We always are looking for something new to serve guests and always fall for the same old thing. If you are looking for something new to try, here it is. This recipe is 20 plus years old, given to me by a neighbor when we first moved to B.C.
- 2 lbs. cooked and drained pork sausage meat (Italian, if you choose)
- 12 well beaten eggs
- 2 cups milk
- 1 cup cream
- 4 or more slices of cubed bread
- 2 cups shredded cheese ( your choice) Monteray Jack is really good, if fresh
- 3/4 tsp. dry mustard
Combine the meat, eggs, milk/cream, bread, cheese and mustard. Add a pinch of salt and pepper and pour into a buttered 9 x 13 inch baking dish. If you wish, add more cheese on top.
Cover and refrigerate overnight and in the morning, remove from the regrigerator and let sit for about 30 minutes before baking in a 350 degree oven for 45 minutes or until set. Let sit for a couple of minutes before serving.
Cut and serve with slices of fresh fruit, juice and coffee. Voila! You did it again. Damn!
Boxing Day Breakfast For The Weary
You worked hard getting dinner ready yesterday and the cleaning up afterwards. You should be rewarded and I can’t think of a better way except for this two fisted start to the day.
Nectarine Melt
Serves 2
- 1 cup whole milk
- 2 cups lemon sorbet
- 2 ripe yellow mangoes, pitted and diced
- 2 ripe nectarines, pitted and diced
Pour the milk in the blender and add one half of the sorbet.
Blend together and when smooth, add the remaining sorbet. Again, blending until smooth. Now add the fruit and process until smooth. Serve immediately with a dollop of fresh whipped cream on top.
Chocolate Crepes – Makes 8-10 crepes
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1 tbsp. baking cocoa
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup whole milk
- 3/4 cup half and half cream
- 2 large oranges, peeled and segmented
- 6 oz. best quality dark chocolate, chopped
- 3/4 cup whipping cream
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 3 oz. best quality white chocolate. grated
- 1 1/2 cups blueberries
After sifting the flour and cocoa together, make a well in the center and gently whisk in the sugars and milk until smooth and no lumps. Cover this for 30 minutes and set aside.
Peel the oranges into segments with no pith, saving the juice. Keep the segments and juice in a small bowl, cover and refrigerate.
Heat an 8″ crepe pan or non sticking fry pan over medium heat and brush with melted butter. Pour a couple of tablespoons of batter in and swirl the pan around to cover with the pan. Cook for only a minute and turn over to cook the other side.
Remove, and cover with a tea towel For the remaining layers, use parchment paper between each one so they don’t clump together and keep the towel covering them all.
To make the sauce, drain the orange segment and combine the juice and chocolate and cream in a saucepan. Over low heat, stir until the chocolate has melted.
To plate….put a spoonful of sour cream on one quarter of the crepe. Sprinkle white chocolate over and fold into a wedge. Spoon sauce over it and spread the blueberries and orange segments over the top.
Sit back, eat slowly and remembering the last couple of days, shout for all to hear “Damn I Did It! Congratulations.
Divine Croissants
This is a savory breakfast and a nice change fromthe usual sweet fare.
- 4 large croissants, cut 3/4 through, lengthwise
- 4 tbsp. butter
- 8 large eggs
- 1/2 – 3/4 cups cream
- 1 tbsp. minced fresh dill
- 1/2 cup finely chopped button mushrooms
- 1/3 cup finely chopped salmon
- 3/4 cup shredded Gruyere cheese
Preheat oven to 225 degrees and warm the croissants for about 5 minutes. Melt the butter in a skillet. In a bowl beat the eggs and cream together. Add the dill, mushrooms and salmon.
Pour into the skillet and scramble until almost dry. Fill the croissants with the egg mixture and sprinkle the cheese over the top. Broil the croissants open-faced until the cheese is bubbly.
Serve immediately with a slice or two of fresh fruit and a fresh, hot cup of coffee and the world looks all anew.
Easy Morning Wake-Up
Okay…here is the scenario. You are the first one up and all is quiet. You slip into the kitchen and turn the coffee pot on (You did set it up the night before, didn’t you?). Now, you can hear stirrings throughout the house.
Get ready to put out a totally scrumptuous breakfast..
- 10 eggs beaten
- 1/3 cup flour
- 3/4 tsp. baking powder
- 1 lb. bacon, fried crisp and crumbled
- 1 lb. Monterey Jack Cheese (one of my favourites)
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- 1/2 cup cream cheese, cut into small squares
- 1 cup fresh mushrooms, sliced and fried
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Beat the eggs, flour and baking powder really well. Oh, ask one of the bodies that just entered the kitchen to pour the orange juice and set the table for you, please.
Add the crumbled bacon, cheeses and mushroom to the mixture and beat well to combine.
Pour into a 13 x 9 inch baking dish that has been sprayed with Pam. Bake for about 35-40 minutes.
Get everyone around the table, plate the baked eggs and add fresh hot, buttered toast, fresh coffee and it is all done. How happy are we now??
Did I hear you say “Damn, I actually did this?” Aww go ahead, it’s is okay.
Wellington Lobster/Scampi
If you live anywhere near the ocean, or a top notch restaurant like the Red Lobster you know how wonderful it all tastes. This recipe is a little different and I am sure you will repeat the recipe many times over.
To serve 6 people (adjust to number of diners)
- 6 small lobster tails
- 6 eggs
- 1 tbsp. or so of plain vinegar
To poach the eggs, fill a wide pot with water and the vinegar added. Bring to a boil and reduce the heat to a simmer. Break the eggs, one at a time, and CAREFULLY add to the water. Cook for about four minutes or until the whites are set. Be sure to baste the eggs while cooking with the water. With a slotted spoon remove the eggs and submerge in ice water.
To make the blender sauce, you will need:
- 3 egg yolks,
- 1/4 cup orange juice (or even blood orange juice)
- 8 oz. butter
- 1 tbsp. lemon juice
Put the yolks in a blender and blend really well. Boil the orange juice until it reduces down to 1 tbsp. Add the butter and lemon juice and bring to a boil. With the blender running, carefully drizzle the butter mixture into the yolks in a slow, but steady stream until fully incorporated. Season with salt and white pepper. Keep warm.
Reheat the lobster for a moment by slipping it back into the reheated water.
Split english muffins in half and place one half on each plate. Spoon a small portion of the sauce on top and top each one with an egg and spoon remaining hollandaise on top. Place the lobster tail meat or scampi on top of the egg.
This makes my mouth water. It is so scrumptuous
Ham and Cheese Stuffed Puff Pastry For Men To Make
This is sooooo easy but the flavours are incredible. You can cut up fresh, cold melons/berries and arrange on the plate. This is perfect when paired with scrambled eggs.
You need:
- 1 sheet frozen puff pastry
- 1 tbsp. Dijon mustard
- thin slices of cooked ham
- slices of swiss cheese
- 1 beaten egg
- 1 tbsp. cream
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Unfold pastry and when thawed, divide into 4 squares. Spread mustard over each square (gingerly), place ham and cheese on top and fold into a triangle. Wet the edges of the pastry with cream and seal closed.
Put on a parchment lined cookie sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes until puffed and golden brown.
Serve this with fresh muffins, fresh coffee and juice. Men: If working on special occasions or Valentine’s Day, this is for you. Put a long stem red rose in a vase on the tray or table. Couldn’t be easier but WOW! the results are unmentionable. (At least here).
Taste Rating: 9