finding time for cooking

for the time-starved or curious culinary adventurer

Breakfast Goodies

My family always took brunch very seriously, and I’ve made it my mission to find all the best breakfast recipes and brunch goodies around.  Sure, the healthy stuff like delicious frittatas and smoothies full of fruits and veg…but especially the wonderful carbs.

That’s right, the sheer number of different types of pancakes, waffles, scones, twisty sweet breads, biscuits, and more that I’ve got here might blow your mind.

With that in mind, here are a few of my fave breakfast recipes to get you started:

You can see the full recipe index here, look through a more visual archive here, or you can browse the archives below…

5-Minute Vanilla Spice Cassava Flour Waffles (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)

Even when I’m being REALLY good with my diet, and temporarily eliminating things like gluten and dairy, I still need a treat sometimes.  In the summer I relied heavily on my addictive dark chocolate banana “nice cream”, but as the weather has gotten colder, I was looking for something a bit cozier.  And these vanilla cinnamon cassava flour waffles 100% fit the bill!

5-Minute Vanilla Spice Cassava Flour Waffles | These super easy gluten-free vanilla cinnamon cassava waffles come together in just a few minutes, providing a nice treat on a gluten-free & dairy-free diet. What to make with cassava flour, gluten-free waffles, using vanilla protein powder for flavor. Cassava waffles (or with oat flour) made in just a few minutes, gluten-free breakfast recipe. #cassavaflour #waffles #glutenfree #gf #equilife

These cassava flour waffles are dense (though not dry) and so in my opinion it does need some kind of wetter topping (berries, bananas, maple syrup or honey, yogurt) to balance that out.  But the flavor it packs is so comforting…that vanilla-y cinnamon-y goodness really comes through.

I’m pretty new to cassava flour, but have really liked using it as a gluten-free alternative to things like these waffles, or coating chicken tenders.

I have tried this with oat flour as well, and it’s delicious and less dense, BUT also falls apart really easily.  However if you don’t have cassava flour on hand, it can still work well with oat flour! 

5-Minute Vanilla Spice Cassava Flour Waffles | These super easy gluten-free vanilla cinnamon cassava waffles come together in just a few minutes, providing a nice treat on a gluten-free & dairy-free diet. What to make with cassava flour, gluten-free waffles, using vanilla protein powder for flavor. Cassava waffles (or with oat flour) made in just a few minutes, gluten-free breakfast recipe. #cassavaflour #waffles #glutenfree #gf #equilife

Over the past six months, I’ve talked quite a bit about the health journey I’ve been on, so won’t belabor the point here…I go into more detail in my post on how to stay sane on a functional medicine detox or gut health/candida protocol if you want to read more.

Equilife saw some of the recipes I posted while on that journey (like this delicious spiced chickpea scramble), and recently reached out to me asking if I’d partner with them to develop recipes that adhere to the three different main protocols that they use (two of which I’ve done…the functional medicine detox and the gut health one). 

So I’m adding my usual partnership disclaimer here, which is that this post is sponsored by Equilibrium Nutrition.  In this case I have included their vanilla daily nutritional support powder (kind of a souped up multivitamin + protein powder) in the recipe, because I use it in my smoothie every day (on my own dime).  But if you have a different type of vanilla protein powder that you prefer—or just want to omit—that’s fine too.  Most of the recipes in this partnership won’t use the products, but will just adhere to the specific dietary needs.

5-Minute Vanilla Spice Cassava Flour Waffles with Equilife Daily Nutritional Support powderREAD THE POST

Small-Batch Challah French Toast

Y’all, I have been converted to the cult of challah french toast!  I truly don’t think I can go back to regular sandwich bread french toast after this.

This is the perfect lazy person’s brunch recipe, great on a weekend but even totally doable on a random Tuesday morning if you have leftover challah bread.  The end result feels so much more satisfying than the 10 minutes it takes to make.  This is what we call return on investment.

The Best Small-Batch Challah French Toast | This easy challah bread french toast recipe uses just a few ingredients and only takes 10 minutes, a perfect lazy brunch. With a lift from cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon zest, using challah makes the best french toast around. How to make challah french toast for one or french toast for two, an easy french toast recipe. #brunch #frenchtoast #challah #smallbatch #cookingforone

While you could technically use store-bought challah, I always find it drier, less eggy, and less flavorful than homemade, so the resulting french toast won’t be as good.

But I have great news—making your own challah is so easy!  I have two different recipes, this easy soft challah, and this traditional one (that I did a 4-strand plait round on).  Either works great for this, though I used the latter for this french toast recipe and it was AWESOME.

I’m sharing a small-batch recipe below (which makes french toast for one or two people), but it can easily be scaled up.  It’s really straightforward, but the regular egg/milk foundation is elevated with a little cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, and lemon zest.  The zest and cinnamon really make this amazing!

The Best Small-Batch Challah French Toast | This easy challah bread french toast recipe uses just a few ingredients and only takes 10 minutes, a perfect lazy brunch. With a lift from cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon zest, using challah makes the best french toast around. How to make challah french toast for one or french toast for two, an easy french toast recipe.

Why is challah bread good for french toast?

Both challah and brioche (and even a Hawaiian roll) are better for french toast versus plain sandwich bread, or something like french bread or sourdough.  This is because they are made from a richer, egg-ier dough (usually they have butter or oil, some sugar, and eggs).  This brings a LOT more flavor to your french toast, plus a softer and more pleasant texture (and they soak up the egg/milk moisture better).

A couple tips to make your challah bread french toast extra awesome:

  • I think that thick-cut slices are better.  Like maybe an inch thick or just over that?  Don’t make the mistake of cutting too thin!
  • You’ll get a better french toast texture from day-old challah, and I recommend even slicing it ahead of time and letting it dry out a bit.  This will help it soak up more egg mixture, resulting in a softer, custardier end result.
  • Because challah is a little more dense and we’re doing thicker slices, do make sure that you let the bread soak up the liquid.  Don’t just do a 2-second dunk…I leave each side in the liquid for like 5 seconds, just to make sure it’s picking up enough liquid.

The Best Small-Batch Challah French Toast | This easy challah bread french toast recipe uses just a few ingredients and only takes 10 minutes, a perfect lazy brunch. With a lift from cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon zest, using challah makes the best french toast around. How to make challah french toast for one or french toast for two, an easy french toast recipe. READ THE POST

Simple & Amazing Chocolate Brioche Babka

We’re going “back to basics” with this chocolate brioche babka…why mess with perfection?? 

Now, I say “basics” not because it’s plain but because this marries two traditional dishes—buttery brioche and a chocolate babka—and executes them perfectly.  We’re not trying to get fancy here, no exotic flavors or crazy techniques.  Simplicity is the goal.  

Amazing & Easy Chocolate Brioche Babka | This chocolate babka is perfect in its simplicity, a marriage of traditional babka with a brioche dough. It's also surprisingly easy, perfect for both new and experienced bakers. How to make brioche dough, how to make chocolate babka. #chocolate #babka #brioche

For this I’ve used Smitten Kitchen’s recipe, and she never steers me wrong.  She made a few tweaks to hers that I’ve mostly picked up here as well.

I agree with her on the orange zest front (not that lemon’s bad, it’s delish, but orange is perfect).  I also skipped the optional pecans and extra sugar for the filling, because I didn’t feel it was necessary (and I’m not a nut person).  This brioche babka isn’t super sweet, so if you want it sweeter you could sprinkle some sugar on top of your filling.

Because this makes two loaves, you also could experiment with other flavors…make one loaf the traditional chocolate babka, then play around with the other.  The sky’s the limit.  I recently tested a cranberry-apricot one with white chocolate which will be coming your way soon.

Amazing & Easy Chocolate Brioche Babka

While you don’t really *need* special tools to make this, there are a few that will help a lot.

  • First off, I STRONGLY recommend using a stand mixer for this, vs. doing by hand.  The dough has so much butter worked in that it would be very challenging by hand.
  • This scraper tool is super helpful for everything, and I use it to cut my dough logs in half.
  • I like a nice thin rolling pin to better control the dough, these bamboo ones are perfect.
  • These silicone basting brushes make it easy to brush the glaze on (and clean up well).
  • The quality of your cocoa powder and chocolate is critical.  I use this Hershey’s special dark cocoa powder and either these Ghiradelli chocolate discs or Trader Joe’s dark chocolate bars.
  • Similarly, the quality of your butter is essential.  Kerrygold is amazing, or look for some other very high fat percentage butter.

The lovely chocolate swirls in this brioche babkaREAD THE POST

Citrus Poppyseed Babka with White Chocolate

I’m on a weird kick when it comes to soft twisty breads, but this citrus poppyseed babka is definitely the most unique of the bunch.  And it’s a total winner…featuring super soft, pillowy, fragrant dough with a slightly crunchy filling, studded with bits of melty white chocolate.

What’s not to love???

Citrus Poppyseed Babka with White Chocolate Chunks | This super unique babka is full of flavor and texture, but isn't difficult to make. A lemon & orange poppyseed babka is perfect for any occasion, whether brunch or dessert. Made with a homemade poppyseed filling and chunks of white chocolate. #babka #poppyseed #citrus #twistybread #whitechocolate

I only made one small tweak to the original poppyseed babka recipe, adding in orange zest to the lemon zest for a more robust and sweet citrus punch.  

And that citrus blend goes so well with the gooey pockets of white chocolate…you don’t really taste the white chocolate (which is good, since I’m not a huge fan), but rather it adds some sweetness and moisture to the overall loaf as it melts in.

Citrus Poppyseed Babka with White Chocolate Chunks

This dough was really fun to work with as well.  You want it really sticky to start with, and that can be a bit terrifying. 

