Easy Family Friendly Valentine's Breakfast Ideas

Valentine's Day falls during the week this year so if you can't make a special breakfast during the week... celebrate next weekend with a fabulous breakfast... who says you can't stretch the holiday.

These recipes are easy… most can be prepped ahead… and oh so good…. peruse the list and see what fits in your time and budget… for a list of even more ideas… check out the Breakfast and Brunch label.

 Make it Special!

Easy Sugared Doughnut Bites ... these are truly easy... and sooo good!











Easy Cinnamon Roll Cupcakes…. these are more like muffins than cupcakes... and perfect for a quick weekday breakfast....









Breakfast Bruschetta with Mascarpone and Blueberries… all I can say is easy and yummmmm… absolutely delicious… add scrambled eggs and you have yourself a great breakfast!






Easy Fancy Shmansy Breakfast Ideas



Cheddar and Chive Eggs In Shell with a Cheese Sauce….put the cheddar and chive eggs in a crepe… quick easy and foolproof…and oh so delicious!








Eggs Benedict – terrific poached eggs on an English muffin with luscious Hollandaise Sauce over it… Need to make poached eggs for more than your pan can do?  Make them in the oven!  So easy!  Click here for the "How To"




Don't forget Breakfast Sides....



Serve your breakfast with Home Fries and a slice of cantaloupe …. Perfect!



Bacon… add bacon to your breakfast…do it the easy way.. make the bacon in the oven! … quick and easy and hardly any clean-up.

Breakfast Casseroles .......... these are great for serving a family… everyone loves them and they’re easy… some terrific choices are:



Southwest Potato and Egg Bake











Spanish Tortilla

Sausage and Cheese Strata… or maybe a Strata with different ingredients …. try the Spinach Ham and Cheese Strata






And for even more ideas....




Crepes… crepes always are terrific… make them ahead… separate them with waxed paper and cover them tightly with plastic wrap…..fill them with whatever you want… so easy!









Waffles are always good… make them plain with syrup or get a little fancy and make Bananas Foster Waffles (I have a non-alcohol version too)… or maybe Peach Melba Waffles…. Don’t forget to check my Waffle Making Tips.

Banana Foster Stuffed French Toast







Or try another stuffed French Toast… Aloha Pineapple Cream Cheese Stuffed French Toast or French Toast Stuffed with Blueberry Cream Cheese




Light and Fluffy Pancakes…. everybody loves pancakes…  they’re always a hit.









White Chocolate Chip Pancakes with Raspberry Syrup













Chocolate French Toast…. no listing would be complete without French Toast…. Chocolate French Toast is divine.. not a chocolate lover?  Try a French Toast Casserole... prepare it the night before and pop it in the oven in the morning... what could be simpler?




Special Kid Friendly Ideas:

French Toast Sticks










Hash Brown Nests and Eggs… you can make a bunch or a few … they look so good… kid’s love them!










Breakfast Burrito - a delicious quick on-the-go breakfast .. check  the recipe post for great make-ahead and time saving tips








Egg Biscuit and Egg Muffin Breakfast Sandwiches











Green Eggs and Ham - who doesn't love Dr Seuss? ... a great fun way to get kids to eat spinach!









Kid Friendly Cream Cheese and Jam Omelet






I could go on and on…. check out the Breakfast and Brunch in the labels for more terrific ideas!

Valentine's Breakfast Ideas for that Special Man

Making breakfast for your sweetie this Valentine's Day? What better way to say I Love You than with a hearty manly man breakfast.

Unfortunately, this year Valentine's Day falls during the week... so you may have limited time...

Here are some terrific ideas for a great breakfast on-the-go..




Breakfast Burrito Prepare the filling ahead and just reheat it in the microwave in the morning! Quick, easy and delicious!








Breakfast Sandwiches - These are easy and another partially "make ahead" recipe.. It's a snap with my easy to follow instructions.






Who says you can't celebrate it a a few days later? ... Here are some ideas for a special weekend breakfast he'll love...






Eggs Beauregard

Hearty Sausage Breakfast Skillet









Mexican Omelet












Hash Brown Potato Nests & Eggs









Eggs Hendricks










Loco Moco







And here are even more ideas....

Warren’s Sausage Egg Potato Scramble

Corned Beef Hash and Eggs

Western Omelet

Eggs Benedict


How about something other than eggs?...





French Toast









Waffles

Buttermilk Pancakes


Make it Southern....



Southern Sweet Potato Pancakes









Grits and Sausage Casserole







Biscuits and Sausage Gravy

Sides




Hash Brown Potatoes









Home Fries





O'Brien Potatoes


A Couple of "How To" links to help you...


How to Make Bacon in the Oven

How to Poach Eggs in the Oven



WHEW! That's a lot to choose from! I hope I helped you think of things perfect for your Valentine!

Recipe: Hearty Sausage Breakfast Skillet

Breakfast is my favorite meal.. I can enjoy it anytime of day... I can think of hundreds of wonderful dishes to make for breakfast... this recipe for a Hearty Sausage Breakfast Skillet is a favorite... especially for my manly man.

