Eggs Benedict

I made eggs benedict! I don't know why it has always seemed like an intimidating dish, but it really isn't. I've never poached an egg before, so this was a first...and it was kinda fun! I screwed up my Hollandaise sauce by adding the entire egg instead of just the yolks (it helps to read the directions FIRST!), but other than being a little runnier than it should, it turned out A-ok. For all of you breakfast lovers (or those who, like I, don't really like breakfast but have a husband and kids who do), I highly recommend trying it!

• Eggs (3 separated eggs or sauce and more as needed for poaching)
• 2 sticks Butter
• Juice of 1 lemon (about 3 Tbsp)
• Cayenne pepper, optional
• Canadian bacon
• English muffins

Bring a pot of water to a boil. While water is boiling heat up the Canadian bacon either by frying it in a pan, broiling in the oven for a few minutes, or the microwave.

Make your Hollandaise sauce by first melting 2 sticks of butter in a saucepan until butter starts to sizzle. Be sure not to burn it! Place 3 egg yolks into the blender and turn on low just until the yolks are combined, then slowly add the hot butter while still blending on low. Blend in the lemon juice. If the sauce is too thick, you can add more juice if desired. If desired, add a shake of cayenne pepper.

When water has come to a boil, poach your eggs. To do this, crack your egg into a ramekin or small bowl. Stir the water around with a spoon so as to make a whirlpool. Drop the egg into the center of the whirlpool. Let cook for about 2-2 1/2 minutes (depending really on how cooked you want your yolk to be - we like it runny, so 2 was perfect!). Remove with a slotted spoon.

While eggs are poaching, toast the english muffins (either in a toaster or slightly buttered in the broiler with the Canadian bacon).

Place english muffin on plate (butter if you'd like), top with Canadian bacon, then poached egg. Drizzle (or drench) the top with Hollandaise sauce. Enjoy!

Whole Wheat Pancakes

My family (including myself) are horrible about eating breakfast.  I just don't like most breakfast foods, or at least don't enjoy them much and my boys (hubby included) love breakfast foods, but just don't like to eat within the first 2 hours they're awake.  But by the time they do eat, they're cranky and starving...its frustrating.  This is a real struggle for me.  So I've been trying to find new yummy (but quick and easy and healthy) breakfast foods that they'll like and eat.  So I tried out this recipe for whole wheat pancakes - it came from a friend of a friend.  I admit I'm NOT a pancake fan.  I've never really liked them...I'll choke them down if needed, but I pretty much avoid them.  Love waffles...hate pancakes...weird, I know!  The batter seemed a bit runny, which made the pancakes pretty thin, but I actually liked it better that way.  All in all it turned out great.  The boys all ate and liked it and it was even healthy...yay, can't get better than that!

• 3/4 cup whole-kernel wheat
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1 egg

Combine ingredients in blender; blend on medium to high speed for 4 minutes or until wheat mixture is smooth and creamy.  Then add:

• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 egg
• 1 Tbsp honey
• 2 Tbsp oil
• 2 tsp baking powder (the recipe says 2 tsp, but I think it might be 1/2 - your call)
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp baking soda

Add ingredients to wheat mixture and mix only until blended.  Bake immediately on hot griddle.

Carly's FAMOUS Spinach Smoothies

My friend (and old college roomy) Carly posted this recipe on her blog a couple weeks ago.  I'm always in search of yummy, healthy stuff, so I thought, "what the heck, I think I'll try it."  I'm glad I did - it was great!  My 5 year old, who LOVES spinach (thanks to Popeye!) said he didn't want to try it because it grossed him out to have spinach in a smoothie.  When he saw us all drinking them and lovin' it, he said, "well I'll just try a sip."  He sipped, his eyes rolled back in his head and he said, "Oh, this is SOO delicious!!"  Score!  He even asked for it the next day!  Thanks, Carly for your yummy, healthy smoothie!

• 1 cup vanilla yogurt
  
• 3-4 cups of spinach (fresh)
  
• A couple handfuls of frozen strawberries and blueberries or any other frozen fruit you want (peaches, mango, blackberries, etc)
  
• 1 banana
  
• Flax seed (optional)
  
• Water
  

Poor all ingredients in a blender, leaving the water for last.  Poor water until it fills almost to the top.  Blend.

Julie R. (& Carly S.)

Biscuits & Gravy

My husband (and I too, but mainly him) LOVES Biscuits & Gravy.  Every time we go out for breakfast he orders them.  I remember my mom making them for us when we were kids, but I've never gotten her recipe (I'm sure they're all pretty much the same).  So I've been in search for one for a while.  Usually I just make the McCormick just-add-water kind - its easy and not too shabby, but its just not the same as homemade!  So I've been keeping my eyes peeled for a good recipe and came across this one.  It's from The Pioneer Woman.  I'm not sure if I've mentioned her before, but pretty much everything she posts looks wonderful (and all of the recipes I've tried of hers are awesome!).  This isn't something I'll make very often - it's pretty much a heart attack served on a platter - but it sure was good!  Instead of reposting the recipe, I'll just give you the link...it has step-by-step photo instructions...pretty cool!

(photo courtesy of The Pioneer Woman)

The Pioneer Woman's Biscuits & Gravy

Julie R.

AG, CA

Buttermilk Coffee Cake

I thought I'd make some coffee cake this morning for Sunday breakfast, so I whipped out my trusty Better Homes & Gardens Cookbook and found this.  I'm always kind of put off by recipes that call for buttermilk because I think its so gross, but the truth is that some of the best things come from it...buttermilk biscuits, cole slaw, and now buttermilk coffee cake.  It turned out very moist and delicious.  My only complaint would be that it needs more crumb topping!

