It's Breakfast for any meal time again. After all, who says you can't have breakfast for breakfast, lunch, or dinner? Here are six recipes to help you through the day, including Banana Granola with Cinnamon Nutmeg and Walnuts and Mini Italian Frittatas. Enjoy!
HAM AND SPINACH HASHBROWN BREAKFAST SKILLET
This comes from Betty Crocker, and starts off, "What happens when you replace the crust in a breakfast quiche with hashbrowns? Magic, that’s what. With a crispy, buttery hashbrown base, this one-skillet wonder starts on the stovetop and finishes hands-free in the oven. Throw a dollop of sour cream on top, and you’ve got yourself a spectacularly savory slice of breakfast pie." Yum!
Prep Time: 25 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes; Servings: 6
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 package (16 oz) Cascadian Farm™ organic frozen hashbrowns
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1-1/2 cups shredded Gruyère cheese (6 oz)
1 cup chopped baby spinach
3/4 cup chopped fully cooked ham (about 4 oz)6 eggs
1/2 cup half-and-half
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1/4 cup sliced green onions
Instructions
In 10-inch nonstick ovenproof skillet with a lid, heat oil over medium heat.
Add frozen hashbrowns; cover and cook 10 minutes, stirring halfway through. Uncover, add salt and pepper; cook 10 to 12 minutes, stirring halfway through, until hashbrowns are tender and golden brown in spots. Remove from heat.
Heat oven to 400°F. Using back of spoon, carefully press hashbrowns into even layer in bottom and up side of skillet.
Top with cheese, spinach and ham. Beat eggs, half-and-half, Dijon mustard and 3 tablespoons of the green onions in 2-cup glass measuring cup or small bowl; pour over ham.
Bake 28 to 33 minutes or until eggs are completely set in center and internal temperature is at least 160°F. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with remaining 1 tablespoon green onion.
BISCUITS AND GRAVY CASSEROLE
This is from Betty Crocker, and begins, "Biscuits and rich sausage gravy come to the dinner table in casserole form! Serve with a fresh green salad, and your meal is complete."
Prep Time: 40 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes; Servings: 6
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 lb bulk mild breakfast sausage
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped red bell peppers
1 package (8 oz) white button mushrooms, chopped (about 2 cups)
1 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/3 cup Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour
3 cups milk
2 oz cream cheese, softened
1 can (16.3 oz) refrigerated Pillsbury™ Grands!™ Flaky Layers Buttermilk Biscuits (8 Count)
Instructions
Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 13x9-inch baking dish or 3-quart casserole with cooking spray. In 10-inch nonstick skillet, cook sausage over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, 7 to 8 minutes or until no longer pink; remove from skillet, and drain.
In same skillet, cook onion, bell peppers, mushrooms, pepper, salt and garlic powder 3 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tender. Add sausage back to skillet. Stir in flour to coat; slowly stir in milk, and add cream cheese, simmering over medium-high heat 5 to 8 minutes and stirring until slightly thickened. Add hot sausage gravy mixture to baking dish.
Separate dough into 8 biscuits; cut each biscuit into quarters, and place on top of hot gravy mixture in baking dish. Bake 27 to 30 minutes or until biscuits are cooked through and top is golden brown. Let stand 15 minutes before serving.
EGG AND POTATO BREAKFAST TACOS
This is from the Food Network, and begins, "Quick and easy to assemble, it makes sense why tacos are enjoyed during any time of the day in Mexico. Roast potatoes with poblano peppers and onions until golden brown, then enjoy on warm tortillas with buttery scrambled eggs."
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Makes 4 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/egg-and-potato-breakfast-tacos-3363842.
Ingredients
8 large eggs
1 teaspoon chili powder
Kosher salt
2 Yukon gold potatoes (about 1 pound), diced
1 onion, diced
1 poblano chile pepper, thinly sliced
Cooking spray
3 plum tomatoes, diced
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons jalapeno hot sauce
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
12 white corn tortillas
Directions
Position a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat to 475 degrees F. Separate 1 egg; set the yolk aside. Whisk the egg white, chili powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a large bowl until frothy. Add the potatoes, onion and poblano; toss. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray; spread out the vegetables, then coat with more cooking spray. Bake, flipping once, until golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, toss the tomatoes, 2 tablespoons cilantro and 1 tablespoon hot sauce in a bowl; season with salt and set aside.
Whisk the reserved egg yolk and 7 eggs with 1/4 cup cilantro and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a bowl until frothy. Melt the butter in a medium nonstick skillet over medium heat; swirl to coat. Add the egg mixture and cook, stirring, until just set, about 5 minutes.
Toast the tortillas in a dry skillet or wrap in a damp paper towel and warm in the microwave. Toss the remaining 2 tablespoons cilantro and 1 tablespoon hot sauce with the vegetable mixture. Divide the vegetables and scrambled eggs among the tortillas. Serve with the tomato salsa.
MINI ITALIAN FRITTATAS
This is from Ina Garten on the Food Network site.
Active Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour: Yield: 12 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/mini-italian-frittatas-4720584.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons good olive oil, plus extra for greasing the pans
1-1/2 cups chopped leeks, white and light green parts, washed and spun dry
4 ounces sliced Italian prosciutto, coarsely chopped
8 ounces fresh baby spinach
2-1/2 tablespoons julienned fresh basil leaves
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
1-1/2 cups (4 ounces) grated Italian Fontina cheese (6 ounces with rind)
8 extra-large eggs
1-1/2 cups half-and-half
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Directopms
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Brush a standard 12-cup muffin tin with olive oil, including the top of the pan.
Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large (12-inch) sauté pan. Add the leeks and sauté for 3 minutes, until tender. Add the prosciutto and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes, breaking it up with a fork. Add the spinach, tossing with tongs, then cover the pan and cook for 3 minutes, tossing once while it cooks, until the spinach is all wilted. Off the heat, stir in the basil and lemon juice and set aside for 5 minutes. Divide the mixture with tongs among the 12 muffin cups, leaving any liquid behind. Sprinkle the Fontina evenly on top.
In a 4-cup liquid measuring cup, beat the eggs, half-and-half, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper together with a fork. Pour the egg mixture evenly over the filling in each cup, filling the muffin cups to the top. Sprinkle each frittata with the Parmesan cheese.
Bake the frittatas for 20 to 25 minutes, until puffed and lightly browned on top. If you insert a toothpick in the middle, they should feel firm. Cool for 5 minutes, remove with a small sharp knife onto a serving plate, and serve hot or warm.
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).
