Southwestern Breakfast Casserole made in the slow cooker is a great way to wake up in the morning. It's yummy enough -- and pretty enough -- to serve guests even when you've stayed up late the night before. I am always up around 3 in the morning so putting it in the crockpot to cook for 3 - 4 hours before breakfast is not a problem. Another alternative is to start it cooking before bed and program the slow cooker to keep it warm after cooking until needed. If you must, put the casserole in the slow cooker insert, cover and put it in the refrigerator, set your phone for the right time to allow for 4 hours cooking. When the alarm sounds slip down to the kitchen, put the insert in the crockpot, turn it on and head back to bed. It's worth it! You know I am not a spice fan -- but if ... [Read More]
Breakfast
Strawberries and Cream Scones
Strawberries and Cream scones are tender, golden and not too sweet, perfectly punctuated with ruby berries and a light glaze and will make any breakfast or brunch special. They look like you spent hours in the kitchen, but really are easy to make. Prepare the berries ahead of time and refrigerate until you need them. Pop off the green leaves, slice each berry into quarters until you have a full cup. I like to gather all ingredients before starting to mix. Get the egg from the refrigerator and grab the butter and cream and refrigerated strawberries at the same time. Set out the flour, baking powder, salt and both kinds of sugar. In my Ohio kitchen, they were all in the corner lazy susan and I just used them from there. Here I have to carry them to and from the pantry – I’m still ... [Read More]
Chocolate Chip Snickerdoodle Pancake Mix
Chocolate Chip Snickerdoodle Pancakes -- a welcome gift and a delicious breakfast. Or a great brinner -- you know, breakfast for dinner. Light and fluffy pancakes with just the right amount of chocolate and a hint of spice to life them from the ordinary. So good!! To make a Gift in a Jar, use a wide mouth pint jar. Cut the bottom from a disposable cup to make a funnel, if you don't have one. (See this post Potato Soup - Gift in a Jar for how to make the funnel and other tips in making a gift in a jar. ) Add the ingredients in the order given, tamping them down as you go. The recipe as given will make 12 pancakes. If you'd like to make a larger batch of mix, use a wide mouth quart jar (shown above) and just double the amount of each ingredient. You will be able to make 24 ... [Read More]
Hot Chocolate Mix
This is a basic hot chocolate mix. I always make the first batch of the season as soon as the temperature drops so we are ready for the cold weather. Hot chocolate is also Christmas Eve tradition at our house. An early supper – a lighter meal than dinner – is always planned. Afterwards there is a Christmas Eve play or service to attend. Then back home, still in our finery, we light the tree and some candles in the living room. Bytes and his brother used to beg to open “just one present tonight” and then got to choose which one. They don’t do that anymore. (Although secretly, I think, they still want to!) Mostly we just relax and talk with Christmas music in the background. With hot chocolate in the Christmas mugs, of course. It's a ritual all ages can appreciate! If the ... [Read More]
Purple Ribbon No-Knead Cinnamon Rolls
Buttery, sugar crisp and totally delicious, Purple Ribbon No-Knead Cinnamon Rolls are not your grandma’s doughy cinnamon rolls. No frosting needed, either. These Cinnamon Rolls are quick and so easy to make you can have them in the oven in just over two hours or you can make the dough the day before and let it rest overnight in the fridge. No kneading required! I’ve been making these rolls since I was in high school and they’ve brought home purple ribbons (the best) every. single. time. They are that good!! They are a part of every holiday breakfast -- a tradition! The recipe itself is very simple. Mix the yeast with warm water from the tap. When you run the water across your wrist it should not be hot, neither should it feel cold. Lukewarm is what you are going for ... [Read More]
Peaches and Cream Baked French Toast
Peaches and Cream topped with struesel on top of a puffy custard French Toast -- a winning combination of sweet, crunchy, creamy and downright delicious. This can be made ahead for a deliciously spectacular holiday breakfast. Begin with a dense bread, such as French, Italian, sourdough or other artisan bread. Cut bread slices in quarters and fit them snugly in an 8x8 inch pan. Add pats of cream cheese to each piece and stack another layer of bread quarters on top. Stir together the custard ingredients and pour evenly over the bread. I used no sugar added sliced peaches and placed them tightly over the bread and custard. Cover with plastic wrap, pop in the fridge. Quickly mix butter, pecans, flour and brown sugar together and put the mixture into a zipper sandwich bag so it will ... [Read More]
