Simple Breakfast

So, I've been on a mission to make my meals a whole lot more simple and healthy. I follow a food plan that allows me to keep color and flavor. Not much to write about here but doesn't this look delish?

Susan's Sunday Surprise

Sunday Leftovers

I've really started looking forward to cooking brunch on Sundays.  I take my inspiration from a woman I used to work for who has a cooking blog. She is the most amazing fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants kind of cook I've ever run into.  She hasn't posted in a while but if you are an adventurous cook, you ought to check out her site at CSA Mom. 

 

Today I needed to use up a few things in the fridge so I decided to make it all worthy enough to sit on a tortilla shell.  I like flour tortillas and my hubby likes corn, so we keep both in the cupboard.

 

I made a homemade salsa with my ripe cherry tomatoes.  Now you gotta know there is love in that salsa if I'm standing there cutting cherry tomatoes into quarters. Hubby said maybe I should use the food processor next time. No. I wanted it chunky.

 

So the protein here is two hamburgers I had cooked a couple nights ago. I chopped them up and added them to some already sauteed mushrooms and some chopped up red pepper that was hanging out in the fridge.  If I had not had the burgers, I would have scrambled a couple of eggs or perhaps taken some hot links out of the freezer.  Or perhaps it would have been a vegetarian breakfast.

 

The hash browns were the only non-leftover item here.

 

Mmmmm!  My hubby loved breakfast today.  That's just what I was shootin' for!

 

What would you put in your leftover surprise?

Susan's Freaky Friday Frittata

I adapted this recipe from a couple of recipes I read online and took my inspiration for getting creative with what I have on-hand from  CSA Mom.  The base of this is leftover mashed potatoes and eggs. What you add to it puts the "freaky" in it!

Here's what I did:

 

Mix together:

2 cups of leftover mashed potatoes

2 eggs

 

In a small 6 inch cast iron skillet:

Saute 1 green onion, 1/2 jalapeno, 1/2 red pepper for just a minute or two in a pat of butter.  Add that to the potato/egg mixture.

 

Stir in:

1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese.

 

Wipe out the cast iron skillet and add the entire mixture back into the skillet.

 

Bake in 350 degree oven for about 25 to 30 minutes.

 

 

Notes: This turned out so yummy and I would make this for a brunch. I served with chopped up green onions and I had some black olives in the fridge that I put on the table with it along with some grapes on the side. Nice combo of sweet, salty & a little spicy with the jalapenos. 

 

Baked Oatmeal

Baked Oatmeal

(recipe adapted from Dr. Sears Zone) (Trademarked)

3 cups rolled oats (Old Fashioned)

3 TBLS sweetener (I use brown sugar)

2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. salt (optional)

1/2 cup applesauce

1 tsp. vanilla extract

3 eggs (or 2 cups egg substitute)

1 cup milk

1/2 cup blueberries or 1 cup strawberries or fruit of your choice

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all ingredients. Spray 9x9 pan with non-stick cooking spray. (I use two smaller pans). Place mixture in pan(s). Bake 30 - 32 minutes. Test center with toothpick.  Serve as-is or in a bowl with vanilla yogurt over the top.

This is a fantastic recipe for making on Sunday and eating for breakfast the remainder of the week. Simply heat up a serving in the microwave and add whatever topping suits you.

NOTE: The original recipe uses egg substitute and adds 4 scoops of Dr. Sears Protein Powder. I adapted this to fit what I have in my cupboards. It is filling and delish!

Strawberry Freezer Jam

Strawberry Freezer Jam

I am not going to put the whole recipe here because there are different recipes on each of the pectin boxes. 

I just want to say that anyone can make freezer jam! 

Get yourself some strawberries.  Go to the store and get a box of pectin. Depending on the kind you buy, there may be a slight variation in the ingredients. 

It is so easy to make and you will thank yourself later when the strawberries (or whatever fruit you choose to make jam with) are out of season.

The main things you'll need to make it: berries, sugar, pectin, lemon juice, some recipes call for light corn syrup, a potato masher, and some plastic containers to put the jam in the freezer.  Here are a couple of photos of our most recent freezer jam extravaganza. You can even have the kids help.  Do not skimp on the sugar or it won't turn out right!

