Small & Mighty

 This egg may be small.  However it was just as mighty. Our chickens are producing eggs between 2-7 per day.  Most of us (unless you are BAP) are excited. Fresh are delicious. If you have never tried one, you must.  So flavorful and yummy.

Tea Parties

Growing up, my sister and I had the occasional tea party (even if all our brothers were included in the fun).  The other day I had the honor of watching my nieces and we had a tea party at Oma's house.  So much fun.  I made these first thing in the morning (as BAP got ready for school), so we were ready for our party at 930am.  They are so delicious...so hard to eat just one.

Cinnamon Chip Scones

adapted from: http://www.melskitchencafe.com/amazing-cinnamon-chip-scones-best-basic-scone-recipe/

3 1/2 cups flour

1/3 cup sugar

2 t baking powder

1/2 t baking soda

3/4 cup COLD butter, cubed

1 cup buttermilk

1/2 t vanilla

1/4 t almond extract (my addition)

3/4 cup cinnamon chips (the mini ones)

2 T butter, melted

1/4 cup sugar

Warm the oven to 400. In a food processor, cut butter into flour, sugar, baking powder and baking soda. Slowly pour in milk, vanilla and almond.  Remove to a lightly floured surface and fold in cinnamon chips.  Roll out and cut into scone shapes.  (Since our tea party was with the nieces, I used a donut holer). Place on a parchment lined cookie sheet. (This made about 28 small cakes). Brush with butter and sprinkle with sugar. Bake about 15-20minutes until lightly golden.

Five Easy Ingredients

My boys, husband and I really enjoy granola. It is great on top of yogurt, as cereal or snack or just anything else you can imagine. Recently I found this recipe and it just required 5 simple every day ingredients (plus a few add-ins as we desired).

Easy Peasy Granola Recipe
adapted from: http://www.superhealthykids.com/homemade-granola-only-5-ingredients/

6 cups oats (I used a combo of quick cooking and regular)
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup oil (I melted coconut oil)
1/3 cup honey
2 t vanilla

Combine oats and brown sugar. Melt together oil, honey and vanilla.  Pour over oats and sugar. Spread out on 2 parchment lined cookie sheets.  Bake at 350 for 30minutes....stirring occassionally. At 5minutes until it was time up I topped with 1 cup coconut (just to lightly toast it). Cook remaining 5minutes.  Remove from oven and stir in 1 cup craisins and 1 cup raisins. Cool and store in an airtight container.

Getting Ready

Hope your Lent was blessed.  Tomorrow is Easter, and we are so excited. BAP and SSP informed me that Easter is not all about the bunny and all the candy....it is about Jesus rising from the dead (yay, parenting win!-self five).  We are blessed that we have the opportunity of celebrating with both sides of the family.  In the morning we will host my husband's family for breakfast at our house and in the afternoon/evening we will be with my folks.  Here are the breakfast treats that I have made, froze and then will serve on Easter morning. I thought individual "cups" would be a fun twist on the traditional "big pan style."

Scrambled Egg Cups
inspired by: http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/2015/03/scrambled-egg-breakfast-muffins.html

30 (medium) eggs
2 cups sausage, browned with an finely chopped onion and crumbled
6oz cheese, finely shredded

Preheat oven to 350. Grease 24 standard size muffin tins, as well as 24 mini muffin tins.  Place about 1 T meat mixture into each standard muffin well (and a 1 t in each mini), top meat with a pinch of cheese. Beating one egg at a time pour into standard muffin tin.  Then beat the remain 6 eggs together and pour slowly into the mini wells.  Bake large muffins for 25minutes and smaller for 15minutes.  After they cool slightly. Pop muffins out onto a cooling rack.  Cool completely. Freeze. Pop in the microwave or a just warm oven to reheat when serving.

Easy Peasy Coffee Cake
adapted from: http://lecremedelacrumb.com/2014/09/cake-mix-sour-cream-coffee-cake.html

1 pkg cake mix (I picked spice, recipe says yellow)
1 egg
1 cup sour cream
1/4 cup applesauce (recipe says melted butter)
1 t vanilla

crumble topping (cut together with a pastry cutter)
1 1/4 cups flour (I like quick oats)
2/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 t salt
1 t cinnamon
1/2 cup butter, shredded

Preheat oven to 350.  Line 24 muffin tins with cupcake liners. In a mixer combine cake mix, egg, sour cream, applesauce and vanilla.  Put 3 T batter in each muffin well. Sprinkle with some streusel. Top with 2 T more batter. Sprinkle with more streusel. Bake according to the cupcake directions on the box (about 20 minutes). Cool and freeze too. Warm in a low temperature oven, when ready to serve.

Meal For Kings

My husband and I are always so loving.  The last month he has been awesome since I have been out of commission for awhile. I have made these pancakes a couple times-there is never enough leftover to warrant putting them in the freezer for another full freezer meal.  My boys love their pancakes...I love them.

