Breakfast

Scrambled Eggs

September 5, 2012

Scrambled Eggs

Scrambled eggs are delicious and are also packed with filling protein that will keep you and your children energized all morning.  They are loaded with many essential vitamins and minerals.  Eggs cook quickly which makes them easy to prepare in a jiffy.  If you like creamy eggs then add a little cream or half & half to your egg mixture before cooking.  Make certain to thoroughly coat and heat the pan with either butter or olive oil before adding your whisked eggs.  This prevents them from sticking.  Cook them over a low heat and stir occasionally.  You can add all sorts of favorite things to your scrambled eggs if you like. 

INGREDIENTS

8 Eggs (2 Per Person)

3 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter

1/8 Teaspoon Kosher Salt

1/8 Teaspoon Freshly Ground Pepper

Crack 8 eggs into a medium size bowl. Add the salt & pepper.  Whisk lightly for 2 minutes.  In a large sauté pan heat the butter over a low heat.  Add the egg mixture and let cook for 5 seconds.  Gently scrape and stir the eggs and cook for 5 minutes until done.  Keep stirring.  Cooking time will vary depending on what type of pan you use and how high your heat is.  When done cooking make sure to remove your scramble eggs from the pan immediately.  This will prevent them from continuing to cook.  No one wants dry eggs.  Serve eggs hot and with toast.  Serves 4

 

Blackberry Oatmeal

September 4, 2012

Blackberry Oatmeal

You’re kids won’t even think they’re eating breakfast because they will think my Blackberry Oatmeal is dessert!  If you or your child has dairy allergies then substitute the 1/2 cup milk with soy or almond milk. 

INGREDIENTs

1/2 Cup Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats

1/2 Cup Water

1/2 Cup Milk

1/8 Teaspoon Kosher Salt

1/3  Cup Blackberries

Toppings: Blackberries & 1 Tablespoon Honey

In a medium size saucepan combine the oats, water, milk and salt.  Cook over a medium heat for 5 minutes.  Stir occasionally.  You will want the oats to be thick.  Stir in the blackberries and cook for 2 more minutes.  Pour into a cereal bowl and add the blackberries and honey to the top.  Serve hot.  Makes 1 serving. 

Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake

August 25, 2012

Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake

I don’t know one person who can resist this weekend morning cake. 

INGREDIENTS

1 Cup Chopped Pecans

3/4 Cup Semisweet Chocolate Chips

1/2 Cup Sugar

1/2 Cup Brown Sugar

1 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon

2 Cups Unbleached Flour

1 Teaspoon Baking Powder

1/2 Teaspoon Baking Soda

1/4 Teaspoon Kosher Salt

1 Cup Sugar

3/4 Cup Softened Butter

2 Eggs

8 Ounces Sour Cream

2 Tablespoons Vanilla Extract

Preheat your oven to 350° F.  Prepare a Large glass baking pan (13x9x2) by greasing it with butter or olive oil.  In a medium size bowl combine the nuts, chocolate chips, 1/2 cup sugar, brown sugar and cinnamon.  This is for the filling.  Set aside.  In a small size bowl combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.  Set aside.  In a large size bowl combine 1 cup of the sugar and butter.  Beat with an electric mixer on a medium speed for 1 minute.  Add the eggs and beat for another minute.  Add the sour cream and vanilla and beat for 30 seconds.  Add the flour mixture and beat for 1 minute.  The batter will be thick, but the consistency should be smooth.   Remove 1 cup of the batter.  Pour the batter into the prepared pan.  Distribute the filling over the top of the batter.  Finally spoon the 1 cup of reserved batter over the filling in small mounds.  Bake for 55 minutes until done.  Remove from the oven and let cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes before serving.  Serves 8

Weekend Coffee Cake

August 19, 2012

Weekend Coffee Cake

The perfect morning to make an easy, but delicious coffee cake for breakfast.  I used apricots, plums and blueberries for the fruit, but you can use whatever you have on hand. 

