a fresh alternative to jam

Have you ever been in a rush for a bite as you're going out the door for work but don't want to eat a Mcwhatever.  I was in a hurry today to get out of the house to the gym before I needed to make my lunch for work, walk the dog, and clean up any messes in the house that were NOT LEAVEABLE!!!!  (I guess that's not a word)   Here is a really fresh alternative to toast and jam.  If you are trying to get rid of that tummy try this instead of the processed sugar choice of jam or jelly.  I love the fresh taste of this breakfast.

                                          TOAST AND FRUIT WITH HONEY
                                 ACCOMPANIED WITH PLAIN YOGURT AND HONEY

Simply toast a slice of an all grain bread.(all grain is important because it doesn't create an insulin response and sugar rush. )  It digests slower so keeps you full longer therefore it also doesn't cause the tummy bulge as much as a white flour or whole wheat bread.

Slice about 4 angled pieces of banana and thinly slice a fresh fig.  Layer the fruit on the toast after you have buttered it.  Drizzle just a tiny bit of honey over the fruit and serve it with a small ramikin of yogurt drizzled with honey also.  All in all a very filling breakfast that sticks to your ribs and keeps you going!!!!  No the toast isn't burnt, my phone is just not good indoors for darker pics....ENJOY

Italian inspired breakfast

To start my day I love a good breakfast, and what better than a wonderful panini egg sandwich with fruit.  To start you need great bread and really good eggs.  It is awesome if you can get farm fresh, but good organic or cage free eggs are fine.  You don't need a panini press, a hamburger weight works too, or a foil wrapped brick is just fine.  I just scored a press so I'm excited to use it.  How wonderful the modern age.....  ; - )    

THE ITALIAN PANINI EGG SANDWICH

(recipe is for one)

Ingredients:

Egg, italian sausage (spicy or mild), arugula, a really good bread, avocado, and whatever else that you like.

Some good alternatives  are onion, tomato, bacon, thinly sliced apple.

PUTTING IT TOGETHER:

Slice the bread on the thin side about 1/8+ thick.  Cut off about one inch of the sausage and take it out of the skin, then saute it until just done.  Whip an egg with a bit of water (water makes the eggs more tender and fluffier than milk) and scramble them with the sausage.  On the bread, paint each side with a bit of extra virgin olive oil ( you should use EVOO rather than light or just olive oil. Read my post from earlier about olive oil to learn more).  On the bread, place the arugula, egg, avocado, and other veggies you choose.  Place the sandwich onto the panini press or in the pan and close the lid or place on the weight.  Let cook until the bread is toasted.  Cut in half and enjoy with a favorite fruit.  OOH a nice glass of champagne would be wonderful with this.

This breakfast sandwich is so creamy with the
avacado and egg.  I loved it with banana on the side
and a great cup of coffee.

Recent meals

Hey everyone, I must apologize for no post lately.  I took a little sojourn to Washington to visit family in Aberdeen, and friends in Seattle and Bellingham.  I had a great time visiting all of my old favorite places in Bellingham and seeing one of my favorite people there and her husband.  My friends and I had a great time having wine with her (Dr. L. Backer) and then going to her house for dinner after.  We fixed up a 5 lb. bundle of Manila clams and she had a vegetarian stew already made.  It was all very tasty and I'm sure we kept her up way too late.  OH WELL!!!!   : - )  

DIAN, BRENDA, SUZIE, JILL(left to right)

Backer and me

                                                          
    
So for one favorite recent meal:   ARTICHOKE WITH QUINOA (A seed related to the beet family which is a bit larger than couscous and full of nutty flavor) MIXED WITH A CORN AND PEPPER CHUTNEY.

So for this I make the quinoa as directed on the bag....1 1/2 cups of water to 1/2 cup quinoa.  Some leave a lid on, but I usually take it off half way through.

For the Pilaf or Chutney, however you want to name it j,ust saute up your favorite stuff like fresh or frozen or even canned corn if that's all you have, with some onion, fresh garlic, sweet peppers, flat leaf parsley or whatever you like...Peas are good in it too. You can also make an herb vinaigrette to toss in instead of the veggies.  Toss it together and eat.  Quinoa is full of protein, is gluten free, has a low glycemic index and provides all of the eight essential amino acids....IT IS SO MUCH BETTER THAN Couscous in my opinion!!!!  I had it this day with a steamed artichoke.
       PREPARING THE ARTICHOKE:
Top the artichoke about 1/3 of the way down, peal the leaves away down by the stem, trim the tops of the remaining leaves off to remove the points "OUCH", then half them and remove the choke (that is the purple part).  You stick a knife in about an inch and cut along the edge of the smooth "heart" and the bottom of the choke and then pull it out.  Drop it in lemon water to keep it from oxidizing until you are ready to cook.  Place the halves in a steamer top down and steam with lid on until the leaves come off freely.  Plate the artichokes and quinoa however you like them.  Make your favorite dip for the artichoke and use the leaves to dip and then scoop up some quinoa like a spoon.  Bite the leaf with quinoa and scrape the goodie off with your teeth.   SO FUN!!!