Camping: Breakfast Burritos

I've read many, many blogs.... posts.... pins about what to make when you go camping.  Lots of them were directions on how to make breakfast burritos.  Yum!  So I've combined what I liked most about each one and made them!  They were delicious!  

Make Ahead:

Brown 1 lb your favorite ground sausage (I added in 1 can of black beans at the end)

Make 1/2 bag of hasbrowns (season as desired)

Bake 18 scrambled eggs, add chives & seasons as desired

** Roll the burritos together and wrap in tin foil before you go **

Sausage

Hashbrowns

Eggs

Shredded Mild Cheddar Cheese

Once you're camping and it's time for breakfast, just throw them on the grill.

Ours got a bit black, but it added to the flavor.  

YUMM!!

I used a whole bag of cheese & made 7 burritos... I think, I'd use more cheese in the future, so it 'glues' everything else together a little better.  You cook, you learn.  

=)

ENJOY!

PB&J Crunchy French Toast Sandwich

Again... like I've said before, I like Guy Fieri!  I was watching an episode a few days back and it was a fried foods special.  I thought, this one will be good to watch, but I should stay away from all the fried-goodness he's showing us.  HOWEVER - this morning, I just happen to have all the things to make one of the dishes and my boys were being good.  So then I thought, I'll make a 'special' peanut butter and jelly sandwich for them, for breakfast, since they absolutely love PB&J's!  I was unable to find Guy's original recipe from the show, but it wasn't too difficult, and I figured I could remember and wing my way through it.  So.... YUMMY.... here it is!! 

Peanut Butter and Jelly Crunch French Toast Sandwich

I crushed up 1/2 box of frosted flakes really well in my Ninja chopper.  Placed it in a large bowl.

Next I whisked together 1 1/2 C milk, 4 eggs (I'm making 4 sandwiches), cinnamon and vanilla extract.

Now it's time to make the sandwiches.... like normal.  My boys usually use grape jelly, but for this, I used strawberry preserves.  YUM!

Then.... just like french toast (sort of) I carefully dipped each sandwich into the milk/egg mixture then the frosted flakes mixture.  Making sure to gently press the cereal onto the sandwich, in hopes of them adhering.

Next melt a good sized blob of butter in a medium sized skillet.... about 1 - 2 Tbsp of butter.  Once melted and the skillet is super hot (but butter NOT burnt) put the sandwich in.  Try not to be a flipper.... or it'll just soak up the butter and not get crispy.  Let it sit for a bit... until slightly golden on the bottom.  Then flip and heat until golden brown on both sides.

 Once it's finished - I LIGHTLY salted the top of the sandwich and let it cool.  

I then cut it into small squares.

Once they were room temperature, we all sat down with our totally un-healthy sandwiches and glasses of milk..... and ENJOYED every bit of it!  

Each one of my boys asked if we could have it again tomorrow.... then again after.  I had to, sadly, tell them no.  There's no way we can eat this more than once every 6 months.... 

However, it was SUPER DELICIOUS!!  

SUPER, DUPER DELICIOUS!!!

Oh, Paula. Glazed Burger Beast!

So... I'm watching the Food Network channel like I do everyday.  I go back and forth sometimes, just to see what they're cooking and if it makes me hungry.  I stopped on Paula Deen's show today.  It caught my attention and looked absolutely yummy and absolutely horrific all at the same time. 

I wasn't sure if she was suggesting we actually make something like this and then actually eat it, or if it was a segment on what not to eat, so that her viewers can maintain their healthy lifestyle.  Then it occurred to me... well, it's Paula Deen.  The most beautiful, blue-eyed, southern momma on the Food Network channel.  However, anyone that keeps up with controversies in the news will know Paula Deen is not known for her healthy recipes.... only known for her scrumptious, decadent, gravy-smothered, butter-soaked combinations of southern goodness.  

Apparently her ladies were going to get together for a brunch and she needed to make a delicious burger.  So she came up with this - - bacon.  Eggs.  Burger.  And Glazed Doughnuts.  Yup.  YUP!

Online - there's enough controversy surrounding their burger to make you want to try it, just to spite all the health-freaks out there that enjoy blaming poor Momma Deen for how chubby America has gotten.  It's not her fault.  I can watch a million different cooking shows, each making my mouth water and I still have the ability to decide which recipe I'm going to try and which I'm going to enjoy from afar.  Far far afar.  

The blue-eyed beauty tempts me once again, with a burger on a glazed 'bun'.... but I, myself, have a weight problem and know this would clog my arteries and get stuck in my ass.  No one is making you eat this, just because Paula Deen made it on her show or fed it to her brunching ladies.  I'm sharing this with ya'll... cuz it looks SO yummy but does, actually, look like death on a plate.  

Want to see the show yourself?? 

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paulas-home-cooking/the-ladys-brunch-burger-recipe/index.html

If you try it and it's yummy.... let me know.

No judgement from me.

Bacon Pancakes, Makin Bacon Pancakes....

Christopher, my husband, had this once as his ringtone.  It's from a cartoon my boys all watch & love.... and I actually find it quite funny, too.  However - this song is HORRIBLY annoying because it sticks in your head worse than The Song That Never Ends!!!

Today is Chris's birthday and he loves breakfast, so what's better than breakfast for supper??  I'm going to make him eggs & chorizo (Ugh Chorizo - I don't like how greasy it is, but he loves it...), pears with raspberries and granola..... AND...... BACON PANCAKES!!

