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!!