Dessert for Breakfast

My magazine arrived yesterday and I had everything in the cupboard- we had the simple crepes with chocolate-hazelnut and bananas this morning. They were a hit. Can't wait to try them with goat cheese and roasted veggies!

Simple Crepes (Everyday Food, Martha Stewart, Jan/Feb 2011)

1 cup flour, spooned and leveled

1 tablespoon sugar

¼ teaspoon coarse salt

1 ½ cups whole milk

4 large eggs

3 tablespoons unsalted butter

In a blender, combine above ingredients. Puree until mixture is smooth and bubbles form on top, about 30 seconds. Let batter sit at least 15 minutes at room temperature (or refrigerate in an airtight container, up to 1 day; whisk before using). Heat a 12” nonstick skillet over medium. Lightly coat with butter. Add 1/3 cup batter and swirl to completely cover bottom of skillet. Cook until underside of crepe is golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Loosen edge of crepe with a rubber spatula, then with your fingertips, quickly flip. Cook 1 minute more. Slide crepe out of skillet and repeat with remaining batter.

Chocolate-Hazelnut and Banana Crepe

After flipping crepe in the skillet, top with 2 tablespoons (I used half that amount) chocolate hazelnut spread such as Nutella and ½ banana, thinly sliced. Cook until spread melts, about 1 minute. Fold into quarters.

Crepes with Vegetables and Goat Cheese

Preheat oven to 350. Place 4 crepes on a rimmed baking sheet. Place 2 tablespoons crumbled goat cheese and ½ cup roasted vegetables such as bell pepper, eggplant, mushroom and onion, down the center of each crepe. Season with coarse salt and pepper. Fold edges over filling. Bake until cheese softens and filling is warm 5 minutes. Makes 4.

Basil Chicken in Coconut Curry Sauce

You really should try this one if you like curry. It's a mild curry, creamy and delicious.

Basil Chicken in Coconut Curry Sauce (My Kitchen Café blog)
*Serves 4

3 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
2 teaspoons curry powder
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
¼ teaspoon chili powder
1 medium red onion, chopped
5 cloves garlic, minced
2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and finely chopped (by seeding the jalapeno you lose most of the spice/heat but retain great flavor)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 14-ounce can light coconut milk
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 tablespoon dried basil
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
3 cups hot cooked rice

Cut chicken into 1-inch pieces. Place in medium bowl. Stir together curry, 1/2 teaspoon salt, pepper and chili powder. Sprinkle over chicken, tossing to coat evenly. Cover and chill for 1 to 2 hours.

In a large nonstick frying pan, stir onion, basil, garlic and peppers in hot oil over medium-high heat for 3-4 minutes, until onion is translucent. Add chicken and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook for 5-6 minutes until no longer pink.

Combine coconut milk and cornstarch and whisk well to combine. Carefully add to skillet, whisking vigorously. Cook and stir until slightly thickened and bubbly. Stir in ginger. Cook and stir for another minute. Serve over hot rice.

Recipe Source: adapted from Better Homes and Gardens

Gingerbread Waffles

I'm getting excited just thinking about breakfast on Christmas morning. We tried these last spring although I have to admit I thought it was a strange time of year for gingerbread. Nevertheless they were delicious. With Amy's buttermilk syrup they would be fantastic. Sort of like eating a gingerbread house first thing in the morning! If you don't want the work in the morning, you can make them in advance and even freeze them. While frozen you can put them into your toaster and they come out tasty and your home will smell like heaven.

Gingerbread Waffles (Family Fun Magazine, April 2010)

4 eggs

½ cup sugar

1 cup molasses

1 cup buttermilk

3 cups flour

2 teaspoons ground ginger

1 ¼ teaspoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground cloves

¼ teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons baking soda

2 teaspoons baking powder

½ cup unsalted butter, melted

Fresh whipped cream and fruit, optional

With an electric mixer, beat the eggs until they’re light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the sugar, molasses, and buttermilk and mix until blended about 1 minute. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, spices, salt, baking soda and baking powder. Add the dry ingredients to the egg mixture and stir until smooth. Stir in the butter. Cover and refrigerate the batter overnight or cook immediately in a waffle iron until golden brown, 2 to 4 minutes. Serve with whipped cream and fruit, if you like. Makes 14.

