Chocolate Mocha Power Parfaits

December 31, 2018 by Veronica Kablan in At Home

Friends, tomorrow is a new year. The holidays are over. 2018 has come to a close. And do you know what that means? It’s time to pay penance for all those Christmas cookies we devoured over the last month, and clean up our dietary acts.

This year, I’m resetting my eating habits and focusing on gut health with the help of internet nutrition guru Robyn Youkilis, whose recipes and meal plans support the digestive system with healthy, probiotic-rich foods, like fermented vegetables, kombucha, and yogurt. My favorite recipe thus far is what Robyn calls the “Power Parfait,” which combines yogurt, oats, chia seeds, and protein powder to create a delicious, nutrient-packed breakfast that is super easy to assemble, and can be make in big batches for the entire week. It kind of feels like dessert, really, which makes “cleaning up your act” feel more like fun and less like torture (especially this version, which uses a chocolate-mocha flavored protein powder - yum).

Fortunately, our friends at Milk & Eggs carry tons of amazing healthy products that will fit in with just about any New Year’s resolution - whether that’s focusing on gut health (like me), following a specific diet, or just incorporating more whole foods into your daily life. You’re covered.

Be sure to check out Robyn’s original Power Parfait recipe, because it’s super customizable and fun to play with. And if you do, let us know what you come up with!

Chocolate Mocha Power Parfaits

Serves 2

Ingredients:
1 cup plain, unsweetened yogurt of choice (we love Kite Hill)
1 package chocolate mocha protein powder
1/2 cup quick-cooking oats
2 tbsp chia seeds
1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk

Toppings:
1/2 cup homemade granola
1 cup mixed fruit of choice, like berries, cherries, oranges, pomegranate
fresh mint
toasted sliced almonds

Method:

Combine yogurt, protein powder, quick-cooking oats, chia seeds, and almond milk in a mixing bowl and stir until well combined. Place in the refrigerator to rest for 15 minutes or overnight (or, eat immediately if you’re in a hurry).
Divide the mixture into two small bowls, and add toppings as desired. Have fun with it!

Recipe adapted from Robyn Youkilis

Chocolate Mocha Power Parfaits by Brunchographers

Groceries for this post were kindly provided by Milk & Eggs, our favorite grocery delivery service! All opinions are our own.

Maple Cranberry Harvest Granola, by Brunchographers

Maple Cranberry Autumn Harvest Granola

November 13, 2018 by Veronica Kablan in At Home

I LOVE GRANOLA. Truly, I can’t say this enough. I put it on everything, or just eat it on its own. My favorite recipes are liberal with the salt, creating that heavenly combination of sweet-meets-savory. A granola in my house will always have plenty of nuts, and will never have raisins. Never, never, never.

One thing I like to mix up in my granola is its texture. Sometimes I love a super-crisp, crunchy sort; one that needs a long bath in almond milk before you can sink your teeth into it. Other times, I’m into a softer granola with a higher moisture content, almost reminiscent of a museli, with a pleasant contrast between crisp, toasted nuts and a soft, sweet fruit (except raisins, never raisins). This recipe is the second kind.

If you have read many of our blog posts, you already know that we are pretty obsessed with two things: Fall harvest season and Milk & Eggs grocery delivery. This recipe is the perfect meeting of the two - we ordered up a bunch of our favorite fall treats, tossed them together with some spices and yummy grains, and baked ‘em low and slow until this yummy, festive granola was born.

There are some options here for modification, so feel free to play around. For one, if you don’t have fresh cranberries (or you don’t like their super-tart flavor as much as I do), you can swap out the fresh ones for 1 cup of dried cranberries. Or, if you’re one of those raisin people, you could swap out for those, too… just don’t tell me about it. Nuts and seeds are endlessly interchangeable, so are the fats (maybe try all olive oil or even coconut), so have fun with it! That’s what granola is all about.

Maple Cranberry Autumn Harvest Granola

Serves 7 - 10

Ingredients:
3 cups old fashioned rolled oats
2 cups cooked quinoa
1 cup raw pecans
1 cup raw pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
2 cups fresh cranberries (or 1 cup dried, if sweeter flavor is preferred)
3 small sweet apples (like Honeycrisp), chopped
1/4 cup butter or vegan butter
1/2 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup almond butter
1/4 cup apple butter
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp salt
2 tbsp honey

Method:

Preheat oven to 325° F, and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, combine the oats, cooked quinoa, pecans, pumpkin seeds, cranberries, and chopped apples.
Place a small saucepan over medium-low heat, and warm the butter until melted and foamy. Remove from heat and stir in almond butter, apple butter, maple syrup, and vanilla extract. Add the pumpkin pie spice mix and salt, and stir until smooth and well incorporated.
Pour the warm butter mixture over the dry oat mixture, and thoroughly stir to combine, ensuring that everything is well incorporated.
Spread the granola evenly across the prepared baking sheets, and bake for 30 - 40 minutes, tossing the mixture and rotating the pans halfway through the baking process. Once the granola is crisp on the edges, and the fruit is fully cooked, remove from oven, and drizzle 2 tbsp honey over the hot granola. Allow granola to cool completely before serving or storing*.

