Monthly Archives: April 2012

The Manliest Breakfast… Ever.

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Pinker, nuttier and manlier than your usual breakfast.

While this may not look like something that you could accurately call The Manliest Breakfast… Ever, it totally is (hence the title and boldness). These pink (purple?) steel cut oats might look a bit effeminate, but after eating a batch, you’ll realize that it’s more than just some foo foo breakfast.

This post and recipe were inspired by my new stomping grounds in Denver. I found out last week that this place has a certain, masculine reputation. In my month and a half here, I’ve found that it’s one of those undeniable truisms. And it’s something that a single lady would never want to deny. You see, here in Denver, there are many manly, burly, attractive men and they’re everywhere. As a matter of fact, they have a pretty precious name for the phenomenon: Menver.

I could write a caption comparing these pecans to manly naughty parts, but that would be in poor taste. Nuts.

I feel so at home in this place, where the active, outdoorsy, hippie, yogi, feminine, tomboyish, healthy thing is part of the norm. Everybody here loves to travel, learn, activate and explore. It’s the first place that I really feel like I can completely be myself, no matter who I’m around. Denverites are not only the friendliest people in America, they also seem to be extremely open minded, and are really willing to allow you to let your personality shift and grow. The other great thing about Menver is that all of the chicks drawn to this town are really like minded. And since there’s more than enough to go around, you don’t really get that catty competitive thing that goes on elsewhere.

Enough about how great Denver is though. Let’s talk about this pink vegan breakfast. What makes this stuff so manly isn’t the nuts, or even the steel cut oats (although both of those things scream masculinity). There’s a secret ingredient in this recipe that makes it super filling, and incredibly hardy.

It’s this stuff called Ultra Dense Breakfast Boost made by NudeFood. They’re a company out of Boulder and I’m sooo glad I found this stuff. Should I call it stuff one more time? Stuff!

NudeFood Breakfast Boost

Ingredients:

  • 1 Cup Steel Cut Oats
  • 3 1/2 Cups H20
  • 1/2 Cup Almond or Rice Milk
  • 3/4 Cup Pecans
  • 1/2 Cup Fresh or Frozen Cherries
  • 1 Tsp Vanilla Extract
  • 1/2 Tsp Cinnamon
  • 1/2 Tsp Cardamom
  • 1 Tblspn Ghee (optional)
  • Honey, Maple Syrup or Agave (optional: to taste)
  • NudeFood Breakfast Boost (see below)

Method:

  • Bring water to boil. Add oats. Stir.
  • Reduce heat to medium. Cook for 20-30 minutes or until the oats are tender. Stir continually so the oats don’t stick to the bottom of the pan.
  • When the oats begin to thicken (about 15-20 minutes), add almond milk, pecans, cherries, vanilla, cinnamon, cardamom and ghee (optional). Stir until combined, and cook for another 5-10 minutes.
  • Remove from heat. If adding the Breakfast Boost, allow the oats to cool a bit before scooping a heaping tablespoon on top. The Breakfast Boost is a living food, and if the oats are too hot, it can kill the enzymes.

Probiotics never tasted so masculine.

Whats your favorite covertly manly breakfast?

Homemade Strawberry “Milk”

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I’ve spend most of my life fighting being a grown up. I’ve developed some rules over the years that have helped me win the fight thus far.

  1. Be your own fun factory: Do at least one activity a day that fills you with joy. This can range from the absolutely silly kind of fun (blowing bubbles, running through the lawn sprinkler, hula hooping) to the healthy kind (yoga, dancing, going for a long walk).
  2. Take the phrase “you’re not the boss of me” to heart: Yeah, be your own boss. It makes things a lot easier to avoid grown up-edness. There’s a difference between having an employer and having a boss. You can be employed, just don’t ever let anyone dictate your life.  It’s easiest to do this if you get a degree, and you don’t have many student loans, so apply for as many easy scholarships as you can before it’s too late.
  3. Drink tons of strawberry milk: Like, TONS. The properties in strawberry milk include anti-aging proponents of… Okay, I’m making that up, but it sure makes you feel like a kid again, especially if you whip out a straw and get bubble blowing crazy on it.

Since I had to go dairy-free due to an intolerance to lactose, I thought I would never again be able to partake in rule number three. But one afternoon, I was standing in the kitchen staring into my crystal ball (that’s what I call the fridge), and had one of those light bulb over the head experiences. I knew at that moment that I could make my own strawberry milk from the contents of my fridge. I knew at that moment that I was a genius. I knew then that I could create my own Neverland in a glass.

So this recipe is dedicated to father time, because he’s going to need all of the help he can get to make me grow up.

Strawberry Almond Milk

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups almond milk
  • 1/2-3/4 cup chopped strawberries
  • 2 teaspoons honey or 1 teaspoon agave
  • fresh mint (optional)
Method:
Blend!
What do you do to keep from growing up?

 

 

 

 

 

Baked Grapefruit With Pizazz

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A few weeks ago, I shared my love of baked grapefruit with you. I let you in on one of the simplest warm breakfast food secrets… You can put grapefruit in the oven and make it awesome. Shhhh. It’s our little secret. And you’re welcome, by the way. But now I’m going to share another secret with you. Baked grapefruit can be soooo much more than just  a simple, warm breakfast. It can be magical, versatile, delicious and complex. The great part is that even though you can make baked grapefruit a fancier affair, it takes virtually the same amount of time as cutting the thing in half and tossing it in your oven or toaster oven.

I just wanted to share one of my favorite recent combos that is inspired by some awesome upcoming life stuff. I’m getting ready to start teaching yoga. While plain baked grapefruit is a great light breakfast coming in at 100 calories for the entire fruit, it would work as a breakfast for tax accountant. But it’s not going to cut it when I’m doing yoga for several hours per day. I’m going to need something a little more substantial. So I’ve been experimenting with different add ons and toppings to bulk it up a little bit.

Enter… The Hearty Baked Grapefruit. With more muscle and flavor than it’s light and airy cousin, the plain baked grapefruit, this heartier version features toasted walnuts and tasty warm chopped figs covered in organic blue agave syrup and cinnamon. It’s by far the tastiest baked grapefruit I’ve ever laid my taste buds on.

Even though this has been my favorite so far, it’s not the only one that made my breakfast loving heart sing. I made a great Spice Girl Baked Grapefruit that was infused with cardamom and cinnamon (by infused, I mean that I rubbed the spices into the top before I baked it). I also made this bomb Jamacan Me Crazay Baked Grapefruit featuring bananas and dried coconut flakes. What can I say? I have fun with names.

What do you add to jazz up your grapefruit?