INGREDIENTS

2 1/2 Cups Unbleached Flour

1 1/2 Cups Brown Sugar

1/2 Teaspoon Kosher Salt

1 Cup Butter

2 Teaspoons Baking Powder

1/2 Teaspoon Baking Soda

1/2 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon

3 Beaten Eggs

1 1/2 Cups Buttermilk or Sour Milk

1 Sliced Plum

2 Sliced Apricots

2 Cups Blueberries

Preheat your oven to 350° F.  Prepare a large baking plan by greasing sides and bottom.  In a large size bowl combine the flour, brown sugar and salt.  Cut in the butter.  You want the mixture to look like coarse crumbs.  Stir in the baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon.  In a medium bowl combine the eggs and buttermilk.  If you don’t have buttermilk use sour milk by adding 2 tablespoons of either lemon juice or vinegar to regular milk and let it sit for 5 minutes.  Add the egg mixture to the flour mixture and stir just until moistened.  Spoon the batter into the prepared pan.  Arrange the plum and apricot slices to the top of the batter.  Finally, sprinkle the blueberries on the top of the batter.  Bake for 45 minutes or until done.  Remove from the oven and let cool for 10 minutes before serving.  Serve warm.  Serves 8

 

Cinnamon Bread French Toast

August 11, 2012

Cinnamon Bread French Toast

I had some leftover cinnamon bread that was on its last legs.  I decided to make French Toast out of it and I have to say that Cinnamon Bread French Toast is amazing!

INGREDIENTS

4 Lightly Beaten Eggs

1 Cup Half & Half or Milk

2 Tablespoons Sugar

2 Teaspoons Vanilla Extract

8 Slices Cinnamon Bread

2 Tablespoons Butter

Maple Syrup

In a shallow bowl beat together the eggs, milk, sugar and vanilla.  Cut the bread in half and dip the bread halves into the egg mixture.  Coat both sides by letting the bread soak in the egg mixture for 10 seconds per side.  On a griddle or in a skillet melt 1 tablespoon of the butter over a medium heat.  Add half of the bread slices and cook for 3 minutes per side until golden brown.  Repeat with the remaining butter and bread slices.  Serve warm and serve with maple syrup.  Serves 4

 

Raspberries, Peaches & Plums OH MY

July 27, 2012

Raspberries, Peaches & Plums OH MY

Stone fruits are now at their juiciest and most fragrant. And who can resist raspberries?!  Celebrate them in this sweet and delicious cake.

 

INGREDIENTS

5 Large Peeled & Sliced Peaches

4 Sliced Plums

1 Cup Raspberries

2 Cups Unbleached Flour

1 Tablespoon Baking Powder

1 Teaspoon Kosher Salt

1/2 Cup Softened Butter

1 1/2 Cup Sugar

3 Eggs

3/4 Cup Milk

1 Tablespoon Vanilla

 

Preheat your oven to 350° F.  In a large bowl combine the sliced peaches and plums.  Keep the raspberries separate.  In a medium size bowl combine the flour, baking powder and salt.  In a separate large bowl combine the softened butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla.  Begin by beating in half of the flour mixture.  Alternate with beating in half of the milk.  Add the rest of the flour and beat for 20 seconds.  Finish with beating in the rest of the milk and beat for 30 seconds.  Scrap the sides of the bowl to incorporate any remaining flour.  Prepare a large glass or ceramic baking pan by greasing.  Pour the batter into the baking pan.  Scatter the peaches, plums and raspberries on top of the batter.  The fruit will sink in a bit.  Bake on the middle oven rack for 50 minutes.  Check to see if the cake is done by inserting a toothpick.  If you need to bake a bit longer go ahead, but make sure not to overcook this cake.  Remove from the oven and let cool.  You can frost this cake if you wish, but I think that it can stand on its own.  Slice and serve.  Serves 10

Banana Nutella Sliders

July 13, 2012

Banana Nutella Sliders

Tomorrow is Bastille Day so I made these Banana Nutella Sliders.  A combination of French and American…think banana and peanut butter sandwiches. Elvis would have loved these.  Seriously, these sliders are addictive. 