But avoid the temptation to add too much flour—both in the initial mix and while rolling it out—and you’ll be rewarded with this super stretchy, soft dough that becomes an amazing fluffy loaf.

Citrus Poppyseed Babka with White Chocolate Chunks | This super unique babka is full of flavor and texture, but isn't difficult to make. A lemon & orange poppyseed babka is perfect for any occasion, whether brunch or dessert. Made with a homemade poppyseed filling and chunks of white chocolate. #babka #poppyseed #citrus #twistybread #whitechocolateREAD THE POST

Pear Fritters with Maple-Honey Glaze

It seems fitting that this recipe blends two of my greatest loves—pears and fritter donuts.  I’ve been a massive apple fritter obsessive for years, but when I saw this recipe for pear fritters my internal monologue went YUP THAT’S HAPPENING.

Easy Pear Fritters with Maple-Honey Glaze | A perfect fall twist on the classic apple fritter, these pear fritters are super easy, fried on the stove, and dipped in an amazing glaze. And they're ready in less than 30 minutes! Best brunch recipe ideas, how to make apple fritters, breakfast ideas. #pear #applefritters #breakfast #brunch

The daunting thing that’s always kept me from trying to make them myself has been the deep-frying part.  It just terrifies me.  These side-step that slightly, frying in a skillet vs. a deep fryer.  But it’s still kind of disconcerting for me.

And I also gravitate toward the ones that are dough-based (like a donut) rather than batter.  However, the major upside to batter is that it comes together so fast…no time to rise, cut, re-rise.  These are ready to devour in less than 30 minutes, which is BOMB.

And then there’s the absolutely crave-worthy glaze.  It was originally just a honey glaze, but maple and pear are such good friends that I couldn’t resist.  If you’re feeling really EXTRA, you could swap bourbon for the milk, because…why not??

Easy Pear Fritters with Maple-Honey Glaze | A perfect fall twist on the classic apple fritter, these pear fritters are super easy, fried on the stove, and dipped in an amazing glaze. And they're ready in less than 30 minutes! Best brunch recipe ideas, how to make apple fritters, breakfast ideas. #pear #applefritters #breakfast #brunchREAD THE POST

Single-Serving Dark Chocolate Waffle…Bittersweet, Indulgent, & Delicious

Guyyysssssss.  I have all the treats for us today.  Several months ago I shared a totally addictive waffle recipe but my conundrum was…it made like 6 waffles which my waistline cannot handle.  So today I present to you single-serving dark chocolate waffles!

Single-Serving Dark Chocolate Waffle | This delicious waffle recipe is the perfect answer to last-minute cravings, serves one or two people comfortably and ready in 10 minutes! Small brunch recipes, single-serving brunch, small batch breakfast recipes, cooking for one, brunch for one. A delicious single-serving chocolate waffle! #chocolate #waffle #singleserving #smallbatch #brunch

Now don’t get me wrong, these still pack quite the caloric punch, but they’re one of those amazing dishes that is the perfect answer to sudden cravings. 

Ten minutes later you have bittersweet, indulgent chocolate-y carbs without days of leftovers.

This single-serving dark chocolate waffle uses good quality chocolate for best results

One thing to call out is I would recommend using really good quality dark chocolate if you can, like Ghiradelli or above.  If you can cut up a bar vs. using chocolate chips that is nice too, because the chocolate chips have stabilizers on them that make them not as melty.

Either olive oil or melted butter can work fine here but I tend toward butter since it makes the waffles a little more crisp.

And this waffle iron has become my true love in the past couple years, just so easy to use, doesn’t need cleaning much, and makes amazingly crisp waffles!

Single-Serving Dark Chocolate Waffle | This delicious waffle recipe is the perfect answer to last-minute cravings, serves one or two people comfortably and ready in 10 minutes! Small brunch recipes, single-serving brunch, small batch breakfast recipes, cooking for one, brunch for one. A delicious single-serving chocolate waffle! #chocolate #waffle #singleserving #smallbatch #brunch

READ THE POST

Shaken Iced Brown Sugar Cinnamon Vanilla Latte

When I first saw a post about a shaken iced brown sugar latte, I thought “COLOR ME INTRIGUED”.  I’m known to make my own iced lattes from time to time, but had never thought to shake the mixture.  And yet, it makes perfect sense and I knew I had to try it.

Delicious Shaken Iced Brown Sugar Latte | This is a copycat of Starbucks iced brown sugar oat milk latte, super easy homemade, healthier, and obviously cheaper. Using only a few ingredients including good espresso, shaking it makes the flavors come out more and chills without watering down. Try it today! #latte #homemadelatte #copycatstarbucks #icedcoffee

Why should you shake espresso or coffee?  There are a few answers to that, and it’s very similar to why you shake certain types of cocktails (but not others). 

First, it blends and emulsifies the ingredients so they are truly mixed and take on a kind of creamy mouthfeel even without any dairy.  The shaking also aerates the mixture, which releases flavor compounds (esters??) and really highlights the different flavor notes in the coffee. 

And it chills it quickly, preventing it from getting watered down—CLUTCH.

I believe without milk this would be called a “shakerato“…and it achieves a similar effect to using or “pressing” my Aeropress directly over ice cubes to make my favorite iced coffee ever (releasing flavor!).

Shaken Iced Brown Sugar Latte | This is a copycat of Starbucks iced brown sugar oat milk latte

And apparently this is a copycat recipe of Starbucks’ iced brown sugar oat milk latte (which I’ve never tried), but I feel confident that this homemade version is healthier, it’s definitely cheaper, and I’d personally hazard a guess to say it’s yummier too.

One key is to shake all the ingredients EXCEPT the milk.  I tried shaking it with the milk as well, but it deadens the strong flavors of the espresso and brown sugar syrup—I was not a fan.  Simply pour your shaken, foamy mixture into the milk and stir a bit instead.

Shaken Iced Brown Sugar Latte | This is a copycat of Starbucks iced brown sugar oat milk latteREAD THE POST

Egg & Salmon Breakfast Casserole with Goat Cheese & Veggies

I feel like I can sense about half of the internet’s judgment from here…”Fish in an egg casserole??  Are you insane?!”  I know, I know.  That’s basically what I was telling myself when I threw together this egg and salmon breakfast casserole with delicious salty goat cheese and tons of veggies.

Egg & Salmon Breakfast Casserole with Goat Cheese & Veggies | This delicious and easy brunch recipe is a great way to use up leftover salmon filets (cooked) and use up all the produce you have sitting around. A unique breakfast recipe, perfect way to use up salmon leftovers. Healthy breakfast recipe, can make ahead. #salmon #eggcasserole #breakfastrecipe #brunch

I feel like the idea of a salmon breakfast casserole is kind of weird, unless you’re using smoked salmon maybe…you know, like a twist on “bagel and lox”.  In this case, though, we’re using regular grilled or baked salmon, flaked into chunks and studded throughout.

The texture is better in a baked egg dish, it’s not as salty, and is a perfect way to use up leftover salmon filets from dinner.

Egg & Salmon Breakfast Casserole with Goat Cheese & Veggies - easy brunch recipe

We still get the saltiness with the addition of fluffy goat cheese, and brighten it up with fresh herbs…whatever you have on hand works.  I had basil, which is perfect, but any combination of chives, dill, a little rosemary, etc. will work.

And finally we pack it with tons of roasted or sautéed vegetables.  You can use whatever you have on hand here too.  I used sweet potatoes, onions, baby bell peppers, and zucchini.

Egg & Salmon Breakfast Casserole with Goat Cheese & Veggies - easy brunch recipeREAD THE POST

Small-Batch Mixed-Berry Cornmeal Pancakes

These mixed-berry pancakes were my on-a-whim “patriotic” meal 4th of July treat this year, and perfectly encapsulate midsummer happiness. 

Serendipitous carbs, if you will…

Mixed-Berry Cornmeal Pancakes for One | These small-batch berry pancakes are a perfect meal for one or two people, rather than a crowd...whip them up in 5 minutes with all your summer berry goodness. Delicious cornmeal griddle cakes with strawberries, blueberries, & cherries. Perfect easy brunch recipe for one. #pancakes #berries #brunch #breakfast

I woke up starving and wanting something special and slightly indulgent, without being fussy, time-consuming, or over the top gluttonous.  I also was leaving the next morning for several days, so my fridge was pretty bare. 

But I had, like…an insane amount of berries that were going to end up in the garbage otherwise. 

Small-Batch Mixed-Berry Cornmeal Pancakes (for one or two people) - berries

So I tried out a small-batch adaptation of the delicious strawberry cornmeal griddle cakes that I made on 4th of July several years ago after hiking like 20+ miles the day before. 

I remember being enamored of the buttery flavor, studded with bright strawberries, and the unique texture.  This version ups the fruit content even more, with a mixture of strawberries, blueberries, and cherries (or whatever you have on hand), and the addition of cinnamon and a splash of almond extract.

They’re also so easy!  They’re perfect if you want a last-second treat, coming together in just 5 minutes.

Small-Batch Mixed-Berry Cornmeal Pancakes (for one or two people) | finding time for cookingREAD THE POST

Easy Bourbon Cherry Jam (With or Without Pectin)

I look forward to cherry season all year.  For a month or so I buy as many dark sweet cherries as I can get my hands on, and absolutely gorge myself.  But sometimes I go a bit overboard and have to figure out what to do with the rest of my bounty.  Enter…delicious bourbon cherry jam!

Easy Bourbon Cherry Jam (With or Without Pectin) | This amazing cherry jam recipe is a great way to use up dark sweet cherries, and you can make this cherry jam without pectin if you want. Ready in an hour, an easy jam recipe for beginners | finding time for cooking

The great thing about this recipe is that if you’re looking for a cherry jam without pectin, this one has got you covered…but if you’ve got pectin on hand and you’re looking for a thicker, more “set” jam then this recipe is perfect as well. 

dark sweet cherries

As with most jam recipes, this one is really forgiving on quantities.  Basically, you want roughly a 2:1 fruit-to-sugar ratio, so a kitchen scale will be helpful. 

