Morning Foods – Page 6 – Rosemary and the Goat

Spinach Bacon Egg Muffins

Skip the drive through today.

If I never hear the words “Egg McMuffin” it won’t be soon enough. All the years of driving and trying to find something for breakfast I have finally had enough of the golden arches egg dishes. The last trip we did to Asheville we stopped once for a chicken biscuit; and after a few bites I’m liking the chicken, of course, but not the biscuit. The finally on the trek home I decided to try the cinnamon roll. Of course, that is a lot higher in calories and sugar but at least it wasn’t another Egg McMuffin, or biscuit of some type.

I’ve made a version of this Spinach Bacon Egg Muffin before but never got around to posting it. So, when I came across this recipe, it was so pretty I just had to make it. And mine pretty much looked like Eat Drink Love’s version except I made my muffins in mini muffin pans.

This recipe is very versatile and you can make whatever adjustments you want. I changed her bacon to real bacon because I do not like anything that is suppose to taste like something else. Same with the cheese; I used normal cheddar cheese not reduced fat. For a change, try crumbled sausage and swiss and maybe some mushrooms. Some other ingredients I have in mind to try the next time will be sautéed bell peppers, green onions, asparagus with Swiss would be great. Bottom line, put whatever you want in with the eggs and give them a bake. You will enjoy them whatever you decide to put in yours.

October 12, 2014 By Sherry

Dessert/ Morning Foods/ Pies/Tarts

Cherry and Peach Strudel

Sweet, sweet cherries.

Last August my sister and I were picking some cherries for photo op up in Door County, Wisconsin. That’s when we were out of our minds and decided to do a Segway tour in Peninsula State Park and we both fell twice off them and I’m still having shoulder trouble a year later.

I love cherries, and in August they were really cheap in the markets. I think I paid $1.99 lb. for these cherries and the peaches are some leftover from my Trader Joe’s box I bought. Before the peaches went bad and the cherries were all eaten (by me) I wanted to make something with them.

While at Pike’s Market in Seattle I had a chance to taste some Rainier cherries. They are the golden looking ones that I always pass up in the grocery store for the red ones which I always thought were better. I was wrong, they are both delicious.

My oldest son, Scott, loves Cherries and when we were visiting Chicago a while back I asked our 4 year old grandson if he liked cherries (knowing that his dad liked them). Oliver was so funny, he said “yes I like them but mom can’t buy them because dad eats them all up”; and he proceeded to say the same thing about potato chips.

September 27, 2014 By Sherry

Appetizers/ HotApp/ Morning Foods

Fried Avocado with Spicy Dipping Sauce

Crunchy wedges of avocado!

Labor Day has come and gone and I hope everyone had a happy one. Avocados, I’m sure made an appearance at probably 80% of the gatherings yesterday.

I never ate avocados as a kid, or even as a young adult; and it probably wasn’t until we moved to Texas that I really started buying and eating them and then it was just guacamole for a long time. Finally I started venturing out and trying different ways to use it.

While in Vancouver/Victoria/Seattle last month I didn’t really see avocado on a lot of menus. While we were doing our food tour in Seattle (Savor Seattle Walking Food Tour) and walking up and down those VERY steep streets our guide, Samatha (she was great), asked if we could swim in a sea of food what would our favorite food be; I said guacamole and everyone (including a family from Germany) said ohhhh yeahhhhh!

We have done three food tours now and this one is the first where everyone had headphones to wear. They were great because as we hiked up and down all those steep streets getting to our next destination, everyone could hear Samatha over all the street traffic; and once we got to the location we didn’t need them as either one of the chefs or restaurant managers would explain to us about their restaurant and the foods we were eating.

September 2, 2014 By Sherry

Breads/Biscuits/ Egg Dishes/ Morning Foods

Southern Comfort Breakfast Bowl

Not THAT kind of Southern Comfort!

Southern comfort? Is that rocking away on the front porch drinking a glass of sweet tea waiting for those grand kids to come so you can say “Come give me some sugar” (kisses – and that’s exactly what one of my grandmas use to say, and I would never say that) or is a good pimento cheese sandwich on white bread your southern comfort; and sitting on a stool in a drug store would make that so much better. Maybe a pan of good cornbread or grits or maybe just taking that dog for a long walk on a hot sweltering day is your idea Southern comfort and this recipe certainly isn’t made from the Southern Comfort we use to drink years ago.

