Brunch

Whole Wheat Sage & Cheese Star Bread

Whole Wheat Sage & Cheese Star Bread

A stunning yet nutritious treat well-suited for any banquet table. This star bread completes a hearty soup for a well-rounded dinner. Employing the same base formula and technique as with my whole wheat sandwich loaf, I have been able to achieve a luxurious enriched whole grain dough with less than 20% white flour… But if you’re feeling up to the challenge, go ahead and substitute more whole wheat for the bread flour. Don’t skip on the details. This recipe requires the 2 hour resting time and a food processor to coax a soft crumb from the whole grains. But DO experiment with fillings and flavors. Just be sure not to overfill and cut any additional fillings into small pieces. With a little restraint, however, you can use this basic recipe to create your own signature!

Whole Wheat & Oat Blueberry Muffins

Whole Wheat & Oat Blueberry Muffins

With whole wheat, oats, and a more than generous portion of fruit, these muffins will not be mistaken for blueberry cupcakes. But that doesn’t make them any less craveable! The sweetness, chewiness, and moisture retention properties of oats offset the coarse, bitter, and dry qualities that often plaque whole wheat goods. Then, for additional tenderness, brown sugar and buttermilk boost the acidity for an absolutely delightful “better for you” breakfast treat.

Tomato Basil & Feta Omelette

Tomato Basil & Feta Omelette

Fair warning, this is not the least fussy or quickest omelette you’ll ever make… But it’s not, however, needlessly complicated… At least to me. You see, I don’t love eggs. I just don’t, which is great because I like to eat vegan as much as possible. But when tomatoes and basil are plentiful, this omelette is a regular lunch choice. Even with my favorite power combo, I still need to minimize the “egginess” and pack ‘em with as much good stuff as possible while still holding together. So, through the years, I’ve constructed a set of steps that achieve not only a tolerable but absolutely lovely omelette.

Espresso Vanilla Cream Soda (WITH INFIZZ FUSION)

Espresso Vanilla Cream Soda (WITH INFIZZ FUSION)

While this is undoubtedly a coffee-forward concoction, the layers of flavor- the espresso, honey, and vanilla- are reminiscent of the complexity of a house-made rootbeer. Add whipped cream or ice cream, and you are nudging into soda float territory. For a vegan treat, try it with coconut whipped cream. But try it without cream too; it’s absolutely refreshing!

VEGAN WHIPPED COCONUT CREAM

VEGAN WHIPPED COCONUT CREAM

With a fat percentage of 18-20% coconut cream does not have a high enough fat content to form and hold fat bubbles. But the addition of coconut oil pushes that percentage to around 30%, which puts it on par with whipping cream. Now, there’s no way around it, coconut cream tastes like coconut. If you abhor coconut, this recipe is not for you. You can, however, downplay its presence by using refined (flavorless) coconut oil. Additionally, utilizing a more flavorful sugar, such as demerara, brown sugar, or even coconut sugar will add a deeper caramel note; introducing layers of flavor will push the individual elements from the spotlight . On the other hand, virgin coconut oil and white sugar will celebrate coconut. Choose your variations to accentuate your dessert or drink.

CHERRIES & CREAM SMOOTHIE SODA (WITH INFIZZ FUSION)

CHERRIES & CREAM SMOOTHIE SODA (WITH INFIZZ FUSION)

A smoothie disguised as a soda! Unfortunately, this is the sort of recipe that relies on a very specific piece of equipment- the Breville Infizz Fusion. But if you have one, this recipe will give your machine more mileage. For this soda, you can keep it light and go easy on the sweetener and omit the cream. And when you’re craving a treat, bring on the whipped cream.

Whole Grain Chocolate Chip Cookies

Whole Grain Chocolate Chip Cookies

The natural nuttiness of whole grains is a perfect complement to chocolate delights. But unfortunately, whole grain cookies tend to spread flat. I controlled for this issue by first chilling the dough; the cold fat spreads more slowly while the edges set and result in a thicker bake! And don’t be oppressed by mere “morsels”. Any shade chocolate bar studded with any sort of fixins’ are the beginnings of a uniquely you cookie concoction. Just chop up those bars into uneven bits for irregular bites of deliciousness. Even chocolate left over from your last ill-fated tempering project can be given a new purpose.