So for this batch I had 570g (a little over half a pound) of dark sweet cherries, and so used around 280g of sugar (I backed off just a tiny bit because my cherries were quite sweet). 

It will seem like way too much sugar, but that ratio is really important…if you cut back too much, the jam won’t set well (especially if you’re not using pectin).  The sugar plays a critical role in the jam science.  JAM SCIENCE!

READ THE POST

Sweet & Gooey Lemon Cardamom Buns

I don’t know when and I don’t know how, but these gooey, sweet lemon cardamom buns popped into my head as a full-blown “I must make this now” idea.  

Sweet & Gooey Lemon Cardamom Buns | Whether dessert or breakfast goodies, these delicious citrus and warm spice chelsea buns are perfect & addictive. A very different take on a cinnamon roll, these are amazing for brunch, and not hard to make! #lemon #cardamom #cinnamonroll #pastry #greencardamom #brunch

This flavor combo is super interesting and not terribly common…I’m guessing that in my many MANY hours of watching Great British Bake-Off, I’ve soaked in the idea of using fresh green cardamom with lemon or orange from a few of my favorite bakers (hi, Nadiya!). 

I’ve been really into citrus or fruit plus herbal or warm spice flavors lately, particularly in cocktails (like this basil gin gimlet) but a bit in baking too (helloooo orange cinnamon twist bread!). 

As I was spreading on the amazing lemon-cardamom filling in this recipe, I had another brainwave and realized that lemon basil would be absolutely delicious too!

I initially tried this with a different dough, but it didn’t rise and turned out super dense…I’m not sure why since I’ve had success with that dough before (I may have killed the yeast with too-hot liquid). 

So I switched to using the dough from Paul Hollywood’s chelsea buns, which is simple but I know is delightfully soft.  I added a little sugar and tweaked the flavorings to infuse both fresh and dried cardamom and some lemon zest. 

The result is a fascinating, addictive flavor combo and a soft, sticky, sweet, gooey breakfast-maybe-dessert bun.

Sweet & Gooey Lemon Cardamom Buns | Whether dessert or breakfast goodies, these delicious citrus and warm spice chelsea buns are perfect & addictive. A very different take on a cinnamon roll, these are amazing for brunch, and not hard to make! #lemon #cardamom #cinnamonroll #pastry #greencardamom #brunchREAD THE POST

Easy Almond Flour Pancakes (Naturally Gluten-Free, Keto, Low Carb)

I wasn’t planning to share any more keto recipes, as it’s not really the focus of this blog and I feel a bit tapped out on what I can do there.  But then this amazing and easy almond flour pancake recipe came along and…honestly??  They are shockingly good.

Easy & Delicious Almond Flour Pancakes | These keto pancakes are so easy & perfect for any morning. Naturally gluten-free pancake recipe that's low carb, no weird ingredients, and packed full of protein and healthy fats. Easy keto breakfast or low carb breakfast recipes you'll love, gluten-free breakfast recipe that's so easy to make. #keto #lowcarb #almondflour #pancakes #glutenfree #gf

While I won’t tell you that these naturally gluten-free pancakes are just as perfect and fluffy as my basic buttermilk ones (scientifically, can’t really be), it’s the first recipe in a while that didn’t feel like I was getting a lesser version of what I really wanted.  

These are great just being what they are.  They’re moist, have a little fluff to them, and a really nice texture overall. They’ve got a little sweetness.  They pack a punch in both protein and fat, but basically no carbs.  

And you can make a batch of the batter and keep it in the fridge, just making up a few here and there as needed (I don’t think they’re as great reheated).

Easy & Delicious Almond Flour Pancakes | These keto pancakes are so easy & perfect for any morning. Naturally gluten-free pancake recipe that's low carb, no weird ingredients.

And the best part about these keto pancakes?  Less than 15 minutes start to finish, including a 5-minute rest of the batter.

READ THE POST

Tahini Pistachio Biscotti with Dark Chocolate & Sea Salt

I kind of forget about biscotti a lot of the time.  In fact it’s been almost three years since I last posted a new biscotti recipe.  But that accidental streak breaks here and now…because these tahini pistachio biscotti are the BOMB.

Add a drizzle of dark chocolate and a sprinkle of sea salt, and you’ve got a winner.  

Tahini Pistachio Biscotti with Dark Chocolate & Sea Salt | These super unique tahini biscotti are dipped in dark chocolate and sprinkled with sea salt...a perfect treat with coffee or tea! Easy biscotti recipe you'll love. #biscotti #tahini #darkchocolate

The thing about making biscotti is that, while the overall time from start to finish can look daunting, the actual hands-on time is pretty minimal. 

The dough comes together in just a few minutes, you make dough logs (nothing fancy!), then some slicing.  Chocolate dipping if you like.  Bing bang boom.

Tahini Pistachio Biscotti with Dark Chocolate & Sea Salt | These super unique tahini biscotti are dipped in dark chocolate and sprinkled with sea salt...a perfect treat with coffee or tea! Easy biscotti recipe you'll love. #biscotti #tahini #darkchocolate

Biscotti dough can sometimes be a little temperamental from a texture standpoint, and in this case I had to add an extra egg to the original recipe (and that’s reflected in my recipe below). 

You don’t want your dough too wet, but you DO need it to hold together in your dough logs.  But obviously that extra egg (plus the tahini in the recipe) makes these a little more moist even after the second bake. 

So you won’t get these tahini pistachio biscotti truly dried out and crunchy like some biscotti recipes, but that doesn’t matter—they’re delicious.

READ THE POST

Protein-Packed Single-Serving Almond Butter Waffle (GF, Keto, Low Carb)

First off, I’m not going to pretend that these are “real” waffles.  Not like my fluffy carb-y buttermilk goodness, or dark chocolate indulgence.  But if you’re on a low carb diet for whatever reason, this keto waffle recipe might be your best friend.

Easy Low-Carb Keto Waffle Recipe (GF) with Almond Butter | This super easy low-carb waffle recipe is perfect for people on keto diet, or just trying to eat lower carb or gluten-free. Takes 5 minutes, ingredients you should have already. Perfect keto breakfast option or healthy breakfast recipe. #keto #waffle #breakfast #lowcarb #gf

I accidentally made this a few months ago on a healthy whim, and kind of forgot about it since it didn’t blow my mind. 

But the last month I’ve been on a super low-carb diet for health reasons for (like keto, but more restrictive).  And after a couple weeks of egg-mania plus some 90-second keto bread, I was craving something that felt semi-normal.

You might also like:  10 Tips For Surviving a Super Low-Carb Diet (e.g. Keto)

It’s crazy easy and all the ingredients were things I had on-hand.  Even if you’re not on a specific diet, going low-carb and gluten-free on occasion isn’t a bad thing. 

I often add a bit of cinnamon and vanilla to the mix, and you could even try going a tiny bit savory if you wanted (like some fresh rosemary).  It doesn’t need sweetener, but you could definitely add a bit of honey or monkfruit syrup too.

I’ve made it in both my more Belgian-style waffle maker and a more traditional rectangle one and it’s great either way (I’m more partial to the Belgian).

Easy Low-Carb Keto Waffle Recipe (GF) with Almond ButterREAD THE POST

Super Easy Lemon Poppyseed Food Processor Biscuits

Guys, there are few things more magical than fluffy hot layered biscuits fresh out of the oven.  But honestly…I’m often too lazy to want to spend time cutting or rubbing the butter into the flour.  Which is why these food processor biscuits are my new EVERYTHING.

I mean, even on my laziest morning I can throw some stuff in a food processor, blitz it, pat it out, and throw it in the oven.  

Super Easy Lemon Poppyseed Food Processor Biscuits | If you're feeling too lazy to cut or rub butter in by hand, these delicious lemon poppyseed biscuits (or whatever flavor you want) are crazy easy and made in the food processor...ready in less than 30 minutes, perfect breakfast any day! An easy biscuit recipe. #biscuits #breakfast #brunch #lemon #poppyseed #foodprocessor

I love these perfumed with lemon zest and some poppyseeds, for a subtle flavor that pairs perfectly with honey or jam.  But the flavors are totally flexible…try orange zest, cinnamon, chopped fresh rosemary, or anything else that strikes your fancy.

The one thing to know is that my dough is often a bit too wet if I use all the buttermilk called for, so maybe go a little easy at first to see if you need it all.  But even if your dough gets too wet and sticky, you can add a bit of extra flour while you roll it out—problem solved.

And in less than 30 minutes, you’ll have hot, flaky, steamy biscuits just begging to be devoured!

Super Easy Lemon Poppyseed Food Processor Biscuits | finding time for cookingREAD THE POST

Bittersweet & Indulgent Dark Chocolate Waffles

What could be better than bittersweet dark chocolate waffles drizzled in melted peanut butter and sweet maple syrup??

Nothing.  The answer is nothing.  Whether for an indulgent solo brunch, a romantic “breakfast for dinner”, or just because on a trying Tuesday morning, these waffles have your back.  And they’re my new obsession.

Dark Chocolate Waffles...Bittersweet & Indulgent Brunch Recipe | I'm obsessed with these easy dark chocolate waffles, slathered in peanut butter and syrup. Not too sweet, they're perfect for brunch, a romantic occasion, a Valentine's brunch, or just because. #brunchrecipe #darkchocolate #waffles #breakfast

Even though they were plenty delicious the first time I made them, I’ve fiddled with the recipe quite a bit to get it PERFECT.  I made a few tweaks, both for flavor and texture as well as to slim down the calorie punch a bit. 