Well, I’m fixin to give you a recipe that isn’t a recipe at all; so before you have a hissy fit and say what’s she talkin about, this can be any breakfast ingredient of your choice served in a bowl. It’s all in the presentation and if you are one of those people who don’t like their foods touching then you may not like this.

WARNING: This is a big hungry man breakfast. If it is too heavy for you for the summer, then save it for a cool autumn morning.

One rainy weekend morning I had my head in the refrigerator trying to come up with something yummy. I had seen a episode of Diner, Dives and Drive-Ins months earlier where Guy was in some diner eating a bowl full of gravy and other ingredients.

I decided for my bowl of Southern comfort goodness I was going to start with some browned frozen hash browns and then from there go with a homemade biscuit or two topped with peppered sausage gravy then some bacon “planking” the top with a perfectly poached egg to the side.

I just knew my husband was going to love this. I made him a large size and I ate my biscuit and gravy separate. Big pasta bowls were the perfect dish to serve this in for this rainy day breakfast.

I’m sure everyone knows how to make perfect gravy but to me the most important part of the gravy making is to stir the flour into the bacon fat (or sausage fat) to brown it a little. Doing this will guarantee that your gravy doesn’t have a raw flour taste. I’ve seen people put flour and milk in a jar and shake before adding to a pan. Believe me, this method will not give you good results and who wants to ruin a great breakfast by taking shortcuts.

I’m making just plain old buttermilk biscuits for my bowl. I also think a base of grits, then biscuit, egg, gravy would be yummy to try.

I had this post ready to go a long time ago and has been waiting in the wings for the right moment. I forgot about it and now that it’s summer already, I’m giving it to you anyway even though it may be a little more filling than you would want for this time of year. You get the idea anyway — for a lighter version, how about a little grits on the bottom topped with some sautéed spinach then a poached egg on top; or even a pile sweet potato hash browns topped with vegetable and egg would be yummy.

August 23, 2014 By Sherry

Egg Dishes/ Morning Foods

Scrambled Eggs Benedict

This is a bit of a “Benedict” stretch”

Are you sitting with your morning pot of tea or cup of coffee pondering what you were going to throw together for breakfast. There are no rules to cooking (maybe just in baking recipes I guess) and I think every rule has an exception, especially this one. Is there a Benedict police out there that says you have to use an English Muffin, Canadian bacon (which isn’t even bacon), poached egg, and hollandaise? And, I’m sure there are a handful of you out there saying “don’t mess with my Eggs Benedict, your are a Eggs Benedict ARNOLD”.

It’s a stretch calling this eggs benedict; and I am using a microwave made hollandaise and putting it together like eggs Benedict. All the other ingredients are new to the scene.

I had this pork belly in the refrigerator and didn’t think I was every going to get it all used up with. I have made Steamed Buns with Pork Belly, Pork Belly Tacos, I tried a BLT appetizer made with the pork and still had some saying, pleaseeee, it’s my time to go.

Hollandaise has never been my friend. It seems like it either curdles or I have it too cold to serve. This time I decided this was going to be a quick breakfast. Other than making the biscuits (which I could do in my sleep), everything was almost ready to go. The poached eggs were replaced with a quick egg scramble; even a fried egg would have been good on this and I guess that would have more resembled the traditional poached egg. And the pork belly, as I said was on it’s last leg in my refrigerator.

If you didn’t do the pork belly try making this with some thick sliced bacon or a grilled boneless pork chop.

August 3, 2014 By Sherry

Dessert/ Desserts/ Pastries/ Pies/Tarts

Peach Tart with Raspberry Sauce

So what are you doing with those fresh peaches from the farmer’s market this summer?

(I’m off in Seattle/Vancouver/Victoria right now and hope to have lots of new ideas to cook up when I get back.)

I missed getting my Fredricksburg peaches last year and this year so I was in search for the best peach I could find. On my way back from Austin one weekend I stopped at Buckee’s Truck Stop (or gas station, or mega everything store). At the checkout, there was a bushel of home grown peaches and they were the most beautiful peaches I have seen in years. The touch was great, the smell was like just picked freshness off some farmer’s tree so I bought a few for this recipe.

