Archive for Breakfast

How Do You Like Your Toast?

How do you like your toast seems to be a simple questions on the surface. However, it can lead to numerous possibilities and everyone has their own special way.

Reading an article recently online about how to butter your toast got me to thinking. While a simple procedure, there are many ways to do it. There is no right or wrong way to butter toast, just whatever way makes you happy is the best.

First, there are several ways to make toast. Some use the oven, some use toaster ovens and others just use a toaster. How long to toast bread depends on what you like – soft toast, slightly crisp, burnt and so on.

Then, you have to consider what type of bread to use. Is it really toast if you don’t use traditional loaf bread? Sure it is, if that’s what you want. For instance, in our house toast is generally made using French bread, but we also use Garlic bread, English muffins, Cheese bread, Ciabatta rolls, and just about anything we have a taste for. Technically, it may not be toast but it serves as toast for us. I’d say 90 percent of the time we use a toaster, but occasionally use the oven depending on how much time we have and the type of bread we’re using.

Now the hard part. How to butter your toast and when to butter it.

You can spread cold butter on your bread before you toast it. This way can cause your bread to tear. Sometimes you also get more butter in spots causing your bread to be soggy.

You can spread butter on your bread after you’ve toasted it. This works okay. You have to be careful though or you’ll have a tub of butter that’s full of bread crumbs. Every time you spread butter on the toast, you come away with a few crumbs on your knife that go into your butter.

The only way that wasn’t mentioned in the article is the one way I think is the best way to butter toast. For me the best way is by melting my butter, using a pastry brush and spread the desired amount of delicious wonder on my bread after it’s toasted. I melt just a small amount of butter needed for the toast. This way, there’s no crumbs in my tub of butter, the butter spreads evenly over the bread and it’s not soggy.

Oh no, I forgot. There’s also liquid butter you can squeeze onto your toast from a bottle. See, a simple tasty staple of the breakfast menu has so many possibilities.

Thanks for dropping by today. So tell us, how do you like your toast buttered? Do you even use butter or do you prefer jam or jelly instead or just plain toast?

Cucina Felice!

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Potato Pancake Florentine

Potato Pancake for breakfast - The Surprised Gourmet

Potato Pancake Florentine is delicious for breakfast or dinner

Lately we seem to be on a food merry-go-around of sorts using the same ingredients everyday, but coming up with different dishes is how I created my Potato Pancake Florentine meal.

One of the main ingredients I tend to use a great deal is spinach. I use it instead of lettuce and find that I’m using it in more and more dishes. It’s one of those foods that we enjoy and besides, it’s good for you.

With my busy work schedule we only get to enjoy breakfast as a family on weekends and then sometimes only on Sundays. Because of this and the fact that it’s a meal we really enjoy, we have a habit of eating breakfast for dinner from time to time.

Deciding to combine breakfast and dinner the other evening I came up with these tasty potato pancakes filled with nutritious julienned  spinach.

It all started with 1 cup of leftover mashed potatoes. This is one dish that is so handy I’m tempted to make extra potatoes when I prepare them just so I’ll have leftovers to use in some other dish.

Potato Pancake - The Surprised Gourmet

A tasty dish the family will enjoy anytime of day

Putting a non-stick skillet on medium high, I gave it a splash (about 1 tablespoon) of Canola oil to make sure it was lightly coated. In a bowl, I slightly beat 2 large eggs, added the mashed potatoes, 1/4 cup milk, 1/4 cup plain flour, 1/4 teaspoon baking powder, a pinch of baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon Lawry’s Garlic Salt, 1/2 cup julienned deli-style ham, 1/3 cup julienned spinach, 5 leaves of basil (julienned), 1/4 cup shredded Mexican Blend cheese, fresh ground black pepper (to taste), and fresh ground kosher salt (to taste). I combined all the ingredients until it was a batter-consistency.

Using 1/3 cup measuring cup, I dropped the mixture into the hot skillet making the pancakes about 6 to 7 inches in diameter. I cooked them about 2 to 3 minutes until they were golden brown and could be flipped over without tearing apart.

