Search results for: “breakfast”

  • What’s your Breakfast Style?

    What’s your Breakfast Style?

    What's your breakfast style?

    Let’s talk about breakfast. Are you a quick bite, out-the-door kind of person, or are you all about the full-stack pancakes?

    Whatever your brekkie style might be – I’ve got a ton of simple ideas for you to enjoy your first meal and start the day right!

    So tell me – “What’s your breakfast style?” Are you a Breakfast Gourmet, Breakfast Blase or Breakfast Quickie?


    I’m a Breakfast Gourmet. I wake up thinking about breakfast…

    You and me both! Given the choice between snoozing or eating breakfast… you’re already in the kitchen heating up the skillet! Because a leisurely breakfast is a pleasure to make time for.

    I’m all about getting up before the kids – putting on a hilarious podcast (have you listened to Mortified?) and very often, cooking up these garlicky sauteed broccoli eggs. It’s simple but amazing. Why not give it a try too!

    Garlicky Broccoli + Eggs Recipe

    Screen Shot 2016-04-30 at 8.03.53 AM

    ¼ head of broccoli / coconut oil / salt / garlic powder / onion powder / chili powder / egg

    • Prep the broccoli by peeling the top layer of the stem with a vegetable peeler
    • Cut the broccoli vertically in thin strips from the florets down to the stem, the crumbly pieces are the best part!
    • heat up coconut oil in the pan and toss in the broccoli
    • season with plenty of garlic, onion, salt and a dash of chili powder
    • when the broccoli is browned and getting soft crack an egg right in
    • cover the pan for the egg to cook

    I’m a Breakfast Blasé. I’m just not hungry in the mornings…

    That’s ok! You don’t need to eat right away. How about starting the morning with a drink to kickstart your system?

    Sometimes our body is still waking up and it just needs a little boost in the mornings…

    Screen Shot 2016-04-30 at 8.26.16 AM

    A pot of Inspiration Tea would do the trick.

    If you’re a coffee drinker, my Cold Brew recipe is a must-try!!

    Or, try my nutritionist Pooja’s morning drink called Feed Your Gut Beautiful. It has apple cider vinegar and a pinch of chili. Wooo it’s got a kick!

    Something this simple can give you renewed energy and more motivation for the day ahead.

    Remember, even if you don’t eat right away, you can still prepare yourself a grab-and-go breakfast for when you’re hungry in an hour or two. Try this Sunshine Bowl. It packs well, so you can you take it to go.

    Or you can blend up a smoothie and keep it in the fridge for later.

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    My nutritionist recommends adding a tablespoon of nut-butter or avocado to your smoothies for energy-giving protein. Check out the Green Smoothie Upgrade recipe.


    I’m a Breakfast Quickie. I can do toast, or a bowl of cereal…

    I get it! Some mornings, I’m not in the mood to cook, but a good breakfast doesn’t mean you need to.

    My favorite nutritionist gave me a great tip that I want to share with you – it’s changed the way I think about breakfast…

    Screen Shot 2016-04-30 at 8.30.57 AM

    Have leftovers.

    Last night’s soup, stew, brown rice and roast chicken…. Yes! That would make a far better breakfast for you than a crummy piece of toast – and all you need to do is warm it up.


    If you’re part of the breakfast club, I want to know – what are you cooking up in the mornings? What’s your breakfast ritual? 

    Let us know in the comments below – and don’t forget to hit those share buttons and share the breakfast love!

  • Breakfast Bowl: Peanut Butter Oatmeal Recipe

    Breakfast Bowl: Peanut Butter Oatmeal Recipe

    Second-Helpings-Oatmeal-TITLE

    I first heard about Tannie, creator of Second Helpings, because of her hand-crafted peanut butters. She sweetens them with honey and mixes in flavours like cacao, vanilla and coconut – and if you’ve ever tried it –  you’ll know why it’s called Second Helpings!

    We connected on our love for food – and when she told me about her oatmeal bowls, drizzled with peanut-butter, topped with fresh fruit – forget about it! I was desperate to try it!

    Tannie is just as lovely as her creations! She invited us into her shop, HIVE to show us how to make a Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bowl – so that we can all start the day feeling happy as a bee. I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I have, which is more than I care to admit! ha!