*because this recipe contains fresh fruit, it’s best to eat it within a few days of baking. It can also be stored in the fridge to extend its life, if desired.

Recipe adapted from Half Baked Harvest

Groceries for this post were kindly provided by Milk & Eggs, our favorite grocery delivery service! All opinions are our own.

Apple and Turkey Grilled Cheese with Caramelized Shallots

October 29, 2018 by Veronica Kablan in At Home

Friends, I have a very serious question for you: at what point is a cheese-filled grilled sandwich no longer a “grilled cheese”? How many non-cheese things can you really stuff into said sandwich, exactly, before you can no longer call it a “grilled cheese” with a straight face?

This grilled cheese sandwich will probably get some flack for having too many non-cheese ingredients. And that’s okay. Because no matter what you want to call it, this sandwich is really delicious.

Caramelized Shallots, by Brunchographers

With sliced apples and apple butter, and crispy, caramelized shallots, this little number is a perfect (and super quick) way to celebrate fall. What makes it really special, though, is how it marries sweet, salty, bitter, and tangy flavors together into one heavenly bite - it’s a pretty blissful experience, really.

Groceries from Milk and Eggs for Apple and Turkey Grilled Cheese with Caramelized Shallots, by Brunchographers

Quality of ingredients is truly paramount here, as each element shines through so proudly, so be sure to select the freshest possible components. We ordered our groceries for this recipe from Milk and Eggs, where we could get good organic cheese, freshly baked local sourdough, and tart honeycrisp apples. Have fun with the ingredients and mix it up if you like; this would be delicious without the turkey if you’re vegetarian, or with pears if that’s what you have on hand, or with fig jam and provolone instead of cheddar and apple butter. It’s endlessly customizable, really. What’s most important is that you have fun, and never listen to what anybody tells you about there being rules for grilled cheese sandwiches. Because that’s just silly.

Apple and Turkey Grilled Cheese with Caramelized Shallots

Makes 2 Sandwiches

Ingredients:
1 tbsp olive oil
2 shallots, thinly sliced
4 slices sourdough bread
2 - 3 tbsp butter
2 tbsp dijon mustard
2 tbsp apple butter
2 slices sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 apple, sliced very thin
2 - 3 slices oven roasted deli turkey breast
1 cup arugula
Sea salt

Method:

Begin by caramelizing the shallots. In a medium skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-low heat. Add the shallots and stir to coat in the oil. Add a pinch of salt, and sauté until golden brown and crisp on the edges, about 15 minutes. Set aside.
Preheat a clean skillet or griddle over medium-low heat.
Spread two slices of bread with apple butter, and the other two slices with dijon mustard. Place a small, compressed handful of arugula on top of each of the dijon bread slices, followed by a slice of turkey. Layer 3 - 5 apple slices on top of the turkey, then about 2 tablespoons of the caramelized shallots, and then a slice of cheese. Place a slice of the bread with apple butter on top of each and press firmly. Spread the outside of each slice of bread with a bit of butter.
Melt 1 tbsp of butter in the heated pan, and swirl around to coat the entire surface. Cook each sandwich for 2 - 4 minutes on each side, or until the cheese has melted and the outside is golden brown. Slice in half and enjoy warm.

Recipe inspired by Dolly and Oatmeal

Groceries for this post were kindly provided by Milk & Eggs, our favorite grocery delivery service! All opinions are our own.

French Toast with Balsamic Strawberry Sauce

August 14, 2018 by Veronica Kablan in At Home

I have this problem with buying too many strawberries. It happens every year when strawberry season hits - I see them lined up so beautifully at the market, perfectly plump and glistening, and I can't resist buying them by the crateful. Unfortunately, my eyes are usually bigger than my stomach, and before I know it, I've got a half-eaten box of strawberries that's about to go south. Is this just me?

To assuage my berry-related guilt, I've been experimenting with the best ways to use them before they go bad - I found that freezing them for later use in smoothies is an uncomplicated solution, roasting them can make for an unexpected dessert when paired with vanilla ice cream, or making a simple jam with them can make you feel like the accomplished farm wife you've always dreamt of being (again, just me?). Or, if a dressed-up, sexy brunch dish is what you're after (and lets be real, that's what we're all after), you can simmer them slowly with butter, maple syrup, and a touch of balsamic vinegar, and pour them over some custardy French toast. It's basically like going to strawberry heaven.