For one, I didn’t want these waffles to be too sweet—after all, you’re putting syrup on them.  So I backed off both the sugar and dark chocolate…we’re after bittersweet and indulgent (with toppings), but not rich or fudgy (which tend to make me a bit nauseous).

I also wanted to make sure the waffles got good and crisp, which the cocoa powder will fight against a bit.  So after doing some research, I ended up using a little cornstarch and it does the trick nicely.  

dark chocolate pieces chopped

And then let’s talk simplicity…the original dark chocolate waffle recipe calls for separating the eggs and whipping the egg whites, then folding them in.  Honestly, I’m lazy and rarely do that for waffles.  I just haven’t seen a noticeable difference.  But you do you.

Either olive oil or melted butter work in this recipe, though I tend toward butter myself.  The butter should make it a little more crisp and impart more flavor, and the olive oil more moist.

Make sure you use a good quality dark chocolate, not like…Hershey’s.  It really does pack a punch in this recipe so if you skimp you’ll notice it.  I tend to have Ghiradelli baking discs on hand so usually use that.

And I also adapted a version of that’s single-serving, making 1-2 waffles for a perfect impromptu brunch!

Dark Chocolate Waffles...Bittersweet & Indulgent Brunch Recipe | I'm obsessed with these easy dark chocolate waffles, slathered in peanut butter and syrup. Not too sweet, they're perfect for brunch, a romantic occasion, a Valentine's brunch, or just because. #brunchrecipe #darkchocolate #waffles #breakfast READ THE POST

Socca (Chickpea Flatbread) with Roasted Veggies & Goat Cheese

Be honest…if I say “chickpea flatbread”, does it give you immediate cravings??  I’m guessing that’s a NO.  But it should.  Socca has been on my radar for several months, but for whatever reason I kept putting off giving it a try. 

Then last week I was starving, needed something super healthy, and had nothing in my fridge…I’d gotten back in town late Christmas Eve so everything was closed.  I had some veggies clinging on for dear life in my fridge and that was it.  So I decided that socca needed to happen immediately.

Simple Socca (Chickpea Flatbread) with Roasted Veggies | Also called farinata, this simple socca only takes a few ingredients, is very easy, versatile, and healthy. It's naturally gluten-free, egg-free, and dairy-free, packed with protein, and can be topped with whatever you have. Perfect healthy meal any time of day. #gf #glutenfree #soccca #chickpea #healthyrecipe

What is socca?

Socca (called farinata over the border in Italian Liguria) is a traditional Provençal flatbread and street food, somewhere between a pancake and a thick crepe.  It’s crazy simple, made with chickpea flour and water, with a little salt and olive oil for flavor.

It’s naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, and egg-free, and high in protein from the chickpea flour.  Cooked under the broiler, it’s got a charred top and golden, crispy outside, with a soft creamy inside, perfect for topping with whatever your heart desires.  

Personally I love garlicky roasted vegetables and soft, salty cheese, but you can top with eggs, fresh veggies, meat, or anything else, or just slice it up into wedges and eat hot and fresh.

Simple socca chickpea flatbread, topped with roasted vegetables and soft cheese

It’s satisfying, one of those healthy recipes that still feels a little indulgent.  And perhaps most importantly, socca is flexible…as long as you have chickpea flour on hand you can make it, and then just figure out what your refrigerator has to offer for toppings.  

I use a small 5-inch cast iron skillet for a single portion of this socca breakfast skillet. You can double or triple it for a larger pan to feed more people, but it’s so easy and fast to make that I wouldn’t try to use it for leftovers.  It’s definitely best fresh.READ THE POST

Brunch Staple: Easy Buttermilk Belgian Waffles

Waffles are my mom’s favorite thing for brunch, no contest. While I like to mix it up with pancakes, biscuits, scones, and french toast, she will ALWAYS want belgian waffles.

Delicious, Easy Buttermilk Belgian Waffles | This super easy waffle recipe has been a brunch staple in my family since I was a kid, perfect for any day! It's a recipe where you don't have to whip the egg whites, so only takes a few minutes to make...the best waffle recipe around. #bestwaffle #waffles #breakfast #brunch

Problem was, when I was a kid our waffle recipe was kind of a pain in the rear to make because it required you to beat egg whites into a stiff meringue of sorts before gently folding them into the waffle batter.

And seriously, who wants to sit there for several minutes trying to get your egg whites to stiffen when you aren’t even properly caffeinated?!

Easy belgian waffles, perfect for breakfast or brunch any day

Enter this recipe—the awesomest easy waffles I’ve ever made!  My grandma has been making this for eons, but she has no idea where it came from…she was the first to stop using beaten egg whites, though, because our family is all about low-maintenance cooking (we also almost never do wet and dry ingredients separately, or chill cookie dough).

We’ve adapted it over the years to make it even better and healthier. It’s practically dummy-proof, and yields golden, crispy, fast waffles every time.

Delicious, Easy Buttermilk Belgian Waffles | This super easy waffle recipe has been a brunch staple in my family since I was a kid, perfect for any day! It's a recipe where you don't have to whip the egg whites, so only takes a few minutes to make...the best waffle recipe around. #bestwaffle #waffles #breakfast #brunch

Any waffle iron will work with this, but I like to make them on a belgian waffle maker which makes deeper pockets and crispier outsides than a regular one (I’m absolutely in love with my new one!!).READ THE POST

5-Minute Healthy Breakfast Tacos

These healthy breakfast tacos have been giving me *life* the past several days!

I’ve been on a bit of a “detox” the last couple weeks, nothing super extreme but the kind where you tell yourself you need to LOCK. IT. UP.  I’ve been focused on eating simple, unprocessed foods as much as possible, lots of fruit and veg, largely staying away from alcohol…you know the drill.

5-Minute Healthy Breakfast Tacos | These super easy breakfast tacos are delicious, fast, and versatile...they're perfect when you're trying to eat healthy but on a crazy busy schedule. And they feel indulgent and keep you satiated. These need to go in your recipe rotation! #healthyrecipes #tacos #breakfast #vegetarian

And these easy breakfast tacos have been playing a big role in enabling my “being good”.  I can be on a conference call, taking notes and speaking up, and still whip these babies up in 5 minutes.  They’re a great fast lunch when on the go.

I also love how simple they are, yet how satisfying they are…I don’t feel cheated in any way, and I’m full for hours.  

5-Minute Healthy Breakfast Tacos | These super easy breakfast tacos are delicious, fast, and versatile | finding time for cooking

They’re also really versatile, so you can get as creative as you’d like with extra toppings or seasonings.  Even calling this a “recipe” feels like it’s overstating things a bit—they’re that easy.

If you’re timing this, here goes…READ THE POST

Addictive Peanut Butter & Jelly Babka

Y’ALL.  Peanut butter and jelly babka.  This is just such an all-time flavor combo, and I’m kind of obsessed with it right now to be honest (stay tuned for a boozy pb&j milkshake comin’ at ya…).

Addictive Peanut Butter & Jelly Babka | This amazing twisted bread with pb&j filling is like your childhood favorite but made even better for grown-ups. It's not difficult to make, and is so delicious, a perfect nostalgic dish. #pbandj #peanutbutter #babka #dessertrecipes #bread

It’s no secret I’m into basically peanut butter anything, but there’s something so comforting about a classic pb&j…this peanut butter and jelly babka is basically a fancy, addictive pb&j sandwich from when you were a kid.  It’s what you WISH your sandwich had been.

A slice of childhood, peanut butter & jelly babka

Don’t be put off by the seemingly-long list of instructions…I’ve been super detailed to help make everything go well, but while this needs plenty of time in rising and baking, the actual *hands-on* parts are not difficult or time-consuming at all.

There *will* be a point when you’re trying to twist the two cut parts together where everything is falling apart, jelly and peanut butter oozing everywhere, and you’re like WHAT HAVE I DONE???  But just push through, the mess doesn’t matter.  It’ll be fine.  Lick your fingers when you’re done.

One other note of importance, I found I only needed just over 2 1/2 cups of flour to get the right consistency, as I didn’t want to make the dough too dry and tight.  Personally I often find babkas drier and denser than I prefer, so I wanted to keep this one light and soft.

Childhood nostalgia...peanut butter & jelly babka

So let’s dive in, shall we??READ THE POST

The Best Iced Coffee Ever…Using An Aeropress

I have a deep and abiding love for great coffee.  But historically I haven’t had a lot of iced coffee.  One here or there, but it wasn’t a habit.  Until the last six months of being at home due to coronavirus, when all the sudden I became a total master at making iced coffee at home using my Aeropress.

How to Make the Best Iced Coffee at Home | Making an iced coffee with the Aeropress is easy & delicious | finding time for cooking

And I somewhat accidentally discovered my hack for the best iced coffee ever…using sweetened condensed milk.  Now it’s not like I’m the first person to ever think of that (in fact, it’s a staple of Thai and Vietnamese coffee and iced tea).  

But I had some sweetened condensed milk sitting in my fridge from making a delicious bourbon milk punch cocktail, and wasn’t sure what to do with it.  On a whim I decided to use it instead of simple syrup, and realized that it added a lovely rich velvety quality, enough sweetness, and didn’t water down the end result like milk does.

Aeropress iced coffee, best and easiest at home

A long, long time ago I posted about the Pioneer Woman’s cold brew iced coffee recipe, and hadn’t really tried anything else until this Aeropress style.  It tasted fine enough but not amazing, and was kind of a pain to make, so I just never ended up doing it often. 

