Fried Eggs with Spanish Chorizo and Potatoes

RaisingFayeFriedEggsChorizoPotatoA

It tastes 1000x better than it looks – and it looks pretty delicious.

I absolutely adore José Andrés’ original recipe for Huevos Fritos con Chorizo y Patatas and thought in celebration of the day of love, I would make a less spicy version for Faye so that she too, could bask in the glory of its tastiness. (The original dish doesn’t use black beans and calls for regular white potatoes.) Using sweet potatoes in place of the white potatoes definitely cuts the spiciness of the chorizo enough so Faye will eagerly scarf down her portion.

As the original and this adaptation may be the best brunch dishes that I’ve ever eaten, I highly recommend that next weekend you grab yourself some friends, some eggs and chorizo, and enjoy one of the best breakfasts in the world. You are very welcome. Continue reading

Healthy Baby: Raspberry Protein and Probiotic Smoothie (with Dairy-Free version)

RaspberryProbioticSmoothie.jpg

Nutritionally dense, fabulous tasting, quick to make, and travels well. What more do you need?

We try to head out to a park or playground to burn some energy and get some fresh air twice a day: once after breakfast and once after afternoon nap. Faye is famished after running around for an hour or two, and tends to chow down on a ton of snacks on our walk back to the house.

Faye is a phenomenal eater, but I’ve been feeling more and more like she’s been filling up on these after-play snacks rather than her main meals, making it all the more important that the snacks I do provide are healthy and nutritionally dense (which is easier said than done – especially when they need to travel well). Hence, this smoothie.  Continue reading

Bacon Cornmeal Pancakes Smothered in Whipped & Salted Browned Honey Butter and Bourbon Maple Syrup

Bacon Cornmeal Pancakes

What’s better than a side of bacon with your pancakes? Bacon IN the pancakes!!!!

Five years ago today the northeast was recuperating from a massive blizzard. And, five years ago today Marcus and I were married outside in the snow with our dog, a photographer, and an intern named Ed as our witnesses.

Our anniversary wasn’t quite as impulsive or spectacular as our elopement, but these bacon cornmeal pancakes sure did make the morning memorable.

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Blueberry Cashew Smoothie

Blueberry Cashew Smoothie

Quick and simple blueberry cashew smoothie for breakfast.

At my last acupuncture session, I realized just how little I was eating and promised my acupuncturist at Two Tiger Acupuncture (these guys are amazing) that I would make a much greater effort to eat three meals a day and go to bed earlier. In the three days since, I’ve eaten more in those 72 hours than in the entire week prior.

As a proclaimed breakfast hater, I needed to find foods that I wouldn’t just make and stare at from a distance. I was on a mission to find seven tasty foods that were quick and easy to make and that I wouldn’t mind having on a weekly basis. The Booby Boosting Dark Chocolate and Cherry Oatmeal quickly took up that first spot. I loved the Nutella French Toast Sandwiches, but I was searching for something a tad more nutritious than bread and chocolate. Then it hit me–SMOOTHIES!!!

I love a good smoothie. Not only do they fit the super quick & easy to make category, but they are easy to drink while I’m busy with a five month old, and as a BONUS do not, in any way shape or form, represent a traditional breakfast. They can also be packed full of nutrients, and this refreshing Blueberry Cashew Smoothie is no exception.

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Nutella French Toast Sandwiches

Nutella French Toast Sandwiches

For some reason I woke up thinking today was Saturday. My mind immediately went to brunch and French toast as I had been pondering French toast for the past few days. See, we never, ever have loaves of bread in our house. I’ve never been a big fan of bread, especially the ones that have any sort of decent shelf life, so I rarely pick up a loaf. But, when Marcus went to the store to grab some food before the blizzard he purchased not one, not two, but THREE various “loaves” of plastic wrapped pre-sliced “bread.” (He was all about an exceptionally large jar of Nutella that he found at the end of an aisle and wanted to play it safe.)

With this much fake bread lying around, you could most likely understand why I’ve been thinking about French toast. And, when you live in New York, you must do brunch on the weekends or I think they kick you out. So, it being (at least in my mind) Saturday, close to noon, and with three loaves of pre-sliced bread at my fingertips, I had at it.

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Booby Boosting Dark Chocolate and Cherry Oatmeal

Oatmeal with Dark Chocolate Chips, Cherries, Flax Seeds, and Pumpkin Seeds.

Dessert for Breakfast: Oatmeal with Dark Chocolate Chips, Cherries, Flax Seeds, and Pumpkin Seeds.

Let me put this out there early on in this blog: I hate breakfast. I dislike most “breakfasty” type foods. If I can wait until lunchtime to eat, I do. If it’s anywhere close to noon, I will hem and haw until a feasible lunch time rolls around.

There are those times when it’s 8 or 9 am, I’m starving, and there is nothing in the house for me to eat, so I must look to a breakfast food. A breakfast food that is quick and easy to assemble as well as easy for me to get down without gagging.

Last week, after one such day, I stumbled upon this beauty. Not only is this oatmeal quick and easy, but it is absolutely delicious!!!! I find myself looking forward to breakfast when I awake.

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