Archive for the ‘Breakfast’ Category

breakfast burritos

Monday, October 18th, 2010

If ever there was a simple, easy-to-prepare, way-yummy go-to breakfast in our family, it’s these.

BREAKFAST BURRITOS

Flour tortillas (1 per burrito) – we prefer uncooked tortillas and just flip them a few times in a skillet or in a frying pan. No need to use cooking spray.

Scrambled eggs (1-2 per burrito)

Sausage (ground or links cut up)

Shredded cheese (cheddar)

Hot sauce optional (not my personal preference but some like it hot)

Put a little of everything in a tortilla and wrap it up. Complicated stuff, I know.

bacon: my way

Monday, March 22nd, 2010

“And please make sure the bacon is extra crispy.”

I still hear my mom’s voice as she kindly insisted that the waiter personally see to it that her bacon is prepared just right. This is what she requested every. single. time. I used to be a little embarrassed that she was so particular about bacon. I mean – it’s just bacon, right?

Now I’m older. I’m wiser. I see the benefits to having bacon prepared properly. And like my mom, I’ve totally become a bacon snob. And today, I’m pleased to announce that I have officially nailed it. I totally have it down for making the best bacon ever. Mom, you’d be so proud. I can’t wait to make you a batch of crispy bacon.

So I’m sharing with you my bacon secrets. Of course there are many “right” ways to make bacon. This is my way. I invite you to share your own bacon tips in the comments.

Shall we call it … BECKY BACON (??)

I can’t claim much in the kitchen. I really don’t make up recipes. And David claims to be better than me at most things in the kitchen. So yes, we will call this Becky Bacon. It has taken me years to perfect the art of getting this right.

1. Use a baking stone (make sure it has edges because the grease will puddle!) from Pampered Chef. I’ve used this one for bacon (and many other things) for 10-15 years.

2. Do it in the oven, not on top of the stove. This reason alone is worth it: Much cleaner. No splattery mess on your stove top.

3. Convection temperature set at 400 (which means that my oven automatically stops at 375 degrees because I set it on convection).

4. 40 minutes. Leave the bacon alone for 40 minutes. No flipping. Nothing. And I don’t cover it. After 40 minutes, the bacon should look crispy, verging on sightly burnt.

5. Upon removal, the bacon comes off the stone and onto a plate with paper towels ready to absorb the dripping grease.

6. Allow to settle and cool a little and get a little more crispy here for a few minutes.

That’s it. I’m telling you — it will melt like buttah in your mouth. And if you happen to need to crumple the bacon for, say, an omelet or a recipe like this one, well then — you will love how the bacon just falls apart.

And since I know a few of you are wondering … yes, I totally use disposable rubber gloves to crumple my bacon.

——

Added note: My friend just sent me a picture of her black bacon. Oops! This is a friendly reminder to anyone making bacon in the oven … to WATCH your bacon. Each oven is different. Just watch for it to get crispy and to start getting dark like it wants to start thinking about being burnt. Don’t just rely on my 40 minutes. : )

best buttermilk pancakes & butter syrup

Monday, October 5th, 2009

First of all, I want to be crystal-clear that this recipe is right from Martha Stewart’s website. In fact, here’s the direct link. I just wanted to share this because it’s the recipe we decided to try for Sunday brunch yesterday. And it’s unanimous. They are undeniably amazingly yummy. This is so going down in the Higgins’ Favorite Recipes. David was the main chef, actually, so total kudos to him.

BEST BUTTERMILK PANCAKES

[ Makes nine 6-inch pancakes ]

2 c. all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
3 Tbsp. sugar
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
3 c. buttermilk
4 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted, plus 1/2 teaspoon for griddle

Heat griddle to 375 degrees. Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and sugar in a medium bowl. Add eggs, buttermilk, and 4 tablespoons butter; whisk to combine. Batter should have small to medium lumps. Heat oven to 175 degrees (for keeping the finished pancakes warm). Test griddle by sprinkling a few drops of water on it. If water bounces and spatters off griddle, it is hot enough. Using a pastry brush, brush remaining 1/2 teaspoon of butter or reserved bacon fat onto griddle. Wipe off excess. Using a 4-ounce ladle, about 1/2 cup, pour pancake batter, in pools 2 inches away from one other. When pancakes have bubbles on top and are slightly dry around edges, about 2 1/2 minutes, flip over. Cook until golden on bottom, about 1 minute. Repeat with remaining batter, keeping finished pancakes on a heatproof plate in oven. Serve warm.

