Author: Amanda

Overnight Baked French Toast

- Amanda

Happy fall everyone! Today is the first official day of Autumn and I can’t think of a better way to start the day than with this warm and cozy Overnight Baked French Toast. Well, except maybe unless it’s accompanied by a Pumpkin Spice Latte.

This Overnight Baked French Toast has all the right spiced and delicious notes you need to start the season off on the right foot, or bite, should I say. And instead of having to stand over the stove cooking the individual slices of bread, this all gets put together the night before, then just gets a few simple additions in the morning with a little cinnamon sugar and pecans sprinkled on top. Then into the oven it goes.

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Strawberry Maple Chia Jam

- Amanda

Strawberry season came a little late for us here in Istanbul. Last year we had gorgeous berries starting in May but since this winter lingered a bit longer, it had an affect on spring and summer produce. And while we had to wait till the end of July for the organic strawberries to come, there is a silver lining. We’re still getting sweet and beautiful berries now, well into September. And with them, we’re making lots and lots of this Strawberry Maple Chia Jam.

This jam is so good, only has 4 ingredients and comes together in a jiff. Less than 10 minutes to be exact, once you cut the strawberries. It’s only sweetened with a little maple syrup (you can also use honey) and a few drops of fresh lemon juice help brighten it up. Then a generous addition of chia seeds when it’s done cooking add a hefty dose of nutritional value as well as making for a fun texture.

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Turkish Watermelon & Feta Salad

- Amanda

We’re halfway through September, if you can believe it, and that means summer comes to it’s official close this weekend. And I’ve got the perfect salad to send off the season with a bang. If you still have some warm weather and sweet watermelon in your neck of the woods, you have enough of an excuse to give this a try. It’s my go to salad for guests, parties, or any type of get together from May through September. The sweet and salty pairing with fresh mint, truly is a killer combo.

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Favorite Zucchini Pancakes

- Amanda

Pancakes are probably the breakfast of choice among my hungry little eaters. I mean, what’s not to like? Fluffy, warm pillows of goodness that classically get sweetened up with a drizzle of oh-so-delicious maple syrup. It’s basically dessert for breakfast if you ask me. Which is why, I tend to try and pack in any healthy ingredients I can like whole wheat flour, flax seeds, fruits, veggies, whatever will make them more “healthy.” But of course, still keeping them really yummy. So the fact that, these Zucchini Pancakes are my 6-year-old’s favorite is a huge win-win. Just last week, in fact, he asked what we’re having for breakfast to which I replied, “pancakes.” And then he asked “are they zucchini pancakes,” which they indeed were, and exclaimed, “Yes! My favorite!” Who woulda thought something with the word zucchini in it would ever be this kid’s favorite?

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Cucumber Melon Agua Fresca

- Amanda

With fall officially two weeks away, there’s already a decent amount of pumpkin spice this and pumpkin that currently buzzing about the internet. And while I have every intention of diving head first into all things that the autumn season brings, my favorite season after all, I’m trying to enjoy (and share) the last of the summer recipes that are at their best during these sweltering hot days, which it still very much is here in Istanbul (and definitely true as well back in my hometown of Los Angeles.)

This recipe is a quick and easy one and doesn’t require any cooking at all. Agua Fresca is a drink that comes from Mexico and literally translates to “fresh water.” Generally it consists of fruit, sometimes flowers like hibiscus, or one of my favorites, horchata, which is made with rice, and is blended with water and sugar. This version, Cucumber Melon Agua Fresca, is definitely refreshing and can be enjoyed simply as is over ice, or perhaps with a shot of rum or vodka to bring you right back to the weekend and wash away those Monday blues….ever try a little rum in some Horchata? If the answer is no, get your hands on some asap.

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