Cafe Deux Soleil

Cafe Deux Soleils is probably my favourite breakfast place in Vancouver, due to their amazing french toast and relaxed atmosphere. Located on Commercial Drive, they offer up a vegetarian-friendly breakfast and lunch menu, and delicious beverages (including homemade red and white wine sangria!). They house live bands every evening, and have a slam-poetry night at least once a month. If you live in Vancouver and enjoy veggie cuisine, you should definitely check this place out! Here's their website: http://www.cafedeuxsoleils.com/

Best french toast in town (yummmmmmmm!):

Black-Bean and Yam Fritters

I got this recipe from Martha Stewart Living, who calls them Spicy Black-Bean Cakes. Despite their puke-like appearance, these fritters are delicious and live up to their name in regards to hotness!

Spicy Black-Bean Cakes

2 tablespoons olive oil

4 scallions, thinly sliced

6 garlic cloves, pressed

1 to 2 jalapeno chiles, finely chopped

1 tablespoon ground cumin

2 cans (15.5oz each) black beans, drained and rinsed

coarse salt and ground pepper

1 large sweet potato, peeled and grated

1 large egg, lightly beaten

1/2 plain dried breadcrumbs

Instructions:

1. Heat broiler. In a small skillet over medium heat, warm 1 tablespoon olive oil. Cook scallions until softened, 1 minute. Add garlic, jalapeno, and cumin; cook until fragrant, 30 seconds. Transfer to a large bowl.

2. Add beans to bowl; mash with a fork or a potato masher, leaving about 1/4 of the beans whole. Season generously with salt and pepper. Fold in sweet potato, egg, and breadcrumbs. Divide into 8 balls of equal size; flatten into patties.

3. Brush a baking sheet with remaining tablespoon oil; place patties on sheet, 1/2 inch apart. Broil 4 inches from heat until golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes. With a thin metal spatula, carefully turn cakes. Broil until crisp, 2 to 3 minutes more.

Martha serves this with Lime Sour Cream, which can be found here: http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/spicy-black-bean-cakes

Banana Walnut Chocolate Chip Muffins

I got this recipe off of Martha Stewart Living. The original recipe called for blueberries, but I substituted them for walnuts and chocolate chips, for obvious reasons! My dad claims that these are the best muffins in the world! :-)

Banana Walnut Chocolate Chip Muffins

1 cup whole wheat flour

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 cup wheat germ

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup butter, at room temperature

1/3 cup brown sugar

2 large eggs

3 ripe bananas

1/3 cup skim milk

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 cup chopped walnuts

1 cup chocolate chips

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners. In a bowl, whisk together flours, wheat germ, baking soda, and salt.

2. In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar with a mixer until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. In another bowl, mash bananas with a fork; stir in milk and vanilla.

3. With mixer on low, alternately add flour mixture and banana mixture to butter mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture; mix just until combined. Fold in walnuts and chocolate chips.

4. Divide batter among muffin cups. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean, 25 to 28 minutes, rotating pan halfway through. Let cool in pan 10 minutes; transfer muffins to a rack to cool 10 minutes more.

Salt Spring Island

My boyfriend and I went to Salt Spring Island this past weekend. We stayed at this very quaint bed and breakfast called All Seasons Inn (http://www.allseasons-saltspring.ca/). Every morning, the husband and wife would serve us a lovely three course breakfast.

The first morning, we were served a chive omelette with squash sauteed in a sage and butter sauce, and toast. The omelette was served with freshly squeezed orange juice, coffee, homemade jam and an apple turnover cake. :)

The second morning, we had four grain, spelt pancakes with fresh blueberries, maple syrup and homemade jam. To drink, we had a berry smoothie, fresh orange juice and coffee. :)

Pesto

Every year, my dad grows a lovely herb garden filled with fresh basil. This year, I decided to make some extra delicious pesto, which was used to make some super extra delicious pizzas.

Pesto

2 cups fresh basil

1/2 cup olive oil

1/2 parmesan cheese

3 cloves garlic

1/4 pine nuts

Blend together for pesto perfection.