Blueberry Turmeric Muffins

blueberry turmeric muffins recipe

Blueberry Turmeric Muffins recipe
makes 6 muffins

These muffins are a variation on my Summer Squash Spice Muffins, an almond flour-based recipe made with minimal ingredients. Turmeric and ginger give them underlying spice and complexity, while blueberry and lemon provide a familiar flavor that’s not too sweet or tart. Because almond flour is dense and heavy, they won’t rise like traditional muffins, so don’t fill the cups too full.

dry ingredients:
1 cup, packed almond flour (this is finer than almond meal and will turn out better)
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
pinch of salt
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric

wet ingredients:
2 eggs
1/4 cup honey or maple syrup
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon lemon zest

mix-ins:
3/4 cup fresh blueberries

1. Preheat oven to 350.  Line a muffin tin with 6 muffin liners.

2. Combine all dry ingredients in a mixing bowl.  Whisk together with a fork.

3. Combine all wet ingredients in a different large mixing bowl.  Whisk together with a fork.  

4. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, folding together with a rubber spatula until just mixed.  Add in blueberries.

5. Immediately, fill muffin cups 2/3 full (you will get a lot of spread on top if you fill them fuller--this recipe won't puff up as much as traditional muffins).  Bake for 16-20 minutes, until a toothpick can be inserted and removed with nothing sticking to it.  Let cool in tin for 5 minutes then cool on rack for another 15.  

Teff Waffles

teff waffles recipe

Teff Waffles recipe
makes 6-8 waffles

Teff is a naturally gluten-free pseudograin, best known for being the base ingredient for the spongy Ethiopian bread injera. These tiny grains are milled whole (not refined) to make a flour that’s high in fiber and protein. I found teff flour online* but you can also look for it in the Bob’s Red Mill section of your grocery store. We don’t own a waffle iron but borrowed this one* made by All-Clad from my mother-in-law and I loved using it, so if we do end up buying one, I’ll probably go with this one. I served these with maple syrup, strawberries, and coconut yogurt. Leftover waffles can be cooled and refrigerated or frozen and then reheated in the toaster.

2 cups teff flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
pinch of sea salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
2 eggs
2 cups coconut milk beverage (the boxed kind, not canned coconut milk)
1/4 cup maple syrup
3 tablespoons coconut oil, melted

  1. Preheat waffle maker.

  2. In a large bowl, stir together teff flour, baking powder, sea salt, cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spice.

  3. In a medium bowl, whisk eggs, coconut milk beverage, maple syrup, and coconut oil.

  4. Pour liquid ingredients into dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Ladle batter into waffle iron and cook in batches according to iron instructions. I like to turn my waffle iron up to the highest setting and let the batter cook 2 extra minutes after the timer goes off because I like crispy waffles.

*affiliate links

Sweet Potato Toasts

sweet potato toast recipe

Sweet Potato Toasts recipe
makes 4 “toasts”

Slice a sweet potato into thin planks to make simple toast-like bases for your favorite toppings like avocado and almond butter. These sweet potato toasts can be made in the oven or toaster oven like I do here but you can also make them in a regular pop-up toaster—you’ll just need to cook them a few times on the toast setting to get them fully cooked.

for toast:
1 sweet potato

topping options:
hummus + sprouts
almond butter + blueberries
peanut butter + honey
avocado + sea salt

1. Preheat toaster oven or oven to 450.  Meanwhile, slice sweet potato lengthwise into 1/4 inch thick slices. To make this easier, you can first slice a thin piece off the side of the sweet potato so that it will stay stable when you cut it into the thin slices.

2. Lay sweet potato slices directly on the rack and bake for 10 minutes.  Using rubber-ended tongs, flip over the slices and bake for 10 minutes more.  Slices should be soft and lightly charred on the outside. Remove from oven and top with your favorite toast toppings.

Butternut Squash N'oatmeal

butternut squash noatmeal recipe

Butternut Squash N’oatmeal recipe
serves 4

Trying to get more veggies into your breakfast? Try pureed starchy veggies instead of oatmeal. For this recipe, I used frozen squash and cooked it up in the Instant Pot, but you could easily make this on the stovetop too. Butternut squash is a good source of potassium, magnesium, Vitamin C, and beta-carotene. Keep it simple by just adding spices and a banana for sweetness or add fat and protein to make it more filling with coconut milk and almond butter. Use my coconut cube trick to save leftover coconut milk.

2 lbs frozen cubed butternut squash
1/4 cup coconut milk
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 cup almond butter
1 banana
1/2 cup unsweetened desiccated coconut

  1. Cook frozen squash, coconut milk, cinnamon, and ginger in the Instant Pot on high for 3 minutes and quick pressure release. (Or cook on stovetop until defrosted and combined, about 15-20 minutes. You may need to add a splash or two of water.)

  2. Add almond butter and banana and blend with an immersion blender. (You could also use a potato masher or food processor.) Stir in desiccated coconut and serve. Leftovers can be stored in the fridge and reheated or even frozen.

