May 26, 2011

Breakfast for Wine Weekend Part 2

Because I don't plan on stopping till I get enough, we need to start each morning out with a wholesome filling breakfast.  The number of wineries located on Seneca Lake are ridiculous (I believe there are over 70!), and I can't quit after the second one because I didn't eat enough in the morning.  
My days at work have been filled with not only actually doing my job, but picking out the very best and tasty recipes for next weekend's jaunt.

After one morning of cheesecake pancakes (please see yesterday's post), another filling (and not so healthy treat) would be stuffed french toast.  Just when french toast couldn't get yummier, you stuff it with Nutella, bananas, or strawberries and your life has changed for the better.  

Nutella Stuffed French Toast ( I apologize no picture -but we haven't made it yet!)
Ingredients:
2 slices of bread
* nutella
1 egg
1/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
a pinch of salt
1 teaspoon butter
1 tablespoon powdered sugar

Directions:
1. Spread nutella on one slice of bread and make a sandwich.
2. Mix the egg, milk, vanilla and salt.
3. Dip both sides of the sandwich into the egg mixture.
4. Melt the butter in a pan.
5. Cook the sandwich in the pan until it is golden brown on both sides, about 1-2 minutes per side.
6. Top with powdered sugar.
Easy peasy. 

What else can you stuff into French Toast? 
From Mama Seasonings



1 Loaf, day old, french bread (Challah bread is divine too)
Butter to coat pan

1 16 oz pkg of Marscarpone Cheese (or cream cheese)
1 tsp of sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tiny pinch of salt

6-8 Eggs
1/4 c Milk
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp Vanilla
1/4 tsp Nutmeg

Powdered Sugar
Berry Mixture (optional)
Vanilla Ice cream (optional)

Let cheese come to room temperature. With a spatula, mix together cheese, sugar, cinnamon and salt.

Next whisk eggs and add milk, cinnamon, vanilla, and nutmeg. Whisk a little more until a froth, or bubbles, begins to form and all ingredients are combined thoroughly.

Slice bread, on the diagonal for a nicer presentation, about 2-2 1/2" thick. Cut a small slit 3/4 of the way through the bread and about 2" wide. With a butter knife, take about 1 T of the cheese mixture and spread evenly inside bread.

Heat skillet to Medium heat and add butter.
Dredge bread in egg mixture on both sides evenly and place in pan. Cook until the bread is a light golden color.

Serve with fresh berries and sift powdered sugar on top. For a dessert treat, serve warm with Vanilla Ice cream and/or Chocolate sauce.
 

This recipe seems easy enough for me, and definitely falls into the Desserty breakfast category.
Counting down the days till these are in my belly!  

Have a great weekend!!


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May 25, 2011

Menu Planning Take 452

Our favorite line when Little asks for something: "You going to pay for that with your good looks?" Sometimes, we go out to eat, but if we went out as often as Little asks, we would be in debt to Applebees. Menu Planning allows us to work with our budget, and to plan some fun meals.

This week's Menu(What's left of the week!):
Slow Cooked Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Baja Egg Sandwich with Avocado
Mashed Avocado Sandwich

Raspberry and Hazelnut Bars

I will end this post with I love avocado. I am obsessed. If my husband comments on this post, he will verify. Gone off the deep end with avocado talk.  



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Please find me a couple to snack with



Not that I am lonely, but two is always better than one.  When it comes to snacking I mean.

Two snacks are always more endearing than one - and what if they hardly added calories to your diet? Even better!  What can you add to your tasty cold ice cream to make it even more delicious?!

Breyers, when on sale (because I refuse to pay 4.99 for anything that will go straight to my hips, but I will let it go for 1.99, compliments my evenings.  I am always drawn to the "bad" ice creams - the ones with all the glitz and glam.  I like chopped nuts, broken cookies, crumbs, and drizzle in my ice cream.  None of this plain crap.  BUT wait.

Breyer's Double Churn Fat Free Ice cream mixed with Reddi Whip Fat free - for under 100 calories, I can afford to toss an oreo (reduced fat) in there and make my own blender.

