Baked Chard Chips

This recipe found on about a million other websites and cookbooks these days! This is one of two "green things" my 3 year old will eat! The other being seaweed snacks! These take a little effort to make, but the result is worth it. 

BAKED CHARD CHIPS RECIPE
A close friend of the kale chip, which is a great one as well.

I bunch of fresh chard
2 tablespoons of olive oil
Salt

Pre-heat the oven to 400 (375 convection). Wash chard thoroughly and dry. Cut away the thick stocks and place smaller pieces in a medium bowl. Pour olive oil over the chard and massage until the oil has soaked in.  Spread out flatly on metal baking pan and sprinkle with little salt (the leaves will shrink up so don’t get too crazy with the salt!).  Bake for 4-7 minutes depending on your oven. Keep a look out for slightly brown edges; these can get away from you easily and they go from great to garbage!!

Avocado Salad

Or as I like to think of it; the pregnant girl manna.

A few years ago I make this salad and bring it to the beach to share.

Jessica, quite pregnant at the time oohs and ahhs over it and tells me it meets all her crazy pregnancy needs.

I’m happy to have provided a good lunch and all is well.

Until the next summer, when I am in her former state and she returns the favor.

It is only then than I truly understand what she was trying to say.

This salad was like food to a starving Ethiopian kid. (I guess that dates me.... my father would have said Chinese kid.. I don't know what the starving kid de jour is but let me tell you send him some of this salad and everyone will be good.)

Bottom line, I cried in gratitude.

Seriously.

3 Avocados, chopped in 1 inch cubes

10 Cherry Tomatoes, halved or quartered depending on size

1 can of garbanzo beans

1/2 red onion diced

1/2 bunch cilantro, chopped

1 can of salmon

Mix it all together and serve over lettuce, in lettuce as a wrap, or with flax chips or flax crackers.

Apple Pancakes

These are good anytime of year but, in our house, when the apple tree is brimming and fall is in the air these are an absolute must!

Apples

1 cup Oats

1 cup Milk

1 Tablespoon oil

1 teaspoon Baking Powder

Pinch of Salt

Cinnamon to taste

Slice the apples into 1/2 inch pieces and use a shot glass or whatever works to cut out the core.

Blend other ingredients into batter.

Dip apple slices in batter, cook on hot griddle as you would pancakes.

Serve plain, with cinnamon and sugar, peanut butter, peanut butter mixed with yogurt, maple syrup, honey.... basically whatever floats your boat.

Breakfast Tacos

Sometimes it’s about changing it up and being silly to keep everyone excited about their morning fare.

Tacos for breakfast?

Absolutely!

Taco Shells

Cheesy Scrambled Eggs *

Green Onions, Sliced

Black Beans

Salsa

Greek Yogurt

Guacamole or Avocado slices

Bacon or Sausage (optional)

Set it up as a taco bar or assemble them to your family’s tastes.

*Why must I call things by such weird but official sounding titles??

Besides the nerdy pleasure I derive from it, it makes things sound more exciting to the kids.

In the case of Cheesy Scrambled Eggs you scramble eggs and add cheese. Any kind, to taste.

Left Over Pizza Breakfast

Ok, I will accept that our days of eating cold left-over pizza standing at the kitchen counter are over.

At least in front of the kids, right?

But I refuse to banish leftover pizza from my breakfast options.

Solution; stick it on a  parchment paper lined cookie sheet, crack a few eggs on top (the number depends on the number of slices and size of said slices - I go with about one egg per large slice.)

Place it in a pre-heated 350 degree oven and bake until the eggs are the consistency you and your family prefer; about 4-7 minutes.

It sounds so simple but I get treated like a culinary genius, at least until they're hungry for lunch......

Quichitas

These are kind of amazing.

They, also, are just a spring board for your creativity.

Sure you can go with the traditional breakfast items to fill them; bacon, sausage, spinach, onions, cheese but I’ve had just as much success with random leftovers. Think taco left overs; meat, beans, cheese, tomatoes. Or chicken, artichoke hearts and kale. Salmon, cream cheese, and capers. Really, if it has gone together as a meal it will most likely work in this.

I use the raw tortillas from Costco for half and leave half with no shell. Both are delicious. Here is a basic recipe but the idea is fill muffin tins with yummy food (precooked meats, which is why leftovers are so perfect) pour scramble egg mixture to fill cups about 2/3 of the way full, bake.

Here is a basic recipe to get you started:

6 raw tortilla shells

5 eggs

couple handfuls of spinach chopped

bacon (cooked)

1/2 cup of milk

shredded cheddar cheese

Toppings; Salsa, yogurt, avocado

Grease the muffin pan.

Cut tortillas in half. Bring ends to meet to make a funnel sort of shape and stuff into muffin cup. (It should look like a little pie crust, and it is ok if you stuff some down, you’re just lining the cup and making the crust.

If you don’t want to use tortillas skip the above step.

Divide the filling ingredients into each cup: spinach, bacon and cheese.

Beat eggs and milk and fill* each cup 2/3 full.

*I use a turkey baster to fill the cups with the eggs mixture.

Bake for 20-25 minutes until the centers don’t jiggle when you shake the pan.

Top with salsa, yogurt and avocado if desired.

These are great for breakfast on the go if you so need.   

Smoothie Pancakes

I promise to add pictures asap but I want to start putting this on now. The sooner you start making these the happier a person you'll be. You'll forgive the photo digression eventually. 

Smoothie Pancakes are far and above my favorite thing to make for the family. They are the easiest way to ‘sneak’ in veggies and other healthy foods while still appealing to the crowd. 

They are a great way to introduce your kids to different colored foods; green, purple, and yellow in natural ways which will make their appearance later less off-putting. The possibilities are literally endless and your creativity is your only limit. Here is a basic recipe from which to start.

2 very large handfuls spinach
1 1/2 cup oats (old fashioned rolled, not quick cooking)
1 cup milk (add more to desired thinness)
pinch of salt
1 teaspoon of baking powder
2 large eggs or 3 small eggs
10 almonds
1 frozen banana (fresh is fine, frozen is just more likely in my house)
1/2 tablespoon oil
pinch of sea salt
cinnamon to taste

Throw all ingredients in blender - the better your blender, the better!
Cook on hot skillet or griddle as you would traditional pancakes.

Topping suggestions: syrup (the real, pure, maple sort, in moderation of course), honey (raw, local), fruit spread, fruit salsa, regular salsa, lemon curd.
We put a fried egg on top for anyone in the mood and occasionally serve with a breakfast meat.

Alternative ingredient ideas that actually work~
Spinach: Kale, Chard, Brussels Sprouts
Oil: Coconut oil, flax seeds
Milk: any milk substitute works including yogurt
Almonds: any nut
Additions: Apples (quartered with peel and core)
Blueberries, raspberries, cherries
 
Once the family is used to the change from traditional pancakes you can  stir in some corn, peas, cocoa nibs, hemp seeds, or whatever other superfood of the moment floats your boat. 
 
You get the idea; the possibilities are endless.