Tag Archives: breakfast

Banana Buttermilk Waffles with Strawberries and Pecans

 

Given the choice between pancakes, waffles or crepes, I’ll take waffles any day! I love a waffle that’s crispy on the outside and moist on the inside, then topped with fresh fruit, nuts and warm maple syrup.  This banana buttermilk waffle recipe has been my “go to” recipe for years, but recently I have made a change in the flours that has taken something quite good and made it even better. The recipe uses an overripe banana in place of any oil or butter. I also use buttermilk to add more flavor and texture. A variety of toppings can be used so be sure to read the Kitchen Notes for suggestions.

My first waffle iron was one I inherited from my great aunt back in ’76. It was one of those heavy electric cast-iron waffle irons that produced a PERFECT waffle every single time. Unfortunately, I only had it for 15 years before it bit the dust.  Not bad for a kitchen appliance that was probably purchased in the 50′s! It took me about 5 years and 3 different waffle irons to find another one that came close to the waffles that my aunt’s made, but I finally found one that works. I use a Krups, 4-square Belgian waffle maker and love it! (No, I was not paid to say that. :) )

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Huevos Rancheros

Ranch eggs - Huevos Rancheros with New Mexico Red Chile Sauce

Here in New Mexico Huevos Rancheros are eaten as much as enchiladas, tamales and sopapillas.  One can find them on the menu of any New Mexican restaurant, and can order them any time of the day. In my house I can’t say “huevos rancheros” without having the intention of making them.  They make a great weekend brunch and do get made quite often.

Huevos Rancheros or ranch-style eggs are very easy to make and can be made pretty much any way you want.  Ours are pretty simple: Fried eggs served on top of warm corn tortillas with a side of beans, topped with New Mexico Red Chile Sauce.  If I don’t have beans, I’ll make hashbrowns which we enjoy just as much.  Here is my huevos rancheros recipe. I provide some variations and substitutions in the Kitchen Notes, so be sure to check them out.

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Thanksgiving Granola

When I started making my own granola a couple of years ago this was the first granola I made.  It came together because it was late in the year and I had a freezer full of pecans and huge bag of craisins.  I have to admit that I haven’t made another granola that I enjoy as much as this one.

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Christmas – Red and Green

As mentioned in my previous post – Red or Green?, when you want both red and green chile on your order all you have to say is “Christmas”.  My favorite way to have Christmas is to put red chile on one item and green chile on another and that’s how I prepare  my Christmas breakfast.

My Christmas breakfast consists of scrambled eggs topped with chopped green chile, Mexican chorizo and onion with red chile sauce, and a flour tortilla. Sometimes I’ll add a side of black beans topped with, of course, red chile. It’s a simple breakfast, hardy and packed full of protein. Great for any day of the week, any time of the year.

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What’s in Your Quesadilla?

Quesadillas with pico de gallo

In this kitchen we call it a quesadillas anytime we fold one or more ingredients in a flour tortilla or between two corn tortillas, and heat until brown and crispy. Just about anything can be used to make a quesadilla, but more on that later. All in all quesadillas are so quick and easy to throw together making them perfect for a fast breakfast, lunch or supper – for one person, two people, a family or a party. They can actually be somewhat healthy depending on the ingredients you use, or more importantly – the ingredients you leave out.

So what’s in your quesadillas? Please share with us your favorite quesadilla recipe or provide a link to your favorite.  Following are two of my old stand-by quesadilla recipes.

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Just Start with Rolled Oats

Bowl of granola with walnuts, raisins and coconut

Great! The day I choose to post one of my granola recipes, Yahoo posts a story that suggests replacing your granola with high-fiber cereal to cut calories.  Just great!  Why would it suggest such a thing? Well… Because granola can be high in calories and fat, trans fat, and sugars.  This is especially true for many of the pre-packaged granolas that we buy off the shelf.  So what is a granola lover to do?  As is true with many things that are said to be “unhealthy” — make your own.

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Cornmeal Ricotta Pancakes

Cornmeal ricotta pancakes with bananas and strawberries

Sometimes missing the main ingredient for a dish leads to something even better.  That was the case with these pancakes.  I woke up one Saturday morning with a craving for buttermilk pancakes but no buttermilk.  In the dark recesses of the refrigerator I did have some ricotta cheese that needed to be used, so I decided to substitute the buttermilk with ricotta. But you know how it goes; once you substitute one ingredient it opens the recipe up for substituting other ingredients.  Eventually you end up with a completely different recipe.  Man, I’m glad I didn’t have any buttermilk!

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Eggs Over Easy

There’s nothing like topping a dish with an egg and using its runny yolk to flavor and sauce the dish.  However, I know from experience that getting that perfect over easy egg every time is not that easy.  One of the things that I’ve learned through the years is that it’s not always the technique.  Sometimes it’s the egg.  The best eggs – for many reasons – are good, quality eggs, like free range eggs.  The shells and yolks are strong and healthy and the yolk and whites slip easily from the shell into the pan.  I have found that if the shell is thin, the yolk’s casing is thin and the yolk breaks easily.

Basket of free range eggs

Barbara’s free range eggs

 

When a friend’s free range hens are laying, she provides me with some of the best eggs I’ve ever had -  thick shells and huge, rich orange yolks.  They are perfect for eggs over easy.   That’s why I save her eggs to top off enchiladas, pileups, and pastas, and for breakfasts like bacon and eggs, and huevos rancheros.

So how do you cook the perfect over easy egg?  First – start with a quality egg.  Next, use a good non-stick, clean pan (no bacon bits stuck to the bottom), a plastic spatula, and a little butter, margarine or oil – your choice.

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