Loaded Breakfast Sweet Potato

I honestly don't have a great back story for this (sorry). I was thinking I wanted to make a stuffed sweet potato for breakfast, but I wanted to use cottage cheese instead of yogurt. This got me thinking on more of a savory route, and before I knew it I had loaded potatoes on the brain. Swap out sour cream for cottage cheese, add in some extra greens, and I was salivating just thinking about it. 

This thing literally came together in like 10 minutes. I took the easy way out and microwaved the sweet potato. Feel free to bake it (I generally prefer to avoid the microwave), but the time crunch was real. Easy AND delicious - does it get much better?

Here's What You'll Need:

-2 small sweet potatoes
-5.3 oz classic Good Culture cottage cheese pack
-1 cup baby arugula
-1 clove garlic, minced
-2 pieces of uncured, all natural turkey bacon
-1/2 tbsp olive oil or ghee
-Hot sauce to taste

Serves 2

Instructions:

1) Poke the sweet potatoes with a fork all over to create little holes. Cook them in the microwave for 3-5 minutes, flip over, and cook for an additional 3-5 minutes.
2) In the meantime, heat up the olive oil/ghee on the stove top. Once hot, add in the garlic and cook for about a minute.
3) Add in the arugula and cook for about 2-3 minutes until it is cooked down. Remove from heat.
4) Cook the turkey bacon on the stove top according to directions until crispy, and chop into small pieces.
5) Remove the sweet potatoes from the microwave and cut each in half.
6) In the middle of the halves, add half the cottage cheese pack to each potato.
7) Top the cottage cheese with half of the arugula and bacon pieces.
8) Top each with desired hot sauce, serve, and enjoy!

This combo is just the perfect balance of salty and sweet with that little kick of heat (if you choose to add hot sauce). This one will definitely be on repeat over here. Let me know what you think in the comments below!
 

Fajita Frittata with 4th & Heart Himalayan Pink Salt Ghee

Is there anyone out there who doesn't like fajitas? They're easily my go to meal when making or eating Mexican food. They're simple and straight forward while still packing some delicious flavor. So I figured why not turn fajitas into one of my favorite breakfast dishes, a frittata.

I took the fajita essentials - bell pepper, onion, salsa and added in some of my favorite fajita fillings - zucchini and avocado. Brought it all together with some garlic and 4th & Heart Himalyan pink salt ghee, and we have ourselves the perfect way to spice up your Sunday brunch or really breakfast any day of the week!

Here's What You'll Need:

-6 eggs
-2 tbsp milk of your choosing (I usually go with unsweetened almond milk)
-1 tbsp 4th & Heart Himalayan pink salt ghee
-2 tbsp salsa (and additional to top if desired)
-1 clove garlic, minced
-1 small zucchini, spiralized (or cut into 1/4" semi circles)
-1 bell pepper, stem removed and seeded sliced into 1/4" thick rings (width wise)
-1/4 small onion, chopped
-1/2 avocado, sliced
-Himalyan pink sea salt and pepper to taste

Serves 4-6

Instructions:

1) Preheat your oven to 400 degrees on broil.
2) In a cast iron skillet, heat up the tbsp of ghee on the stove top over medium high heat until melted. Move the pan around to coat the pan completely with the ghee.
3) Add the garlic and onion to the ghee and cook for about 3 minutes until the onion cooks down a bit.
4) Add in the zucchini and bell pepper rings and cook for an additional 3-5 minutes mixing regularly.
5) In the meantime, mix together the 6 eggs, (almond) milk, salsa, salt, and pepper in a bowl.
6) Add the egg mixture to the skillet pouring over evenly. Feel free to move the pan around to make sure the egg mixture is evenly dispersed.
7) Add in the avocado slices to the top of the mixture, spacing evenly. 
8) Cover and cook for about 3-5 minutes on the stove top until the sides of the egg mixture seem cooked and stick to the sides.
9) Move the skillet into the preheated oven and cook until the top is a golden brown (about 10 minutes).
10) Remove the skillet from the oven, and let it cool for about 5 minutes. 
11) Cut the frittata into slices. Serve and enjoy!

I topped mine with some extra hot salsa because I'm a spicy freak, and served it with my mixed potato and veggie hash on the side. Let me know how you ate your frittata and what you think in the comments below!

Fig and Blue Cheese Baked Oats with 4th & Heart Madagascar Vanilla Bean Ghee

So this recipe was a whole lot of new for me. 1) I'd never had a fig before, and 2) I'd never made baked oats before. I figured it was about time to change both of those things, especially when I found some delicious looking organic figs at the market. 

Given the above facts, this recipe was risky. But I'm a fan of baking and LOVE me some sweet and savory, so I decided to just dive in head first with this one and try something a bit out there. I figured this one was probably going to be either a recipe do over or, worst case scenario, a recipe don't. But IT WORKED, and not only did it work, I thought it tasted pretty darn good if I do say so myself! So (assuming you don't hate blue cheese) you really need to give this one a try.

