Crayfish & Egg Scramble

I’ve mentioned to y’all that finding ingredients familiar to my life in the States where I live can be a bit hit-and-miss. This is an example. Substitutions given.

gluten-free, paleo, keto, whole30

Crayfish & Egg Scramble

2 Duck eggs – sub large or XL chicken eggs

3 oz crayfish, cooked & peeled – shrimp was what I originally wanted, crayfish was what they had

Hand full thinly sliced green onions

White pepper & salt

Sesame oil

Magic sarap – sub chicken broth granules

Prep your ingredients: slice the green onions, crack the eggs into a bowl and whisk, gather everything else and have on hand.

Over low to medium-low heat, add a little bit of sesame oil to a pan.

After the oil warms and starts to be fragrant, add the beaten eggs. Let the bottom of the eggs firm up before running your spatula through them to create soft folds.

While the eggs are still liquidy on top, add the green onions, crayfish, salt, pepper & a sprinkle of magic sarap/bouillon granules.

Let cool until your desired doneness is reached.

Serves 1 for a decadent breakfast or light lunch

Sweet Potato Breakfast Bowl

Sweet Potato Breakfast Bowl

1 medium sweet potato, boiled until soft and mashed

Glug or so your favorite milk

Hefty dash cinnamon

Sprinkle salt

Teaspoon or so vanilla

1/2 tsp cardamom

1/4 tsp nutmeg

Purée together until smooth.

Optional toppers:

Nut butter

Ground flaxseeds

Pomegranate seeds

Pepitas

Granola

Coconut flakes

Serves 1

Singapore Sling Smoothie

This is a nice and light smoothie with all the main flavors found in a Singapore Sling – minus the gin.

Note: As written, this smoothie may be a bit bitter for some. I would suggest adding a date if you are sensitive to that flavor.

gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan

Singapore Sling Smoothie

Big hand frozen cherries

Equal amount pineapple chunks

2 Tbsp lime juice

1/2 avocado

1 tsp nutmeg

1/4 grapefruit, peeled and chopped

1/2 small beet, chopped

Big hand spinach

1 scoop protein powder

3/4 c water

Combine and blend.

Serves 1

Mango Lime Smoothie

This is another odd combo that just works. Cardamom & mango isn’t totally unfamiliar to me, but the addition of semi-aggressive lime just brings this smoothie over the top. And the addition here of orange veggies makes it really pretty to look at, too.

gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, paleo

Mango Lime Smoothie

1 large mango

4 small limes – zest + juice

3-4 tsp ground cardamom

1.5 c oat milk

1/2 c chopped sweet potato

1 medium carrot

1 avocado

2 scoops protein powder

Blend

Serves 2

Thai Smoothie

Another kinda-weird sounding smoothie that works. I will be making riffs on this one for months to come.

gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, paleo

Thai Smoothie

6 leaves fresh basil (Thai would be best, but Italian is fine)

1 Tbsp lime juice

Big hand full spinach

1 scoop unflavored protein powder

1/2 apple

1/2 avocado

1-2 tsp fresh ginger

100ml pineapple juice

Fill the blender cup up with pineapple 1/2 – 1c chunks

Blend to combine.

Serves 1

Salad Smoothie

This is exactly what it sounds like. I wanted to see if I could just drink a salad for breakfast – and I’m happy to report, this wasn’t half bad. It’s by no means sweet, but has a nice spice that woke me right up.

gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, paleo

Salad Smoothie

1/2 Persian cucumber

Big hand lettuce

1/2 jalapeño

3 Tbsp fresh parsley

1 Tbsp pepitas

1/2 tsp dried dill

2 Tbsp chives

3 Tbsp yogurt (I used vegan Skyr style)

1/2 avocado

1 scoop unflavored protein powder

1 Tbsp lemon juice

1 small nectarine

Few cracks salt & pepper

3/4 cup water

Blend to combine.

Serves 1

Strawberry Breakfast Grains

This is a vague nod to the strawberry grain pot from Starbucks – ala @fitmenchef on Instagram. It’s hearty, packed with protein, and quick to whip up in a batch.

gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan

Strawberry Breakfast Grains

First, set the grains on to cook by combining:

1c quinoa

3C water

And cooking like you usually cook quinoa. I put mine on the “rice” setting of my slow cooker.

