Years ago I
learned that it is critical to start the day with a powerful energy filled
breakfast. The saying that I was taught
is: Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper. Basically, what this means is to start the
day with the best meal and end with a lighter fare. Yes, this is contrary to the American way of
eating. Start the day with a donut or
bagel, grab something from the snack machine for lunch, then gorge in the
evening and wonder why sleep doesn’t visit. :X
One of my
favorite breakfast meals is a breakfast wrap – today’s version is made with homemade
hummus (recipe later), fresh bean sprouts, goat cheese, on a whole grain
tortilla (wrap).
I like to
use very thin pita or tortilla for my wraps.
There are many great flat bread type varieties too. Sammy’s makes a great millet version as well
as millet and flax. Every so often I
find a good version at Costco for a very fair price and no ‘junk’ in it. (One day I will find a good recipe and make
my own :D )
The filling –
Hummus –
The hummus I
make is unlike most found in the store although I see that Costco is carrying a
very similar version. I like to make
mine with roasted red peppers, hot peppers, and a wide variety of other
spices. I make mine in a manner that is conducive
to being in public. Basically, it is
sans garlic. I love the taste of roasted
garlic but if you are in public, it doesn’t like others or should I say, most
often others don’t like it.
Roasted Red Pepper, Jalapeño, Chili Pepper, Hummus
- 1 cup organic garbanzo beans – I use organic but you can
substitute non organic to reduce the cost.
Use either one can or cook your own to reduce the cost. Buying garbanzo beans in bulk reduces the
overall cost of the hummus.
- I drain all
of the fluid from the garbanzo beans when I use the canned organic version. I know that other recipes state to keep some
of it but I find the liquids added makes the hummus the perfect consistency.
- ¼ roasted
red pepper - Large jars can be found
at Costco or the local grocer.
- Lemon juice - enough to cover the top of the beans. I squirt/juice
enough to cover the top of the beans.
(Nothing scientific here but this seems to work best for my families
taste buds.)
- ½ Jalapeño and ½ Chili Pepper - I add the seeds
too. The seeds have life (another
article) and flavor. Experiment with this combination. You might like the entire pepper. I find that this combination gives some heat
but not overpowering as it goes down.
- Tahini – This is a personal preference and
some folks don’t like its taste. I use a
fork full – Yes, a fork and not spoon. It seems to slide off the fork into the
blentec, blender, vita-mix, etc without any issues. Too much and it can
overpower the hummus but if you do not use enough, the hummus could lack the
distinct taste.
- Organic Virgin Olive Oil - I buy the Kirkland brand from Costco
- Various spices - Red Pepper (to taste) and it gives some extra
heat to the other peppers, sea salt or other very coarse salt. I use a sprinkle on the top but add enough
for a slight change in flavor and not overpowering. Use a spice combo if you want to alter the flavor
such as the kind that includes celery, onion, (yes garlic), and other flavorful
spices.
I add the
ingredients in the order indicated into my Blendtec – I use the new container –
Twister Jar and like how it cleans up very easy. If you use this device, do not overfill. :D It does overflow easy. You can use a Vita-Mix, Blendtec, or other
similar devices found on the market. I
have only used the Vita-Mix and Blendtec so I cannot comment on the others but
I am sure that this recipe can be made with ease in other devices.
Using the Blendtec
– I select the up arrow until it hits 7 – 10 and run it until the hummus is the
consistency that I like. When it’s the perfect
consistency, I select the pulse button to turn it off.
Now back to
the breakfast wrap. A few spoonfuls of
this hummus is added to the wrap, then I top it with fresh bean sprouts, a
handful of spinach or other greens, and at times I add a spoonful of corn,
black beans, or other similar textured bean.
Add a spoon full of your favorite homemade salsa if you want more heat
and this wrap will send your taste buds into shouts of joy. I have found some great tasting goat cheese at
Giant Eagle but due to its cost, I don’t add it often.
The only
downside to this wrap – the taste. It is
full of flavor and I want to eat two.
This is very filling and full of flavor, nutrients, and gives great
energy to start the day. Make enough
hummus for a few days and this breakfast wrap takes only a few minutes to
prepare and it is a great meal even for the time challenged family.
If you add
the extra ingredients, I do not recommend eating this while trying to drive
(not that eating and driving is a good thing).
If you try to eat this while trying to drive, anticipate wearing a bib
or something similar since either your overflowing taste buds cause the juices
to flow everywhere.
Experiment
with making breakfast wraps to add tremendous nutrition to start your day and
avoid the fast food places or boxed cereal section that too often is filled
with chemicals and sugar.
In a future
post, I will give a few suggestions for the traveler. I have tremendous experience in the world of
traveling and will cover a few pre made organic versions (Amy’s and others)
plus some other alternate quick, healthy solutions.
Experiment
with this low cost solution to boring breakfast meals. Breakfast should be used to vitalize the
body, mind, and spirit. Till next time –
get out and enjoy life! Remember this
statement – life is all a matter of perspective!
