Are you looking for something unusual for breakfast? These potato “waffles” make a fantastic breakfast ^[1] for a holiday or Sunday morning. They are easy to make and totally delicious.

I had planned on freezing some to use at a later date, but my husband ate them all!!

What are hash browns?

The 1887 Kitchen Companion cookbook called these potatoes hashed browned potatoes. Made of boiled or cold leftover potatoes, they are browned in flat “pancake”, then folded like an omelet.

Hash means to chop, so, “hashed” potatoes are chopped potatoes. Here we’ve used modern technology and used shredded, frozen potatoes.

Making the hash brown waffles

Mix 2 eggs with the flour and spices. Whisk together and set aside. In another large mixing bowl, mix together the flour, cheese and hash browns.

Pour the liquid into the dry bowl and gently stir to incorporate it all together.

Let is sit for about 15 minutes.

Heat a waffle iron (I used a Belgian waffle maker. They are deeper).

                                                                       

About 2/3 of a cup of the mixture goes into the waffle maker, close, and cook for about 5 minutes.

When they are done the waffles will be golden brown and will come off the iron easily. If it sticks, give it another minute or two.

Remove the waffle and set on a rack in the oven at 250 degrees. This will keep them warm until you are ready to serve.

When all the waffles are cooked, serve them with a soft egg on top and some chopped fresh chives.

Variations include adding meat, like ham, bacon or sausage. Use a different kind of cheese. Jack, swiss, gruyere, provolone and mozzarella are good options.

© Copyright 2023 The Lazy Gastronome

Leave me a comment – I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Paying attention to your diet often seems like it takes a lot of time and effort. You think you’ll have to put a lot of work into making sure each of your meals are perfect and fit within certain requirements. While you’ll need to put some effort into it, it shouldn’t be nearly as complicated as you could think.

With a few tips for improving your diet, you make it much more practical, no matter how busy your life is. These seven tips can be much easier to do and more practical than you’d think. You shouldn’t have a problem working them into your lifestyle and improving your diet.

It’s more than worth taking a look through each of them.

Improving Your Diet: 7 Practical Tips

1. Stay Hydrated

Staying hydrated is an essential part of your daily life. At least, it should be, but not enough people get as much water as they should. With how important it is to your bodily functions, it’s important to pay attention to this –

You should drink at least six to eight glasses of water a day to make sure you’re hydrated. If you feel thirsty, then there’s a decent chance you’re already a little dehydrated. Be proactive with this, and you shouldn’t  have a problem getting enough water every day. I like to start the day with 16 oz of water before anything else. It starts the day off right.

2. Have More Fruits & Vegetables

Everyone knows they need to have a decent amount of fruits and vegetables in their diets. Working them into every meal can often seem a little difficult, though. It doesn’t have to be too much of a problem, especially if you’re willing to get a little creative with it.

Fruits are easier than you think! Smoothies ^[6] can be a great way to get more fruit in your diet, and you can make these relatively quickly. I enjoy a smoothie for breakfast and sometimes for dessert! With a little bit of effort, you shouldn’t have a problem getting enough fruit and all the vitamins it offers. Vegetables can be worked in easily too – like a spinach omelet, or one of those delicious sheet pan dinners. 

3. Have Less Salt

Most people don’t realize how much of an impact salt has on their health. It’s been linked to higher blood pressure and similar conditions. In time, this leads to heart conditions and strokes. The less of it you have in your diet, the better. Even if you don’t add salt to your meals, you could still be getting a lot more than you think.

Most of the salt you’ll usually have in your diet comes in the food itself. Some of the more notable foods with high salt levels include soups, breads, processed foods and yes, breakfast cereals. Check the labels for any products you’re considering buying. Anything with 1.5g of salt for every 100 grams of food is considered high in salt.

It’s worth choosing alternative options with lower salt levels – like fresh herbs or herbal blends.

4. Don’t Skip Breakfast

When many people try to lose weight, they think of cutting down on the food they eat. There’s some logic in that, but not when it comes to skipping breakfast. There’s a reason why it’s considered the most important meal of the day ^[7]. The trick to this is making sure it’s actually healthy. And I have personally found that eating breakfast helps not to over eat the rest of the day.

Low- or no-sugar cereal with milk or yogurt can be a decent option. I love a bowl of granola with fresh fruit and plain Greek yogurt. You’ll have a healthy and tasty breakfast before you know it.

