Christmas Panettone December 25, 2009

Jamie says:  Merry Christmas!  I am so thankful for all of the many blessings in my life, especially my wonderful family.  I have been enjoying all of the family holiday festivities.  Last night, we had a beautiful Christmas Eve party at our house, too.

Last Christmas, my Great Aunt and Uncle sent us a Williams-Sonoma Panettone with Glazed Chestnuts.  My family loved it so much that my Mom bought us one this year.  (Panettone is a cake-like bread that is traditionally served in Italy on Christmas.)  Although this Williams-Sonoma treat is quite expensive (about $40), the flavor is out of this world!   Today for Christmas breakfast, I made panettone french toast.  I cut slices of panettone, quickly dipped them in a mix of eggs and skim milk, and cooked them on the griddle until the slices was nice and brown.  The dried chestnuts pieces in the bread are amazing.  The bread is so sweet.  If you ever have the chance to try panettone, don’t miss out.  Panettone is such a treat.  “It’s no Christmas fruit cake!”

Nutrition note:  When cooking with eggs, don’t dump the yolk.  Just go easy on the amount of eggs you eat.  Although the yolk does contain fat and cholesterol, it has many important nutrients in it, such as vitamin D and vitamin E.

Pink Milk! December 18, 2009

Jamie says:  I love leftovers, or should I say good leftovers.  I used the leftover sweetened Publix Nutty Nuggets that I made the other day as a cereal for breakfast.  (To make the sweetened Nutty Nuggets, I had heated Smart Balance Omega 3 spread, cinnamon, light brown sugar, honey, and Nutty Nuggets in a pan.)  I added Publix frozen cherries and skim milk to the Nutty Nuggets for a special and sweet breakfast.  I like how the frozen cherries (or any frozen fruit) make the milk really cold and turns the milk bright pink.  I bet kids would love this, and there’s no artificial coloring either.

Nutrition note:  Go skim.  Although fat is an important part of the diet, the fat in milk is not the good type (saturated fat).  The unsaturated fats are the heart-healthy fats.  So stick with skim (fat-free) or low-fat milk.

Frozen Yogurt Banana Treat December 17, 2009

Jamie says:  I bought a box of Publix Nutty Nuggets (the generic brand of Grape Nuts) as a potential cereal to use for a project.  Although I did not end up choosing this cereal for the project, I was intrigued by the recipe on the side of the box.  So, I tried it out.  It was quite easy.  In a pan, I melted Smart Balance Omega 3 spread (the recipe had called for butter).  I then added cinnamon, light brown sugar,  honey, and the Nutty Nuggets and heated it for about 8 minutes.  The sweetened Nutty Nuggets tasted a lot more palatable than the plain cereal; and were actually quite tasty- almost like a granola bar.  From here, I made the recipe my own.  I covered the banana with a 4 oz container of Dannon Activia Vanilla Yogurt, and then topped it with peanuts, raisins, and the Nutty Nugget recipe.  Into the freezer it went that afternoon, and out it came for breakfast.  It was so good and really filling.  I would recommend slicing the banana first so that you don’t break the plastic bowl trying to cut the banana (oops).

Nutrition note:  Begin your day right by eating breakfast.  Among many other benefits, it will give you energy, reduce hunger throughout your day, and help you perform better.

Sweet Breakfast! December 16, 2009

Fruit ‘N Yogurt English Muffin

Kathryn says: Excite your taste buds and stray from your breakfast norm with this light taste of everything – fruit, yogurt,  english muffin and oatmeal!

 

Toast half of a whole wheat English muffin, pour on some of your favorite yogurt (I used Rachel’s Pomegranate Blueberry yogurt), toss on some fruit (I used frozen blueberries, canned peaches and banana slices), and sprinkle uncooked oatmeal on top.

 

I’d recommend eating this one with a fork.

Thankgiving Breakfast November 27, 2009

Jamie says:  I hope everyone is having a very happy Thanksgiving holiday.  I enjoyed watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and doing some Turkey Day baking.  I woke up early, so I started working on Thanksgiving breakfast.  I set the table with our Christmas Spode to kick off the Christmas season.  My contribution to breakfast was a fresh fruit salad made with an array of fruits- bananas, grapes, kiwi, oranges, watermelon, raspberries, and pomegranate seeds.  It was beautiful, delicious, and healthy.  Mom and Dad soon joined me in the kitchen- scrambling eggs, heating up the bacon, pouring tea, coffee, and juice, and bringing Mom’s tasty pumpkin bread to the table.  I also toasted up some English muffins.  I spread my Mom’s homemade cranberries on one half and made an open-faced egg sandwich with the other half.  We sat down to breakfast just in time to watch the ribbon cutting of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade- perfect timing!  We had a beautiful holiday together.  Happy Left-over Day!

