Tag Archives: breakfast

Healthy Veggie Omelette

Breakfast, Lunch and Light Meals, , , , , , , ,

Healthy Veggie OmeletteI normally think of an Omelette as something for  breakfast, but with the addition of more vegetables it can also be a great light meal or lunch. While this variation uses zucchini and spinach, you can pretty much use any vegetables you like to use up what you have left over in your fridge.

Ingredients

  • 4 eggs, beaten
  • 100ml coconut milk
  • 1 red onion, finely chopped
  • 1 garlic clove, finely chopped
  • handful of mushrooms, chopped
  • handful of cherry tomatoes, chopped
  • 1 carrot, finely chopped
  • sea salt
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/2 Tbsp dried Italian herbs (thyme, oregano, mix)
  • 1/2 tsp dried oregano
  • large pinch of ground paprika
  • 150gr baby spinach
  • handful of cashew nuts, roasted and chopped
  • large pinch of dried chilli flakes
  • coconut oil to cook
  • Pan that can be placed in the oven (no plastic handle)

Directions

  1. Heat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius (350 degrees Fahrenheit)
  2. Beat the eggs and coconut milk together in a bowl and set aside.
  3. Add all of the chopped vegetables (mushrooms, tomatoes and carrot) to the pan, and fry on a medium heat for a couple of minutes until softened.
  4. Add salt and pepper, Italian herbs, oregano and paprika and stir well.
  5. Add the spinach and toss until slightly wilted.
  6. Sprinkle over the cashew nuts
  7. Add the egg mixture and sprinkle the chilli powder over the top. Fry until it starts to set.
  8. Transfer the pan to the oven and bake for 5-10 minutes until the egg is set through. You can check by inserting a fork into the Omelette, it should come out clean when it is cooked through.
  9. Serve with a simple lettuce salad.

Music to go with it…
Listen on Spotify: Hozier – Take me to Church

Nutty breakfast “muesli”

Breakfast, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Nutty breakfast Muesli

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but not the easiest when you are trying to avoid processed food. We have become so conditioned to toast with spreads, or muesli with yoghurt that we hardly think of other options for breakfast.

While our Sago Porridge has become our standard breakfast, the one we make without thinking, it is really nice to have some variation, especially variation that can be made ahead of time and whipped up quickly before work. Because let’s face it, it isn’t as though we suddenly found a whole heap of extra time when we changed our lifestyle, but we did prioritize food and cooking our own meals over television time 🙂

This breakfast muesli was actually created by our son (6). He wanted to make breakfast for us, and started looking through the pantry for things to put in it. Together with Barry he pulled out all of these ingredients, and then with the help of Papa he put them together for our breakfast. It was really good, and worthy of including here. Enjoy!

Ingredients

  • 20g cashew nuts, chopped
  • 20g pinenuts, chopped
  • 20g blanched almonds, chopped
  • 20g shelled pistachios, chopped
  • 1 tsp coconut oil
  • 20g goji berries
  • 2 apples, chopped
  • 4 pitted dates, chopped
  • 1 dried fig, chopped
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • good squeeze of lemon juice
  • pinch of sea salt

Directions

  1. Toast the nuts in a frying pan together with 1 tsp of coconut oil until they are golden brown and crispy. Remove from the pan. Sprinkle with a pinch of sea salt. (Note: This can be made in larger quantities and stored in an airtight container to use later if you like.)
  2. Chop the apples into bite sized pieces. Place in a bowl. Sprinkle with cinnamon and toss to coat all of the apple pieces.
  3. Sprinkle over a squeeze of lemon juice. This will stop the apples from browning.
  4. Chop the dates and fig and add to the nuts.
  5. Stir the nuts mix through the fresh fruit and serve.
  6. it would also be nice to add some fresh blackberries, blueberries, or cranberries to the mix as a variation.

