Breakfast

There are times when having breakfast for dinner (or any time) is simply the way to go. These six breakfast recipes work any time of day, including Rancher’s Breakfast Pie and Banana Granola with Cinnamon, Nutmeg and Walnuts. Enjoy!

CHORIZO AND AVOCADO BREAKFAST TACOS

This comes from Leah Maroney in the Spruce Eats. For this recipe, Leah wrote, "Tacos for breakfast? You bet!

"Whether you have leftover chorizo from a previous meal, or you are just looking for a heartier way to jazz up your morning routine, we can't think of a better way to start your day than to take this classic Tex-Mex meal from dinner to fuel-powered breakfast. It's as simple as adding eggs.

"Perfect for a Cinco de Mayo celebration or a fun weekend brunch, you can transform the mundane breakfast of scrambled eggs with a few simple and basic ingredients, such as avocados, onions, tomatoes, and cheese. Have fun additions like tater tots, sour cream, beans, salsa, hot sauce, bacon, and chives, and get your kids engaged by creating a build-your-own-taco bar.

"If you're ovo-vegetarian, you can leave out the chorizo (and bacon)."

Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 25 minutes; Servings: 2; Yield: 4 tacos

To view this online, go to https://www.thespruceeats.com/breakfast-tacos-4159319.

Ingredients

4 flour tortillas

1/4 pound raw or dried chorizo sausage

9 frozen tater tots, thawed

4 large eggs, beaten

1/3 cup shredded taco and nacho seasoned cheese

1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro

1/2 small red onion, diced

1 small tomato, diced

1/2 avocado, diced

1/4 cup salsa

Salt, to taste

Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Directions

Gather the ingredients.

Warm up flour tortillas in the microwave or quickly over an open flame. If you want the char, place over an open flame for 5 to 7 seconds and then flip with metal tongs, and char for another 5 to 7 seconds.

Heat a large nonstick skillet or cast-iron pan on medium-high heat. Add the chorizo, breaking it up as it cooks. If the chorizo is dried, dice it first and then add it to the pan and sauté until some of the fat has rendered and the chorizo is crispy.

Remove the chorizo from the pan, leaving the grease behind.

Add the thawed tater tots to the chorizo grease and cook until slightly browned. Remove the tater tots from the pan and add them to the chorizo. Keep the chorizo and potato mixture warm in a 200 F oven while you cook the eggs.

Using that same pan, turn down the heat to low. Pour in the beaten eggs and cook, stirring gently until completely cooked. Use a spatula to separate the eggs into four portions. While the eggs are still in the pan, turn the heat down even more and top each portion with cheese.

Sprinkle the cheddar over the top of each egg portion and cover the pan with a lid. Allow to cook for 1 to 2 minutes or until the cheese has melted. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Fill each tortilla with a portion of the eggs. Divide the potato and chorizo mixture between the four tortillas. Then sprinkle the cilantro, diced onions, tomatoes, and avocados over the top of each taco. Then drizzle the salsa over each taco and serve immediately.

QATAYEF ASAFIRI (STUFFED SEMOLINA PANCAKES)

This is from Reem Kassis in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. Reem wrote, "Qatayef are synonymous with Ramadan. It is during this month that bakeries start making the pastry for these stuffed pancakes, and the lines spill into the street as people wait their turn to buy them. Golden underneath and speckled with bubbles on top, qatayef are cooked only on one side. They can be large or small. The large ones are normally stuffed with nuts or cheese and folded over, then fried or baked, and drenched in sugar syrup. The small ones, called qatayef asafiri (or little bird qatayef), are stuffed with a creamy filling, only half closed, then dipped in pistachio and drizzled with thick, faintly floral sugar syrup. The batter is very simple; the key is to make sure it is the right consistency, like that of heavy cream."

Yield: About 30 pieces; Time: 45 minutes

This was featured in "The Dessert That Tastes Best One Month Out of Every Year", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1023041-qatayef-asafiri-stuffed-semolina-pancakes.

Ingredients

For the Syrup:

1/2 cup granulated sugar

A squeeze of fresh lemon juice

1 teaspoon orange blossom water or rose water, or a combination

For the Batter:

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 cup fine semolina flour

1 tablespoon granulated sugar

1/2 teaspoon instant or quick-rise yeast

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon ground mahlab (optional, see Tip)

1/4 teaspoon orange blossom water or rose water (optional)

For the Filling:

1 cup/8 ounces mascarpone

1/2 cup heavy cream

3 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar

1 teaspoon orange blossom water or rose water, or a combination

1/4 cup/about 1 ounce finely ground unroasted, unsalted pistachios, preferably Turkish, for finishing

Preparation

Prepare the syrup: In a small saucepan, combine the sugar, lemon juice and 1/4 cup water. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Lower heat and simmer until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Set aside to cool completely, then stir in 1/2 teaspoon orange blossom water and 1/2 teaspoon rose water.

