Buttermilk Biscuits

Biscuits are super yummy.  

Especially when you make them into squares.  

Because square biscuits mean no waste!

What else does square biscuits mean?

They mean breakfasts sandwiches!

Buttermilk Biscuits

Ingredients:

• 4 cups all purpose flour
• 4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, frozen
• 1 3/4 cups cold buttermilk

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 450F.
2. In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda.  
3. Grate the frozen butter and stir into the flour mixture.  
4. Add buttermilk and stir using a rubber spatula until a soft dough forms.  
5. Working on a flour surface, knead the dough until it comes together.  Roll the dough in a square until about 1 inch thick.  Using a sharp knife cut the dough.  Please biscuits onto a baking sheet with parchment paper.  
6. Bake for 16-19 minutes or until golden brown.  
7. Serve warm

This recipe is so easy that Baby Girl did most of the work.  That is how easy these biscuits are.  

Keep cooking friends!

XOXO

Buttermilk Biscuits

I love everything about breakfast.  There are so many combinations and foods to make.  Biscuits is always something that I wanted to learn how to make.  These biscuits are super yummy and pretty easy to make.  

The key to these biscuits is frozen shredded butter.  It makes everything so much easier.  

These biscuits are super fluffy and yummy.  

Buttermilk Biscuits

Ingredients:

• 4 cups all purpose flour
• 4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, frozen
• 1 3/4 cups cold buttermilk

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 450F.
2. In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda.  
3. Grate the frozen butter and stir into the flour mixture.  
4. Add buttermilk and stir using a rubber spatula until a soft dough forms.  
5. Working on a flour surface, knead the dough until it comes together.  Roll the dough in a square until about 1 inch thick.  Using a sharp knife cut the dough.  Please biscuits onto a baking sheet with parchment paper.  
6. Bake for 16-19 minutes or until golden brown.  
7. Serve warm

The hardest part about making these biscuits is remembering to put butter in the freezer to make them.  Make these.  They are perfect for breakfast sandwiches.  

Keep cooking friends!

XOXO

Pancakes

Breakfast is a favorite in our house.  There is just so many possibilities when it comes to pancakes.  

El Husbee and I try not to eat too many carbs.  But when Baby Girl asks for pancakes its's hard to say no.  

These pancakes do really well in the fridge too.  I can make a batch over the weekend and save half for breakfast during the week.  

Pancakes

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1 3/4 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 3 tablespoons butter, melted
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract

Directions:

1. Heat a griddle to 350
2. Mix the flour, sugar, baking powder,  and salt.  (I use big heaping tablespoons of sugar)
3. In a separate bowl, mix the milk, butter, eggs, vanilla and almond extract.  
4. Pour the liquid mixture into the dry mixture and mix until combined.  Do not over mix.  
5. Pour about 1/4 cup batter for each pancake.  

Love this easy pancake recipe.  All ingredients are staple pantry items.  I have to say this is my favorite pancake recipe without buttermilk.  If you don't have almond extract you can leave it out.  But I like the extract flavor that the almond extract gives.  

Keep cooking Friends!

XOXO

Sausage, Egg and Cheese Breakfast Roll up

El Husbee is in charge of Saturday breakfast and I am usually in charge of Sunday breakfast.  Coming up with different things to eat for breakfast is not as easy as you would image.  On Sunday I decided to make these sausage, egg and cheese breakfast roll ups.  Because we like hot breakfast at this house. 

These roll ups were super easy and I made them while El Husbee and Baby Girl watched Elena for Alvalor. 

This breakfast was approved by El Husbee and  Baby Girl. 

Sausage, Egg and Cheese Breakfast Roll Up

Ingredients:

3 eggs

1 can Pillsbury refrigerated crescent dinner rolls

8 fully cooked breakfast sausage links

4 slices cheddar cheese

sale and pepper to taste

Directions:

1)  Heat oven to 350F.  Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper. 

2)  Beat eggs.  Reserve 1 tablespoon beaten eggs to brushing on tops of crescent rolls.  Scramble remaining eggs.  Salt and pepper eggs to taste. 

