General General 4 min read

What’s on your plate?

There's life beyond peanut butter: 10 flavors to upgrade your breakfast

Image: Lisa Fotios

The glorious morning toast can be a vessel for multiple flavors. From classic marmalade, peanut butter, or maple syrup, to the ubiquitous avocado, to more adventurous savory fillings and beyond, this humble bread square can carry anything you can imagine. Among the endless options available, we believe the following ten deserve a try or, at the very least, a formal presentation on our list. Which one would you try?

1
Avocado Toast

Image: Brenda Godinez

Let’s get this right out of the way first with a recipe that is as close to perfection as possible. Avocado toast has been a staple of breakfast menus for the last ten years or more, usually paired with scrambled eggs and seeds.

For this version, add a poached egg and top it with tuna salad or alfalfa sprouts for a healthy and satisfying meal.

2
Peanut Butter & Pomegranate

Image: Khysrow Akbari

Peanut butter? Sure. Pomegranate? Not so much, right? You might be surprised by this one, but this odd pairing works quite well. The classic PB flavor is complemented by the fresh fruit , with its natural sweetness and juiciness helping to combat peanut butter's stickiness, plus some extra fiber.

The recipe is simple: just spread a layer of peanut butter on your toast and sprinkle a healthy dose of pomegranate arils on top.

3
Fig, burrata & prosciutto

Image: Kaufmann Mercantile

As with a couple of the following recipes, this very Italian version of breakfast toast might seem a bit sophisticated, but it’s really not. Indeed, a combination of fig, burrata, and prosciutto does look and sound impressive, but it is very easy to make.

If you want to go the whole nine yards, start with sourdough bread as the base. Top it with a slice of prosciutto, a spread of burrata, and the pulp of a fig. The sweet and salty combination is delicious.

4
Spinach & blue cheese rarebit

Image: Towfiqu barbhuiya

For those who don’t know, rarebit is a hot cheese sauce served on toasted bread . This upgraded version adds spinach leaves and tangy blue cheese, balanced by delicate crème fraîche and wholegrain mustard.

The flavor and texture mix of the creamy cheese, the crunchy toast, and the spicy mustard create a combination that will provide a nice kick to your breakfast.

5
Ricotta, blackberry & pine nut

Image: Nick Sarro

The first completely sweet (or almost completely) toast on our list is packed full of health benefits, thanks to the vitamins C and K, manganese , and more found in blackberries.

For this recipe, simply spread some ricotta cheese on your toast, pack it with blackberries, and sprinkle toasted pine nuts on top. The creamy, tart, and crunchy combination will give your mornings a delicious health boost.

6
Boiled egg, avocado & quick pickled radish

Image: Jo Lanta

Yes, we said that the first item on this list was the only avocado toast recipe you will need, but in this one, avocado isn’t the star —just another ingredient alongside the mighty radish.

Place thin slices of quick-pickled, crunchy radishes on your toast , then add some avocado slices on top. Lastly, top with a soft-boiled egg. Done. The spicy-creamy combination of radish, avocado, and egg is a heavenly experience for brunch lovers.

7
Pesto eggs with crushed peas

Image: David Todd McCarty

What are pesto eggs, you might wonder? This recipe is a great way to use up the last bit of pesto in the jar by placing it in a frying pan, along with two eggs and two tomato slices .

Once the eggs are cooked to your liking, place the pesto, tomato slices, and eggs in a blender and give it a quick spin to mix everything together. Spread the resulting mixture on two pieces of toast and enjoy!

8
Air fryer yogurt custard toast

Image: Olga Petnyunene

If you have an air fryer, it will come in handy for this delicious breakfast recipe. Start by beating together 1 egg, 3 tablespoons of plain yogurt, and 2 tablespoons of honey or maple syrup in a bowl.

Once you’ve done this, spread the resulting mixture over two pieces of toast, add some raspberries on top , and air-fry for 7 to 8 minutes until the custard has set and the bread is crisp.

9
Breakfast Toasts With Cheese

Image: Jez Timms

Cheese is an almost always welcome ingredient in any dish, and breakfast toasts are no exception. From salty to neutral , from soft and creamy to hard , cheese comes in many varieties that can be part of your morning menu.

Ricotta is a versatile option that can be spread on toast with lemon juice, basil leaves, and honey, or with sliced pears, walnuts, and honey. Soft goat cheese pairs well with figs and thyme for a Mediterranean-inspired breakfast. Blue cheese can also be combined with sliced pears, walnuts, and honey. The possibilities are endless.