You never know what you are going to get in a peach. I have picked up beautiful peaches at the grocery, liked the feel of it in my hand when I gently pressed on it, loved the smell of the peach when I took a big sniff but then when I got home with it, chilled it, got out a big bowl to cut my peach in, only to find when I cut it open it is a mealy, tastless peach. Short of asking for a sample before buying a peach, and I’m likely to do that at a farm stand, I know no other way of finding a perfect peach.

So the sad end to those fresh Buckee’s Truck stop peaches is that I kept putting off making this dessert because I did need someone to eat it. I looked at the peaches each day and the first few days they were smiling back and me saying “we’re ready”. Then I waited, and waited, and waited and when I decided it was time to make it the peaches were in no mood to be made into this nice dessert. They had puckered skin and way beyond looking pretty in their pink skins. So I ate them.

July 29, 2014 By Sherry

Egg Dishes/ Morning Foods

Sunny Morning Breakfast Tart

Worth making for a weekend breakfast.

Happy Easter everyone. I’m sure you already have your Easter morning breakfast planned but keep this in mind the next time you want something special.

I promise not to say breakfast is my least favorite meal ever again. I keep saying that and yet I keep coming up with more breakfast recipes to share with you. I think most of the ones I post here are probably not something I would make during the week but something I want to try for a lazy weekend breakfast treat or most would be wonderful to serve to visiting guest or maybe for that Sunday brunch you have been wanting to have.

This is one recipe I will definitely be making for my daughter and her husband while helping with the baby (or household chores) when we are there (soon).

I look forward to greeting the new baby and I also looking forward to being able to cook for them for a few days OR until they kick us out. I told them up front we could stay as long as we are needed but don’t feel bad saying it’s time to go. What is it they say about fish after three days?

April 20, 2014 By Sherry

Bread/ Morning Foods/ Muffins

Strawberry Goat Cheese Muffins

My daughter introduced me to these one weekend in Austin.

One weekend in Austin my daughter introduced me to this delicious muffin. She had picked up a couple at Central Market. They always have delicious baked goods; and of course they don’t give out their recipes so I had to do some digging to come up with my own version.

I’ve made all kinds of muffins over the years. I hope I haven’t told this story before but when we lived in Kansas, and this was before my catering days and probably what made me start thinking of going to culinary school, I use to sell muffins in our neighborhood. A neighbor and I decided we would make muffins every Saturday morning and sell them to friends in the neighborhood. We printed up a flyer and our kids put them on the doors so people could call in an order if they wanted fresh muffins to enjoy while they read their morning paper. We even bought little bakery boxes and tied the boxes with ribbon before delivery. We probably did this for about 6 months and then moved on to other money making projects 🙂 liked painting our pool fence (will tell that story another time).

I’m sure your thinking “what? goat cheese in a sweet muffin”. But I’m thinking the two make a pretty good match. So many muffin recipes out there are so sweet and I think the goat cheese adds a twang that counters all the sweetness.

Over the years I have made so many different muffin recipes that it’s hard to pick out a favorite. (Check out some of the ones I have posted — under bread section.) I started this recipe with an old Blueberry Muffin recipe that I’ve had in my files for years and made a few changes to it to come up with this version.

What’s your favorite muffin? Is it blueberry, apple, cinnamon or maybe, just maybe, you will add this to your list of favorites.

March 6, 2014 By Sherry

Egg Dishes/ Morning Foods

Eggs in a Nest

Chickens came home to roost on these nest.

These were delicious and served with some extra sausage or bacon on the side and some fresh fruit, made a perfect breakfast.

I have always said that breakfast is my least favorite meal to prepare but I keep coming up with different ways to cook those eggs. Recently I saw a recipe where someone scooped out a baked potato and add the egg and other ingredients into the hollowed out vegetable and baked it. Now that does sound interesting.

My son, Paul has a small chicken coop and 5 chickens in his back yard, and they have finally started producing eggs. I do have to say that the “silky” chickens are really cute as far as chickens go. A few months ago my son/family woke up to “crowing” and realized one of his chickens was in fact a rooster and then it happened again a few weeks later. I guess the person selling him his baby chicks couldn’t tell the differences when they were babies. Needless to say, when this happened, they were not around long; within a couple of hours they had a new owner.

