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French Toast with Whipped Ricotta and Figs

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When it comes to breakfast I am usually the savory, and quick kind of person. I´ll mostly go for some avo toast with scrambled eggs or if I want something sweet for a yoghurt-chia pudding bowl with fresh fruit. Both of these come together in like 3 minutes and are really good. But on the weekends when I am not in a hurry I like to make something a little more time consuming. Sometimes I´ll go for something like eggs benedict or a beautiful fruit platter and eggs, pancaked or whatever I feel like. 

Last week though, we had this really nice, fluffy bread that was so good!! But I simply didn´t feel like having something savory so I decided to try making a french toast. I hadn´t made French toast often before that and I have actually never eaten until a little over a year when I visited the US for the first time. We used to get it in the cafeteria a few times a week and it was soo good! I remembered this French toast instantly when I saw this bread so I immediately decided to make it. 

The secret to making the best French Toast is thick bread slices, like 3cm, and a good amount of butter or coconut oil for frying. This makes it really crispy on the outside but really delicious and gooey on the inside, which equals the perfect French toast. The perfect bread to use is Brioche bread, but latterly ever bread works fine. If you are using a rather sweet bread like brioche, you do not have to make the dipping as sweet, but if you go for a dark on, you should make it a little sweeter. I have made both, with a brioche one and with one that actually was a potato-sourdough one, and they both turned out insanely delicious and addicting!

It actually is super simple to make and only asks for ingredients most people have on hand, which makes it a perfect Sunday morning breakfast when all the stores are closed anyway. For the dipping I used whole eggs because I think that they simply taste better than just the egg whites, almond milk, but you can use any dairy or dairy-free milk you like, some honey and a ton of cinnamon – because you can never have too much cinnamon. 

The toppings are the best part of every meal I think – also here. The whipped honey Ricotta is so insanely tasty and has such an addiction effect, it is soooo good! It has the perfect sweetness, the sweetness that already is in the rich Ricotta, and then that super good honey flavor. Mixed together and whipped fluffy, just good. Let me tell you, you won´t ever eat French toast without that again. It is not as fatty as butter or cream but it definitely beats it in flavor. Such a great variation to the good old piece of butter on top. 

The fresh figs perfectly round up the entire dish. They add a freshness and a bite, while not giving a contrast that is too harsh. I like using figs as they are seasonal and grown local at this time of the year but if you prefer berries, bananas or any other fruit that would work perfectly fine too. If you feel like getting extra fancy, you can even caramelize your fruits a little if you heat up some coconut oil or butter in a pan, add some sugar and then the fruit. This gives it an extra dish but I do not like it to be too sweet, so I leave out this step. The toast still tastes amazing. The crispy on the outside soggy on the inside toast, the creamy, tangy whipped Ricotta, the fresh fruits, and then that drizzle of honey on top. What do you want more?

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French Toast with Whipped Ricotta and Figs

Perfect Sunday Brunch Meal for a sweet tooth.

Course Breakfast, brunch, Dessert
Prep Time 10 Minuten
Cook Time 10 Minuten
Total Time 20 Minuten
Servings 2 People
Calories 661 kcal

What you will need

For the toast:

  • 160 G Brioche Bread or any other bread you like
  • 200 ml Almond Milk
  • 2 Eggs
  • 1 tsp Cinnamon
  • 2 tsp Honey can substitute for Maple if you prefer
  • pinch of salt
  • 1 tbsp Coconut Oil maybe more depending on your pan

For the Whipped Ricotta:

  • 160 g Ricotta
  • 1 tbsp Honey

For the toppings:

  • 3-4 figs
  • some honey

How to

  1. Thats how it works:

  2. Add the milk, the eggs, the cinnamon, honey, and salt in a big bowl and mix until all combined. Meanwhile heat up the coocnut oil in a pan. Once hot, dip the bread slices into the milk mixture so that both sides are covered with it.

    Place the dipped bread into the pan and fry on each side for about 3-4 minutes, until golden brown. If you feel like they are sticking to the pan simply add more oil.

  3. While the toast are frying add the Ricotta and the honey into a bowl. EIther with a hand mixer or simply with an egg whisk, whip it up until its all creamy and fluffy.