PARISIAN-STYLE SWEET CREPES
This comes from the September 2009 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 37. It begins, "Cafés and brasseries in the French capital sell passersby sweet crêpes slathered in butter, jam, chestnut purée, and (VT favorite) Nutella. The experience iseasy to re-create at home for breakfast, Sunday supper, or a snack."
Makes 8 crêpes
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/parisian-style-sweet-crepes/.
Ingredients
Crêpes
1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 cup low-fat milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Fillings (optional)
Nutella
Jam
Butter
Chestnut Purée
Preparation
Whisk together flour, sugar, and salt in bowl. Whisk in egg; mixture will be shaggy. Whisk in milk 1/4 cup at a time. Whisk in vanilla. Cover, and chill 30 minutes, or overnight.
Whisk 1/4 to 1/2 cup water into batter to thin. Lightly grease 9-inch nonstick skillet with canola oil. Heat skillet over medium-high heat.
Pour 1/4 cup batter into hot skillet, tilting pan to swirl batter so it coats bottom of pan. Cook 1 to 2 minutes, or until edges begin to brown and center is dry. Flip; cook 30 seconds to 1 minute more.
Transfer crêpe to plate, and repeat with remaining batter. To serve crêpes: Reheat 1 minute in lightly greased skillet. Spread with desired fillings, fold into quarters, and serve.
Showing posts with label Banana Granola with Cinnamon Nutmeg and Walnuts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Banana Granola with Cinnamon Nutmeg and Walnuts. Show all posts
Thursday, July 10, 2025
Thursday, August 24, 2023
Breakfast
When I was a kid, my mom had definite rules about meals. Maybe rules might not be quite right. But she did have ideas about what to eat when, where to eat, and, finally, no television during meals.
A little clarification here: The first part (what to eat when) meant that one did not eat breakfast foods at dinner time, dinner left-overs (whether meatloaf, spaghetti, whatever) could not be eaten for breakfast, etc. The second part - where to eat - meant eating at the table, whether in the kitchen or dining room, along with any family members who were eating. The no t.v. part is pretty self-explanatory.
After my folks split up, and I'd gotten married and moved out, things were a little different. I stopped by one evening for some reason or another, only to find Mom and my sister sitting on the floor in the living room, maybe 20 feet away from the dining room table, watching Star Trek (a show she'd previously stated she didn't like) on the television while eating dinner. You could have knocked me over with a feather. They were eating something appropriately dinner-ish.
Fast forward to now. Any one of my (now adult) offspring can think of at least one dinner when they ate cereal, an omelet, or some other breakfast food for dinner. There's really nothing wrong with that. (There's also nothing wrong with having pie and coffee for breakfast, something I tend to do after a major holiday.)
This long intro is to tell you that today's post deals with breakfast. Check out the Parisian-style Sweet Crêpes, the Ham and Pepper Frittata, and the other yummy breakfast recipes. Enjoy!
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).
HAM AND PEPPER FRITTATA
Recipe Yield: Yield: 4 servings, Serving size: 1/4 of recipe
Source: The Complete Diabetes Prevention Plan
Book Title: The Complete Diabetes Prevention Plan
View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/ham-and-pepper-frittata.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil or canola oil
1/2 cup diced yellow bell pepper
1/2 cup diced green bell pepper
1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
1 cup diced, lean, reduced-sodium ham
2 teaspoons dried parsley
1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
2 cups fat-free egg substitute
1 cup shredded, reduced-fat, white Cheddar or Swiss cheese
Directions
Coat a large ovenproof skillet with the olive oil and preheat over medium-high heat. Add the peppers, ham, parsley, and black pepper and saute for several minutes, until the vegetables are crisp-tender and the ham is beginning to brown. Spread the mixture evenly over the bottom of the skillet.
Pour the egg substitute over the skillet mixture and reduce the heat to medium-low. Cover and cook without stirring for about 6 minutes, until the eggs are almost set (the edges will be cooked but the top will still be runny).
Remove the lid from the skillet and wrap the handle in aluminum foil (to prevent it from becoming damaged under the broiler). Place the skillet under a preheated broiler and broil for a couple of minutes, until the eggs are set but not dry. Sprinkle the cheese over the top and broil for another minute to melt the cheese. Cut the frittata into 4 wedges and serve hot.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 222; Fat: 8.3 g; Sodium: 690 mg; Cholesterol: 32 mg; Protein: 28 g; Carbohydrates: 7 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 4 Lean Meat, 1 Vegetable, 1/2 Fat
PARISIAN-STYLE SWEET CREPES
This comes from the September 2009 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 37. It begins, "Cafés and brasseries in the French capital sell passersby sweet crêpes slathered in butter, jam, chestnut purée, and (VT favorite) Nutella. The experience iseasy to re-create at home for breakfast, Sunday supper, or a snack."
Makes 8 crêpes
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/parisian-style-sweet-crepes/.
Ingredients
Crêpes
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 cup low-fat milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Fillings (optional)
Nutella
Jam
Butter
Chestnut Purée
Preparation
Whisk together flour, sugar, and salt in bowl. Whisk in egg; mixture will be shaggy. Whisk in milk 1/4 cup at a time. Whisk in vanilla. Cover, and chill 30 minutes, or overnight.
Whisk 1/4 to 1/2 cup water into batter to thin. Lightly grease 9-inch nonstick skillet with canola oil. Heat skillet over medium-high heat.
Pour 1/4 cup batter into hot skillet, tilting pan to swirl batter so it coats bottom of pan. Cook 1 to 2 minutes, or until edges begin to brown and center is dry. Flip; cook 30 seconds to 1 minute more.
Transfer crêpe to plate, and repeat with remaining batter. To serve crêpes: Reheat 1 minute in lightly greased skillet. Spread with desired fillings, fold into quarters, and serve.
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
PIRATE EGGS
When my sister and I were kids, my mother used to fix this for us on a regular basis, except that she called them Gypsy Eggs. Once my brother came along, though, they became Pirate Eggs. The name stuck. Most people from the Northeastern U.S. tend to call them Eggs-in-a-Hole or some variation of that. But whatever you call them, they're good.
The instructions are for one person. Adjust for the number of people you're feeding.
Ingredients
1-2 eggs
1-2 pieces of bread
margarine for the pan
Directions
Melt the margarine in the pan over medium heat. Take the bread and cut a round hole in the middle. Place bread in pan, then crack the egg and dump onto the bread so that the yolk is in the hold. If you prefer non-runny yolks (my preference), crack the yolk with the corner of a spatula. Cook on the first side for several minutes, then flip over and cook the other side. You can flip it several times until the egg looks cooked. Enjoy!
EASY BREAKFAST BURRITOS
This comes from Old El Paso, and begins, "This Southwest breakfast is quick enough for busy weekends. Or, you can try our make-ahead tip to freeze and reheat for a winning grab-and-go breakfast all week long."
