An Unconventional Early Morning Brunch after having a writing epiphany in the wee hours of the morning…

It’s been one of those weekends when I just shake my head and wonder…..how could I possibly think that I could do without at least one cup of java during the weekend?

Yes, it has been my attempt to minimize the amount of caffeine consumed by this human body, but this morning, after having had a writing epiphany in the wee hours of the morning, I reached for the extra large container of Cafe Bustelo’s Instant Espresso in the cupboard….just getting a whiff of the aroma woke up my gray cells….but I was in the midst of making scrambled eggs with what I could find in the fridge, and then thought….I am having scrambled eggs and I know that I will accompany it with a cup of almond milk espresso….why couldn’t I add just a tad of coffee to the scrambled eggs mixture? Yes, it was one of those kinds of mornings!

And so I added in a little less than a 1/4th of a teaspoon of coffee to my scrambled eggs. You read that right! And when I took a bite….let’s just say that there are no leftovers whatsoever!

Have you ever tried adding coffee to your scrambled eggs??

About the slices of toast, let’s just say that was the outcome from the baking that took place yesterday.

I had been previously drooling, yes, drooling over Paul Hollywood’s version of green olive breadsticks, so I ran over to my local supermarket and purchased 5 lb. of bread flour, as it just beckoned me to attempt making breadsticks, something that I have never made before. I have made bread numerous of times, but never breadsticks. How difficult could it be?

Did I say that I didn’t have any coffee this weekend? That must have been why I reached for my bin of all purpose flour instead of the newly purchased bread flour, and used 1 kg/2 lbs. of apf for the olive bread! Yes, it dawned on me after I made the bread!

So there I was with my cell phone, reading the recipe and following it, or so I thought. My dough was way more “liquidy” than Paul’s version, so I opted to do the unconventional. Instead of attempting to form breadsticks with ultra wet dough, I formed a shape into which I included green olives, and a second one, which I included black olives, placed it on a Silpat, and into the oven they went for about 40-45 minutes, a bit longer than what the recipe calls for. If you read his recipe, you will be able to tell that I was not following it!!!

As the bread baked, the aroma started wafting through the apartment, beckoning me back to the kitchen. Of course I had to take a look, and decided to leave it in the oven a little longer, as I could tell it needed just a wee more time to come together.

So fast forward to this morning. I do not normally find myself at the laptop at 3 in the morning, but that is where I was. After the writing and editing spurt, I made my way back to bed, where I dropped off to sleep once again, to wake up about 4 hours later. And then my stomach grumbled, so I made my way to the kitchen after putting on some clothes. Yes, as crazy as it sounds, we just had 86 degrees which dipped to the 60’s, so it felt chilly this morning. And thus ensued my unconventional brunch, which was absolutely delicious!

Thank you, Paul Hollywood, for the inspiration…so glad I made it my way, as when I took a look at the strange colored scrambled eggs (due to the coffee, of course!), I opted to slice some of the green olive bread and toast it….and need I say more? It was absolutely delicious from the very first crunch.

How are you celebrating your weekend?

Best Valentine’s Day Lunch….

My body asked for a healthy lunch today, and what best way to love my body than to mix green veggies together?

Chicken sautéed with onions, spinach, and broccoli

I did not have a clue as to what awaited me when I opened the refrigerator door this morning. I knew that cleaning out the fridge was on my to-do list but I didn’t plan on it being the first item to tackle. I reached for a can of my favorite bubbly water when something caught my eye. I found myself taking out everything and stared aghast at the sight of what was all over the third shelf….it appeared as though chocolate cocoa and homemade soup had gotten together and decided to create a new drink, which was now congealed on the glass. It wasn’t pretty. I found myself taking everything out and cleaning every item, as well as wiping down the entire shelf, and then the other ones as well, while I was at it.