3)  Cook/heat sausage as directed on package. 

4)  Unroll dough and separate into 8 triangles.  Cut cheese slices in half and place half on each triangle.  Top each with a spoonful of scrambled eggs and 1 sausage link.  Loosely roll up triangles as directed on can.  Place on baking sheet.

5)  Brush reserved beaten egg on top of each crescent. 

6)  Bake 15 minutes or until golden brown. 

These were a hit on Sunday.  Baby Girl ate his and kept saying yummy.  Well except for the sausage part.  I think she is a bacon kind of girl.  El Husbee ate 2.  I think next time I will make some with bacon to make Baby Girl happy.  I packed the leftovers for breakfast for the weekday. 

Keep cooking good food!

XOXO

Blueberry Pancakes

Blueberries were on sale.  So of course I had to get some because they are Baby Girl's favorite snack.  So ... of course after I bought them she refused to eat them.  Of course.  Motherhood is awesome.  Kids are awesome. 

So with all my blueberries I decided to make blueberry pancakes. 

I thought about what to make with the blueberries for a long time at work.  Because I was for sure not going to waste them just because Baby Girl is on a blueberry strike.  Also, because I refuse to throw food away unless it has mold on it. 

These blueberry pancakes came out amazing.  We had breakfast for dinner.  Don't worry.  Baby Girl refused to eat the blueberry pancakes and continued her blueberry strike.  Oh well.  El Husbee and I enjoyed these pancakes.  My favorite part might be the maple syrup in these pancakes.  Gives the pancakes good punch.  You can even eat them without syrup with just butter. 

Blueberry Pancakes

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 cup vanilla yogurt
• 1 and 1/4 cups whole milk
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 and 3/4 cups fresh blueberries

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon together until combined.  Set aside
2. In another large bowl, whisk the yogurt, milk, maple syrup, eggs and vanilla until combined.  Whisk in the vegetable oil. 
3. Pour the wet mixture into the dry mixture and whisk to combine.  The batter is thick and lumps are okay.  Fold in blueberries gently. 
4. Heat pan over medium heat.  Coat with non stick spray.  Once hot, drop 1/4 cup of batter on the griddle.  Cook until edges look dry and center is bubbly.  Flip and cook on the other side. 
5. Keep pancakes warm in a preheated 200F degree oven until all pancakes are cooked.  Serve pancakes immediately with toppings of choice. 

I think I might try whole wheat flour next time.  But this batter is super yummy and easy to whip up.  And honestly not that much more time than the box version.  But so much more tastier than the box version. 

Keep cooking and baking friends!

XOXO

Biscoff Banana Bread

If you have never had a biscoff cookie then you are missing out.  They are delicious!  I had my first one on a plane ride to San Diego.  So good! I did a little research and apparently biscoff cookies are European and were made popular as inflight snacks. 

Biscoff cookies are crunchy with a caramelized flavor.  I normally prefer soft cookies but I will make a exception for biscoff cookies.    When I saw a jar of biscoff spread at the grocery store I knew I had to get it.  So good on a bagel.  The biscoff spread is also a great substitute for peanut butter. 

Biscoff Banana Bread
From Kirbie's Cravings

Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 eggs
3 ripe bananas, mashed
1 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 teaspoons baking soda
2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 cup biscoff spread

Directions:
1.  Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.  Grease four 6x2 inch mini loaf pans
2.  In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar.
3.  Blend in eggs, mashed bananas, sour cream, and vanilla extract.
4.  Mix salt, baking soda, cinnamon, and flour.
5.  Pour half of dry mixture into butter mixture.  Put half of biscoff spread into batter.  Use remaining dry mixture.  Put the other half of biscoff spread into batter.
6.  Divide into prepared pans.
7.  Bake for 30-35 minutes, until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

The taste of biscoff is very light in this bread but yet just right.  However, the smell of this bread is a-maz-a-balls!  When baking the whole house fills with cinnamon, biscoff, and banana. You can spread a little butter on the bread or some biscoff spread would work too.  I prefer to eat the bread plain. 

