Learn Seasoning Tips for Spanish Omelette in this free cooking video from our breakfast expert and professional chef.

Chilaquiles

Cooking meals and getting breakfast recipe ideas doesnt have to include a home cooking recipe or a gourmet recipe, it can be a cooking recipe that youve created yourself with basic cooking methods. Cooking Coarse focuses on basic cooking methods to empower the home cook to create simple cooking recipes to make everyday cooking more creative and enjoyable. In today’s episode, Chef Todd Mohr will show you how to make one of his favorite breakfast powerhouse items, Loco Moco. This breakfast recipe includes high levels of protein, carbohydrates, and fiber. It’s a body-builder’s breakfast item that you can easily create in your own kitchen. Don’t follow recipes, create your own combinations based on this Loco Moco inspiration.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.  We’ve all heard it before, but so few of us actually act on it.  What you feed your body in the morning can be the difference between staying alert and energized throughout the day, or feeling tired and lazy.  It can be the difference between staying focused at work, or finding yourself mentally drifting off not able to concentrate on the job at hand.  It could be the difference between staying full until lunch, or constantly snacking throughout the day.  Studies show that those who eat a healthy breakfast not only snack less, are more focused, and have more energy throughout the day, but also tend to be thinner than those eat an unhealthy breakfast (or skip it all together).  It can literally be the difference between good health and poor health, and should definitely be taken seriously. 

Never skip breakfast; in fact you should eat within an hour of getting up, that’s when your body needs refueling.  When you wake up your body will have gone 8 to 10 hours without food (give or take depending on how long you slept), and it\’s running on reserves.  The body uses stored fat as energy when it’s not getting this energy source from outside sources, and if the body knows it will be a long time before it gets refueled, then it will store extra fat as reserves for a later time. 

So what’s secret to a healthy breakfast?  There are three main ingredients to this recipe; a desire to be healthy, healthy food on hand (whole grains, organic fruit, nuts…), and an appetite.  It’s that simple!

The first thing to remember is forget everything you thought you knew, or shall I say everything you’ve been made to believe.  The typical American breakfast consists of foods loaded with fat, refined sugars and flowers, and artificial preservatives (chemicals); processed cereals, breakfast treats, bagels, toast, pastries, donuts, just to name a few.  Although some of these products are marketed as healthy they are quite the opposite, and one of the leading causes of obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol, and heart disease in this country.  The truth is these processed foods have become nothing more than science experiments by food manufacturers to see how cheaply they can produce and sell a product with a long shelf life, using the most readily available resources as possible.  With the help of clever marketing such as “fat free” (which really means high in calories and sugar), “sugar free” (which really means high in fat, and calories), or “low in calories” (which means high in everything else), these highly processed nutrient deficient fake foods are loaded with artificial dyes and flavors and fortified with vitamins and minerals (all of which are lost during processing) and advertised as “part of a healthy breakfast”; all at our expense.

Instead, give your body what it really wants.  The key here is eating a healthy breakfast, in order to give your body the nutrients it needs to function properly.  Try fresh organic fruit, and some mixed nuts.  The fruits will give your body the vitamins and minerals it needs, not to mention a healthy serving of flavonoids (which have been shown to have antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antitumor and antioxidant qualities), while the nuts provide a good source of protein, omega-3, and healthy fat (all crucial elements to a healthy diet).  Another great breakfast choice is whole grains.  Stick with the organic minimally processed grains; these tiny seeds have everything necessary for creating life and are just what your body needs for maintaining yours.  Try organic oat groats or hulless barley for a healthy and tasty breakfast.

Last but not least enjoy.  Not only will you be laying the foundation for a healthy day by eating a healthy breakfast, you may actually just start looking forward it.

Southern Cooking - Add Some Spice With This New Recipe

Being born and raised in the deep South, I do not know where my recently developed taste for spicy food came from. I do not remember much spicy food being served at the dinner table when I was growing up. Although life has taken me far from the South, my love for the Southern cuisine has never diminished. And, this new love for adding “spicy” to my Southern dishes has me a little pleasantly surprised.

I was unaware that my taste for spicy food or additives had blended into my daily diet of Southern dishes. But, recently I recognized that I was on to something. Maybe, the rest of the world has been eating like this forever, but it was new to me. And, as I searched the internet to see if anyone was suggesting adding spicy flavor to Southern recipes, I could not find any.

You may argue that cajun food has always been spicy. Some may consider that Southern food, since it originated in Louisiana. And, yes, I agree cajun food is spicy. However, to me Cajun food is a breed of it’s own. It’s not what I would call traditional Southern food.

I’m talking about green beans, fried okra, black eyed peas, cornbread and turnip greens. And, Southern fried chicken, hushpuppies and home made biscuits and gravy.

So, when I realized I was enjoying spicy additives with my favorite traditional Southern dishes , I had to step back and ask myself, “where did this come from?”

I have found that adding a small slice of jalapeno pepper to turnip greens and a touch of crushed red pepper to fried okra really enhances the flavor. And, a splash of hot sauce on “everything” Southern is delightful. Try dipping your chicken in a mild hot sauce before coating with flour for a great Southern fried chicken. Of course, some may call this simply “hot wings…but not the way I cook it. Hot wings are not cooked Southern style like I cook my fried chicken (free recipe on my website).

I have tried many of the store brand hot sauces, and they are pretty good, but most are too hot or too mild and lacking in flavor. And, I was satisfied until I recently ran across a home made hot sauce recipe that blows all the others out of the water. It is fantastic!

It’s called “Butt-Kicking” Spicy Lime Sauce (my name for it). And, I want to share the recipe with you. Here’s how to make your own.

Ingredients:

6 large jalapeno peppers (fresh is better, but you can use bottled)

6 garlic cloves

1 small onion

2 cups apple cider vinegar

1/4 cup chopped cilantro

2 teaspoons salt

juice of 2 limes

1 teaspoon black pepper

Remove the seeds and ribs from the peppers and cut into medium chunks. Roughly chop the onion and garlic and put all the chopped ingredients into a small saucepan. Pour in the vinegar and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes.

Roughly chop the cilantro and put into a blender with the salt, pepper and lime juice.

When the jalapeno mixture is cooked, allow to cool 10 minutes, then add to the blender.

Turn the blender on low for 10 seconds, then increase to highest setting and puree for 3 minutes.

If you want a pure liquid sauce, strain through a medium hole strainer, however, I prefer not to strain. I like the fine pulp in the sauce.

Pour into sterilized jars and refrigerate. The sauce will keep about a month under refrigeration. Makes about a pint.

Note: Sterilize jars by placing jars and lids in boiling water for 15 minutes.

This sauce is very unique tasting due to the cilantro and lime juice. I doubt you will find anything like it in your market. And, this is better because it’s fresh. And, you made it yourself.

I put a bottle of this sauce on the table for every meal, including breakfast (it’s great on an omelette). Actually, it’s good on everything. I haven’t tried ice cream yet, but …hummmm.