After the refrigerator cleaning, it just made sense to continue with laundry, and as it was nearing lunch time, I went back to the fridge to take out chicken, fresh spinach, and broccoli. In extra virgin olive oil, I sautéed one large chopped onion, and sprinkled Trader Joe’s South African Smoke Seasoning Blend on the onion, and then after placing the spinach on top of the onions, on the spinach, and on the chicken, and lastly on the chopped broccoli. I love this mix. It contains paprika flakes, sea salt, garlic, and basil. What more could you ask for?

This dish was easy, fast, and super healthy besides really delicious. I did not miss having a carb with this dish.

My dessert? Keeping it all green, I chose a kiwi, and enjoyed every bite!

What have you eaten this Valentine’s Day?

Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia!!!

What a weekend…..

Yesterday I found myself in the kitchen, with less than an hour before my class would begin, as I had a hankering for one of my all time favorite cookies, an oatmeal-cranberry cookie! I love these cookies, and wanted something sweet, but not too sweet, so I changed my standard recipe. Instead of adding in chocolate chips, I added two heaping tablespoons of dark organic cocoa to the mix and added in chia seeds as well! These cookies turned out to be a hit, as they are not so sweet, but very filling and fulfilling just the same, and a fast baking cookie….in less than 40 minutes, I made 4 dozen oatmeal-cranberry-chia cookies. It’s a great treat with a hot cup of green tea or coffee.

Did you know the word “chia” is the ancient Mayan word for strength?

Then this morning I wanted something different, so I created a breakfast smoothie with almond milk, one banana, one teaspoon of pomegranate molasses and Chia Seeds! Fastest turnaround with a Vitamix, and this smoothie was gone in an instant…..it was that good!

Chia seeds are an excellent source of fiber, which means that one oatmeal-cranberry-chia cookie is filling!

I will definitely be using chia seeds in many recipes this 2021!

What is your go-to new ingredient for the year?

Heart Healthy Sunday Brunch

I love brunch…..it’s a great mid-morning early-afternoon meal that can hold you over till evening. This morning I wanted to include some greens, so chopped fresh spinach and green onions went into bowl with 2 eggs mixed with almond milk, just a tad of crumbled bacon, and a twist of Himalayan pink salt and black peppercorn. Served the scrambled eggs over an English muffin and a few green grapes…what more could I ask for? It was accompanied by an almond milk coffee…yum, healthy and filling, my Sunday brunch was truly yummylicious!

What did you have for brunch today?

A Fruity Turkey – a new adventure for Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving I tried a new method for the turkey I made. After listening to how a friend was preparing her turkey, I thought…why not try a new style? So instead of placing stuffing in the turkey, I used orange slices wrapped in bacon and lemon in the turkey. It was tender and definitely delicious!

How did you bake your turkey this Thanksgiving?

Za’atar infused Turkey Picadillo with Carrots and Cilantro

Yes, it’s a Za’atar weekend! I love to make picadillo and using turkey makes it lighter and healthier, so I started off with one chopped red onion, allowed it to cook for a little bit with a dash or two of Himalayan pink sea salt and freshly grated black peppercorn, then included the ground turkey with a healthy tablespoon of Annato and Za’atar, and let it cook for a few minutes. Then added shredded carrots, plenty of freshly squeezed lime juice, and finally added in the cilantro.

I just love this dish! It’s great hot or cold, and even when I take it out of the fridge, I do not need to heat it up for it to be good. You can eat it by itself, or with plantain chips, which is how I like it, or you can serve it over basmati rice, pasta, or a potato. Lots of options with this versatile, quick and easy dish that is bound to be a favorite with many! Try it and let me know what you think…..

Hankering for Baking time in my kitchen!

Yes, that is homemade bread…and not just any kind of homemade bread; it’s the first homemade bread to which I have added the mighty Za’atar spice!

Za’atar is here to stay as a new go-to spice for adventurizing in my kitchen!

I followed the simple recipe for fresh baked bread but incorporated a heaping tablespoon of Za’atar into the mix….and me, oh my. Yes, it really ramped up the taste of the bread. It gave it a new perspective. And two slices with sharp cheddar cheese made me a happy camper!