  4. Cut the figs in half or quaters.

  5. Take the bread out of the pan once it is finished. Top it with the Ricotta, the figs ad an extra drizzle of Honey.

  6. Enjoy!

Fall Harvest Salad (V, S)

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Fall is officially here and the temperatures are going down. Although the weekends are still super nice and sunny, you know that fall is here as soon as the leaves start to turn red, brown, and yellow and the first chestnuts are lying on the ground. Fall is such a great season, such beautiful colors and beautiful landscapes. So beautiful. Fall also means comfort foods to me and hot soups. But only because the season changes doesn’t mean just eating unhealthy comfort foods. There are so many great seasonal foods you can pack into super delicious salads. 

With this salad I tried to bring all of the beautiful fall colors into one bowl. The orange in the pumpkin, the red in the pomegranate seeds, the yellow in the pear, the brown in the almonds, and the green from the spinach. It is like eating the rainbow. A lot of people see salads as summer-food but I think that they are a great way to switch up things and not only eating soups and heavy dishes. This one is super refreshing because of the dressing but still really hearty because of the war roasted pumpkins, and the nuts. 

I used Delicata Squash because I think it works great in Salads and or roasting. It has a slight sweet taste and is not quite as dense as for example Hokkaido pumpkin. It is super simple to bring out the flavor and it roasts for only 20 minutes which I think is really great. I seasoned it very simply because I think that otherwise it would overpower the flavor of the rest of the salad. You can use any pumpkin you like but the roasting time will vary depending on the type of pumpkin. 

As a base I decided to go for baby spinach because of its mild flavor and it soaks up the flavor of the dressing easily. I simply love the slightly buttery taste and texture. If you do not like spinach you can go for anything else, lambs lettuce would work great too but I would not recommend kale because it needs more heartiness in a dressing to taste really good in a salad. You can also do a mix of different ones, it would work really great too if you decide to make it a little fancier! The pear on top adds some sweetness and soft butter-like texture, which goes really well with the salad base and the crunch of the toppings. 

For a little crunch I added the pomegranate seeds and the almonds. You can buy prepackaged pomegranate seeds but I like to to buy a whole pomegranate and take them out myself. It is a little work, takes maybe like ten minutes but you do not need unnecessary plastic packaging, they are fresher, and they last for longer, which I think is great. The almonds just give the whole salad some richness, healthy fats, and protein. I really like the heartiness and kind of dryness of almonds as I think they pair very well with the soft, juicy roasted Delicata Squash but some walnuts would work really well in szuch a salad too! Walnuts are a great seasonal food in fall and also regional here in Austria but I unfortunately did not have them on hand when I made this salad.  

For the dressing I decided to use Tahini because it is my favorite ingredient when it comes to salad dressings. It makes it so incredibly creamy and tastes so good! Also Tahini is a great healthy fat and contains a lot of vitamins. I mixed it with some Dijon mustard, lemon juice, a little olive oil, some of the pomegranate juice that ran out when I took out the seeds, and a tiny splash of maple syrup. Just mix it all up and voila, so delicious!

I really like this salad to enjoy as a light lunch and making it fresh but it also works great as meal prep if you store the dressing separately. It comes together really quickly and simple and is such a great healthy fall dish! If you decide to recreate it, make sure to tag me on Instagram with @uneptcuisiniere or with #unepetitecuisiniere! I hope you will enjoy and like it as much as I do.

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Fall Harvest Salad

A healthy and delicious salad to enjoy al of the seasonal foods that fall brings us.

Course Main Course, Salad, Side Dish
Prep Time 20 Minuten
Cook Time 20 Minuten
Total Time 25 Minuten
Servings 2 people
Calories 379 kcal

What you will need

For the Salad:

  • 200 g Baby spinach
  • 1/2 Pear
  • 1/2 Pomegranate
  • 400-500 g Delicata Squash
  • 1/2 tbsp Olive Oil
  • 30 g Almonds

For the Dressing:

  • 1 tbsp Tahini
  • 2 tbsp Pomegranate Juice
  • 1 tbsp Lemon Juice
  • 1/2 tbsp Olive Oil
  • 1 tsp Dijon Mustard
  • 1/2 tbsp White wine vinegar

How to

Thats how it works:

  1. Cut the Delicata squash into about 1cm thick slices. Remove the seeds and place them in a bowl. Generously salt and pepper them and mix the with the Olive oil. Place them on the baking tray and make sure that they do not overlap. Bake them in a preheated oven at 180C for about 20 minutes.

