Buttermilk Biscuits

These biscuits are big and flaky- perfect for a breakfast sandwich, or anything really.

1 cup buttermilk (or 1 cup milk plus 1 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar)
2 cups flour
4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda
3/4 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. butter
2 Tbsp. butter flavored shortening

Mix dry ingredients and cut in butter and shortening. Add buttermilk. It will be very sticky! Using lots of flour pat out to 1/2 inch thick and fold into quarters. Repeat patting down and folding up several more times adding flour as necessary. This will help make these biscuits nice and flaky. Finally roll or pat out to 1/2 inch thick and cut into biscuits. You should be able to get 6-9 big biscuits depending upon how big/thick you cut them. They will rise very big. Place in a greased pan and cook at 450 degrees for 15-20 minutes.

Refrigerator Bran Muffins

This recipes makes a lot!!! But you can store the batter in your fridge and pull it out whenever you wake up and feel like muffins. They are really yummy too!

1 (15 oz) box of wheat bran flakes cereal (with or without raisins)
5 cups flour (I used 3 cups of wheat)
3 cups sugar
1 Tbsp plus 2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
4 eggs, beaten
1 quart buttermilk
1 cup butter, melted

Combine first 5 ingredients in a large bowl. Break up the cereal while you stir. Make a well in center of mixture. Combine eggs, buttermilk, and butter; add to dry ingredients, stirring just until moistened. Cover batter and store in refrigerator up to 6 weeks.
When ready to bake, spoon batter into greased muffin pans, filling two-thirds full. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes. Remove from pans immediately. Makes 5 1/2 dozen

Apple Strudel Muffins

I don't claim to be a great cook- just good at finding yummy recipes. David and I have very different taste buds and so when I make something for me that he loves (such as these yummy raspberry bars) I know it is blog worthy. This is another one I was surprised he loved so much.

2 C flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 C butter
1/2 C white sugar
1/2 C brown sugar
2 eggs
1 1/4 tsp vanilla
3 apples, peeled and shredded (or diced if you prefer chunks)
1/2 C cinnamon chips

Topping
1/3 C brown sugar
1 Tbsp flour
1/8 tsp cinnamon
1 Tbsp butter

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease muffin pan.

Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

In another bowl, beat the butter, sugars and eggs together until smooth. Mix in vanilla. Add in apples and cinnamon chips. Gradually add in the flour mixture. Note that this is a thick batter. Spoon the mixture into greased or lined muffin pan.

In another small bowl combine the topping ingredients: brown sugar, flour and cinnamon. Cut in butter until mixture is like course crumbs. Sprinkle over tops of mixture in muffin pan.

Bake 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Allow to sit 5 minutes before removing muffins from pan. Cool on a wire rack.

Orange Julius

2/3 C. orange juice
1 t. vanilla
3/4 C. sugar
1 C. milk
10-20 ice cubes

Blend all together until smooth. Makes almost 4 cups

Cinnamon Bun Pancakes

Have you ever craved cinnamon rolls for breakfast knowing that if you were to make them, they wouldn't be done until dinner time? These may not be cinnamon rolls but they sure are yummy. I found this recipe over here.

1-½ cup All-purpose Flour
3 Tablespoons White Sugar
½ teaspoons Salt
4 teaspoons Baking Powder
1 Tablespoon Cinnamon
2 whole Eggs Beaten
1 cup Milk
2 Tablespoons Corn Syrup
¼ cups Butter, Melted
1 Tablespoon Vanilla

1. In medium bowl, combine flour, sugar, salt, baking powder and cinnamon with a whisk. Whisk well to make sure everything is combined.
2. In separate large bowl, beat together eggs, milk, corn syurp, butter and vanilla. Stir in flour mixture.
3. Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium/low heat. Pour about 1/4 cup batter onto griddle. Brown on both sides.
4. Serve warm with maple-butter icing drizzled over the top. Makes 12 pancakes.

Maple-Butter Icing

1 cup Powdered Sugar
¼ cups Butter, Melted (next time I will only try using 2 Tbsp.)
Dash Of Salt
1 Tablespoon Maple Syrup
¼ cups Whole Milk (more If Needed)

Whisk all ingredients together until smooth, adding the milk slowly. Add enough milk for desired consistency.