I shared these at a Tzu Chi meeting and by the end of the meeting I did not see any left on the plate.  I usually judge a recipe's success on how much is leftover and if people choose to take the leftover.

It's a new year so try new things!

XOXO

Hash House A Go Go

El Hubby and I have a really good friend that has moved to San Diego.  He was basically our eating buddy.

It took about a year but El Hubby and I finally made it to visit him in San Diego.  The very first place we went to when we arrived in San Diego was eat at Hash House A Go Go.  The portions at this place are huge.  Oh and when I mean huge I am not exaggerating.  I swear El Hubby's plate took up 1/4 our our table.

I had one of the house hashes that had fresh mushroom, artichoke hearts, sundried tomato, and fresh spinach.  This was very yummy.  Oh and they did not skimp on any of the ingredients.  However, I think my favorite part was the biscuit.  It was nice, fluffy, flakey, and melt in your mouth.  Oh and then there was the house jam.  I don't know what it was exactly but it was amazing.  We talked about me stealing the jar in my purse.  Don't worry!  We left the jam on the table.

El Hubby and our friend, Cheng, enjoyed a mimosa at breakfast.  The boys claimed that it's vacation so drinking at 10am in the morning is okay. 

The portions are seriously big here.  I saw a lot of couples share a plate.  However, the only child in me hates sharing so there was no way that was happening.  You definitely get your bang for your buck at this place.  There are a lot of items on the menu to try.

Hash House A Go Go
3628 5th Avenue
San Diego, CA 92103
(619) 298-4646

 Khloe the pup is always down to play.  However, El Hubby and I do not always feel the same.  The poor pup lives a hard life. 

Good food is best shared with good friends!

XOXO

Banana, Raisin and Apple Bread

I am always trying to find recipes that my Asian family and friends will like.  Not that I don't care about my other friends but lets be honest the Asians are more critical.  Especially when it comes to dessert or anything sweet.  The Asians like to complain a lot about if something is "too sweet".  So finding something sweet to satisfy these people can be really hard.

The banana, raisin and apple bread was pretty easy to make.  I will be honest.  The recipe originally called for dried cranberries but I was out (El Hubby has been eating oatmeal in the morning and apparently used up all the dried cranberries) so I substituted with raisins. 

This bread turned out amazing.  Seriously.  I brought it to Tzu Chi on Sunday and I came home with a empty container.  The Asian people all seemed very happy.  I think the only thing I would have to comment on is that the raisin kinda sunk to the bottom.  So I guess I need to save some flour to sprinkle on them next time to prevent all the raisin form sinking to the bottom.

Banana, raisin and apple bread
Adapted from Anncoo Journal

Ingredients:
1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/2 + 2 tablespoon vegetable oil
4 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup raisins
1 apple, grated
3 large bananas, mashed

Directions:
1.  Preheat oven to 360 degrees and grease a mini loaf pan
2.  Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and sugar.  Mix well and set aside.
3.  Combine eggs, milk, oil, vanilla extract, grated apple, and mashed bananas.  Mix well.
4.  Add in the dry ingredients into the wet mixture.  Mix until combined.
5.  Add in raisins.
6.  Pour into prepared baking pan.  Bake for about 45 minutes.

Bake this bread friends.  I promise it is worth it.  I would not classify this as a dessert.  But it passes with flying colors for breakfast, brunch, or snack.

The pup loves her biscuits.  It's one of the few words she knows and knows well.

Keep baking friends!

XOXO

Banana Coconut Chocolate Chip Muffins

I know I have been on a muffin crazy but I have a really good reason.  I have had to turn my break recipes to muffins because I keep burning my breads.  I don't know if it's my pan, oven, greasing too much or too little, or not putting a sheet of parchment paper oven my bread early enough.  What ever the reason is I keep getting burned bread with a raw center.  So instead of being frustrated and I have been turning everything into a muffin.  Which works just as well.