About the only time I make breakfast for my hub is Sunday morning. All the other mornings he grabs a bowl of cereal and cup of coffee before heading out the door for the golf course.

I made the fingerling potatoes with preserved lemons a few nights ago and I had a bunch of potatoes left over and just happened to be watching Pioneer woman make her potato egg nest. She didn’t have much luck with the frozen hash browns she said and ended up baking a potato, peeling it, then grating. I took her recipe a few steps further (why not?) and used my preserved lemon potatoes ( you can bake your potato) added some jalapeño, bell pepper, sausage, egg, and a pinch of cheese and a little tomato for garnish.

February 10, 2014 By Sherry

Egg Dishes/ Morning Foods

Spinach and Mushroom Baked Eggs

Another breakfast dish!

After the holidays, everyone is always looking for easy recipes that are not too fattening. I love the idea of the spinach with the baked eggs and tomatoes were perfect.

I keep saying that breakfast is my least favorite meal of the day yet I keep coming up with new recipes to try. I have to say the thought of plain ole scrambled eggs always makes me want to turn to a bowl of cereal in the morning or even a breakfast bar.

I had all these ingredients just laying in anticipation of being included in a new recipe. Those poor little tomatoes usually just get tossed into a salad or if they are lucky maybe they take a dive into some type of dip concoction. The mushrooms were dying to be sautéed and begging for me to use coconut oil to do them in.

This recipe can be increased to as many servings as you need. All you need to do is saute more mushrooms and spinach. If you want to add in a little ham or bacon to the bottom go ahead, I won’t tell. The next time I try making a baked egg dish I’m going to have my eggs at room temperature because my eggs never get done in the amount of time they are suppose to. I want a set white but runny yolk.

So, what’s your favorite breakfast dish? The next time I’m in Nashville I will definitely have the Sweet Potato Pancakes at the Pancake Pantry or try the Red Velvet Pancakes at Loveless Cafe there. Until I’m there again, I’m going to have to try and make both those pancakes.

December 30, 2013 By Sherry

Egg Dishes/ Morning Foods

Ham and Mushroom Quiche

What real men don’t like quiche?

What man doesn’t like ham, mushrooms, cheese, a crusty exterior to anything. What man these days wants to eat a leftover, a frozen or boxed dinner, a low fat, gluten free, carb-free, sugar-free meal or anything he had to cook for himself. So, I’m willing to bet if you throw (that sounds harsh doesn’t it, I wouldn’t really throw it on the table.) this on the table in front of him, he will chow down and even enjoy it and maybe even ask for leftovers the next day.

November 13, 2013 By Sherry

Egg Dishes/ Morning Foods

Green Eggs and Ham

Try them! Try them! (I say)

A couple of months ago I had dinner at the Salty Sow in Austin. On their menu they have several things that are “jarred” (served in jelly jars). There was a chicken liver mousse, a fresh salmon rillette and green eggs and ham. I never saw what the green eggs and ham looked like but this is my take on Dr. Seuss’s green eggs and ham.

So……. i’m thinking ……..

Do you like
green eggs and ham!
I do not like them,
Sam-I-am.
I do not like green eggs and ham.

You do not like them.
So you say.
Try them! Try them
And you may.
Try them and you may, I say.

Sam!
If you will let me be,
I will try them.
You will see.

Say!
I like green eggs and ham!
I do! I like them, Sam-I-am!
I would eat them in a boat.
And I would eat them with a goat

I will eat them in the rain.
And in the dark. And on a train.
And in a car. And in a tree.
They are so good, so good, you see!

So I will eat them in a box.
And I will eat them with a fox.
And I will eat them in a house.
And I will eat them with a mouse.
And I will eat them here and there.
Say! I will eat them ANYWHERE!

I do so like
green eggs and ham!
Thank you!
Thank you,
Sam-I-am!

–from Dr. Seuss’s Green Eggs and Ham

So, I hope you will try my version of green eggs and ham and then say ” I do so like green eggs and ham”. Thank you! Thank You!

August 25, 2013 By Sherry