    Let’s look at the ingredients:

    Second Helpings Peanut Butter Oatmeal Ingredients

    This is less of a recipe and more of a reminder. A sweet reminder that oatmeal makes the best breakfast!

    For slower mornings, you can make it hot and fresh in 15/20 minutes.

    Or for a quick, on the go breakfast – make a big batch of oatmeal and serve it up into glass jars, with all the toppings. Store them in the fridge and it will last 4-5 days!


    Second Helpings Oatmeal-31


    Second Helpings Oatmeal-5



    Second Helpings Oatmeal-11


    Second Helpings Oatmeal-15

    Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bowl Recipe

    We topped our oatmeal with peanut-butter and fresh fruit, but you are the boss of your bowl – so choose toppings that you love! It couldn’t be easier to make, here’s how:

    ingredients:

    • 1/2 cup rolled oats
    • 1 1/2 cups water
    • milk of choice

    toppings:

    • good quality peanut-butter (check out Second Helpings)
    • sliced banana
    • blueberries
    • raisins
    • … or what ever makes you happy

    directions: 

    • bring 1 1/2 cups of  water to boil
    • add in the oatmeal and cook for 10 minutes
    • once the oats are tender and  have absorbed most of the water, turn off the heat
    • blend in some milk – depending on how creamy/dry you like it
    • serve the oatmeal in a bowl ( or into individual jars ) oatmeal is equally good hot or cold!
    • place your toppings
    • enjoy!

    Second Helpings Oatmeal-8


    Living in Singapore? Head over to the Marketplace to find the best eco-shops and make your own healthy oatmeal bowls at home! Click here to discover more!

  • A Breakfast Trick to Make The Best Eggs!

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    You’ve got perfectly cooked eggs and beautiful crispy hash-browns, all in one pan. Key word: one-pan! Serve this up for a weekend breakfast – your family will think you’re some of kind of genius! I’ve been making single serving portions in my mini pans, but I have a sneaking suspicion that you could do a larger batch of hash-brown, and crack in a few eggs to make one big serving.

    PS – I’m considering trying this recipe with sweet potato… what do you think? Either way, it’s so easy – so delicious – give it a try!

    5

    Start by grating a raw potato into a bowl of cold water. Let it sit there as you prepare the pan, get out the eggs… give it a good few minutes, it helps with getting a crisp in your hash brown. Some say you should wait 30 minutes… maybe go take a shower and come back? 🙂

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    Drain and rinse. You want your potato to be completely dry before you cook it up. You can do this with a towel, a salad-spinner, but I think the best way is to grab a fist full and squeeze!

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    Then it’s just a matter of heating up your pan with a knob of butter, or a spray of vegetable oil. Cook up the grated potato, season it well and give it about 5-7 minutes on each side until golden brown. It takes a bit of time, but don’t rush this part – that crunch is crucial.

    Definitely make a mess and get bits of potato everywhere – as demonstrated below. Once it’s nice and ready – you just crack in the egg. Couldn’t be easier. I put a lid over the pan, so that I don’t need to flip my egg – it cooks perfectly that way.

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    It’s that simple. Looks impressive on the plate, but couldn’t be easier to make. It does take a bit of time to cook the hash brown, if 15 minutes is long – but you could be making a pot of coffee, cutting up some fresh fruit… planning out your day. For me, it’s a lovely way to spend my time in the morning!

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    Perfect – that’s just how I like my eggs! But that’s just me – I’d love to know how you cook yours! Take a picture and share it on Facebook or Instagram #littlegreendot so we can all see!

  • Super Toast for Breakfast

    Super-Toasts

    For the first years of marriage, my husband and I ate buttered toast every single morning. Not because we were lazy or boring –  we just love toast. It wasn’t necessarily great for our energy levels or our waistlines though. Now that we eat mostly green shakes and healthy breakfasts, we can see the difference that breakfast choices make.

    I think breakfast is more than just the food you eat – it can be a daily ritual, your time to lay down healthy intentions for yourself. When you start the day by making the choice to feel your best, it sets the tone for a good day.

    Now, there’s nothing wrong with a bit of toast – but our version of it has gotten an upgrade! Check out these three Super Toast recipes – they’re easy to make, delicious and with ingredients that will leave you feeling your best. I really hope that you give them a try!