10
Breakfast Classics

Image: Chris Lawton

The last item on our list is devoted to the timeless classics that have always been there for us and have stood the test of time. From the delicious bacon and eggs toast with spinach leaves to the more upscale smoked salmon with lemon juice and sliced scallions , or a bagel with cream cheese, smoked trout, and cucumber , or even a simple toast topped with butter and your choice of marmalade or caramel, the classics are always there for you.

Geography Geography 6 min read

BREATHTAKING PLACES TO VISIT

The 10 Most Amazing Unesco World Heritage Sites In The US

Image: Gert Boers

The United States is home to 24 of the 1121 Unesco World Heritage Sites around the world. These special spots are designated for their universal value in terms of natural or cultural heritage and are as unique and diverse as the pyramids of Egypt, the Serengeti in East Africa, and the Grand Canyon in the U.S.

Have you ever been to a World Heritage site? In this article, we have compiled a list of 10 of the most extraordinary locations our country has to offer . Go grab your travel bucket list and start reading!

1
Yellowstone National Park

Image: Meina Yin

Yellowstone National Park, created in 1872, is a vast natural forest of 3,500 square miles that spans the states of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. More than half of the world's geothermal phenomena can be observed here , with some 10,000 different examples. It also has more than 300 geysers, which is about two-thirds of all the geysers on the planet.

This location, the first national park in the United States, has been a World Heritage Site since 1978. It is also known for protecting abundant and diverse wildlife —such as grizzly bears, wolves, bison, and wapiti— and for drawing millions of visitors from all over the world each year. And you, have you ever been?

2
Independence Hall

Image: Rdsmith4, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons

The Independence Hall, located in historic Philadelphia, was designated a World Heritage Site in 1979. This location, far more than just a building, is considered the birthplace of America’s political foundation . The Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall, is where the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776. And just 11 years later, the United States Constitution was also debated and signed here.

This Georgian-style red brick structure was designed by Scottish lawyer Andrew Hamilton and completed in 1753 to house the colonial assembly of the Province of Pennsylvania. In the 19th and 20th centuries, it was then renovated several times. In 1966, the building was recognized as a National Historic Landmark by the U.S. government and is currently the centerpiece of the Independence National Historical Park.

3
Statue of Liberty

Image: Anthony DELANOIX

Installed in 1886 at the gate of New York’s harbor, the Statue of Liberty has since welcomed millions of immigrants who have come to populate the United States. This colossal neoclassical 305-foot-tall effigy enlightening the world with its torch was made in Paris by the sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi in collaboration with Gustave Eiffel. It was a gift from France to our country on the occasion of the centenary of our independence.

To visit this historic monument, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984, tickets must be purchased in advance. Or you can always ride the fare-free Staten Island ferry and admire it from afar in all its splendor!

4
Mesa Verde National Park

Image: Alec Krum

Located in the southwest of Colorado, the Mesa Verde Plateau reaches an altitude of over 8,500 feet. The National Park was established in 1906 and was added to the list of American World Heritage Sites in 1978. This location hosts a large number of Pueblo Indian dwellings built between the 6th and 12th centuries. Some 4,400 settlements have been found , including villages built high up on the plateau and imposing stone-built homes on rocky outcrops, with more than a hundred rooms in some cases.

The Mesa Verde National Park, which nowadays protects these invaluable archaeological sites, is a testament to the ancient cultural traditions of Native American tribes and is among the best preserved in the United States. If you haven’t visited yet, you must! We guarantee you a spectacular window into the past!

5
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Image: Zongnan Bao

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is located on the southernmost Hawaiian island and was founded in 1916. It is best known for its extraordinary biodiversity spread over more than 340,000 acres, and it is in fact thanks to this natural richness that UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site in 1987.

The park, as you would have guessed, is home to several volcanoes . Although many of them are currently inactive, two are very much alive: Mauna Loa , which last erupted in 1984, is known to be still active and is considered the world's greatest volcanic mass; Kīlauea is more than 200,000 years old and has been erupting since 1983, the most recent occurring on June 3, 2024.

If you are considering visiting the park, exploring the volcanoes, and enjoying a unique experience, we also recommend a museum tour , where you can learn all about the history of these fascinating fiery peaks.

6
Monticello and the University of Virginia

Image: Richard Hedrick

The Monticello Residence in Virginia, designed by Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States, is one of the finest examples of American neoclassical architecture . Since 1987, it has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List, along with the University of Virginia in Charlottesville.

