Long Live The Art of Brunch

Tweet this!

This is a season of re-adjustment for me, as we have moved to a completely new city and I have begun a new season of my career. 

Part of my adjustment, thank God, has involved lots and lots of brunch.

When we were living in Chicago and life was a lot more hectic, brunch was undoubtedly a 'thing.' Warm or cold, we would venture out to some of our favorite brunch spots and take our seats to be served a delicious meal. It was always a highlight of the weekend.

But, as I am growing into my new life, I am learning something.

 There is something incredibly intimate about a leisurely brunch at home, 

whether it is just you and your significant other, 

or you are hosting for family and friends.

I love it...

...the silverware and bowls that are uniquely yours, gifts from loved ones and significant people in your life

...the prosecco cork still sitting on the table, adding to the experience of knowing you are in a comfortable and private place 

...the bacon that is prepared just the way your loved ones like it (...hopefully)

...the coaster with your monogram on it

...the entire bottle of bubbly sitting at your table, allowing you to serve yourself - or choose not to - without fanfare, and without finding a server to place an order

...the ability to completely disregard time, to talk about whatever you want without having strangers nearby, to have intimate conversations uninterrupted by a water refill or being handed the check

I don't want the art of brunch to die. 

The art of hosting, of creating an experience for the people you love. 

The time invested in a delicious table full of food, 

and the leisurely experience of taking as long as you freaking want to eat it. 

Cheers to that.

Smoked Gouda and Scallions Egg Sandwich

Tweet this!

This is the king of the breakfast gods. Runny, over easy eggs under melted smoked Gouda cheese with a kick of scallions, all between crunchy toast. A gourmet breakfast in 5 minutes... What's your excuse not to make it?

Eggs make the world go round. I think. I'm a total dork and passed out at 8:30 last night (stop judging me). I popped up, fully awake, at 5 something this morning, with one thing on my mind. Breakfast.

If you've been with me for a while here, you've probably already heard me say that breakfast is the meal of the champions. It's true, though. When you wake up, your body is in a similar state to when you finish a workout. You've burned through most of your nutrients while sleeping, and your body is hungering for protein and a small amount of carbohydrates to fuel your muscles. Oh, and your brain... unless you want to be Grumpy McGrumperson all morning (count me out for that).

I'll add to that the fact that eating in the morning makes you less likely to over-do it on food throughout the day, as it keeps your blood sugar steady (provided that you're not overdosing on carbs, like a plate full of box pancakes would do to you -- but if you're a pancake-obsessed breakfaster, try these protein packed pancakes or these fiber filled waffles).

So what do you say, are you ready for breakfast?

This little creation was first inspired in the cheese aisle. I spotted a bag of sliced smoked Gouda (amazing, right?) and grabbed it immediately. The creamy, smoked flavor does wonders to compliment the fried egg, and scallions take it over the top. I promise.

Smoked Gouda and Scallions Egg Sandwich

Calories: 225

Servings: 1 Per Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 Egg
• 1 slice Smoked Gouda (or other creamy cheese, such as provolone)
• 1/4 stalk Scallions, chopped
• 2 slices toast (I used Sara Lee's 45 Calories and Delicious Toast)

Directions:

1. Ingredient Prep: Start with chopped scallions and sliced Gouda sitting out and ready to use (you'll need to move fast once your egg starts cooking).
2. Toast the toast: Put your toast in the toaster!
3. Grease the pan: Grease a small frying pan using olive or vegetable oil (I pour a bit of vegetable oil in, then use a paper towel to wipe it around and soak up the extra so there are no puddles). 
4. Get cracking: Crack one medium egg and place it in the pan, trying not to break the yolk. If the egg whites spread out too much, you can use a plastic spatula to guide the egg back into a shape that will fit on your toast. As the egg begins to cook more and solidify, this gets easier. 
5. Flip It: When the sides of the egg whites begin to look less runny and are turning white, use a plastic spatula to flip the egg over to cook the other side. 
6. Cheese and Scallions: Once you flip the egg, immediately add the slice of Gouda and place scallions on top. Turn the temperature down to low and cover the pan to melt the cheese as much as possible. After flipping the egg, it only takes a minute or two for the second side to cook.
7. Voila! After just about two minutes (no more), use a plastic spatula to transfer the fried egg, gouda, and scallions onto a piece of toast. Add the second piece of toast on top and cut down the center to break open the yolk. Enjoy!

"Because The Tomb Was Empty"

Tweet this!
Today is a day of sharing. I have two awesome and inspiring things to share with you...

First, an excerpt from a Girlfriends in God newsletter I received almost a year ago that has never really left my mind:

"It was Easter Sunday. Mrs. Stephens wanted to help her students understand that there is so much more to the Easter holiday than new clothes, chocolate bunnies and egg hunts... Easter is about life. Easter celebrates the certainty of Jesus’ death on the cross, the fact that He was buried, and the reality that He came out of that burial tomb to conquer death – so that we can have life - eternal life with Jesus in Heaven and abundant life with Him here and now. 

