Cakes

Healthy Whole Orange Blender Cake

What a delicious little cake this is! I used my Vitamix and it took a while to get everything blended. I didn’t have enough maple syrup, so I used a Agave to get to 3/4 cup. You would never know! This is the first time I have used olive oil in baking and it worked beautifully. A tasty cake for family or, frankly, it would be great to have with a friend over coffee or tea.

Healthy Whole Orange Blender Cake

INGREDIENTS:
  • 1 whole Navel orange (organic)
  • 3 eggs
  • 2 cups rolled oats
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1/3 cup Greek yogurt
  • 3/4 cup maple syrup
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • optional icing:
    • 3/4 cup powdered sugar
    • 1/2 orange, zested then juiced
DIRECTIONS:
  1. Preheat your oven to 350℉ Line an 8 inch round pan with parchment paper or grease it.
  2. Rinse and dry your orange. Remove any exterior stems and then quarter it. Remove any seeds. You are using the WHOLE ORANGE here – peel and all.
  3. Add the ingredients to your blender or food processor in the order listed above. Blend till smooth and then pour the batter into your pan. Bake for 50 minutes to an hour or until top of cake is golden. Remove from oven and allow to set in the pan for 15 minutes then transfer to a wire rack to fully cool.
  4. optional icing:
    • Whisk together the ingredients till smooth. Drizzle on cake when fully cooled.

Recipe from HungryHappens

Family Favorites · Holidays · Vegetables

Broccoli with Garlic Egg Sauce

Broccoli with Garlic Egg Sauce is a family favorite and served with holiday meals or gatherings. Now I know it sounds somewhat disgusting, but, trust me, it’s delicious. I came across this recipe several years ago in the cookbook from popular Denver restaurants. The cookbook is long gone but the memory of the recipe is still with me. If anyone knows of the origin of the recipe at a Denver establishment, please comment.

Broccoli with Garlic Egg Sauce

INGREDIENTS:
  • 1 pound fresh broccoli, washed and cut into flowerettes
  • 3 hard-boiled eggs, shelled and diced
  • 3-4 T. olive oil
  • 1-2 garlic cloves, minced
  • bread crumbs, about 1/2-1 cup
  • salt and pepper to taste
DIRECTIONS:
  1. Steam the broccoli until tender.
  2. Heat olive oil in pan. Add minced garlic and saute. Add chopped eggs, salt and pepper. Stir in bread crumbs.
  3. Place broccoli in a serving dish and top with the garlic egg sauce.

Attribution

Appetizers · Vegan · Vegetables · Vegetarian

Balsamic Roasted Tomatoes

Roasted Tomatoes are a family favorite and are delicious served in a variety of ways. When my garden tomatoes are overwhelming, I turn to roasting them. Sometimes I roast them without the balsamic vinegar, with just olive oil, garlic and occasionally strips of anaheim peppers. The tomatoes are delicious by themselves or served with cream cheese, feta or goat cheese as an appetizer. Try them on a pizza or in egg cups. I’ve frozen the roasted tomatoes with good success and find them to be quite a treat in the winter

Balsamic Roasted Tomatoes

INGREDIENTS:
  • 12 plum tomatoes, halved lengthwise, cores and seeds removed (I used a variety of tomatoes from my garden, halved and not seeded)
  • 4 tablespoons good olive oil
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 2 large garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
DIRECTIONS:
  1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
  2. Arrange the tomatoes on a sheet pan, cut sides up, in a single layer. Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Sprinkle the garlic, sugar, salt, and pepper over the tomatoes. Roast for 25 to 30 minutes, until the tomatoes are concentrated and beginning to caramelize. (I had to roast mine for 10-15 minutes longer). Serve warm or at room temperature.