While that is working, make the strawberries.

To do so, combine:

800g frozen strawberries

100ml orange juice

6tsp cinnamon

4t butter

Sprinkle salt & black pepper

1 tsp vanilla powder

Sauté over medium until most of the water evaporates and the mix gets syrupy.

While those are both cooking, make the crème by combining:

350g soft tofu

10Tbsp collagen protein

1c oat milk

1tsp vanilla powder

Blend to combine.

When the quinoa is finished, mix in:

1.5c rolled oats

Let sit to cool.

When all is done, mix the crème into the grains and divide into 7 portions. Top with the strawberries.

To serve, you may want some added sugar – I ended up adding about a teaspoon and a half of maple sugar to each portion. I also added some of my favorite seed mix, though shaved almonds would be even better.

Serves 7

Tropical Overnight Oats

These decadent-tasting overnight oats are so freakin good – just the thing to welcome myself back into the swing of not-vacation life.

gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan

Tropical Overnight Oats

1/3 c rolled oats

2-3 Tbsp pineapple chunks

2 Tbsp coconut flakes

1 Tbsp chia seeds

1 Tbsp protein powder of choice

1/3 c your favorite milk

2 tsp maple syrup

1/2 tsp vanilla

Few grinds salt

Optional topper: seed mix (my fav is a pumpkin & sunflower mix)

Combine all ingredients but the pineapple in an airtight container. Shake vigorously to combine, and let sit overnight.

To serve, top with the pineapple, a few flakes more coconut if desired and your favorite seed mix for crunch.

Serves 1 but is easily scalable

Overnight Protein Cheesecake Breakfast

This is a good one. One of my girlfriends shared the recipe, and she was right – this is a breakfast to look forward to.

gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan

Overnight Protein Cheesecake Breakfast

1.5 medium bananas (about 120g)

60g quick oats

1 tsp maple syrup

2 tsp ground cinnamon

Big pinch salt

145g package vegan cream cheese (if your cream cheese will soften, soften it – I did not and I had lumps)

120g Skyr or Greek style vegan yogurt

Juice of 1/2 lemon – about 1 – 3 Tbsp, depending on your dairy and how tart you want your cheesecake

4 servings your favorite plain protein powder

125g package blueberries

1 tsp vanilla

Mash your banana with the oats, maple syrup, cinnamon and salt.

Mush into the bottom of 4 containers (or 1 big one and cut into 1/4 to serve).

Mix the cream cheese, yogurt, lemon juice, protein powder and vanilla together until smooth (or as smooth as you can get it – see above). Fold in the blueberries.

Distribute evenly to the containers and spread in a thick layer.

Let refrigerate overnight.

Serves 4

Mediterranean Spiced Hash

This deeply-spiced potato hash is great for a quick weeknight dinner – or as the centerpiece of a nice brunch. Serve with eggs, chicken, sausages, or leftover shawarma meat for a nice protein boost.

gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan

Mediterranean Spiced Hash

3 small yellow potatoes, chopped fine

2 big hand fulls okra (or asparagus, or green beans – whichever you can find), sliced into rounds

Big hand full cherry tomatoes, halved

1 small cucumber, chopped fine

Big hand parsley, chopped fine

1 red onion, diced (about 1/3 c)

Neutral oil

Stock or water + chicken flavoring (I used Magic Sarap)

4 Tbsp zaatar

2 tsp sumac or lemon powder

2 tsp cumin

1 Tbsp smoked or sweet paprika

1 Tbsp garlic powder

Salt & pepper

Squeeze lemon juice

In a large pan over medium/medium-high, heat a couple turns oil. Add the potatoes and onion once chopped and sauté until beginning to soften, cutting the heat down if things start to get too brown.

Add the okra (or other veg) and stir a minute or so.

Add 1/4 c of the stock or seasoned water. Stir.

Add all the spices + generous lashes of salt and pepper.

Stir frequently, adding more water if your mix dries out and starts to burn, until the potatoes are cooked through and your okra de-slimes. Your potatoes will look super spiced and a sort of gravy will form. This is what you want.

To finish, toss with the cucumber, parsley and tomato. Taste and hit with a little lemon juice, salt or pepper if needed.

Serves 3 – 4, depending upon what you pair it with