love. In these trying times, we need each other more than ever. As fall approaches, I’m planning to re-start up a supper club with some friends that we put on hold for the summer. Now is a good time to gather around the table, have engaging conversations and be grateful for all we do have. Together is the only way we can heal.

I don’t know about you, but I’m always looking for healthy brunch ideas. And I love hosting my friends for brunch. I used to love going out, but afterward I would always feel tired, sluggish, overly full and ready for a nap. These days, I favor brunching at home and keeping it on the lighter side. This recipe is so freaking good, easy to make and healthy. Made with Stahlbush Island Farms Cauliflower Crumbles, this recipe is relatively quick to make except for the tomatoes, but those can be made ahead if you prefer.

Roasted tomatoes are some of my favorite end-of-summer treats. They are sweet little gems that burst with flavor. I love adding them to just about any meal I prepare. You can roast a couple pints at a time and keep a container full in your refrigerator to use throughout the week. My favorite variety of tomatoes are sun gold (the yellow ones), so if those are available to you, I’d definitely recommend those.

Baked Eggs and Herbed Cauliflower Rice Skillet with Oven Roasted Tomatoes
[Serves 4-6]

For the tomatoes:
1 pint sun gold or cherry tomatoes
1 Tablespoon avocado oil
Salt + pepper, to taste

For the skillet:
2 bags Stahlbush Island Farms Cauliflower Crumbles
2 Tablespoons avocado oil
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/3 cup fresh dill, finely chopped
1/3 cup fresh Italian parsley, finely chopped
1/3 cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped
6 pastured eggs

To garnish:
3 scallions (green part only), cut thinly on bias
Almond milk ricotta or any other crumbly cheese you like
Radish sprouts

1.) Preheat oven to 250°. Halve tomatoes, toss in oil, salt and pepper. On a rimmed baking sheet, spread the tomatoes with the seeds facing up. Roast in the oven for 90-115 minutes. Tomatoes should be shriveled a bit and slightly golden in some areas. Once they’re done, remove from oven and set aside.

2.) Preheat oven to 350°. In a heavy-bottomed skillet that is oven safe, heat 2 Tablespoons oil over medium heat. Add cauliflower crumbles and sauté for 2-3 minutes stirring occasionally until cauliflower is mostly unfrozen. Cover pan with a lid and let cauliflower steam for another 3-5 minutes or until tender but not mushy.

3.) While cauliflower is cooking, prep the herbs. Once cauliflower is done, remove lid from pan, turn heat to low and throughly mix in the herbs, salt and pepper.

4.) Spread the cauliflower mixture so it’s even in the pan. Turn heat off. Create 6 holes and drizzle a bit of oil in each one. Crack one egg into each hole. Bake skillet in the preheated oven for 10-13 minutes or until egg whites are set.

5.) Remove skillet from oven, top with roasted tomatoes and desired garnishes. Serve immediately. Enjoy!

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September 6, 2017 4 comments

Breakfast & Brunch

Garlic Scape + Hemp Seed Pesto

This breakfast toast is perfectly simple and tastes oh-so-freaking good! Topped with Manitoba Harvest Toasted Hemp Seeds for the ultimate savory crunch. This seasonal pesto features Manitoba Harvest Hemp Hearts, which give the pesto a creamy texture while adding 10-grams of protein for every 30-gram serving and all 10 essential amino acids. Hemp contains omega-3, omega-6, stearidonic acid (SDA) and the rare omega-6 Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA). GLA has been shown to help with cholesterol, inflammation, skin and hair health, balancing hormones and general heart health. Not to mention, hemp is a dual-crop plant, meaning that both parts of the plant are used. The stalk in clothing fiber and textile applications, and the top where all the seeds are for hemp food products. It’s one of the most sustainable crops for farmers to grow. You can read more about hemp, here.

I’ve been loving garlic scapes this season. Pesto is probably my favorite way to use them, but they’re also amazing roasted and eaten as a side dish or on top of a quinoa veggie bowl. This is really embarrassing, but I finally got my first food processor in May, so needless-to-say my pesto game has really improved. No more blender pesto. Yay!

[This post is sponsored by Manitoba Harvest. All thoughts and opinions are my own.]

Garlic Scape Arugula Pesto
[Makes about 2 cups]

For the pesto:
3/4 cup garlic scapes, chopped
2 cups arugula, packed tightly
Juice from 1/2 a lemon
1/4 cup Manitoba Harvest Hemp Hearts
1/4 cup olive oil
Salt + pepper, to taste

For the toasts:
Gluten-free bread, toasted
Sunnyside up fried egg
Radishes, sliced thin
Manitoba Harvest Toasted Hemp Seeds
Salt + pepper, to taste

1.) In a food processor, combine all pesto ingredients and process to desired consistency. [Note: Store extra pesto in airtight container in there refrigerator for up to a week.]