Just as I was about the publish this post, I found this article on Epicurious that explains why cold brew *doesn’t* give you the best tasting iced coffee, and it finally made sense to me.  It creates a more deadened, kind of stale flavor, uses way more coffee beans, and gets oxidized over time. READ THE POST

Salmon Potato Hash With Fresh Herbs

Some of the best recipes result from trying to use up an ingredient, and that’s definitely the story of this AMAZING salmon and potato hash. 

I’d bought a couple giant salmon filets, but the week kind of got away from me and they were smelling stroooong.  I was trying to figure out what to do, since throwing $20 worth of salmon away did not appeal.  But just eating the filet itself kind of freaked me out.  So I decided to just bake it up and figure it out later.

Easy, Healthy Salmon & Potato Hash with Fresh Herbs | This delicious hash is perfect if you're looking for how to use up leftover salmon, packed full of vegetables and protein, and can be a side dish or main. Amazing leftovers or breakfast for dinner as well. #breakfastfordinner #healthyrecipe #leftovers #salmon #breakfastThen I got a brainwave about a salmon and potato hash, since I also had a bunch of red potatoes to use up.  After looking up a bunch of recipes nothing struck my fancy, so I just made it up. 

And this has become a new fave, a hearty and healthy lunch option that makes great leftovers and is the perfect way to use up leftover salmon.

The recipe is super flexible, so you can add other veggies or adjust the seasonings based on your mood.  Just don’t add anything too wet (like fresh zucchini or squash)…it’s meant to be dry and get kind of caramelized.

You’ll actually notice through this recipe that I alternate between two sets of photos.  I’ve made this a few times, and once I added in some roasted butternut squash that was just sitting around.  Don’t let it confuse you!

I love to top my salmon & potato hash with basted eggs

To really level it up, serve with some fresh salty feta, goat cheese, or capers, or top with poached or basted eggs.  READ THE POST

Snickerdoodle Banana Bread

I have accidentally been keeping this recipe secret waaaaay too long.  I know, it’s not the deal we’ve made.  So without further ado, I bring you this cinnamon sugar banana bread goodness…that’s right kids, today we’re talking snickerdoodle banana bread!

Snickerdoodle Banana Bread | An easy and delicious cinnamon-sugar banana bread that's perfect for breakfast or a snack. Quarantine banana bread, fancy banana bread that only takes a few minutes to whip up. #snickerdoodle #bananabread #cinnamonsugar

It’s a long-established fact that I am a sucker for a cinnamon-sugar combo.  Seriously.  I have a deep, abiding love affair with both cinnamon and almond extract, and I tend to add them to recipes with abandon if I feel it’s warranted.  

So it was a no-brainer when I ran across this recipe, was definitely going to happen at some point.  And “some point” was definitely going to be during the early days of quarantine.

The original recipe had way too much sugar for my taste, so the biggest change I made to the recipe was backing that off quite a bit.  I really like the cinnamon to come through in this banana bread, and the sugar will tend to overpower it if you’re not careful.

With that change made, this bread is basically perfect…not too sweet, warm cinnamon shining through, a ripple of the cinnamon-sugar winding around, and with a really tender crumb.  

Slice of delicious snickerdoodle banana breadREAD THE POST

How To Baste Eggs: Basted Eggs with Caramelized Shredded Brussels Sprouts

What are basted eggs, you ask?  Well, friend, prepare to fall in love.  It is a super fast and easy way to cook eggs, but strangely flies under the radar.  It’s somewhere between fried (which I never ate growing up) and poached (which is complicated and challenging).  Basting eggs takes like five minutes total, and you can choose whether the yolks are runny or firm.  So let’s talk how to baste eggs.

And then I’ll share a “recipe”…which isn’t really a recipe so much as a meal combination that I stumbled upon many years ago in the throes of desperation, trying to avoid yet another meal of cereal and wine.

Not that there’s anything wrong with that…

How to Baste Eggs...and Meal Ideas with Basted Eggs | finding time for cooking

I’ve already shared my love of brussels sprouts, including this delicious, easy caramelized shredded brussels sprouts (and much faster than roasting them in the oven!).  

You can make this breakfast for dinner

So one night, I had a few brussels sprouts sitting in the fridge I knew I could make up, but that wasn’t going to cut it for dinner. So I decided to baste up some eggs for a protein kick. What was great was how the egg yolk (I like mine on the runny side) mixed in with the brussels sprouts.  Think of these brussels sprouts like you would a vegetable hash, a wonderful base for eggs.

Too lazy to shred??  Try this roasted brussels sprouts “rubble”

READ THE POST

Paul Hollywood’s Chelsea Buns

It’s hard to tell you how magical these chelsea buns are.  Fragrant spices, tart and chewy fruit with a whiff of bourbon, citrus tang.  Soft, pillowy dough.  Sweet icing.  It was truly revelatory.

I’ve wanted to try these out, and decided that Paul Hollywood’s recipe had to be where I start…I only know about them from the Great British Bake-Off, so feels fitting.

Paul Hollywood's Chelsea Buns | This traditional chelsea buns recipe is from the man himself, and lives up to his amazing skills. I've made a couple small tweaks, and completely fell in love with this British classic! #gbbo #chelseabun #baking #brunchrecipe #british

What is a chelsea bun??  Chelsea buns aren’t really a thing in the U.S…at least as far as I’m aware.  I’d certainly never heard of them before I started watching the Great British Bake-Off.  

They are a currant sweet bun from the 1700s, once favored by royalty.  Made basically the same way as a cinnamon roll, but stuffed with dried fruit instead and usually with some citrus zest in there.  They’re a real British staple.

(Side note, I just went down a rabbit hole about the difference between currants, raisins, and sultanas, soooo…)

Paul Hollywood's Chelsea Buns | This traditional chelsea buns recipe is from the man himself (with a few small tweaks) | finding time for cooking

And I’m so glad I’ve tried them out, because they were so worth it!

If you’re looking at the ingredients list and thinking “whoa, that’s intense!”…don’t be put off by it.  It’s not nearly as complicated or intense as it looks, I promise.  I just like to write detailed instructions because I think it makes life easier…and I have step-by-step photos throughout the post so you can see how everything should look. 

Paul Hollywood's Chelsea Buns | This traditional chelsea buns recipe is from the man himself, and lives up to his amazing skills. I've made a couple small tweaks, and completely fell in love with this British classic! #gbbo #chelseabun #baking #brunchrecipe #britishREAD THE POST

Easy Basic Crepes Recipe

It’s weird that I’ve never made crepes.  For many people these are one of the most basic cooking (or baking?) recipes, a starter classic.  For many of my friends these are a traditional must-have during the Days of Unleavened Bread in the spring.  Whatever the reason, they just haven’t really been a part of my life.

If I’m being completely honest, the thin delicacy hasn’t given me the cravings that heartier, more satisfying carbs do (lookin’ at you apple fritters…).  But after this, consider me a convert!

Easy Basic Crepes Recipe | This delicious crepes recipe only takes a few minutes to make and is crazy flexible...sweet or savory, your choice! A simple batter and many possibilities, perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dinner and a great Days of Unleavened Bread option. #unleavened #brunch #crepes

This basic crepes batter is crazy easy, and comes together in about 30 seconds.  Let it rest for a bit (or make it up the night before), and then like…two minutes for cooking??  It’s crazy how easy this is.

It’s a blank slate flavor-wise, with just a tiny hint of sweetness.  So you can keep it simple or dress it up with various sweet or savory flavors that complement your fillings.  Ideally stick to herbs or spices, as they won’t affect the texture of the batter.  A hint of dried mustard for savory could be interesting, and for sweet I tested out cinnamon and cardamom.

Easy Basic Crepes Recipe | This delicious crepes recipe only takes a few minutes to make and is crazy flexible...sweet or savory, your choice! A simple batter and many possibilities, perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dinner and a great Days of Unleavened Bread option. #unleavened #brunch #crepes

This is a perfect breakfast for one person as well…I made a half batch of the batter, cooked up three crepes, and then saved the rest of the batter for the next day.  It’s flexible by nature. 

Top with my homemade lemon curd (or grapefruit or blood orange), fresh berries, whipped cream, nutella and bananas, or anything else your heart desires.  I bet this salted honey custard would be amazing too!

READ THE POST

Apple Butter Cinnamon-Sugar Babka

This is one of those places where I cram a lot of my favorite things into one recipe and see how it comes out.  Apple butter, check.  Cinnamon-sugar, check.  Soft delicious challah dough in a twisty babka bread??  Check.

And I’ll be honest…halfway through making this I was pretty sure it was going to be a disaster.

Apple Butter Babka with Cinnamon Sugar

Delicious apple butter babka with cinnamon-sugar, baked

I can’t remember what gave me this particular brainwave, but it was very likely when I made a new batch of my amazing homemade apple butter and was thinking of all the different ways it could be used.

I’d been browsing challah and babka recipes including peanut butter and jelly, tahini and pistachio, and so many more, and thought…why not apple butter??

apple butter babka dough spread ready to roll

This babka would make amazing small-batch french toast!

So I started looking for apple butter babka recipes and really kind of came up empty.  Which I found surprising, because it feels like such a logical and beloved flavor combo.  So after finding a few different things that were in the right direction, I set out to figure out something on my own.

I think you’re going to like it…

READ THE POST

Raspberry Skyr Cake With White & Dark Chocolate

When I went to Iceland last year, I was delayed for 24 hours and so my friend V had a whole day on her own to explore.  When I picked her up in the rental car, she greeted me with coffee and pastries (smart girl!) and the first thing she said was “Wow, Iceland men are like real MEN!”  The second thing she said was “Also, the milk here is so good!”  True story on both counts.

She was seriously obsessed with all their dairy products (and apparently there’s a scientific reason), and we drank and ate a ton of it while in the country.  Skyr is one of the most well-known of their dairy products, a lot like Greek yogurt (though interesting, produced more like cheese).

