foodie: tofu-egg quiche

last night, i came home from the csa with a slew of gorgeous tomatoes.  so, obviously i wanted to include them in our dinner.  i decided to try making a tofu and egg crustless quiche, despite never having made one before.  luckily, it turned out well (hence why i'm sharing it with you all :-)  it was hearty, yet fluffy and had great flavor -- a winner all around!

here's what you'll need...

1/2 block firm tofu
4 eggs
1/2 medium onion
2 shallots
1 large heirloom tomato, sliced
1/4 cup fresh herbs (i used basil and parsley)
3-4 garlic cloves
1/3-1/2 cup cheese (i used bleu and mozzarella)
olive oil
salt & pepper

preheat oven to 400 degrees.

1. chop onions and shallots and saute in a bit of olive oil until translucent and lightely caramelized.  season with salt and pepper.

2. while the veggies saute, put the tofu, eggs, herbs and garlic in a blender.  blend until a smooth liquid is formed.  season with salt and pepper and pulse once more.

3. oil your pie plate well with olive oil and then pour in egg/tofu mixture.  top with onions and shallots, tomato slices and sprinkle with cheese.

4. bake for approximately 40 minutes until the quiche puffs up a bit and the edges are lightly brown.  check the center with a knife to ensure it's cooked through before removing it from the oven.

those gigantic green things are slices of (fully-ripe) heirloom tomato

enjoy with a large side salad and even more delicious, heirloom tomatoes!!!  serves 4 for dinner or 6 for brunch.

bon appetit

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foodie: birthday egg strata

craig's birthday was last friday, so for saturday morning breakfast, i thought it would be nice to have a yummy, home cooked meal.  craig adores anything will eggs for his morning meal, so i decided to make a strata (i.e. an egg casserole with veggies and cheese).  the great thing about a strata is that you can make it a day or two in advance and then just reheat it the morning of!

here's what you'll need...

1 loaf of bread (i used rosemary focaccia)
8-10 eggs
1 cup shredded cheese (i used an italian blend, but something sharp like swiss, gruyere or cheddar would work well too)
1 onion
1 red pepper
1 zucchini
1 packet knorr bearnaise sauce, prepared with heavy cream
2 tbsp rosemary and thyme, chopped
salt & pepper
olive oil

preheat oven to 375.

1. chop and saute veggies in olive oil until tender and lightly caramelized.  season with salt and pepper.

2. roughly tear bread into 1 inch cubes and put 1/2 into a buttered casserole dish.

3. top with veggies and 1/2 of cheese, and then add in the remainder of the bread.

4. mix eggs with bearnaise and chopped herbs and pour over bread mixture.  press bread with the back of a wooden spoon to make sure it soaks up the egg mixture well.

5. top strata with remainder of cheese, a few more herbs and salt & pepper.

6. bake for 30-40 minutes until top is golden and bubbly.

if you're making the strata in advance, allow to cool completely and then cover and put in the fridge.  to reheat, put in oven on 275-300 degrees for approximately 1 hour.

as you can see, this recipe lends itself to improvisation - so have fun with it and make it your own.

bon appetit!

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weekly wrap-up: helpful & healthy links

hello, mavens!  i hope you're having a wonderful week so far.  happy (almost) weekend : )  i wanted to share some helpful and healthy links with you today in hopes of inspiring you to cultivate health and unearth happiness in your own life.

credit {here}

wondering what yoga style is best for you?  don't know the difference between bikram and ashtanga?  check out this {comprehensive guide} that will help you decide which practice best fits your lifestyle and needs.

don't have time for breakfast?  check out this nutritious, delicious and {super easy breakfast} that you can make the night before so you don't have to waste any precious morning time cooking.

want to shape up in 2012?  (who doesn't?!)  yoga might just be the key.  try this {arm sculpting} routine or {strengthen and tone your legs} with this simple practice.

i hope these links help you to reach all your health goals.

namaste

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foodie wednesday: overnight oats (the encore)

yes, i have posted about overnight oats before, but they are so simple and delicious, they are definitely worthy of a second mention.  overnight oats are my go-to breakfast.  this awesome breakfast is hearty, healthy and will leave you feeling completely satisfied and ready to take on your day.  even better?  you whip up this simple recipe the night before, so when you're ready for breakfast the next morning, there is no wait!

1/3 to 1/2  of a (very) ripe banana
1/2 cup soy milk (you can also use regular milk or another nut milk)
1/2 cup oats (both quick oats and old-fashioned oats work great)
cinnamon & nutmeg
(1 tbsp peanut butter)

1. in a small bowl, sprinkle banana with a some cinnamon and a dash of nutmeg and mash with a fork until smooth

2. mix oats into banana and then add milk and stir

3. cover and place in fridge overnight - by morning you'll have thick, creamy oats

have oats?  will travel.  craig's are ready "to-go" and mine are all set for breakfast at home.

4. in the morning, uncover and heat in the microwave on 50% power for approx. 2 mins

5. add a dollop of peanut butter and sprinkle with a bit more cinnamon, if desired  (they are also great with a drizzle of honey, chopped nuts or raisins!)

finished oats with cinnamon & peanut butter

happy breakfasting : )

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