Sweet and Sour Hot Dogs

I was telling Linsy how much I've been enjoying your recipes, and she asked if I had any to share. I thought I might have a few, so she invited me to join in. Here's one of my absolute favorites that my mom would make growing up. Not only is it easy to make, it's also got the healthy stuff you "have" to eat, and has the added bonus of having hot dogs so even your kids will love it!

Sweet & Sour Hot Dogs

9 oz. pineapple tidbits
6 hot dogs
2 tbs butter
1 medium onion
1 green pepper
1 bouillon cube
1 1/2 cups hot water
1 tbs corn starch
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 tbsp vinegar
1 tbsp soy sauce
Rice

Drain pineapple tidbits, saving the juice for later. Slice the frankfurters, and cut up the onion and green pepper into strips. In skillet, melt the butter. Add the onion and the green pepper, cover and cook over low heat for 5 minutes.

Dissolve the bouillon cube into the hot water. Mix the corn starch and brown sugar and pineapple juice, vinegar, soy sauce, and bouillon/hot water. Pour over vegetables. Cook & stir until thick. Add franks & pineapple and heat. Serve over rice.

Enjoy!

Asian Glazed Drumsticks

Annie passed this recipe along to me and it's delicious. I noticed she didn't post it so I couldn't resist.

Asian Glazed Drumsticks (Skinnytaste.com, Annie)

Servings: 4 • Serving Size: 2 drumsticks • Points: 5 ww pts
Calories: 213 • Fat: 4.7 g • Protein: 27.5 g • Carb: 12.7 g • Fiber: 0.4 g

• 8 medium chicken drumsticks, skin removed (I used boneless skinless thighs too!)
• Pam spray oil
• 1 cup water
• 1 tbsp Sriracha hot sauce or garlic chile paste
• 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 4 tsp agave nectar (or sugar)
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1 tsp ginger, grated
• 2 tbsp chives or scallions, chopped
• 1 tsp sesame seeds

In a heavy large saucepan, brown chicken on high for 3-4 minutes with a little spray oil. Add water, balsamic, soy sauce, agave, garlic, ginger, hot sauce and cook on high until liquid comes to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer, covered for about 20 minutes. Remove cover and bring heat to high, allowing sauce to reduce down, about 8 minutes until it becomes a thick glaze, turning chicken occasionally. (Keep an eye on glaze, you don't want it to burn when it start becoming thick) Transfer chicken to a platter and pour glaze on top. Top with chives and sesame seeds and serve.

Chap Chee Noodles

We had this recipe again last night and I remembered how delicious it is. Definitely spice up individual portions with chile garlic sauce.

Chap Chee Noodles (Korean) (allrecipes.com)

• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 2 green onions, finely chopped
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/3 pound beef top sirloin, thinly sliced (if you're like me, you'll want to use a pound or more)
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup thinly sliced carrots
• 1/2 cup sliced bamboo shoots, drained
• 1/4 pound napa cabbage, sliced or use some coleslaw mix- I used 1/2 bag
• 2 cups chopped fresh spinach
• 3 ounces cellophane noodles (they are clear and really thin), soaked in warm water
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

In a large bowl, combine 1 tablespoon soy sauce, sesame oil, green onions, garlic, sesame seeds, 1 teaspoon sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Stir in sliced beef, and marinate at room temperature for 15 minutes. Heat wok or large skillet over medium-high heat, then drizzle with oil. Cook beef until evenly brown. Stir in carrots, bamboo shoots, napa cabbage, and spinach. Add cellophane noodles, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 tablespoon sugar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Reduce heat to medium, and cook until heated through.

Vegetable Fries

After tonight's dinner I feel it my duty to spread the word about how delicious rutabaga is for all of you who have never tried it (like me). My kids loved these fries. I couldn't stop eating them and had a hard time reserving some for my husband for later tonight.

Vegetable Fries (Real Simple Magazine, December 2010)

1 small rutabaga (1 pound), peeled and cut into 1/2" thick sticks
4 medium carrots (1/2 pound), peeled and cut into 1/2" thick sticks
2 tablespoons olive oil
kosher salt and black pepper

Heat oven to 450 degrees. On a rimmed baking sheet, toss the rutabaga and carrots with 2 tablspoons olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Roast, tossing once, until golden brown and tender, 20 to 25 minutes.

Serve with a big, juicy, sloppy burger!