2.) Assemble toasts by smearing toasted bread with pesto, top with fried egg and radishes. Sprinkle with Toasted Hemp Seeds, salt and pepper. Enjoy!

June 26, 2017 2 comments

Breakfast & Brunch

Paleo Breakfast Nachos

These Paleo Breakfast Nachos are definitely my new favorite dish to make for brunch. They’re relatively easy to make and are extremely satisfying. The key for success with this recipe is using a mandolin to uniformly and thinly slice the sweet potato chips. I have this mandolin, and I can’t say enough good things about it. I use it for slicing veggies multiple times a day. Just be careful of your fingers! The other key for success here is making sure the chips are spread out over the baking sheet without any overlapping. You will most likely need 2-3 baking sheets to make this happen. This will allow them to get nice and crispy. These are dairy-free, cheeseless nachos, which may seem like an oxymoron, but the gooey eggs take the place of any cheese, and I seriously didn’t even notice or care that there was no cheese or cheeze involved.

Paleo Breakfast Nachos
[Serves 2-3]

2-3 medium sweet potatoes, sliced thinly using a mandolin
2 Tablespoons avocado oil
1 teaspoon salt
3 eggs, cooked sunny side up or however desired
1 cup black beans
1 avocado, sliced
1 jalapeño, sliced into rounds
2 scallions, thinly sliced
1/3 cup cilantro, chopped
1/3 cup salsa (I used this fermented kind)

1.) Preheat oven to 425° Slice the sweet potatoes 1/8” thin using a mandolin. In a large mixing bowl, toss to coat with the avocado oil and salt.

2.) Spread sweet potato slices on 2-3 rimmed baking sheets making sure that none of the slices are overlapping. Bake in the oven for 10-15 minutes, flipping once halfway through.

3.) Meanwhile, prep the veggies and cook the eggs. To make a sunny side up egg: oil a small cast iron pan and heat over medium. Once the pan is hot, turn down the temperature. Crack the egg into the pan and allow to fry for about 3-5 minutes or until the egg white is mostly set. To finish the egg, cover pan with lid, turn off heat and allow to sit for another 1-3 minutes.

4.) Once the sweet potatoes are finished, remove from oven and pile onto one baking sheet. Cover with black beans and avocado slices. Carefully slide each of the eggs on top of the chips. Top with jalapeño, scallions, cilantro and your favorite salsa. Enjoy!

May 9, 2017 3 comments

Breakfast & Brunch Smoothies

Strawberry Almond Coconut Chia Parfaits

2 cups almond mylk
2 Tablespoons coconut butter
6-8 frozen strawberries
1/2 teaspoon maca powder
1/2 teaspoon astragalus powder
6 Tablespoons chia seeds
Non-dairy yogurt for layering (preferably coconut yogurt)
To garnish: fresh strawberries, coconut chips and freeze dried strawberries (optional)

1.) Add Strawberry Almond juice, coconut butter, frozen strawberries, maca and astragalus to high-speed blender. Blend for about 45 seconds until well combined.

2.) Pour contents of the blender into an airtight container or bowl with sealable lid. Whisk in chia seeds for 2-3 minutes. Cover and refrigerate overnight, or for at least 2-3 hours.

3.) In a small cup, press thin strawberry slices again the dry glass. Using a spoon, layer the chia seed pudding and coconut yogurt. Top with coconut chips and crushed freeze-dried strawberries if desired. Enjoy! [Note: You can double the recipe to make a large batch of chia pudding that will stay fresh in your refrigerator for up to 3 days.]

Original recipe created for Pressed Juicery.

April 17, 2017 2 comments

Breakfast & Brunch Snacks

Vegan Paleo Blueberry Protein Muffins

Vegan Paleo Blueberry Protein Muffins
[Makes about 16 muffins]

3 cups almond meal
1 scoop (or about 2 1/2 Tablespoons) of your favorite vanilla protein powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/4 teaspoon pink salt
4 flax eggs (4 Tablespoons ground flax seeds + 10 Tablespoons water)
1/2 cup puréed pumpkin, from a can or homemade
3 Tablespoons coconut oil, melted
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
3/4 cup fresh blueberries

1.) Preheat oven to 350° F. In a small bowl, make the flax eggs by whisking together the ground flaxseed and water until well combined. Let sit to thicken for 5-10 minutes.

2.) Meanwhile, in a large bowl mix together all the dry ingredients with a rubber spatula.

3.) Once the flax eggs are ready, mix in the pumpkin, melted coconut oil and apple cider vinegar. Fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until a thick dough forms. Gently fold in the blueberries being careful not to crush them.

4.) Divide the batter equally between paper-lined muffin tin cups. Since the batter is so thick, it’s helpful to use a tablespoon measuring spoon or cookie scoop to drop the batter into the cups.

