Zuke-Fest Breakfast
If I could create a new life for myself, I think I would make me a farmer.
I’d have a bunch of pigs and goats and chickens.
Oh, and a few horses and [more] dogs, too!
And maybe even a few cats, why not? Someone would have to take care of the mice, now, wouldn’t they?
For sure, it would be a life where I would be spending most of my days outside, enjoying the sun and fresh air, putting my body to good use and demanding from it that it does what it was designed to do, which is move and carry stuff around and be really active for the most part of the day.
NOT remain seated on its tush all day, staring at a computer screen.
Mind you, I’d still have to find a little bit of time for blogging, you know…
Of course, in that perfect little life of mine, I’d also have a little garden where I would grow all sorts of vegetables and fresh herbs, so I could just walk out in the yard in the morning, pick me a few perfectly ripe little zukes, a plump aubergine, a beautiful fresh sun-kissed tomato, grab a handful of parsley on the way back home and whip me up this delicious breakfast.
And hopefully, I’d also have to double the recipe because I’d have a very hungry, like-minded life partner to enjoy breakfast with…
Unfortunately, that’s not the way things go for me.
As a full time office worker, I get to spend most of my days resting my rear against a padded cushion. And way too many hours sitting in traffic!
I feel like I die a little with every passing day. I can’t be doing this anymore. I need to move. I need to be active.
I need to feel ALIVE!
*Sigh* Who knows what tomorrow is made of, right?
But hey, I might not have a garden I can call my own just now, but at least, I got to create this beautiful breakfast bowl after purchasing freshly picked vegetables, locally grown in someone else’s garden.
It was almost as fresh as if I’d picked them from my own garden!
And while I was eating this, I felt transported, almost as if I’d been right there, living on that farm. At one point, I could have sworn I was even hearing the animals making small conversation out there in yard.
A swift glance in the direction of the noise quickly brought me back to reality: it was my dogs staring at me and complaining loudly, requesting for me to get up and open the door for them, so they could come in and beg for some of that food…
Oh, how happy the two of them would be, if we lived on a farm!
Ah, right. I almost forgot.
I guess it’s no secret by now that I really like my ground beef for breakfast. In fact, you might almost say that ground beef is my new cereal.
But if you’re not quite there with me yet, as always, feel free to save this one for lunch or dinner.
Oh, and also too, feel free to double or even triple the recipe, for I’m sure you won’t mind sharing…
Or generating leftovers, for that matter!
And hey, tell me, if YOU could create a new life for yourself… what would it be like?
Zuke-Fest Breakfast
Ingredients
- 150 g leftover cooked ground beef
- 4 mushrooms, sliced
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 small grey zucchini, cut into bite size chunks
- 1 small green 8 ball zucchini, cut into bite size chunks
- 1 yellow pattypan squash, cut into bite size chunks
- ½ small aubergine, cut into bite size chunks
- 1 ripe tomato, diced
- Fresh parsely and extra-virgin olive oil to garnish
Instructions
- Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Melt a little bit of cooking fat (lard or ghee preferred) and add the sliced mushrooms, salt and pepper. Cook for one or two minutes, until they become nice and golden brown, then add the chopped courgettes and aubergine. Continue cooking until sligtly softened, about one or two minutes more.
- Stir in the cooked ground beef and tomato and continue cooking for another minute or so, until the ground beef is heated all the way through.
- Transfer to a shallow bowl and garnish with fresh parsley and drizzle generously with extra-virgin olive oil.
- Take a moment to truly savor and appreciate this beautiful dish that you just prepared! Imagine yourself in a place where you'd really love to be (or if you already are, be super thankful for that and take a good long look around you!)
Notes
If you’ve tried this recipe, please take a minute to rate the recipe and let me know how things went for you in the comments below. It’s always such a pleasure to hear from you!
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19 Comments on “Zuke-Fest Breakfast”
I am so with you on the farmer thing… mind you, I don’t want to be a farmer, I just want a small acerage where we can grow our own veggies, a couple of goats (for milk), a couple of pigs, maybe a sheep or two and some chickens…. and an orchard. I want fruit trees! And a couple of beehives as well…..
Our dream is that once the kids are done with school and leave home, we will be able to move out of the city, get that land, get the livestock and grow our own food….
Eldest will be done with highschool in 3 years time. 9 years (and counting!) for the youngest…
Why wait until the kids are all grown up? It would be such a great experience for them, growing up in such a beautiful environment, and learning how to care for the animals and garden. I’m sure they’d thank you for it! 🙂
now our problem is the kids education… they are all in the fine-arts stream, and we don’t want to jepodise that if we moved out of the city they would not be eligible to attend the schools they do and they are doing SO well!