Raspberry Skyr Cake with White & Dark Chocolate | This yummy cake made with skyr (like Icelandic yogurt) is so moist and flavorful, and EASY! It's packed full of fresh raspberries plus white and dark chocolate. #skyr #raspberries #dessertrecipes

You’ll find skyr cake in Iceland but it will be more like a no-bake cheesecake.  And DELICIOUS.  But I didn’t want to deal with the hassle of gelatin sheets and all, so I decided to make a slightly different kind of cake with skyr…using it the way you’d use sour cream or yogurt to give some tang and moisture.

(Side note, if you’d like to see some of the AH-MAZING things we saw and did in Iceland, I’ve got you covered!)

fresh raspberries in my skyr cake

This skyr cake is packed full of raspberries and both white and dark chocolate chips, and is even better than I thought it would be.  The white chocolate isn’t really present as a flavor, but kind of melts into cake to provide extra moistness and texture.  I sliced myself off a few pieces and then called my sister to come take it away from me and have her family eat it!

Raspberry Skyr Cake with White & Dark Chocolate | This yummy cake made with skyr (like Icelandic yogurt) is so moist and flavorful, and EASY! It's packed full of fresh raspberries plus white and dark chocolate. #skyr #raspberries #dessertrecipes

READ THE POST

Dark Chocolate Olive Oil Skillet Banana Bread

This is a continuation of my long love affair with cake breads.  Cakes masquerading as bread.  I’m all about things being more awesome than they say they are, so I bring you this delicious skillet dark chocolate olive oil banana bread.  It’s a mouthful in more ways than one…

dark chocolate olive oil banana bread - slice

But don’t be fooled into thinking this is truly dessert.  It’s moist, dark, fudgy, but is a bittersweet flavor and not too sweet.  I like to use white whole wheat flour to add a bit more health (and a nuttiness), and the quality of dark chocolate chips you use (and the cocoa powder) does make a difference.

I like to use my old school cast iron skillet, and it slides easily out of the pan.  But I’ve used a simple non-stick cake pan and it cooked just as evenly.  I’ve tried this recipe a few different times to get the amounts right, and I always take it to work…where it gets devoured almost immediately.

dark chocolate olive oil banana bread ready to bakeREAD THE POST

Heavenly Dark Chocolate Orange Babka

Even though I made this at least a month ago, I’ve been dreaming about it ever since.  And forcibly restraining myself from making it again.  Because this chocolate orange babka is what dreams are made of.

Ready to serve the chocolate orange babka

As a flavor combo, chocolate and orange will always be a winner—particularly this kind of dark chocolate.  One thing I really love about this recipe is that it uses a challah dough as the base, which makes the final result lighter and softer.  I often find babkas a bit denser and drier than I like, so I was drawn to this particular recipe.

This is my happy place…

Chocolate orange babka dough closeup with fillingREAD THE POST

Norwegian Skillingsboller (Cinnamon Bun Pastries)

I’ve been lucky enough to visit Norway a couple of times over the past year, and have quickly fallen in love with the country’s mind-blowing landscapes and delicious baked goods.  Yes, scenery and pastries—that’s basically what I’m here for.

Most recently, I spent a few days in charming Bergen over the holidays, and made it a point to visit as many coffeeshops and try as many different pastries as possible (all in the name of research, of course).  And as soon as I got home, I knew I had to try out some of the recipes myself.  So behold, Norwegian skillingsboller!

How to make Norwegian skillingsboller, or cinnamon buns

Skillingsboller (skillingsbolle is singular) are basically Norway’s take on cinnamon buns, and technically these are really specific to Bergen.  It translates to “penny bun” (kanelbolle would be “cinnamon bun”, and you’ll see that all over Norway as well), and they are truly everywhere in Bergen.

Want to see all about my Norwegian adventures?  Here you go!

Norwegian skillingsboller, delicious cinnamon pastries

I tweaked the original recipe a bit and added the cardamom, letting it steep in the milk and butter mixture to give extra flavor.  That cardamom is a flavor I fully associate with Scandinavian pastries, so I felt it was necessary (but too much will overpower the buns). 

These are actually WAY easier than they look, and the end result is less sweet than regular American cinnamon rolls.  It’s just lightly sweet and much more subtle (and also lower calorie, as a result), perfect for having as an afternoon snack with your coffee.

How to make Norwegian skillingsboller, or cinnamon buns | finding time for cooking blogREAD THE POST

Chai Spice Banana Bread

In a true signal of adulthood, I buy bananas about every other week solely to let them get overripe and bake with them.  But here’s the thing—I don’t actually like banana bread.  It doesn’t appeal to me at all.  So what I’ve ended up doing as a non-banana bread lover is accidentally starting a tradition of finding souped-up banana bread recipes to bring you.

Chai spices have been a favorite flavor combination of mine since I was in college and discovered Starbucks’ chai lattes (grande nonfat no-water chai, please!).  So when I saw this recipe I knew I had to give it a try…the fragrant combination of the traditional cinnamon and ginger, with the warmth of cardamom and kick of black pepper and cloves is just divine.

Chai Spice Banana Bread | This fragrant, delicious twist on banana bread adds a complex and warm spice mix to your batter and addictive streusel topping! Easy banana bread recipe, adds something special.

So here’s another amazing OTT (over the top) banana bread recipe for you, and it’s definitely going in my regular rotation.  I’ve linked to a few of my favorite other banana bread recipes at the bottom of this post if you’d like to give them a try as well!

One thing I’ll tell you up front—don’t be intimidated by the number of ingredients in the recipe.  The lazy person in me kept me from trying this recipe for quite a while after I’d bookmarked it, but everything comes together very quickly and simply.

Chai Spice Banana Bread | finding time for cooking blogREAD THE POST

Feta & Sweet Potato Hash With Greens

It’s been over a month since I’ve posted something healthy, which feels like a pretty good indication of what my life choices have been like lately :p #allcarbsallthetime

Between work, travel, and this disgustingly cold polar vortex weather, I’ve been indulging a bit too much, and right now I feel the need to get my eating back on track.  But it’s still gross cold and so these healthy options have to be delicious as well.  Behold—soft, sweet, salty, healthy feta & sweet potato hash!

Feta & Sweet Potato Hash | This healthy breakfast recipe is easy & delicious, and a perfect Meatless Monday dinner option, and it makes great leftovers too!

The flavors of the mellow sweet potato, the bitterness of the greens, and the saltiness of the feta play really well together, and the dried herbs add depth to the overall flavor profile.  It’s a really comforting dish, something easy to throw together and really healthy, but feels like you’ve done something special.  Here’s to good choices 🙂

READ THE POST

Swedish Vanilla Cardamom Bread

Ever since spending a few days in Sweden sailing the Gothenburg archipelago and devouring fresh smoked herring and cardamom-laced pastries the entire time, I’ve been meaning to try my hand at Swedish baking myself.  This recipe initially came to me as a simple Swedish vanilla bread, but to me that was leaving out the most iconic flavor of Swedish baking, ground cardamom.

So I did us all a favor and made it Swedish vanilla cardamom bread 🙂

Swedish Vanilla Cardamom Bread | finding time for cooking blog

So I’ve been playing around with this recipe for a while, both in tweaking the flavors, but also in getting the texture to turn out correctly.  The original recipe had way too much flour, which resulted in a much drier dough than I liked, and overall it’s taken some trial and error to perfect.  But the time was worth it, and this recipe results in a lovely simple subtly-spiced bread.  It’s not really sweet at all, just a nice snack at any point in the day.

Swedish Vanilla Cardamom Bread | finding time for cooking blogREAD THE POST

Peanut Butter Banana Bread

Elvis was onto something.

Not that it was news to me, but peanut butter and banana will always be a magic combo.  This bread just emphasizes the point.  That’s right, friends, we’re talking about peanut butter banana bread today!

Peanut Butter Banana Bread | this delicious banana bread recipe is super easy, just 5 minutes to mix together | finding time for cooking blog

I’ve gotten to the point where I now just buy bananas every couple weeks, knowing full well I have no intention of actually eating them while they’re good.  So expect some more tasty banana treats coming your way!

Peanut Butter Banana Bread | finding time for cooking blogREAD THE POST

Cherry Almond Scones

This recipe is…there are no words for how good these scones are.

No. Words. 

Cherry Almond Scones | These amazing, fragrant scones are perfect for breakfast or brunch, and super easy to make. Easy brunch recipes, best scone recipes! | finding time for cooking

I’m a noted lover of scones (as seen here, here, and here), and there are very few flavor combinations I love more than cherry and almond.  So as I was poring over various cherry recipes to use my plethora of fresh cherries (and awesome new cherry pitter), I came across this one and it immediately jumped to the top of the “must make” list.

Cherry Almond Scones | finding time for cooking blog

I made a few small tweaks to the original recipe, most notably cutting way back on the glaze.  I don’t think they need a ton, just enough to get a bit of extra sweet and a punch of almond flavor.  I’m well known for adding almond extract to EVERYTHING.

Cherry Almond Scones | finding time for cooking blogREAD THE POST

Orange Cinnamon-Sugar Twist Bread

Every time I go to Chicago for work lately, I’ve stayed at The Godfrey for convenience, and had a lovely run along the River Walk in the early morning.  Then, as a reward, I’ve stopped at Beatrix and gotten the biggest latte they have a morning bun. 

Their morning buns are an inspiration, like a cinnamon roll’s way cooler cousin…dough that’s slightly sweet with some lamination and a hint of orange zest, a cinnamon-sugar filling that’s positively gooey inside, and some sugar on the outside.  No frosting, nothing overly sickly.  Perfection.

So I’ve been lingering on this particular recipe on Pinterest lately, since it ticks the same flavor boxes as my beloved morning buns.  I finally decided to tackle it a couple weeks ago and was SO happy I did!

