Eggs in a Frame

These are so easy and yummy!

Cookie Cut a whole in your bread and pull out the center. You can use a glass, cookie cutter or anything your heart desires! (I used a crystal light container cut down that I use for biscuit cutting) Butter one side of the bread.

Make sure your non-stick pan is *really* non stick. If it isn't go ahead and add some butter or oil to the pan just in case or it will get messy. (ask me how I know!) Place butter side up bread in pan over medium heat and...

...crack egg in the middle.
You can break your yolk if you like and add salt, pepper, whatever you like.
When bread is nice and golden brown and eggs are cooked to your desired doneness- FLIP!
Fry the little rounds and add as presentation.
Voila!

Perfect Soft Boiled Eggs

My dear Mom had these cute little egg cups (like the one pictured above) and we used to eat our soft boiled eggs directly from the shell with a teaspoon. It seemed so luxurious to me as a kid.

Here's my foolproof soft boiled eggs. I love the fact that there is no oil. Break one of these on top of a piece of toast with a tiny bit of salt makes a wonderful breakfast.

Place eggs in small saucepan just till covered. Turn on heat on medium flame. When eggs start 'dancing' turn down heat and cook for 2 minutes.

Pour off hot water and add cold water to pan to stop the egg from cooking any more.

Peel and eat! This is such a wonderful comfort food that reminds me of my childhood. The fact that they are cooked with no added fat is a bonus!

Easy Banana Fruit Smoothie

One Banana (frozen) or regular (I bought a whole bunch of ripe bananas, unpeeled them, and stuck them in a freezer bag)
Small amount of Korean Yakult yogurt or ordinary yogurt

A bit of fresh fruit such as kiwi, canned peaches, strawberries or whatever you have on hand

Whir in blender. Add an ice cube or two if your banana is not frozen.

Yum!

Sausage, Cheese, and Grit Casserole

1 pound bulk spicy pork sausage (Jimmy Dean)
4 cups water
1 cup quick-cooking grits
4 ounces grated cheese
3 tablespoons butter
1/4 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
3 eggs, beaten


Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).


Cook the sausage in a large skillet over medium-high heat, stirring until the sausage is crumbly and lightly browned. Drain off the grease and place the sausage in a bowl. Meanwhile, bring the water to a boil in a large saucepan over high heat. Stir in the grits, and reduce heat to medium-low. Cook and stir constantly for 5 minutes until the grits are tender, or follow package directions.


Stir together the sausage, cheese, butter, hot pepper sauce, and eggs. Fold in the grits until combined, then spread into an ungreased, small casserole dish. Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown on top, 30 to 40 minutes.

French Toast Casserole

1 loaf French bread (13 to 16 ounces)
8 large eggs
2 cups half-and-half
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Dash salt
Praline Topping, recipe follows
Maple syrup


Slice French bread into 20 slices, 1-inch each. (Use any extra bread for garlic toast or bread crumbs). Arrange slices in a generously buttered 9 by 13-inch flat baking dish in 2 rows, overlapping the slices. In a large bowl, combine the eggs, half-and-half, milk, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt and beat with a rotary beater or whisk until blended but not too bubbly. Pour mixture over the bread slices, making sure all are covered evenly with the milk-egg mixture. Spoon some of the mixture in between the slices. Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight.
The next day, preheat oven to 350 degrees F.


Spread Praline Topping evenly over the bread and bake for 40 minutes, until puffed and lightly golden. Serve with maple syrup.


Praline Topping:
1/2 pound (2 sticks) butter
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup chopped pecans
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and blend well. Makes enough for Baked French Toast Casserole.

Easy Coffee Cake

1 cup flour
1 cup shortening
1 cup sugar (brown is best, or a mixture of brown and white or whatever you have will do)

Yellow or White Cake Mix
Ingredients called for on box of cake

Mix together flour, shortenings and sugar with pastry cutter or hands. Mixture will be crumbly. You can add more flour if you like. Set aside for topping. Prepare cake batter as box says and pour into prepared pan. Top with topping and bake per directions on box or toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Serve with Whip Cream or Cool Whip

Foolproof Omelette

I have on hand 4 eggs, green peppers, spanish onions and some marbled cheddar/monterey jack cheese. Yum!

















