This rich and savory dish is perfect for entertaining- and you can assemble it all the night before!

This blog post was sponsored by Stonefire Naan, but all opinions expressed are my own.

When most people hear bread pudding, they think of dessert.  But there’s a whole other world of savory bread puddings and it’s pretty amazing.  Savory bread pudding, also sometimes known as strata, is a casserole made with cubed bread, cheese and other ingredients like vegetables or meat, baked in an egg-based custard.  This rich and elegant dish is equally suitable for the brunch or dinner table.  It also makes an excellent side dish or vegetarian entrée for the holidays.

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Oats, walnuts, blueberries, and apples are baked together in this hearty breakfast dish that's so good it almost tastes like dessert!

I received free samples of California walnuts mentioned in this post. By posting this recipe I am entering 
a recipe contest sponsored by the California Walnut Commission and am eligible to win prizes associated with the contest. I was not compensated for my time.

If you have never experienced the wonders of baked oatmeal, then you must try this dish!  Oats, walnuts, blueberries and apples are baked together in a hearty and comforting breakfast dish that tastes so good it almost feels like dessert.  And the best part is, it tastes even better the next day. 

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Take your next brunch from ordinary to extraordinary with these delicious and easy chilaquiles. 

Every year around this time, my entire family gets together and goes on a family vacation.  For the past several years, we’ve traveled to Mexico.  What’s not to love about Mexico?  Beautiful beaches, friendly people, and of course, amazing food!  It was on one of these trips several years ago that I first discovered chilaquiles.  Tucked away at the breakfast buffet next to the pancakes, eggs and waffles, I found what looked at first to be a very unassuming dish but ended up being quite a hidden gem. 

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This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BakeItWithMotts #CollectiveBias

At less than 150 calories and almost no fat, these healthy muffins are the perfect, guilt-free snack.

I have a confession to make- I love to bake.  It’s funny, most chefs fall firmly on one side of the savory or sweet fence- they're either savory chefs or they’re bakers, but usually not both.  It’s probably because with savory dishes, you can be more experimental while baking is much more of an exact science.  With savory dishes, you can add a little bit of this or a little bit of that, mixing ingredients until you achieve the right balance of flavors.  But with baking, you have to be very precise, measuring each ingredient; otherwise your pastries may not rise or have the proper texture.  In culinary school, practically every student in my class except for me dreaded the mandatory 6-week pastry module (of course I mean the cooking part, not the taste testing!).  I love cooking savory dishes but I also love to bake.  I guess it’s my background in science, but I actually enjoy measuring out ingredients.  Plus, it’s amazing to me that you can mix together a few simple ingredients like flour, eggs, sugar and oil and just a short while later, you have a delicious baked confection.

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These lovely gluten-free mini quiches are the perfect addition to your Easter table.


Like many chefs and foodies, I usually get excited when spring is right around the corner.  It’s nice to see the winter squash and root vegetables at the market making way for the fresh spring vegetables that are suddenly abundant like ramps, fresh peas, asparagus, artichokes, radishes, garlic scapes, and leeks.

I also associate Easter with the beginning of spring.  Did you know that Easter always falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox?  For those of you who don’t remember your 8^thgrade Earth Science, the vernal equinox (March 20) is significant because it’s one of the two days of the year when day and night are about equal in length all over the world.   

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Break out of your breakfast boredom with my Strawberry Stuffed French Toast. 

I’m always looking for healthy and delicious breakfast ideas.  On workdays, I’m usually rushing out the door in the morning and prefer portable breakfasts to take on the go.  But on my days off, I love having a relaxing breakfast at home with my family.  When I have a good, hearty breakfast in the morning, it puts me in a good mood and gives me the energy to get my day going.

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Your family will swoon over this lovely breakfast dish that puffs up high in the oven.  Light and airy yet satisfying and filling, serve it straight from the oven with a dusting of powdered sugar.      

A Dutch baby, also called a German pancake, is a baked breakfast dish that’s like a cross between a popover and a pancake.  It’s traditionally baked in the oven in a cast iron skillet and has a delightfully light, tender and eggy interior with crispy edges.

The batter is extremely easy to make- simply throw all of the ingredients into a blender and blend away.  My version has sautéed apple slices that are baked into the batter for an extra boost of flavor and nutrients. 

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Start your day off right with one of these tasty muffins!  Packed with whole grains, protein and fiber, they'll give you long-lasting energy to get you through the day. 

As a member of the Stonyfield YoGetters, I was asked to share my healthy, family-oriented New Year's resolutions.  I've decided to start 2015 off right by getting my family into the habit of eating a nutritious breakfast on a more regular basis.  Did you know that people who eat breakfast are actually more likely to eat a healthier diet overall?  Eating a well-balanced breakfast jump-starts your metabolism, gives you energy, and increases your concentration and productivity throughout the morning.  It also prevents binge eating and unhealthy snacking later in the day. 

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