Buttermilk Ricotta Blueberry Pancakes

I found a great buttermilk pancake recipe on Cooks Illustrated and we have loved them Then we saw a restaurant featured on food network where they made ricotta cheese blueberry pancakes and we decided to try our own recipe and they were amazing. They were the best pancakes that I have ever had and I plan on making them again right away.

2 cups flour
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups buttermilk
1 cup ricotta cheese
1/4 cup sour cream
2 large eggs
3 tablespoon unsalted butter , melted and cooled slightly
6 oz blueberries


Mix the flour, sugar, salt, baking power, and baking soda together in a bowl.
Then you whisk the buttermilk, ricotta cheese, sour cream, eggs and butter in another bowl.
Make well in center of dry ingredients and pour in wet ingredients; gently stir until just combined (batter should remain lumpy with few streaks of flour). Do not over mix. Allow batter to sit 10 minutes before cooking.
Then fold in the blueberries.


Heat 1 teaspoon oil in 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Using paper towels, carefully wipe out oil, leaving thin film of oil on bottom and sides of pan. Using ¼ cup measure, portion batter into pan in 4 places. Cook until edges are set, first side is golden brown, and bubbles on surface are just beginning to break, 2 to 3 minutes. Using thin, wide spatula, flip pancakes and continue to cook until second side is golden brown

Stawberry Spread

1 pkg. cream cheese, softened
1/4 c. strawberry freezer jam
1/2 c. powdered sugar
1 T. vanilla

Whip ingredients together and spread on bagels, toast, french toast, or whatever!

Strawberry Stuffed French Toast

This is awesome! If you are looking for a healthy light version of French Toast- don't be fooled by the strawberries! I stole this recipe and picture from http://realmomkitchen.blogspot.com. Personally I thought it was PERFECT without any syrup.




Strawberry Stuffed French Toast

1 (8 oz package) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
10 slices bread (I used Texas toast)
3 cups strawberries, hulled and sliced
4 eggs, beaten
2 1/2 tablespoon milk
4 tablespoon butter, optional
2 tablespoon powdered sugar extra

Combine the cream cheese, 1/2 cup powdered sugar, vanilla and cinnamon, and beat until smooth, and then spread 1/2 the mixture on one side of five slices of bread. Top with the sliced strawberries (you will have some extra). Spread more of the remaining mixture on the remaining five pieces of bread and place on top, and make five sandwiches, pressing them together gently to enclose strawberries inside.
Beat the eggs and milk together and set aside.
Preheat the oven to 400F . Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray and place in oven to warm up. Melt 1/2 tbsp or so of butter in a frying pan. Take the sandwiches, one by one, and place in the egg and milk mixture, turning so that the mixture covers both sides. Transfer the sandwich to the pan and cook until the first side is lightly brown. Flip over and cook the other side. When both sides are lightly brown, place the sandwich on the baking sheet in the oven to keep warm. Before serving, top with the extra sliced strawberries and 2 tbsp powdered sugar. Drizzle with maple syrup or the Strawberry Syrup recipe below.

Strawberry Syrup

1/2 cup maple syrup
2 tablespoons orange juice
3/4 cup pureed strawberries

Combine all the ingredients in a small pan. Stirring constantly, heat mixture over medium heat until it begins to thicken (approximately 5 minutes). While still warm, pour over French Toast and serve immediately.

Coconut Syrup

This is similar to Sunny's syrup!

1 cup white sugar
1 cube real butter
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 tsp. coconut extract
1/2 tsp. baking soda

Bring sugar and butter to a boil in a tall pot. Then add buttermilk, coconut extract, and baking soda. Serve over pancakes, waffles, crepes, or vanilla ice cream!

Swedish Pancakes

Add 1 1/4 cups of milk.
Add 3 eggs.
Blend them together.
Add 3/4 cup of flour.
Fry in a hot buttered fry pan.
Top them with powdered sugar.
Optional Toppings: any fresh fruit etc.

