kerrygoldusaHomemade strawberry #cheesecake spread on top of buttery brioche toast. The perfect way to change up your #breakfast routine or add a sweet treat to Sunday #brunch. #Kerrygold
–
–
INGREDIENTS:
2 slices of brioche bread (1″+ thick)
3 tablespoons Kerrygold Salted Butter
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
1/4 cup whipped cream cheese
1/4 cup + 2 teaspoons powdered sugar (can substitute honey or coconut sugar)
1/4 teaspoon orange zest (or orange blossom water)
1/2 cup sliced strawberries
Coarse sugar, optional
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat a skillet over medium heat.
Butter each side of the bread, saving 1 tablespoon of the butter for the skillet. Sprinkle the bread with granulated sugar. Add the remaining tablespoon of butter to the hot skillet, and then add the bread to the skillet. Toast the bread on each side until golden brown, about 1 minute per side.
Meanwhile, slice the strawberries and toss them with 2 teaspoons of powdered sugar. Set aside.
In a small bowl, beat together the cream cheese, remaining 1/4 cup of powdered sugar and orange zest until fluffy.
Remove the toast from the skillet, and top each slice with the cheesecake filling, followed by the strawberries. I like to sprinkle coarse sugar on top before serving, but it’s optional.
I don’t know about you but I love my bed! And I firmly believe that a good night’s sleep can make you feel so good! Breathing, eating and sleeping are three of the most basic and essential functions we do as humans. But can food affect our sleep or does our sleep affect our food? The reality is that it is probably a bit of both…On average we need between 7-9 hours’ sleep per night with some people managing on less and others may need more. Lack of sleep can lead to irritability, fatigue and difficulty concentrating. However chronic poor sleep has been linked to obesity, diabetes and heart disease.
In general, research has found that eating in line with the Mediterranean or DASH diet, both of which promote fruits and vegetables, fiber rich foods and healthy mono-unsaturated and polyunsaturated fats tends to be associated with better quality sleep. Magnesium is a mineral that is reported to help with sleep regulation and is found in bananas, nuts, green vegetables, tofu and dairy. Melatonin is a micronutrient present in some foods but also a hormone that occurs naturally in the body and helps control sleep patterns. Melatonin, is found in tart cherry juice, eggs, nuts and dairy. Interestingly the tradition of hot milk before bed comes from Roman times… and milk contains both magnesium, melatonin and an amino acid called tryptophan which helps produce serotonin and melatonin.
Kiwifruit is another food that has been reported to have a positive impact on sleep duration and quality. In one four-week trial of adults with sleep problems, consumption of two kiwifruits per day one hour before bedtime significantly increased total sleep time and sleep efficiency. A potential reason for this is that they are a rich source of antioxidant and contain the hormone serotonin. Either way they are also great sources of vitamin C and great for keeping bowel movements regular.
Do you ever feel like you make poorer food choices when you’re tired? There may be good reason behind this. Sleep deprivation can cause a drop in Leptin levels (a hormone that signals fullness) and increases the hormone Ghrelin (hormone that stimulates appetite). This change in hormones can explain why you might eat more when missing sleep or why you tend to eat more without feeling full when you have had minimal sleep. US research from Cedar- Sinai Medical Centre also found that lack of sleep increased insulin resistance. So, we can see that regular good night sleep helps manage hormones, appetite and possible food choices.
Caffeine and alcohol can negatively affect falling asleep and sleep quality so best to keep within healthy limits if struggling with sleep. Maybe keep the caffeine to before midday!
Another great nutritious egg recipe from Daniel Davey, Sports Nutritionist
Serves 8 bars
Ingredients
175g porridge oats
2 large bananas, mashed
2 tablesp. honey
2 large eggs, beaten
To Cook
1. Preheat the oven to Gas Mark 4, 180°C (350°F).
2. In a large bowl mix all the ingredients, except your chosen toppings.
3. Transfer the mixture to a small baking tin, approximately 25cm x 20cm, lined with greaseproof paper. It mixture should be about 2½-3cm deep.
4. Add your choice of toppings and bake in a pre-heated oven for 30 minutes.
5. Allow to cool, slice and serve.
Another great nutritious egg recipe from Daniel Davey, Sports Nutritionist
Serves 8 bars
Ingredients
175g porridge oats
2 large bananas, mashed
2 tablesp. honey
2 large eggs, beaten
To Cook
1. Preheat the oven to Gas Mark 4, 180°C (350°F).
2. In a large bowl mix all the ingredients, except your chosen toppings.
3. Transfer the mixture to a small baking tin, approximately 25cm x 20cm, lined with greaseproof paper. It mixture should be about 2½-3cm deep.
4. Add your choice of toppings and bake in a pre-heated oven for 30 minutes.
5. Allow to cool, slice and serve.
Heat the grill to high, arrange the mushrooms on the untoasted side of the bread, cover with the tomatoes and then the cheese, grill for 5-6 mins until the cheese has just melted. Place the toast on warmed plates. Slide all the eggs back into the hot water and leave for 30 seconds, lift out and drain on kitchen paper, then put one on top of toast. Season and serve.