For this recipe, I called upon the grocery-delivery angels at Milk & Eggs to bring the ingredients right to my door - including Bread Lounge's Walnut Loaf, a perfect petite rustic loaf that's chock full of walnuts and has a firm, chewy texture. If you use a dense loaf like this, be sure to give the slices ample time to soak up the egg mixture - you want to make sure the centers are nice and custardy!

French Toast with Balsamic Strawberry Sauce

For the French Toast:
1 loaf Bread Lounge Walnut Loaf (or similar small loaf of bread)
2 eggs
½ cup almond milk
¼ tsp vanilla bean paste (or vanilla extract)
1 tbsp butter or neutral oil

For the Balsamic Strawberry Sauce:
2 cups strawberries, sliced
¼ cup maple syrup
2 tbsp butter (or margarine if dairy-free)
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar

To serve:
Whipped cream
Additional sliced strawberries
Powdered sugar

Method:

Begin by preparing the strawberry sauce. In a medium skillet or saucepan, heat butter over medium-low heat until melted and bubbling. Add the 2 cups of sliced strawberries, and saute until softened, about two minutes. Add maple syrup, balsamic vinegar, and salt, and stir to combine. Reduce heat to low and simmer until strawberries have partially broken down and sauce has thickened. Remove from heat.
Next, prepare the French toast. In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, almond milk, and vanilla bean paste. Set aside.
Slice the walnut loaf into one-inch-thick pieces. Slowly dip each slice of bread into the egg mixture, allowing some time for the mixture to soak into each slice (tip: I like to let each slice rest in the mixture for a minute or two, to ensure it soaks all the way into the bread).
Heat the 1 tbsp butter or oil in a large nonstick skillet or griddle over medium heat. Fry bread slices for 2-3 minutes per side, until golden brown and crisp on the edges.
To serve, reheat the strawberry sauce if it has cooled. Top the French Toast with additional fresh sliced strawberries, a generous pour of the strawberry sauce, a sprinkle of powdered sugar, and a dollop of whipped cream. Enjoy!

Groceries for this post were kindly provided by Milk & Eggs, our favorite grocery delivery service! All opinions are our own.

Peaches + Cream Chia Pudding Parfaits

June 21, 2018 by Brunchographers in At Home

It’s official - as of today, summer is here! Sunny days lie ahead, full of picnics, beach trips, and of course, plenty of vibrant summer produce. The arrival of peaches in the markets was the first fragrant sign of the season’s change, and we couldn’t help but pile heaps of them into our shopping carts (both real and virtual, thanks to Milk & Eggs grocery delivery).

If the summer heat already has you dreading getting into the kitchen, these cool and satisfying chia pudding parfaits are for you - they’re a great way to dress up your breakfast and take full advantage of all those peaches you may or may not have hoarded, and there’s absolutely no cooking involved. Plus, you’ll crush your hunger through lunchtime by loading up on protein, fat, and fiber. Feel free to swap out for a plain yogurt of your choice - vegan or lower/higher-fat varieties will work well, though take note that Greek-style will hold up best for a pretty swirl effect on top. If more protein is what you’re after, try mixing in your favorite vanilla protein powder to the vanilla “cream” (but be sure to reduce maple syrup quantity to account for a sweetened powder).

Peaches & Cream Chia Pudding Parfaits

Ingredients

For the Peach Yogurt Chia Pudding layers:

1 container plain Greek Yogurt (we used Wallaby)
1 medium peach, cubed
2 tbsp chia seeds (we used Navitas)
1 tbsp maple syrup

For the Vanilla Bean Yogurt “Cream” layers:

1 container plain Greek Yogurt (we used Aussie)
1 tsp maple syrup, or more to taste
1/2 tsp vanilla bean paste

Toppings:

1 medium peach, chopped
2-3 tbsp sliced almonds, toasted

Method

1. Begin by preparing the Peach Yogurt Chia Pudding. Place one container yogurt, cubed peach, maple syrup, and chia seeds in a small food processor or blender, and process until the peach is completely puréed and the mixture is smooth. (Note: some chia seeds may remain whole depending on the type of processor you use, and that’s ok! The mixture will thicken either way.) Decant mixture into a container, cover, and refrigerate overnight.

2. To make the Vanilla Bean Yogurt "Cream," add maple syrup and vanilla bean paste to yogurt and mix well (you can do this directly in the container). Add additional maple syrup if desired for a sweeter flavor. Chill until ready to assemble parfaits.

3. To assemble, alternate adding peach yogurt chia pudding, vanilla bean yogurt, and chopped peach and almond toppings into two serving containers to create a layered effect. Serve immediately.

Makes two servings.

Enjoy!

Groceries for this post were kindly provided by Milk & Eggs, our favorite grocery delivery service! All opinions are our own.