What new thing are you trying in your daily diet?

If you are wondering what in the world is that green spread on the Za’atar homemade bread slice, it’s my spinach pesto! I found that the tanginess of the lemon-garlic spinach pesto went so very well with this new style of homemade bread, which I will definitely be making again in the future!

The Amazing World of Za’atar!

Sounds like a new mystical Disney world where the impossible is possible, right? What exactly is Za’atar and what makes it so special?

Za’atar is a Mediterranean spice used in vegetables and meat dishes. Badia, a wonderful seasoning brand, calls the addition of Za’atar to your dishes a “culinary experience”. I call it a door to a new flavor profile that awakened my senses to what it must be to wander through a Middle Eastern bazaar or open square, where dishes are made to order, and the combination of earthy flavors come together giving me quite the culinary experience, as it is not a seasoning that is well known in either Uruguay or Miami. It was one of my creative friends (Bless you, Marsha!) who knows just how much I love to “adventurize” in my kitchen that brought this seasoning into my life, and I welcomed it like a long lost friend.

Za’atar is commonly made from dried thyme, oregano, Sumac, and sesame seeds. But just like many other herb combinations, each Middle Eastern region has its own ingredient combination. The Badia brand Za’atar lists its ingredients as a mix of sesame seeds, sumac, spices, canola oil and sesame oil. How is it that this flavor composition resonates within me? I find an affinity with Middle Eastern foods, and in the last few years have truly enjoyed many Turkish dishes at Shiraz Bistro in Miami.

If you have never tried this spice, what could you compare it to? It is alike to a nutty flavor, so some may add it to their homemade hummus. I love making hummus, so the next time that I make hummus I’ll add some in and see just how it elevates the garbanzo flavor.

I was researching a bit on this spice and according to the Ham Towne Spicery, they state on their website that Za’atar has some impressive health benefits, including its ability to improve the immune system, boost skin health, build strong bones, increase circulation, and boost your energy, among other benefits.

Hippocrates, one of the forefathers of modern medicine, used Za’atar to treat “everything from the common cold to bronchitis as early as 5th century BC”. Years later, Maimonides, a renowned 12th century physician, had similar success with his use of Za’atar based treatments! This is quite fascinating.

So I found myself in my kitchen wondering what I could make with Za’atar….what I could add it to…..what could ramp up the flavors in one of my own recipes…

Stay tuned to read about my cooking adventures with Za’atar!

My love affair with Onions! aka Saturday Brunch Celebration…..

What is it about this vegetable that even though it makes my eyes tear up, I still chop, chop, chop?! Its aroma, its amazing flavor….the wonderful accompaniment alongside other ingredients that elevate a simple quiche to an experience….quite simply, an onion’s caramelization makes me happy. Yes, onions make me happy, even though they make me cry. Quite a conundrum, wouldn’t you say? But I will not give them up!

In celebration that Hurricane Isaias is not going to visit South Florida, as soon as I came home from running early morning Saturday pre-storm errands, I found myself in the kitchen, chopping a large white onion as I envisioned an onion and potato Spanish style quiche. Off came the outer layer, and I continued cutting it, even though my eyes were irritated by the syn-propanethial-S-oxide the onion released when I chopped it.

I sauteed the onion and chopped some leftover mini red potatoes into small pieces, as well as a third cup of bacon.  As soon as the onion started caramelizing, in went the potatoes with a dash of Himalayan Pink salt, a teaspoon of ground rainbow peppercorns, and the bacon.  In a bowl, 5 large eggs were beaten with 3/4 cup of almond milk, as well as one teaspoon of salt and pepper.  As soon as the onions, potatoes and bacon were cooked through, they were placed in an oven safe quiche plate, covered  with half a cup of chopped parmesan cheese, and the egg mixture.  It cooked for 45 minutes at 375 degrees. I could smell the wonderful aroma emanating from the kitchen, as I did some housekeeping.