And with how quick and easy these are to make, you shouldn’t have a problem working it into your morning routine.

5. Eat More Fish

Protein is an essential part of  a healthy diet. When you’re improving your diet, it’s always worth making sure you’re  getting enough. Fish, that’s quick and easy option and it makes for a great meal. Besides the protein, it’s packed full of minerals and vitamins that help with your health.

Try to get at least two portions of fish a week, with oily fish being the better recommended option. It’s packed full of omega-3 fatty acids. ^[8] These fatty acids help to control cholesterol and keep your body running smoothly. Some of the more notable oily fish include:

• Trout
• Sardines
• Salmon
• Mackerel

With two or three portions of these a week, you’ll have a better diet before you know it.

6. Get More Fiber In Your Meals

Fibrer is an important part of everyone’s diet, and it helps make sure your digestive system works properly. The same can be said for certain carbohydrates. Thankfully, foods high in either of these tend to be high in the other, too. Getting both can be relatively simple, but you’ll need to actually plan for it.

Whole wheat pasta and brown rice are some of the more notable high fiber carbs, and they’re more than worth working into your diet. These don’t provide nearly as many calories as similar foods, all while providing you with the energy you need during the day. Also, the whole grain helps to regulate your blood sugar.

7. Cut Down On Saturated Fat

Everyone believes that they should cut out fat from their diet to improve it. While that’s somewhat true, it’s only the case for a particular type of fat. There are two main types: saturated and unsaturated fat. It’s the first of these you’ll need to cut down on, while the second could be relatively healthy for you.

You can find saturated fats ^[9] in plenty of foods, including:

• Biscuits
• Fatty cuts of meat
• Hard cheese
• Pies
• Lard

By cutting down on these, you can reduce your saturated fat levels. Avoid them as much as you can. Pick options with unsaturated fats instead, such as olive oil, nuts and avocados.

Improving Your Diet: Wrapping Up

Improving your diet often seems like it’ll take a lot of time and effort, but doesn’t have to be the case. With a few practical tips, you make it much easier. Getting more fiber in your meals, not skipping breakfast, having more fruits and vegetables, and similar tips all help.

All you’d need are a few small adjustments to your lifestyle, and your diet will be much better and you’ll even be feeling healthier before you know it.

What do you do with bananas that are starting to get over-ripe. You can freeze them to use at another time (and then forget about them like I did), you can make banana nut bread, freeze them overnight, then whirl them in the food processor for banana “ice cream” ^[13] (which would be delightful on these waffles), or you can make a sensational breakfast and serve banana nut WAFFLES!!

These waffle are so easy – and so delicious!

Making Banana Nut Waffles – 

Put everything but the bananas and walnuts in a blender.

Blend on high until everything smooth and creamy.

Next add two bananas (leaving one to slice for the top when serving). Whirl it again. Let some of the bananas stay chunky.

Stir in the walnuts and let sit while the waffle iron heats up.

We always make Belgian waffles. They have deeper holes and hold more good stuff, but you can use any waffle maker.

Pour the batter over the hot waffle maker, using just enough to cover the plate.

Close the iron and let cook several minutes. Be careful not to open too soon. They will stick.

Continue cooking until the batter is gone, keeping the co0ked waffles warm in a warm oven, directly on the grate. Putting it on the grate keeps it from steaming and making the waffle soft or soggy.

When you are finished cooking all the batter, serve with sliced banana and a few walnuts on top. Add some maple syrup and indulge!!

© Copyright 2023 The Lazy Gastronome

 

Leave me a comment – I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Dealing with IBS can be challenging because there is a long list of foods to stay away from. Every now and then, you probably ask yourself, what is safe to eat?

The good news is you do have options, in fact, you have plenty of safe recipes to avoid triggering unwanted episodes. Here are a few delicious recipes to keep IBS under control.

Pumpkin pie oatmeal

Rich in nutrients and delicious, this pumpkin pie oatmeal makes a perfect breakfast or brunch. Plus, it is ready in no time.

You only need a few ingredients:

• 2 cups rolled oats
• 2 cups unsweetened almond milk
• ½ cup pumpkin puree
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spices
• ¼ cup pecans
• 1/3 cup maple syrup

Mix the milk and oats and stir. Get the mix in a saucepan over medium heat and let it boil while you stir.

