June must be just around the corner because the rain is finally subsiding to make room for the glorious sun! It’s going to be a scorcher today- about 31C with humidex of about 43C. I say, bring it on. :) It’s been a long time comin’.
Anticipating the heat & humidity, I headed out for a 3 mile run around 6:30am. I’ve been keeping my running mileage low (about 10-12 miles a week) since healing from my sciatic injury. Slow and steady wins the race! I also think yoga is helping a lot. :)
When I got back I gave the veggies a good dose of water before the heat set in. I also moved my herbs into larger pots. Hopefully they will be able to spread their roots a bit more in the bigger pots. Did I mention my dill is already dying? I have no idea what I did wrong! The other herbs are growing very well, but not the dill. Is it a fussy herb or is it just my black thumb?
It was just glistening out there this morning. Birds were chirping. New grass was sprouting. Dandelions were growing at the speed of light.
When I came inside, I was in the mood for a cool and creamy Vegan overnight oat parfait, one of my favourite hot weather breakfasts next to the Green Monster. I haven’t had many parfaits in 2011 because the weather has been so cool and wet, but today was certainly a great morning for one!
Before bed last night, I made a double batch of vegan overnight oats and my personal chef fridge did all the work for me while I slept. I made a double batch as requested by Eric.
Basic Vegan Overnight Oats
Yield: 2 servings
Ingredients:
- 2/3 cup rolled oats
- 1.5 cups almond milk
- 2 heaping tbsp chia seeds (necessary ingredient- soaks up the milk and makes it doughy)
- 1 tbsp pure maple syrup (optional)
- Pinch of cinnamon
- Chopped banana (I don’t add this if I’m making a banana soft serve parfait)
Directions: Mix all ingredients in a medium sized bowl and place in fridge overnight, or for 2-3 hours. Stir well before eating.
[This is an old picture above- I added some carob powder and banana in this photo, which is my favourite combo when I am just eating VOO plain. For step-by-step photos, see this post.]
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Mango Breakfast Parfait with Cherry-Banana Soft Serve and Homemade Granola
Yield: 2 servings or 3 wine glasses
Adapted from VOO Parfait recipes.
Ingredients:
- Double batch of vegan overnight oats (above)
- Mango chunks (I used frozen and thawed overnight)
- Pitted cherries (I used frozen and thawed overnight)
- Homemade Granola
- Cherry Banana soft serve (Process a handful of cherries with 2 frozen bananas)
Directions:
1. ‘Soft serve’: In a food processor, process the frozen bananas with cherries until smooth like soft serve. You can add a splash of milk to help it along.
2. In two glasses, layer the ingredients. I did a layer of VOO, mango or cherries, granola, soft serve, repeat. Makes enough for 3 small wine glasses/2 servings.
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We had to fight over the third parfait! Eric loves these when I make them with homemade granola. Nice and crunchy.
A scrumptious breakfast that tastes like dessert…yes please!
I’ll see you tomorrow with a refreshing recipe and a re-cap of my Back on Track month! Boy did May fly by. I’m already thinking about goals for June…
I wish I had that mango parfait for breakfast this morning, it looks amazing! SO perfect for this hot weather!
Those parfaits look to.die.for!
I like the idea of setting goals for each month… I’ll be joining you on that idea :)
Looks divine! I can tell summer is arriving because all I want are green monsters now ;) Our garden is a puzzlement as well. Despite the heat, our kale is thriving, while other plants are just barely poking their heads through the dirt!
Our kale is doing good too, but I must say the spinach is outgrowing everything!
Beautiful shots of the grass! Love the bokeh :)
And nothing could be better than a parfait in this crazy hot weather.
This reminds me of a recipe I saw yesterday. It called for five stuffed peppers and then said it served six. Huh? How is it two servings if there are three glasses? Is there some sort of recipe conspiracy going around to confuse me? ;)
I doubled the batch of vegan overnight oats….so technically I made two servings. It was in 3wine glasses because they were small and it wouldn’t fit.
Totally my favorite way to eat banana soft serve! I haven’t had fruit in mine yet (and totally will be after this post! yum!) but cannot imagine fruity soft serve without the fab crunch of granola! =) Gorgeous! <3
I love mango. In any form. Smoothies, drinks, oats, desserts, parfaits, plain…YUM. You succeeded in making me need to walk across the street and pick up a fresh mango when I finish this comment!
I love the placemat/striped table runner you used in these pics. So pretty and makes everything else just POP!
And of course, cherry banana softserve. Dried or fresh cherries or frozen…like mango…love cherries in any form.
Glad you’re taking it EASY with the running and so happy your injury has healed!!!! :)
Thanks Averie!
My darling Canadian counterpart: Where did you find your frozen cherries?
Heh, whole foods….BUT here is the kicker….they only sell sour cherries! Def not as sweet as reg ones….they are ok in soft serve though!
I would kill to have breakfast at your house – it always looks so decadent! I’m loving mangos right now. The other day I did an avocado-mango smoothie that was incredible – thank you for introducing me to the idea of avocados in smoothies! :)
what a perfect summer breakfast! :) i love these parfaits so much!!