Strawberry freezer jam is not only great on toast but you can add it to your morning yogurt, put some in your smoothies, put a little on your brownies, or just eat it right off the spoon.  

You cannot mess up this recipe. I promise.

Strawberry freezer jam is a great gift to give only those you love the most.

Swedish Pancakes

Swedish Pancakes

Make the night before you want to cook them:
2 cups milk
3 eggs
1 cup flour
2 tablespoons sugar

Mix and refrigerate overnight.  Get your griddle hot. This is a very thin pancake so you must watch it carefully. When finished cooking, put your favorite fruit or powdered sugar in the middle and roll them up like crepes. 


I love these!!!

Shrimp Quiche

Shrimp Quiche (recipe given to me by Lenora "Tobey" Smith on April 25, 1983)

1 pie shell (store-bought or make your own)
1 can drained shrimp
1/4 cup diced  green onion
4 oz. shredded Swiss cheese

Put the above ingredients in the pie shell.

MIX:  2 eggs with fork, add 1/3 cup of milk or cream, 1/2 cup mayonnaise, mix together until smooth. (Salt & pepper to your taste) Pour mixture over shrimp.


Bake at 400 degrees fro 30 to 40 minutes until knife comes out clean.


Let quiche set for 10 minutes before serving.

This may be the best thing my sister-in-law, Tobey, ever made!  I haven't made it in a long time. Gene doesn't like quiche but I might make this just for myself!!  Enjoy with a tossed green salad. 


NOTES: I might add just a little fresh jalapeno to this.

Stuffed Carrot Bran Muffins

Stuffed Carrot Bran Muffins

1 1/4 cups flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
2 1/4 teaspoons cinnamon, divided
1 1/2 cups grated carrot
2/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup milk
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
2 cups bran flakes, crushed to 1 cup
2 oz. light cream cheese, cut in 12 pieces
2 teaspoons sugar

• Combine ingredients, stir just until moistened. Divide half of batter into paper lined muffin cups. Place 1 piece of cream cheese in the center of each and place remaining batter over cream cheese. 
• Combine remaining 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon and sugar
• Sprinkle sugar over top of each muffin
• Bake in preheated 400 degree oven for 20 minutes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Notes: I added about 2 tablespoons of coconut and a few raisins. I used fat-free cream cheese and it cooked perfectly. These are awesome bran muffins!

Potato Crepes

Potato Crepes (made with leftover mashed potatoes)

1 cup leftover mashed potatoes
1/2 cup flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp onion powder (optional)
1/4 tsp white pepper
2 eggs

Pour milk into mixing bowl. Add two eggs. Add flour, salt, onion powder & pepper. Mix. Add mashed potatoes last. You can mix this with a whisk. Mixture should be thin.

Pour onto a hot griddle and cook like a pancake. The thinner they are, the better! NOTE: If you are going to make them with any sweet fillers, SKIP the onion powder. I skip the onion powder anyway ... I don't like it!

We filled ours with raspberries & sprinkle a little powdered sugar on top. Gene made a mixture of jam & sour cream to fill his. This is a great way to use up leftover mashed potatoes.

 

Yum!

Scones

Scones (from New Better Homes & Gardens Cookbook)

2 1/2 cups flour

2 TBLS sugar

4 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1/3 cup butter, cut into pieces

2 eggs

3/4 cup whipping cream (or half & half)

1/2 cup craisins (or try different options)

Combine flour, sugar, baking powder & salt. Using a pastry blender, cut in the butter until mixture is coarse crumbs. In a separate bowl, combine milk, eggs and craisins. Using a fork or spatula, stir the egg mixture into the flour just until moistened.

Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface and gently press dough for 10 or 12 storkes. Pat into a round circle and cut into 8 wedges.  Brush tops of scones with a little milk and sprinkle sugar on each one.

Place wedges on an ungreased cookie sheet about 1" apart and bake for 10-12 minutes in 400 degree oven.

You're going to love these! I served them with a little piece of fried ham. Mmmm .. sweet & salty meet!