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…
WOW! Those look incredible…the mango in my fridge is begging to be made into a breakfast parfait!!
Thanks Angela.
Those parfaits looks heavenly! And so refreshing on a day like today.
I think my dill is dying too, all of a sudden it’s wilty, no idea why… don’t give up on it though, it may come back :)
After a week in California, I have a new love for how green Illinois is!
Those overnight oats look so delish! Love love them! Sometimes I add a little chocolate Sun Warrior Protein to thicken it up a little as well!!
I love your parfaits, and make them all the time … glad to have another one to try!
I’m newer to the vegan world – who would have thought? Vegan soft serve? And so easy. This is food GOLD. The simplest things that taste divine.
Thank you for this breakfast inspiration. I will run with it! :)
Lol food gold…love that
Hey Angela! I’ve been reading your blog for a while but I’ve never commented…just thought I would let you know that you are the one who taught me about banana softserve (and of course I’m obsessed now). Last night I tried mixing the soft serve with oreo crumbles. COOKIES AND CREAM!! It was MAGICAL. Have you tried it yet?!
Mmmm! I have mixed it with choc chip cookies (and dough balls)….so good!
Oh my! I made the chocolate chip cookies (from the chocolate chip cookie dough sandwich cookies) and my toughest critic, my 8 year-old son, LOVED them!!! My entire family is raving about them. Thank you once again for a wonderful recipe!!!
I love parfaits with granola too! I’m loving the idea of using cherries as well – I don’t have any on hand, but I think I need to get some fresh and frozen ones asap!
I ALWAYS have frozen bananas in my freezer for smoothies, but I haven’t made soft serve in far too long! It’s the perfect spring or summer treat…I bet it tastes amazing with granola. Yum.
All of the pictures in this looked amazing. I had to sum up what I was gonna say somehow. :) Love the grass and the oats look delicious.
Mango and Cherry- great idea! I need some banana soft serve asap :-)
June is going to be my Back on Track month! I got a head start by making some rhubarb quinoa for breakfast tomorrow. Quinoa is awesome! :)
the pictures of the grass are stunning.
Cherry + banana = current obsession! How did you know?!?!
Those almost look too pretty to eat. Almost.
Whitney
I was just thinking about my goals for June as well. My husband and I are going over them tomorrow…one of the major one’s is budgeting!!!
Double batch? Lucky! I wish Kevin would ask me to make double batches of overnight oats. I love the combination of cherry + banana. I haven’t had that combo in YEARS.
That’s funny about the dill! I totally ignore mine and it grows like crazy! (last summer it was about 5 feet tall!) Try neglecting it!! :) hehe
YAY!! The VOO is back! So pretty too and I just love that striped towel. Your grass photos are amazing. :) Glad that you’ve been able to get back into running! 6:30am…yowza!
Hi Angela,
Since you ate your breakfast after your run, I am wondering, do you eat anything before your runs or do you just get up and go? Thanks!
I usually have half a banana before a short run :)