Prep Time: 35 minutes; Total Time: 35 minutes; Makes 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/easy-breakfast-burritos.
Ingredients
6 eggs
2 tablespoons Old El Paso™ chopped green chiles (from 4.5-oz can)
1 to 2 tablespoons milk
6 fully cooked breakfast sausage links, cut into small pieces
1 bag (1 lb 4 oz) refrigerated shredded hash brown potatoes
6 Old El Paso™ flour tortillas for burritos (from 11-oz package)
2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend (8 oz)
Preparation
In large bowl, beat 6 eggs, 2 tablespoons Old El Paso™ chopped green chiles and 1 to 2 tablespoons milk until well blended. In 10-inch skillet over medium heat, cook eggs, stirring occasionally, until scrambled. Stir in 6 fully cooked breakfast sausage links, cut into small pieces; heat until warm. Set aside.
Cook 1 bag (1 lb. 4 oz.) refrigerated shredded hash brown potatoes as directed on bag; set aside.
To assemble burritos, spoon line of hash browns down center of each of 6 Old El Paso™ flour tortillas for burritos. Top with 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend and the scrambled eggs.
Roll up each tortilla tightly to secure filling. Serve immediately, or freeze as directed below.
To freeze, wrap each burrito in paper towel; wrap in foil. Freeze. To reheat, remove and discard foil. Microwave each frozen paper towel-wrapped burrito on High 2 minutes 30 seconds, turning burrito over halfway through heating.
Expert Tips
Change breakfast sausage out for cooked chorizo pork sausage for a delightful Southwest kick!
Wrapping the breakfast burrito in a paper towel before the foil helps to absorb the moisture from the burrito and prevent a soggy tortilla. It’s also perfect for microwaving on the go or at work when plates are not necessarily available.
A little clarification here: The first part (what to eat when) meant that one did not eat breakfast foods at dinner time, dinner left-overs (whether meatloaf, spaghetti, whatever) could not be eaten for breakfast, etc. The second part - where to eat - meant eating at the table, whether in the kitchen or dining room, along with any family members who were eating. The no t.v. part is pretty self-explanatory.
After my folks split up, and I'd gotten married and moved out, things were a little different. I stopped by one evening for some reason or another, only to find Mom and my sister sitting on the floor in the living room, maybe 20 feet away from the dining room table, watching Star Trek (a show she'd previously stated she didn't like) on the television while eating dinner. You could have knocked me over with a feather. They were eating something appropriately dinner-ish.
Fast forward to now. Any one of my (now adult) offspring can think of at least one dinner when they ate cereal, an omelet, or some other breakfast food for dinner. There's really nothing wrong with that. (There's also nothing wrong with having pie and coffee for breakfast, something I tend to do after a major holiday.)
This long intro is to tell you that today's post deals with breakfast. Check out the Parisian-style Sweet Crêpes, the Ham and Pepper Frittata, and the other yummy breakfast recipes. Enjoy!
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).
HAM AND PEPPER FRITTATA
Recipe Yield: Yield: 4 servings, Serving size: 1/4 of recipe
Source: The Complete Diabetes Prevention Plan
Book Title: The Complete Diabetes Prevention Plan
View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/ham-and-pepper-frittata.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil or canola oil
1/2 cup diced yellow bell pepper
1/2 cup diced green bell pepper
1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
1 cup diced, lean, reduced-sodium ham
2 teaspoons dried parsley
1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
2 cups fat-free egg substitute
1 cup shredded, reduced-fat, white Cheddar or Swiss cheese
Directions
Coat a large ovenproof skillet with the olive oil and preheat over medium-high heat. Add the peppers, ham, parsley, and black pepper and saute for several minutes, until the vegetables are crisp-tender and the ham is beginning to brown. Spread the mixture evenly over the bottom of the skillet.
Pour the egg substitute over the skillet mixture and reduce the heat to medium-low. Cover and cook without stirring for about 6 minutes, until the eggs are almost set (the edges will be cooked but the top will still be runny).
Remove the lid from the skillet and wrap the handle in aluminum foil (to prevent it from becoming damaged under the broiler). Place the skillet under a preheated broiler and broil for a couple of minutes, until the eggs are set but not dry. Sprinkle the cheese over the top and broil for another minute to melt the cheese. Cut the frittata into 4 wedges and serve hot.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 222; Fat: 8.3 g; Sodium: 690 mg; Cholesterol: 32 mg; Protein: 28 g; Carbohydrates: 7 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 4 Lean Meat, 1 Vegetable, 1/2 Fat
PARISIAN-STYLE SWEET CREPES
This comes from the September 2009 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 37. It begins, "Cafés and brasseries in the French capital sell passersby sweet crêpes slathered in butter, jam, chestnut purée, and (VT favorite) Nutella. The experience iseasy to re-create at home for breakfast, Sunday supper, or a snack."
Makes 8 crêpes
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/parisian-style-sweet-crepes/.
Ingredients
Crêpes
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 cup low-fat milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Fillings (optional)
Nutella
Jam
Butter
Chestnut Purée
Preparation
Whisk together flour, sugar, and salt in bowl. Whisk in egg; mixture will be shaggy. Whisk in milk 1/4 cup at a time. Whisk in vanilla. Cover, and chill 30 minutes, or overnight.
Whisk 1/4 to 1/2 cup water into batter to thin. Lightly grease 9-inch nonstick skillet with canola oil. Heat skillet over medium-high heat.
Pour 1/4 cup batter into hot skillet, tilting pan to swirl batter so it coats bottom of pan. Cook 1 to 2 minutes, or until edges begin to brown and center is dry. Flip; cook 30 seconds to 1 minute more.
Transfer crêpe to plate, and repeat with remaining batter. To serve crêpes: Reheat 1 minute in lightly greased skillet. Spread with desired fillings, fold into quarters, and serve.
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
PIRATE EGGS
When my sister and I were kids, my mother used to fix this for us on a regular basis, except that she called them Gypsy Eggs. Once my brother came along, though, they became Pirate Eggs. The name stuck. Most people from the Northeastern U.S. tend to call them Eggs-in-a-Hole or some variation of that. But whatever you call them, they're good.
The instructions are for one person. Adjust for the number of people you're feeding.
Ingredients
1-2 eggs
1-2 pieces of bread
margarine for the pan
Directions
Melt the margarine in the pan over medium heat. Take the bread and cut a round hole in the middle. Place bread in pan, then crack the egg and dump onto the bread so that the yolk is in the hold. If you prefer non-runny yolks (my preference), crack the yolk with the corner of a spatula. Cook on the first side for several minutes, then flip over and cook the other side. You can flip it several times until the egg looks cooked. Enjoy!
