Potato pancakes with runny eggs and truffle oil

"Sundays are meant for two things. One is pancakes. The other one is R rated". ~Me

Oh how much I love Sundays! When getting out of bed in the morning is optional. Coffee in bed. Relaxing, feeling lazy and treating yourself to food. Quite often my Sundays end up being all breakfast food all day long - no restrictions, no diets, no promises to stop with this last bite, when you really don't want to. Sundays are so many good things. They just tend to end very quickly, but oh well - so do so many other good things.

This morning I think I already knew what I'm having for breakfast before opening my eyes! But then again - I have some studying to do, so this Sunday has some procrastination on the list as well... In such cases, of course, coffee, food and everything else "more important" comes first.

Omlette with false morels

“Although I can not lay an egg, I am a very good judge of omelettes.” – George Bernard Shaw

My kind of meditation is a walk in a forest. Picking mushrooms! There are slight inconveniences in winter with that, nevertheless, I still have this habit of looking out for mushrooms. Even a few nights ago, when I went for a walk with a few friends, I kept on looking out for mushrooms, although it was already getting dark. Maybe you wouldn't believe it, but I found one! These are among the first ones to come out each year - False Morel or Beefsteak mushrooms.

Slow cooked egg (65C) with smoked salmon and fresh tomatoes

“Offer the lazy an egg and they’ll want you to peel it for them.” – Lithuanian proverb

My love for eggs continues. In a different shape and form. This time it is THE slow cooked egg - creamy and soft. Oh, and to top that - it is the most organic egg one can find - comes from a farm raised hen, who is free to wonder around in warm spring sun and peck on fresh grass and leaves. I'm so lucky I have a "source". I am still suprised each time I crack an egg open - the richness of that orangy yellow is one way to tell you have the good stuff on hands.

Asparagus with smoked salmon and sunny side up egg

"Probably one of the most private things in the world is an egg until it is broken."

M.F.K. Fisher

'Tis the season - fresh and crunchy asparagus! It is one of the vegetables that I wish grew and we had fresh all the time. And I mean fresh - grown somewhere close, not brought in from a different part of the world. I guess vegetables get jet lagged too - they don't taste as good if they travel far!

Omlette with chanterelles and potatoes

“This recipe is certainly silly. It says to separate the eggs, but it doesn't say how far to separate them.” Gracie Allen

Good morning, Sunshine! For the time being - at least on the plate :). And but the way, this recipe doesn't require to separate eggs, unless you're after the super healthy white omlette. My weekend breakfast choices usually include eggs in some shape and form. My favorite combination ever - eggs and mushrooms. I tend to save mushrooms in my freezer and use them sparingly, so I still have some when there is little time left for their season to start and I can enjoy fresh ones. Needless to say, I still have some saved up.

Tuna tartare with sweet potato and quail egg

"Fish  is meant to tempt as well as nourish, and everything that lives in water is seductive." Jean-Paul Aron

Last weekend there was a Food and Restaurant expo in town. Mostly dedicated to restauranteurs - with any kind of equipment you could think of finding in a restaurant's kitchen. I felt like a kid let into a toy store - wanted to see, touch and try everything! Yet the best spectacle was watching a team of best chefs in Lithuania preparing a three course meal for 110 diners! They had 6 hours to prepare - I was standing there watching their last hour prior to plating. The view was mesmerizing - an amazing example of team work, concentration and fellowship. Simply watching them work and do their thing - what they are so accustomed to in their daily routines - there are so many small things to learn from!

Potato and sweet potato pancakes

..In a waffle pankcake pan!

The pan was a hand-me-down from my friend when she was moving out stuff from a vacation home by the seaside. She wasn't sure what to do with it and I thought there could be more ways to use it than just for usual pancakes. So far it has been potato pancakes, eggs and paninis - works perfectly!

When the weather starts to get colder and the days shorter, more comforty food kicks in, especially at the weekends. Last weekend I went with the potatoes and eggs for breakfast. Filling, tasty and something new.

And there's not much to tell about it! Very simple, pretty quick.

Omlette with courgettes and courgette blossoms

Courgette = zucchini. Courgette somehow sound much more sleek to me :).I have been coming across recipes with stuffed courgette blossoms and wanted to make something with them. The most difficult part though was finding them. When visiting the farmers market in Vilnius and asking for courgette blossoms, I received several comments: "If you're looking for flowers, they are in that direction!"... So buying some at a regular farmer's market was no option. Finally I got some at one lady's farm. However the blossoms were so tiny, stuffing was not an option either. Et voila - omlette with blossoms pan fried in a bit of butter.

Buckwheat, spinach and quail egg salad

Sunday brunch - is my happy place!

Meant to be breakfast, but by the time I was done with taking photos of the plate, it was around lunch time and needless to say - I was starving by that time.

I have been quite aware of what I put on my plate and in my mouth for quite a long time now, but lately I have started watching my food even more closely - substituting some of the ingredients with even healthier products, eating more vegetables, fruits and grains. These constitute about 70% of my diet. 

