WIAW #19: Breakfast, Brunch, and Brinner

 

Welcome to another WIAW. I thought to mix it up, I’d showcase a weekend day of eats instead of a weekday – and then I realized, since I’m still studying for the bar, and it’s two weeks away, my weekdays and weekend days are pretty much the same. I run, I eat, I study, I walk Sasha, I eat more, I study more, I procrastinate, I watch Netflix. Super exciting, huh? Anyway, I realized there was one thing that made this Monday, actually, a little snazzier, and that was my unintentional dining on breakfast foods all day long. I’ve done it before, and I’ll do it again, but without further ado – I give you breakfast, brunch, and brinner. A day of eats approved by the one and only Leslie Knope, obvs. 

 

For a pre-run breakfast, I had a Peanut Butter Puff-in-a-Mug with some iced coffee and strawberries. It was actually regular coffee and not decaf, for once. My mom made an early trek to Dunkin’ and brought this back. To beat the heat and get a long-ish run in early, I woke up and ate at 7am so I could digest and be out the door before 8, which meant I could drink caffeine.

 

 

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First Week of June + Dinner at the Eveready Diner

Happy Saturday, everyone! Hope all of your weekends are off to a great start. While the week started off pretty gloomy with lots of rain here in the northeast, it’s been a beautiful past couple of days and June is shaping up nicely, so I’m checking in about life lately – running, studying, and start-of-summer eats, including a trip to the Eveready Diner.

 

Despite the rain, I managed to get some good runs in this week. I did 6 miles each on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday in Connecticut, on the roads near my house and the Rail Trail, and have a 4-mile race tomorrow in Central Park that I’ll add a mile to with jogging to the start. I was lucky on Monday that there was a lull in the storm in the morning – not so lucky later in the day when Sasha needed to go for a walk. We are both glad the sun has come out to play, though it looks like there might be a few storms in the coming week. A warm and dry puppy is always the happiest!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Savory Goat Cheese & Vegetable Tart

This lovely dish is a cross between a quiche and a frittata. The gluten-free crust is made from quinoa and cornmeal, like a quiche, but it’s only a bottom crust – the edges of each slice will be more like a frittata. A little crust turns plain old baked eggs into a tart! A combination of goat cheese, asparagus, and mushrooms is complemented by a special blend of spices, and the tang of the goat cheese pairs well with the cornmeal in the crust. It’s completely vegetarian, but sure to please even the most bacon-loving breakfasters! (Unless you’re Ron Swanson. If so, feel free to add a pack of bacon. Because you have to respect Ron Swanson. Can you tell I already miss Parks & Rec?) I served it at my Breakfast-for-Dinner Party, and it was a smashing success! Check out the recipe here, and see more bodacious brunch treats on my new Renaissance Runner Girl Pinterest…

 

Ingredients:

Batter for quinoa and cornmeal crust

1/2 cup white quinoa

1 cup mushroom broth

6 whole eggs

3 egg whites

1 Tbsp olive oil + additional for greasing pan

1/2 cup gluten-free cornmeal

2 Tbsp parmesan or asiago cheese

3/4 cup milk of choice

Crust should be spongy

3 oz semisoft goat cheese

1/2 cup chopped asparagus

1/2 cup chopped shiitake mushrooms

1 Tbsp paprika

1 Tbsp garlic powder

1 Tbsp basil

1 Tbsp dill weed

1 Tbsp parsley

Salt and pepper

 

 

Instructions:

Egg, goat cheese, and veggies can also be mixed together before adding in

1. Bring 1 cup broth to a boil in a pot on the stove, then add quinoa and 1 Tbsp olive oil and a dash of salt and pepper. Cook 12-15 minutes until quinoa is fully cooked. While cooking the quinoa, preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Remove the pot of quinoa from the heat and mix in cornmeal, 1/2 cup milk, 3 egg whites, parmesan or asiago cheese, and 1/2 Tbsp each of paprika, garlic, basil, dill, and parsley. Mix thoroughly so the spices are evenly spread throughout the mixture.

3. Grease an 8″ pan well with olive oil. Using a large spoon, transfer the mixture to the pan. It should cover the bottom thoroughly, but not the edges.

4. Chop asparagus and mushrooms and arrange on a baking sheet. Brush with olive oil and sprinkle on a bit of salt and pepper.

A brunch delight!

5. Bake quinoa crust and vegetables at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 7-8 minutes.

6. In a separate bowl, combine 6 eggs with 1/4 cup milk, goat cheese, and remaining spices.

7. Remove crust and vegetables from the oven. Arrange vegetables on top of the crust, then pour egg mixture over the top. Ensure that the egg seeps into all the nooks and crannies between the veggies!

8. Bake for 20-25 minutes at 350 degrees. Remove the tart from the oven when you insert a knife and it comes out clean.

9. Let cool for 15 minutes.

10. Slice and serve. Makes 8 servings. Enjoy!

 

 

Savory tart with warm goat cheese and veggies…a little slice of nirvana!

 

 

 

 

 

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