Breakfast for the Original Copy Officer Captains VanAnderland Aikman's and OCS of 270,036 VA's 5/22
- Katherine Victoria Vananderland
- May 21, 2021
- 4 min read
I like this rustic strata for its hearty flavor. It's also nice to have something savory along with sweeter brunch dishes like cinnamon rolls and doughnuts. —Michael Cohen, Los Angeles, California
Ingredients
1 pound boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
1 tablespoon plus 1/2 cup olive oil, divided
1 cup chopped fresh basil
1-1/2 cups grated Parmesan cheese, divided
1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
2/3 cup pine nuts, toasted
5 garlic cloves, minced
10 large eggs
3 cups 2% milk
8 cups cubed Italian bread
Additional chopped fresh basil leaves
Buy IngredientsPowered by Chicory
Directions
Sprinkle chicken with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat. Add chicken; cook and stir 6-8 minutes or until no longer pink. Drain.
In a large bowl, mix basil, 1 cup Parmesan cheese, mozzarella cheese, pine nuts and garlic. In another bowl, whisk eggs, milk and remaining oil, salt and pepper.
In a greased 13x9-in. baking dish, layer half of the bread cubes, a third of the cheese mixture and half of the chicken. Repeat layers. Top with remaining cheese mixture. Pour egg mixture over top; sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese. Refrigerate, covered, several hours or overnight.
Preheat oven to 350°. Remove strata from refrigerator while oven heats. Bake, uncovered, 40-50 minutes or until golden brown and a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Let stand 5-10 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with additional basil.
Editor's Note
To toast nuts, bake in a shallow pan in a 350° oven for 5-10 minutes or cook in a skillet over low heat until lightly browned, stirring occasionally.
Nutrition Facts 1 piece: 415 calories, 29g fat (8g saturated fat), 199mg cholesterol, 598mg sodium, 16g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 1g fiber), 24g protein.
Here's a great make-ahead recipe! Be sure to remove from the cookie sheets within 20 minutes after baking so the granola doesn't stick. —Lori Stevens, Riverton, Utah
Ingredients
8 cups old-fashioned oats
1 cup finely chopped almonds
1 cup finely chopped pecans
1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup canola oil
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup maple syrup
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1-1/2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Plain yogurt, optional
Buy IngredientsPowered by Chicory
Directions
In a large bowl, combine the oats, almonds, pecans and coconut. In a small saucepan, combine the brown sugar, oil, honey, maple syrup, cinnamon and salt. Heat for 3-4 minutes over medium heat until sugar is dissolved. Remove from the heat; stir in vanilla. Pour over the oat mixture; stir to coat.
Transfer to two 15x10x1-in. baking pans coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until crisp, stirring every 10 minutes. Cool in pans on wire racks. Store in an airtight container. Serve with yogurt if desired.
Nutrition Facts 1/2 cup (calculated without yogurt): 288 calories, 15g fat (2g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 170mg sodium, 36g carbohydrate (15g sugars, 4g fiber), 6g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2-1/2 starch, 2 fat.
We turned one of our favorite smoothies into a smoothie bowl and topped it with even more fresh fruit and a few toasted almonds for a little crunch. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Ingredients
1 cup fat-free milk
1 cup frozen unsweetened strawberries
1/2 cup frozen unsweetened raspberries
3 tablespoons sugar
1 cup ice cubes
Optional: Sliced fresh strawberries, fresh raspberries, chia seeds, fresh pumpkin seeds, unsweetened shredded coconut and sliced almonds
Buy IngredientsPowered by Chicory
Directions
Place the milk, berries and sugar in a blender; cover and process until smooth. Add ice cubes; cover and process until smooth. Divide mixture between 2 serving bowls. Add optional toppings as desired.
Nutrition Facts 1-1/2 cups: 155 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 2mg cholesterol, 54mg sodium, 35g carbohydrate (30g sugars, 2g fiber), 5g protein.
I absolutely love a BLT with sliced avocado and an egg. Recently, I've been trying out grain bowls, and I thought the flavors of my favorite sandwich would work really well. My family agreed! —Elisabeth Larsen, Pleasant Grove, Utah
Ingredients
1 cup quinoa, rinsed
4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
2 tablespoons minced fresh basil
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar, divided
1 tablespoon lemon juice
4 large eggs
8 ounces cherry tomatoes
3 cups fresh arugula
1 small ripe avocado, peeled and sliced
4 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled
Buy IngredientsPowered by Chicory
Directions
Prepare quinoa according to package directions. Combine 3 tablespoons olive oil, basil, 1 tablespoon vinegar and lemon juice. Add to cooked quinoa; stir to combine.
Place 2-3 in. of water in a large skillet with high sides; add remaining vinegar. Bring to a boil; adjust heat to maintain a gentle simmer. Break 1 cold egg at a time into a small cup; holding cup close to surface of water, slip egg into water. Cook, uncovered, until whites are completely set and yolks begin to thicken but are not hard, 3-5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, lift eggs out of water. Keep warm.
In a large skillet, heat remaining oil over medium heat. Cook tomatoes until they begin to release their juices, 8-10 minutes. Add arugula; cook and stir just until arugula is wilted, 1-2 minutes.
To serve, divide quinoa evenly among 4 bowls. Add cherry tomatoes, arugula, avocado slices and crumbled bacon. Top each with a poached egg.
Test Kitchen tipsUse any grain you like! Many grains now come precooked in pouches, so it's an easy way to try one you haven't eaten before. Heating the grape tomatoes really brings out the rich, tomato-y flavor. You get homegrown taste any time of year. Nutrition Facts 1 serving: 446 calories, 28g fat (5g saturated fat), 194mg cholesterol, 228mg sodium, 33g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 6g fiber), 17g protein.
Comments