Simply good

Posted on May 16, 2013 by jilldejong

What are you having for lunch today? If you haven’t decided yet.. go for something with salmon! There is no magic health pill, but if there was, it would certainly list salmon as an ingredient. Salmon is rich in omega-3 acids , the building blocks of nerve tissue and brain cells! Yep, It’s a smart choice

I used yogurt instead of cream cheese, very refreshing!

Spread some greek yogurt on your toast. Place a slice of smoked salmon on the yogurt, add the radish and sprinkle some chopped scallions or chives on top . Finish with some black pepper.

Brie sandwich with apple, grapes and arugula.

Posted on May 14, 2013 by jilldejong

When I first moved from Holland to the United States, I discovered the difference in “Bread culture” after ordering my first ham and cheese sandwich at a deli. I couldn’t believe that there were four layers of ham and another four thick layers of cheese on a single sandwich!

When ordering a sandwich in Holland in one of the many deli’s (Broodjeszaak in Dutch) you get exactly one layer of whatever you ordered on your bread! I can only imagine the disappointment Americans must feel when they travel to Holland and order a sandwich They must think it’s a rip off!

Over the years I’ve always stuck with my one layer habit, usually a flavorful cheese like Gouda, sharp cheddar or brie on top of whole grain bread for lunch. But that doesn’t mean that my sandwiches are boring This is what I made today!

Spread a thin layer of your favorite butter or margarine on the toast. Layer the brie, apple, grapes and arugula ( in that order) and crack some pepper on top! Enjoy!

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Honey lemon yogurt snack

Posted on May 10, 2013 by jilldejong

A lemon a day keeps the doctor away! From digestion aid to wrinkle fighter, Lemon is one of those super foods with a myriad health and cosmetic benefits.

I squeeze lemon in my water, sprinkle it over my salad and add it to my veggie juice and for this recipe I mixed it into my yogurt. It’s an easy thing to add to your routine, little effort big results

Greek yogurt makes a good snack, especially when sweetened with honey. It’s a healthy and satisfying treat that will keep you slim!

I had this for breakfast the other day and I might serve it as a dessert next

Mix the honey an lemon juice into the yogurt. Top it of with sliced kiwi, strawberry and shredded mint leaves.

Have a great weekend! XO

Dinner for breakfast?

Posted on April 18, 2013 by jilldejong

I grew up in a small village in the north of Holland where pancakes were served for dinner! It was only when I started traveling to the States that I discovered pancakes were served for breakfast as well! It was a weird idea to eat dinner for breakfast but I only had to try it once to be convinced that pancakes taste fantastic any time of the day!

Another difference is that in Holland we eat crepe-like pancakes, thin but large; as big as your plate. We like to melt butter on the pancake and sprinkle lots of powdered sugar and/or decorate it with a thick and sticky syrup, called “stroop”. We then roll the pancake up, nice an tight and cut into bite-size pieces. Yummm..

This fluffy pancake recipe is a healthier and in my opinion, yummier version of the American pancake. I know it’s sounds almost too good to be true, you’ll only find out when you try it! I use whole-wheat flour instead of white, agave instead of sugar and the butter is replaced with coconut oil.

Put the flour, baking powder and salt in a large bowl and start mixing in the milk, egg, agave and coconut oil, mix until smooth.

Heat a lightly oiled (I use coconut oil) frying pan over medium high heat. Scoop the batter into the pan and brown on both sides.

Serve hot with all your favorite toppings!

My favorites? Condensed milk, banana, maple syrup, cinnamon, coconut shavings

Pineapple morning glory

Posted on April 3, 2013 by jilldejong

This recipe is featured in the latest issue of Slenderbread magazine! www.slenderbreadmag.com

Start your day by fueling your body with this yummy, healthy and nutritious breakfast and you’ll go to work with a smile on your face! Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so why not make it the most delicious meal at the same time?

When I created this new recipe I organized a “food casting” for ingredients, I checked the fridge and kitchen cabinets and I judged each ingredient by its look but also by their unique properties/talents. Only ingredients that have the “X” factor were selected to be part of my new creation

Pineapple definitely has the “X” factor for me, as it’s sweet, juicy, delicious and loaded with important vitamins and minerals. I choose greek yoghurt not just for it’s yummy taste, but also because it has twice as much protein as regular yogurt; great building blocks for your day. The chia seeds that I sprinkle on top are rich in omega-3 fatty acids and maple syrup, on top of being a great sweetener is also an antioxidant.

Put the yogurt in a bowl and mix in the maple syrup.

Put the pineapple chunks in a glass and poor the orange juice over them.

Place the pineapple on top of the yogurt and sprinkle with some cinnamon.

Top each serving with chia seeds and a few small mint leaves

Enjoy and have an awesome day!

Ditch sugary granola for home made muesli!