I use a non stick spray AND a bit of butter/margarine. I know I am a glutton for punishment but it also tastes so much better. =)
















Scramble up your eggs

















Turn up the heat and let your butter melt. It is ready when a droplet of water dances on the skillet.

















Pour your eggs into your skillet. Salt if desired.
















Swirl pan around so eggs form all over the bottom of the pan















If my eggs are thick in the pan I like to gently move the eggs on the side to the middle and let the runny eggs touch the pan to cook...


















Sprinkle fillings on top.















Turn flame down to low. My stove flame is pretty small so I have to move my pan around to make sure the eggs cook evenly and the cheese melts.















Flip Omelette over and slide onto serving plate. YUM!

Cinnamon Rolls (bread machine)

These are fantastic, taste like Cinnabons!

1/4 cup warm water
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 cup warm milk
1 egg, room temperature
1/2 of a 3.4 oz. package instant vanilla pudding mix
1 Tablespoon white sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 cups bread flour (I've used all purpose)
1 (.25 oz.) pkg. active dry yeast

filling:
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar
4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3/4 cups chopped pecans (optional, I don't add these)

Icing:
4 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1) In bread machine pan add first 9 ingredients, in order. Set bread machine to dough cycle; press start.
2) When dough cycle is finished, turn dough onto lightly floured surface, and roll into a 17X10 inch rectangle. Spread with softened butter. In a small bowl, stir together filling ingredients, and sprinkle mixture over dough.
3) Roll up dough, beginning with the long side. Slice into sixteen 1 inch slices, and place in a 9 X 13 inch buttered pan. Let rise til doubled, about 45 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
4) Bake in a preheated oven 15-20 minutes. Remove rolls from oven and top with frosting, and enjoy!

Danish Puff Pastry

Crust-
1 cup flour
1 cube butter (1/2 cup)
1-2 tbsp ice water

Cut butter into flour. Sprinkle with water till moistened and you can press into a ball. (same texture as homemade pie crust) Press into two strips or you can form into 8 balls and set on cookie sheet in a circle with space between them. Press down dough so the dough comes together in a circle. Does that make sense??? (it does to me cuz I have seen and made it!)

Filling-
1 cup water
1 cube butter (1/2 cup)
1 cup flour
1 tsp vanilla
3 eggs
almonds

Bring water and butter to a boil. Remove from heat. Mix in flour till mixture forms a ball. Add eggs one at a time and beat till smooth and glossy. Spoon onto crust. Bake 350 till golden brown about 45 minute to an hour till nice and brown on edges *note- I just made this again tonite and 45 minutes is WAY TOO LONG. I baked mine for about 28 minutes and it was still too dark but my oven runs a bit hot. I would watch this to make sure it doesnt overcook the last five minutes or so of cooking

Make a glaze of powdered sugar and milk and drizzle liberally on cooled pastry and sprinkle with almonds. Cover loosely with saran wrap and store room temperature.

Eggs Strata

12 slices bread, crusts removed
butter
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped mushrooms
10 strips bacon (or sausage- see below**)
1 cup swiss cheese or cheddar
12 eggs
4 cups milk

more grated cheese for top

Butter both sides of bread and place 6 pieces on bottom of greased 9by13 pan. Saute onions and mushrooms and set aside. Cook bacon till crisp and crumble. Sprinkle half of onion/mushrooms and bacon on top of bread. Sprinkle with half of cheese. Repeat layer. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Next morning bake covered at 350 for 30 minutes covered and 30 minutes uncovered. (I cant remember how long I baked this but it seems far too long as the eggs will become dry)

**I substituted one pound of cooked Jimmy Dean sausage for the bacon.

Cherry Danish Dessert

2 cans (8 ounces each) refrigerated crescent dinner rolls, divided
2 pkg (8 ounces each) Cream Cheese
1 1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 egg white
1 tsp vanilla
1 can cherry pie filling
3 Tbsp milk

Preheat oven to 350. Unroll one of the cans into 2 long rectangles. Place in 13by9 pan and press onto bottom of pan to form crust, pressing seams together to seal. Beat cream cheese, 3/4 cup of the powdered sugar, egg whites and vanilla with mixer. Spread onto crust and cover with pie filling. Place second can of crescents on top of filling to form crust. Bake 25 minutes till golden brown. Let cool. Mix together remaining powdered sugar (3/4 cup) with 3 Tbsp milk and drizzle over dessert.

