Stay Healthy Smoothie

Fresh Berries are chock-full of antioxidants. In this smoothie I added fresh raspberry and blueberries, bulked it up with a banana, ground flax and kicked it up with some mango black tea.

Here's the recipe:

1 Banana
1 cup Raspberries
1 cup Blueberries
2 tsp ground flax
1/4 - 1 Cup cold brewed mango black tea

Add the first 4 ingredients to a blender and blend. Use the tea to make it as thin or thick as you would like it. I have a smoothie like this everyday for breakfast, and it really is good to boost antioxidants. What are antioxidants you ask? The are in your body already and they attack free radicals to help keep us healthy. In other words they are the Chuck Norris' of the body; performing round house kicks to any 'bad guys'!

Healthy Spinach and Smoked Salmon Quiche

Really, healthy and quiche in the same sentence you say? Yes! and its darn tasty!

I love my sleep in the morning, its the time that I have my best dreams, or my strangest... this morning I dreamt that I was a bumblebee and in order to continue buzzing about in dream land I ran out of time to make breakfast resulting in a muffin from the local bakery. The local bakery does make great muffins but I hate feeling all doughy, not to mention looking doughy so I made this Quiche for breakfast tomorrow, and the next day or as long as it lasts so that tomorrow morning I am free to live in la la land for a little while longer.

As I mentioned I don't want to look doughy so I made a few substitutions to make this a healthier version while still keeping all of the flavour.














For the Crust I used a tried and true Martha Stewar Pate Brisee with a funky twist.

1 Cup Spelt Flour
1/8 Cup Ground Flax
1/8 Cup White Flour
1/2 cup chopped cold butter
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp sugar
1/4 Cup ice cold water

I put all of the dry stuff in the food processor and buzzed it to mix it thoroughly. Then I added the chopped butter and pulsed it until it was at a mealy texture, and while continuing to pulse I added the water until it all came together. I think the Spelt and Flax really added a nutty texture as well as health perks.
Martha says to shape it into a disk and refrigerate for 1-2 hours. I put it directly into a spring form pan and pushed it down and around the sides and then refrigerated it. I always end up having to use a bottle for a rolling pin because I don't have one...

The Eggy Custard is made with:

5 eggs
1 1/2 Cup of 1% Milk
2 tbsp Flour
1 box of frozen spinach
1/4 Cup Red Onion
150 Grams of Wild Smoked Salmon Lox
1 tsp each salt and pepper
pinch of nutmeg

In a bowl whisk up the eggs, add the milk and gradually add the flour, salt, pepper and nutmeg.

Once the crust is nice and cold add some finely diced red onion to the bottom of the crust, spread around the lox around then top with the spinach (after defrosting and wringing out as much of the liquid as possible - the drier the better). Top the fillings with the eggy custard and bake in a 350 degree oven for about an hour, until the filling is set and doesn't giggle and the crust is nice and brown. Don't forget to give it a rotation half way through. Let it rest for about half an hour before serving, or enjoy at room temperature with a nice side salad, or cold as I will probably for breakfast after enjoying a flight around the garden. Buzz Buzz!

Beautiful Breakfast: A morning meal for my love.

What more could a man want? I got up bright and early on Saturday morning to make my man a meal. What was on the menu? A heart shaped theme with Toad in a hole, a heart shaped fried egg with heart shaped dippers and the piece de resistance... Candied Bacon. Now I'm not crazy enough to put it in chocolate chip cookies but this definitely was a man pleaser... and to be totally honest I have not eaten any meat since Christmas dinner, but I could not resist this sweet and salty treat, and I couldn't leave it at a taste! I ate 4 slices! and you know what? It was totally worth ruining my meat-free streak.

Toad in a hole is what his Mom calls this simple breakfast that incorporates eggs and toast all in one neat little package.
So simple - there is no need for a recipe, just cut a hole in a piece of bread, I used a heart shaped cookie cutter because it was February 14th after all; but on a regular day, any old shape will do. Put the bread in a greased pan over medium heat; crack an egg into the hole and flip when the time comes, also don't forget to season with a little s&p. The fried egg was cooked the same way, I used an egg shaper to make it a heart and left the yolk nice and runny for dipping.

The bacon was just as easy, and alot safer then the traditional method of frying bacon in a pan. My boyfriend has always made a big deal about the splattering grease - he is a bit of a drama queen though... I think its a man thing, trying to protect me from the big bad grease! This was easy though and worry free, all you have to do is line the bacon up on a baking sheet, sprinkle with brown sugar, don't over do it just a little sprinkle and rub. Like Paula Dean is always saying to rub you meat, don't forget to give the bacon a little valentine rub down! Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees until your preferred crisp-ness, no flipping required. It was easy and because it was in the oven, it gave me time to tend to the eggs.

This bacon is such a winner! I have seen it on a few blogs and had to try it, I think we were both glad I did. That was it! A beautiful breakfast made with the best secret ingredient of all:
Love!