    Toast

    Without question you want to use the best bread available to you – sprouted breads, Ezekiel bread or a beautiful fresh loaf from a good baker. Or try this recipe to make your own 5 minute bread!  That’s your base – now we add colors….

    Here are 3 ideas I think you’ll love!

    Avocado Smash

    Avocado-Nutritional-Yeast

    Have you tried nutritional yeast? It’s an odd ingredient – it’s deactivated yeast. Sounds like space food – but it’s actually incredibly delicious and a good source of B12. It has a bit of a cheesy flavour, I use it in my cheesy kale chips recipe.

    ingredients:

    • avocado
    • chili flakes
    • nutritional yeast
    • salt & pepper

    method:

    • mash half an avocado and smear it on your bread. Sprinkle your toppings on!

    the Better PB&J

    Chia-Toast

    Chia jam is too easy not to try! It’s ready in 15 minutes – or you can make a batch and eat it throughout the week. It’s great on toast, but also over yogurt, with some granola or any other way you could imagine eating jam. On this toast, we’re smearing it over some nut-butter, for a nutritionally dense P&J!

    ingredients:

    • 10 strawberries
    • 1-2 tbsp honey or sweetener of choice
    • 2 tablespoons chia seeds

    (if the honey doesn’t sweeten it up enough, add a pinch of stevia or sugar rather than more honey – otherwise it can overpower the flavour a bit. Unless you like that…)

    method:

    • chop your strawberries in small pieces and cook them over the stove with the honey or sweetener until it breaks down, about 5 minutes. Pour into a container and add in the chia seeds. Into the fridge for about 10 minutes, or until it sets.

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    Looking to buy chia seed in Singapore or internationally? Check out these two great options:

    • Singapore: get chia seeds delivered via Foodsterr.com. Get 10% off any order with the coupon code LGD10 at checkout.
    • International: order chia seed from iHerb.com. $5 off to first-time customers, with great delivery prices (incl. to Singapore).

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    Tahini-Banana Bread

    Tahini-Toast

    Tahini is ground sesame seeds, which is incredibly high in calcium. It makes a lovely spread, especially when dressed up with a little honey & spice! You can also use up your tahini to make hummus and creamy salad dressings.

    ingredients:

    • tahini
    • cinnamon
    • honey
    • banana

    method:

    • spread tahini over toast. Drizzle plenty of honey and sprinkle on some cinnamon. Top the whole thing off with a few slices of banana.

    Hope this inspired some good ideas for your next breakfast. Also check out my 3 Breakfast Bowls and you’ll be set all week. Make the choice, every morning to feel your best!

  • 3 Breakfast Bowls // A Healthy Week Challenge

    breakfastbowls

    What do you think, would you be in for a bit of a challenge: one week of healthy breakfast…

    I’m talking fresh spinach & roasted veggie salad on one day, maybe some quinoa, passionfruit compote and coconut milk on another – then how about a creamy green breakfast smoothie…

    Who wouldn’t feel amazing, starting the days with all that good-for-you food!

    But then again…who has time for all that?

    I’ll tell you, with a little smart cooking,  the answer is: you!

    Not only are these breakfast bowls seriously delicious, you won’t believe how incredibly quick they are make. It has to be, right!

    Check out the cooking tips below to help make the morning process easier on you… so that you can recapture the mornings  – and feel your best all throughout the week!

    Sunshine Quinoa Bowl

    quinoa-bowl quinoa-tip

    This recipe was inspired by the book, Whole Grains. It’s a twist on the oatmeal bowl, using quinoa instead – which works surprisingly well! Hopefully you have passionfruit handy. You could probably get away with a good passionfruit jam – I think the tropical flavours really make this recipe… or just toss in what ever fruit you have. The point is, make it! 🙂

    Sunshine Quinoa Bowl
    ingredients:

    • coconut milk from a box or a can
    • passionfruit
    • honey
    • flaked coconut

    directions:

    • prep ahead – cook a big batch of quinoa according to the packet instructions
    • prep ahead – make your own passionfruit compote, just scoop it out into a pot. Add your choice of sweetener to taste and reduce over low heat until it becomes thick and jammy. About 5 minutes. You can make a larger amount and store it in the fridge for 5 days.
    • serve yourself a bowl of quinoa. pour in the coconut milk like it’s a cereal.
    • add your toppings, spoonfuls of passionfruit compote and coconut flakes.
    • drizzle with honey to taste
    • tip: you can eat this dish cold!