A friend of mine has recently asked if she can still use my recipes if she doesn't have wheat flour.  Of course!  I only substitute wheat flour to try to make things healthier.  If you don't have wheat flour go ahead and use all purpose flour.

So this will probably be the last banana recipe for a while.  I think.  I have used the last of my ripe bananas.  I think. 

Banana Coconut Chocolate Chip Muffins
Adapted from Taste Food

Ingredients:
3 large very ripe bananas
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
3 eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 cups all purpose flour
1 tablespoon wheat germ
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup shredded coconut, plus extra for sprinkling
1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

Directions:
1.  Preheat oven to 350F.  Spray muffin pan with vegetable oil
2.  Mix bananas and brown sugar in a bowl until smooth.
3.  Add eggs one at a time.
4.  Mix in vegetable oil, vanilla extract and cinnamon until well combined.
5.  Whisk flour, wheat germ, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a separate bowl.
6.  Mix in dry ingredients with banana mixture.  Do not over mix.
7.  Add coconut and chocolate chips by hand.
8.  Use a ice cream scooper to scoop batter into greased muffin pans.
9.  Sprinkle additional coconut and chocolate chip on top
10.  Bake for about 20 minutes.
11.  Remove from oven and cool on rack for about 10 minutes.
12.  Remove muffins from pan and cool completely.

This banana recipe is a get-out-the-butter and put on some sweat pants kind of muffin.  Now I hate coconut but this muffin was so good that I ate it any way.  That's how good the muffin is.   Go ahead.  Eat a muffin.  Eat 2.  Eat 3.  Eat 4.  Heck eat as many as you want since you have your sweat pants on.  Just go for a nice long run/jog after.  Of course after your run/job eat another muffin for sustenance.

I am pretty sure my pup thinks she is a princess.  She is probably the most dramatic dog I know.  My husband says she learned it from me.  I don't even know if that is even possible.  Khloe jumps on the bed and sleeps like she belongs there.  Oh and the face she gives me if I attempt to move her.

Oh and what do I wake up to in the morning?  A Kong tennis ball in my bed!  I complain but I love my pup.  At least I know why I have back problems.  It's all the tennis balls in my bed!

XOXO

White Choclate Pecan Banana Muffins

So I made these muffins awhile ago and they were so good but I did not get a chance to take a picture of it and got discouraged to blog about a recipe with no picture.  Oh and I took the muffins to a pot luck at cultivation therefore a angry husband.  Then there was the 2nd time I made them on memorial weekend.  However this time around I disappointed my husband again by taking them all to my parents.  I am really a pretty bad wife if you ask my husband.  Apparently he work up ate a muffin for breakfast and by the time he got home from work they were all gone. 

These muffins are awesome.  Really, they are scrumptious.  I am not sure if it is the amazing banana recipe or if it is the white chocolate but either way the recipe is a keeper.

Ingredients:

1 cup all purpose flour

2/3 cup wheat flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

3 medium or 2 large very ripe bananas, mashed

2/3 cup white sugar

1/3 cup of vegetable oil

2 large eggs 

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup white chocolate chips

3/4 cup chopped pecans

Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2.  Spray a muffin pan with cooking spray

3.  Mash bananas

4.  Add sugar to bananas and mix until well combined

5.  Add oil, eggs, and vanilla to banana mixture until well combined

6.  In a separate bowl whisk flour, baking powder, salt, baking soda, and spices

7.  Add flour to banana mixture until just incorporated.  DO NOT OVERMIX

8.  Mix in white chocolate chips and pecans

9.  Use a ice cream scoop and scoop into muffin pan

10.  Bake for 20 minutes 

11.  Allow muffins to cool in pan for about 5 minutes before transferring to cooking rack

If you are like my family ripe bananas are hard to come by.  But if you happen to have some this recipe is a must!

PS.  I need to find ripe bananas again to make up for giving away my husband's muffins twice now.

Enjoy!