Jefferson created Monticello as his plantation mansion and envisioned the university as the ideal ‘academic village’ . His vision of architecture, based on classical antiquity, reflects not only his aspirations for a new American republic heir to the European tradition but also the degree of cultural experimentation that could be expected of a country in the process of democratic evolution.

7
Papahānaumokuākea

Image: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service - Pacific Region's, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Papahānaumokuākea, made up of a series of 583,000 square miles of small islands, atolls, and surrounding marine wilderness, is located in northwest Hawaii. This particular location has enormous natural value as one of the largest marine protected areas in the world . It is equally important for its Native culture. Two of its islands, Nihoa and Makumanamana , bear archaeological remains that attest to the presence of human settlement even before the arrival of Europeans . For Hawaiians, this site has cosmological significance , as it represents the bond between humans and nature.

Papahānaumokuākea was designated a World Heritage Site in 2010, and although it’s not currently open to the general public, it continues to be accessible for research, habitat restoration, and cultural and educational purposes.

8
Grand Canyon National Park

Image: Isadora Neto

Grand Canyon National Park is known as one of the seven natural wonders of the world and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979.

Located in the state of Arizona, this park is divided by a gigantic steep-sided canyon carved by the Colorado River, which, at more than 6,000 feet deep, is the most spectacular gorge in the world . This site is so relevant that all the geological history of the last two billion years can be found in its horizontal strata. And across its 277 miles, there are even traces of prehistoric man's efforts to adapt to a particularly inhospitable environment .

If you haven’t visited it yet, you should soon join the more than 5 million people traveling each year!

9
San Antonio Missions

Image: USA-Reiseblogger

This 2015 World Heritage Site, built on what was once the border of New Spain along the San Antonio River, constitutes five mission complexes that reflect the history of the region.

Founded by Franciscan missionaries in the 18th century, San Antonio includes architectural structures, archaeological remains, churches, dwellings, farmland, silos and water supply systems .

This site, located in Texas, is a living testament to the Hispanic monarchy's enterprise to colonize, evangelize, and defend the northern frontier territories of New Spain. These missions are also an example of the mixture of Hispanic and Coahuila culture , as can be seen in the ornamental elements of the churches that mix Catholic symbolism with native naturalist aesthetics.

10
The 20th-Century Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright

Image: Yuhan Du

This series of eight Frank Lloyd Wright works recognizes the famous architect's influence on modern design . The most relevant buildings included in the 2019 Unesco designation are Fallingwater House in Mill Run, Pennsylvania; Unity Temple Church in Oak Park, Illinois; Herbert and Katherine Jacobs House in Madison, Wisconsin; and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum of Art in New York City, among others.

These sites are a great example of the ‘organic architecture’ conceived by Wright, characterized by open plan design, the blurring of the boundaries between inside and outside, and the highly original use of materials such as steel and concrete . Wright's innovative conception of architecture, whether in residential, work, cultural, or religious buildings, greatly influenced the evolution of modern architecture in Europe and the United States and is still a point of reference for designers today.

General General 5 min read

Survival foraging in America

These 10 plants could save you from starvation

Image: Alisa Golovinska

Ever felt those hunger pangs while hiking through the countryside and wondered if you could forage to fuel up in an emergency? You absolutely can—if you know where to look. America is blessed with a variety of wild edible plants that could help you out in a pinch—and maybe even add a fresh twist to your next salad. From versatile cattails to delicious blackberries, nature’s pantry offers a surprising amount of nutrition to those who know what to seek. But remember, not every plant is safe, so don’t just sample everything you see. That’s why we’ve compiled this list of 10 common wild edible plants in the U.S. to help you forage smartly!

1
Cattails

Image: Vlad Tchompalov

If you’ve ever seen a cattail and thought it looked kind of yummy, you were on the right track! Cattails grow abundantly in marshy areas across the U.S., and nearly every part of this plant is edible. Often called the "supermarket of the swamp," cattails are incredibly rich in carbohydrates and are a highly versatile food source. These plants not only provide nutrition but also materials for shelter and fire-starting, making them a top resource for wilderness survival in America.

The roots, once cleaned and cooked, have a potato-like quality and can also be dried and ground into flour. Impressively, they even outperform potatoes in starch yield per acre. Young shoots are edible as well, offering a fresh bite when raw or a tender taste when boiled, much like asparagus.

2
Dandelions

Image: Keegan Houser

Often dismissed as a pesky weed, dandelions are actually among the most nutritious plants you can find in the wild. In fact, dandelions are considered even more nutritious than broccoli or cabbage! Every part of the dandelion is edible, from the leaves to the roots. With a taste and texture similar to chicory, the leaves are packed with vitamins A and C and be eaten raw in salads or cooked like spinach.