Veggie Breakfast Bowl

veggie breakfast bowl recipe

Veggie bowls like this one have become morning staples for me.  I prep a big container full of chopped up cooked veggies on Sunday and then have them ready to go to just reheat on weekday mornings.  Typically I top with an egg, but take a look at my suggestions below on how to modify for your diet and dietary needs.  This has been my go-to for the mystery veggies in my CSA box that I don't know quite what to do with.  You can really make this with any veggies--this is just what I had on hand this week!

Veggie Breakfast Bowl recipe
serves 3-4

drizzle of extra virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 portabello mushrooms caps, chopped into 1/2" pieces
1/2 lb green beans, chopped into 1/2" pieces
1 bunch Swiss chard, leaves and stems chopped into 1/2" pieces
salt and pepper
topping of choice (see below)

1. In a large skillet, heat extra virgin olive oil and add minced garlic.  Stir for 30 seconds until garlic is aromatic but not brown.  Add mushrooms and saute for 5 minutes until they release their juices.  Add chopped green beans and Swiss chard stems and saute for 5 minutes more.  Add 1-2 tablespoons of water to help sauteing process if it seems to dry.  Finish by wilting in chard leaves and seasoning with salt and pepper.  Top as desired and store extras.

Topping suggestions for each serving portion:
protein: 1-2 fried or scrambled eggs; 1/2 cup black beans; 1/2 cup chickpeas; 3 oz seared tofu; 1/4 lb ground meat
fat: 1/4-1/2 avocado; 2 tablespoons tahini; 1/4 cup sesame seeds or cashews; guacamole
probiotic: 2 tablespoons naturally fermented veggies like sauerkraut or kimchi; 1/4 cup plain goat, cow, or nondairy yogurt seasoned with lemon and salt
flavor: crumbly cheese like feta or queso fresco; quick pickled onions or veggies; squeeze of lemon; Sriracha or other hot sauce; salsa; dulse flakes

Other veggie combo ideas:
These veggies may have different cooking times or methods, so cook as you would normally, but you can still saute or combine them together as a breakfast bowl.

sweet potatoes + spinach + cauliflower
beets + kale + summer squash
brocoli + squash + scallions
red onion + shiitake mushrooms + collard greens
asparagus + zucchini + potatoes

Carrot Cake Oatmeal

carrot cake oatmeal recipe

Carrot Cake Oatmeal recipe
serves 4

This oatmeal recipe incorporates the flavors of carrot cake--sweet carrots, chewy raisins, warming spices and crunchy walnuts.  By simmering the carrots before adding the oats, I make sure that I don't get a raw or too vegetal taste from them in the final dish.  I like the carrots grated (like on a box grater) instead of the pre-shredded bags that you can buy because they are thinner and blend into the oatmeal better.  I've found that oatmeal is very personal, so feel free to add more or less liquid depending on your preference. Make one morning and have leftovers to reheat for the rest of the week.

3 cups water
4 medium carrots, grated (you should get 2 cups)
3 tablespoons maple syrup
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
Pinch of sea salt
2 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup raisins
2 cups unsweetened almond milk
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

1. Bring 3 cups water and carrots up to a simmer and let cook 10 minutes.  

2. Add cinnamon, ginger, sea salt, rolled oats, raisins, and almond milk.  Simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until the liquid is absorbed. Serve topped with chopped walnuts and more raisins or almond milk if you like.

Shakshuka with Feta

shakshuka with feta recipe

Shakshuka with Feta recipe
serves 4

Shakshuka is a Middle Eastern breakfast dish and I have yet to meet someone who doesn't like it.  I make this for me and my husband for weekend brunches, but you can also feed a crowd by making a double batch, transferring to a 9X13 baking pan, adding eggs and putting it under the broiler. Shakshuka is really defined by the eggs on top so you can't really skip them, but you can easily leave out the feta if you are dairy-free or use chopped kalamata olives instead if you like that salty, briny bite.  You can easily have this for dinner too--just include a piece of whole grain pita or sourdough to sop up that spicy sauce.

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
1 red bell pepper, finely chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1/2 teaspoon red chile flake
1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
1 cup crumbled goat or sheep's milk feta
4 eggs
Parsley or cilantro to garnish
Salt and pepper to taste

1. Heat olive oil in a 12-inch high-side skillet.  Add onion, bell pepper, garlic and a generous sprinkle of salt.  Cook for 5-7 minutes until veggies have softened.

2. Add paprika, cumin, turmeric, red chile flake, and crushed tomatoes. Simmer for 10 minutes to let flavors blend.

3. Stir feta into tomato sauce.  Make 4 divots into the sauce with the back of a spoon and crack an egg into each. Cover and cook on medium low for 8-10 minutes until egg whites are cooked. Yolks will be partially set by not super runny.  Garnish with parsley, cilantro, or extra feta.