It’s no secret: breakfast is my favorite meal of the day.
Why? I’m not sure. It could be that–with time–I’ve come to be a morning person, and treasure those first still moments of the day where nothing is tainted, and anything can happen. New beginnings, each morning. And I love waking up slowly, taking my time in the kitchen, savoring a spicy cup of chai or a rich cup of coffee while catching up on readings. But I’ll be honest. My mornings aren’t usually like this. I’m often running behind, having taken a bit too long in the gym or shower, or pressed the snooze button one too many times. I run out the door frantically to catch the morning shuttle, and thus begins another day of frenzied activity.
So breakfast is my take-back. It is my way of relaxing and enjoying the moment, even when it’s on the go or thrown together in a flash. Are you a breakfast lover too? If not, I encourage you to rediscover it! Putting a special spin on your first meal of the day–even if it’s just by trying something new– is guaranteed to put a smile on your face. And starting the day with a smile–especially on Mondays–well, that can make all the difference in the world.
Wondering where to get started? Here are three that I’ve especially enjoyed:
1. Green Smoothies
Green smoothies–also known as Green Monsters by many in the blogosphere–were first introduced to me by my sister, who found out about them from one of her friends. Word travels fast about good food, my friends. GMs are a breakfast staple for me, and are especially refreshing in the steamy months of summer (aka May-September in the South). Scared to drink your spinach (or kale, for the daring at heart)? Don’t be! With a tinch of fruit, you won’t even know it’s there. If the green color deters you, take a cue from Mama Pea. 🙂 There are a ton of recipes out there, and the best thing to do is to start experimenting to find the flavors you like best. Here is my favorite:
“When Monsters Dream of Figs” Green Smoothie
Ingredients:
2-3 cups of spinach
1 small cucumber (or 1/2 medium or large)
2 large dried turkish figs (or 3-4 small mission figs), chopped and stems removed
1 1/4 cups of unsweetened almond milk
1 tbsp chia or flaxseeds
4-6 ice cubes
Directions:
Blend all ingredients together except ice. After the mixture begins to look smooth, add your ice in. This makes a lot, so grab someone you love to share!
I certainly did.
2. An Unlikely Porridge
Last year, after reading about Adina Niemerow–a holistic chef who leads detox programs in California–in Food and Wine magazine, I promptly ordered her book, “Super Cleanse”. NPR saw it lying around and started poking fun at the “hokey detox info written by some…” He paused when he flipped the book cover over, saw Adina’s picture and reluctantly finished his sentence: “…amazingly gorgeous person.”
Now, I’m not much for detoxes…I think a better and wiser choice is to make healthy eating choices every day, which is precisely why I love Adina’s book. Along with making some excellent recommendations should you want to embark on a detox, she offers a plethora of recipes and detox regimes that range from hearty and healthy everyday food to the very stringent juice-only fasts. One of my favorite recipes is this grain-free fruit and nut “porridge”…Delicious!
Apple-Nut Breakfast Porridge
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons coarsely chopped raw nuts, such as almonds, hazelnuts or Brazil nuts, soaked overnight and drained
1 Granny Smith apple—peeled, cored and coarsely chopped
2 dried white figs, coarsely chopped
1/4 teaspoon chopped fresh ginger
1 teaspoon dried goji berries
1/2 teaspoon ground flax seeds
Directions:
In a food processor, grind the nuts. Add the apple, figs and ginger; pulse until chunky. Transfer the porridge to a bowl. Top with the goji berries and ground flax.
3. Sushi…for breakfast
No, not that kind of sushi! I’ve been a big fan of Gena’s for a while, and when I saw her recipe for breakfast sushi a while back, I put it on the docket to try. I won’t lie…initially I thought that combining collards and bananas–especially first thing in the morning–might approach my limitations for healthy + tasty. To my surprise and delight, this was scrumptious. Even better? It’s a flash in the pan…great for those mornings on the go!
Breakfast Sushi from Choosing Raw
Ingredients:
1 banana
1 large Swiss chard, collard, kale, or romaine lettuce leaf
1 tbsp almond butter
Stevia
Directions:
1) Cut the thickest part of the stem of the collard leaf out. This will serve as your wrapper. ***Gena’s site has an excellent tutorial for this!
2) In a small bowl, mix the almond butter with a packet of Stevia, or 7-9 drops if using bottled. I use NuNaturals Stevia and love love love it! Adjust to your desired level of sweetness and spread the almond butter along the center of the leaf.
3) Cut the banana in half, and line it up along the center of the leaf.
4) Fold up the bottom edges and wrap up burrito-style.
Eat, and marvel.
***
There you have it–three treats to brighten your mornings. Happy creating!
tuesdays with muesli 