Nutrition note:  There are no “bad” foods, just foods that should be enjoyed occasionally.  Everything can be enjoyed in moderation and part of a balanced diet.

I’m addicted to this Chocolate Banana Milk Shake September 10, 2009

Chocolate Banana Milk Shake

Cheerios with Chocolate Banana Milk Shake

Jamie says:  I’m addicted to this chocolate banana milk shake.  I began making them this summer, and I just can’t seem to get enough of them.  They’re amazing, healthy, and easy.  What could be better!  I just add 2 ice cubes, 1 large banana, and about 1 tablespoon Hershey’s Special Dark Cocoa to my Bella Cucina Rocket Blender and fill the cup to the max line with skim milk.   It makes for the perfect breakfast, too.  Just add Cheerios- and you have a delicious breakfast!  You’ve got to try one…

Nutrition note:  One Tbsp of the Hershey’s Special Dark Cocoa has only 5 calories, no sugar, antioxidants, and 10% of the daily value of iron!

P.S.  Thanks for the early birthday present (my awesome Bella Cucina blender), Aunt Angi and Uncle Rick!

Wonderful Waffles August 11, 2009

Kodiak Waffles with Dannon Activia Strawberry Yogurt and Blueberries, Bananas, and Strawberries

My Kodiak Waffle with Toppings

Jamie says:  I woke up extra early, and I was really in the mood for some waffles with yogurt and fruit.  I had seen a recipe for waffles with yogurt dip earlier in the week, but I didn’t save it.  Although we had no yogurt in the house, there was no stopping me now from having waffles with yogurt for breakfast.  I went to Publix to stock up.  I came home, heated up the waffle maker, and went to work.  (I can’t remember the last time I used the thing.)  I made the Kodiak Cakes mix to make whole grain waffles.  I served the waffles with blueberries, sliced strawberries and blueberries, and Dannon Activia Strawberry Yogurt.  The timing was perfect, the family was awake and ready for a nice “Sunday” breakfast together.  (Even though it wasn’t Sunday, it definitely felt like one).  Everyone really enjoyed having their own container of yogurt for their waffles.  I really liked the sweetness and creaminess of the yogurt on the crispy, yet soft, hot waffle.  The breakfast was well worth the wait.

Waffle Power House July 15, 2009

Waffle with Peanut Butter, Bananas, Cinnamon and Honey

Kathryn says:  One of my favorite afternoon snacks, this waffle recipe is full of energy and healthy ingredients.  It also makes for a great breakfast.

 

I toast a Kashi Honey Wheat Waffle and spread Smucker’s Creamy Natural peanut butter on top.  Then, I add sliced bananas, drizzle with honey and pour on the cinnamon.  Yum!

Simply Sweet Fruit Smoothie July 9, 2009

Orange, Nectarine, Banana and Blueberry Smoothie

Kathryn says: I made a smoothie this morning and it was so sweet, yet so simple, that I had to share it with you!

I blended half of a banana, half of a nectarine, a handful of blueberries, about 3/4 cup of orange juice, a splash of Lactaid fat-free milk and three ice cubes together.  I topped it with wheat germ for a filling, cool summer breakfast.

Vanilla Heaven July 7, 2009

Vanilla Heaven Waffle

Jamie says:  I decided that it’s not that I don’t like yogurt- it’s just that I hadn’t found the right one- until this week.  Today, on my second yogurt adventure, I tried Dannon Activia Vanilla Yogurt (http://www.activia.us.com/).  The flavor reminds me of a less sugary frosting.  (Please see “Our Favorite Products page for more on this yogurt.)  I scooped the yogurt onto a Kashi Heart to Heart Honey Oat Waffle (http://www.kashi.com/products/heart_to_heart_waffles_original), and topped it with blackberries, a sliced banana, and wheat germ.  I can now say- I like yogurt.