I've found a few different ways online to make bacon pancakes and a few of them made the bacon soggy.  That is a shame to bacon!  I like crispy, crunchity bacon, so (in 'me-fashion') I winged it.  I baked the bacon first until almost done.  I then poured out my batter like normal but placed the bacon pieces on top.  Sprinkled on some cinnamon (cuz Chris likes them like that) and flipped when ready.  The bacon sizzled up nicely (a FEW got a little too dark.... Ooops) and they looked totally yummy!! 

See how good they look?  

If interested - here's the whole menu for my husband birthday meal.  I have to say it - it's NOT what I would like, but it's his day.... so his choice.  

Pears w/raspberries & granola

Scrambled eggs w/chorizo & cheese

Bacon pancakes with strawberry syrup

Happy Birthday my love!!!  

** Bacon pancakes, makin bacon pancakes.  Bacon Pan-CAKES!!! **

Peachy Breakfast Bread Pudding

How about breakfast?  Rarely do I chose to wake up before the sun, on the rare occasion that happens, I apologize to anyone who crosses my path.  I'm a bear in the morning, specially without something sweet and some caffeine.  I do actually make breakfast type foods, yet it's usually for a "special breakfast-supper" that my kids love.  However, I decided to make a nice breakfast before my husband Chris went to work.... yet this one I needed to start the night before.

I've had random recipe cards floating around my cookbooks and this one just appealed to me.  Of course, I follow directions but I tend to add things and change things here & there.  Originally this was a recipe on a Pillsbury card, but I've adapted it, as follows....

INGREDIENTS:
7 C cubed bread (cinnamon swirl bread was requested, but I didn't have it, I just added a bit more cinnamon later.  Fixed!)
8 eggs
2 C milk
1 1/2 C peach juice (from the can)
Cinnamon
Nutmeg
1 lg can (30oz or so?) of peaches (I had halved peaches, sliced them thinly)
1 C maple syrup

DIRECTIONS:
1) Grease 13x9 glass baking dish with butter or cooking spray.  Spread 1/2 the bread crumbs evenly.  Spread the next layer with all the peaches then top with the rest of the bread squares.

2) In a large bowl, beat eggs, milk, 1/2 C of the peach juice, cinnamon and nutmeg until well combined.  Pour over bread.  Cover: refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight.

3) Heat oven to 350'.  Uncover baking dish.  Bake 45-50 minutes or until set and top is golden brown.  Cut into squares.  

4) Mix together the 1C of syrup and 1C of peach juice until fully mixed together.  Top each square with syrup mixture and enjoy!!  

This turned out so good, my picky-morning-eaters even ate it..... and wanted more!  It's warming and comforting and couldn't have went over better on such a dreary, rainy, chilly morning.  (Plus, I got a nap later, so I wasn't such a grumpy goose all day, either!!)  

The original recipe did not call for any peaches... it was just cinnamon bread & syrup for flavor.  My family loves fruit, so I thought it'd be great to add it in there.  It was.

Well played, me... well played.

Apple Cinnamon Pancakes w/Homemade Syrup

I tend to forget about breakfast.... and in my house it's easy to do because my kids love cereal & toast, and that's much easier.  However, when I do make breakfast, I tend to go all out.  I've been in an apple-cinnamon kick lately and found a recipe for homemade syrup that would go perfectly with apple pancakes.  I didn't get any pictures (long story, that doesn't end well for my husband.....) but whenever I make this again, I will definitely take some and share with ya'll!! 

Apple Cinnamon Pancakes w/Homemade Syrup

Pancakes:


1) Use your favorite pancake mix (I LOVE Aunt Jamima's Buttermilk Complete.  Just mix in water and you're good to go!)  - - Remember, I don't measure much, so I'll do my best with the 'directions'.  Put approx. 4 C of the mix in a bowl and use a mixer to mix in just enough water to thicken it up like cookie dough.... NOT pancake consistency yet! 

2) Peel & grate 2 Granny Smith apples.  Use the medium-ish sized side of the grater, so they are little slivers.  Grate directly into the pancake batter mixture and then fold in gently.  The juices from the apples will make up for any of the 'missing' water.  Once incorporated, add a little water at a time to make it the right consistency for your pancakes. 

3) Finish with the pancakes like you normally would - - large fryin pan, medium heat, bubble, flip... etc.

MEANWHILE:

Homemade Syrup:

1 C white sugar
1/2 C brown sugar
3 Tbsp cornstarch
1 Tbsp nutmeg
2 C apple cider mixture (I take a whole jug of apple juice - 2 quarts, I believe.  Add in a handful of Cinnamon Imperials candy, stir or shake gently.  Once it sits in the fridge for a bit the flavors mix well and it's the PERFECT juice to use for this syrup.  If you chose to just use apple juice - - add in 2 Tbsp ground cinnamon.)
1/4 C butter
2 Tbsp lemon juice

1) Mix sugars, cornstarch, nutmeg in a medium sized pan.  Pour in the apple & lemon juices and whisk together - heat on medium.  Cook & stir constantly until it thickens a bit and boils. 

2) Let boil for about 2 minutes, continue to stir.  Removed from heat and then stir in the butter until melted and well incorporated.  Once it sets for a little bit, it'll thicken even more. 

3) Generously pour over the apple pancakes you just made!  YUMMY!!

** I also made scrambled eggs with mozzarella cheese & green onion slivers and little sausage links.  This was a GREAT breakfast - - too bad 'someone' missed it.  Humph. **

ENJOY!!!