Posted in - Pork, Breakfast

Sunday Brunch: Eggs Benedict Toast Cups

Eggs Benedict Toast Cups

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12 English muffins
12 round slices Canadian (back) bacon
1 T extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp coarse ground black pepper
1 pk Hollandaise Sauce
1/2 cup butter
1 cup milk
6 large eggs

Prep Day: Preheat oven to 425. Prepare a non stick 12 cup muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray.

Split English muffins in half and roll each half thin with a rolling pin. Place each thinly rolled half into the prepared muffin tin until all 12 cups are filled and bake for 10 minutes.

Prepare the hollandaise sauce according to package directions. Pour into a bowl and cool to room temperature.

Sprinkle the back bacon with pepper and fry in extra virgin olive oil in a non-stick pan over medium high heat until it begins to brown slightly (about 1 minute per side). Cut each back bacon round into quarters and place in the toast cup.

Whisk the six eggs and then add 1/2 cup of the cooled hollandaise sauce and continue to whisk until smooth.

Gently scramble over medium high heat in a non stick pan coated with cooking spray until beginning to go fluffy and just barely cooked. Remove from heat.

Spoon an equal amount of egg into each toast cup over the ham and then spoon the remaining hollandaise sauce over all. Let cool, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until ready to bake.

To Freeze: place on a baking sheet in the freezer until frozen through and solid. Remove to freezer bags. These will keep up to 2 months.

Serve Day: Bake from the refrigerator in a 375 oven for 8-12 minutes until bubbly and golden, or for a less crispy cup, microwave on high for one minute.

If baking from frozen, bake in a 375 oven for 17-20 minutes until bubbly and warmed through.

Posted in Breakfast

Sunday Brunch: Chocolate Banana Bread

Chocolate Banana Bread

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1 3/4 cups flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 stick butter, melted and cooled
3 ripe bananas, mashed well
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Mix together the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

Stir the mashed bananas, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla. Carefully fold the banana mixture into the dry ingredients until just combined. Mix in the chocolate chips.

Pour into a greased loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 55 to 65 minutes until the bread has risen and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

To freeze: Cool completely. Slice and wrap in plastic wrap and foil or in a ziptop bag. Store in the freezer.

To serve: Pull out desired number of slices. Thaw at room temperature for 30 minutes to an hour. Or, warm in the microwave.

Posted in Breakfast

Sunday Brunch: Steel Cut Oats To Go

Steel Cut Oats To Go

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1 2/3 cups steel-cut oats
4 cups water
Large pinch salt

Mix-Ins:
Milk or soy milk
Cinnamon or other spices
Raisins or other dried fruit
Walnuts or other nuts
Jam
Honey

Equipment:
5 pint-sized Mason jars with lids (I used wide-mouth jars)
Large saucepan
Ladle

Prep Day: Collect your jars and other equipment. I like pint-sized jars for this as they allow a little more room for adding nuts, raisins, and milk later. But you can also use half-pint jars.

Bring the oats, water and salt to a boil. Simmer for about 3 minutes then turn off the heat.

Ladle the oats and water into the jars. Cover the jars tightly with their caps and rings. Leave on the counter overnight. (This is how I make my oatmeal and I have had absolutely no problems with it, healthwise, but if for some reason you are not comfortable leaving hot oatmeal out overnight, you can also refrigerate the jars. The oatmeal won’t be quite as well cooked in the morning; it will be a thinner, less creamy oatmeal. But it will still be fine.)

The next morning, put into jars in the refrigerator. Till ready to use.

Serve Day: Open jar. Microwave for 2 to 3 minutes, or until quite hot. Add any milk, raisins, or other mix-ins. Enjoy!

Additional Notes: You can also add your raisins, cinnamon, or other mix-ins to the rest of the jars before putting them away in the refrigerator. Then all you have to do is grab one and go on your way out the door.