Quail eggs

Quail eggs are considered a delicacy in many countries - not just because of their soft taste (couldn't find a better word to define it) but also because of their nutritional value. They are packed with vitamins and minerals. In some countries they are sometimes used raw, pickled or prepared in many other ways.

A quail egg is considered a much healthier substitute for the chicken egg. 

Eggs Benedict

"Brunch without booze is just a sad late breakfast"

We've established a tradition with some of my girlfriends - a Sunday brunch. Needless to say - a girl thing only. Quality time to talk, laugh, enjoy good food and a glass of bubbles. We've been having such a great time for the last few Sundays, we have decided it must turn out to be our thing for as many Sundays as possible. Last week has been hectic and I did have a Lithuanian Culinary Heritage presentation on Sunday night, but that's what traditions are for - the girls must have their priorities straight.

This Sunday it was turn for Eggs Benedict. In fact, quite a modified version in comparison to the original recipe. Come to think of it... The only original ingredients on the plate were the hollandaise sauce and poached eggs. 

Egg muffins

"A hen is only an egg's way to make another egg". 

Samuel Butler (19th century British author)

I guess this is a perfect answer to the question "what comes first" a hen or an egg. For me eggs are one of the best and most rewarding ingredients ever! You can cook and eat them pretty much any way you want. I really cannot think of any other product that would be as versatile.

So... Continuing the "healthy stuff" story (in other words also - for those who are getting ready for the summer) - this is super easy to make, can be done the night before, stored in the fridge for a couple of days, eaten hot or cold. It makes a perfect snack in between the meals or can serve as the meal itself, depending on the ingredients. I stole the idea from one post on Facebook and improvised the way I saw fit.

Spanish omlette...

"Recipe: a series of step-by-step instructions for preparing ingredients you forgot to buy, in utensils you don't own, to make a dish the dog wouldn't eat." ~ Author unknown

So not the case this time. Sometimes it is nice to go fancy in the kitchen. In such cases quite often the wallet doesn't appreciate it as much... Therefore I love this new trend of cooking with the locally found ingredients and re-inventing the traditional recipes. The Spanish omelette may not be much of the re-invention of something traditional and local, but those who don't like to waste any food or food leftovers most probably will appreciate it.

Devilishly good deviled eggs...

"When baking, follow directions. When cooking, go by your own taste." ~Laiko Bahrs 

So it's been a while... Not a while since I cooked - I while since I sat down to write about it. Got a good punch for it from my Mom and friends. Feeling ashamed for it in front of the closest people is kind of a good motivation to get back on track.

The deviled eggs in fact were prepared for the Easter table - however good for any occasion or even as a starter for a long weekend dinner with family or friends.

The recipe is very simple - yet it does take "your own taste" to figure out how it tastes best for you. One of the few most important things that make this hors d'oeuvres super good and tasty are free-range, farm grown eggs and home made mayo.

Eggs sunny side up with rucolla, tomatoes, black olive ciabatta and balsamic vinegar reduction

Food is an important part of a balanced diet.  ~Fran Lebowitz

Xmas and New Year's marathons are over. I looked up my blog today and couldn't believe myself how long I've neglected it... I cannot say I wasn't cooking - did a lot of that since the last post, but the time went by so quickly and although there are a number of newly tried dishes, the part of taking photos was bad... Another bullet point to my NY's resolution - learn, cook and share more :).

Over the holidays I've spent some time preparing breakfast and one of new little revelations to me was the combination of soft egg with the balsamic vinegar reduction. This one can be made very easily, quickly and turns out very tasty!

Ingredients:

* Black olive ciabatta buns

* A handful of arugula

* Tomato

* Cream cheese

* Eggs

* Balsamic vinegar

* Salt & fresh ground pepper

I sliced the ciabatta's in half, drizzled with a bit of olive oil and toasted them in the oven for about 10 minutes (at 180 degrees).

In the meantime prepared the sunny side up eggs in the frying pan. A small hint for cooking the eggs properly - lower heat and cover the pan so the eggs whites cook properly and the yolk is still runny. When preparing eggs this way, I love to sprinkle some salt and pepper on the hot pan before cracking the eggs onto it.

The rest is fairly simple - get the buns out, spread the cream cheese on top, put a slice of tomato on each, a bit of rucolla and place the egg on top.

The balsamic vinegar reduction is the little treat that makes this super simple dish yummier. Preparing it may take about 15 minutes - one may want to start with it. Very easy and simple heat a little pot on the stove top, pour the balsamic vinegar, bring it to boil, reduce the heat and simmer until it is reduced by half and visibly thicker. I have found some of the suggestions to add a bit of sugar to it, but on the other hand - it already contains natural sweetness and once the vinegar is reduced, it comes out. Serve it on the side for dipping.

Bon appetit!

Eggs sunny side up over harsh browns with steamed tomatoes...

I went to a restaurant that serves 'breakfast at any time'. So I ordered Eggs Sunny Side Up during the Renaissance

This is probably one of the most simple breakfasts to make. During the week, when running to get ready for work it may be something of more time consuming options. But let me tell you - one of those hung over or long lazy weekend mornings - this is something to crave for ;).