SLOW DOWN AND ENJOY YOUR BREAKFAST!

By John, Grocery Buyer and Breakfast Connoisseur

You're heard it since you were a tiny little tyke: "Breakfast is the most important meal of the day!" It's true! A delicious breakfast can set the mood for your entire day to come, and while some of America may 'run on, we here at Cambridge Naturals prefer things prepared a bit more slowly and with a tad more TLC. With that in mind, here are some great family-friendly breakfast ideas ranging from sweet and sticky to savory and spicy. Enjoy!

NUTTY, MELTY FAUX-CREPES:

This is one the kids will love! Start with some of our Siete Almond Flour Grain-Free Tortillas. Spread your fillings on one side (think Nutiva Hazelnut Spread, Fior Di Frutta fruit spreads, Once Again Creamy Almond Butter, Organic Living Natural Juice-Infused Strawberries, maybe some banana slices...), fold it over quesadilla/crepe style and pan-fry to golden brown on both sides in a bit of Full Moon Ghee. It doesn't get much easier than that, or more satisfying!

THE KOREAN-STYLE OMELETTE:

Melt some Full Moon Ghee in your frying pan and beat some of our unbeatable Brookford Farm Eggs in a bowl. Add the eggs, some Chi Kitchen Kimchi, scallions, and shredded Neighborly Farms Sharp Cheddar. Cook 'til fluffy and serve with a liberal squirt of Bushwick Kitchen Weak Knees Gochujang Sriracha. Voila! The perfect breakfast for those who prefer to start their day with a little heat!

PANCAKES TWO WAYS:

Who doesn't love a nice stack of pancakes? I love them so much I couldn't decide on just one recipe suggestion, so you lucky folks get two!

First up, soak some goji berries overnight in water (or dare I suggest simple syrup?). Prepare some batter with our Bob's Red Mill Paleo Pancake Mix (I hear it's best prepared with Brookford Farm Eggs and Nutiva Virgin Coconut Oil), add the berries, and break in some wafers of our Sunfood Cacao Paste. Cook 'em up and you've scrumptious Paleo Goji Cacao pancakes!

Mmmm pancakes. Photo via Paleo Newbie.

Or for a very decadent sweet-spicy-nutty-tart explosion of flavors, begin with our Mu Mu Magic Organic Cranberry Date Pancake Mix (oddly enough, this kind is best prepared with Brookford Farm Eggs and Nutiva Coconut Oil as well!). Chop up some Will & Rose's Pecans into that batter. Cook 'em up and slather them in Benito's Habanero-Infused Maple Syrup and Organic Valley European-style cultured butter. Cranberry and Habanero go fantastic together, believe it or not! Try it and you'll be convinced in no time!

So there you have it. Put down that prepackaged bar, accept that your local bagel place won't miss you if you skip just one day, and sit down with a nice, homemade breakfast. Treat yourself! You deserve it!

Let's Do Brunch!

By John B, Grocery Buyer, CN Blog Contributor, and Brunch Aficionado

Ah, brunch.  Not quite breakfast, not quite lunch, but a perfect excuse to gather with friends and catch up ahead of your afternoon plans. But what about the weekend crowds? The waits? The lines? These can be frustrating, especially for the brunch-goers among us who are just trying to nurse their hangovers with some fried food and a little hair of the dog in peace. Too bad it would be such a hassle to organize a brunch get-together at your own place, right? WRONG! With a little help from the Cambridge Naturals grocery section, you can put together a full vegetarian brunch spread, with appetizer, main course, dessert, and cocktails, that will be easy to prepare, not to mention much more nourishing and healthful than anything at your local greasy spoon.

Let's start with the first course. This one is as simple as it comes: Smear our Lundberg Brown Rice Thin Stackers with some Justin’s Chocolate Hazelnut Butter Blend and top with a sprinkling of Phoney Baloney’s Coconut Bacon. This vegan sweet-and-savory combo will be sure to wake up your taste buds. Even connoisseurs of “real” bacon will find it irresistible!

For the main course, let's talk Tex Mex. I was in Austin recently, and a brunch staple there which the northeast sorely lacks are migas, a fantastic scrambled egg and tortilla dish. For a somewhat non-traditional take, start by frying some diced tomatoes, bell peppers, and onion in our Dr. Bronner's Coconut Oil. Rather than frying day-old tortillas, just have some of our Jackson's Honest Tortilla Chips nearby. Add the chips and some well-beaten eggs into the pan with the veggies, shred in some of our Neigborly Farms Savory Pepper Cheddar Cheese and scramble it all up! For a little added heat, our Los Roast X-Hot Chile Sauce makes a great condiment. Serve with a side of black beans or home fries, if that strikes your fancy.

Photo of migas via Pinch of Yum

After those hot and spicy eggs, your guests are sure to want something cool and sweet. Try making a parfait of our Organic White Mountain Bulgarian Yogurt with thin layers of Fiordifrutta fruit spreads and any of our delicious granolas. 

Now that you've got a good, strong base of delicious brunch treats in your belly, it's time for that post-meal cocktail. Mix 3/4 oz of Bushwick Kitchen's Trees Knees Cinnamon Maple Syrup, 3/4 oz dark rum, and 8 oz of our Slingshot Cold Brew Coffee. Stir and pour over ice. Voila! The perfect cap to a great meal. Your guests will think you are a culinary genius, I guarantee it.

These are just a few ideas to get you started based on what we have in our always changing, expertly curated grocery section. Come on in or get in touch for more ideas; or tell us some of your own!