Beautiful grass shots!!! And– I’ve been trying to think of something special that I can make for my husband for a “breakfast in bed” birthday breakfast– I think I might have to make one of these partfaits!!
Thanks :)
Those are just gorgeous! I’m so excited that its getting to that time of year for cool, refreshing breakfasts!
I’ve always had the best luck with dill starting it from seed – it’s not too late either!
I’m glad you are getting back into running slowly — it is nice that you are taking care of yourself!
I so wish I had had a parfait for breakfast — these look so refreshing!
Beautiful!
those look great! I love morning runs.. they’re so peaceful and I love seeing the world just waking up
YUM! this looks so good – and I’m with you …. no-bake options have been on my mind with all this heat the Northeast has been getting!
I’m helping my husband come back to running from an injurty and we are taking it slow too. Your breakfasts always look so pretty! They make me want to bust out of my ol’ smoothie routine.
You’ve got me salivating!! Thank goodness for warm weather – and thank goodness for overnight oats on hot days! I had my first overnight oats this year as my breakfast today and it was delicious (annnnd I used the maple butter!!) Yours look delicious!
Oh My Gosh that parfait looks AMAZING! I just had a raspberry carob version this morning, w/o the soft serve…I think the soft serve would have made it even tastier! I LOVE breakfast!!
Your parfaits always look so delicious.
I’ve never had trouble with dill, but this is the 2nd year my cilantro is dying on me. Not sure why either!
My cilantro and basil always die:(
I can’t for the life of me keep dill alive. I grew it last year and after that gave up hopes of growing it again. It seemed no matter what I did, it died. So it’s not just you! I hear dill is a particularly fickle plant.
That is good to know….poor dill, I love it so much!
Made overnight oats last night, and was so nice just grabbing breakfast out of the fridge this morning. I need to step it up now and try the parfaits since they are just so pretty! Heading to your end of the country next week so I’m looking forward to the warmth :) The overnight oats will be perfect for the little hotel room fridge.
I ate VOO for so long without making them into parfaits, and the parfaits really heighten the whole experience!
I have some fresh cherries that I bought over the weekend, so I’m going to definitely make one of these– I might just blend them fresh! Delicious– but our weather has been so cool, I’m shivering in the house right now! I wonder if we’ll ever get some warm weather and sunshine!
Those are so beautiful! And I’m sure they taste as good as they look, if not better! :)
That parfait looks delicious! I just started reading my healthy living blogs again, and I had forgotten how amazing (and delicious!) your food pictures look :)
Aww thank you!
Parfait-licious! I woke up craving granola & ice cold (almond) milk! After seeing these pictures, I think I’ll have to head to the store & pick up some ingredients asap! I can’t believe it’s June 1 tomorrow too! Tempus Fugit!
I’ve got to make some VOO, parfait-style! They look scrumptious. I’m not a big breakfast person (only smoothies for some reason) so I’m thinking it would make a tasty mid-afternoon snack!
I can’t wait for summer to hit us here too! It’s been a long winter and I’m definitely ready for some sunshine :)
This looks like the perfect breakfast for today! I can’t believe how hot it is out there!
This looks amazing. Perfect for a hot day. I have to make this soon! I’ll have to clear some space in the fridge first though….
Perfect recipe timing! Last night I cut up my first ever fresh mango (I know…) and had no idea what to do with it! I was going to toss them in with some pineapple for a tropical green monster, but this looks delish!
I have yet to try a VOO + soft-serve parfait. They look soo good though… I think I need to get on it!
i NEED to get my hands on some Chia Seeds so I can make VOO! They look sooo tasty with the soft serve.
Instead of rolled oats can I use Muesli?
Not sure…I can’t see why not?
I really need to get my hands on some cherries – I love the idea of a parfait instead of choosing a smoothie or oats – this is the best of both worlds!
I agree, it’s been too cold lately to really do the parfait thing but this week that’s changing!
Time for me to start using my overnight cookie dough for parfaits!!
It’s a little too cold for parfait breakfasts over here, but they’re definitely still fantastic for post-workouts in the afternoons! This one looks fabulous :)
that looks so wonderful and perfect for summer!
Mangoes and cherries–yes please! Sounds awesome! :)
What do chai seeds event taste like?
No taste!
Mango, cherries, bananas…OH MY! Perfect summer fruit combo!!!
Those look great. Especially with the homemade granola. Love that crunch :D
Mmm, that looks so good!
Beautiful pictures of the grass btw :)
I love following your garden! All my herbs are growing well except the basil, which is a total bummer, since I had dreams of pesto all summer. I hope your dill rebounds!
Last night I made banana soft serve for the second time. I used it for the chocolate-chip cookie dough “blizzard.” It was my reward for completing a biathlon in the outrageous heat and humidity!
You’re smart to take your running comeback slowly. Too much pounding too soon won’t do you any good!
I have issues growing dill as well. I’m trying some from seed this year, so we’ll see what happens…
The mango makes it look so summery, I love it.
I need to spice up my overnight oats, mine this morning
were sorta bleh!
It doesn’t get much more summery than mangos and cherries! They also happen to be two fruits I absolutely adore :)