Tower of Power Breakfast

This recipe is not my own, I so wish it was.

I saw this on one of the many many food blogs I read, but one of my go to for awesome healthy food; My New Roots not only are the recipes healthy Sarah tells you why each ingredient is good for you… meaning you gain knowledge every time you cook with her recipes.

You can see the full recipe and photographs here

We needed fuel for a day of painting so I thought this was a great opportunity to make this…

My slightly simplified version… 

For 3-4 you need:
2 large sweet potatoes
2 large red onions
spinach ( a big handful for each person)
cherry tomatoes (5-6 per person)
seat salt
black pepper
olive oil
1 egg per person
brown sugar
dried chilli flakes

1. Slice up your sweet potato and roast in the oven at around 220c for 20-30 minutes, making the edges go crispy and ensuring that the larger pieces are cooked through
At the same time saute your onions, slowly, add a little sugar for some extra sweetness.

2. Add some olive oil to a small saucepan and chuck in the tomatoes, put on a low heat and pop the lid on and cook until they are bursting. Watch these don’t burn, this will take 10-15 minutes but do it as slowly as possible.

When these bits are all done, Sarah suggests putting them all in a baking tray in the oven to keep warm… good thinking!

3. Saute your spinach in the same pan you did the onions, this will take 1-2 minutes… pop to one side while you poach your eggs the pile it up and enjoy…

Season with salt and pepper and chilli flakes if you have them!

Very filling and so good…

It’s a little faffy but very easy… try it at the weekend when you have plenty of time. 

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Lori’s Diner, San Francisco

One more final honeymoon post…

A simple American diner.

I loved this place. I made it my mission to eat at as many diners as possible so most days we found one in the AM had amazing breakfasts of eggs or pancakes and coffee before skipping lunch because we were so full.

We found Lori’s on our first night in San Francisco, being just around the corner from our hotel… 

This one was a proper 24 hour diner so being late isn’t a problem.

I love the tiled floor and red leather stools… but we took a booth. I love booths. 

 I ordered a banana milkshake to drink… it was more like dessert. Had a cherry and everything.

I went for the classic burger with sautéed onions and cheddar with sweet potato fries…

Amazing. 

While my Husband went for another American classic of fried chicken and coleslaw with french fries.

It all rocked.

I love junk food I think. 

I love the movie star posters… a classic 50’s diner.

Lori’s Diner – we went to the one in the theatre district near union square but there are a few

Rocca’s Surfshack; Morro Bay, California

As soon as we arrived in Morro Bay we headed straight out for food, we were starving after a long drive.

I apologise there are more fast food places than normal. It’s just what they do well, and I love them. I also love naughty food.

I spotted this cute place… and they did fish tacos so we went here for a ‘snack’ 

There was surfing paraphernalia everywhere. It was very bright in here.

 So we ate fish tacos with chips… so good.

 More stuff on the walls… no shortage of things to look at in here. It’s cute.

I ate a hog dog… I had a real thing for hot dogs while we were in California. 

Rocca’s Surfshack – Morro Bay, California

The Anderson’s Danish Bakery, Santa Barbara

On our second day I made sure we headed to one of those cute restaurants on main street for some al-fresco breakfast… we picked the Anderson Danish Bakery… 

I love the perfect red roses on each table.

I went inside and met one of the bakers and to ooooo and ahhhh over all the cakes. There were so many and they all looked amazing.

They also make their own jam, which you can buy to take home.

I imagine the whole of Santa Barbara gets their birthday cake from here. 

The strawberry tarts looked so good, and I got a taste of one. I wished right then that I had picked one of those for breakfast. 

 

The inside is sickly sweet. I loved it! 

We both ordered the french toast… before which we were given two baskets of baguette and 2 scones (!), who eats pre-breakfast scones!

Turns out we do… we gave it our best shot anyway, then this came out…

Ridiculous. See why we spent the rest of the day riding bikes? (and skipping lunch) That was some breakfast.

And this is it at night, open for dinner. We heard so many accents while we are here, I imagine from Danish people.

 The Anderson’s Danish Bakery

Skip breakfast and go for cake!

Furneaux Lodge, The Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand

This place… 

Is amazing. 

We stayed here for two nights towards the end of our time in New Zealand, read more about it here and about the lodge here.

They make a good cappuccino…

And perfect eggs…  Bacon or smoked salmon… who knew we were in the middle of no-where.

 

On our final morning I ordered french toast with berries and caramelised bananas, have you ever heard of a more decadent breakfast?

 

After our big long bush walk we treated ourselves to a blow out meal in the sunshine.

 

 

My husband ate fish chowder, thick and gloopy and filled with local fish with bacon and a poached egg. Again so decadent.

 

I ate delicious locally caught fish with a beautiful tomato salsa and olive oil potatoes.

 

We finished with a home-made lemon tart and a glass of Sauterne. Perfect.

 
Furneaux Lodge – The Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand 

See more about this leg of the trip here and more about Furneaux Lodge here

Espresso Cafe, Oamaru

The kind of neighbourhood cafe I would love near me…

Pretty on the outside with some chairs in case of sunshine.

With so many tasty treats inside and a handy tap in reach of customers.

I really want to make something like this, how cool does that look?

Great coffee, and proper cappuccino’s.

I had a savoury scone. Again I really want to make these, I have made cheese scones tons of times but I’ve never gone further than that. I really need to do this.

This one had a little cream cheese surprise. Love that.

My husband got the tortilla stack… it was served with some smoky chilli jam and was delicious. Such a colourful meal, this would be great to bring to a BBQ and see everyone got ahhhh when you cut through it.

 Espresso is in Omaru, a town we drove through you can read more about this crazy steampunk place at You Make Me Swoon

Brioche French Toast with Bacon and Berries

Something for the weekend…

This breakfast is so good I have had it the past two Saturdays, bit now I am out of brioche and I cannot buy more (man that stuff is good) so it’s up to you guys to give it a go now.

You need;
1 loaf of the best brioche you can get your hands on (for 2 slices per person)
1 egg per person (we used Burford Browns of course)
2 rashers of bacon per person
some mixed berries
maple syrup – this is essential!

It’s easy, I am sure you have made eggy bread before… that’s all it is.

1. First get your bacon grilling… then slice your bread, whisk the eggs in a large shallow bowl and heat a large non-stick frying pan. I didn’t use any oil and I don’t think the egg needs it but to be extra naughty use a little butter

2. Dip your bread in the egg and make sure each slice is well coated before frying for 2-3 minutes each side – don’t forget your bacon…

3. Pile the goodies up on your plate, bread, then bacon then berries then syrup and take it with you to the table you might need (you will want) more.

So lush, how will I top that this weekend?