Music to go with it…
Listen on Spotify: Moke – Let it burn

Paleo Eggs Benedict

Breakfast, , , , , , , , , ,

Paleo Eggs Benedict

Some mornings call for a hearty breakfast. Living in New Zealand, Eggs Benedict is a classic that you find on almost every cafe menu, and for which you find almost as many variations. This one uses mushrooms instead of bread, and you could add grilled or smoked salmon or pan fried bacon to this recipe if you like.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Prepare the mayonnaise using the homemade mayonnaise recipe.
  2. Mushrooms: Cut out the stems of the mushrooms to give an open well. Sprinkle with sea salt, freshly ground black pepper and a little olive or coconut oil
  3. Cook the portobello mushrooms in an Air Fryer for 5 minutes at 200 degrees Celsius (400 degrees Fahrenheit), or in a hot oven for 10 minutes at 200 degrees Celsius (400 degrees Fahrenheit).
  4. Eggs: You can either boil or poach the eggs. I found it easier to boil them as I didn’t have to watch over them and could prepare the rest at the same time. Boil the eggs for 6 minutes in a pot of boiling water (for eggs that are still a little runny), or poach them until they are cooked to your liking.
  5. Wash the spinach in leave to sit in a draining colander.
  6. Asparagus: Heat a grill pan over a medium to high heat. Trim the ends off the asparagus. Sprinkle the asparagus with a little sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. Cook at a medium high heat for 4 minutes, stirring frequently to avoid burning. When the asparagus is cooked, remove it from the pan.
  7. Spinach: In the same pan that you cooked the asparagus in, add the spinach (which should still be a little damp, but not wet from washing it) to the pan and stir quickly. It will cook rapidly in the steam of the water that you used to wash it in. Cook it only long enough so that it wilts. Do not overcook. It will take about 1 minute.
  8. Putting it together: Place the portobello mushrooms on a plate. Spoon 1/4 of the spinach into each of the mushrooms. Shape the spinach a little to make a little well if you have boiled the eggs so that they do not fall off. Top each mushroom with the peeled boiled egg, or poached egg. Drizzle over some homemade mayonnaise. Grind over a little more black pepper and a sprinkle of sea salt. Serve with the grilled asparagus for a hearty breakfast.
  9. Serves 2 people.

Music to go with it… we’ve paired it with another kiwi classic – Bic Runga
Listen on Spotify: Bic Runga – Anthology

Rice Cakes with Avocado Spread, Parma Ham, and Eggs

Breakfast, Snacks, , , , , , , , , , ,

Rice crackers with guacamole, parma ham and boiled egg

When we stopped eating bread we had a gap to fill – those mid afternoon hunger moments, or a quick lunch or breakfast. This recipe has become one of our fall back ones. The avocado spread will keep in the fridge for a couple of days, so you can use it more than once.

Ingredients

Avocado spread

  • 2 Avocados, peeled and seed removed. Roughly chopped
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • handful fresh coriander
  • 1 large green chilli, stalk and seeds removed
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp salt
  • a couple of turns of freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 Tbsp olive or avocado oil
  • sumac

Directions

  1. Put all the “avocado spread” ingredients except the sumac in the blender. Blend until smooth.
  2. Add to a bowl and sprinkle over the sumac.
  3. Cook the eggs in boiling water for 6 minutes until softly boiled, but no longer runny.  (You can choose to cook a little longer or shorter according to your personal preference).
  4. Spread a generous amount of the avocado spread over the rice crackers.
  5. Top with a slice of parma ham.
  6. Peel the eggs and slice into 5mm slices. Place 1 egg on each of the rice crackers.
  7. Serve with some freshly ground pepper, and a little sprinkle of sea salt.

Music to go with it…
Listen on Spotify: French for Rabbits – Spirits

 

Gluten Free Breakfast Muffins

Breakfast, Treats, , , , , , , ,

Breakfast muffins

These are delicious muffins that are perfect for a snack or for breakfast. The combination of figs and cranberries makes them both rich and sweet.