This skillet breakfast is made in one pan... a heavy cast iron skillet works best... and is perfect for camping too.

TIPS

You can significantly cut the fat and not the flavor by making a couple of substitutions...

Turkey sausage can be subbed for the regular breakfast sausage.

My breakfast sausage doesn't render much fat... if you find that yours doesn't either... after taking out the cooked sausage, add a bit of butter or margarine or cooking oil spray to the pan.. the potatoes just need a very light coating to crisp up.

You can use egg substitute instead of eggs ... and that dash of milk you put in the eggs can be fat free milk.

I use red, green and yellow bell peppers... they add wonderful color and each add a slightly different pepper flavor... but if you don't have all three on hand....you can use only one kind or two instead.

I cut the onion in half .. then slice it.

I like to use shredded cheddar cheese.. you can use whatever cheese you like.

The ingredients listed are for one breakfast skillet... have more to feed? ... use a larger pan and add more ingredients.. use as much or as little as you like...

Try this ... it's not only a manly man breakfast... girly girls like it too!

Recipe:  Hearty Sausage Breakfast Skillet

All you need:

1/4 pound bulk breakfast sausage

1/2 small onion

1 tablespoon chopped green pepper

1 tablespoon chopped red pepper

1 tablespoon chopped yellow pepper

1 large mushroom, sliced

1 medium potato, peeled and diced

1/2 tablespoon butter or cooking oil spray * optional - See TIPS

3 eggs

Dash of milk

Sprinkling of shredded cheddar cheese

All you need:

Cook the sausage in a heavy skillet, breaking it into small pieces as it cooks.  When fully cooked, remove the sausage to a small bowl and leave about a tablespoon of rendered fat in the pan, just enough to lightly coat the potatoes when you add them. 

If there isn't enough fat, add a bit of cooking spray to the pan (remove the pan from the heat to spray the pan).

Add the potatoes and toss in the pan to evenly coat them.  Cook until potatoes are cooked and lightly crisped.  Use a spatula to flip them around so they get crisped more than one side.

Add the onions when the potatoes are soft but not crisped yet... add the peppers and the sliced mushroom just before the potatoes are finished crisping.

Add the cooked sausage back and stir to mix.

In a medium bowl lightly beat the eggs and milk.   Pour the egg mixture over the cooked vegetables and stir.. cook over medium heat, stirring until the eggs are fully cooked.  Sprinkle with the shredded cheese and allow the cheese to melt.

Serve immediately in the skillet.

Great Recipes for Mardi Gras

It’s Mardi Gras time again!… and that means lots of great food… and with Fat Tuesday coming up.. time to indulge that sweet tooth!

Here are some terrific recipes perfect for any Mardi Gras celebration!






Breakfast Ideas to Start the Day



Quick Mardi Gras King Cake - a quick and easy recipe for this traditional Mardi Gras Cake... perfect for breakfast or a dessert.. after all.. why not? It is Fat Tuesday!








Banana Foster Waffles








A Great Appetizer...





Boudin Balls







Terrific Side Dishes....



Garlic Cheese Grits












Red Beans and Rice






Scrumptious Main Dishes....




Shrimp and Grits










Dirty Rice with Smoked Sausage










Gumbo











Cajun Rice and Kielbasa Skillet











Hoppin' John








Jambalaya - a crock pot version to help make things easier

Spicy Cajun Seafood Pasta

Try this Terrific Seasoning....




Cajun Seasoning - keep this in a jar.. makes it really handy to use in recipes ... so much better than the commercial stuff






Yummy Desserts... you can't forget desserts!



Bread Pudding with Bourbon Sauce - this southern spin on Bread Pudding is perfect for that last minute sweet before Mardi Gras ends.








Bananas Foster No-Bake Cream Cheese Pie

Celebrate Chinese New Year with these Easy Recipes!

Chinese New Year is almost here.... and what better way to celebrate than with food.

Don't do take out!

Why not try one of these recipes? They aren't difficult to make and are a delicious way to celebrate the New Year.

I hope you try one of these tasty recipes!









Baked Crab Rangoons










Chicken Fried Rice













Beef and Broccoli Stir-Fry









Pineapple Chicken Stir-Fry

Mongolian Beef










Sweet and Sour Pork











Teriyaki Chicken and Vegetables Over Rice

Recipe: Easy Pineapple Angel Food Cake

When I say Pineapple Angel Food Cake is easy... I mean easy.. amazingly easy... with only THREE ingredients and it's amazingly good!  ... And best of all..... drum roll please.... GUILT-FREE !!

This recipe has been floating around the net ... actually it may even qualify for going viral if it were a video... it apparently came from Weight Watchers originally.

This a fat free cake... I know.. it just doesn't seem quite right... cake and fat free in the same sentence...  but when you put those two words together... I'm game.. I'll try it... and we really, really liked it!