Once it starts boiling, reduce heat to a minimum and simmer. Stir every now and then until you reach the perfect thickness for your taste.

Combine everything else except the pecans in a different saucepan and stir until the mix is warm enough.

Mix the dishes, top with pecans, and enjoy.

 

We know that eating healthy can be challenging, especially if you don’t enjoy cooking that much. This is why we wrote a guide that will show you how to eat healthy and delicious recipes all throughout the year. Click here ^[18] to check it out!

Quinoa porridge

The key to preparing healthy SIBO diets ^[19] is to focus on foods that have protein and are easy to digest. This recipe has it both! Rich in protein, numerous vitamins, and minerals, this quinoa porridge is fulfilling and provides a feeling of satiety. You can get it done in half an hour only.

So, what do you need?

• ½ cup quinoa
• 1-1/2 cup almond milk
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
• ½ cup water
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup porridge (like oatmeal, cream of wheat or other grain)
• Pinch of salt

Heat up a saucepan at medium heat, then add the quinoa and cinnamon. Cook until everything is roasted and stir continuously. It should take about three or four minutes.

Add all the other ingredients and bring to a boil. Once it starts boiling, reduce it to low heat. Cook until you obtain a thick paste. Porridge should be well done, and grains must be tender. It should take about 25 minutes.

You can add more water if you need to, and make sure you stir every minute to avoid burning the mix.

Leek and tomato frittata

This frittata makes a great brunch or lunch and requires about 45 minutes to prepare.

You do not need too many ingredients either:

• 2 cups sliced leeks
• 1 cup grape tomatoes
• 4 egg yolks
• 4 ounces crumbled goat cheese
• 3 teaspoons olive oil
• 6 egg whites
• Salt and pepper

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit until you prepare the mix.

Get a nonstick skillet that can go in the oven too. Heat the olive oil and add the leeks, salt, and pepper. Cover and cook for not more than five minutes.

Stir in the tomatoes, cover, and cook for another couple of minutes.

Meanwhile, in a different bowl, you can beat the whites with salt and pepper, then whisk in the yolks.

Brush the skillet with a bit of olive oil, and add the eggs and more vegetables, as well as the cheese. Cook over medium heat for about three minutes.

Transfer everything to the oven and bake for 15 or 20 minutes.

 

Rainbow wrap

This rainbow wrap is delicious, refreshing, and packed with vitamins.

Here is what you need:

• ½ cup peanut butter
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 cup matchstick carrots
• 1 cup shredded red cabbage
• 1 tablespoon garlic olive oil
• 4 collard leaves
• 1 cup matchstick cucumber
• 1 cup matchstick red bell pepper

Prepare the sauce by mixing together the peanut butter, lime juice, olive oil, soy sauce, and ground ginger.

Cut the thick parts at the base of collard leaves and slice them longways.

Put a bit of sauce in the middle of a wrap, then top it with other ingredients in a nicely arranged design. Roll and keep everything tight. Slice the wrap and enjoy smaller pieces.

 

Pineapple ice cream

Looking for a dessert? This pineapple ice cream takes five minutes to make.

Here is what you need:

• 1-1/4 cup frozen pineapple
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1/2 cup coconut milk

Get all the ingredients in a blender and work on them until you have a smooth mixture.

 

Bottom line, this list should trigger your imagination and give you some great ideas for different meals of the day. Obviously, there are plenty of options out there, so use your creativity to combine foods that you are actually allowed to eat.

People didn’t always have toasters, but toast has been around for awhile. It was even made on the trails over the fire! How did they do it? On a hot griddle over the fire. Texas claims to have invented it – hence the name Texas toast. Just to clarify, Texas toast is made with a thick piece of bread. This recipes is just regular ol’ griddle toast ^[23].

Here’s How to Do it:

The first thing you need to do is get the griddle (or heavy skillet) hot. Put butter on both sides of the toast.

Lay the toast on the griddle and cook for one to two minutes on each side.

While it’s cooking, place the egg(s) in a sauce pan with cold water. Bring it to a boil and cook for 1 minutes.

Remove from the heat and let it sit in the hot for three minutes. Run it under cold water.

Tap the top of the shell to knock it off.

Using a small spoon, scoop the egg from the shell and lay it on the toast.

And that’s all there is to it!! Add some fruit and you have breakfast!

© Copyright 2022 The Lazy Gastronome

Here are some things that are perfect to use for this recipe!

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