Veggie-Packed Breakfast Quiche

“It’s a marshmallow world in the winter, when the snow comes to cover the ground. It’s the time for play, it’s a whipped cream day..." Disclaimer: This recipe does not include marshmallows or whipped cream. I'm sorry for getting your hopes up.

It’s Christmaaaas tiiiiime!!! And I am SO excited! I’m really getting into the season this year and am excited to buy and decorate our first Christmas tree together, decorate our new apartment, do an advent calendar for the first time in my life, and watch Christmas movies. And my favorite part....listen to Christmas music HOURS. ON. END. A few weeks before thanksgiving I decided it was time to break out the Michael Buble Christmas CD. I told a friend about it and was strongly reprimanded. I know, I know—“no Christmas music until after Thanksgiving.” #notashamed

I mean, Christmas music just brings so much cheer. How can you NOT be happy when listening to it?? If you can, then wah-wah, Mr. Grinch. I’ve been studying for my RD exam, and my “I Want A Hippopotamus” Pandora station has gotten me through it. And on the first of December I successfully found the 24/7 Christmas radio station for my car rides. I just can't stop. 

Speaking of music, how are you with song lyrics? Growing up, my brother and sister used to make fun of me because I could never sing the song lyrics correctly. I don’t know if my brain just can’t process the actual words properly or if my memory is simply terrible. Either way, song lyrics aren’t my forte. But neither is remembering lines from movie scenes. Or knowing names of celebrities. Okay, anything pop culture. Anyways, I was listening to the radio in my car the other day and just I happened to pass by a donut shop. Next thing I know, the song started talking about donuts. You know, the song by Billy Currington: “Sounds good, a donut, don’t it? Everything you got you know that I want it, want it. Sounds pretty good, now a donut? A donut.” Yeah, Billy. A donut does sound pretty good, and I do want it. Like I need any additional temptations to eat donuts...

That’s not the only song I hear lyrics about food. Remember when Pitch Perfect came out and the radio stations were playing the cup song like every half hour? I can’t hear that song without thinking she’s talking about tacos. “You’re gonna miss me by my walk, you’re gonna miss me by my ta-co. You’re gonna miss me when I’m gone.” Gosh, I need some help.

Back to Christmas (the important topic). When I think about holidays growing up and having lots of family around, I think of my mom making egg casseroles and poppyseed bread. It was her go-to. Now that I think of it, she made that any time people came in to stay with us, Christmas or not.

This quiche is reminiscent of those typical egg casseroles. Except that it’s a whole lot better for you and has veggies, no butter, a lot less cheese, and no fatty meats. So this holiday season, prep this quiche before your guests come and pull it out in the morning along with some fruit for a breakfast that your guests will love and one that you can feel good about for the rest of your day.

And don’t forget to crank the Christmas music to get everyone in the mood. “Rocking around the Christmas tree let the Christmas spirit ring. Later we’ll have some breakfast quiche pie and we’ll do some caroling”....Let me know what you think! 

Crust recipe from my favorite blog, immaeatthat. 

Breakfast...The Best Part of My Day

If you haven't noticed, I happen to like hosting parties/get-togethers. And I at these said parties, I really enjoy feeding my friends.  In college, I would have a group of friends over almost every Saturday morning for pancakes. We would have different sides with it each week, but the pancakes were the same. I was sort of known for my pancakes...it was my thang. 

Breakfast is my jam. I haven't met many a breakfast I didn't like. Biscuits, sausage, gravy, eggs, pancakes, waffles, muffins, bagels, cereal (oh my goodness, I could live on cereal), oatmeal, grits...wait, no grits. My mom used to feed us grits with a piece of kraft cheese melted in. How was that a good idea??? Yet, somehow I used to love it. Gross...But seriously, I really look forward to breakfast every day. That's why Isaac and I eat breakfast for dinner sometimes too. 

I tend to get focused on one breakfast item for a while. A few months ago it was oatmeal variations most days. Then I was hooked on scrambled eggs. Lately I've been on a sweets/carb kick. It's times like these that pancakes perfectly fit the sweet/carb craving. 

I discovered these pancakes in high school and have tweaked them over time. They are a great breakfast choice as they have fiber and carbohydrates from the whole wheat flour and oatmeal, healthy fat (think omega-3s) in the flax, protein in the greek yogurt and egg, and other additional goodies (various vitamins in the apple and pumpkin, aaaaand...antioxidants in the dark chocolate :-) ). 

I added the pumpkin maybe 2 years ago and have never looked back. It doesn't really change the taste much, but it makes the pancakes incredibly thick and keeps them from being dry. I add in some thinly chopped apple and dark chocolate chips, but feel free to add whatever you want--bananas, blueberries, pecan, etc. Sometimes my family will make a big batch of batter and divide it into smaller bowls. Everyone then puts their own mix-ins and cooks them on the griddle. The possibilities are endless!

Can I just point out the little pieces of apple in there??  

Yield: Serves 3-4

Author: Ashley Smith, RD

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Whole Wheat Pancakes

Thick, fluffy pancakes that are packed with nutrition that leaves you feeling full, satisfied, and energized.

Ingredients

• 1/2 C all-purpose flour
• 1/2 C whole wheat flour
• 1/4 C old fashioned oats
• 2 Tbsp ground flax seed
• 2 Tbsp brown sugar
• 1.5 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 C milk of choice
• 1/4 C Greek yogurt
• 1 egg
• 2 Tbsp canned pumpkin
• 1/3 C thinly chopped apple
• Optional: cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, dark chocolate chips, blueberries, chopped nuts

Instructions

1. Combine all of the dry ingredients and stir to mix. Add in wet ingredients and mix until combined and wet batter forms. Add in the apple and any other mix-ins. The batter will be thick (you want it to be), but if it is too thick, add 1 Tbsp water at a time. Pour ¼ C batter onto preheated skillet at medium heat. When the top bubbles and the bottom side is cooked, flip and cook additionally until it is cooked through. Top with your toppings of choice and enjoy!

Top with peanut butter....is there really any other way to eat pancakes??