350g (12oz) dried spaghetti or other pasta, such as linguine or tagliatelle
4 tablespoons olive oil
6-8 cloves of garlic, peeled and sliced
10 tinned anchovies, chopped
1-2 pinches of dried chilli flakes
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
Good squeeze of lemon juice
Fill a large saucepan with water, add a teaspoon of salt and bring to the boil. Add the spaghetti, linguine or tagliatelle, whichever you are using, and cook for 10-12 minutes, or according to the instructions on the packet, until al dente.
As the pasta is cooking, place another large saucepan on a medium heat. Add the olive oil, followed by the sliced garlic and fry for two minutes, then stir in the chopped anchovies and the chilli flakes, and cook for a further minute.
Drain the spaghetti, reserving some of the liquid, then add the spaghetti to the anchovy mixture with a few tablespoons of the liquid. Tip in the chopped parsley and the squeeze of lemon juice and stir to mix. Taste, adding some more lemon juice if you like. Grind over some black pepper and serve immediately.
This tomato, cucumber and avocado sandwich is the perfect light and easy lunch. With just a few fresh ingredients, you can have a satisfying meal in just 10 minutes. Creamy avocado and hummus provide plant-based protein and healthy fats, while juicy tomatoes and crisp cucumbers bring refreshing crunch and flavor. Layer it all on whole-grain bread for an extra boost of fiber, and you’ve got a quick and wholesome sandwich at the ready!
Refreshing, light and satisfying, our Cucumber-Avocado-Tomato Sandwich is an easy and delicious lunch that will really hit the spot. Every sandwich starts with and needs a good condiment. For this one, we amplify store-bought hummus with the sweet tang of honey mustard and fresh dill for a hit of herby brightness. Then we stack on the fiber-packed veggies: cucumbers and onions give a nice crunch and contrast to the creamy, heart-healthy avocado and the juicy tomato; the alfalfa sprouts add great texture. Cheddar cheese adds bone-boosting calcium and a salty, sharp flavor that complements the fresh veggies perfectly, and hearty toasted whole-wheat bread is the perfect vessel for all these wholesome toppings. Keep reading for our expert tips, including recommendations on swapping out hummus flavors.
Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen
These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too!
Experiment with different flavors of hummus for your spread. Try garlic hummus, dill pickle hummus or even make your own. To prepare a batch of our Classic Hummus, use a food processor and add a handful of ingredients: garlic, chickpeas, lemon juice, olive oil, tahini and salt. Best of all, this flavor-spiked hummus takes just 10 minutes to make!
While a chef’s knife can cut cucumbers, a serrated knife is more effective for slicing tomatoes. The serrated edge easily cuts through the skin and flesh without damaging the soft interior.
Nutrition Notes
Cucumbers aren’t brimming with the typical vitamins and minerals that you’ll find in many fruits and vegetables, but they are an important vegetable because they contain antioxidant phytonutrients that can help protect against inflammation. They are also more than 95% water, which makes them a hydrating vegetable—great for your skin.Â
Avocados are known for being high in fat, but it’s the type of fat that your heart loves: monounsaturated fat. Avocados are also brimming with fiber, which has been shown to improve the health of the microbiome, and impacts your health in many ways, including strengthening your immune system, improving cognition and lowering inflammation.Â
There are few things tastier than a really good tomato, and they are really good for you. Tomatoes are high in vitamin C, which is essential for healthy immune function. They are also high in a carotenoid called lycopene, an antioxidant that helps maintain healthy cells throughout the body, and eating foods with lycopene regularly can help lower your risk of heart disease.Â
Whole-wheat bread is a heartier choice of bread for this sandwich and you’ll get the benefit of more nutrients and more fiber. Eating more fiber can lead to better digestive health. Whole-wheat bread is also a source of important B vitamins—essential for your working metabolism.
Ingredients
¼ cup plain hummus
1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
1½ teaspoons honey mustard
2 thin slices whole-wheat bread, toasted
1 (1-ounce) slice sharp Cheddar cheese
½ small tomato, thinly sliced
ÂĽ medium avocado, thinly sliced
ÂĽ cup alfalfa sprouts
¼ cup thinly sliced English cucumber
1 tablespoon thinly sliced red onion
Pinch of salt
Directions
Stir ¼ cup hummus, 1 tablespoon dill and 1½ teaspoons honey mustard together in a small bowl until well combined. Spread the hummus mixture on 1 side of each of 2 toast slices. Layer 1 cheese slice, tomato slices, avocado slices, ¼ cup alfalfa sprouts, ¼ cup cucumber and 1 tablespoon red onion over the hummus on 1 toast slice; sprinkle with salt. Top with the remaining toast slice, hummus-side down. Cut the sandwich in half diagonally.
Foodaware 
Ingredients
Serves 4
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
350g (12oz) dried spaghetti or other pasta, such as linguine or tagliatelle
4 tablespoons olive oil
6-8 cloves of garlic, peeled and sliced
10 tinned anchovies, chopped
1-2 pinches of dried chilli flakes
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
Good squeeze of lemon juice