Vegan Tofu Scramble Breakfast Burrito

Ah, lazy Saturday. My good friend. We meet again. 

This lazy morning I felt like something that would really "stick to my ribs" but preferably not hang out there till the end of time (or worse, move south to my gut). And so I decided to try a tofu scramble. Once I decided to try go without meat or dairy, this was something I researched. I am not much of a meat eater but I'm an egg lover for sure. Tofu scramble is the vegan answer to scrambled eggs. And I'm happy to report this morning's experiment did not disappoint. 

This recipe serves two, and one burrito is enough for a small woman. I had mine with a half of a grapefruit (it was a colossal grapefruit though). I didn't feel hungry again for hours. It really hit the spot.

3 oz firm tofu, crumbled

1 tsp extra virgin olive oil

1/2 small onion, diced

1/2 red pepper, diced

1/2 orange pepper, diced

1 large leaf Swiss Chard

Half a dozen grape tomatoes, chopped

1/2 tbsp nutritional yeast

Sprinkle of garlic powder

Dash of paprika

Dash of turmeric

1/2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

Splash of reduced sodium soy sauce

2 tbsp fresh cilantro 

2 Ekekiel brand large tortillas

1 tbsp tofutti sour cream substitute 

1. Sauté vegetables & tofu in olive oil over medium heat.

2. Add spices, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, & cilantro, and cook an additional five minutes till done. 

3. Build burrito with tofu mix & add 1/2 tbsp tofutti to each one.

One thing I noticed is that it's easier to crumble if you cut it into blocks first.

I measured my oil to really get a good idea what I was using. As you can see, a little goes a long way. This is just 1/2 tsp in the picture. I added another as I cooked.

The tomatoes, peppers, onions, & tofu not only taste good, but they look nice. Despite this, it just wasn't colorful enough for me, so I added some Swiss chard (another good green here would be spinach) that I had on hand. How something looks does help make it more appetizing. Besides that green is my favorite color.  

After letting this cook a few minutes I added the spices and sauces. 

The nutritional yeast & turmeric are what will make your tofu the more appetizing yellow color of traditional scrambled eggs. Add it sparingly. You can use the tiny palmful method with your turmeric but after this my hand turned yellow. I'm still waiting for it to wear off comepletely. 

Do not add salt until after you've added your sauces. I used reduced sodium soy sauce & even with that I felt I didn't need any additional salt. 

At this point I felt like it was still missing something, so I added some fresh cilantro & that was perfect! 

Once it's all cooked, I scooped it out onto a big ole tortilla. Cause this is not one of those eat a teensy tiny portion diets. I do not believe in deprivation dieting. It's just winding up the yo-yo.

I added tofutti sour cream substitute as a garnish & because the Ezekiel brand tortillas can be a little dry. 

This tasted really nice. There wasn't even a hint of that pungent soy aftertaste you are always afraid of when using tofu. It was salty, a little creamy, & the cilantro really added the hint of freshness to round out the taste. I would serve this with fruit so you can have something sweet to enjoy it with.  

Perfect for my first lazy Saturday breakfast eating vegan. 

Chocolate Creamy Wheat

When I was a little girl my favorite breakfast was by far Cocoa Wheats. If I could've convinced my mother, we would have had it three meals a day, 7 days a week. It's perfect though isn't it - creamy, chocolatey, warm, & filling. Whenever I eat this it takes me back to my childhood, sitting at the kitchen table with my siblings enjoying the best breakfast ever. 

The way I prepare this breakfast now is just a little tweaked, but even more chocolatey. It is also a little cheaper than using brand name cocoa wheats & has a ton of protein.   I use Muscle milk protein powder, because I believe it tastes the best. It's a pretty expensive item, but it lasts a very long time. You should only purchase it once every 2-3 months. I add it to baked goods, hot cereals, smoothies, etc.  Adding extra protein to foods with high amounts of carbohydrate slows the break down of glucose in the blood stream, and prevents sugar from spiking too high after meals. 

1 1/2 tbsp creamy wheat (I use the Aldi brand.)

1/2 scoop of cookies & cream Muscle Milk protein powder (1/6 cup)

1/2 tbsp cocoa powder

1/4 tsp pure vanilla

1/2 cup skim milk

Combine all ingredients except vanilla & follow the instructions on the Creamy Wheat box. Once cooked, add the vanilla. There is no need to add sugar. The sweetness from the protein powder is more than sufficient. 

Plus my favorite thing about this recipe, you can combine the main dry ingredients & heat them up in the microwave at work. 

Eggs - Quick & Flavorful

My nephew spent the night. He's a growing boy, so this morning I made chocolate cream of wheat, scrambled eggs, & toast. Like I said, he's growing like a weed, so I tried to make breakfast tasty & filling. I used protein powder to make the cream of wheat and added just a few things to the scrambled eggs for flavor. I also cooked with skim milk to add protein, calcium, and make it just a little creamier. 

Scrambled Eggs

3 eggs

1 tbsp skim milk

Salt 

Pepper

Pinch of cinnamon

1 tsp shredded Asiago or Parmesan cheese

Whisk together all ingredients except cheese. Spray a small frying pan with an oil sprayer. Cook the eggs stirring as needed (not too much) till eggs are cooked & fluffy. 

Remove from heat & sprinkle with cheese. Cover till cheese is melted.

I love adding cinnamon to eggs. Cinnamon adds a warm flavor with some sweetness. It makes ordinary, gourmet. Plus eggs that have been whisked in the bowl, not over-stirred in the pan, those are the ones that turn out fluffy & light on the plate. Using a strong flavored cheese has a nice contrast against the eggs & cinnamon. 

I served this with toasted Ezekiel bread & no added sugar fruit spread. 

 

I have a few tricks for making cream of wheat a little more filling & creamier, but I'll save that recipe for another post.