  2. While the pumpkin is baking, wash the spinach and the pear. Plcae the salad into a bowl and cut the pear into about 1.5cm large cubes. roughly chop the almonds. Cut the pomgranate in half and take out the seeds. I believe it is easiest to carve them out with a fork into a bowl and then take out the parts from the shell thaat came with it. Add the two fruits to the spinach along with the chopped up nuts.

  3. Add all the ingredients for the dressing into a bowl and mix well until combined. By now the pumpkin should be cooked through, so take it out of the oven. Mix the dressing with the salad, divide it onto two plates and top it with the roasted squash. Serve and enjoy!

Creamy Vegan Summer Pasta

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This Summer Veggie Pasta is going to be your new weeknight favorite. It is so simple to prepare but yet so flavorful and nutrient dense. Seasonal summer vegetables in a light and creamy coconut sauce with our all-time favorite carb – pasta!

I was going to our local farmers market and I saw all the fresh veggies. Mushrooms, tomatoes, rhubarb, potatoes, peas, like every summer vegetable I could think of. When walking by that it just made me really want to eat all of them at once. I love going to local markets since buying products there is way more sustainable.

Later, I wasn´t sure what to make with the huge basket of vitamins, so I thought about pairing it with pasta, because with pasta you can never go wrong. Sure, this dish is not a traditional Italian pasta dish as it is made with coconut milk – but I promise you, it is at least as delicious as in Italy.

It is really simple to prepare, which is perfect after a long and hot day of work. The recipe only requires 9 ingredients, which you are very likely to have on hand anyway. For the peas you do not have to use fresh ones – you can go with frozen instead, same with the corn, you could use frozen or canned one instead of fresh one. If you do not have some of the vegetables on hand but still want to make this recipe, feel free to simply substitute one ingredient for another.

I would recommend using normal wheat or whole wheat pasta for this recipe since it brings out the flavor most. If using a rather dry pasta like chickpea pasta I would recommend using more coconut milk to not make the dish taste dry.

I think this is a great recipe if you are a vegan and want to in cooperate more veggies into your diet without giving up the good taste of pasta or even if you are not vegan or vegetarian but want to create a plant-based recipe. I hope that you will enjoy this dish and if you do so be sure to tag me on Instagram with @unptcuisiniere when sharing it!

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Creamy Vegan Summer Pasta

This is a really delicious summer pasta recipe that will safe you your weeknights. Super falvorfull, quick, simple, and vegan

Course Main Course
Prep Time 6 Minuten
Cook Time 10 Minuten
Total Time 16 Minuten
Servings 2 people
Calories 763 kcal

What you will need

  • 250 g pasta
  • 1 tbsp Olive oil
  • 2 stalks spring onion
  • 100 g cherry tomatoes
  • 100 g corn cooked or canned
  • 100 g chanterelles
  • 160 ml coconut milk
  • 1 handful basil

How to

  1. Bring the water for the pasta to a boil. Add a lot of salt and cook the pasta according to the package instructions. In the meantime finely chop up the spring onions. Half the cherry tomatoes and mushrooms. Then heat up the olive oil in a big pan. Once hot sweat the onions in there for about 2 minutes. Add all the other vegetables and let cook for another 4-5 minutes. If needed add some more water or oil to help cook. Once the vegetables are mostly cooked through, add the coconut milk and some water to thin out the sauce.

    Reserve one cup of pasta water and drain the rest of the pasta. Add it into the pan with the sauce along with a little of the pasta-water. Here it really matters which type of pasta you have chosen to use. If it is a ather dry pasta, I would recommend adding more water.

    Serve with some fresh basil leaves and enjoy!