Buttery Delicious Pancakes
adapted from: http://www.ohsweetbasil.com/melt-in-your-mouth-buttermilk-pancakes-recipe.html

2T sugar
2 cups flour, sifted
1 t baking soda
2 t baking powder
2 T butter, melted
2 eggs
2 cups buttermilk

Whisk lightly together. Grease your griddle and cook as you would pancakes. Top with syrup and chocolate chips (shh. its the boys' favorite way).

Holiday-ish Specials

Egg nog is one of those things (in my opinion) should be stocked year round. However when it does appear on store shelves, it often finds its way to my husband's boots on St Nicholas Day. This morning there was a bout 4 cups left in the carton. So I asked "Dr Google" for egg nog waffles and he showed me the perfect recipe. SSP ate 2, while BAP and my husband each only had one.  They smelled awesome....I hear they tasted great too.

Egg Nog Waffles
adapted from: http://cookiemonstercooking.com/2012/12/05/eggnog-waffles-with-cinnamon-whipped-cream/

1 3/4 cup flour
1 T baking powder
1 T sugar
1 t cinnamon
1 stick (8T) butter, melted (cool slightly)
1 3/4 cup egg nog
2 eggs
splash of rum extract

Mix all liquid ingredients together in a bowl.  Do the same for the dry.  Slowly pour the liquid into the dry.  Bake in your trusty waffle iron until golden brown.

Breakfast on Steriods

I love making breakfast casseroles. There is something about that them that is is homey.  This recipe was a great hit...made it for my Dad's birthday breakfast a few weeks back...it was perfect to go along with the cinnamon rolls that my sister made.

Hashbrown, Sausage and Egg Breakfast Bake
adapted from: http://www.gimmesomeoven.com/easy-cheesy-breakfast-casserole-recipe/

1 pound sliced kielbasa
1 onion, diced fine
1 bell pepper, diced
8oz mushrooms, sliced
1 dozen (12) eggs
1/2 cup milk
1 (32 oz) bag Southern style hashbrowns, thawed
2 cups shredded cheese (plus an additional 1 cup)
1/4 t black pepper

In a skillet saute onion, pepper and onions, until softened.  Stir in kielbasa - just to brown slightly. Remove from heat to cool.  In a large bowl, combine eggs, milk and black pepper.  Slow stir in veggie mixture and hashbrowns.  Fold in 2 cups cheese.  Pour into a well greased 9x13pan.  Bake at 375 for 1hour (covered). Uncover and sprinkle with remaining 1 cup of cheese and bake for another 15minutes.  Serve with salsa, ghost pepper sauce, or whatever suits your fancy. Enjoy!

Bite Size Breakfast Bites

I always enjoy a good hearty breakfast, especially on the weekend.  None of this wimpy cereal business for this momma.  These breakfast bites were perfect. I think they would freeze beautifully to reheat later. Serve with crumbled bacon in them or pieces of bacon on the side.

Breakfast Bites
adapted from: http://fingerprickingood.com/2014/01/08/potato-omelet-breakfast-bites/#

36 tater tots
8 eggs
1/4 cup milk
1 cup cheese

Preheat oven to 400. Grease 1 (12 cup) muffin tin well.  Place 3 tater tots in each cup. Bake 10minutes.  Reduce heat to 350. While taters are cooking whisk together the eggs, milk and cheese. Pour a little egg mixture into each muffin well.  Bake for 25minutes until set and golden.  Serve with salsa or your favorite hot sauce.

Oat-Rageous Deliciousness

Waffles are a favorite breakfast around here.  I made these last weekend for breakfast they were definitely a major hit.  It has been hard finding the perfect one that are chewy and crunchy.  These ones were just that.

Oat Waffles

adapted from: http://www.girlmakesfood.com/ridiculously-awesome-oat-waffles/

1 1/2 cups oat flour (2 cups oatmeal pulsed)

1 T baking powder

salt

2 eggs

1 cup milk

2 T syrup 

2 T oil

Mix all ingredients together.  Pour a little batter (about 1/4 to 1/3 cup ful) on a greased waffle iron. Cook until until desired brown-ness.  Serve with softened butter and plenty of syrup or any other favorite toppings.

Being Out Of Eggs...Brings Pancakes

The other morning I was out of eggs. A little bit of a problem when pancakes are requested for breakfast.  I googled for a recipe without eggs. I hated the idea of disappointing BAP and SSP. Perfection smoothered in syrup if you ask them!

Vegan Pumpkin Pancakes
adapted from: http://busymomrecipes.com/breakfast/pumpkin-pancakes-eggs/

1 cup flour
1/2 t salt
1/2 t baking soda
2 t baking powder
1 T apple pie spice
3/4 cup pumpkin puree
1 cup milk
2 t vanilla
1 T oil

Mix ingredients in a bowl. Measuring by 1/8 cup-fuls cook on a well greased griddle.