The bright yellow flowers can also be used to make tea, while the roots can be roasted as a coffee substitute. Dandelion tea is loaded with powerful antioxidants, including beta-carotene and polyphenols, and studies suggest it may benefit heart health.

3
Wild Asparagus

Image: Gil Ndjouwou

Who knew you could harvest your own asparagus in the wild? Wild asparagus grows across much of the U.S., particularly in moist, sunny areas. While it looks similar to its cultivated cousin, wild asparagus tends to be thinner and tougher. When foraging, look for young shoots, which are more tender and can be eaten raw or cooked.

Like its commercial counterpart, wild asparagus is high in fiber and vitamins, offering a nutritious snack or even a potential side dish in a survival situation.

4
Acorns

Image: Annie Spratt

You’re likely already familiar with acorns, the nuts of oak trees. Found abundantly across the U.S., particularly in forests and woodlands, these wild nuts are indeed edible after some processing. Acorns contain bitter tannins, which can be toxic and need to be removed by repeated boiling or soaking in water.

Once safe to eat, acorns can be either roasted or ground into flour. Though they don’t taste like much, they’re packed with carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. Historically, acorns were a staple food for Native Americans and ancient cultures worldwide, proving their value as a survival resource.

5
Cactus (Prickly Pear)

Image: George Pagan III

In the arid landscapes of the American Southwest, prickly pear cacti offer both nourishment and hydration. The pads (nopales) and the fruit (tunas) are not only edible but are also staples in Mexican cuisine.

The cactus fruit, known as a prickly pear, is super sweet and can be eaten raw right off the plant. Depending on ripeness, the flavor ranges from mildly sweet to syrupy. Packed with vitamin C and water, prickly pear cacti can be a true lifesaver if you find yourself stranded in the desert.

6
Wild Onions

Image: Zoe Schaeffer

Wild onions grow widely across the U.S., thriving in fields, forests, and even backyards. Their bulbs, stems, and leaves are all edible and can be used just like store-bought onions to add flavor and nutrition to any meal. But foragers, beware—there’s an important distinction to keep in mind!

A highly toxic lookalike called death camas can be easily mistaken for wild onions, and as its name kindly suggests, it can have potentially lethal effects if consumed. The easiest way to tell them apart? Wild onions have a strong onion scent, while death camas has no odor. When in doubt, always trust your nose. That being said, unless you are 100% confident in your ability to identify wild onions, it’s wise to consult an expert or avoid foraging them altogether.

7
Pine Nuts

Image: Leila Issa

Pine trees are scattered across America, and their seeds—pine nuts—are a nutritional powerhouse. These small seeds, found inside pine cones, are rich in fats and proteins, making them a concentrated source of energy. In fact, pine nuts have sustained Native American tribes for centuries.

While they are labor-intensive to harvest, the effort is worthwhile. Packed with calories and bursting with flavor, they are an abundant and reliable food source. But it doesn't end there—surprisingly, most parts of a pine tree can be consumed, including the bark, needles, cones, and resin, either as food or for medicinal purposes.

8
Chicory

Image: Christopher Luther

Chicory is often found along roadsides and in open fields throughout the U.S. The plant is recognizable by its bright blue flowers, and while its leaves can be eaten like lettuce, its roots are also useful—they can be roasted and used as a coffee substitute.

During the American Civil War, soldiers used chicory to stretch their coffee supplies, and even today some beer brewers occasionally use roasted chicory to add a bitter flavor to stout varieties.

9
Blackberries

Image: Eric Prouzet

Who hasn't enjoyed picking a few blackberries during a walk? Blackberry bushes thrive across the country, especially in sunny, open areas. These delicious berries are loaded with vitamins C and K, along with fiber, making them an excellent survival food when in season. Additionally, their leaves can be brewed into a soothing tea.

Wild raspberries and strawberries are similarly plentiful in the American backcountry. Their unmistakable appearance and sweet flavor make them a great choice for novice or inexperienced foragers to safely enjoy nature’s pantry.

10
Clover

Image: Kelly Sikkema

Who knew that stumbling upon a clover patch could bring more than just good luck? Clover grows abundantly across the U.S., from lawns to meadows, and both its leaves and flowers are edible. The flowers are often dried to make tea, while the leaves can be tossed directly into salads or soups an added nutritional boost.

Rich in protein and minerals, clover has historically served as fodder for livestock, but it can also provide essential nutrition for humans, especially in a survival situation! Its versatility certainly makes it a valuable addition to any forager's repertoire.

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