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| Smoked Salmon, Avocado and Poached Egg |
Fed up of my usual bland breakfasts, I decided to revamp my
morning routine. With myself firmly in
the night owl category rather than the morning lark, the thought of crawling out
of bed 10 minutes earlier to whip up something new initially filled me with
dread. So, I started by experimenting at the weekend or on my day off. It was
amazing what a positive effect a balanced breakfast had on my mood and energy
levels, and I soon got into the habit each day.
With time precious during busy mornings, I wanted to share a
few quick, tasty recipes which will spice up your breakfasts. Start treating
yourself to something that tickles those taste buds and gives you the energy that
you need to take on your day!
Smoothie
Mathematics
Smoothies take
seconds to make, so there really is no excuse during those busy mornings. Try my
winning formula to make a glass full of goodness:
Fruit + Green + Yoghurt + Water + Powder
ü
Fruit
– Use 2-3 portions to count towards your ‘5 a day’. Bananas are great for
making the smoothie more filling.
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Green
leaves – A handful of spinach or kale increases the nutritional benefit,
without affecting the fruity flavour.
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Yoghurt
– 2 tablespoons of natural yoghurt provide a dose of dairy.
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Water
base – Coconut or aloe vera juice are my current favourites. This enables
you to tailor the smoothie’s consistency to your preference.
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Powder
– A scoop of vitamin or protein powder gives an extra nutritional hit. Visit
your local health food store for options. I love baobab; high in vitamin C and
adds a citrus tang.
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| Mixed Berries, Coconut and Vanilla Smoothie |
Berry ‘American
Style’ Pancakes
Set your clock 10 minutes early for these. Stack them high
and top with honey, crème fraiche and extra fruit.
(Makes 6)
1)
Put 100g self-raising flour, ½ tsp. baking
powder and a pinch of salt into a mixing bowl.
2)
Add ½ beaten egg, then 150 ml milk slowly,
constantly whisking to make a thick pancake batter.
3)
Carefully stir a few handfuls of mixed berries
into the batter.
4)
Add a dollop of batter to a greased frying pan,
cooking for a few minutes until bubbles start to appear on the pancake and form
holes that stay open, and the base is golden brown. This is important to ensure
your pancakes are light and fluffy.
5)
Flip over and cook for a few minutes on the
other side. Use a large frying pan so that you can cook multiple pancakes at
once.
6)
Add the toppings of your choice and tuck in!
Eggy Bread Toastie
Try this melt-in-your-mouth toastie to keep you going until lunchtime:
1)
Butter 2 slices of wholemeal bread on both
sides.
2)
Coat 1 slice thoroughly in beaten egg and place in
a hot greased frying pan.
3)
Sprinkle the bread with grated cheddar cheese
and chopped red onion. Add whatever other fillings you fancy, including cooked
meats or other vegetables.
4)
Coat the 2nd slice of bread in beaten
egg and place on top to make a sandwich. Press down in the pan.
5)
Cook for a few minutes until the base is golden
brown. Carefully turn over and cook the other side until golden and the cheese
has melted inside. Definitely beats boring
toast!
Homemade Granola
Make a big batch in advance, adding a handful to a bowl of
yoghurt and chopped fruit for a quick breakfast that still packs a punch.
1)
Place seeds of your choice into a bowl. I find
sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds and chopped walnuts work well.
2)
Add honey and use your hands to coat the seeds
evenly.
3)
Spread the seeds out evenly on a baking tray and
cook for 15-20 minutes at 160⁰C.
4)
Leave to cool, before combining with dried
fruit, such as cranberries and chopped apricot. Store in an air-tight
container.
Shake up your morning menu today and I guarantee you won’t
look back.
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| Breakfast Rainbow! |
Keep an eye out for my next post!
Inspiration: Pancake recipe adapted from the BBC Good Food
website.