Recipe from Food Network Ina Garten

Breakfast

Sheet Pan Eggs in a Hole

Breakast for dinner is a thing. I fondly remember my Mother making pancakes and sausage for dinner on occasion and we loved it. My oldest grandson loves breakfast for any meal and typically requested breakfast for all three meals on his birthday. One day he was at my house and asked for breakfast for dinner and what to make? I found this easy, yet delicious recipe, and we both enjoyed our unusual dinner. Eggs in Hole it is!

Sheet Pan Egg in a Hole

INGREDIENTS:
  • 1 dozen eggs (I made 1/4 of a recipe)
  • 12 slices bread
  • softened butter
  • seasoning like fresh-ground salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder
  • 1 bag shredded cheese
DIRECTIONS:
  • Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
  • Lay the non-stick silicone baking mat in your large baking sheet and spray the edges of your baking sheet with cooking spray (as the bread and cheese will touch the ends).
  • Lay your slices of bread on the silicone baking mat and puzzle piece so they fit tight and nicely.
  • Use the edge of your teaspoon to make a rectangle in the bread, pressing down hard to create a “well” where the egg will lay once cracked. Press down in the well to ensure the bread is as flat as possible, providing the egg as much room as it needs.
  • Using a small basting brush, spread softened butter on the bread edges that weren’t pressed. The butter adds a wonderful flavor and helps the cheese stay on the bread.
  • Season your bread all over.
  • Crack an egg into each well for every piece of bread.
  • Season lightly over top.
  • Generously add the shredded cheese to all the buttered parts of the bread.
  • Bake in the preheated oven on the top rack for 15-20 minutes.
  • Place the pan on the bottom rack for 5-10 more minutes depending upon how you’d like your egg cooked.
  • Slice and serve with your favorite spatula.

Recipe from CrazyAdventuresinParenting

Breakfast · New Favorite

Sweet Potato Toasts with Eggs, Avocado & Spinach

Whoever heard of Sweet Potato Toasts? They are delicious! Making them in the toaster…brilliant! I love recipes from IowaGirlEats and this one did not disappoint. The only change I made was using Everything But the Bagel seasoning on the Sunny Side Up eggs and that was a game changer. I mentioned this recipe to a friend who suggested replacing the sautéed spinach with mushrooms…that is next on the list!

IowaGirlEats also suggests eating the sweet potato toasts with other toppings. I tried it with peanut butter and it was so good. I toasted several slices of sweet potato to use another day, storing them in the refrigerator. Heated up in the microwave, they were equally as good.

Sweet Potato Toasts with Eggs, Avocado & Spinach

INGREDIENTS:
  • 1 small sweet potato, cut lengthwise into 1/4″ slices
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 avocado
  • 1 giant handful baby spinach
  • evoo, garlic salt, seasonings (I used Everything But the Bagel Seasoning)
DIRECTIONS:
  1. Add a sweet potato slice to each toaster slot then toast on high for the longest duration offered by your toaster. Flip and rotate the sweet potato slices then toast again on high and for the longest duration. If the sweet potato slices aren’t tender by this point, flip and rotate once more then toast a third time (might only need half the duration as previous rounds.) Top toasted sweet potato slices with avocado mashed with a little garlic salt then set aside.
  2. Meanwhile, place a small skillet over medium-high heat then add a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. Add baby spinach then season with garlic salt and saute until tender. Place on top of mashed avocado.
  3. Turn heat down to medium then cook eggs to your liking – sunny side up, fried, scrambled, etc. – seasoning with the seasoning of your choice (I used steak seasoning but garlic salt and pepper is just fine!) Place eggs on top of spinach then serve.

Recipe from IowaGirlEats

Appetizers · Breakfast · Czech Heritage and Dishes · New Favorite

Cabbage Pie

Cabbage Pie is a new recipe, similar to a Frittata.  I had cabbage that I needed to use and the other ingredients were on hand.  What a simple, delicious recipe. It’s easy to imagine my ancestors making a similar dish from these simple ingredients. I did not add cheese to my pie. Next time I would experiment with different cheeses herbs, and bacon.  It’s wonderful served with a fresh sliced tomato from the garden!