Says Martha’s people: “The key to fluffy pancakes is not to overmix the batter; it should not be beaten smooth. If serving these pancakes with bacon, reserve half a teaspoon of bacon drippings to grease the griddle instead of butter.”

And here’s a perfectly complimentary — and equally healthy (ha!) — recipe to top those pancakes. This comes from my sister-in-law Heidi (thank you for sharing!).

BUTTER SYRUP

1 c. heavy whipping cream
1 stick butter
1 c. granulated sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. baking soda

Melt together whipping cream, butter and sugar over low heat. Slowly increase heat until the mixture barely comes to a boil. Add vanilla & baking soda. Turn off heat while whisking continually until ready to serve.

crepes

Thursday, July 3rd, 2008

The recipe for crepes is not hard to find, but it’s just one of those things that we don’t ever think about making. So we did this week. So easy. Filled them with whipped cream and fresh fruit (raspberries, blueberries and strawberries). Looked rather patriotic, just in time for the Fourth of July.

CREPES

4 eggs
1/4 tsp. salt
2 c. flour
2 1/4 c. milk
1/2 stick (4 Tbsp.) melted butter

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour and the eggs. Gradually add in the milk, stirring to combine. Add the salt and melted butter; beat until smooth. Heat a lightly oiled 9″ frying pan over medium heat. Using a 1/4 c. measuring cup, scoop the batter into the pan. Immediately tilt the pan with a circular motion so that the batter coats the surface evenly. Cook the crepe for about 2 minutes, until the bottom is light brown. Loosen with a spatula, turn and cook the other side. Serve hot. Fill with your favorite fresh fruit, rolled up in the crepe, and sprinkle a little powdered sugar on top.

pumpkin chocolate chip muffins

Wednesday, October 24th, 2007

The first time I tried these was about a year ago when my friend Karolyn made them for breakfast during a girlfriends retreat/reunion. Good memories (love you guys!). What I like about these muffins (besides the chocolate chips!) is that you barely taste the pumpkin. It’s not overwhelming. Not even close.

PUMPKIN CHOCOLATE CHIP MUFFINS

1 c. flour
1 c. sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
2 eggs, beaten
1 c. ground pumpkin (canned)
1/2 c. cooking oil
1/3 c. chocolate chips

Mix together. Fill muffin cups and bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes.

**Added note: If using mini muffin pan, just about 12 minutes is perfect in my oven. And I sprayed the mini muffin pan before filling each space half-way with the mixture. (No muffin cups.)

Super simple. When the recipe is this simple, I definitely involve the kids. Porter & Claire helped me make some today and we’re sharing with some neighbors when we go for a walk later this evening.

banana bread

Wednesday, September 26th, 2007

BANANA BREAD
(makes 4 mini loaves)

2 1/2 c. flour
1 c. sugar
3 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
3 Tbsp. oil
3/4 c. milk
1 egg
3 ripe bananas, mashed
chopped nuts or chocolate chips (optional)

Combine all ingredients (except nuts or chocolate chips) in a mixing bowl and beat on medium speed for about one minute. Then add the nuts or chocolate chips (I’m all about adding the chocolate!) and stir them in with a spoon. Bake for 30-35 minutes at 350.

This recipe makes 4 mini loaves (I love the Pampered Chef mini loaf pan that’s a baking stone). You could also pour the mixture into a mini muffin pan. If you do the mini muffins, they only need about 10 minutes in the oven. Or you could do one large loaf of banana bread and that would take about an hour to bake.