Buttermilk Syrup

For all you who aren't into maple syrup, and even if you are, here's one yummy alternative. My husband will not have regular syrup, but this... well, now he's a fan.

1 cube butter or margarine (with the water that margarine has this will give your syrup a more runny consistency - Spencer prefers it that way)
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla

In large saucepan, melt butter. Add buttermilk, sugar, and soda. Boil together 1 minute, stirring often (will expand greatly). Take off stove and add vanilla.

Raspberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake

We have been looking for the *best* coffee cake recipe for awhile now. Every time we make it we try a new recipe. We have found a lot that are good and that we like- just not the one we love. Well our search is over. Don't try it though until you have already failed all your new year resolutions. I got it out of our ward cookbook. Yum.

2 1/4 c. flour
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup butter
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 cup sour cream
1 egg (or 1 Tbsp powdered eggs + 2 Tbsp. warm water)
1 1/2 tsp. almond extract

Filling:
8 oz. cream cheese (softened)
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg (or 1 Tbsp powdered eggs + 2 Tbsp. warm water)
1/2 cup raspberry jam (we used our yummy homemade jam)
1/2 cup slivered almonds

Mix flour and sugar and cut in butter. Remove 1 cup and set aside. To remaining crumbs, add baking powder, soda, salt, sour cream, egg, and almond extract. Mix well. Spread in bottom and 2 inches up the side of a 9-inch spring form pan (I was nervous and greased it a little. It was really thick and sticky and hard to spread).

For the filling: Beat cream cheese, sugar, and egg. Pour over batter. Spoon jam on top. Sprinkle with almonds and reserved crumbs. Bake at 350 for 55-60 minutes. Let stand 15 minutes before removing sides from pan.

Gingerbread Waffles

Sorry I haven't posted anything in like forever. I never seem to cook as much with a little baby- they always have to eat when I am in the middle of cooking, plus it is hard to get to the store with a baby and two girls running around the store. We have been living off of breakfast foods, bean and cheese burritos, sandwiches, etc. Trust me, nothing exciting.

We both loved these and decided they would be a great Christmas morning breakfast.

2 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. ground ginger
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
1/4 tsp. salt
2 eggs, separated
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup molasses
1 cup milk

Mix together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and salt. Set Aside. Beat 2 egg whites until still and set aside. In large bowl, beat butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Beat in molasses, egg yolks, and milk. Add dry ingredients and mix until combined. Fold in beaten egg whites. Bake on waffle iron and serve with honey and whipped cream. Yum!

Johnny Appleseed Coffee Cake

The Chocolate Swirl Coffee Cake is still my favorite, but if you're looking for something not as sweet, and a little bit healthier, try this one.

2 cups Bisquick baking mix
2 Tbsp sugar
1 egg
2/3 cup water or milk
Combine, beat vigorously 1/2 minute, Fold in apple
1 cup finely chopped apple (I usually remove the skin)
Also, I often, maybe always, add more milk. It is just too thick.

Topping
1/4 cup sugar
2 Tbsp Bisquick
2 tsp cinnamon
2 Tbsp firm butter or margarine
Mix until crumbly

Spread batter in greased 8 or 9" round or square pan. Sprinkle topping over batter.
Bake 20 to 25 minutes. Serve warm.

Buttermilk Pancakes

1 1/4 cup flour
1 egg
1 1/4 cups buttermilk (again can substitute 1 1/4 milk with about 1 Tbsp. vinegar or lemon juice)
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp. (heaping) baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 cup oil
pinch salt

In a blender combine all ingredients until smooth.

Oatmeal Pancakes

Here are the two recipes we use for pancakes.

1 cup oatmeal
2 cups buttermilk (can substitute 2 cups milk + 2 Tbsp. lemon juice or vinegar until curdled)
1 Tbsp. oil
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. soda
3 Tbsp. brown sugar
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

Soak the oatmeal in the buttermilk for 2 minutes. Add all wet ingredients to oatmeal and buttermilk. In a seperate bowl mix dry ingredients and stir into wet ingredients.

Pancakes

I've been on a mission to find a yummy pancake recipe. My taste buds have recently been spoiled by homemade waffles, and when I went back to the store-bought mix for pancakes I was horribly disappointed with its flavor. Does anyone have a good recipe for pancakes?