Orange Cinnamon-Sugar Twist Bread | Delicious, fragrant twisted wreath bread, with bright orange and cinnamon-sugar filling, and an orange glaze. Perfect brunch recipe, for dessert, breakfast, or snacking!

One of the biggest changes I made was adding orange zest into the dough itself, versus just in the glaze.  That slight hint of orange in the dough with a subtle cinnamon-sugar filling is just sublime.  Additionally, I adapted the glaze by eliminating the butter and decreasing the amount quite a bit.  I think the changes work SUPER well and make it a little less sweet, which is more my style.

Orange Cinnamon-Sugar Twist Bread | finding time for cooking

Orange Cinnamon-Sugar Twist Bread | finding time for cooking

I’d also recommend not being daunted by the number of steps in the recipe.  It’s not a difficult recipe, and other than braiding the split layered dough ropes (it’s a bit messy!), it’s totally doable as long as you have the time.  Don’t rush it and it’ll be a breeze!

Orange Cinnamon-Sugar Twist Bread | finding time for cookingREAD THE POST

Orange, Apricot, & Pistachio Biscotti

Now isn’t *that* a match made in heaven?!

I feel bad because it’s been challenging getting new posts up as regularly as I normally would.  I could blame it on travel schedules, the new job, and the continual process of settling into the new house.  And all of that is 100% true.  But you know the real reason??  I’ve just had trouble finding recipes that taste as good as they should when I make them.  It’s not that I haven’t been baking and cooking, but rather that the recipes I’ve tried in the last month have all been fairly underwhelming—and not something I want to share with you.

Until this, that is.

Orange, Apricot, & Pistachio Biscotti | finding time for cooking blog

I don’t know why I’ve been slightly obsessed with the idea of biscotti lately.  It’s off-season, to be honest…more of a fall and winter food in my mind.  But for some strange reason every time I see a new biscotti flavor combo, I’m smitten.  So I finally decided to try a new one out.  There was an orange, apricot, and almond recipe I’d been wanting to try, but I swapped in pistachios (and toasted them for more flavor) since that’s what I had on hand.

I was pretty skeptical about the recipe not having any fats, or any liquid except the egg and orange juice.  But the more I thought about it, it made sense…a fat would make it more moist and soft, and that’s the opposite of a good biscotti.  The orange zest and juice bring a brightness here, while the apricots bring the sweet.  I’m glad it’s only lightly sweet, since that lets the fruit flavors really linger on your tongue.  This one’s a winner for sure.

Orange, Apricot, & Pistachio Biscotti | finding time for cooking blog

READ THE POST

Cinnamon-Walnut Challah…And Some New Digs

Oh hello there!

Yes, I know it’s been a hot minute since last we met here.  But things have been a little insane around here, due to relocating (in my tiny Corolla), living in a temporary furnished apartment for a couple months (with the WORST kitchen supplies! Also, the cats were not fans…), house hunting, finalizing my move from Atlanta, and closing on a house here in Louisville.  Oh yeah, and starting a major new job.  So yeah, a lot’s been happening.

But I have a mountain of deliciousness to make it up to you today.

Cinnamon-Walnut Stuffed Challah Bread, how to make braided stuffed bread

The great news is that I’m back in a fully-functioning kitchen and raring to go.  I had to have them pipe in a propane line and install a new gas range because I was not dealing with that electric stove nonsense.  Isn’t she pretty????

So that’s where I’ve been hiding for the last couple months.  And without further ado, I bring you the yummiest stuffed challah bread you’ve ever had.  Butter and walnuts and cinnamon and brown sugar meld into a magical mess inside a soft enriched dough (yes, I’ve been watching GBBO).  But it’s surprisingly easy to pull together and got rave reviews from my co-workers.  Totally worth the little bit of extra effort.

Cinnamon-Walnut Stuffed Challah BreadREAD THE POST

Spiced Chocolate Tahini Swirl Bread

This is one of those cases where I randomly saw something on Pinterest on a Sunday and was like, UM YES.  It just got stuck in my head, and I *had* to make it that very day.  Sometimes I can get intimidated by braided breads, but for whatever reason that weekend I decided that I would kick this bread’s butt.

Spiced Tahini Chocolate Swirl Bread | delicious and easy fancy braided sweet bread recipe | finding time for cooking #braidedbread #tahini #recipe

And overall, I was very happy with how it turned out.  The dough itself was lovely and soft, and the combination of the warm spices and the gooey chocolate (I used part semi-sweet, part dark) was just heavenly on a cold winter morning.  I took it work and it was devoured.

Spiced Tahini Chocolate Swirl Bread | delicious and easy fancy braided sweet bread recipe | finding time for cooking #braidedbread #tahini #recipe

And honestly, the braiding was too scary either.  I still struggle to get the ends really pinched together and the insides totally baked and not doughy, while not overcooking things.  I’ve applied every Paul Hollywood technique I know.  I’m guessing it’s a “practice makes perfect” thing, but overall I was quite proud of how this turned out!

Spiced Tahini Chocolate Swirl Bread | delicious and easy fancy braided sweet bread recipe | finding time for cooking #braidedbread #tahini #recipeREAD THE POST

Snickerdoodle Zucchini Bread

This bread is the BOMB!

Snickerdoodle zucchini bread...cinnamon-sugar is my kryptonite

Cinnamon-sugar is my kryptonite in general, so it’s no surprise that I was drawn to this recipe.  It’s all the best things about my snickerdoodle bread (which is amazing, but also will make a major dent in your calories for the day), combined with a bit of whole wheat flour and fiber from zucchini.  

Make no mistake, this is definitely a breakfast dessert, but it’s now only a bit of splurge rather than a complete diet derail.

Snickerdoodle zucchini bread...plenty of sweet, with a bit of healthy mixed in

The hardest thing is finding the cinnamon chips—if you see them, buy like 6 bags!  (Though this may be part of the scarcity problem…).  I think Hershey’s discontinued theirs, so I’ve been buying them on the Amazon black market, and will need to look elsewhere soon.  

Cinnamon chips are seriously the best, and appropriate in all manner of delicious breakfast and dessert recipes.

Snickerdoodle Zucchini Bread | A delicious and (mostly) healthy cinnamon-sugar zucchini bread recipe that's fast and easy. Full of fiber, great way to use up zucchini. A sweet quick bread that's perfect for any occasion. #snickerdoodle #zucchini #zucchinibread #cinnamonsugar #healthydessert

This was a hit at work.  And I had trouble keeping my hands off it.  I had a piece with my morning espresso, but went back several times throughout the day for another bite.  I probably had three pieces total, one bite at a time!READ THE POST

Strawberry Cornmeal Griddle Cakes

These strawberry pancakes look like Cookie Monster.

Strawberry Cornmeal Griddle Cakes | These delicious strawberry pancakes are a perfect summer brunch treat, a great way to use up strawberries, & so easy to make! #brunch #pancakes #strawberries

Once you see it, you can’t un-see it….

Last weekend after my insane 4th of July (which involved accidentally hiking over 15 miles and burning a billion calories), I woke up the next morning feeling like an 80-year-old, kind of fell/rolled out of bed, and got my coffee made like usual.

But as I sat on the couch my stomach demanded something more. After poking through Pinterest for a hot second, I had talked myself into these glorious strawberry cornmeal griddle cakes.

strawberry cornmeal griddle cakes strawberries closeup

By all rights, I shouldn’t like these pancakes, because I have this weird hangup about hot and fruit. Fruit shouldn’t be hot. I take fruit crisp out of the oven and put it right in the freezer. Hot fruit is weird.

But these were amazing. Fresh, summery strawberries in a golden crispy pancake, drenched in maple syrup. Practically perfect in every way.

I’ve also made a small-batch mixed-berry adaptation of these that is to die for.

Strawberry Cornmeal Griddle Cakes single

READ THE POST

Pioneer Woman’s Cinnamon Rolls with Maple Frosting

“Life is too short for self-hatred and celery sticks.” ~ Marilyn Wann

That quote basically encapsulates my struggle right now. I love food. I don’t believe in diets, because I think that permanently denying yourself foods will just make you want them more. Plus, why take all the fun out of life?? But I am trying to be good most of the time right now.

And looking at these pictures is pure torture, because I remember how GOOOOOOD these Pioneer Woman cinnamon rolls were.

Pioneer Woman's Cinnamon Rolls with Maple Frosting | These incredibly indulgent cinnamon rolls are the best I've had, & are not difficult to make. I provide step-by-step instructions and photos so you can make the best cinnamon rolls ever. #cinnamonrolls #pioneerwoman #maple #brunch #breakfast

But I have a secret. I’m not really into cinnamon rolls. Except *these* cinnamon rolls. These cinnamon rolls are like if you just took the gooey center of the roll (the only good part) and made it ALL of the roll.

THESE CINNAMON ROLLS ARE EVERYTHING.

Cinnamon Rolls with Maple Frosting done

People had raved about The Pioneer Woman’s cinnamon roll recipe, so when I decided to try my hand at cinnamon rolls I knew I had to try these ones. I was scared, honestly. Cinnamon rolls look like so much work, and I’ve never thought they were worth the effort. Boy, was I wrong.

These are 5-star levels of gooey, they’re sweet, they’re maple-y, the bread is moist and soft. Perfect. They’re perfect.

And they were actually not that hard to make. Yes, there were a few steps, but they weren’t hard or even super time consuming. I just had to plan ahead in terms of starting them the night before, but otherwise they came together pretty easily.

Here are a few kitchen tools I find really helpful for this recipe:

cinnamon rolls with maple frosting cut2

How decadent are these cinnamon rolls with maple frosting??

