Category Archives: Breakfast Ideas

Almond Chocolate Chip (No Cook) Oat Bars

March 7, 2019 by pamflo

There is a vast array of snack bars, protein bars and crunchy snack items on the market. I love making my own snack bars since I can choose my ingredients and know there are no stabilizers or added sugar. These bars couldn’t be easier to make as they don’t even require cooking, just a trip to the freezer. Almond butter is the base of the bar, and the oats keep the bars together along with maple syrup. I added lightly […]

Categories: Bars, Breakfast Ideas, Chocolate, Dairy Free, Dessert, Gluten Free, Healthish, Low Sugar • Tags: No Cooking

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Smoked White Fish Rillettes

January 17, 2019 by pamflo

What are rillettes, you ask? Rillettes are a traditional French spread similar to pâté usually using pork, duck or goose that is cooked, cooled and shredded. I thought it might be fun to create rillettes with smoked white fish, although this recipe is more of a chunky spread than a smooth pâté. I purchased a white fish fillet that had already been smoked. I then blended the shredded fish with crème fraîche, lemon zest, lemon juice, a generous amount of […]

Categories: Appetizer, Breakfast Ideas, Dips/Sauces, Gluten Free, Healthish, Lunch Ideas, Seafood • Tags: No Cooking

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Grilled Mushroom Eggs “Benedict”

December 27, 2018 by pamflo

Preparing for a holiday brunch? Here is an easy and delicious dish to add to your menu. Although this recipe doesn’t have a classic hollandaise sauce, it has an avocado sauce that is a healthier version for sure! Instead of toast or an english muffin, I filled a big portobello mushroom with bacon, a poached egg and topped it with an easy avocado puree. Over a bed of lettuce or topped with fresh chopped herbs this is a perfect breakfast.

Categories: Breakfast Ideas, Dairy Free, Dips/Sauces, Eggs, Gluten Free, Healthish, Holiday Ideas, Vegetables • Tags: Grill, Whiz

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Peanut Butter Banana Muffins – Gluten Free

August 23, 2018 by pamflo

As we head for September, I’m ready to get back to baking. Always in need of a healthy, easy snack option, these muffins take a combination of some favorite pantry ingredients like bananas, peanut butter and dark chocolate and unite them in a portable treat. This is the type of recipe that can easily handle substitutions. Try blueberries or chopped nuts in place of the dark chocolate chips. Coconut oil or ghee can be used in place of the unsalted […]

Categories: Breakfast Ideas, Gluten Free, Low Sugar, Muffins, Snack • Tags: Bake

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Watermelon Slices with Whipped Vanilla Ricotta

August 2, 2018 by pamflo

I’ve been playing around with watermelon recipes these last few weeks. Grilling it, both indoors and out, and adding toppings like a spicy salsa and even coating it in dark chocolate. These recipes still need some tinkering 🙂 Now here’s a fun riff on a dessert “pizza” with the watermelon slices resembling slices of pizza. This is a refreshing and easy dish requiring just assembly, but no cooking. It’s a beautiful light dessert or a creative brunch dish.

Categories: Breakfast Ideas, Dessert, Fruit, Gluten Free, Healthish, Low Sugar • Tags: No Cooking

Nutty Vanilla Protein Balls

July 26, 2018 by pamflo

I’m working hard to reduce the amount of sugar in the foods I cook and consume, especially desserts. Although using protein powder and no sweetener might seem a bit outrageous, these protein balls are a perfect quick, healthy breakfast or snack. They require no cooking, although a food processor is needed to thoroughly blend the ingredients. Did I say no sweetener 🙂 I’m a fan of using collagen protein powder and I like the Bulletproof Brand. It’s dairy free, gluten […]

Categories: Breakfast Ideas, Dairy Free, Dessert, Gluten Free, Low Sugar, Nuts, Paleo, Seeds, Snack

Quinoa Veggie Bowl with a Lemon Mustard Vinaigrette

July 19, 2018 by pamflo

Some of the best salads I’ve had this summer have been a combination of vegetables, greens and grains with a protein. This is a very easy meal to prepare, especially if you recycle your leftovers. I composed my own bowl with leftover tri-colored quinoa and sautéed broccolini, fresh basil from my garden, sweet tomatoes, avocado and a hard boiled egg. Grains like brown rice, farro or freekeh work well. Add nuts or seeds for crunch or any type of greens […]

Categories: Breakfast Ideas, Dairy Free, Dressing, Eggs, Gluten Free, Lunch Ideas, Rice/Grains, Salads, Vegetables • Tags: Boil, Whisk

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Healthy Chocolate Breakfast Muffins