5.) Bake for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool 5-7 minutes before moving muffins to a cooling rack. Store muffins in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or on the counter for up to 2 days.

April 14, 2017 10 comments

Breakfast & Brunch

Red Flannel Beet Hash with Dill from The First Mess Cookbook

You guys! The First Mess Cookbook is so amazing! I really can’t tell you how excited I am to share this recipe from Laura’s new book with you. If you aren’t already familiar with Laura’s blog, The First Mess, head over there and get acquainted. Her new book is available for pre-order here in the US and will be released on March 7th. I mean, just look at that gorgeous cover. Seriously stunning.

This hash is perfect for weekend brunch. I love the vibrant color the beets lend to the potatoes when they’re cooked together. And fresh dill has to be one of my favorite herbs. I served this hash with sunny-side-up eggs on the side. It would also be delicious with the eggs baked right in. If you want to try that: after following the recipe below, remove hash from heat. Make 3-5 holes (depending on how many eggs you want to make) in the hash for the eggs to sit. Crack one egg into each hole. Bake in a preheated 350° oven for about 7 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow eggs to set for 2-3 minutes before serving.

Red Flannel Beet Hash with Dill
[Serves 4-6]

2 medium Yukon gold potatoes, chopped into 1-inch pieces
2 medium beets, chopped into 1/2″ pieces
1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar
2 Tablespoons avocado or olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, diced
1 teaspoon ground coriander
Salt + pepper, to taste
2 green onions, thinly sliced
1/4 cup lightly packed fresh dill (about 3 sprigs)
1/2 ripe avocado, peeled, pitted and chopped

1.) Place the chopped potatoes and beets into a large saucepan or braised-style pot. Cover the vegetables with cold water by 1 inch. Add the apple cider vinegar. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Lower the heat to a simmer and cook until the potatoes are tender and the beets are just tender, about 20 minutes. Drain the vegetables and set aside.

2.) Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and cook until lightly soft, about 3-5 minutes. Add the coriander, salt and pepper and stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds.

3.) Add the drained potatoes and beets to the skillet and spread them out in a single layer. Let sit for 5 minutes before stirring. Flip and stir the hash every 5 minutes. Cook the hash for 20 minutes, or until the edges of the potatoes begin to crisp.

4.) Lightly toss the hash with the green onions and dill. Serve the hash hot with chopped avocado on top.

February 25, 2017 0 comment

Breakfast & Brunch

Cranberry-Ginger-Lime Chia Parfaits

A few weekends ago, a small group of Portland-based bloggers, myself included, gathered on Sauvie Island just outside of the city for a holiday brunch sponsored by Bob’s Red Mill and Tillamook. With so much connection happening via social media, it was so refreshing and inspiring to meet up face-to-face with a group of talented ladies and engage in meaningful conversation over delicious food.

We each made a dish to bring to the brunch, and today we’re all finally sharing the recipes we created. Below you will find my recipe for Cranberry-Ginger-Lime Chia Parfaits. Here is the rest of the menu from our Portland Holiday Brunch with links to the delicious recipes.

Cranberry Chia Parfaits
[Serves 6]

For the chia pudding:
3/4 cup Bob’s Red Mill chia seeds
4 cups coconut (or any nut) mylk
1/2 cup dried shredded coconut
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

For the cranberry-ginger-lime sauce:
12 oz package fresh cranberries
1/2 cup unsweetened cranberry juice, or water
3/4 cup yacón syrup (maple syrup or raw honey work too)
1 teaspoon lime zest
2 Tablespoons lime juice
2 teaspoons fresh ginger, minced

To garnish:
Dried coconut chips
Slivered almonds

1.) In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the chia seeds, nut mylk, shredded coconut and vanilla extract until well combined with no lumps. Let stand 3-5 minutes. Mix again before placing in the refrigerator covered for 30-45 minutes or overnight.

2.) Stir together water, yacón syrup, lime peel, and lime juice in a heavy, medium saucepan. Bring to boiling, reduce heat and simmer for 3 minutes.

3.) Add cranberries and ginger and continue to simmer for 10-12 minutes or until berries have popped and mixture starts to thicken, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and allow mixture to cool completely.

4.) To make parfaits, using a spoon layer chia seed pudding and cranberry sauce in small glasses. Top with dried coconut chips and slivered almonds.

December 3, 2016 2 comments

Breakfast & Brunch

Toast Four Ways

Who doesn’t love avocado toast? It’s definitely a simple go-to breakfast at our haus. I felt inspired to spruce up the basic avocado toast with 4 easy variations. These were made with premade sauces and roasted veggies that I picked up at our local grocery store, New Seasons, but you could definitely make them all on your own. Pack them for an on-the-go lunch during the work week, or weekend trip to the beach or forest.