Mrs. Stephens came up with a plan. After sharing the Bible story of Jesus’ resurrection, she gave each one of her students an empty plastic egg and said, “We are going to take a walk outside and I want each one of you to find one sign of life and put it in your plastic egg.” 

As the children filed out of the room, Mrs. Stephens noticed Danny, a little Down syndrome boy who had been coming to her class for some time. His bright smile and sunny disposition had immediately won her heart. In fact, when it came to Danny, she often thought he had taught her so much more about the unconditional love of God and the joy of simply being a child of God than she could ever teach him. When she heard the other children make fun of him, it broke her heart. She always corrected the children and tried to help them see just how special Danny was, but Danny seemed oblivious to their hurtful words and thought of each child as his “buddy.”

The children soon returned from their walk, depositing their eggs on the teacher’s desk as they made their way to their seats. Inside one student's egg was a butterfly. In another was an ant. Others had collected flowers, twigs, blades of grass and leaves to fill their eggs. But one egg had nothing in it. Everyone knew whose egg it was. Mrs. Stephens silenced the giggles with a look of warning. When she asked Danny why he had not put anything inside his egg to show signs of life, his face broke into a huge grin as he responded, "Because the tomb was empty.""

Every time I read that story, I find myself being touched in a really significant way. It's hard for me to read out loud without taking a moment here and there to collect myself. Why? It is not out of sadness. It is out of pure joy. I delight in the beauty of a story of a little boy who truly understood the depth of Easter -- that an empty tomb is the perfect sign of life; the perfect proof that Jesus Christ really had risen from the dead!

As you enter into Easter weekend, perhaps you'll be spending time with family. Perhaps you'll be attending church services tonight or on Sunday or perhaps both. Perhaps you have Easter Egg hunts for children and relatives. Perhaps you plan to have a relaxing weekend at home. In private, in groups; in the background or as a main event; try to find some time thanking God for the sign of life -- for the empty tomb -- and for the day that Jesus Christ laid death in its grave, forever beating death for our sake, so that we may live forever with our God.

My second moment of sharing:
If you've made it this far and are still reading, perhaps you're like Danny. Perhaps you are taking in the depth and significance of Easter weekend. Take a moment to listen to the following video and read the lyrics below. John Mark McMillan describes the miraculous events that changed the world forever... and Jesus' transformation from a worldly condemned "thief" on Friday to a heavenly and promising King on Sunday. 

Take a moment to listen. Close your eyes and let it sink in. Our God came down and walked among us... he was condemned as a thief. Crucified in grief. For three days, he slept in the darkness of death... until he arose and paid for our sins in full.



Though the Earth Cried out for blood
Satisfied her hunger was
Her billows calmed on raging seas
for the souls on men she craved

Sun and moon from balcony
Turned their head in disbelief
Their precious Love would taste the sting
disfigured and disdained

On Friday a thief
On Sunday a King
Laid down in grief
But awoke with keys
Of Hell on that day
The first born of the slain
The Man Jesus Christ
Laid death in his grave

So three days in darkness slept
The Morning Sun of righteousness
But rose to shame the throes of death
And over turn his rule

Now daughters and the sons of men
Would pay not their dues again
The debt of blood they owed was rent
When the day rolled a new

On Friday a thief
On Sunday a King
Laid down in grief
But awoke holding keys
To Hell on that day
The first born of the slain
The Man Jesus Christ
Laid death in his grave
He has cheated
Hell and seated
Us above the fall
In desperate places
He paid our wages
One time once and for all

McSkinny Egg Sandwich

Tweet this!

Show some love: Pin It

Raise your (virtual) hand if you've ever craved an Egg Mc Muffin. Or maybe a Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Bagel. We're all culprits... or maybe we're not being entirely honest here!

I'll admit it: They're good. Like really good. Like gimme-gimme-happy-kid good. But they're not good for you.

I'm semi obsessed with fitness. People who know me will sometimes ask: Then how do you eat things like cupcakes and truffles and nachos without feeling guilty? Well, here's the secret: it's all skinny. So I'm not just stuffing my face with butter-and-oil-filled cupcakes; I'm chowing down on 60 Calorie Cupcakes (Note for you: You can make cupcakes with Sparkling Water! You're welcome) or 100 Calorie Cupcakes.  And I'm not just grabbing truffles from my local bakery, either. I'm making <100 Calorie Cake Balls to share with friends and family (sharing is key, my friends!).

And I'm not swinging through the McDonald's Drive Through for an Egg McMuffin. I'm whipping up a batch of 30 calorie frittatas and using them all week! For a low calorie McMuffin, toast a 100 calorie English Muffin or two pieces of Sara Lee's "45 Calories and Delicious" bread! Your grand total will be between 123 and 133 calories!

Nutritional Information for Frittatas*
Does not include toast/english muffin.