What about Breyer's Loaded Cookie and Cream ice cream and strawberry jam/sugar free? Have you tried this combo? What are you waiting for????

What about floats? I haven't had one in ages...and I am getting the hankering...but all that carbination....burp central. What if a Dr.Pepper float? Let's try Fat free low sugar garbage Dr. Pepper and Breyer's Slow Churn light and creamy vanilla.


I have snacks on the brain....and that's all I can think of now - anything and everything having to do with ice cream :)

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The Countdown has begun!

 It is less than 30 days till I am 30! I couldn't be happier how I am celebrating :)  With a few close friends/family, we are renting a house in the Finger Lakes for a long weekend and enjoying great company and tasty wines for four days. 
To help prepare for the weekend, I am starting to think about what good eats we will have. Since we planned out a few quick recipes, I figured I would showcase them to you, my loving reader. 

Breakfast in Your Belly #1
My loving husband is making breakfast every morning.  These are the items he plans on tackling! Yum YUM. 

Strawberry Cheesecake Pancakes

1 package (8 oz) cream cheese
2 cups Original Bisquick® mix
1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup sugar
1 cup milk
2 eggs
Strawberry Syrup
1 cup sliced fresh strawberries
1/2 cup strawberry syrup for pancakes
This is the easier version, because Mr. actually makes his own pancake mix (I haven't a clue). 
  1. 1 Slice cream cheese lengthwise into four pieces. Place on ungreased cookie sheet; cover and freeze 8 hours or overnight.
  2. 2 Brush griddle or skillet with vegetable oil, or spray with cooking spray; heat griddle to 375°F or heat skillet over medium heat.
  3. 3 Cut cream cheese into bite-size pieces; set aside. In large bowl, stir Bisquick mix, graham cracker crumbs, sugar, milk and eggs with whisk or fork until blended. Stir in cream cheese.
  4. 4 For each pancake, pour slightly less than 1/3 cup batter onto hot griddle. Cook until edges are dry. Turn; cook other sides until golden brown.
  5. 5 In small bowl, mix strawberries and syrup; top pancakes with strawberry mixture.
 



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May 11, 2011

Tofu Recipe - really?

Fettuccine Hungry Chick-fredo

In honor of Fettuccine Alfredo, I scoured the websites of the world to find a dish that is suitably and diet friendly.  How I love Italian food, but I don't love the wide waist it leaves behind.  Hungry Girl's whipped up yet another delicious and completely guilt-free Alfredo dish. A heaping bowl of creamy pasta with chicken has less than one-fifth the amount of calories of Macaroni Grill's version.

Check it out:

Ingredients:

1 package House Foods Tofu Shirataki noodles, Fettuccine Shape**

1 wedge The Laughing Cow cheese, Light Original Swiss  (I can't say enough good things!)

2 tsp. fat-free sour cream

2 tsp. reduced fat grated parmesan cheese

5 oz. skinless chicken breast; grilled with nonstick spray only
Optional: salt, pepper, and paprika


Directions:

Drain and rinse noodles well. Dry noodles thoroughly (use paper towels to soak up as much moisture as possible) and use a knife to slice them up a bit. Next, top noodles with both cheeses and fat-free sour cream, then microwave for one minute. Stir and microwave for one additional minute. Slice up chicken breast and add to pasta. For added zing, season to taste with salt, pepper, and paprika. Enjoy!

Serving Size: Entire recipe

Calories: 259

This recipe was found on Hungry Girl's website - please visit for more yummy recipes!

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May 08, 2011

Thank you on a sour note

Thank you husband for the breakfast in bed. Thank you for waking me up with my favorite egg meal - "Eggy in a hole" (heart-shaped), and saying Happy Mother's Day, though I have not carried a child for nine months. Thank you for recognizing that this holiday isn't just about the actual mother, but also those that care for the child day to day.

Thank you for the one good part of my day......because after I snarfed down my breakfast, my day turned from good to crap.....so thank you for the one and only highlight. (I will not get into my sour moments and will resist the urge to be Debbie Downer).

Happy Mother's Day to all  -but I am glad it is over. Let's get back to real life.


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