EASY BREAKFAST BURRITOS
This comes from Old El Paso, and begins, "This Southwest breakfast is quick enough for busy weekends. Or, you can try our make-ahead tip to freeze and reheat for a winning grab-and-go breakfast all week long."
Prep Time: 35 minutes; Total Time: 35 minutes; Makes 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/easy-breakfast-burritos.
Ingredients
6 eggs
2 tablespoons Old El Paso™ chopped green chiles (from 4.5-oz can)
1 to 2 tablespoons milk
6 fully cooked breakfast sausage links, cut into small pieces
1 bag (1 lb 4 oz) refrigerated shredded hash brown potatoes
6 Old El Paso™ flour tortillas for burritos (from 11-oz package)
2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend (8 oz)
Preparation
In large bowl, beat 6 eggs, 2 tablespoons Old El Paso™ chopped green chiles and 1 to 2 tablespoons milk until well blended. In 10-inch skillet over medium heat, cook eggs, stirring occasionally, until scrambled. Stir in 6 fully cooked breakfast sausage links, cut into small pieces; heat until warm. Set aside.
Cook 1 bag (1 lb. 4 oz.) refrigerated shredded hash brown potatoes as directed on bag; set aside.
To assemble burritos, spoon line of hash browns down center of each of 6 Old El Paso™ flour tortillas for burritos. Top with 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend and the scrambled eggs.
Roll up each tortilla tightly to secure filling. Serve immediately, or freeze as directed below.
To freeze, wrap each burrito in paper towel; wrap in foil. Freeze. To reheat, remove and discard foil. Microwave each frozen paper towel-wrapped burrito on High 2 minutes 30 seconds, turning burrito over halfway through heating.
Expert Tips
Change breakfast sausage out for cooked chorizo pork sausage for a delightful Southwest kick!
Wrapping the breakfast burrito in a paper towel before the foil helps to absorb the moisture from the burrito and prevent a soggy tortilla. It’s also perfect for microwaving on the go or at work when plates are not necessarily available.
Thursday, June 1, 2023
Breakfast
When I was growing up (more years ago than seems possible), two of my friends - a brother and sister - lived next door. They were the oldest of four kids, and I thoroughly enjoyed hanging around with them. Frequently, when my mother was fixing dinner, I'd wander over to Robbie and Audrey's place to see what they were doing.
At one point, I noticed that on Thursday evenings (the last night before pay-day for most families in our neighborhood), their mother would have the four kids at the table, wolfing down cereal, pancakes, French toast, or other breakfast foods for dinner. If it was a cereal night, all the remaining cereal boxes from the previous shopping trip would be on the table, along with a gallon of milk, happy slurping noises coming from the table.
"Eat up!" their mother would admonish. "We'll get more cereal tomorrow, so you guys can finish those boxes up."
I so envied them. "Why can't we have cereal (or pancakes or French toast) for dinner?" I'd ask my mom. This, of course, was especially true whenever she was making that dreaded of meals, liver and onions.
"Those are breakfast things," Mom would explain, as though to a slow child.
Mom, with my younger brother, circa early 1960s
No matter. Since moving out on my own, and starting my own family (who are now grown), I occasionally made breakfast for dinner. There's nothing wrong with that, opinions to the contrary.
And so, here are six breakfast recipes that you can make for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, including Baked Chorizo Breakfast Buritto Bowls, Challah French Toast, and Pirate Eggs. Enjoy!
RASPBERRY CHOCOLATE CHIP PANCAKES
This comes from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list. Makes 16 to 18 (4-inch) pancakes.
Ingredients
1/2 stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter
3/4 cups plus 3 tablespoons milk
1 large egg
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup picked-over raspberries
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
Directions
In a small saucepan melt 2 tablespoons butter over moderately low heat, stirring. Stir in milk and heat until just warm. Remove pan from heat. In a bowl whisk together milk mixture and egg. Into another bowl sift together flour, baking powder, and salt and stir in egg mixture until just combined. Gently stir in raspberries and chocolate chips.
Preheat oven to 200 degrees F. Heat a griddle over moderate heat until hot enough to make a drop of water scatter over surface. Add 1 teaspoon butter and with a metal spatula spread over griddle. Working in batches, drop 1/4-cup measures of batter onto griddle to form pancakes about 4 inches in diameter and cook until bubbles appear on surface and undersides are golden brown, about 2 minutes. Flip pancakes with spatula and cook until undersides are golden brown and pancakes are cooked through. Transfer pancakes as cooked to an ovenproof platter and keep warm, uncovered, in oven. Make more pancakes with remaining butter and batter in same manner.
Serve pancakes with syrup. Makes about 10 pancakes, serving 2 generously.
Accompaniment: pure maple syrup, heated
BAKED CHORIZO BREAKFAST BURRITO BOWLS
This is from Old El Paso, and begins, "Wake up and start the day with these easy-to-make and filling breakfast burrito bowls. Layers of shredded cheese, crispy potato crowns, chorizo seasoned pork and fluffy eggs packed inside soft tortilla bowls; warmed and then topped with your favorite fresh toppings."
Prep Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 55 minutes; Makes 8 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/baked-chorizo-breakfast-burrito-bowls.
Ingredients
48 (about 3 1/3 cups) frozen seasoned shredded potato crowns (from 30-oz bag)
1 package (8 count) Old El Paso™ Soft Tortilla Bowls
1 1/2 cups Old El Paso™ Shredded Mexican Style 4 Cheese Blend (6 oz)
1/2 lb ground pork
1/3 cup water
1 package (0.85 oz) Old El Paso™ Chorizo Taco Seasoning Mix
1 can (4.5 oz) Old El Paso™ Chopped Green Chiles
1 tablespoon butter
6 eggs, slightly beaten
1 medium avocado, pitted, peeled and sliced
1/4 cup thinly sliced green onions
1/2 cup salsa
Chopped fresh cilantro leaves, if desired
Directions
Heat oven to 425°F. In 15x10x1-inch ungreased pan, spread frozen potatoes in single layer. Bake 16 to 18 minutes or until light golden brown. Remove to plate. Wipe out bottom of pan.
In same pan, place tortilla bowls standing up, next to each other. Divide 1 cup of the cheese among tortilla bowls. Top with potatoes (6 per tortilla bowl); set aside.
Meanwhile, in 10-inch nonstick skillet, cook pork over medium-high heat 5 to 6 minutes, stirring frequently, until no longer pink; do not drain. Stir in water, taco seasoning mix and chiles; heat to boiling. Reduce heat; simmer uncovered 3 to 4 minutes, stirring frequently, until thickened. Divide among tortilla bowls. Carefully wipe out skillet.