    Roast Veggie Breakfast Salad

    RoastVeggies veggietip

    This is your hearty, I’ve had a rough night –  a long day ahead – I need some serious nourishment meal. This salad bowl could pass for lunch or dinner – but it still makes a quick breakfast. I highly recommend that you start the habit of roasting a tray of veggies every Sunday – it’s so easy to add them into your meals throughout the week.

    Roast Veggie Breakfast Salad
    ingredients:

    • roasted veggies
    • fresh spinach
    • egg
    • sprouts, seeds – any salad toppings you like
    • dressing (try yogurt + Sriracha)

    directions:

    • prep ahead – roast a tray of veggies
    • set an egg to boil
    • fill your bowl with fresh baby spinach
    • top it off with roasted veggies and your salad toppings
    • place the egg on top and drizzle with your favorite dressing
    • tip: try a creamy dressing of yogurt + hot sauce!

    Breakfast Smoothie Bowl

    smoothiebowlbananatip

    This smoothie blends up in seconds and taste like something you should be eating for dessert. It’s thick like a yogurt – it’s fresh and full of healthy fat, protein and potassium to keep your body fuelled and your mind alert!

    Breakfast Smoothie Bowl
    ingredients:

    • 1 banana
    • 1/2 avocado
    • juice from 1/2 lemon

    directions:

    • blend your ingredients together until creamy
    • top it off with some crunchy coconut flakes
    • tip: slice pieces of pear or persimmon to use like an edible spoon!

    What do you think? Are you in? Let’s recapture the mornings so that we can all feel our best, and be our best!

    enjoy
    Here’s Jolin tucking into the Roasted Veggie Breakfast Salad. We demolished all three bowls…. 🙂

  • Breakfast Salad

    Breakfast-Salad

    I’ve been on a major salad kick recently – I’m even craving it in the mornings! Which is why I call this one my Breakfast Salad – It’s colourful and cheery, satisfying and nourishing… I love eating it out of my big wooden bowl and just – feasting. I always feel full, but still with tons of energy, and that’s a great way to feel after eating a big meal! Especially first thing in the morning with the whole day ahead of you…

    The cherry tomato dressing is so rich in flavour and easy to make. You can even make a jar of it the day before and just keep it in the fridge. But, it will be cold – so really, I just make it fresh as I cook my eggs…

    If you think salad for breakfast is a bit odd – give this one a go, it may just convert you!

    Make-a-Breakfast-Salad

    Breakfast Salad

    salad ingredients: 

    • mix of greens: spinach, butter head lettuce, rocket
    • fried egg cooked in a drop of coconut oil, well seasoned with salt and pepper. Or poached, or boiled..

    cherry tomato dressing ingredients: 

    • 1 cup cherry tomatoes (they’re sweeter than regular tomatoes, so we don’t need to add sugar to cut the tartness)
    • 1/4 of a small onion
    • 1 garlic clove
    • 1/4 of a whole red bell pepper
    • squeeze of fresh lemon juice
    • salt & pepper to taste
    • optional: pinch herbs de provence (I’m obsessed with this blend)

    cherry tomato dressing directions: 

    • in a blender, mix all of the ingredients, expect for the dried herbs
    • blend until it becomes a sauce consistency
    • add the herbs and give it one pulse to distribute – we don’t want them to grind down to much or it will be too strong in flavour

    salad assembly:

    • toss your mixed greens in the dressing
    • place them in a bowl and top with your egg
    • enjoy!
  • Infused Maple Syrup and Breakfast in Bed

    This Valentines, let’s start our day with one of the most loving gestures of all – a homemade meal! You’ll feel warm and happy with the scent of vanilla, maple syrup and a little butter wafting from the kitchen! Yum! My heart is already melting 🙂

    Valentines-Breakfast-In-Bed

    If you’re thinking – I don’t have time in the mornings – You can whip up this breakfast in 15 minutes! Here’s how: make a batch of “instant” pancake mix the day before. This recipe is a basic one that always works for me. If you want big fat, mile high pancakes – check out how I make them here.

    Make-Breakfast-In-Bed

    The star of this breakfast is the Vanilla Infused Maple Syrup (recipe below) and you can make this the day before too! Clever you!

