Mysty PfefferA sourdough, fresh-milled English muffin filled with watercress, egg, and avocado is an extra special treat for a cool winter morning…well really, any morning. However, these muffins do take a little tender loving care, so I do them on my preparation day.
The flavor and texture of these whole grain English Muffins is so good, it is worth the additional work. To get ready ahead of time, I use my Betty Crocker cookbook to find a sourdough starter. I used 2 cups of fresh-milled hard wheat flour, 2 1/2 cups warm water, 2 teaspoons yeast, and 1 tablespoon of sugar. I mixed this well in a 2-quart mason jar then covered it with a paper towel and screwed on the rim. The next day, there was some thick alcohol smelling liquid on the top, I learned this is called “hooch”.
Great…some sites said it’s harmless and just stir it in, while others said, pour it off. The first ten days I stirred it in and did not see a good rise in my rolls or my first batch of English muffins. So, on the second round, I began a new starter and poured off the hooch each day. The Betty Crocker recipe did not say to feed it daily, so I did not add flour or water the first seven days, I just stirred it two-three times each day.
Mind you this process takes seven to ten days, so if you don’t have that kind of patience, find a good quality English muffin at your local grocery store…preferably one without “enriched bleached flour, Calcium Propionate, Calcium Sulfate, Ammonium Chloride, Fumaric Acid, or Soybean Oil…..oh, and good luck with that while you’re searching!
You see now, why I value making my own!
Dave’s Killer Bread-organic English Muffins will pass the additive test and cost around $5.50. Also, there is Simple Truth Organic English Muffins for $3.99.
However, if you’re up for the challenge and you are having a bread making day, go for this recipe from Breadbecker’s , because it’s delicious! However, I use water in my starter, not milk. When they are done, I store all ten of them in the fridge and eat one every day!
Today, I’m frying up one egg, applying half of an avocado, and a 1/2 cup of fresh watercress to make this delightful breakfast. That’s all there is to it, getting the dough down is the fun part.
If you are cutting calories or fat, you can omit the olive oil and use just a smidge of oil on a hot cast-iron surface, this will save you about 100 calories. I use a very small amount of olive oil to fry my eggs and I’m careful not to let the temperature get above 350 degrees, so it doesn’t become a trans-fat, as some researchers claim.
Benefits
This power-packed breakfast will provide around 474 calories (with the oil), 14 grams of heart-healthy fat, 5 grams of fiber, and 6 grams of protein. Not only that, but you’ll have a decent start to your B vitamins, C, E, and trace minerals calcium, magnesium, zinc, and selenium.
Sign me up for some intentional eating! I know what God puts in the garden is good! He is faithful to provide exactly what we need when we need it. Doesn’t that make you have a better start to your day alongside a Avocado & Watercress English Muffin?
Avocado & Watercress English Muffin
Ingredients
- 1 Whole Grain English Muffin
- 1/2 or 1 cup Fresh Watercress (or dark leafy greens)
- 1 Tbsp. Plain Greek Yogurt
- 1 large Egg (Poached/fried or however you like it)
- 1/2 tsp Onion Powder
- 1/2 Fresh Cut Avocado, diced
Instructions
- Heat your skillet and prepare your egg
- Toast your Whole Grain English Muffin and set aside.
- Wash and dry your watercress. Place on your English muffin and sprinkle with yogurt and onion powder, add the egg and the diced avocado and enjoy!
Nutrition
Devotion
When I think about how important dough was to ancient people, I have a new respect for the saying, “bread of life”. During the famine of Jacob’s day he prepared gifts of almonds, a little balm and a little honey, gum, myrrh, and pistachio nuts (Gen 43:11). They had food, and they still had their flocks and herds. It was grain they lacked. Jacob heard about Egypt having grain and sent his sons to get it. When they ran out, it was a matter of life and death.
The seven years of plenty that occurred in the land of Egypt came to an end, 54 and the seven years of famine began to come, as Joseph had said. There was famine in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. 55 When all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph. What he says to you, do.”
56 So when the famine had spread over all the land, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe in the land of Egypt. 57 Moreover, all the earth came to Egypt to Joseph to buy grain, because the famine was severe over all the earth.
Genesis 41:53-57
.
Dough is offered in the sacrifice to God as well. The grain offering is mentioned 131 times in the Old Testament. “
Numbers 15:20 says “Of the first of your dough you shall present a loaf as a contribution; like a contribution from the threshing floor, so shall you present it.“
We can appreciate the importance of this nourishing substance as a gift from God and to God as we partake each day. Even as a special place deep in our hearts remembers the spiritual bread of sacrifice in the presence of Jesus, our Lord.
I pray you have wonderful day partaking of both!
References:
Avocado Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits (verywellfit.com)
English muffins, whole-wheat Nutrition Facts & Calories (self.com)
Watercress Benefits Nutrition Facts and Recipes – Dr. Axe (draxe.com)