Ingredients

  • 2-3 ripe bananas
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 Tbsp ghee
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • seeds of half a vanilla bean
  • 1/2 Tbsp grated (desiccated) coconut
  • 1/2 cup sifted coconut flour
  • 5 dried figs, chopped into pieces
  • handful of chopped cashew nuts
  • handful frozen or dried cranberries

Directions

  1. Pre-warm the oven to 180 degrees Celsius (350 degrees Fahrenheit)
  2. Mash the bananas in a bowl.
  3. Add eggs and ghee and mix well.
  4. Add cinnamon, baking soda, salt and vanilla. Mix
  5. Add grated coconut, mix.
  6. Add coconut flour and mix well
  7. Add the figs and cashews and stir through. 
  8. Half fill the muffin cups with batter, and add some cranberries before filling the cups
  9. Sprinkle with a little coconut on top for garnishing
  10. Cook at 180 degrees Celsius (350 degrees Fahrenheit) for 20-25 minutes

Music to go with it…
Listen on Spotify: Beck – Morning Phase

 

 

 

 

Sweet Potato Rosti with Fried Egg and Avocado

Breakfast, Lunch and Light Meals, , , , , , , , , , ,

Sweet potato hash with fried egg, avocado and parmaham

This sweet potato (kumara) rosti has become a firm favorite in our home as a light meal for either lunch or breakfast. It is substantial enough to be filling, but easy enough to make that it has become one of our “tried and true” fall back recipes when we don’t really feel like deciding what to cook. Let’s face it, we all have those moment sometimes.

Ingredients

  • 2 large sweet potatoes peeled and grated
  • 1 red onion, chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp pimenton / smoked paprika
  • 1/2 tsp dried oregano
  • 1/2 tsp dried thyme
  • 1/2 tsp dried rosemary
  • ghee to cook
  • 4 eggs
  • slices of parma ham or bacon
  • fresh mint, chopped
  • 3 spring onions, chopped
  • few fresh thyme sprigs
  • olive oil or avocado oil to garnish
  • 1 fresh avocado, sliced, chopped in chunks
  • rocket leaves
  • A pan that can also be put into the oven to grill

Directions

  1. Heat the grill to 220 degrees celsius (circo-roast on our oven – uses top and bottom element)
  2. Place the grated sweet potato in a tea towel and wring strongly to remove the excess water.
  3. Combine the sweet potato, onions, garlic, paprika, dried herbs, salt and pepper in a bowl and stir to combine. Add two of the eggs and stir to combine.
  4. Cook the parma ham in the oven at 200C for 10 minutes until crispy.
  5. Add a little ghee in a pan and add enough of the sweet potato mixture to the pan to cover the bottom. Press down the rosti to form a cake with the back of a spoon. Cook for 5-10 minutes until the edges start to appear golden.
  6. Place the pan in the oven under the grill and cook for around 8 minutes until the top becomes crispy
  7. In the meantime fry an egg
  8. When the sweet potato is ready transfer to a plate. Place an egg on top, sprinkle with fresh herbs, spring onion, avocado, and the parma ham. Sprinkle with a little olive or avocado oil.
  9. Serve with a sprinkle of extra salt and pepper and some rocket leaves.

About Sweet Potatoes:
The sweet potato is an edible tuberous root that is long and tapered, with a smooth skin whose color ranges between yellow, orange, red, brown, purple, and beige. It is only distantly related to the potato and does not belong to the nightshade family. Its flesh ranges from beige through white, red, pink, violet, yellow, orange, and purple. Sweet potato varieties with white or pale yellow flesh are less sweet and moist than those with red, pink or orange flesh.

The origin and domestication of sweet potato is thought to be in either Central America or South America. In Central America, sweet potatoes were domesticated at least 5,000 years ago. In South America, Peruvian sweet potato remnants dating as far back as 8000 BC have been found. In New Zealand the sweet potato is known by the Maori name of Kumara, while in parts of North America it is referred to as “yams” although Sweet potatoes are botanically quite distinct from yams.

