Greece - Breakfast - Greek Easter Bread

Another recipe that I discovered from my resident Greek friend is Greek Easter bread! This may be traditional for Easter, but I'm having no problem eating it right now at midnight as I'm writing up this post with a little bit of honey drizzle. My brother just came in and tore off a giant chunk for himself, and I got the nod of approval. I can't wait to eat it for breakfast tomorrow morning and share it with all my friends. Here is the recipe I followed, so you can share it with your loved ones! I'm going to grab some more...

India - Breakfast - Mango Lassi

When I was brainstorming recipes with my friends, I was told I have to make mango lassi for breakfast and that it would completely change my life. I was not lied to. Making this smoothie like yogurt and fruit concoction was so easy and the end result is so delicious and healthy! It's perfect for a hot spring or summer day as a breakfast or afternoon snack. I had mine lying in the sun on my back porch. Even though they are widely available here in the US, making it yourself allows you to know exactly what's in it and what you're putting in your body. Here's how you can make yours (I adapted from this recipe).

Japan - Breakfast - Japanese Pancakes

Before researching recipes for this project, I had never heard of Japanese pancakes before in my life. I was skeptical at first, but was blown away by how good they taste. Japanese pancakes are very different from traditional American pancakes. They are taller, sweeter and have a texture very similar to a crumpet. Even without the egg rings the recipe calls for, the pancakes are still very thick and need to be cooked all the way through, but I highly recommend the egg rings, or cookie cutters in my case, they make the pancakes so cute and stackable!

Spain - Breakfast - Chocolate con Churros

When I first went to Spain, everyone in our group got churros! They're so crispy and delicious, especially when dunked in chocolate sauce. Unfortunately, they are not very healthy because they are fried in oil. I found a great recipe for baked churros here, which take out the frying step and instead have you put them in the oven to bake. It took me a few tries to perfect, but the end result was incredible. If you want to have traditional churros, just follow the same steps but instead of baking them, fry them at 350 degrees in oil until they turn golden brown and crispy!

France - Breakfast - Croissants

When I went to France for the first time, I had croissants every morning for breakfast! They, along with crêpes, coffee and macarons, are available virtually on every street corner in Paris. Even though nothing can compare to an authentic Parisian croissant, homemade ones are a perfect substitute and a lot cheaper than a plane ticket to Paris. I've always wanted to try and make croissants myself, but the meticulous preparation French food requires always scared me off; however, this recipe I am following breaks down the process very well, and even though it still takes a long time (give the whole process a full day and the next morning), the end product is so worth it. Bon chance et bon appetit!

France - Breakfast - Spinach and Gruyère Quiche

When I first went to Paris and had my first dinner, I had quiche as my first course. Since then, it's been one of my favorite meals. I get it every time I see it on a restaurant menu, and really enjoyed making my own for my family. You can put whatever you want in your quiche, but personally I love to put cheese, onions and spinach in mine. Quiche can be for breakfast, lunch, brunch or dinner depending on what you put in it, so you can just use the egg mixture as a base. I used this recipe, which made the whole process very simple, but if you wanted to have quiche spur of the moment, just use a ready made pie crust.

Italy - Breakfast - Espresso Biscotti & Honey Vanilla Latté

To kick off my senior project, I'm cooking for the culture that inspires my family cooking the most: Italy. 

Italian cuisine is characterized by its simplicity, valuing the quality of the ingredients over elaborate preparation. In the summer, my mom and I would always go to an Italian grocer called Joe Leone's in New Jersey. We would sample everything and go home with bags of cheese, wine, chocolate, vegetables and various meats. The one food that I loved to sample the most were the sweets, including biscotti. Combined with my favorite drink and a key Italian ingredient, coffee, biscotti is an amazing breakfast option! Though it may not be the healthiest, it's a great morning pick me up, especially since this recipe stuffs it with extra espresso powder and chocolate colored espresso beans.