Category: Breakfast/Brunch

Breakfast/Brunch, South Beach Diet

Real Men (And Women) Eat Quiche

by Wendi5 Comments on Real Men (And Women) Eat Quiche

Vegetable Quiche Cups

They also eat cakes, cookies, ice cream, and all sorts of tasty treats cooked up in the BAH kitchen.  So is it any surprise that eventually all those food choices catch up with you?  When I casually mentioned to The Mistah that I was thinking of revisiting Phase One of South Beach, because I was starting to feel a little jiggly in the middle, I expected him to say that I’d lost my mind.  My previous South Beach journey through Phase One had been brutal. Continue reading “Real Men (And Women) Eat Quiche” →

Breakfast/Brunch, South Beach Diet

Morning Glory

by Wendi6 Comments on Morning Glory

Anyone who is:

  • A past roommate of mine;
  • A member of my immediate family;
  • A former overnight guest;
  • A former overnight host;

Will all tell you that I am NOT a morning person.  Unlike The Mistah who hears the first beeps of the alarm and bounds of out bed ready to start the day, I slap not one, but two alarms, several times each and every morning.  I protest and struggle to raise my head from the pillow.  I try and bargain for just a few more minutes under the covers before I have to face the day.  Ultimately, the alarms win out and I grudgingly make the bed, unable to win a single minute more snugly burrowed beneath the covers I’ve managed to reclaim from The Mistah’s side of the bed.  So you could say that I’m not terribly ambitious in the mornings. Continue reading “Morning Glory” →

Breakfast/Brunch

BFD

by Wendi11 Comments on BFD

BFD

That would be Breakfast For Dinner y’all.  Although I have been known to invoke its other meaning as well.  My love of breakfast for dinner is hampered by my breakfast for breakfast rut.  How can I possibly tell The Mistah that I’m sick of eggs in the morning and then go through nearly half a dozen for dinner?  Does it make a difference that using eggs for French Toast is completely different than frying, poaching, or scrambling them?  I’m not sure how well I can sell that argument but I don’t know that I’ll have to based on The Mistah’s reaction after he sampled this BFD. Continue reading “BFD” →

Breakfast/Brunch

Fine Print

by Wendi6 Comments on Fine Print

Insanely Good Waffles

I haven’t yet retaken the Cook Wise Raised Waffle Quiz.  Truth is, I may never retake it.  Because as much as I would like to tame that yeasty beasty, there are plenty of other recipes out there to fill my plate with waffle love.  One of the first waffle recipes I ever tried had the audacity to call itself the Waffle of Insane Greatness.  Humble much?

The recipe came with the following disclaimer in the fine print, “this recipe was provided by professional chefs and has been scaled down from a bulk recipe provided by a restaurant.  The Food Network Kitchens chefs have not tested this recipe, in the proportions indicated, and therefore, we cannot make any representations as to the results.”  Hey Food Network, if you post a recipe on your website it’s pretty safe to assume that a majority of people will figure that you have tested the recipe and that you are endorsing the results.  Since when do recipes come with fine print, disclaimers, and limits of liability?  It’s not an  insurance policy or lease agreement, it’s a waffle.  The question is, is it truly a Waffle of Insane Greatness?

You’ll have to judge for yourself.  The fact that I currently have a double batch of these in the freezer should in no way influence your decision.  BAH Fine Print:  Who am I kidding?  Of course I think you should try these waffles.  I have tested this recipe, in the proportions indicated, and I do make representations as to the results.  I represent that if you don’t think these are insanely good waffles, you should send them to my house.  The Mistah and I will gladly accept them.

Waffle of Insane Greatness

Adapted from Aretha Frankensteins

BAH Note:  The recipe posted at Food Network specifically said not to use any nonstick cooking spray on your waffle iron.  With 1/3 of a cup of vegetable oil, you don’t have to worry about these waffles sticking.