Notes

if you are not vegan, a great idea is to add some crumbled feta cheese on top for more flavour and texture. If you are recreating this dish be sure to tag me on instagram with @uneptcuisiniere.

Triple Berry Breakfast Jars

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Summer in a jar

I loooooove breakfast. For me breakfast is my favourite meal of the entire day. If it was for me, I´d eat breakfast food all day long. Chia puddings, oatmeals, pancakes, eggs, avocado toasts, .. I mean – what do you need more?

breakfast the first thing in the morning we give our body after a long rest, it is something we re-fuel our energy cells, and the way we start the day. With breakfast we set the attitude for the rest of our day. If we start our day with a healthy and balanced meal, we tend to be healthier throughout the day and make smarter decisions.

Skipping breakfast is not an option for me as I then get hungry an hour after I got up latest, and I get super tired. I just need something in the morning to give me energy and fill me up. I used to eat something in the morning, like a simple bread with butter and jam, which was good in that moment and gave me energy. After an hour though, I tended to get tired and hungry again, as such a breakfast was really high in sugar and very low in fibres.

These Triple Berry Chia Pudding Breakfast Jars (what a long name!) are the complete opposite. Chia seeds are a real superfood and packed with tons of vitamins, as well as fiber, actually more than most fruits and vegetables. It has 10 grams of fiber per 25 grams serving! The little seeds also contain a good amount of protein and healthy omega 3 fats (more than salmon), which makes us feel full for longer. The small seeds may lower your risk in heart diseases, and lower your blood pressure, as well as they are going to boost your digestion due to the fiber.

Not only the chia seeds provide great nutritional value but also the fresh fruits, which contain a ton of vitamins, antioxidants, and fiber. They are consumed raw in this recipe, which keeps all of their vitamins. The greek yoghurt is also a great source of protein and healthy fats, and the sugar-free granola add some carbs and crunch without any added sugar.

What I really like about this breakfast is that it is super simple and easy to prepare. The chia pudding has to be prepared the night before, and in the morning it is all just thrown together into a jar or bowl and ready in 5 minutes. Just add the fresh fruits, yoghurt, and granola and assemble.

This also is a great recipe for meal prep. If it is packed into mason jars or a bento box it is easily potable and can be prepared the night before or a few days before. I would not prepare it more than 2 days ahead as the berries will get mushy and will rotten faster. Also the granola should be kept separately as it won’t be crispy if added to the yoghurt and pudding ahead of time.

All in all, this is such a nutrient – dense breakfast, which will keep you full for several hours and satisfy your tummy for a great start into your day.

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Tripple Berry Breakfast Jars

A delicious and nutrient-dense breakfast for a great start into your day! Gluten- and refined sugar free, seasonal, and as a vegan option available.

Course Breakfast
Prep Time 10 Minuten
Resting time 4 Stunden 10 Minuten
Total Time 4 Stunden 20 Minuten
Servings 2 people
Calories 246 kcal

What you will need

Chia Pudding

  • 50 grams chia seeds (1/4 cup)
  • 250 ml almond milk (1 cup)

For the jars

  • 100 grams yogurt can substitute for plant based yogurt for a vegan option
  • 1 handful blueberries can be frozen
  • 1 handful raspberries can be frozen
  • 2 tbsp granola sugar-free preferably
  • 4 strawberries
  • edible flowers for decoration (optional)

How to

For the Chia Pudding:

  1. Combine the chia seeds and the almond milk in a rather flat container. Stir to combine and place in the fridge. Take out after 10 minutes. You will see that it has thickened slightly. Stir through again to make sure that the chia seeds wont stay at the bottom. Then return to the fridge and keep in there for at least 4 hours but best overnight to let it thicken.

For the Jars:

  1. The next morning take the chia pudding out of the fridge. Place he blueberries at the bottom of the jars. Top them with a layer of the chia pudding. In a small bowl mash the rasberries with a fork and add them on top of the pudding. Sprinkle one tablespoon of ganola into each jar, and pour the yogurt on top of it. Cut the strawberries into small pieces and place them at the top, along with some blueberries and edible flowers.

    Enjoy!