May 31, 2018 by pamflo

Looking for a breakfast treat that’s healthy, not too sweet and easy to make? These flourless, dairy free chocolate muffins are just the right combination of sweet and savory. These muffins contain amazing fudgy chocolatey-ness from good quality cocoa powder. Maybe chocolate is not a popular item on your breakfast menu, if that’s the case you can skip the sprinkle of dark chocolate chips. Avocado and coconut milk add the moisture and dates act as a natural sweetener. With so […]

Categories: Breakfast Ideas, Dairy Free, Dessert, Gluten Free, Low Sugar, Muffins, Paleo • Tags: Bake, Whiz

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Almond Milk Granita

May 24, 2018 by pamflo

Almond granita served with an expresso shot and a brioche bun is a popular breakfast in Italy. Very sophisticated, right?! Why not make some of your own. A granita or these icy flakes are created when you scrape the mixture while it’s in the process of freezing. Usually a granita is made from a liquid, sugar and flavorings. I used blanched almonds which have their skins removed, filtered water, a little maple syrup, both almond and vanilla extract and cinnamon. […]

Categories: Breakfast Ideas, Dairy Free, Dessert, Gluten Free, Ice Cream, Low Sugar • Tags: No Cooking, Whiz

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Easy Veggie Frittata

May 10, 2018 by pamflo

A warm, custardy vegetable frittata is easier to make then you think! A great brunch idea for Mother’s Day, here are some tips that will help perfect your frittata. Use the right pan for the job, that is either a non-stick oven safe skillet or a well seasoned cast iron pan. After sautéing your potatoes and veggies until almost fully cooked on the stove top, add your vigorously whisked eggs to the pan and it will go into the oven […]

Categories: Appetizer, Breakfast Ideas, Cooking Tips, Eggs, Gluten Free, Greens, Lunch Ideas, Vegetables • Tags: Bake, Sauté

Turmeric and Kale Egg Scramble

March 1, 2018 by pamflo

I’m just returning from a long weekend in New York City where I joined my fellow culinary professionals for a fantastic conference. It’s three intensive days of networking, workshops, field trips and sessions led by industry leaders. It’s an unbelievable community of food writers, food and prop stylists, cookbook authors, recipe testers, editors, agents and more. Some of the more interesting topics were the popular food trends and stories, how to polish your social media presence, how to run cooking […]

Categories: Breakfast Ideas, Dairy Free, Eggs, Gluten Free, Greens • Tags: Sauté

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Chocolate Buckwheat Waffles

February 15, 2018 by pamflo

These gluten free waffles are fantastic and I just couldn’t wait to share the recipe. Buckwheat flour, despite having wheat in its name is gluten-free, rich in protein and has a slightly nutty flavor. Buttermilk is used in this recipe to make a lighter batter which results in a more tender waffle. You can make your own buttermilk with both regular and non-dairy milks like almond, soy or coconut. To make your alternative buttermilk, substitute equal parts milk of your […]

Categories: Breakfast Ideas, Chocolate, Dessert, Gluten Free, Snack • Tags: Bake

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Millet Maple Porridge

January 11, 2018 by pamflo

Millet is a healthy whole grain that is naturally gluten-free and a good source of protein and dietary fiber. It has a mild nutty flavor, cooks in about 30 minutes and is a unique breakfast option. When cooking millet as a breakfast cereal, the ratio of liquid to grain is higher as this hearty grain expands when cooked. I used two cups of liquid, a combination of almond milk and water, to a 1/2 cup of the millet. Serve a […]

Categories: Breakfast Ideas, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Rice/Grains • Tags: Simmer

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Homemade Gluten-Free Bread

November 9, 2017 by pamflo

With the holidays approaching, this is an easy, delicious gluten-free bread to bake and share. There is something very satisfying about baking your own bread, gluten-free or not! Gluten is the protein found in wheat, barley and rye. Many people are required to remove gluten from their diets for health reasons and others just choose to eliminate it. Many commercially made gluten-free breads are filled with too many ingredients, including added sugar and refined carbohydrates. Wheat flour and yeast are the […]

Categories: Breads, Breakfast Ideas, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Low Sugar, Nuts • Tags: Bake, Whip

Squash with an Egg-in-the-hole

November 2, 2017 by pamflo

Naturally low in fat and nutrient dense, winter squash is a healthy substitute for the toast in the classic breakfast dish of egg-in-the-hole. There’s a beautiful assortment of squash available and you can use any variety of winter squash, although acorn is the best with its sweet and tender flesh. These squash are small and heavy when ripe, with a tough outer skin that’s eatable after cooking. I used the small sweet dumpling squash as I was drawn to its […]