XOXO

Hashbrown Breakfast Casserole

Now I always need something sweet and something savory during brunch. I know I am weird. So no brunch would be complete without a breakfast casserole. After all, when you are entertaining what is easier than a casserole?

Ingredients:
1 package frozen hashbrowns
8 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup sliced mushrooms
1 cup diced ham
1/4 cup diced green onions
1 1/2 cup of shredded cheese
Pappy's seasoning

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2. Mix egg with some Pappy's seasoning salt. I used about 2 shakes. Then I poured the eggs over the hashbrowns and mixed. Then flatten the hashbrowns into a 9x13 pan. Spraying the pan with some cooking spray is helpful for serving. I sprinkled a little bit more Pappy's seasoning. Bake for about 20 minutes or until hashbrowns are golden brown.

3. While hashbrowns are cooking dice up some ham.

4. Slice mushrooms.

5. Crack and beat remaining 7 eggs with milk. Then add mushrooms, ham, green onions, and cheese. Mix until combined.

6. Pour egg mixture on top of hashbrowns and bake for about 15-20 minutes. Slice in squares and serve.

This casserole hits the spot. I mean, who can complain about hashbrowns with ham and egg? I know I can't! Oh and this is just ask yummy as a leftover for lunch. The dish that just keeps on giving.

Enjoy!

XOXO

Angel Food Cake French Toast

I grew up with a family that always made more than you can eat for the holidays. It's no surprise that now that I am older that is how I cook too. Plus, leftovers are always good for when you are too lazy to cook.

For Mother's Day I decided to make some french toast since I have not made french toast since I was a kid. This recipe is a little different from others since instead of bread you use angel food cake. That's right! I said angel food cake. I am normally not a french toast kind of girl because it's just doesn't seem worth it to load up on all that bread when there are other things to eat. However, this recipe is so light and fluffy that you can eat 1, 2, or maybe 4 pieces! Muahahah!

Ingredients:
1 7-8 inch angel food cake
6 eggs, lightly beaten
1 1/2 cups milk
3 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Cooking spray
whipped cream
maple syrup
cup up strawberries or any berries

Directions:
1. Turn on electric griddle to 300 degrees

2. Slice the angel food cake into 10 to 12 1-inch wedges.

3. Whisk together eggs, milk, sugar, and vanilla.

4. Soak wedges in egg mixture for 1 minute per side. (If you have fragile slices soak for half teh time and make sure you have plenty of non stick spray)

5. Spray griddle with cooking spray and cook wedges for about 1 to 2 minutes per side until golden brown.

6. Serve with whipped cream, maple syrup, and berries.

Makes 4-5 servings.

I think my father in law ate the most pieces during brunch. Which is funny cause he is known not to like "sweet" things.

Enjoy!

XOXO

Bacon & Egg Toast Cups

So my dear friend Leslie sent me the most amazing recipe Friday night and of course I had to try it Saturday morning.

Ingredients:
Bacon
slice bread
cheese
eggs
salt & pepper

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 Degrees F. Spray muffin pan with Pam and set aside.

Bake 12 slices of bacon for 10 minutes on a cookie sheet. Don't over cook bacon because they will be cooked in the oven again later. Transfer to a paper towel lined plate and dab out as much oil as possible (or if your waistline can afford the extra weight leave the oil).

Cut circles out of sliced bread to fit the bottom of muffin pan.

Wrap a slice of bacon around a bread round and place in muffin pan. It should look like a cup. Repeat. Sprinkle a small amount of shredded cheese in the center of each piece of bread. Crack one egg over each piece of bread. Be careful not to break egg yolk. You may not want to use all the egg white. This can be saved to make some scrabble egg (which I feed to my dog. Oops I am that dog owner).

Bake until eggs are cooked through to your liking. I baked mine for about 15 minutes. The bacon egg cups should pop right out of the muffin pan. If not, use a knife around the edges.

I apologize for the bad picture. These bacon cups were just too yummy and where almost eaten before I realized a picture had not been taken. The husband loved them so much that he requested they be made for Christmas brunch.

Enjoy!

XOXO