Tasty Potato Pancakes - The Surprised Gourmet

Quick and easy Potato Pancake Florentine

In a cast iron skillet I scrambled 1 egg with Kraft Velveeta Sharp Cheddar Cheese for the garnish. On top of that I added 1 tablespoon of julienned ham and a dollop of sour cream with a wedge of a Roma tomato on the side.

Mashed potatoes (or creamed potatoes to some) are always good. I love potatoes just about any way you can prepare them. Are you a mashed potato fan? Have you used them in any other dishes as an ingredient?

Thanks for poppin in. Hope you’ll give this a try. If you do, be sure to stop back by and let me know how it turned out for you or if you post it online tag it with #thesurprisedgourmet.

Cucina Felice!

Potato Pancake Florentine

Rating 

Prep time: 

Cook time: 

Total time: 

Serves: 4 servings

You can enjoy this delicious Potato Pancake Florentine recipe for dinner or breakfast
Ingredients
  • 1 Cup mashed potatoes
  • 1 Tablespoon Canola oil
  • 2 Large eggs
  • ¼ Cup milk
  • ¼ Cup plain flour
  • ¼ Teaspoon baking powder
  • A pinch of baking soda
  • ½ Teaspoon garlic salt
  • ½ Cup deli-style ham, julienned
  • ⅓ Cup spinach, julienned
  • 5 Leaves of basil, julienned
  • ¼ Cup shredded Mexican Blend cheese
  • Fresh ground black pepper (to taste)
  • Fresh ground kosher salt (to taste)
  • GARNISH
  • 1 Large egg
  • 1 Slice Velveeta sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1 Tablespoon julienned ham
  • Dollop of sour cream
  • 1 Roma tomato, cut into wedges
Instructions
  1. Put a non-stick skillet on medium high, give it a splash (about 1 tablespoon) of Canola oil to make sure it was lightly coated. In a bowl, slightly beat 2 large eggs, added the mashed potatoes, ¼ cup milk, ¼ cup plain flour, ¼ teaspoon baking powder, a pinch of baking soda, ½ teaspoon garlic salt, ½ cup julienned deli-style ham, ⅓ cup julienned spinach, 5 leaves of basil (julienned), ¼ cup shredded Mexican Blend cheese, fresh ground black pepper (to taste), and fresh ground kosher salt (to taste). Combine all the ingredients until it is a batter-consistency.
  2. Using ⅓ cup measuring cup, drop the mixture into the hot skillet making the pancakes about 6 to 7 inches in diameter. Cook about 2 to 3 minutes until they are golden brown and can be flipped over without tearing apart.
  3. In a cast iron skillet scrambled 1 egg with Kraft Velveeta Sharp Cheddar Cheese for the garnish. On top of that add 1 tablespoon of julienned ham and a dollop of sour cream with a wedge of a Roma tomato on the side.

 

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Woohoo French Toast

Making French Toast - The Surprised Gourmet

French toast is a delicious dish for breakfast

Let’s say, “Woohoo French toast.” Just about everyone has tried French toast and knows it’s one of the simplest dishes to prepare for breakfast.

French toast is known around the world by many names – “eggy bread, German toast, gypsy toast, or Spanish toast.” It’s a dish made by soaking bread in a mixture of beaten eggs and then fried.

It’s that egg mixture where people sometimes get carried away. You could add all sorts of ingredients to it. But to me, simple is always the best. I use 2 eggs, 1/4 cup of milk and 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla flavoring. I blend these together in a deep dish using a battery operated frother like an immersion blender.

This makes enough mixture for 2 slices of bread – the bread I use is French bread (well, it is French toast after all). I cut 2 slices on the diagonal about an inch thick.

I dip each slice of bread in the mixture and then drop them in a hot non-stick skillet with a dab of butter and a splash of oil. Cooking on medium to medium-high, I turn the bread slices after about 3 to 4 minutes when they’re golden brown. Repeat on the other side and remove.

