Welcome to the first lesson! We're going to start with the most important meal of the day - breakfast! While you can always go with the tried and true cereal and toast, we're going to show you some more exciting options to get your morning off to a great start!
The first thing you'll want to do when you decide to prepare a new recipe is to check your kitchen for all of the ingredients and supplies. You don't want to find out halfway through that you need to run out to the store for something! Then, clear off the counterspace, set out all of your ingredients, and you'll be ready to get started.
The first thing you'll want to do when you decide to prepare a new recipe is to check your kitchen for all of the ingredients and supplies. You don't want to find out halfway through that you need to run out to the store for something! Then, clear off the counterspace, set out all of your ingredients, and you'll be ready to get started.
If you have a blender, a simple breakfast recipe is a fruit smoothie! You can use simply fruit and ice, or you can add in juice and yogurt as well! Depending on what types of fruit you like, you can make a lot of different types of smoothies. It's a good way to use up fruit that you might not be able to eat before it goes bad.
Fruit Smoothie
Ingredients
Ice, Fruit, Juice (optional), yogurt (optional)
You can play around with the ratios of your ingredients, but if you're looking for a starting point, you could try 1 cup of ice, 1 banana, and 1 cup of strawberries.
Instructions
You'll want to add the ice to your blender first, and the remaining ingredients on top of it. Start with using the coarsest setting on the blender, to make sure the ice gets chopped up well, and then you can try something more like "puree". Once all the ingredients are liquified into one even mixture, you're ready to pour it into your glass and enjoy!
The next recipe we're going to try is a little more complicated, but all you need is a mixing bowl, measuring cups and spoons, and a loaf pan! I always turn to this recipe when I have a couple of bananas that are extremely ripe, usually completely brown. It makes a great breakfast food, but you can also enjoy it all day long!
Fruit Smoothie
Ingredients
Ice, Fruit, Juice (optional), yogurt (optional)
You can play around with the ratios of your ingredients, but if you're looking for a starting point, you could try 1 cup of ice, 1 banana, and 1 cup of strawberries.
Instructions
You'll want to add the ice to your blender first, and the remaining ingredients on top of it. Start with using the coarsest setting on the blender, to make sure the ice gets chopped up well, and then you can try something more like "puree". Once all the ingredients are liquified into one even mixture, you're ready to pour it into your glass and enjoy!
The next recipe we're going to try is a little more complicated, but all you need is a mixing bowl, measuring cups and spoons, and a loaf pan! I always turn to this recipe when I have a couple of bananas that are extremely ripe, usually completely brown. It makes a great breakfast food, but you can also enjoy it all day long!
Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
Ingredients:
2 large very ripe bananas
1/4 cup applesauce
1/4 cup canola oil
1/2 cup sugar
2 tablespoons molasses
2 cups flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
Chocolate chips
Instructions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9 X 5 inch loaf pan.
2. In a large mixing bowl, mash the bananas. Add the sugar, applesauce, oil, and molasses, and mix.
3. Sift in the flour, baking soda, spices, and salt. You can fold in the chocolate chips, or you can sprinkle them on top.
4. Pour the batter into your loaf pan and bake for 45-50 minutes
5. To be sure it's done, insert a knife or toothpick in the center - if there's nothing stuck to it when you pull it out, you're ready to let it cool!
Finally, we're going to cover something that's a little more adventurous: Tofu scramble! It's sort of meant to mimic scrambled eggs, but it has a great taste all on its own! Cooking with tofu can be a challenge, but with some practice you can develop some very delicious meals.
Ingredients:
2 large very ripe bananas
1/4 cup applesauce
1/4 cup canola oil
1/2 cup sugar
2 tablespoons molasses
2 cups flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
Chocolate chips
Instructions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9 X 5 inch loaf pan.
2. In a large mixing bowl, mash the bananas. Add the sugar, applesauce, oil, and molasses, and mix.
3. Sift in the flour, baking soda, spices, and salt. You can fold in the chocolate chips, or you can sprinkle them on top.
4. Pour the batter into your loaf pan and bake for 45-50 minutes
5. To be sure it's done, insert a knife or toothpick in the center - if there's nothing stuck to it when you pull it out, you're ready to let it cool!
Finally, we're going to cover something that's a little more adventurous: Tofu scramble! It's sort of meant to mimic scrambled eggs, but it has a great taste all on its own! Cooking with tofu can be a challenge, but with some practice you can develop some very delicious meals.
Tofu Scramble
Ingredients
For the sauce
**If there are any ingredients you don't like, (for example, say you can't stand mushrooms), you can substitute them with a different vegetable, such as tomatoes, or simply take them out all together!
Instructions
I hope you've found a recipe you're excited to try! Head on over to Assignment One to get started!
Ingredients
- 8 ounces extra firm tofu
- 2 cups spinach, chopped
- 1/2 red pepper, sliced thinly
- 1/4 red onion, sliced thinly
- 1/2 cup mushrooms, sliced
- Olive oil
For the sauce
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp cumin powder
- 1/4 tsp chili powder
**If there are any ingredients you don't like, (for example, say you can't stand mushrooms), you can substitute them with a different vegetable, such as tomatoes, or simply take them out all together!
Instructions
- Pat tofu dry and roll in a clean, absorbent towel with something heavy on top, such as a cast iron skillet, for 15 minutes.
- While the tofu is draining, you'll want to start working on the sauce. Combine the sea salt, garlic powder, cumin powder, and chili powder in a small bowl, and add just enough water that it can be poured as a sauce. Set aside.
- Chop and slice the veggies.
- Place a large skillet on the stove on medium heat. Once hot (you can test this by holding your hand a few inches above the skilled - careful not to touch! - or by flicking some water on it with your fingers and seeing how quickly it fizzles) add 1-2 Tbsp olive oil and the onion and red pepper. Season with a pinch each salt and pepper and stir. Cook until softened - about 5 minutes.
- Add spinach, season with a bit more salt and pepper, and cover to steam for 2 minutes.
- In the meantime, unwrap tofu and use a fork to separate into bite-sized pieces.
- Use a spatula to move the veggies to one side of the pan and add tofu. Sauté for 2 minutes, then add sauce, pouring it mostly over the tofu and a little over the veggies. Stir immediately, evenly distributing the sauce. Cook for another 5-7 minutes until tofu is slightly browned.
- Serve immediately!
I hope you've found a recipe you're excited to try! Head on over to Assignment One to get started!