INGREDIENTS

4 Croissants

13 Ounces Nutella Spread

2 Sliced Bananas

Powdered Sugar

On a serving plate carefully slice the 4 croissants horizontally.  Set the tops aside.  Heat the Nutella spread until it is warm, but not piping hot.  Divide the Nutella between the 4 croissant bottoms.  The best that you can evenly spread the Nutella so that it covers the croissant.  Arrange the banana slices on top of the Nutella.  If you want more bananas then slice an additional banana.  Carefully place the croissant tops on top and sprinkle with powdered sugar.  Serve immediately.  Serves 4

 

Saturday Morning Scramble

July 7, 2012

Saturday Morning Scramble

Classical haute cuisine preparation calls for serving scrambled eggs in a deep silver dish, but you can serve them in any dish you feel like.  Hey, you could even eat them out of the pan if you like. 

 

INGREDIENTS

4 Strips Good Quality Bacon

2 Green Onions

6 Large Organic Eggs

5 Tablespoons Half & Half

2 Ounces Finely Grated Cheddar Cheese

3 Tablespoons Olive Oil

1/8 Teaspoon Kosher Salt

1/8 Teaspoon Freshly Ground Pepper

 

Rough chop the bacon and green onions and place in a small sauté pan. Cook over a medium heat for 3 minutes.  In a small mixing bowl, combine the eggs and half & half with a whisk or a fork.  In a separate large sauté pan add the olive oil and heat over a medium low heat for 1 minute.  Pour the eggs into the pan and slowly stir with a heat resistant spatula.  Add the bacon and green onions.  Keep stirring.  Sprinkle with the salt and pepper.  Keep stirring.  Sprinkle in the grated cheese. As soon as the curds begin to form turn the heat up to high.  Instead of stirring now fold the eggs over themselves.  As soon as there is no more liquid remove from the heat and serve immediately.  You don’t want them to look too done in the pan as they will continue to cook on the plate.  Serves 4

 

Saturday Morning Blueberry Pancakes

June 30, 2012

Saturday Morning Blueberry Pancakes

Weekends are made for pancakes.  My Saturday Morning Blueberry Pancakes are easy to make and are absolutely delicious! 

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 Cups Unbleached Flour

2 1/2 Teaspoons Baking Powder

3/4 Teaspoon Kosher Salt

1 Beaten Egg

1 Cup Milk

1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

3 Tablespoons Olive Oil

1 Pint Washed & Stemmed Blueberries

 

In a large bowl combine the flour, baking powder and salt.  In a separate bowl mix the egg, milk, vanilla and olive oil.  Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and stir only enough to moisten the dry ingredients. Add the blueberries. Do NOT beat the batter or the pancakes will be tough.  For thinner pancakes add more milk and lightly mix.  Cook on a hot skillet or griddle that has been lightly oiled with olive oil.  Turn the pancakes only once.  Serve with your favorite syrup.  Makes 12 five inch pancakes. 

Pain Perdu

June 13, 2012

Pain Perdu

In honor of St. Anthony we are making Pain Perdu or “Lost Bread.”

What we call French toast, the French call Pain Perdu.

Baked in butter and served covered with powdered sugar, Pain Perdu is considered a dessert in France.

INGREDIENTS

6 Large Eggs

1 1/2 Cups Milk

1 1/2 Teaspoons Vanilla Extract

2 Tablespoons Sugar

1/2 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon

12 Thick Slices French or Italian Bread

6 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter

Powdered Sugar

Preheat your oven to 400° F.  In a large size bowl whisk together the eggs, milk, vanilla, sugar and cinnamon until well blended.  Place the bread in a large shallow baking dish

slightly overlapping one another.  It is best to use day old bread.  If you don't have day old bread don't worry about it.  Pour the egg mixture over the bread and let sit for 30 minutes.

Turn the bread with a spatula so that it gets evenly moistened halfway through the sitting time.  Put the two oven racks in the middle of the oven.  Place 3 tablespoons of the butter on

two baking sheets.  Put in the oven and melt the butter for 1 minute.  Remove the baking sheets from the oven and make sure that the butter covers the entire baking sheet evenly. 

Arrange 6 slices of the soaked bread on each of the hot baking sheets.  Make sure to space them evenly.  Bake for 15 minutes and then turn them over to bake an additional 15

minutes.  You will want the bread to be puffed and evenly browned.  If you need to bake them a bit more then go ahead.  Remove from the oven and transfer to a serving platter.

Dust with powdered sugar.  Serves 12

 

 

 

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