Instead of using syrup to top these off, I use a Cinnamon Sour Cream Topping and a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar.

Slice of French Toast - The Surprised Gourmet

Yummy French toast with a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar and Cinnamon Sour Cream topping

Combine 3 tablespoons of sugar and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon (this makes cinnamon sugar). Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of this sugar equally over the two slices of toast. Then add the remaining Cinnamon Sugar to 1/4 cup sour cream making Cinnamon Sour Cream that you spoon on top of the French toast.

Using French bread instead of regular loaf bread gives the egg mixture more texture to soak into without falling apart. Don’t you just hate picking up a slice of bread coated in eggs only to have it fall apart before you get it to the skillet. Try it with French bread, I think you’ll like the results.

This recipe for French toast isn’t real sweet, but it’s oh so tasty. The fluffiness of the eggs with the hint of cinnamon will have your mouth watering. If you give this a try, be sure to come back and let me know how it turned out for you or tag it with #thesurprisedgourmet if you post it. I’d love to know what you think of it

Cucina Felice!

Woohoo French Toast

Rating 

Prep time: 

Cook time: 

Total time: 

Serves: 2

This delicious breakfast dish will bring the entire family to the table on the run
Ingredients
  • 2 Large eggs
  • 2 Slices of French bread
  • ¼ Cup milk
  • ¼ Teaspoon vanilla flavoring
  • Dab of butter
  • Splash of oil
  • CINNAMON SUGAR
  • 3 Tablespoons sugar
  • 1 Teaspoon cinnamon
  • CINNAMON SOUR CREAM TOPPING
  • 2 Tablespoons Cinnamon Sugar
  • ¼ Cup sour cream
Instructions
  1. Use 2 eggs, ¼ cup of milk and ¼ teaspoon of vanilla flavoring and blend together in a deep dish.
  2. This makes enough mixture for 2 slices of bread - using French bread (well, it is French toast after all). Cut 2 slices on the diagonal about an inch thick.
  3. Dip each slice of bread in the mixture and then drop them in a hot non-stick skillet with a dab of butter and a splash of oil. Cooking on medium to medium-high, turn the bread slices after about 3 to 4 minutes when they're golden brown. Repeat on the other side and remove.
  4. Instead of using syrup to top these off, use a Cinnamon Sour Cream Topping and a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar.
  5. Combine 3 tablespoons of sugar and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon (this makes cinnamon sugar). Sprinkle a tablespoon of cinnamon sugar equally over the two slices of toast. Add ¼ cup sour cream to the remaining Cinnamon Sugar to make Cinnamon Sour Cream and spoon on the top.

 

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Smoked Sausage Scramble

Smoked Sausage Scramble is a tasty meal for the entire family

Smoked Sausage Scramble is a tasty meal for the entire family

Meals in our house tend to be a combination of ingredients put together because they are foods that we enjoy thus the creation of Smoked Sausage Scramble.

What may start out as a simple dish of fried potatoes quickly evolves into a full meal with savory results.

I began by washing and drying 4 medium potatoes. I then diced them into 1/4-inch cubes leaving the skins on. The potatoes were placed in a hot skillet with about 1/4 cup Canola oil (enough to completely cover the potatoes) and fried on medium high until they were golden brown tossing occasionally to make sure all sides were brown. I added 1/4 teaspoon of Lawry’s Garlic Salt over the potatoes as they cooked Depending on your stove’s temperature, this should take about 10 minutes.

While the potatoes cooked, I removed the casings from a pound of fully cooked smoked pork sausage and then I diced them into 1/2-inch cubes.

Smoked pork sausage and potatoes cooking together

Smoked pork sausage and potatoes cooking together

When the potatoes were ready, I added the smoked sausage. This only needs to cook 2 to 3 minutes, just long enough to heat the sausage through as it’s already cooked. Next I added 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper, 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground kosher salt, 1 tablespoon minced garlic (I use Spice World), and 1/2 medium sweet onion (like Vidalia) finely chopped.