If you’ve never roasted tomatoes, this is a great opportunity to give it a try. New Seasons sells them roasted and soaked in oil at the olive bar, but in the summer I love to roast my own. I will definitely be sharing a more in-depth roasted tomato recipe once tomato season is upon us, so stay tuned!

Do you have a favorite toast recipe or combination of toppings? I would love to hear some of your great ideas.

Toast Four Ways
[Serves 2-4]

8 slices of your favorite bread (I use Happy Campers Gluten Free)

Hummus, Cucumber with Lemon and Dill
2 slices of bread, toasted
4 tablespoons hummus
8 thin slices of cucumber (or enough to cover the toast)
fresh dill to garnish
a couple slices of lemon
sea salt

1.) Spread hummus on toasted slices of bread. Top each with thinly sliced cucumbers. Sprinkle with fresh dill, sea salt and juice from a slice of lemon.

Avocado and Roasted Garlic with Microgreens
2 slices of bread, toasted
1/2 an avocado
10-15 cloves of roasted garlic
microgreens to garnish
sea salt
freshly ground pepper

1.) Spread smashed avocado on toasted slices of bread. Top each with roasted garlic cloves. Sprinkle with microgreens, sea salt and freshly ground pepper.

Chèvre, Roasted Tomato with Mint
2 slices of bread, toasted
4 tablespoons chèvre
5 slices of roasted tomatoes
julienned mint to garnish
sea salt
freshly ground pepper

1.) Spread chèvre on toasted slices of bread. Top each with slices of roasted tomatoes. Sprinkle with mint, sea salt and freshly ground pepper.

Fried egg with Pesto
2 slices of bread, toasted
2 eggs, fried
4 tablespoons pesto (I used vegan arugula hazelnut pesto)

1.) Fry eggs in small cast iron pan, one at a time, over medium heat. After about 3 minutes, turn heat off and cover pan with a lid for another couple minutes to finish cooking egg.

2.) Spread pesto on toasted slices of bread. Top each with a fried egg. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, if desired.

February 28, 2016 0 comment

Breakfast & Brunch

Berry-Coconut Chia Parfaits

It’s no secret that I have an obsession with chia seed pudding parfaits. Just take a look through my Instagram feed for proof. The flavor possibilities for these things are endless. I love dreaming up new combinations (and testing them out on my husband). This one features an avocado-coconut-lime blend layered between a mixed blue and black berry chia pudding. The combination of berries and tart lime with coconut is unexplainable delicious. Literally my mouth is watering just thinking about it.

If you’ve never cut open a fresh young coconut, I highly suggest watching a few YouTube videos, like this one, before attempting on your own. It should be relatively easy after you get the hang of it, but it’s also easy to feel intimidated by the whole thing at first. There really is nothing better than drinking the coconut water that comes from these young coconuts. I buy them often for recipes like this one and to blend into our morning smoothies.

I love the crunchy raw granola topping, but you could also top this with cacao nibs, regular granola or anything else you like that crunches. Fresh blueberries and banana add to the smoothness of the avocado-coconut-lime blend. I could seriously eat this everyday and never get sick of it. Stay tuned for more chia seed pudding parfait recipes! And if you have suggestions, or any ingredients you would like to see me work with, please leave a comment below.

Berry Coconut Chia Parfaits
[Makes 2]

Berry Chia Pudding Layer
2 Tablespoons chia seeds
6 Tablespoons coconut (or any other nut, soy or hemp) milk
2 handfuls (about 1 cup) of a mix of blueberries, blackberries and black raspberries (I use this blend)
3 Tablespoons dried coconut
a small amount of the young coconut water (or nut milk) to get the mixture blended in a high-speed blender

Avocado-Coconut-Lime Layer
1-2 ripe avocados
1 fresh young coconut (or you can substitute 1-2 Tablespoons of coconut oil)
2-3 limes, depending on your taste
1-2 Tablespoons of maple syrup (optional)
a pinch of salt

Optional Toppings
Fresh berries
Sliced bananas
Dried coconut
Granola
Bee Pollen

1.) Mix the chia seeds and nut milk together in a bowl with a cover. Chill in the refrigerator for at least a couple of hours, overnight is best.

2.) Open the young coconut. Pour the coconut water into a glass or jar for drinking later. Scrape out the coconut meat and add to high-speed blender along with the avocado(s), juice from 2-3 limes, maple syrup and a pinch of salt. Blend on medium until smooth.

3.) Put the chia pudding, berries and dried coconut into a high-speed blender. Blend on medium until smooth. You may need to add extra coconut water (or nut milk) to get the blender going. Pour contents of blender into a bowl and set aside.

4.) Layer the berry pudding with the avocado-coconut-lime mixture. Top with fresh berries, granola or any of your favorite toppings.

February 13, 2016 0 comment