  • 3/4 cup all purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup cornstarch
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup whole milk or buttermilk
  • 1/3 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 egg
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon sugar
  • 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Combine the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl.  In a separate bowl mix together the oil, milk or buttermilk, egg, sugar, and vanilla.  Add the liquid mixture to the dry ingredients, mix well, and let sit for 30 minutes.

Preheat your waffle.  Cook the waffles according to your machine’s instructions and enjoy.

{printable recipe}

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Breakfast/Brunch

Orangette’s Oatmeal Pancakes

by Wendi8 Comments on Orangette’s Oatmeal Pancakes

Oatmeal Pancakes

Can you have too much of a good thing?  Without moderation, I’m afraid the answer is yes.  That’s why pancakes, bacon, waffles, and all sorts of breakfast treats aren’t served up each and every day here at BAH.  But the thing about moderation is that you do occasionally get to indulge.  Egg beaters, steel cut oatmeal, and fruit smoothies only get you so far.  And when we reach that point, where we can’t look at breakfast without going “blah”, it’s time to make a detour.

Our most recent breakfast detour involved Orangette’s Oatmeal Pancakes.  Yes, we do already have an oatmeal pancake recipe floating around the place, but that is a South Beach recipe that is heavy on the egg whites and cottage cheese – which I don’t always have enough of to sacrifice to the South Beach Diet gods.  And if I squint my eyes really tight and pretend that I don’t see that there’s an entire stick of butter in this recipe, this one isn’t too diet wrecking every now and then.  Darn that stick of butter.  If it weren’t for it, I could have served up some lovely oven browned bacon to go with the pancakes.  But my sense of moderation told me to go with some Canadian Bacon instead.

Orangette’s Oatmeal Pancakes

Molly says these are adapted from the Inn at Fordhook Farm

BAH Note:  The oats need to soak overnight in the buttermilk. So these pancakes are a planned indulgence.

  • 2 cups rolled oats
  • 2 cups buttermilk
  • 1/2 cup all purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 eggs, lightly beaten
  • 1 stick butter, melted

Stir together the oats and buttermilk in a medium bowl until well mixed.  Cover with plastic wrap and let sit overnight in the refrigerator.

Remove the oat and buttermilk mixture from the refrigerator.  In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.

Add the melted butter and beaten eggs to the oat and buttermilk mixture.  Stir well to combine.  Add in the flour mixture and stir just until blended into a thick batter.

Heat a large nonstick frying pan over medium high heat.  Lightly grease the pan with vegetable oil and wipe out the excess.  When the pan is ready, ladle in 1/4 cup portions of the batter.  Cook the pancakes until the bottoms are nicely browned, the tops have bubbled, and the edges have set before flipping.  Cook the second side until browned.

{printable recipe}

Breakfast/Brunch

Food Memories – Aunt Jeanie and Mom’s Pancakes

by Wendi10 Comments on Food Memories – Aunt Jeanie and Mom’s Pancakes

Best Damn Pancakes

I can’t say enough wonderful things about this Food Memory contributor.  Josey has been my pal longer than I can remember.  She knew me during those awkward adolescent years, and doesn’t hold it against me.  Yes, I may have been a willing participant in the hijinks but SHE was the one that got us kicked out of the library.  To this day, I’ll never understand how it came across that I was the bad influence.

That moment aside, we balanced each others personalities.  I was loud and hasty, rash and a wee bit reckless.  She was quiet and thoughtful, focused and more reserved.  And we both were addicted to watching the Solid Gold Dancers.  We usually did it while on the phone together so that we could accurately critique the gold lame, big hair, and Marilyn McCoo.  See what I said about not holding my past against me?  Not only is she forgiving like that, she’s a superb story teller with her own blog (when she gets around to writing), an excellent travel companion when you decide to throw caution to the wind and fly across the Atlantic because you need to shake things up, and she’s got a recipe for the Best Damn Pancakes I’ve Ever Eaten.  I’ll let her tell you about them. Continue reading “Food Memories – Aunt Jeanie and Mom’s Pancakes” →

Breakfast/Brunch, South Beach Diet

Savory

by Wendi2 Comments on Savory

Savory

While The Mistah and I don’t exclusively eat South Beach cookbook recipes anymore, I still keep my eyes open for SB Friendly recipes on the Interwebs.  What can I say, the SB approach really has worked for us.  I still have people tell me that the weight loss is noticeable, and this is almost two years later.  I may not have reached that elusive Driver’s License weight, but I’m more comfortable in my own skin that I have been in quite some time.  And it doesn’t hurt that the SB Friendly dishes we eat taste good or that The Mistah says my skinny jeans look freaking awesome.