    I hope you give this a go – do it for yourself, or surprise someone special in your life! Make time for it – love is worth celebrating!

    Vanilla-Maple-Syrup

    Vanilla Infused Maple Syrup

    ingredients: 

    Directions: 2 methods (slow) or  (fast)

    • For a slow infusion: place one vanilla pod in a jar of maple syrup. Within a week the flavour will develop and continue to intensify.
    • For a fast infusion: cut a vanilla pod in half and mix into the maple syrup. Heat over a gentle flame and bring the maple syrup to a gentle simmer. Turn down the heat, and keep warm for another  10 minutes until the aroma of vanilla is coming through. Remove the pods (keep them – grind them up to make a sugar body scrub!) Store the leftover Vanilla Infused Maple Syrup in the refrigerator. Your maple syrup will be speckled with black vanilla seeds – this is totally fine and adds to the flavour – if you don’t want them there, strain the maple syrup through a coffee filter

    photography by: FellowFellow for Little Green Dot

  • Breakfast Bliss

    What’s the best meal of the day? My vote, hands-down: breakfast. Which means that Christmas breakfast has to be the best meal of the year! You’ve got your friends and family around, everyone’s still in their pajamas – on a high from opening up presents and the smell of coffee and eggs cooking is butter is in the air… heaven!

    If you want to make an extra-special breakfast – Check out this video from Beth of Kin Community – I’m obsessed with her simple menu ideas. You’ll get tons of inspiration!

    On the menu:

    • Homemade Hot Chocolate with Gingerbread Whipped Cream
    • Pecan Sticky Buns
    • Cranberry Walnut Bread with Homemade Honey Butter
    • Super Simple Caprese Frittata with Roasted Potatoes
    • Winter Citrus Salad with Cinnamon Syrup

    PS – Don’t limit yourself to Christmas breakfast only on Christmas day – or for that matter – breakfast only in the morning! We needn’t live by labels!

  • Interactive Meals + Breakfast Crêpes

    build-a-crepe

    Kids (and adults) eat a lot of junk food. But, let’s be honest – it’s hard not to, the junk food industry has made it their business to make their food attractive. So how do I get my family to eat more healthy? This is a BIG question for most of us, but I believe we’ll have a lot more success if we ask it a bit differently: How do I get my family to LOVE eating real food?

    The trick is to make healthy foods as fun and impactful as the boxed stuff.  How do we do it? Create moments centered around fresh, whole foods. Remember, the goal is not just to get them to eat it – but also to build a life-long, healthy relationship with real food. Think about how happy a kid gets when you give them a lolly. Do you want to know how to make them that happy to get a plate of fruit? Here’s one of my favorite ways to do just that – Interactive Meals!

    girls-interactive-breakfast

    This interactive crêpe breakfast is perfect for lazy Sunday mornings. It takes no time to prepare, and all morning to eat!

    interactive-breakfast

    We use this basic recipe to make our crêpes. It’s simple, yummy – it’s a winner. Now, the fun part are the fillings. Think in colours, textures and flavours to excite your kids! In my house it’s all about lemon and sugar or berries and maple syrup. Our youngest adds a little of everything.  And here’s the important part: even if they only go for the sweet syrupy stuff, it doesn’t matter at all, because it’s about the experience you are creating for them. Viewed through their eyes: they wake up to a table full of beautiful fresh foods, like a colourful wonderland. They get to choose their own toppings, build it as high as they want. They get to squish berries and get their little fingers all purple and red. They play and eat – and here’s the best part – they’ll connect that image of fresh, whole foods –  with memories of fun and happy moments. That’s a big win for the Real Food team!! 

    favorite-crepe-filling

    Here are some ideas for your crêpe buffet: 

    • lemon
    • fresh fruit cut in small pieces
    • dried fruit
    • yogurt
    • crème fraîche
    • nuts – slivered or ground
    • peanut butter (or any nut butter)
    • maple syrup
    • sugar crystals
    • home-made “chocolate” sauce

    Happy eating!

  • Happy Mondays + Breakfast Forts

    pancakefort

    How was your weekend? Mine was a perfect balance of a night out with the hubby followed by a lazy morning in with the girls. A big breakfast was definitely in order, and since we’re big fans of making forts around here, we decided to have breakfast… in a fort. Why not, right? Keeps things fun! Hope that you have a great week ahead!