In a small bowl I mixed 4 large eggs, 1/4 cup milk, 1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh basil, 1 teaspoon chopped fresh oregano, and 1/4 cup sour cream.

When the sausage and potato mixture had cooked for that extra 2 to 3 minutes, I added the egg mixture, stirring to combine and then cooked until the egg was set (about 2 minutes).

When the egg was set, I removed the scramble from the heat. Placing it in plates, I topped the mixture with shredded sharp cheddar cheese (about 1/2 cup total) sprinkled over the top. Finishing off the dish, I added garlic toasted French bread as side.

Sometimes a side dish can quickly become a full meal if you just add the right ingredients. In the case of the Smoke Sausage Scramble, it was just ingredients that struck my taste buds that night.

Smoke sausages are quite versatile and can be adapted to enhance various dishes. Do you have a favorite smoked sausage recipe you’d like to tell us about?

Thanks for checking us out today!

Cucina Felice!

Smoked Sausage Scramble

Rating 

Serves: 4 servings

Smoked pork sausage cooked with potatoes, fresh herbs and spices makes a delicious dish
Ingredients
  • 4 medium potatoes, diced into ¼-inch cubes
  • 1 Pound fully cooked smoked pork sausage, remove casing, diced into ½-inch cubes
  • ¼ Cup Canola oil
  • ¼ Teaspoon Lawry's Garlic Salt
  • ¼ Teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
  • ¼ Teaspoon fresh ground kosher salt
  • ½ Medium sweet onion, finely chopped
  • 1 Tablespoon minced garlic
  • 4 Large eggs
  • ¼ Cup milk
  • ¼ Cup sour cream
  • ½ Teaspoon finely chopped fresh basil
  • 1 Teaspoon finely chopped fresh oregano
  • ½ Cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Instructions
  1. Wash and dry 4 medium potatoes. dice them into ¼-inch cubes leaving the skins on. Place the potatoes in a hot skillet with about ¼ cup Canola oil (enough to completely cover the potatoes) and fry on medium high until golden brown tossing occasionally to make sure all sides are brown. Add ¼ teaspoon of Lawry's Garlic Salt over the potatoes as they cook. Depending on your stove's temperature, this should take about 10 minutes.
  2. While the potatoes cook, removed the casings from a pound of fully cooked smoked pork sausage and dice into ½-inch cubes.
  3. When the potatoes were ready, add the smoked sausage. This only needs to cook 2 to 3 minutes, just long enough to heat the sausage through as it's already cooked. Next add ¼ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper, ¼ teaspoon fresh ground kosher salt, 1 tablespoon minced garlic, and ½ medium sweet onion (like Vidalia) finely chopped.
  4. In a small bowl, mix 4 large eggs, ¼ cup milk, ½ teaspoon chopped fresh basil, 1 teaspoon chopped fresh oregano, and ¼ cup sour cream.
  5. When the sausage and potato mixture has cooked for that extra 2 to 3 minutes, add the egg mixture, stirring to combine and then cook until the egg is set (about 2 minutes).
  6. When the egg is set, remove the scramble from the heat. Place it in plates, top the mixture with shredded sharp cheddar cheese (about ½ cup total) sprinkled over the top. Finish off the dish, add garlic toasted French bread as a side.

 

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Banana Johnnies for Breakfast

Banana Johnnies make a tasty alternative to traditional pancakes for breakfast

Banana Johnnies make a tasty alternative to traditional pancakes

Have you ever gotten up in the morning with the taste for pancakes for breakfast only to find you don’t have any pancake mix or any other ingredients to make traditional pancakes in your kitchen?

Well, I have an alternative recipe you can make that might just hit the spot. It’s simple and has a nice sweet taste all on its own without even adding syrup. I call it Banana Johnnies.

The secret ingredient is a ripe banana. This gives you the sweetness without having to add a lot of sugar or syrup.