CABBAGE PIE

1/2 head green cabbage, thinly sliced
one small onion, halved and thinly sliced
salt and pepper
3 eggs
salt and pepper
1/2 cup to 2/3 cup flour
Shredded cheese (optional)

  • Combine sliced cabbage and onion in a bowl. Add salt and pepper to taste.
  • Beat 3 eggs and add salt and pepper to taste.  Pour egg mixture over cabbage and onions.
  • Add flour to cabbage mixture and stir to combine.
  • Add sunflower or canola oil to a non stick pan.  Heat oil over medium heat.  Add cabbage mixture.  Cover skillet tightly with aluminum foil.  Place wooden cutting board (or heavy flat pan) on top of skillet.
  • Cook over medium heat for 15-20 minutes, until golden brown.
  • Remove cutting board and foil.  Flip cabbage pie onto plate and place other side down in pan.  Optional:  Sprinkle top with cheese and  cook until cheese is melted and bottom is golden brown.

  • Remove from pan.  Slice into wedges and serve.
  • Optional:  Top with a dollop of sour cream and chopped green onion.

Recipe from Olesea Slavinski on youtube.com

Breakfast · New Favorite

Italian Spaghetti Squash Egg Cups

What do you do when you have a lot of leftover spaghetti squash and Italian sausage? You invent a recipe for egg cups. Through the years, I’ve made many types of egg cups, but spaghetti squash is a new one.  Frankly, I didn’t expect them to be very good, but they were delicious!  I made them and refrigerated them, heating them up in the microwave the next day.  I’ll definitely be making this again, and again.  

ITALIAN SPAGHETTI SQUASH EGG CUPS

5 eggs, beaten
3-4 cups cooked spaghetti squash
1-2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup cooked Italian Sausage, crumbled
1/4 shredded Pecorino Romano or Parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning
salt & pepper to taste
Extra shredded cheese to sprinkle on top of the egg cups before baking.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix all ingredients together. Pour into greased muffin tins (they tend to stick so grease generously). Sprinkle extra shredded cheese on top of each cup. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Makes about 16 egg cups.  

 

Breakfast · Family Favorites · New Traditions

Big Country Breakfast Bread Pudding

Breakfast casseroles are always a treat and easy peasy when you make it the night before.  This casserole has a wonderful cream cheese surprise in many bites.  Why have I never thought of that?

Serve this dish with a wonderful fruit bowl, a cup of hot coffee (or tea), and great conversation.

BIG COUNTRY BREAKFAST BREAD PUDDING

1 loaf Brioche bread, cubed (I used French Bread)
1 cup heavy cream (I used half & half)
1 /2 cup milk
9 eggs
4 oz. can chopped green chiles
2 c. + 1 c. shredded sharp white cheddar (or any shredded cheese of your liking)
4 oz. cream cheese, cubed
10 oz. browned breakfast sausage (optional)
5 strips of applewood smoked bacon, cooked until crisp, chopped (optional)
1/2 teaspoon salt & 1/2 teaspoon pepper (or 1 tsp. McCormick’s Montreal Steak Seasoning)

  • Spray a 9×13″ extra deep baking dish and place 1/2 to 2/3 of the bread cubes in the dish.
  • Crack eggs into a large mixing bowl, add cream, milk, salt and pepper. Whisk until smooth.  Reserve 1 to 1.5 cups of mixture and pour remaining over the bread cubes.
  • Spread green chiles on top of bread. Sprinkle with 2 cups of shredded cheese.  Lightly press the bread down to aid in absorption of the egg mixture.  Top with cream cheese, sausage and bacon, if desired.
  • Top with remaining bread and pour reserved egg mixture over the bread. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Sprinkle with a bit more salt and pepper, if desired.
  • The next morning, preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  • Bake on middle rack for 45-55 minutes or until the center is firm. Cover the bread pudding with foil about halfway through the cooking time and remove for the last 5 minutes or so.
  • Serves 12.