TIPS

You could put a topping on it... honestly I don't think it's needed...

About the only negative thing to say about this cake is... this cake was very difficult to cut... although the original and most copied recipes don't say to spray the pan with cooking spray... in fact the original recipe tells you not too... I would tell you it's a MUST....

Also.. as you can see by the picture .. I used a glass baking dish...  I think a good non-stick pan would work better.  We will definitely do this recipe again... and I will try it and see if it's better and let you know.. if you try it.. by all means leave a comment.

Finally.... the next time I make this.. I will be making it as cupcakes... I think it will solve the tough cutting issue... baking time for cupcakes... I will shoot for about 10-12 minutes... testing with a toothpick .. if it comes out clean... out of the oven it will come.  Fill them about 3/4 full... the batter will be poofy.

If you do make the optional topping... you can also use coconut cream instant pudding instead of the vanilla.   Add a sprinkling of toasted coconut flakes. 

For directions on how to toast coconut... click here.

Reminder:  this is a THREE ingredient cake... you need the cake mix, vanilla and the crushed pineapple... do not add water that's listed on the cake mix package.

Try this guilt-free delicious cake!

Recipe:  Easy Pineapple Angel Food Cake

All you need:

1 pkg. Betty Crocker White Angel Food cake mix (the one that only adds water in the directions)

1 large can (20 oz.) crushed pineapple

1 teaspoon vanilla

Optional Topping:

2 cups Cool Whip

1 pkg. (3 oz.) instant vanilla pudding mix *See TIPS

1 small can crushed pineapple

All you need to do:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, pineapple (juice and all) and vanilla.  Mix until well combined, the batter will be poofy.

Pour into a non-stick 9 x 13 pan.

Bake for 25-35 minutes or until the top is a light brown.  I baked mine for 25 minutes.

Cool completely.

Optional topping:

In a medium bowl, mix the juice from the small can of crushed pineapple with the pudding mix.  Fold in the Cool Whip.  Then fold in the crushed pineapple.

If you use the topping, refrigerate any leftovers.

Recipe: Southwestern Breakfast Quesadilla

Breakfast Quesadillas are always a family favorite.. and what you use as filling can be just about anything... so why not make it Southwestern.. instead of the usual omelet ... make a quesadilla instead.

This restaurant quality breakfast is not only easy to make.. it's also much more economical to make it at home.  Best of all, you control the ingredients and the fat.  Making it healthier is what it's all about.

What I like about this recipe is that I can really reduce the fat and not the flavor.. simply by making a few changes to the ordinary ingredients.

TIPS

I use cooking oil spray rather than butter, margarine or oil... you won't miss the fat... trust me.

You can use egg substitute to cut the fat even further.. just use the equivalent amount (see the container for the equivalent amounts).   Since this is loaded with flavor... you won't notice the egg substitute.

Use cholesterol free tortilla's... ones NOT made with lard... it should say on the package.

I use lower fat and sodium deli ham... Canadian bacon will also work well and reduce the fat.

You can use lower fat cheese... this is one place I don't usually cut back.. we just don't care for it... but certainly ... if you like it.. use it!

The cheese quantity is approximate... you want a nice layer of cheese on each tortilla.

You can make the scrambled egg mixture ahead... and refrigerate it.. just pop it in the microwave the next morning when you want to make the quesadillas.

Garnish with chopped green onions, shredded cheese, chopped tomatoes, salsa and sour cream.

This recipe will make 3 servings.

I served these with home fries (sprinkled with just a little bit of hot Hungarian paprika)

Try this delicious breakfast!

Recipe:  Southwestern Breakfast Quesadilla

All you need:

1 red bell pepper, chopped

1 green bell pepper, chopped

1 yellow bell pepper, chopped

1/2 small onion, finely chopped

1/2 cup chopped ham

About 1 1/2 cups Shredded Mexican blend cheese

6 eggs

Dash of fat free milk

Butter flavor cooking oil spray

3 (8 inch) Tortillas

Olive oil cooking oil spray

Garnishes:

Sour cream

Shredded cheese

Chopped tomatoes

Chopped green onions

Salsa

All you need to do:

Spray a large skillet with butter flavored cooking oil spray.  Heat it over medium high heat and add the peppers, onions and ham.  Cook for about 7-8 minutes, stirring frequently.. you just want to cook the ingredients slightly.  If they start to brown, lower the heat a bit.

In a large bowl, beat the eggs and milk.  Pour the eggs over the pepper and onion mixture.  Cook as you would scrambled eggs.

Spray a non-stick skillet (one with sloped sides) with olive oil cooking spray.  Heat the skillet over medium high heat and lay a tortilla in the pan. 

Put a layer of shredded cheese over the tortilla, then a layer of the scrambled egg mixture.  Cook until the bottom is slightly brown.  Flip one half of the tortilla over the other half (to make a half moon shape).  Cook another 1-2 minutes, then remove to a plate. 

Cut the quesadilla in half or leave as is.  Serve with garnishes.