Here's the one I found that tastes the way a pancake should:

(This is copied verbatim from a blog I love. All the tips at the end are hers.)
1 c. unbleached flour
1 c. whole wheat flour
2 t. baking powder
1 t. baking soda
3/4 t. salt
3 T. sugar
1 c. quick oats (or less)
1/2 c. wheat germ

whisk to combine.

Separately, mix together:
3 1/2 c. milk
1 c. sour cream
4 t. melted butter
2 large eggs, beaten

Combine all ingredients together, without over-mixing.

Note: I have a wonderful cast-iron griddle that I have been using for a couple of years, so it's well seasoned and gives my pancakes such great flavor. I highly recommend getting one of these griddles for your home.

EXCELLENT Pancake Toppings:
Strawberries blended with a touch of lemon and sugar
Roasted, chopped pecans
Blueberry or apple pie filling

...or just plain old butter and maple syrup!

Creme Brulee French Toast

1/2 cup butter
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 Tbs. corn syrup
1 loaf Texas toast bread (extra-thick slices)
5 eggs
1 1/2 cups half-and-half cream (I used the fat-free kind)
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla

In a small saucepan melt butter, brown sugar, and corn syrup over medium heat until smooth, stirring occasionally. Pour mixture onto large, greased jelly roll pan (18x13x1-inch) Spread to cover surface. Place 12 slices bread in a single layer to cover pan. Mix together eggs, cream, salt, and vanilla. Spoon mixture over each piece of bread. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Bake uncovered at 350, for about 30 minutes. Remove from pan and serve. If not serving immediately, turn each slice of bread over (this will prevent bread from sticking the bottom of the pan). OPTIONAL serving suggestion: Serve with Syrup Butter. Makes 12 servings.

Syrup Butter

1 1/2 cups butter
3 cups maple syrup

Melt together and serve over toast.

Cinnamon Rolls

Feeling ambitious? I just made these today. They are yummy and worth the effort. Spencer was really bummed when I told him we were giving some away.

1 Tbs. active dry yeast
1 cup warm milk
½ cup sugar
1 tsp. salt
2 eggs
1/3 cup butter, melted
4 cups flour
Filling:
1 cup packed brown sugar
2½ tsp. cinnamon
1/3 cup butter, melted
Icing:
½ cup butter, softened
½ tsp. vanilla
2 oz. cream cheese, softened
1½ cups powdered sugar
Rolls: Dissolve yeast in warm milk in a large bowl. Add the sugar, butter, salt, eggs, and flour. Mix well. Knead the dough into a large ball. Put in bowl, cover and let rise in a warm place about 1 hour, or until dough has doubled in size. Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface. Roll dough flat until it is approximately a 21x16 rectangle. It should be about ¼ inch thick.

Filling: Combine the melted butter, brown sugar and cinnamon in a bowl. Spread the mixture over the surface of the dough. Working carefully from the top (21 inch side), roll the dough to the bottom edge. Cut the rolled dough into 1¾ inch thick slices and place 6 at a time evenly spaced in a lightly greased baking pan. Let rise until double (about 20-30 minutes). Preheat oven to 400 as they rise. Bake for 10 minutes or until light brown on top. While the rolls bake, combine the butter, vanilla, and cream cheese. Beat well, then add powdered sugar. Spread generously over still-warm rolls.

*I used fat-free milk,I Can't Believe It's Not Butter LIGHT, 2 egg whites, and fat free cream cheese. I use these in everything I cook and bake, and the only noticeable difference is in the icing. I have to put extra powdered sugar in, but it still tastes delicious.

Belinas (or breakfast crepes)

This is my favorite crepe recipe. And I love doing an apple filling with it.

3 eggs (use just the whites to cut out the cholesterol)
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup milk

Combine and cook.

Apple filling:
3-5 apples
some sugar, cinnamon, and lemon juice

Peel and core the apples. Cut into slices and put in baking dish. Put in some sugar, cinnamon, and lemon juice and toss. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes or until apples are soft, tender, or however you like them.