Make the batter: Add 1-1/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons water to a blender or food processor. Add all the batter ingredients and process until smooth. The batter should be quite loose, similar to heavy cream in consistency. Set aside to rest for 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, prepare the filling: Place the mascarpone, heavy cream, confectioners’ sugar, 1/2 teaspoon orange blossom water and 1/2 teaspoon rose water in a small bowl. Use a handheld electric mixer to whip into stiff peaks. Refrigerate until ready to use.

Cook the qatayef: Place a medium nonstick skillet or griddle over medium heat until hot. Mix the batter to ensure it is smooth, then pour separate 1-tablespoon portions of batter into the pan, fitting about 4 circles. Cook qatayef until the entire surface is covered in small bubbles and the center loses its sheen, about 30 to 45 seconds. (You might be able to cook off more at a time once you’ve determined the right temperature and consistency of the batter.) If the bubbles are large and sparse, then your batter is too thick; stir 1 tablespoon of water into the batter to thin. Qatayef cook only on one side; the base should be uniformly golden and the top covered in small bubbles. If the disks brown too quickly — or unevenly — underneath before the batter loses its sheen on top, lower the heat slightly.

Transfer each cooked qatayef to a large tray lined with a dish towel and cover with another dish towel while you cook the remaining batter.

Fill the qatayef: Fold each into a half-moon, bubble side on the inside, and pinch to seal the edges together halfway. Using a teaspoon or a piping bag, fill the opening with the cream, then dip the exposed cream filling into the ground pistachios.

Arrange the filled qatayef on a serving platter. These can be covered in plastic wrap and refrigerated for several hours until ready to serve. To serve, drizzle the cooled syrup over the qatayef and offer guests more syrup to add to their individual plates, if they choose.

Tip

Mahlab, the kernel found inside the pit of a cherry, adds a floral and nutty aroma to sweets and gives Arabic cheese its distinct flavor. It is available whole or ground from Middle Eastern grocery stores, but goes rancid quickly, so buy it whole and grind it as needed, storing the rest in the freezer until needed.

BANANA GRANOLA WITH CINNAMON, NUTMEG AND WALNUTS

This is from Jerrelle Guy in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. Jerrelle wrote, "This banana bread-inspired granola uses real mashed banana, coconut oil, cinnamon, nutmeg and toasted nuts. Keeping it simple allows the subtle banana flavor to shine through, but you can tweak the recipe by adding dried coconut flakes, sesame or pumpkin seeds, more spices, or even chocolate chips or dried fruit. Breaking the granola into large clusters halfway through baking ensures the granola cooks evenly. Allow the granola to sit for at least one hour on the counter to harden completely. Double the recipe if you’d like to stock up your freezer. It will keep at least three months there, at the ready for snacking, or can be served for breakfast, in bowls with milk and freshly sliced banana."

Yield: 2 1/2 cups; Time: 1 hour, plus cooling

To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1021529-banana-granola-with-cinnamon-nutmeg-and-walnuts.

Ingredients

1/2 cup/5 ounces mashed bananas (from about 1 large or 2 small ripe or overripe bananas)

1/4 packed cup dark brown sugar

1/4 cup melted virgin coconut oil

2 teaspoons lemon juice

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats

1/4 cup walnut halves, roughly chopped

Preparation

Heat the oven to 325 degrees and line a sheet pan with parchment paper.

Add the mashed banana to a medium saucepan along with the brown sugar and coconut oil. Stir to combine. Cover and cook over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes, or until the pot comes to a sputtering boil. (You’ll hear it popping.) Cook for another 60 to 90 seconds, swirling the pan often so the mixture doesn’t burn.

Remove the pan from the heat, allow the sputtering to subside, then stir in the lemon juice, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Fold in the oats and walnuts until combined.

Spread the mixture out on the prepared sheet pan in an even layer. Using a spatula, press the oats down into a layer that is about 1/2-inch thick. Bake for 25 minutes, rotating halfway through, then remove the sheet pan from the oven and, using a butter knife, break the granola into large, 2- to 2 1/2-inch clusters on the baking sheet.

