BrokeAss Gourmet

BrokeAss Gourmet

Yogurt-Flax Pancakes with Strawberries

  • Prep Time 0:20
  • Cook Time 0:12
  • Estimated Cost $9.00
  • 1 Comment

An absurdly good breakfast with Gabe at the Mission Beach Cafe on Sunday morning got me thinking about the art of brunch, by which I mean a mid-morning (or early-afternoon) meal where everything flows, from the conversation to the artisan coffee, to the fresh pomegranate-orange juices. Impeccably executed and presented food is set before you in an unpretentious, relaxed setting, allowing you to languorously eat, drink and converse.

These fluffy pancakes, made with creamy, calcium-rich yogurt and nutty Omega-3-laden flax seed are topped with fresh strawberries (though feel free to switch it up with whatever the seasons present). The next time I serve brunch at Chez Gabi, these guys will definitely be making an appearance.

Ingredients

  • 2 eggs $1.50 for 6
  • 1 1/4 cups milk (any %) $1.50 for 1 pint
  • 1/2 cup plain low-fat yogurt $1 for 8 oz.
  • 2 tsp vegetable or canola oil, plus more for frying Pantry
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour Pantry
  • 3 tbsp ground flax seed $2.50 for 16 oz.
  • pinch of salt Pantry
  • 2 tbsp sugar Pantry
  • 8-10 fresh strawberries, sliced $2.50 for a pint

Recipe Serves 3-4

Directions

  1. Whisk egg, milk, yogurt and oil together in a mixing bowl.
  2. Whisk in flour, flax seed, salt and sugar. Continue whisking until batter is smooth and creamy.
  3. Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Once oil and pan are very hot, spoon batter in 1/8 cup increments, with space between them, into the pan, working in batches.
  4. Cook pancakes on one side until the edges are dry and the bottoms are golden-brown. Flip, using a spatula and cook on the other side.
  5. Serve hot, topped with strawberries. Serve with butter and syrup if desired.

Chicken Lettuce Wraps

  • Prep Time 0:20
  • Cook Time 0:10
  • Estimated Cost $8.25
  • 6 Comments

This recipe came about when I bought all the ingredients needed for chicken potstickers…except for the won ton wrappers. Upon unloading my purchases I realized my mistake, yet had no interest in returning to the store to pick up the wrappers. I had a beautiful head of lettuce, fresh from the farmers market though, and so this crunchy, flavorful dish was born.

Ingredients

  • 1 green jalapeño, seeded and diced $0.25
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced Pantry
  • 1 small (2") piece ginger, peeled and minced $0.50
  • 1/3 cup soy sauce Pantry
  • Juice of 1 lime $0.50
  • 2 tbsp sugar Pantry
  • 1 tbsp vegetable or canola oil Pantry
  • 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs, chopped into bite-size pieces $1.50
  • 1 red bell pepper, diced $1
  • 1/2 head green cabbage, diced $1
  • 3 carrots, diced $1 for a bunch
  • 4 scallions, sliced, plus more for garnish $1 for a bunch
  • 1 head green-leaf lettuce, cleaned, end and core removed $1.50

Recipe Serves 4

Directions

  1. In a small bowl, combine jalapeño, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, lime juice and sugar. Set aside.
  2. Heat vegetable oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add chicken and brown, stirring occasionally to ensure even cooking (this should take about 2 minutes). Add bell pepper, cabbage, carrots and scallions and prepared sauce and cook for 6-8 minutes, or until vegetables cook and sauce begins to absorb.
  3. Serve the chicken-vegetable mixture on a platter, garnished with more scallions. Spread the lettuce leaves out and encourage diners to roll their own chicken-lettuce wraps.

Summer Harvest Breakfast Burritos with Heirloom Tomato-Avocado Salsa

  • Prep Time 0:25
  • Cook Time 0:15
  • Estimated Cost $14.25
  • 1 Comment

I have had this version of the Breakfast Burrito, featuring fresh seasonal veggies, whole-wheat tortillas and a lively salsa nearly every morning this week. Today, as I rolled them for myself and my roommate, Kristina (hair stylist extraordinaire at Edo Hair Salon and Art Gallery, she rocks), it occurred to me that something so good and so easy shouldn’t be kept secret.

Note: the secret to making the salsa sing is to buy really ripe, fresh heirloom tomatoes.