Perfection For Friday

We have been trying to go meat free every Friday of the year.  Though it has been hard, it is rewarding.  I found a delicious egg casserole recipe...though BAP and SSP did not really care for it. They gagged down their leftovers for breakfast the next day.

Chiles Rellenos
adapted from: Fix and Forget It New Cookbook

8 oz can whole green chilies (10 chilies)
1/2 lb pepper jack cheese, cut into 10 strips
4 eggs
1 cup milk
1 t chili powder
1 t cumin powder
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Rinse seeds from chilies.  Stuff with cheese strips.  Place in a greased 8x8pan. Top with shredded cheese. Preheat oven to 350. Whisk together eggs, milk, cumin and chili powder.  Pour egg mixture carefully over chilies. Bake for about 30-45minutes until knife comes out clean. (You can alternately bake on HIGH in the crockpot for 3 1/2 to 4hours).

Effortless Breakfast....Easy

Have you ever had a day where you just don't want to make the effort to make breakfast? I found a recipe that I wanted for breakfast for Mother's Day, but I was forced from the kitchen so my husband could make it.  It was so tasty and perfect. He did awesome.  It was hard not being in control at first, but i loved it that he wanted to make me breakfast.

Breakfast Potatoes (quick and easy remedy)
adapted from: http://comfortablefood.com/best-ever-breakfast-potatoes

1 T butter
1 T bacon grease
1 bag Potatoes O'brien
1 Polish sausage link (coined)
4 eggs, beaten

In large non-stick pan, add butter and bacon grease.  Once melted add hashbrowns; stir to toss potatoes in the grease.  Let cook until slightly browned.  Add sausage; stir.  Fold in eggs until just cooked. Serve with salsa (or ghost pepper sauce) and/or cheese.

Creative Breakfast Deliciousness

I would have never thought of pairing tater tots and eggs for a breakfast twist on the classic casserole.  This recipe hit the spot.  I thought I would try it in the crockpot.  Started it at 9 the night before serving and cooked on LOW until about 7 the next morning when I turned it to WARM for the last 2 hours.  So good and so easy. Two things that are a win-win in my house.

Breakfast Tater Tot Bake
adapted from: http://www.chewoutloud.com/2015/01/27/cheesy-tater-tot-breakfast-bake/

1 lb sausage, cooked with 1/2 diced onion and crumbled
2 1/2 cups cheese, shredded
2 cups milk (I used 1/2 cup)
3 eggs (I used a dozen)
pepper/salt
2lbs tater tots

Mix together sausage with eggs, milk and seasonings.  Put in tater tots in the bottom of a well-greased 9x13pan. Put half cheese on top of tater tots; pour egg mixture over all. Bake at 350 for 35minutes. Top with remaining cheese and bake another 10minutes.  Serve with salsa and sour cream.  Cool slightly before serving.

Breakfast For Champions

This breakfast is delicious; so satisfying and filling on days when eating is limited. I enjoy granola with my yogurt and the boys love it just as cereal.  mmm.  This recipe is over the top good.

Cranberry Almond Granola (without the almonds)

adapted from: http://www.littledairyontheprairie.com/cranberry-almond-granola/

5 cups oats

1 cup honey

1/2 cup butter

2 t vanilla

1 t almond extract

1 t salt

1 t apple pie spice/cinnamon

3/4 cup sunflower seeds, shelled (unsalted)

1 cup coconut

In a large mixing bowl combine oats, salt, cinnamon, sunflower seeds and coconut.  In a microwave safe bowl melt butter and honey together (then stir in vanilla and almond extract).  Pour melted butter mixture over the oat mixture.  Line a rimmed cookie sheet with foil - grease it. Bake at 300 for 25minutes. Stir and bake an additional 25minutes. Repeat at least one more time.

NOTE: if you want this to be more bar like, whisk together 3 egg whites before baking. Just bake at 300 for 25minutes. After the allotted time, shut oven off and let the granola cool down (as well as the oven) with the door closed.

Pancake Birthday Tradtion

Growing up we had pancakes for our birthday breakfast....but not any pancakes. German pancakes. Though I have made this recipe multiple times (as the eldest of 9 I helped make them a lot for my younger siblings). Today is my youngest brother's birthday, so I made them for the boys in his honor. Happy Birthday, Brother!  This picture is of BAP and SSP having a slumber party with him.

Since my brother is now a Freshman in college (in a different state), BAP and SSP wanted to still remember his birthday for him. So I made these delicious pancakes for lunch; they are munchkin approved.