Vegan Whole Grain Chocolate Chip Cookies

Vegan Whole Grain Chocolate Chip Cookies

Having just a vegan cookie was not enough! My goal was to fully convert my whole grain breakfast cookies into a vegan delight that’s just as crave-worthy yet nutritious as its non-vegan counterpart. I started with my regular whole grain recipe and borrowed some tips from pastry wizard, Stella Parks. Incorporating her vegan substitutes, I started with coconut oil and whipped up an oat slurry for the eggs. Then, I observed her tip about adding dry malt extract. I tested with and without it, and unfortunately, this very obscure ingredient took an ok vegan cookie and elevated it to as-delicious-as-the-original. You see, the milk solids in butter and in milk get toasty in the oven and impart a je ne sais quoi note that is difficult to replicate. But the dry malt extract is one of the few ingredients I have discovered that offers that background butterscotchiness that would otherwise be missing.

VEGAN WHOLE WHEAT & OAT BREAD

VEGAN WHOLE WHEAT & OAT BREAD

A good whole grain loaf, one without any trace of white flour, can be quite elusive to us homebakers. Too many whole wheat loaves are crumbly, fall flat or are just plain undesireable. In this recipe I combine the power of the food processor with the moisture retention properties of oats to create a soft loaf. I tested this recipe with both a small amount of bread flour versus all whole wheat. Both produce great loaves, but I feel that using a little bread flour makes the process more foolproof. Unfortunately, now is not the time for substitutes or deviations. Even though whole wheat flour is actually higher in gluten than white all-purpose, the higher fiber content inhibits gluten formation. The power of a food processor, much more so than even a stand mixer, works to overcome that obstacle. But if you process all the ingredients with the water right away, the dough becomes gluey, unmanageble, and can overwhelm the motor. That’s where the initial 2 1/2 hour resting period comes in. Unlike white flour that readily absorbs moisture, whole grains need a little time to soften. After the initial resting period, the hydrated dough is ready for processing. As long as you have the time and follow the steps, this is a ridiculously easy whole grain loaf without a list of obscure ingredients

BROCCOLI QUICHE

BROCCOLI QUICHE

Give your holiday leftovers a makeover! Chunks of random cheese? Small rations of veggies? A couple of sprigs of tarragon ordinarily destined to die a slow death? Even that carton of cream can have a new purpose. Quiche it! Just pull out the scale and load it up with varying bits of cheddar, swiss, and gouda until you have about 4 oz for your pie. Substitute the broccoli for whatever veggies you have from your feast- any combination of cauliflower, brussel sprouts, peas, and such will do. With leftover veggies, you can toss them right in and skip the steaming. And feel free to use half-n-half instead of the milk or replace half of the milk with cream. Bake it up and avert leftover ennui!

Gluten-Free Flourless Peanut Butter & Oat Cookies

Gluten-Free Flourless Peanut Butter & Oat Cookies

A flourless gluten-free cookie made with ingredients that are already in your pantry. It’s unbelievable, but these flourless delights really do bake up to be, well… cookies! Make them without the oats for a flatter and crunchier confection or swap the oats for chopped nuts, coconut, or chocolate chips. The oats really are just an add-in in this recipe and don’t add to the structure. But I like to add them for the nutrition boost and to balance out the sweetness. Top with chocolate if desired.

GREEN TEA & FRUIT SMOOTHIE

GREEN TEA & FRUIT SMOOTHIE

With a little caffeine, fruit, and protein, this smoothie is the perfect pick-me-up to ward off that afternoon crash! You'll need tea ice-cubes; so this recipe requires some pre-planning. I like to brew a quart or 2 of tea in advance, freeze 1/3 into ice-cubes and refrigerate the rest. Acidic fruits pair wonderfully with the green tea and avocado. Boost the flavor with fresh herbs, ginger, and turmeric.