Cottage Cheese and Cheddar Muffins

From Alexandra’s Kitchen (who also references Kalyn’s Kitchen and 101 Cookbooks)

BAH Note:  You don’t have to be on South Beach to enjoy this savory muffin.  It makes a great light snack or quick breakfast if you make them in advance.  Don’t be like me and neglect to spray the paper liners with cooking spray.  Because scraping savory muffin out of the paper liner is not a good start to a day. And be prepared to pay a pretty penny for the almond flour.  Luckily, there’s a French Macaron recipe in The Sweet Life in Paris that uses almond flour.  While definitely not a SB Friendly recipe, I think there’s room for French cookies once in a while...at least until the skinny jeans tell me otherwise.

  • 2/3 cup cottage cheese
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan
  • 1/4 cup wheat flour
  • 2/3 cup almond flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 4 eggs
  • 3 tablespoons water
  • 1/2 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
  • 4 slices canadian bacon

Heat the oven to 400 degrees.

Combine the cottage cheese, Parmesan, wheat and almond flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl.  Beat the eggs and water together and add to the bowl.  Mix well to combine.   Add the canadian bacon and grated cheddar to the bowl and fold to combine.

Place 8 paper liners in a muffin pan and coat the liners lightly with a nonstick cooking spray.  Divide the batter among the liners and bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until the tops are lightly browned and the egg has set.

Leftover muffins can be cooled completely and stored in the refrigerator.

{printable recipe}

Breakfast/Brunch

Food Memories – Fried Doughnuts

by Wendi7 Comments on Food Memories – Fried Doughnuts

Sugar Coated

Today’s Food Memories installment is from my sister in law.  It’s a perfect example of how our Food Memories can be of something old or something new.  Or a little of both.  She says:

“I make these for the kids and our guests at the lake; what a treat.  Fried with just the powdered sugar topping reminds me of Bockers that my mom used to make us when we were little.  Gotta love that junk food.” Continue reading “Food Memories – Fried Doughnuts” →

Breakfast/Brunch, Main Course

Dance Card

by Wendi4 Comments on Dance Card

image from istockphoto.com
image from istockphoto.com

I am, what you might call, a wee bit compulsive.  I’ll go through phases where I’ll try and find as many possible variations on a recipe or ingredient as possible.  I’ll exhaust myself trying something countless different ways.  It’s like I’m possessed by a singular focus.  And then, just as abruptly as the urge struck me, it leaves.  My latest partner on the dance floor I call obsession has been baked eggs. Continue reading “Dance Card” →

Breads, Breakfast/Brunch

Yeast 1 – BAH 1

by Wendi12 Comments on Yeast 1 – BAH 1

At the end of 2009, I had to shoot my mouth off and say that I had decided to face my fear of yeast.  I even suggested to The Mistah that The Bread Bible would make a great Christmas gift and sure enough, there was a copy of it under our tree.  And as I sit here typing, that book hasn’t been opened.  Not even once.  Come on, it’s a little overwhelming to take on a project that involves reading a Bible, I don’t care what kind it is.  Bibles are serious stuff, not to be taken lightly, and I’m not yet ready to make the commitment that a Bible requires.  Maybe if we all took our Bible study a little more seriously, even our Bread Bible study, the world would be a different place.  For one, maybe we would be enjoying more homemade popovers, rolls, and english muffins.  And who wouldn’t want to live in a world like that? Continue reading “Yeast 1 – BAH 1” →