I begin by peeling the banana, putting it in a bowl and mashing it up with a fork. Next, add 3 tablespoons of sugar, 1 large egg, 1/2 cup of sweet milk (I use whole) and a 1/2 teaspoon vanilla flavoring. I mix this together and then add the twist to the traditional pancake mix – 1 cup self-rising corn meal mix. That’s right, I’m using corn meal mix instead of flour or a Bisquick mix. Combining the corn meal mix with the banana mixture, I make sure it’s well incorporated.

I heat up a non-stick skillet on medium high and add about a tablespoon of Canola oil to cook the Johnnies in.

When the pan is hot, I carefully spoon the pancake batter into the skillet. You can make the pancakes any size you want. This can also be cooked on a griddle, if you prefer.

Banana Johnnies are sweet and good for breakfast

Adding a banana makes these pancakes sweet on their own

I cook the pancakes for about 2 to 3 minutes until they’re golden brown and not coming apart when I lift an edge up. Then I flip them over and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes on that side until it is golden brown.

I serve them hot right out of the skillet with a tab of butter on top. The pancakes have just a hint of sweetness on their own from the banana. If you like your pancakes sweet, you may want to add a splash of syrup on top. This makes about 6 or 7 pancakes depending on the size you desire.

These are called Johnnies after the old-fashion Johnnycakes that use corn meal instead of flour. I remember eating Johnnycakes in my youth. In searching the web, I learned Johnnycake is prepared from Newfoundland to Jamaica. New England cuisine still features a modern Johnnycake, while in the South (where I live) the cakes are sometimes referred to as hoecakes. To find out more about Johnnycakes, click HERE.

Have you eaten Johnnycakes before? Are they called something else where you live? Okay, now what’s your favorite item to pair with pancakes?

Thanks for stopping by.

Cucina felice!

Banana Johnnies for Breakfast

Prep time: 

Cook time: 

Total time: 

Serves: 6 to 7 pancakes

This is a tasty alternative to traditional pancakes.
Ingredients
  • 1 Banana, ripe
  • ½ Cup Milk
  • 3 Tablespoons sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon Canola oil
  • 1 Large egg
  • ½ Teaspoon vanilla flavoring
  • 1 Cup self-rising corn meal mix
Instructions
  1. Peel the banana, place in a bowl and mash with a fork. Add 3 tablespoons sugar, 1 large egg, ½ cup of milk, and ½ teaspoon vanilla flavoring. Mix well and add the twist to the traditional pancake recipe - 1 cup self-rising corn meal mix. Combine the corn meal mix with the banana mixture making sure to incorporate all the ingredients well.
  2. Heat a non-stick skillet on medium high. Add 1 tablespoon Canola oil and when the skillet is hot carefully spoon the batter into the skillet making them the desired size you want. This batter can also be cooked on a griddle.
  3. Cook the pancakes for about 2 to 3 minutes or until you can lift the edges without them coming apart and they are golden brown. Flip pancakes and cook 2 to 3 minutes on the other side until golden brown.
  4. Remove from pan. Add butter on top, if desired. These pancakes will be a bit sweet on their own so you may want to try them before pouring syrup over them.

 

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Popeye the Sailor Muffins

Delicious breakfast dish includes spinach

Delicious breakfast dish includes spinach

One ingredient that probably doesn’t quickly come to mind when you think of breakfast is spinach, unless of course you’re Popeye the Sailor.

Am I right? Tell your family they’re having spinach for breakfast and I don’t think you’ll get a lot of “Oh, yummy!” or “Can’t wait” replies from them.

Its how you present the spinach and what you prepare it with that’ll make the difference. In fact, this dish can be served for any meal of the day (or night). That’s just one of the reasons it’s enjoyed so in our house. We call it Popeye the Sailor Muffins because it features fresh spinach, a favorite of the cartoon character from our youth.