In same skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add eggs; cook 1 to 2 minutes, stirring constantly, until set. Remove from heat; stir in remaining 1/2 cup cheese. Divide among tortilla bowls.
Bake 3 to 5 minutes or until warmed. Top with sliced avocado, green onions and salsa. Sprinkle cilantro on top.
Expert Tips
To slice avocado, cut in half and remove pit. Using large spoon, scoop flesh from skin. Place one half avocado cut side down on cutting board. Cut lengthwise into strips. Repeat with other half of avocado.
Try a drizzle of hot sauce instead of salsa to add a nice kick to the burrito bowls.
RASPBERRY CREAM CHEESE FRENCH TOAST
This comes from Vegetarian Times (May 2005 issue, page 95), in an article featuring Inn Serendipity in Browntown, WI. The recipes begins, "If raspberries are not available, you can substitute blueberries. Note: You must start this dish one day ahead." Makes 8 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/raspberry-cream-cheese-french-toast/.
Ingredients
French Toast
12 slices bread, preferably raisin bread
4 oz. low-fat cream cheese
2 large eggs
2 cups low-fat milk
1/4 cup maple syrup
8 oz. raspberries
Raspberry sauce
1 cup granulated sugar
2 Tbs. cornstarch
8 oz. raspberries
Preparation
To make French Toast: Grease 9×13-inch baking dish. Place 6 slices bread evenly on bottom of pan, and dot with half of cream cheese. Layer remaining 6 slices on top, and dot with remaining cream cheese.
Whisk together eggs, milk, syrup and raspberries in mixing bowl. Pour egg mixture over bread. Cover baking dish with foil, and refrigerate overnight.
Preheat oven to 350F.
Bake bread 1/2 hour covered; remove foil, and bake 30 minutes more, or until bread begins to puff up and brown.
To make Raspberry Sauce: Combine sugar, cornstarch and 1 cup water in saucepan, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium, and cook 3 minutes, or until thickened. Whisk in raspberries, and cook 3 minutes more, or until sauce has thickened again. Serve French Toast with Raspberry Sauce.
PIRATE EGGS
When my sister and I were kids, my mother used to fix this for us on a regular basis, except that she called them Gypsy Eggs. Once my brother came along, though, they became Pirate Eggs. The name stuck. Most people from the Northeastern U.S. tend to call them Eggs-in-a-Hole or some variation of that. But whatever you call them, they're good.
The instructions are for one person. Adjust for the number of people you're feeding.
Ingredients
1-2 eggs
1-2 pieces of bread
margarine for the pan
Directions
Melt the margarine in the pan over medium heat. Take the bread and cut a round hole in the middle. Place bread in pan, then crack the egg and dump onto the bread so that the yolk is in the hold. If you prefer non-runny yolks (my preference), crack the yolk with the corner of a spatula. Cook on the first side for several minutes, then flip over and cook the other side. You can flip it several times until the egg looks cooked. Enjoy!
CHALLAH FRENCH TOAST
This yumminess is from Ina Garten on the Food Network.
Prep Time: 10 minutes, Inactive Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 12 minutes; Total Time: 27 minutes; Level: Easy; Yield: 8 large slices
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
6 extra-large eggs
1 1/2 cups half-and-half or milk
1 teaspoon grated orange zest
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 tablespoon good honey
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 large loaf challah or brioche bread
Unsalted butter
Vegetable oil
To serve:
Pure maple syrup
Good raspberry preserves (optional)
Sifted confectioners' sugar (optional)
Directions
Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.
In a large shallow bowl, whisk together the eggs, half-and-half, orange zest, vanilla, honey, and salt. Slice the challah in 3/4-inch thick slices. Soak as many slices in the egg mixture as possible for 5 minutes, turning once.
Heat 1 tablespoon butter and 1 tablespoon oil in a very large saute pan over medium heat. Add the soaked bread and cook for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, until nicely browned. Place the cooked French toast on a sheet pan and keep it warm in the oven. Fry the remaining soaked bread slices, adding butter and oil as needed, until it's all cooked. Serve hot with maple syrup, raspberry preserves, and/or confectioners' sugar.
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).
At one point, I noticed that on Thursday evenings (the last night before pay-day for most families in our neighborhood), their mother would have the four kids at the table, wolfing down cereal, pancakes, French toast, or other breakfast foods for dinner. If it was a cereal night, all the remaining cereal boxes from the previous shopping trip would be on the table, along with a gallon of milk, happy slurping noises coming from the table.
"Eat up!" their mother would admonish. "We'll get more cereal tomorrow, so you guys can finish those boxes up."
I so envied them. "Why can't we have cereal (or pancakes or French toast) for dinner?" I'd ask my mom. This, of course, was especially true whenever she was making that dreaded of meals, liver and onions.
"Those are breakfast things," Mom would explain, as though to a slow child.
Mom, with my younger brother, circa early 1960s
No matter. Since moving out on my own, and starting my own family (who are now grown), I occasionally made breakfast for dinner. There's nothing wrong with that, opinions to the contrary.
And so, here are six breakfast recipes that you can make for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, including Baked Chorizo Breakfast Buritto Bowls, Challah French Toast, and Pirate Eggs. Enjoy!
RASPBERRY CHOCOLATE CHIP PANCAKES
This comes from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list. Makes 16 to 18 (4-inch) pancakes.
Ingredients
1/2 stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter
3/4 cups plus 3 tablespoons milk
1 large egg
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup picked-over raspberries
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
Directions
In a small saucepan melt 2 tablespoons butter over moderately low heat, stirring. Stir in milk and heat until just warm. Remove pan from heat. In a bowl whisk together milk mixture and egg. Into another bowl sift together flour, baking powder, and salt and stir in egg mixture until just combined. Gently stir in raspberries and chocolate chips.
Preheat oven to 200 degrees F. Heat a griddle over moderate heat until hot enough to make a drop of water scatter over surface. Add 1 teaspoon butter and with a metal spatula spread over griddle. Working in batches, drop 1/4-cup measures of batter onto griddle to form pancakes about 4 inches in diameter and cook until bubbles appear on surface and undersides are golden brown, about 2 minutes. Flip pancakes with spatula and cook until undersides are golden brown and pancakes are cooked through. Transfer pancakes as cooked to an ovenproof platter and keep warm, uncovered, in oven. Make more pancakes with remaining butter and batter in same manner.
Serve pancakes with syrup. Makes about 10 pancakes, serving 2 generously.