Needless to say, I rushed to put together a colorful plate so I could finally take a bite of this amazing onion quiche, and did not withhold a sigh of wonder at the flavors that burst on my palate.  The combination of the caramelized onions, with the potatoes, bacon, eggs and cheese was amazing and so filling! I will certainly make this again, as it was quite delicious. And yes, in case you are wondering, I just had one slice. It was enough, alongside 1/2 of a meat empanada, a few cherries, grapes and one kiwi. A cup of cafe au lait with almond milk finished this wonderful brunch.

What did you have for lunch today? Happy Weekend, everyone!

 

 

The Father’s Colorful and Fragrant Love

There is something about this flower that beckons me closer to observe the beauty of each petal. The array of fuchsia with the stroke of white brightens God’s masterpiece, a vibrant display of His creation.

I know it is a real flower, but even up close it looks like a painting! How beautiful.

And it all began with a tiny seed. A seed planted by my mother, a lifelong gardener, who loves to care for her many plants and flowers that grace her colorful garden….a total rainbow of colors adorning each part of her home, from the front lawn to the backyard, a myriad exhibit of the love she has for gardening.

This flower did not bloom overnight. It took time for the seed to germinate, absorbing water from the soil, which triggered root growth. From the roots, shoots developed and as they started growing, they broke through the ground, allowing the plant to harvest energy from the sun.

What did it really take for this flower to bloom? Warmth, water and oxygen, and time, of course.

These flowers flourished under my mother’s care. On a daily basis, she watched over them, watering and moving the pots so they would receive the best lighting. I can only imagine her joy at watching the shoots grow and develop into tall stems, with small buds that later opened to become gorgeous colorful petals of flowers adorning her garden.

Joy. Yes, that is what I see when I watch my mother walk through the garden picking up leaves, making sure there are no snails munching on her plant’s leaves, alongside satisfaction when she mows the lawn. A well kept garden that appeals to both children and adults, when people walk in the neighborhood, they stop to take pictures, admiring nature’s beauty.

I see it as a glimpse into God’s love. Psalm 139 speaks of how “God made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous – how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed,” verses 13-16.

Just as God took the time to create a wide variety of seeds which transform into beautiful flowers, He decided to bring you and I to the world through our parents. How amazing it must have been for our mothers to have felt that very first inkling that led them to acknowledge they were carrying life in their wombs! And then to see and feel, on a daily basis, the changes in their bodies as they accommodated to the growth within. The changes were not just physical, but emotional as well. And then the day arrived when they were rushed to the hospital, as their bodies let them know it was time for their babies to be born. What a beautiful representation of a parents’ love, of God’s love.

And thus we came into the world, wailing at being thrust outside the womb into our own space. Just as the shoots broke through the soil and started to grow becoming stems, we also grew strong as we drank our mother’s milk, from crawling to starting to walk upright, until we’re running, having gained strength and confidence in our ability to balance, which allows us to make choices of where we want to be and how to get there.

Our physical transformation takes years until we become an adult; a flower’s full transformation to its peak takes weeks or months.

Where is the beauty found? Where is the love? It’s in the process. Just as the seed drank the water through the soil, and our cells reproduced.

We are a work in process. Philippians 1:6, And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

Just as we physically came into the world, we also entered a spiritual world. When we acknowledge Jesus Christ as our personal Savior, we receive the Holy Spirit, Who lives within.

Some people struggle with the concept, as they say they can’t see Him or touch Him or have a conversation with God. I say He’s all around us.

He’s in the transformation process. He’s in the Bible, and He’s in the people that believe in Him. That is where you can see Him, and hear from and about Him.  He’s also in the still and small voice of silence.

Psalm 46:10 Be still and know that I am God.

Take a moment to take a deep breath, and release. He’s right there with you, in that space, in that moment. It’s His love that maintains you, just as it is the elements that He created that support flowers and plants.

Father, thank You for Your amazing love which You shower us with through nature and the people who surround us. Bring us to a deeper awareness of Who You are and Who we belong to. In Your Son’s most precious name, Jesus Christ, Amen!