Caprese Egg White Scramble

We're in the thick of it: summertime!

I love summer, you have to love summer if you want to be a human. When summer rolls around I become obsessed with all things summer produce--cherries, for one. Tomatoes, for another. And with tomatoes comes my unstoppable summer obsession: CAPRESE SALAD.

If you follow me on instagram, you'll see that I recently started having caprese salad for dinner. I went to the store, uninspired to cook anything in sweltering heat, and came away with a big vine-ripened tomato and a fresh mozzarella ball (OK FINE I GOT TWO) along with a big bundle of fresh basil. A french baguette for the side made perfect sense.

Cut to a few days later and I still had quite a bit of fresh mozzarella begging to be used. That's when I came up with this delightful Caprese Egg White Scramble. A perfectly light but fulfilling breakfast that is satisfying and bursting with fresh summer flavor.

I started with a couple of cherry tomatoes (which I grew - ON MY PORCH! That's right. My very own tomato plant is proving quite lucrative). The tomatoes are sauteed in olive oil with fresh garlic, salt and pepper. Egg whites join the party as the tomatoes begin to burst. Fresh mozzarella, cut into small cubes, becomes melted and stringy throughout the scramble. Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes give our taste buds a kick. Fresh basil and a few drops of balsamic reduction, because what is a caprese salad with basil and balsamic?

Enjoy this scramble with a slice of whole wheat toast on a slow Saturday morning. I'd eat it for lunch or dinner, too - it's THAT good!

Caprese, previously: Caprese Pasta Salad

Apple Pie Oatmeal

Let's eat all the apples!

Have you been apple picking this season? I don't care if the internet declares apple picking a "basic" activity--it's fantastically fun and a tradition I am not willing to give up.

At what other time of year can you get 20 pounds of apples for two people and NOT judge yourself?

Besides eating an apple a day for the entire month of October, apple picking gives you the perfect excuse to get cooking with the freshest apples that the season has to offer. A fresh apple is the key to my Apple Pie Oatmeal. Imagine having dessert for breakfast. Well, I am here to make that dream a reality.

I suggest rolled oats or steel cut oats for this dish. They are nutty and rich and pair wonderfully with warm apples, cinnamon, and sweet honey. There is no refined sugar in this oatmeal, making it a deliciously guilt free breakfast you can enjoy all week!

I like to make a big batch of this oatmeal Sunday night, and warm up individual portions every morning. The oatmeal may get thicker the longer it sits in the fridge, but that's nothing a little almond milk can't solve. Simply warm the oatmeal in the microwave with a couple of tablespoons of almond milk until your desired consistency is reached.

May I recommend an extra apple slice or two, chopped pecans, an extra sprinkle of cinnamon and a dollop of vanilla yogurt for serving? Enjoy!