German Pancakes

adapted from: http://www.jennycancook.com/

1 cup buttermilk

1 cup flour

3 eggs

2 T sugar

1 T butter

In a bowl, whisk together buttermilk, flour, eggs and sugar until lump free.  Preheat oven to 425; heat cast iron skillet in preheating oven.  Once the oven is at the desired temperature. Remove and quickly melt the butter in the pan.  Then pour in all the batter.  Return pan to oven and bake for 15minutes.

Simple & Delicious

Today is my grandparent's anniversary.  If they were living, they would have been married 67years. I think of them often. This recipe is in honor of them.  I love and miss you, Grandma and Grandpa!

Crescent Roll Cinnamon Rolls
adapted from: http://www.thehungryhousewife.com/2012/03/crescent-cinnamon-rolls.html

1 pkg crescent rolls, separated into 8 triangles
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup sugar
1 T cinnamon

Preheat oven to 375.  Combine butter, sugar and cinnamon.  Spread evenly on each triangle.  Roll up as in making traditional crescent rolls.  Bake 10-12 minutes.

Well Accomplished Craving Subsided

Ever since going Gluten Free in January I have been really wanting biscuits and gravy, one of my favorite breakfasts of all time.  As I love experimenting in the kitchen, I jumped at the chance of trying something new and exciting.  Yes, yes. It was very tasty!

"Biscuits" and Gravy (in a new light)

"Biscuit"
8oz pork sausage, browned with a diced 1/2 large onion
1/2 pkg shredded hashbrowns, made according to stove top directions using the same pan as sausage was cooked in (stir in cooked meat mixture once potatoes are browned to your liking)

Gravy
2 T butter
2 T cornstarch mixed with 2T milk and 1t pepper
2 cups milk

Melt butter in a saucepan. Whisk in milk.  Warm.  Slowly add the cornstarch mixture.  Boil and thicken.  Pour over sausage/hashbrown mixture.  Serve hot.

Bite Sized Happiness

Recently our school had some special visitors.  I was honored to be asked to make something for these special folks. Being on a Monday when they were expecting a breakfast of sorts, I went for it. I thought I would make something easy and bite sized.  BAP, SSP and my wonderful taste testing husband tried these...."these are great; can we have more?" Too bad I had to share. I will try and make them again soon.

Mini Quiches
adapted from: http://sarahscucinabella.com/2012/08/28/mini-bacon-egg-and-cheese-bites/

2 pkgs (15 cups each) mini Phyllo cups
1/4 pound pork sausage, browned with 2 T minced onion
1/4 cup shredded cheese (finely grated)
2 large eggs
2 T milk

Preheat oven to 350.  Place cups onto a Parchment lined baking sheet. Put a small amount of meat and onion mixture in all cups.  In a measuring cup with a spout mix together the eggs and milk. Pour a small amount in each cup until all cups have a little in them.  Bake for 11-14 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool.  Top with a sprinkle of cheese.  Cool completely if serving later and refrigerate or serve warm immediately.

Dessert Breakfast

The other day Mom surprised the boys with donuts. They loved that. However we had quite a few leftover so I creatively made a breakfast casserole. From the amount the boys ate of it (BAP alone ate 3 pieces) I think they enjoyed it.  Today is my brother's birthday; I know that he has a sweet tooth. I think he would love this easy delectable recipe.

Cake Doughnut Bread Pudding
adapted from: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/michael-chiarello/cake-doughnut-bread-pudding-recipe.html

1 cup sugar
5 eggs, lightly beaten
2 cups half and half
1 1/2 t ground cinnamon
1 T vanilla
1/2 cup raisins
4 leftover cake doughnuts, broken up into pieces
24 doughnut holes

Place doughnut pieces and holes in a greased 9x13 pan. Sprinkle with raisins. In a bowl whip together eggs, half and half, cinnamon, and vanilla. Pour over doughnut mixture.  Let soak while oven preheats to 350. Cover with foil and bake 40minutes.

Berry Delicious

Picking huckleberries is hard work...but very rewarding after several hours. These delicate berries are MUCH better than blueberries. Since tasting them for the first time many years ago, I was hooked. I wish they were more readily available all year. This summer I have picked a few cups worth...I may have to go hunt more before the summer is over. These pancakes were perfect with them.

Lemon Huckleberry Pancakes
adapted from: http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2011/09/lemon-blueberry-pancakes/

1 1/2 cups flour (I used gluten free)
1/4 t salt
1 T plus 1 t baking powder
3 T sugar
1 1/2 cups milk (plus more if batter is too thick)
splash of lemon exttract
1 egg
1 1/2 t vanilla
2T butter, melted
huckleberries

Mix all ingredients together except for berries.  Coat a hot griddle with butter/baking grease. Dollop batter by 1/4 cupfuls on to griddle; sprinkle with some berries. Flip when slightly golden on the bottom. Serve with maple syrup and butter (or just butter).  Tasty and delicious!