Accompaniment: pure maple syrup, heated
BAKED CHORIZO BREAKFAST BURRITO BOWLS
This is from Old El Paso, and begins, "Wake up and start the day with these easy-to-make and filling breakfast burrito bowls. Layers of shredded cheese, crispy potato crowns, chorizo seasoned pork and fluffy eggs packed inside soft tortilla bowls; warmed and then topped with your favorite fresh toppings."
Prep Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 55 minutes; Makes 8 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/baked-chorizo-breakfast-burrito-bowls.
Ingredients
48 (about 3 1/3 cups) frozen seasoned shredded potato crowns (from 30-oz bag)
1 package (8 count) Old El Paso™ Soft Tortilla Bowls
1 1/2 cups Old El Paso™ Shredded Mexican Style 4 Cheese Blend (6 oz)
1/2 lb ground pork
1/3 cup water
1 package (0.85 oz) Old El Paso™ Chorizo Taco Seasoning Mix
1 can (4.5 oz) Old El Paso™ Chopped Green Chiles
1 tablespoon butter
6 eggs, slightly beaten
1 medium avocado, pitted, peeled and sliced
1/4 cup thinly sliced green onions
1/2 cup salsa
Chopped fresh cilantro leaves, if desired
Directions
Heat oven to 425°F. In 15x10x1-inch ungreased pan, spread frozen potatoes in single layer. Bake 16 to 18 minutes or until light golden brown. Remove to plate. Wipe out bottom of pan.
In same pan, place tortilla bowls standing up, next to each other. Divide 1 cup of the cheese among tortilla bowls. Top with potatoes (6 per tortilla bowl); set aside.
Meanwhile, in 10-inch nonstick skillet, cook pork over medium-high heat 5 to 6 minutes, stirring frequently, until no longer pink; do not drain. Stir in water, taco seasoning mix and chiles; heat to boiling. Reduce heat; simmer uncovered 3 to 4 minutes, stirring frequently, until thickened. Divide among tortilla bowls. Carefully wipe out skillet.
In same skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add eggs; cook 1 to 2 minutes, stirring constantly, until set. Remove from heat; stir in remaining 1/2 cup cheese. Divide among tortilla bowls.
Bake 3 to 5 minutes or until warmed. Top with sliced avocado, green onions and salsa. Sprinkle cilantro on top.
Expert Tips
To slice avocado, cut in half and remove pit. Using large spoon, scoop flesh from skin. Place one half avocado cut side down on cutting board. Cut lengthwise into strips. Repeat with other half of avocado.
Try a drizzle of hot sauce instead of salsa to add a nice kick to the burrito bowls.
RASPBERRY CREAM CHEESE FRENCH TOAST
This comes from Vegetarian Times (May 2005 issue, page 95), in an article featuring Inn Serendipity in Browntown, WI. The recipes begins, "If raspberries are not available, you can substitute blueberries. Note: You must start this dish one day ahead." Makes 8 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/raspberry-cream-cheese-french-toast/.
Ingredients
French Toast
12 slices bread, preferably raisin bread
4 oz. low-fat cream cheese
2 large eggs
2 cups low-fat milk
1/4 cup maple syrup
8 oz. raspberries
Raspberry sauce
1 cup granulated sugar
2 Tbs. cornstarch
8 oz. raspberries
Preparation
To make French Toast: Grease 9×13-inch baking dish. Place 6 slices bread evenly on bottom of pan, and dot with half of cream cheese. Layer remaining 6 slices on top, and dot with remaining cream cheese.
Whisk together eggs, milk, syrup and raspberries in mixing bowl. Pour egg mixture over bread. Cover baking dish with foil, and refrigerate overnight.
Preheat oven to 350F.
Bake bread 1/2 hour covered; remove foil, and bake 30 minutes more, or until bread begins to puff up and brown.
To make Raspberry Sauce: Combine sugar, cornstarch and 1 cup water in saucepan, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium, and cook 3 minutes, or until thickened. Whisk in raspberries, and cook 3 minutes more, or until sauce has thickened again. Serve French Toast with Raspberry Sauce.
PIRATE EGGS
When my sister and I were kids, my mother used to fix this for us on a regular basis, except that she called them Gypsy Eggs. Once my brother came along, though, they became Pirate Eggs. The name stuck. Most people from the Northeastern U.S. tend to call them Eggs-in-a-Hole or some variation of that. But whatever you call them, they're good.
The instructions are for one person. Adjust for the number of people you're feeding.
Ingredients
1-2 eggs
1-2 pieces of bread
margarine for the pan
Directions
Melt the margarine in the pan over medium heat. Take the bread and cut a round hole in the middle. Place bread in pan, then crack the egg and dump onto the bread so that the yolk is in the hold. If you prefer non-runny yolks (my preference), crack the yolk with the corner of a spatula. Cook on the first side for several minutes, then flip over and cook the other side. You can flip it several times until the egg looks cooked. Enjoy!
CHALLAH FRENCH TOAST
This yumminess is from Ina Garten on the Food Network.
Prep Time: 10 minutes, Inactive Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 12 minutes; Total Time: 27 minutes; Level: Easy; Yield: 8 large slices
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
6 extra-large eggs
1 1/2 cups half-and-half or milk
1 teaspoon grated orange zest
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 tablespoon good honey
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 large loaf challah or brioche bread
Unsalted butter
Vegetable oil
To serve:
Pure maple syrup
Good raspberry preserves (optional)
Sifted confectioners' sugar (optional)
Directions
Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.
In a large shallow bowl, whisk together the eggs, half-and-half, orange zest, vanilla, honey, and salt. Slice the challah in 3/4-inch thick slices. Soak as many slices in the egg mixture as possible for 5 minutes, turning once.
Heat 1 tablespoon butter and 1 tablespoon oil in a very large saute pan over medium heat. Add the soaked bread and cook for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, until nicely browned. Place the cooked French toast on a sheet pan and keep it warm in the oven. Fry the remaining soaked bread slices, adding butter and oil as needed, until it's all cooked. Serve hot with maple syrup, raspberry preserves, and/or confectioners' sugar.
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).
Thursday, July 21, 2022
Breakfast
When I was a kid, my mom had definite rules about meals. Maybe rules might not be quite right. But she did have ideas about what to eat when, where to eat, and, finally, no television during meals.
A little clarification here: The first part (what to eat when) meant that one did not eat breakfast foods at dinner time, dinner left-overs (whether meatloaf, spaghetti, whatever) could not be eaten for breakfast, etc. The second part - where to eat - meant eating at the table, whether in the kitchen or dining room, along with any family members who were eating. The no t.v. part is pretty self-explanatory.
After my folks split up, and I'd gotten married and moved out, things were a little different. I stopped by one evening for some reason or another, only to find Mom and my sister sitting on the floor in the living room, maybe 20 feet away from the dining room table, watching Star Trek (a show she'd previously stated she didn't like) on the television while eating dinner. You could have knocked me over with a feather. They were eating something appropriately dinner-ish.