Categories: Breakfast Ideas, Dairy Free, Eggs, Gluten Free, Lunch Ideas, Vegetables • Tags: Roast

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Heirloom Tomato Galette

July 20, 2017 by pamflo

The Farmers Markets are in full swing and bursting with amazing fresh produce. The highlight for me are the ripe, colorful and juicy heirloom tomatoes. This tasty, savory tart is made with a simple crust combining butter and crème fraîche. The crust can be made a day ahead and be refrigerated overnight. The filling is a delicious combination of heirloom tomatoes and manchego cheese, a popular Spanish sheep’s milk cheese with a tangy, nutty flavor profile. A slice of this […]

Categories: Appetizer, Breakfast Ideas, Cheeses, Lunch Ideas, Vegetarian • Tags: Bake

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Cured Salmon

July 6, 2017 by pamflo

“There has never been a sadness that can’t be cured by breakfast food!” – Ron Swanson Making your own cured salmon is fun and easy, but plan ahead because the curing process takes a few days. Curing is preserving fish, meat or vegetables by smoking, salting or drying. The curing mixture of salt, sugar, and spices dehydrates the food. A fresh center cut piece of Atlantic salmon or the bright pink wild salmon are good choices. If possible when purchasing […]

Categories: Appetizer, Breakfast Ideas, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Seafood • Tags: No Cooking

Huevos Rancheros

June 8, 2017 by pamflo

Huevos Rancheros is a fiery and flavorful Mexican breakfast dish often made with fried eggs, a spicy chili salsa and served over corn tortillas. The tomato based salsa can be as mild or spicy as you can tolerate. For the peppery kick, I used canned chipotle chilies and pureed the sauce for a smooth salsa, but keeping the sauce chunky is an option as well. This dish is a great choice for a quick, casual breakfast. You can also consider […]

Categories: Breakfast Ideas, Dairy Free, Eggs, Snack • Tags: Fry, Sauté

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Coconut Banana Pancakes

March 30, 2017 by pamflo

I had the good fortune to spend time in Puerto Rico, enjoying the beautiful sites, the warm weather and delicious food. On foot, we roamed a local neighborhood in search of a casual cafe with their own homegrown produce. The Las Vistas Cafe is an open-aired patio which is part of the proprietor’s home, with breathtaking views of the ocean. Gladys, the owner, greeted us with the warmth of a grandmother, as she did with all her guests. The first […]

Categories: Breakfast Ideas, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Low Sugar, Snack • Tags: Griddle

Caramelized Citrus Slices

January 19, 2017 by pamflo

Fresh produce is limited in the New England winter months, with the exception of citrus. The variety of citrus options are outstanding. Craving a satisfying healthy dessert, I made these caramelized citrus slices. Experiment with different fruit, like tangerines, grapefruit and an assortment of oranges. After refrigerating, serve the lightly caramelized slices and the accumulated juices over greek yogurt with a sprig of mint for an easy, light dessert or snack. 4 oranges, a variety of types (I used cara cara, navel and blood oranges) […]

Categories: Breakfast Ideas, Dairy Free, Dessert, Gluten Free, Snack • Tags: Broil

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Oatmeal Soufflé

November 10, 2016 by pamflo

In the coming months, many people will host out-of-town visitors. This is an easy, healthy breakfast idea and a crowd pleaser that can be started ahead of time. The whipped egg whites folded into the oatmeal adds protein, as well as a light and airy texture to what would be an average breakfast. Almond or coconut milk works well as a non-dairy milk substitute. I sweetened the oatmeal with coconut sugar, an unrefined brown sugar but maple syrup or honey are […]

Categories: Appetizer, Breakfast Ideas, Eggs, Gluten Free, Low Sugar, Rice/Grains • Tags: Bake, Whip

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Zest For Cooking

I love to cook and share my love of food!

Category Archives: Breakfast Ideas

Almond Chocolate Chip (No Cook) Oat Bars

Smoked White Fish Rillettes

Grilled Mushroom Eggs “Benedict”

Peanut Butter Banana Muffins – Gluten Free

Watermelon Slices with Whipped Vanilla Ricotta

Nutty Vanilla Protein Balls

Quinoa Veggie Bowl with a Lemon Mustard Vinaigrette

Healthy Chocolate Breakfast Muffins

Almond Milk Granita

Easy Veggie Frittata

Turmeric and Kale Egg Scramble

Chocolate Buckwheat Waffles

Millet Maple Porridge

Homemade Gluten-Free Bread

Squash with an Egg-in-the-hole

Heirloom Tomato Galette

Cured Salmon

Huevos Rancheros

Coconut Banana Pancakes

Caramelized Citrus Slices

Oatmeal Soufflé