Spread the clusters evenly around the pan and bake again until the clusters are a deep golden brown, another 15 to 20 minutes, rotating and tossing halfway through so they don’t burn.

Remove the pan from the oven and allow the granola to cool for at least 30 minutes on the counter to harden slightly. Once the granola has cooled, break it up with your hands into small or medium clusters, depending on preference. Allow to cool completely, at least one more hour.

Transfer the granola to an airtight container and store at room temperature for up to a month (or in the freezer, where it’ll stay crisp for at least 3 months).

SPINACH & CHEDDAR FRITTATA

This is from Weight Watchers, and begins, "This tiny ingredient list is loaded with shortcuts (shredded cheese, prewashed spinach), making it extra easy to drop this frittata into your weekly meal rotation. Did we mention it also reheats well? Try this recipe with a combination of greens and cheeses: Arugula and shredded mozzarella or baby kale and pepper Jack would be delicious."

Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 20 minutes; Serves: 4; Difficulty: Easy

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

4 sprays cooking spray

6 large eggs

1 cup fresh spinach, baby leaves, chopped

2 Tbsp uncooked scallions, finely chopped

1/4 tsp table salt

1/8 tsp black pepper

1/2 cup 50% reduce fat sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400°F. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs. Stir in the spinach, scallions, salt, and black pepper.

Coat a 12-inch ovenproof nonstick skillet with cooking spray. Heat the skillet over medium. Pour the egg mixture into the skillet and cook until partially set, about 5 minutes.

Sprinkle the cheese over the eggs. Place the skillet in the oven. Bake until the cheese softens and the eggs firm up, about 5 minutes. Let stand for 1 minute. Cut the frittata into 8 wedges. Serve warm. Or let cool, then wrap the wedges individually or store in a sealed container and refrigerate.

Serving size: 2 wedges

BREAKFAST BURRITOS

This comes from Vegetarian Times (May 2005 issue, page 94), in an article featuring Inn Serendipity in Browntown, WI. The recipes begins, "This is the inn’s most popular breakfast item, and it’s a very versatile recipe—sturdy enough for dinner too. Use whatever vegetables are seasonal and abundant. Serve with salsa and sour cream. Note: You must start this dish one day ahead of serving." Makes 6 servings

To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/breakfast-burritos/.

Ingredients

2 tsp. olive oil

1/2 medium-sized onion, sliced

1 red bell pepper, cut lengthwise into 2-inch-thick slices

1 large clove garlic, minced

1 10-oz. pkg. frozen chopped spinach

2 Tbs. fresh dill

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

1 3/4 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese

6 8-inch flour tortillas

4 large eggs, beaten

2 cups skim milk

1 Tbs. all-purpose flour

1 tsp. mustard powder

Preparation

Grease 9×13-inch baking dish.

Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat. Sauté onion and pepper 5 minutes, or until tender. Add garlic, and cook 2 minutes more. Stir in spinach, dill, salt and pepper; cover and cook 5 minutes, or until spinach has completely thawed. Season with pepper sauce, if desired, and stir in 3/4 cup shredded cheese.

Spoon 1/3 cup of spinach/veggie mixture down the center of each tortilla. Roll tortilla tightly, and place seam side down in baking dish. Whisk together eggs, milk, flour and mustard powder, and pour over tortillas. Cover dish with foil, and refrigerate overnight.

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Bake burritos 45 minutes, or until eggs are set. Sprinkle with 1 cup cheese, and bake 5 minutes more, or until cheese has melted and begins to brown. Let stand 10 minutes before serving with salsa and sour cream.

RANCHER'S BREAKFAST PIE

This is from one of the many emailing lists that I've subscribed to over the years. Not sure which one this came from, or who sent it. But it's yummy!

Ingredients

6 eggs, beaten

1/3 C milk

2 C (8 oz) shredded milk cheddar cheese

8 slices bacon, crisply cooked and crumbled

3 T chopped green onion

2 T chopped green bell pepper

1/4 t white pepper

2 C refrigerated shredded hash brown potatoes

1/2 t salt

1/4 t black pepper

1 T butter or margarine, melted

Paprika

Directions

In large bowl, combine eggs and milk. Stir in cheddar cheese, bacon, onion, bell pepper and white pepper. Pour into well buttered 9 inch pie plate. Toss potatoes with salt and black pepper; sprinkle over egg mixture. Drizzle butter over potatoes; sprinkle with paprika. Bake at 325 40 to 50 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. YIELD: 6 servings.