Fast forward to now. Any one of my (now adult) offspring can think of at least one dinner when they ate cereal, an omelet, or some other breakfast food for dinner. There's really nothing wrong with that. (There's also nothing wrong with having pie and coffee for breakfast, something I tend to do after a major holiday.)
This long intro is to tell you that today's post deals with breakfast. Check out the Parisian-style Sweet Crêpes, the Ham and Pepper Frittata, and the other yummy breakfast recipes. Enjoy!
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).
HAM AND PEPPER FRITTATA
Recipe Yield: Yield: 4 servings, Serving size: 1/4 of recipe
Source: The Complete Diabetes Prevention Plan
Book Title: The Complete Diabetes Prevention Plan
View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/ham-and-pepper-frittata.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil or canola oil
1/2 cup diced yellow bell pepper
1/2 cup diced green bell pepper
1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
1 cup diced, lean, reduced-sodium ham
2 teaspoons dried parsley
1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
2 cups fat-free egg substitute
1 cup shredded, reduced-fat, white Cheddar or Swiss cheese
Directions
Coat a large ovenproof skillet with the olive oil and preheat over medium-high heat. Add the peppers, ham, parsley, and black pepper and saute for several minutes, until the vegetables are crisp-tender and the ham is beginning to brown. Spread the mixture evenly over the bottom of the skillet.
Pour the egg substitute over the skillet mixture and reduce the heat to medium-low. Cover and cook without stirring for about 6 minutes, until the eggs are almost set (the edges will be cooked but the top will still be runny).
Remove the lid from the skillet and wrap the handle in aluminum foil (to prevent it from becoming damaged under the broiler). Place the skillet under a preheated broiler and broil for a couple of minutes, until the eggs are set but not dry. Sprinkle the cheese over the top and broil for another minute to melt the cheese. Cut the frittata into 4 wedges and serve hot.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 222; Fat: 8.3 g; Sodium: 690 mg; Cholesterol: 32 mg; Protein: 28 g; Carbohydrates: 7 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 4 Lean Meat, 1 Vegetable, 1/2 Fat
PARISIAN-STYLE SWEET CREPES
This comes from the September 2009 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 37. It begins, "Cafés and brasseries in the French capital sell passersby sweet crêpes slathered in butter, jam, chestnut purée, and (VT favorite) Nutella. The experience iseasy to re-create at home for breakfast, Sunday supper, or a snack."
Makes 8 crêpes
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/parisian-style-sweet-crepes/.
Ingredients
Crêpes
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 cup low-fat milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Fillings (optional)
Nutella
Jam
Butter
Chestnut Purée
Preparation
Whisk together flour, sugar, and salt in bowl. Whisk in egg; mixture will be shaggy. Whisk in milk 1/4 cup at a time. Whisk in vanilla. Cover, and chill 30 minutes, or overnight.
Whisk 1/4 to 1/2 cup water into batter to thin. Lightly grease 9-inch nonstick skillet with canola oil. Heat skillet over medium-high heat.
Pour 1/4 cup batter into hot skillet, tilting pan to swirl batter so it coats bottom of pan. Cook 1 to 2 minutes, or until edges begin to brown and center is dry. Flip; cook 30 seconds to 1 minute more.
Transfer crêpe to plate, and repeat with remaining batter. To serve crêpes: Reheat 1 minute in lightly greased skillet. Spread with desired fillings, fold into quarters, and serve.
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
PIRATE EGGS
When my sister and I were kids, my mother used to fix this for us on a regular basis, except that she called them Gypsy Eggs. Once my brother came along, though, they became Pirate Eggs. The name stuck. Most people from the Northeastern U.S. tend to call them Eggs-in-a-Hole or some variation of that. But whatever you call them, they're good.
The instructions are for one person. Adjust for the number of people you're feeding.
Ingredients
1-2 eggs
1-2 pieces of bread
margarine for the pan
Directions
Melt the margarine in the pan over medium heat. Take the bread and cut a round hole in the middle. Place bread in pan, then crack the egg and dump onto the bread so that the yolk is in the hold. If you prefer non-runny yolks (my preference), crack the yolk with the corner of a spatula. Cook on the first side for several minutes, then flip over and cook the other side. You can flip it several times until the egg looks cooked. Enjoy!
EASY BREAKFAST BURRITOS
This comes from Old El Paso, and begins, "This Southwest breakfast is quick enough for busy weekends. Or, you can try our make-ahead tip to freeze and reheat for a winning grab-and-go breakfast all week long."
Prep Time: 35 minutes; Total Time: 35 minutes; Makes 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/easy-breakfast-burritos.
Ingredients
6 eggs
2 tablespoons Old El Paso™ chopped green chiles (from 4.5-oz can)
1 to 2 tablespoons milk
6 fully cooked breakfast sausage links, cut into small pieces
1 bag (1 lb 4 oz) refrigerated shredded hash brown potatoes
6 Old El Paso™ flour tortillas for burritos (from 11-oz package)
2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend (8 oz)
Preparation
In large bowl, beat 6 eggs, 2 tablespoons Old El Paso™ chopped green chiles and 1 to 2 tablespoons milk until well blended. In 10-inch skillet over medium heat, cook eggs, stirring occasionally, until scrambled. Stir in 6 fully cooked breakfast sausage links, cut into small pieces; heat until warm. Set aside.
Cook 1 bag (1 lb. 4 oz.) refrigerated shredded hash brown potatoes as directed on bag; set aside.
To assemble burritos, spoon line of hash browns down center of each of 6 Old El Paso™ flour tortillas for burritos. Top with 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend and the scrambled eggs.
Roll up each tortilla tightly to secure filling. Serve immediately, or freeze as directed below.
To freeze, wrap each burrito in paper towel; wrap in foil. Freeze. To reheat, remove and discard foil. Microwave each frozen paper towel-wrapped burrito on High 2 minutes 30 seconds, turning burrito over halfway through heating.
Expert Tips
Change breakfast sausage out for cooked chorizo pork sausage for a delightful Southwest kick!
Wrapping the breakfast burrito in a paper towel before the foil helps to absorb the moisture from the burrito and prevent a soggy tortilla. It’s also perfect for microwaving on the go or at work when plates are not necessarily available.
A little clarification here: The first part (what to eat when) meant that one did not eat breakfast foods at dinner time, dinner left-overs (whether meatloaf, spaghetti, whatever) could not be eaten for breakfast, etc. The second part - where to eat - meant eating at the table, whether in the kitchen or dining room, along with any family members who were eating. The no t.v. part is pretty self-explanatory.