Music to go with it…
Listen on Spotify: Marissa Nadler – July

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Vietnamese Crepes with Prawns

Breakfast, Lunch and Light Meals, , , , , , , ,

Vietnamese prawn crepes

Vietnamese cooking is delicious, fresh and full of flavour. This recipe is great either for breakfast or for lunch.

Ingredients

  • 100g rice flour
  • 200ml coconut milk
  • 1 tsp ground turmeric
  • 200ml water
  • 2 spring onions, finely chopped
  • 1 red chilli, finely chopped
  • pinch of himalayan rock salt
  • 3cm ginger, chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • 1 onion or large shallot, finely chopped
  • 12 large prawns, shelled and deveined
  • 1 carrot, julienned (finely sliced into sticks)
  • 1 cucumber, julienned (finely sliced into sticks)
  • large handful fresh coriander, finely chopped
  • salt and pepper
  • few drops hot sesame oil
  • 2 eggs, beaten

Directions

  1. Mix flour, coconut milk, turmeric, water, spring onions, chilli, ginger, garlic, and salt in a bowl.
  2. Heat a little oil in a frying pan and fry the onion until golden brown.
  3. Add 3 prawns and a few tbsps of egg and stir to scramble the eggs and cook the shrimp.
  4. Pour a thin layer of batter into the pan and top with a handful of carrot. Cover and let cook for 2-3 minutes until cooked through.
  5. Remove the lid and cook for 1.5 minutes more.
  6. Top with pepper, salt, a handful of cucumber, a handful of coriander, and a few drops of hot sesame oil to garnish. When the crepe is crispy remove from the pan and fold in half.
  7. Cook the remaining crepes according to the above instructions one by one.
  8. Serve with a little salad leaves for breakfast or lunch.

Music to go with it…
Listen on Spotify: Future Islands – Singles

Sago and Coconut Porridge with Fresh Fruit

Breakfast, , , , ,

Sago and coconut porridge with fresh berries-4

One of the most difficult things we found in adapting to our new lifestyle was “what to do with breakfast?” I mean, how do you do breakfast without toast or muesli? As a child growing up my mother used to make a sago pudding. It was a rich and creamy treat, and I thought we must be able to adapt it into a breakfast porridge. This has become our go to start of the day.

Ingredients

  • 300 ml of water
  • 75ml sago pearls
  • 50ml grated (desiccated) coconut
  • 100 ml coconut milk
  • 2 bananas, sliced
  • 1/4 tsp cinnamon
  • Fresh fruit, like strawberries, blueberries, mango, papaya

Directions

  1. Combine the water, sago pearls, coconut, coconut milk and banana in a little sauce pan and bring slowly to the boil. Keep stirring as it will quickly stick to the bottom of the pan.
  2. As soon as the porridge has reached its desired consistency – after 5 to 10 minutes – take the pan of the heat and transfer the porridge to a bowl.
  3. Sprinkle over the cinnamon, top with the fruit of your choice and add a little splash of coconut oil for some extra creaminess.

About sago
According to Wikipedia, Sago is a starch extracted from the spongy centre, or pith, of various tropical palm stems, especially Metroxylon sagu. It is a major staple food for the lowland peoples of New Guinea and the Moluccas, where it is called saksak, rabia and sagu. A type of flour, called sago flour, is made from sago. The largest supply of sago comes from the East Indies. Large quantities of sago are sent to Europe and North America for cooking purposes. It is traditionally cooked and eaten in various forms, such as rolled into balls, mixed with boiling water to form a paste, or as a pancake. Sago is often produced commercially in the form of “pearls”. Sago pearls can be boiled with water or milk and sugar to make a sweet sago pudding. Sago pearls are similar in appearance to tapioca pearls and the two may be used interchangeably in some dishes.

Music to go with it…
Listen on Spotify: Norah Jones – Good morning