A, my eldest at 15 is a talented artist – she paints and draws, and has had several pictures in exhibitions.
C the next (at 13) is a musician – she plays flute, guitar and keyboard (recorder as well, along with African drums) and is totally self-taught in everything except flute. She writes her own music, and is the star of her junior high concert band along with the jazz band. She also plays in the Calgary Roundup Band which is a marching band… J (age 11 writes recipes and comes up with some incredible concepts…she , plays in band and is just a delight to know. She is also a dancer and does wonderfully in the drama section. And B,(age 9)is just a delight. she is also dyslexic and has ADHD, and the school she attends is helping her with that.
I am not going to mess with my kids education for my dream… it can wait because my kids do well where they are.
and tbh the kids come first… the dream can wait!
Wow. I see. You decision is totally understandable! I think I would wait too! 😀
I work at a local organic farm that offers a CSA (Community Sustained Agriculture). I work about 4 hours a week, sometimes extra if there are extra projects. I get a free share (a box of food that is jam packed full of fresh produce) every week. I also have access to damaged or seconds so I can can and freeze to my little heart’s content. I have planted, weeded, picked, washed, sorted, packed so I am out absorbing all the wonderful farminess of it all and getting doubly paid. Plus they are so grateful for my help. Maybe you’ve got something like that in your area.
Sounds like a lot of fun, Kelly! Thanks for the tip! 🙂
I’m so digging the farmer’s life too, but I would probably settle for a nice garden where I could grow all sort of veggie (and fruits) and some hens/chickens.
That would be just perfect, just like your BF bowl!
That would be the dream… if I didn’t have to earn a living!
Perhaps when I’m retired, I could settle for something like that. Although I would love to live my retirement on some beautiful tropical island, where the sun it always shine and the wind is always warm.
Yeah, that head of mine is filled up with all sorts of crazy dreams, like that. 😉
“Ground beef is my new cereal.” Amen, my friend!
High five! 🙂
This recipe sounds very nice, but once again, it would be our lunch or dinner. We’re doing well to have a green smoothie every now and again. Oh, and FYI, your gray zucchini, at least in our area is known as Mexican squash. I like those a lot better than regular zucchini – they taste better to me.
It sounds like you would be a good candidate for participating in a community garden. I don’t know if there are costs involved, but you get a small plot where you can raise whatever you want. We have a friend who does that and actually has a couple of plots there. It’s a great way to have a farm and get outside without the huge amount of work that a farm would take.
If I had to imagine a new life, I don’t think I would want to. I like my life very well now. Five years ago I married my husband; we are retired and spend as much time as we can traveling. We also volunteer at a state park that is close to our home, an activity that just gets better as we do it more. We enjoy doing a lot of different things together. So life is good. I hope you find someone who is as good for you as my husband is for me. In the mean time, you make your readers happy with the good recipes you post.
Awww, thank you so much Susan. Your kind words just made my day! 🙂
Enjoy every bit of happiness that life grants you. You simply can’t put a price on that. And stay healthy! 🙂
THIS is my kind of breakfast! Since I can no longer eat eggs, I am ALL OVER meat for breakfast 🙂
Hi love your bogs you have some great recipes, my body too doesn’t agree with certain carbs, mainly of the white flour variety. Its all trial and error at the moment for me finding out what does and doesnt work. Your photos are great the recipes are easy and loving the nutritional info. Bookmark bookmark bookmark 🙂
Thanks Patricia! Ever considered giving the Whole30 a try? This would no doubt help you find out exactly what works and what doesn’t! Really worth a shot! 😀
I have just found your blog & am loving it. I totally relate to the food issues. It shouldn’t have to be so hard to be health-filled. I also think you should head to New Zealand, you have just described our lifestyle (minus the pig, sheep & horse tho). I wander out in the morning & collect the eggs & gather the herbs to make our omelet. My capsicums have over wintered in the glass house & are now in full production followed shortly I hope by the tomatoes. I’m picking the last of the brassicas & artechokes & am watching my fennel swell & look crisp & fresh. The callendula flower all year & look stunning nestled in the raised vegetable beds along with the stray foxglove (helping the potatoes). The orchard is in full blossom & fruit set. We live in paradise. We live in God’s Zone, NZ.
Oh, Ula! This is a dream. I really don’t think I would hate living in New Zealand. I could still have sheep, pigs, horses and dogs there, couldn’t I? I think I’ll start packing tonight! 😉
Ha ha, sure, my friend even has donkeys, ducks & geese! but as we have chooks & 3 Irish Setters on 1 & 1/2 acres I have my hands full!
Oh my! Can I move in with you, please? I promise I’ll cook every day! 😉