After my folks split up, and I'd gotten married and moved out, things were a little different. I stopped by one evening for some reason or another, only to find Mom and my sister sitting on the floor in the living room, maybe 20 feet away from the dining room table, watching Star Trek (a show she'd previously stated she didn't like) on the television while eating dinner. You could have knocked me over with a feather. They were eating something appropriately dinner-ish.
Fast forward to now. Any one of my (now adult) offspring can think of at least one dinner when they ate cereal, an omelet, or some other breakfast food for dinner. There's really nothing wrong with that. (There's also nothing wrong with having pie and coffee for breakfast, something I tend to do after a major holiday.)
This long intro is to tell you that today's post deals with breakfast. Check out the Parisian-style Sweet Crêpes, the Ham and Pepper Frittata, and the other yummy breakfast recipes. Enjoy!
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).
HAM AND PEPPER FRITTATA
Recipe Yield: Yield: 4 servings, Serving size: 1/4 of recipe
Source: The Complete Diabetes Prevention Plan
Book Title: The Complete Diabetes Prevention Plan
View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/ham-and-pepper-frittata.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil or canola oil
1/2 cup diced yellow bell pepper
1/2 cup diced green bell pepper
1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
1 cup diced, lean, reduced-sodium ham
2 teaspoons dried parsley
1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
2 cups fat-free egg substitute
1 cup shredded, reduced-fat, white Cheddar or Swiss cheese
Directions
Coat a large ovenproof skillet with the olive oil and preheat over medium-high heat. Add the peppers, ham, parsley, and black pepper and saute for several minutes, until the vegetables are crisp-tender and the ham is beginning to brown. Spread the mixture evenly over the bottom of the skillet.
Pour the egg substitute over the skillet mixture and reduce the heat to medium-low. Cover and cook without stirring for about 6 minutes, until the eggs are almost set (the edges will be cooked but the top will still be runny).
Remove the lid from the skillet and wrap the handle in aluminum foil (to prevent it from becoming damaged under the broiler). Place the skillet under a preheated broiler and broil for a couple of minutes, until the eggs are set but not dry. Sprinkle the cheese over the top and broil for another minute to melt the cheese. Cut the frittata into 4 wedges and serve hot.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 222; Fat: 8.3 g; Sodium: 690 mg; Cholesterol: 32 mg; Protein: 28 g; Carbohydrates: 7 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 4 Lean Meat, 1 Vegetable, 1/2 Fat
PARISIAN-STYLE SWEET CREPES
This comes from the September 2009 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 37. It begins, "Cafés and brasseries in the French capital sell passersby sweet crêpes slathered in butter, jam, chestnut purée, and (VT favorite) Nutella. The experience iseasy to re-create at home for breakfast, Sunday supper, or a snack."
Makes 8 crêpes
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/parisian-style-sweet-crepes/.
Ingredients
Crêpes
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 cup low-fat milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Fillings (optional)
Nutella
Jam
Butter
Chestnut Purée
Preparation
Whisk together flour, sugar, and salt in bowl. Whisk in egg; mixture will be shaggy. Whisk in milk 1/4 cup at a time. Whisk in vanilla. Cover, and chill 30 minutes, or overnight.
Whisk 1/4 to 1/2 cup water into batter to thin. Lightly grease 9-inch nonstick skillet with canola oil. Heat skillet over medium-high heat.
Pour 1/4 cup batter into hot skillet, tilting pan to swirl batter so it coats bottom of pan. Cook 1 to 2 minutes, or until edges begin to brown and center is dry. Flip; cook 30 seconds to 1 minute more.
Transfer crêpe to plate, and repeat with remaining batter. To serve crêpes: Reheat 1 minute in lightly greased skillet. Spread with desired fillings, fold into quarters, and serve.
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
PIRATE EGGS
When my sister and I were kids, my mother used to fix this for us on a regular basis, except that she called them Gypsy Eggs. Once my brother came along, though, they became Pirate Eggs. The name stuck. Most people from the Northeastern U.S. tend to call them Eggs-in-a-Hole or some variation of that. But whatever you call them, they're good.
The instructions are for one person. Adjust for the number of people you're feeding.
Ingredients
1-2 eggs
1-2 pieces of bread
margarine for the pan
Directions
Melt the margarine in the pan over medium heat. Take the bread and cut a round hole in the middle. Place bread in pan, then crack the egg and dump onto the bread so that the yolk is in the hold. If you prefer non-runny yolks (my preference), crack the yolk with the corner of a spatula. Cook on the first side for several minutes, then flip over and cook the other side. You can flip it several times until the egg looks cooked. Enjoy!
EASY BREAKFAST BURRITOS
This comes from Old El Paso, and begins, "This Southwest breakfast is quick enough for busy weekends. Or, you can try our make-ahead tip to freeze and reheat for a winning grab-and-go breakfast all week long."
Prep Time: 35 minutes; Total Time: 35 minutes; Makes 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/easy-breakfast-burritos.
Ingredients
6 eggs
2 tablespoons Old El Paso™ chopped green chiles (from 4.5-oz can)
1 to 2 tablespoons milk
6 fully cooked breakfast sausage links, cut into small pieces
1 bag (1 lb 4 oz) refrigerated shredded hash brown potatoes
6 Old El Paso™ flour tortillas for burritos (from 11-oz package)
2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend (8 oz)
Preparation
In large bowl, beat 6 eggs, 2 tablespoons Old El Paso™ chopped green chiles and 1 to 2 tablespoons milk until well blended. In 10-inch skillet over medium heat, cook eggs, stirring occasionally, until scrambled. Stir in 6 fully cooked breakfast sausage links, cut into small pieces; heat until warm. Set aside.
Cook 1 bag (1 lb. 4 oz.) refrigerated shredded hash brown potatoes as directed on bag; set aside.
To assemble burritos, spoon line of hash browns down center of each of 6 Old El Paso™ flour tortillas for burritos. Top with 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend and the scrambled eggs.
Roll up each tortilla tightly to secure filling. Serve immediately, or freeze as directed below.
To freeze, wrap each burrito in paper towel; wrap in foil. Freeze. To reheat, remove and discard foil. Microwave each frozen paper towel-wrapped burrito on High 2 minutes 30 seconds, turning burrito over halfway through heating.
Expert Tips
Change breakfast sausage out for cooked chorizo pork sausage for a delightful Southwest kick!
Wrapping the breakfast burrito in a paper towel before the foil helps to absorb the moisture from the burrito and prevent a soggy tortilla. It’s also perfect for microwaving on the go or at work when plates are not necessarily available.
Thursday, June 30, 2022
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.
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.
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