Here's What You'll Need:

-2 tbsp 4th & Heart Madagascar vanilla bean ghee
-1/4 cup roasted pecans, finely chopped
-2 tbsp and 1 tsp maple syrup, separated
-1 tsp arrow root powder
-1 1/2 cups old fashioned rolled oats
-1 tsp baking powder
-1/2 tsp cinnamon
-1 egg
-1/2 cup milk of your choice (I went with unsweetened almond milk)
-1/4 cup water
-2-3 tbsp blue cheese crumbles (depending on your love of blue cheese)
-3 figs, thinly sliced

Serves 6-8

Instructions:

1) Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
2) In a cast iron skillet, melt the ghee on the stove top. Move the pan around to coat the sides, and pour the excess ghee into a glass measuring cup or mug.
3) In a small bowl, mix together the pecans, 1 tsp maple syrup, 1 tsp of the excess ghee, and the arrow root powder. Set aside.
4) In a large bowl, mix together the oats, baking powder, cinnamon, 2 tbsp maple syrup, egg, (almond) milk, water, and remaining excess ghee.
5) Once fully mixed, fold in the blue cheese.
6) Pour the mixture into the cast iron skillet, spreading evenly.
7) Top the mixture with the pecan crumble and fresh figs.
8) Pop the skillet into the preheated oven for about 25 minutes until the top begins to brown and everything is cooked through.
7) Remove from the oven and let cool for 5-10 minutes. Slice the oats into 6-8 pieces, serve, and enjoy!

The 4th & Heart ghee was the perfect addition in this recipe. It added that depth of flavor while also adding the extra health benefits of switching out your standard butter for ghee. Plus it really pulled together that sweet and savory flavor combo just perfectly. I'd love to hear what you think in the comments below!

Mixed Potato and Veggie Hash with 4th & Heart California Garlic Ghee

I was about to call this recipe "The Best Damn Breakfast Potatoes You've Ever Had", but I decided to hold off and let you decide that one for yourself. But SPOILER ALERT, they might just be the best damn breakfast potatoes you've ever had. Potatoes in all shapes and sizes are something I love, probably a little too much. From sweets to reds, mashed potatoes to home fries, I just really like potatoes. I don't necessarily eat them all that often, but they definitely hold a special place in my heart especially when it comes to brunch. 

So when I decided to take on breakfast potatoes, I knew I had to do it right. I wanted them packed with flavor, so I knew using 4th & Heart's California garlic ghee was the only way to go. Just heating up the pan with this stuff makes your mouth water! Add in both sweets AND russets plus some other flavor packed ingredients, and I knew I had the side that can't be beat for your next brunch!

Here's What You'll Need:

-1 medium sweet potato, cut into about 1/2" cubes
-1 small russet potato, cut into about 1/2" cubes
-1 cup baby arugula
-2 cloves garlic, sliced
-1 medium tomato, cut into about 1/2" cubes
-2 tbsp 4th & Heart California garlic ghee, separated
-1/4 tsp Himalayan pink sea salt
-1/4 tsp black pepper
-1/4 tsp chili powder (optional)
-1 tbsp shredded organic parmesan (optional)

Serves 4-6 

Instructions:

1) Preheat your oven to 400 degrees on convection.
2) Heat up 1 tbsp of the ghee in a cast iron skillet on the stove top over medium high heat.
3) Once the ghee is melted and the pan is hot, add in the sweet and russet potato cubes, sea salt, pepper, and chili powder (if you're using it). Cover and cook for about 10-12 minutes, stirring every so often until the potatoes soften.
3) Mix in the 2nd tbsp of ghee for about a minute until it is completely melted.
4) Mix in the arugula, sliced garlic, and tomato cubes so that everything is evenly dispersed.
5) Toss the skillet into the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes until the tops of the potatoes begin to brown a bit. Sprinkle the parmesan over the entire skillet about 2 minutes before removing it from the oven (so at about 8-10 minutes depending on cook time). 
6) Let cool for about 5 minutes, serve, and enjoy!

I served mine alongside an egg and some sauteed veggies, but feel free to brunch as you please! The combination of the garlic ghee with both the sweet and russet potatoes is just perfect. Plus that added taste of the roasted tomato and fresh garlic just takes these potatoes to the next level. I'm dying to hear what you think in the comments below, so definitely let me know once you give them a try!

 

Salmon, Onion, Arugula, and Caper Frittata

I very recently used my first cast iron skillet. I know, I know what the hell took me so long? All I have to say is I don't know, and can't we just pretend this didn't happen and you don't know this about me? I'll bring you some yummy cast iron recipes if we can just keep this on the down low... Okay cool.

But seriously, this has been a total life changer. I won this skillet in one of my favorite lady's, Savoring the Flavoring, giveaway. So I pretty much owe her my first born child. All I want to do is cook frittatas and skillet cookies and basically anything that requires being cooked on the stove top and then in the oven. Which brings me to this salmon, onion, arugula, and caper frittata.

Here's What You'll Need:

-6 eggs (ideally pasture raised, organic)
-1/4 cup the milk of your choosing (I went with unsweetened almond milk)
-3 oz cooked salmon (I used grilled salmon from the night before, smoked or baked are also good options)
-3/4 cup arugula
-1/4 chopped onion
-1/4 cup capers
-2 tbsp Fourth and Heart California Garlic Ghee, separated

Serves 4

Instructions:

1) Whisk together the six eggs and milk in a bowl.
2) Heat up 1 tbsp ghee in your cast iron skillet over medium heat and coat the entire pan (so the frittata won't stick).
3) Toss in the onions and cook down for 2-3 minutes mixing regularly to cook evenly and distribute the onion.
4) Add in the second tablespoon of ghee and let it melt.
5) Chop up the cooked salmon and evenly distribute it around the skillet.
6) Toss in the arugula, evenly distributing.
7) Evenly pour in the egg mixture, tilting the skillet to spread it all over.
8) Evenly add in the capers.
9) Cover with a lid and cook for about 3-5 until the sides of the frittata start to cook and stick.
10) Remove the lid, and throw the skillet into the oven on broil and cook until the frittata is fully cooked and a golden brown color on the top (about 5 minutes).
11) Remove from the oven, cut into 4 even pieces, and enjoy!

I topped mine with some sriracha because I like it spicy, but this combo is perfect on its own. Let me know what you think in the comments below!