Overnight Sausage Breakfast Casserole

1 pound bulk sausage ( I love Jimmy Dean)
6 slices bread
1 1/2 cup grated cheese
8 eggs
2 cups half and half
1 tsp salt
1 tsp basil
1 tsp dry mustard
pepper to taste

Brown the sausage, stirring to crumble. Drain well. Cut bread into cubes and spread evenly in greased 9 by 13 pan. Sprinkle sausage on top of bread. Sprinkle with half of cheese. Combine remaining ingredients and beat well. Pour over all. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Bake 350 for 30 minutes. Add remaining cheese. Melt cheese in oven. Let sit a few minutes before serving.

Fruit Preserves

Fruit (strawberries, blueberries, apples, papaya, any kind really)
Lemon juice to taste (lemon juice not good in certain kinds of fruit)
Sugar to taste

Cook over low heat until fruit is cooked down
Serve over toast or cake, etc.

Apple Pancakes & Cyder Syrup

This is the best ever pancake recipe I have ever made with the syrup!!!

2 Cups Bisquick
1/2 tsp. Cinnamon
1 Egg
1 1/3 Cup milk
3/4 Cup grated apple

Beat Bisquick, cinnamon, egg, & milk with beater until smooth. Fold in apples.

Cyder Syrup:
1 Cup sugar
2 Tbs Cornstarch
1/2 tsp. Pumpkin Pie Spice
2 Cups Apple Cider
2 Tbs Lemon Juice
1/4 Cup Butter or Margarine

Mix sugar, cornstarch & spice in sauce pan. Stir in Cider and Lemon juice. Cook, stirring constantly until mixture thickens and boil 1 minute. Remove from heat and blend in butter.

Serve over apple pancakes. Very very delicous!!!

Grits Casserole

This is so yummy!

3 cups cooked grits
6 ounces grated cheese
2 large eggs beaten
1 1/2 cups evaporated milk
2 Tbsp butter melted
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp paprika
Cheese for top

Grease pan and preheat oven to 350. Mix together all ingredients and pour in greased pan. Bake till set approximately 30 minutes. Top with cheese and melt.

Blintzes

After making recipe for Mom's Homemade Crepes make filling for crepes.

There are quite a few variations but here are a few-

One cup of cottage cheese
1/4 cupgranulated sugar
8 ounces cream cheese
1/4 cup sugar
dash vanilla

8 ounces Cottage cheese
1/4 cup sugar
jam or jelly

Put some filling in your crepe and fold edges over and then roll up taking care to keep crepe tight and rolled up so no filling leaks. Fry in hot oil till golden brown. Serve with fresh whipped cream.

Easy Home Made Pancakes / Waffles

2 Cups Self Rising Flour
1/2 Cup Oil
3 Eggs
3 Tbs Sugar
Milk to your liking

Mix all together and use for Pancakes or Waffles.

Overnight French Toast

This is so yummy and easy. Great for Christmas morning!

1/4 cup butter
3/4 inch sliced french bread slices (this will fill up a glass 13by9 pan)
1 1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup sugar
6 eggs
2 Tbsp maple syrup
1/2 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 400 degrees and spray pan with non stick spray. Melt butter in oven watching so it doesnt get brown. Place bread in pan. Beat eggs, milk, sugar, syrup, vanilla and salt together. You can also add some cinnamon or raisins if you want. Bake about thirty minutes or so. I flip mine half way through so both sides are toasted. (Original recipe says to bake 40 minutes but I think it is WAY too long)

Serve with syrup

Scratch Waffles

2 eggs
2 cups flour
1/2 cup margarine or oil
1 3/4 cup milk
1 tbsp sugar
4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

Mix dry ingredients together in bowl and toss together. Mix wet ingredients together and stir in dry. Cook on hot waffle iron.

Scratch Pancakes

1 egg
1 cup flour
3/4 cup milk
1 tbsp sugar
2 Tbsp shortening or oil (I use oil)
3 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

Stir dry ingredients together in bowl. In seperate bowl mix wet ingredients Stir dry ingredients into wet. Using measuring cup or ladle cook in hot frying pan or griddle.