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil Pantry
  • 1/2 red onion, diced, divided $0.50
  • 1 ear fresh corn $0.50
  • 2 cups fresh spinach, cleaned and dried $1
  • 6 eggs, lightly beaten $1.50
  • salt and pepper to taste Pantry
  • 1/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese $3 for 8 oz.
  • 4 whole-wheat tortillas (I like the ones from Alvarado Street Bakery) $2.50 for 6
  • 1 small heirloom tomato, diced (about 1/2 cup) $2
  • 1 green jalapeño, seeded and diced $0.25
  • 1 ripe avocado, diced $1.50
  • 1 handful cilantro leaves, chopped $1 for a bunch
  • juice of 1/4 lemon $0.50

Directions

  1. Heat olive oil over medium heat. Add 1/2 the diced onion and allow to cook until very fragrant, about 2 minutes.
  2. While the onion cooks, use a very sharp knife to cut the corn from the cob. Add to the frying pan.
  3. Add the spinach and cook until spinach begins to break down, stirring frequently, about 1 minute.
  4. Stir in the eggs and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until eggs set. Turn off heat and stir in the shredded cheese, allowing it to melt.
  5. Heat the tortillas in the microwave on high for 30 seconds, just to soften, or in a dry frying pan over high heat for a minute or two.
  6. Divide the egg mixture between the 4 tortillas and roll up the burritos, tucking in the ends. Slice on the bias.
  7. To make the salsa, combine the remaining onion, heirloom tomato, jalapeño, cilantro, lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste. Serve alongside the burritos.

Makes 4 small burritos.

I bought everything for this beautiful salad at the Mission Community Market, about an hour ago. Creamy raw cheddar, luscious, ripe figs, crisp spinach and onions—ingredients so perfect in their most basic form that all they need is a little olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper. Ultimate summer eating.

Ingredients

  • 6 cups baby spinach, cleaned and dried $2
  • 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil Pantry
  • 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar Pantry
  • salt and pepper to taste Pantry
  • 6 figs, halved, ends removed $3 for a basket
  • 2 oz. raw cheddar, cut into 1/2" cubes $5 for 8 oz.
  • 1/4 red onion, sliced very thinly $0.50

Recipe Serves 2-3

Directions

  1. Toss spinach with olive oil, balsamic, salt and pepper until well-coated. Arrange on plates or one big platter.
  2. Top spinach with halved figs, cubed cheddar, sliced onion and more pepper if desired.

Category: Meals

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Minted Cookies-and-Cream Ice Cream

  • Prep Time 1:30
  • Cook Time 0:12
  • Estimated Cost $8.50
  • 0 Comments

Things I like about Michael Genovesi:
He’s very funny.
He’s a great friend.
He lets me choose what we cook.
He has an active sweet tooth, which makes it easy for me to pretend that our ice cream adventures are just me indulging him.
He has the tendency to suggest we add Oreo cookies to things.

Note: this recipe was inspired by this one from Simply Recipes.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup heavy cream, divided $1.50 for 1 pint
  • 1/2 cup whole milk $1.50 for a pint
  • 1 cup packed fresh mint leaves, cleaned $1 for a bunch
  • 1/2 cup sugar Pantry
  • pinch salt Pantry
  • 3 egg yolks $1.50 for 6 eggs
  • 8 chocolate sandwich cookies (such as Oreos or Trader Joes' "Joe-Joes"), crushed $3 for 12 oz.

Directions

  1. Heat 1/2 cup heavy cream and the milk together with the mint in a pot over medium-high heat, just until steaming. Turn off heat, cover pot and let steep for 25-30 minutes, or until very fragrant. Strain mint leaves and discard.
  2. Whisk the egg yolks together in a mixing bowl. Very slowly add the warm mint-cream-milk mixture, Stir in sugar and return to pot. Heat pot over medium heat and whisk constantly until a thick custard forms, about 8 minutes.
  3. Carefully stir in remaining cream and transfer to a cool bowl. Let mixture cool for 10 minutes.
  4. Churn in an ice cream maker according to manufacturer's directions. When ice cream is finished churning, gently stir in the crushed cookies, making sure they are mixed throughout.
  5. Eat immediately or freeze until hard enough to scoop.

Makes about 2 cups ice cream.