Posted on April 1, 2013 by jilldejong

I was surprised to find out that my favorite “healthy” granola has a lot of sugar in it even though it’s named, innocently on the label as “Evaporated cane juice“. Evaporated cane juice is supposed to be a healthy alternative to refined sugar, but I prefer not to have added sugar to my breakfast. So I decided to make my own version I mixed a few cups rolled oats with raisins, dried apricot and dried mango + sunflower and pumpkin seeds.The dried fruit make it taste nice and sweet and when I eat this muesli with hemp milk or yogurt I feel like a winner!

The great thing about making your own muesli is that you get to pick all your favorite flavors. I’m already thinking what I’m going to be making next…! Coconut..dried banana.. Hmmm..

When you make your own muesli make sure you buy “unsulfured” dried fruit (no sugar added). Sulfur dioxide is a preservative to help retain the original fruit color, but it’s not healthy.

Take control over your sugar intake! One spoon less at a time

Quick morning scramble

Posted on March 6, 2013 by jilldejong

I like to treat every morning like a weekend morning by creating some extra time to prepare and enjoy my breakfast. No need to rush out of the house without breakfast or to pick-up an unhealthy breakfast sandwich someplace when I can make this delicious and nutritious spinach/egg scramble for myself in 10 minutes

Today I started my day with two eggs and a little more than two cups of vegetables and while writing this I feel satisfied and energized. I actually just decided to go wakeboarding with my friends this afternoon to work up an appetite to create some new recipes!

I love my life and love being a food blogger! LOL

Heat up a skillet with olive oil over medium/high heat.

Stir in the onion and mushrooms first and keep stirring, then add the spinach.

When the onion is translucent, the mushroom browned and the spinach shrunken its time to put in the eggs. (It’s best to crack the eggs in a small bowl, just in case a piece of eggshell falls in; it’s easier to get it out)

Stir the eggs for another minute or so, when the eggs turn solid your scramble is ready!

Toast a slice of bread and spread a thin layer of ketchup and Veganaise on it.

Place the scramble on the bread and top it of with some shredded cheese and a little salt and pepper to taste.

A very good morning to you!

Acai breakfast

Posted on March 4, 2013 by jilldejong

I like to change up my breakfast but for the last few days I’ve been eating this Acai breakfast, it’s become a new favorite! Even though it’s been pretty cold in Miami for the past few days, I still crave this frosty breakfast every morning…

I blend frozen Acai berries with blueberries, banana and a splash of orange juice to a smooth consistency. I then top it of with shredded coconut, oats, almonds, Goji berries and Chia seeds.

The Acai berry is a powerhouse of health, packed with medicinal properties from the Amazon in every bite. Each berry contains large quantities of vitamins, dietary fibers, essential fatty acids, and antioxidants.

They help keep your hearth healthy, lower your cholesterol and encourage efficient functioning of the digestive system. They boost your energy and will improve your concentration power.

I only have good things to say about the Acai berry and I hope you’ll like it as much as I do!

Breakfast on set

Posted on February 19, 2013 by jilldejong

When I arrived on set this morning I was happy to see that our catering service had prepared a nice selection of breakfast food for us. I love breakfast so much that I could eat it for lunch and dinner I had a piece of whole grain bread with eggs and ate a big bowl of fruit, with yogurt and granola which was enough to get me trough the first half of the day When I started modeling I quickly learned that when I’m on a set, I better eat while I can, as I never know when my next break will be.

In between meals there’s usually lots of temptation on the craft service table; sugar-laden snacks that get you high on sugar for a moment and then make you crash 10 minutes after. One of the benefits of eating a good breakfast is that I snack less during the day.

Below is a picture of me with the make up artist and hair stylist.
Yup….give Jill a good breakfast and she’ll be happy all day!

What did you eat for breakfast?

Orange honey yogurt with flaxseed & cinnamon

Posted on January 30, 2013 by jilldejong

This morning I made Orange honey yogurt with flaxseed and cinnamon for breakfast…..what a yummy start of my day! Most ready-made fruit yogurts in the supermarket tend to be high in added sugar and preservatives, compromising the overall nutritional value. The picture on the front often looks promising but when looking at the ingredients I’ll pass. I like fruit yoghurt for breakfast or have it as a snack, so I usually purchase plain yogurt and add my own flavor.

Today I mixed my freshly squeezed orange juice with 2% Greek yogurt. I sweetened it with honey (great antioxidant) instead of sugar and added flaxseed and a little bit of cinnamon.

TIP: It’s a great idea to always have a bag of ground Flaxseed in your kitchen. Flaxseed is a perfect non-animal source of Omega-3 fatty acids and mixes great with dough for baked goods, pancakes, smoothies etc.

It only took me five minutes to make a breakfast that will last me until lunch.

Try this yummy breakfast and let me know if you like it!

Poor the yogurt in a bowl, stir in the orange juice until it has a smooth consistency.

Add the honey; start with a little less than a tablespoon, sample it and mix in a little more until you find your “sweet’ spot.

MIx in the flaxseed and sprinkle some cinnamon on top.