Recipe adapted from foodforayear.com

 

 

Breakfast · New Favorite

OMG Scrambled Eggs…with Pesto, Bacon, Roasted Tomatoes & Peppers

OMG Scrambled Eggs were an experiment, a gamble that paid off.  ‘OMG’ was the first thought that came into my head when I took the first bite. Adding the coincidentally roasted fresh tomatoes and peppers was a fantastic addition.
I also made this recipe combining the tomatoes and peppers into the egg cups and loved them as well.
The recipe could be adapted easily to add more bacon, cheese, pesto or whatever floats your boat. Worth trying!  I may be dreaming of this tonight.

OMG SCRAMBLED EGGS

3 slices bacon, sliced into 1 inch pieces
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 bunch swiss chard (or kale) stemmed and chopped
1 dozen eggs, whisked
salt and pepper
2 tablespoons pesto
1/4 cup mozzarella cheese
roasted tomatoes and peppers (optional)
  • Sauté the bacon in a non-stick skillet until cooked about half way.
  • Add onions and cook through.  Drain most of the bacon fat off.
  • Add Swiss chard and cook until it wilts.
  • Add the eggs, salt and pepper, and pesto.
  • Stir the eggs often to assure they cook through.
  • Add cheese when eggs are about half way cooked.
Serve with warm roasted tomatoes and peppers.
MUFFIN EGG CUPS: Mix all ingredients together, including the chopped roasted tomatoes and peppers. Grease muffin tins and bake egg cups at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes until done in the center and golden brown.
Breakfast · Family · Family Favorites

Biscuits and Gravy…Tradition!

Biscuits and gravy were introduced to me when I moved to St. Joseph, Missouri in 1975 and they’ve been a favorite breakfast in our house since.  My husband, Karl, made biscuits and gravy, with scrambled eggs, and sausage almost every weekend while the girls were young.

Biscuits were made from scratch, Bisquick mix, or even refrigerated buttermilk biscuits.  The gravy, however, was always made from scratch and the flour browned to just the right shade of perfection before adding the milk and watching the bubbly goodness thicken to our perfect gravy thickness. A cast iron skillet was always the cooking vessel of choice.

Daughter, Megan, stayed with me for a few days while her hardwood floors were being refinished and she wanted to make biscuits and gravy.  We tried a new drop biscuit recipe that we liked but she made the gravy the old fashioned way.

I love a little sweet with my savory so for my breakfast dessert, one biscuit with honey.  MMMM…

What a wonderful walk down memory lane and the chance to revisit family tradition.

DADDY’S DELICIOUS BAKING POWDER DROP BISCUITS

2 cups flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons butter, room temperature
1 cup milk
1 tablespoon sugar (optional)

  • Preheat oven to 425º.
  • Combine all dry ingredients.
  • Blend in the warm butter.
  • Slowly add the milk to the mixture until the dough holds together.
  • Use two spoons to drop evenly sized biscuits on ungreased baking sheet.
  • Bake for 15 to 20 minutes until lightly browned.

http://www.food.com/recipe/daddys-delicious-baking-powder-drop-biscuits

OLD FASHIONED SAUSAGE GRAVY

1 lb. bulk breakfast sausage
1/3 cup flour
3-4 cups milk
salt  and pepper to taste

  • Prepare biscuits and keep warm.
  • Cook sausage patties in a large skillet, preferably cast iron. Set cooked sausage patties aside and keep warm.
  • Add flour to sausage drippings and let brown (watch carefully or it will burn). Once flour is brown, add milk, salt and pepper and let gravy bubble until it thickens.  This may take about 10 minutes.  If the gravy becomes too thick, add milk to gain desired thickness.
  • Optional:  Add some crumbled cooked sausage into gravy.
  • Serve hot with biscuits, sausage patties and eggs of your choice.