Adobe Stock | Photo by VM2002
Craft a healthier Hudson Valley brunch with these recipes for baked apple cinnamon French toast and strawberry, quinoa, and chia seed smoothies.
Culinary expert Silvia De Antonio shares a few recipes for Hudson Valleyites on the go who want to eat healthier meals. Here’s an easy recipe that makes for a perfect brunch item:
Apple Cinnamon Overnight Baked French Toast
Serves 12
Ingredients:
1 large loaf Challah bread, cut into cubes
6 large eggs
1 cup unsweetened vanilla milk (vanilla hemp milk works well as a healthier option)
2 cups low-fat plain yogurt
½ tsp sea salt
3 ½ tsp ground cinnamon
3 Tbsp agave nectar
Non-stick cooking spray for a 9×13 baking dish
1-2 apples, peeled and diced (enough to produce 1 cup). Golden Delicious works well.
4 Tbsp sugar, plus ¾ tsp sugar
Method:
Spray 9×13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
Beat eggs in a large bowl and add milk, yogurt, sea salt, ¾ tsp sugar sugar, vanilla extract, 1½ tsp cinnamon, and agave nectar. Stir until well combined and set aside.
Peel and dice apples and toss with 1½ tsp cinnamon and 2 Tbsp sugar.
For the topping, combine the remaining sugar, cinnamon, and pinch of sea salt in a small dish.
Toss the Challah into batter and gently fold until completely moistened. Gently stir in cinnamon- and sugar-coated apple pieces. Pour into baking dish and evenly sprinkle with topping. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350°F.
Remove baking dish from refrigerator, uncover, and let sit while oven heats.
Insert in oven and bake for 45 minutes. Let cool for 10. Serve with agave nectar or your favorite local maple syrup, and wash down with Super Mom Smoothies (below).
“Super Mom” Strawberry, Quinoa and Chia Smoothie
Serves 4
Ingredients:
16 strawberries
8 Tbsp quinoa flakes, cooked and cooled
4 tsp chia seeds
2 tsp vanilla extract
4 Tbsp honey
8 Tbsp low-fat plain or Greek yogurt
3 cup no-fat milk
Method:
Place all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth.