Well, I polished off the last four (DON’T JUDGE.) the morning that I gave blood (so I could start eating healthy the next day, naturally), and when my cholesterol results came back they were like 50 points higher than normal. It was insane. Granted, I’d also had like seven of them the day before. Still. Crazy.

Cinnamon Rolls with Maple Frosting 2

You might like:  The Kitchen Tools Every Cook or Baker Needs

READ THE POST

Banana Chocolate Coffee Muffins with Whole Wheat Flour

I have to admit, I’m not a huge muffin fan.  They’re usually not delicious enough to be dessert, but not healthy enough to justify being breakfast.  But as muffins go, these banana coffee chocolate muffins are the best of all worlds—packed with healthy ingredients but absolutely delish.

Whole Wheat Banana Coffee Chocolate Muffins | These healthy banana chocolate muffins are packed with good ingredients for a healthy make-ahead breakfast that feels like a treat. A great healthy breakfast recipe that's super easy to make. #healthybreakfast #muffins #bananamuffin

I’ve really slipped on my healthy breakfast train the last month or two. I had family in town, then was out of the country for a couple weeks, and have been buried under work and lack of sleep.

So I just haven’t had the time or energy to do much baking or cooking to prepare for each coming week. Thankfully, over 4th of July weekend I finally got back on track with these beauties.

I really haven’t done a lot of baking lately, partly because when I use my stove and oven it makes my kitchen feel like Death Valley during the summer. My A/C can’t come close to keeping up. But I decided it was worth it to give these guys a try. I mean, coffee and chocolate in a muffin together?? Sign me up!

Whole Wheat Banana Coffee Chocolate Muffins | These healthy banana chocolate muffins are packed with good ingredients for a healthy make-ahead breakfast that feels like a treat. A great healthy breakfast recipe that's super easy to make. #healthybreakfast #muffins #bananamuffin

As much as I love whole wheat flour, I was a little nervous about using it exclusively, since sometimes that can make things a little too dry and dense. I shouldn’t have worried, though—these were moist and light even as reheated leftovers at work the next day.

And the dark chocolate chips are these gooey little nuggets of awesome. For something that literally takes like 5 minutes to stir together, the return on this is totally worth it!READ THE POST

Traditional Spanish Tortilla

Once upon a time I would have called this a frittata, and I would have been wrong.  One of my co-workers is half Spanish, and for breakfast one time he brought in a traditional Spanish tortilla. While it looked exactly like the frittatas I’m so fond of, it had a few notable differences and I knew I wanted to recreate it myself. 

Traditional Spanish Tortilla | This Spanish tortilla recipe is very simple and basic, healthy and easy to make. Using only a few ingredients (eggs, potato, onion, and some herbs) you can have a delicious vegetarian meal, with great leftovers. How to make a spanish tortilla. #meatlessmonday #spanishtortilla #frittata #eggrecipe

Spanish tortillas and frittatas are very similar, though there are a few differences. Tortillas are always egg- and potato-based, while frittatas only have to have eggs.

Also, apparently the main difference is that you’re supposed to flip a Spanish tortilla on the stovetop at the end, versus finishing in the oven like a frittata. I’ll definitely be trying this method next time—I’m trying to wheedle my co-worker’s recipe out of him!

The gold potatoes are delightfully tender and add a delicate base to the dish along with the onion (this Kitchn article speaks to the technique that gets them lovely and soft).

Many also include asparagus, chorizo, and other fillings, but this one is very simple and traditional.  The recipe below called for tarragon, though I used fresh rosemary and oregano instead.

Traditional Spanish Tortilla recipeREAD THE POST

Peanut Butter Quinoa Granola

Who ever thought to add quinoa to granola???  It sounds nuts.  But this interesting and delicious peanut butter quinoa granola proves why it’s genius.

Peanut Butter Quinoa Granola | This interesting peanut butter granola is a great, healthy breakfast option. Why you should use quinoa in your granola, provides great texture. How to make gluten-free quinoa granola. Healthy breakfast recipes, best granola recipe. #granola #breakfast #healthybreakfast

A while back I tried this maple nut quinoa granola recipe, and was instantly hooked on the light, crispy clusters. Gone are the days of tough, chewy oats. It’s a new granola day. 

The quinoa kind of puffs up in the oven (giving them a rice krispie-like texture), which provides a texture I really dig.  And so after that first recipe was a winner, my second attempt brought in peanut butter as the primary flavor, which is very up my alley.

Peanut Butter Quinoa Granola

I had picked up pepitas, and added some ground flaxseed and chia, plus some walnuts and almonds. The flavor was awesome, though the clumps weren’t quite as crispy since the peanut butter changed the texture.READ THE POST

Strawberry Rhubarb Crumb Bars

Y’all, I have never once cooked with rhubarb before this recipe. In fact, I could probably count the number of times I’ve had rhubarb on, like, half a hand. Which is creepy when you think about it (half a hand, that is, not rhubarb).  

ANYWAY.  What I was getting at was that these strawberry rhubarb crumb bars are a delightful and easy breakfast option, or even a (not as sweet) dessert.

Strawberry Rhubarb Crumb Bars | These strawberry rhubarb breakfast bars are a delicious, easy, and healthy option that can be made ahead of time, full of fiber, and a total crowd-pleaser. #rhubarb #strawberry #breakfastbar

There’s something about rhubarb that screams spring…maybe it has a really short seasonality or something? I’m definitely not a rhubarb expert.

What I *do* know is that rhubarb is quiiiiiite tart, which is why it’s usually paired with very sweet fruits like strawberries, and takes a little extra sugar to make it edible.

Strawberry Rhubarb Crumb Bars done

These bars look like a dessert (and they could be, with a few tweaks), but they’re really a healthy, fiber-ful, antioxidant-filled whole grain breakfast treat.

The star of these is obviously the strawberries and rhubarb (which is like a girly-looking, super tart celery), but the crust and crumble topping has a lovely light sweetness to it, made hearty by the oats and whole wheat flour.

On a side note, I’ll bet the first person to bite into a rhubarb stalk expecting something either sweet or celery-like later seriously reconsidered their willingness to try new things. It is NOT good raw. I’m guessing it was entertaining to watch, though…

strawberry rhubarb crumb bars rhubarb chopped

READ THE POST

Ricotta, Tomato & Spinach Frittata

Simplicity, man. As I mentioned last week, I just wanted the easiest dinner possible. Something healthy, but something that didn’t require a million steps or ingredients.

Ricotta, Tomato, & Spinach Frittata | This easy frittata or egg casserole is a perfect meal when you're rushed, whether breakfast, brunch, or dinner. Makes great leftovers, perfect way to use up leftover ricotta as well. #brunch #frittata #ricotta #breakfast #vegetarian

Also, I’ve been on a weird ricotta kick. Like, eat it straight out of the carton with a spoon, maybe with a drizzle of honey. It’s getting weird. I used to hate ricotta and now look at me.

Ricotta, Tomato, & Spinach Frittata

So I made some delicious marinated grilled (well, sauteed) chicken, and this delightful frittata.

ricotta tomato & spinach frittata tomatoes spinach

Frittatas are such a great go-to meal for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. They’re full of veggies and protein, easy, and make awesome leftovers. Basically, they’re perfect.READ THE POST

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Flaxseed Muffins

Last weekend I decided to make a few changes. Little changes. Healthy changes.  And these chocolate chip oatmeal flaxseed muffins qualify.

By and large I lead a fairly healthy life—I eat well, exercise a lot, take care of myself (except the working too much and lack of sleep). But I’ve slipped into some bad habits (*coughtoobusyforbreakfastcough*) and feel like my body isn’t quite firing on all cylinders.

However, I’m pretty overwhelmed with life right now, I knew I couldn’t do anything that required too much thought or effort.

Easy Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Flaxseed Muffins | These super easy chocolate chip oatmeal muffins are a great healthy breakfast option that still feels like a treat. A perfect make-ahead breakfast recipe for meal prep. #breakfast #healthy #makeahead #mealprep #muffins

So I made a list last weekend of a few things I was going to work on during the week. The first has turned out to be somewhat life-changing. It’s simple—before I go to bed I fill up a big glass with water and put it by my bed, and the minute I wake up, I down it.

I’m not allowed to get out of bed until that glass of water is gone. And boy, is it crazy what that will do to purify and rev your system!

stirring in chocolate chips

The second is pretty simple, too, and is something I used to be good about. I made sure I had a quality breakfast every single day at work. Some mornings this was a smoothie with fruit and greens and yogurt, and other days it was these delicious, high-fiber muffins.

I’ve never been a huge muffin person, but these were super easy and great. There really isn’t much bad in them—whole wheat flour, oats, and flax meal, with a little brown sugar for sweetness and studded with dark chocolate chips.

They were a delightful companion for my morning espresso, and stayed moist and soft all week!

Oatmeal Flaxseed Chocolate Chip MuffinsREAD THE POST

Grandma’s Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

I don’t like banana bread.  There—I said it.  Cue the shock and hand-wringing and exclamations of my lack of humanity. I’ve heard it all. But I still don’t like banana bread.

THIS chocolate chip banana bread, however, is pretty freaking awesome.

Grandma's Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

I got the chance to fly out to eastern Washington in late January with my dad to visit my Grandma and some other family on his side. I see most of them maaayyybe every decade, often longer, so it was a great chance to catch up and reconnect.

My grandma had baked some banana bread that I ended up snacking on all weekend. It was dense and moist, like a flat little cake, and studded with chocolate chips. I loved it.

She gave me her recipe and I played with it a little, including using all whole wheat flour, leaving out the coconut (partly because I forgot), and using dark chocolate chips.

I also baked it in two shallow dishes instead of making a regular-size loaf, which I think actually was the best thing I could have done for even cooking and keeping everything moist.

Grandma's Chocolate Chip Banana BreadREAD THE POST