First I began by seeding and finely dicing 2 Roma tomatoes, then I took 6 slices of deli-style ham (I used Buddig Original Ham) and julienned it. I put 1 tablespoon of butter (you can also use margarine) and 1 tablespoon of Canola oil in a skillet on medium heat. Once the skillet was hot, I put the tomatoes and ham in, stirred it about and reduced the temperature down to medium low. I added a couple of turns of fresh ground black pepper and kosher salt. You can season to your taste.

While that was cooking, I julienned 1/3 cup of fresh spinach and finely chopped 1 tablespoon of fresh oregano and 1 tablespoon of green onion tops. It makes the recipe go smoother if you prepare all your ingredients before you start cooking. Since I decided on new ingredients as I cooked, I chopped and julienned as I went.

All the ingredients come together in a creamy mixture

All the ingredients come together in a creamy mixture

I added the spinach, oregano and onions to the tomato mixture and cooked for a couple of minutes more. Taking another skillet, I added a splash of Canola oil (about 1 tablespoon) and browned the halves of 3 English muffins.

I went back to the tomato mixture and added 1 cup of cottage cheese, stirring it in.

I had some of the julienned spinach leftover (about 2 tablespoons) so I sprinkled it over the English muffin halves (putting 3 halves to a plate). I topped that with the tomato mixture and sprinkled shredded Mexican Blend cheese over all of that.

The cottage cheese and the tomatoes blend together creating a creamy, smooth texture similar to melted Velveeta cheese. The ingredients come together in a burst of flavor and you forget you’re eating spinach for breakfast.

This dish, like many others, is very versatile and can be made using additional or less ingredients as you desire. As I mentioned earlier, it can also be served for any meal of the day.

Do you enjoy dishes that can be adapted for any meal of the day? Do you enjoy preparing dishes that work just as well with or without additional ingredients depending on your taste at the time?

Thanks for stopping by.

Cucina Felice!

Popeye the Sailor Muffins

Rating 

Serves: 2-3 servings

A delicious way to introduce spinach into your breakfast without a lot of fuss
Ingredients
  • 2 Roma tomatoes, seeded and diced
  • 2 Tablespoons Canola oil
  • 1 Tablespoon butter
  • 6 Slices deli-style ham
  • ⅓ Cup julienne spinach (+ 2 tablespoons)
  • 1 Tablespoon fresh minced oregano
  • 1 Tablespoon fresh finely chopped green onion tops
  • 3 English Muffins
  • 1 Cup cottage cheese
  • Shredded Mexican Blend cheese to sprinkle on top (optional)
  • Fresh ground black pepper (to taste)
  • Fresh ground Kosher salt (to taste)
Instructions
  1. Begin by seeding and finely dicing 2 Roma tomatoes, then julienne 6 slices of deli-style ham. Put 1 tablespoon of butter (or margarine) and 1 tablespoon of Canola oil in a skillet on medium heat. Once the skillet is hot, add the tomatoes and ham, stirring and reduce the temperature to medium low. Add a couple of turns of fresh ground black pepper and fresh ground kosher salt seasoning to your taste.
  2. While that cooks, julienne ⅓ cup (plus 2 tablespoons) of fresh spinach and finely chopped 1 tablespoon of fresh oregano and 1 tablespoon of green onion tops. It makes the recipe go smoother if you prepare all your ingredients before you start cooking.
  3. Add the spinach, oregano and onions to the tomato mixture and cook for a couple of minutes more. Taking another skillet, add a splash of Canola oil (about 1 tablespoon) and browned the halves of 3 English muffins.
  4. Go back to the tomato mixture and add 1 cup of cottage cheese, stirring it in.
  5. Sprinkle the 2 tablespoons of julienned spinach over the browned English muffin halves. You can serve it for 2 with 3 halves each or for 3 with 2 halves each. Top that with the tomato mixture and sprinkled shredded Mexican Blend cheese over all of that.
  6. The cottage cheese and the tomatoes blend together creating a creamy, smooth texture similar to melted Velveeta cheese. The ingredients come together in a burst of flavor and you forget you're eating spinach for breakfast.

 

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