• 2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  
• 1-1/2  cups packed brown sugar
  
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2/3 cup butter, margarine, or shortening
  
• 2 teaspoon baking powder
  
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  
• 1-1/3 cup buttermilk or sour milk*
  
• 2 egg, beaten
  
• 1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)
  

Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease an 13x9x2-inch baking pan; set aside. In a medium bowl stir together flour and brown sugar. Using a pastry blender, cut in butter until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Reserve 1/2 cup of the crumb mixture to sprinkle over batter. Stir baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and nutmeg into remaining crumb mixture. In a small bowl combine buttermilk and egg; add to crumb mixture, stirring just until moistened.

Spoon batter evenly into prepared baking pan. If desired, stir nuts into reserved crumb mixture; sprinkle over batter. Bake in the preheated oven about 35-40 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool slightly. Serve warm. 

Makes 18 servings.

*Note: To make 1-1/3 cup sour milk, place 1-1/3 Tablespoons lemon juice or vinegar in a glass measuring cup. Add enough milk to make 1-13 cups total liquid; stir. Let mixture stand for 5 minutes before using.

Variations: Next time try folding one of the following into the batter: 1/2 cup dried cherries and 1/2 cup semisweet baking pieces; 1 cup raisins, dried cherries, or other chopped dried fruit; 1/2 cup shredded coconut and 1/2 cup chopped macadamia nuts; 1 cup toffee pieces; 1/2 cup chopped peanuts and 1/2 cup miniature semisweet chocolate pieces; 2 cup fresh blueberries, raspberries, or coarsely chopped strawberries.

(recipe courtesy of Better Homes & Gardens)

Julie R.

AG, CA

Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

I made these tonight.  They're a good alternative to store bought ones full of corn syrup and junk.  Mine were kind of dry, but were great dipped in milk!  I also kind of messed them up, 'cause I baked them in an 8"x8" dish instead of the 9"x13" which made them thicker and kind of hard to bite, but my kids really liked them, so for that it was a success!

• 4 cups of quick cooking oats
  
• 1/3 cup canola oil
  
• 2/3 cup honey
  
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips
  
• 1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Spread oats into an un-greased cookie sheet. Bake for 15 minutes, stirring a couple of times. Allow oats to cool to room temperature. Combine remaining ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Add cooled oats. Spread mixture into a 9x13-inch baking dish that has been sprayed or oiled, pressing down hard to compact it.

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool completely and cut into bars.

Recipe adapted from Whole Foods.

Julie R.

AG, CA

Good Food Review: Tastefully Simple

I thought that instead of posting a recipe tonight I'd do a Good Food Review.  If you happen upon some food item that you just can't live without (or just think is good), feel free to write your own Good Food Review.

I don't know if any of you have heard of Tastefully Simple.  Its one of those network marketing kind of companies like Avon or Pampered Chef.  About a year or so ago I went to one of those T.S. parties where they let you sample a bunch of their food, they give you their blurb on how great their stuff is and how and why you want to join their team.  I went in with the only intent of supporting my friend...I came out with a tasty order that I just COULDN'T wait to receive!  So here's what I ordered (and it was ALL awesome!):

Bountiful Beer Bread Mix:  This bread is SO easy to make and so sweet and delicious!  You just add 12 oz. of beer, soda, or carbonated juice and 3 Tbsp of butter (which is optional).  We tried Sprite, 7-Up, and Root Beer, but our favorite by FAR was Sprite.  

Cinnamon Muffin Melt Mix:  The title says it all.  These just melt in your mouth.  They're yet another simple recipe (hence the name "Tastefully Simple" I guess)...simply add butter and water.  Last time I made these, every time I'd walk in the kitchen, there was another muffin missing and crumbs leading right to my little preschooler.

Pomegranate Chipotle Sauce:  This sauce is sweet, but has got a kick to it...not too big of one (my 5 year old ate it just fine), but just enough.  I followed their recipe for Pomegranate Chipotle Pork Roast.  You cover the roast in bacon strips and smother it in sauce.  I could have done without the bacon, but the sauce was wonderful.  In fact we added more to our plates and dipped the roast in it.

Creamy Wild Rice Soup:  So I'm not really sure if thats the name or not.  They only have this at certain times of they year, so I couldn't find it online, but it is so creamy and tasteful.  It is the perfect food for a cold evening.  Just wonderful!

And to save the best for last...Creamy Caramel Sauce:  Oh my goodness!  THIS IS SOOOO GOOD!  Many of you already know that I am somewhat of a caramel "cone sure."  I LOVE good caramel, so if I'm going to have some caramel, it had better be good!   This is GOOD caramel.  At the T.S. party a lady was saying that she would hide it in the back of the fridge so her family couldn't find it...she'd even tell them that it was gone so they wouldn't look for it...and she'd reward herself each day with a spoonful (yes, right from the jar).  I have to say I thought she was a little strange and I was very skeptical of trying it seeing that most people just aren't at the same caramel level as I am.  Yeah, I am SO glad I tried it.  I became one of those people who would reward myself with a spoonful.  I even temporarilly took to eating ice cream so that I could have some.  The sad thing was that my husband loved it just as much as I did, so one sad sad morning I woke up, opened the fridge and found an empty jar with a note from my husband saying "I'm SO sorry I ate your caramel, but it was SOO good and I just couldn't stop!  I'll buy you 2 more jars!  Love You!"  I'm still waiting for those jars.  If you don't try anything else, try this (but I hope you try the other stuff too)...it is heavenly!

So if you like what you've seen, you can check out Tastefully Simple's website and either order online or find a consultant near you (most likely there is a party being hosted near you, so you can go try the food before you buy).  

That's all for now, but stay tuned for more Good Food Reviews in the near future.

(photos courtesy of Tastefully Simple)

Julie R.

AG, CA