Tag: Breakfast Dishes

Blueberry Waffles for Brunch

Blueberry Waffles 30th July 2017

I have hankered after a waffle maker for some time now – and this weekend I finally bought one!

I did my due diligence online before heading to a store in; yes I could have ordered it to be delivered to my front door – but where is the fun in that! A girl has to look at it, feel it, chat to the shop assistant to hear about any feedback on the product and happily pack it in the car. 🙂

The waffle maker of my choice has a set of flat plates that can be switched in to toast a sandwich so I felt more than a little satisfied with my purchase; it really is two in one! Doesn’t that make this a smarter purchase? Well that is my story for the hubby and I’m sticking to it!

For my first foray into waffles I decided to go with a basic recipe. I had spent the day before at the Auckland Food Show and brought home a jar of Heilala Vanilla paste so this was the inspiration. I love using vanilla paste and value the exceptional taste this adds to any baking I do.

Here’s the list of ingredients and instructions on making your first sweet waffle…

Ingredients

  • 2 cups flour
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon mixed spice
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla essence (or Heilala Vanilla paste)
  • 1 1/4 cups milk
  • 6 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 2 eggs

Place ingredients in a large mixing bowl and combine until well mixed and smooth. Let batter rest for 5 minutes.

Pour 1 cup batter onto the centre of the waffle pan, spreading out the batter evenly with a spatula.

Close the cover of the waffle maker and set your timer for 4 minutes.

Open cover and gently remove the gorgeous deliciousness baked waffle!

Top with blueberry sauce (see recipe below), Greek yoghurt and a dusting of icing sugar.

Blueberry Sauce
2 cups frozen blueberries
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/4 cup sugar

Add all of the ingredients into a small pan over a low heat. Once the mixture starts to bubble, let it gently boil for about 1 minute stirring constantly. Reduce heat to low and allow mixture to simmer for about 6 minutes. And that’s it 🙂

I served the waffles with my home made blueberry sauce and a dollop of Greek yoghurt on the side – and on a breakfast tray in bed!

My husband was surprised when I exclaimed how delicious my first ever waffle tasted; you see I had never ever eaten one before. Deprived of this deliciousness for all my life 🙂

But armed with some ideas on how to make Cauliflower rice waffles, and Kumara waffles I am going to ensure waffles are on the menu very regularly now – healthy options that is…although I have to say the sweet version was pretty good the next day too.

Heat the leftover waffles in the toaster the next day mmmmm……just about as good as same day freshness.

Happy waffle days ahead xx

lessonstodate4 Comments

Blueberry, Apple & Coconut Crumble!

I have discovered the joy of a hot bowl of fruit crumble with a dollop of yoghurt for breakfast! To my tastebuds so much yummier than weetbix and cold milk – and even though I am starting to enjoy a bowl of porridge, fruit crumble is still my favourite!

With hubby and I living ‘childless’, (5 children living independently is quite nice by the way!) a hot pudding seemed extravagant to put together for just the two of us.

I used to make a fruit dessert often for the teenage boy who was rather averse to fruit with the exception of apples! Not only did it get some fruit into him, but let’s face it teenage boys have hollow legs don’t they? and a dessert would help fill him up more.

This recipe is very easy and delicious – pantry ingredients so you don’t have to shop especially for this. I always have a couple bags of frozen berries in the freezer, not just for desserts but for muffins too. They are quick to defrost, although with this recipe I don’t bother to defrost the blueberries – just let them cook through in the oven.

Give this recipe a go, and if you can…save some for breakfast!

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup caster sugar
  • 1 vanilla bean, split & seeds scraped (or 1 tsp vanilla paste)
  • 4 Granny Smith apples, peeled & chopped
  • 500g blueberries

Place all of the above ingredients into a bowl and mix well to combine. Spoon this mixture into a baking dish.

Coconut Crumble

  • 1/3 cup caster sugar
  • 2/3 cup shredded  coconutBlueberry crumble
  • 120g melted butter
  • 1 cup plain sifted flour

Preheat the oven to 180°c.

Put the above 4 ingredients in a bowl and rub with your fingertips until them is like coarse breadcrumbs.

Sprinkle over the fruit mix and bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden. Serves 6

Serve with custard or cream and/or ice-cream depending on your level of decadence!

Happy cooking xx

 

 

lessonstodate3 Comments

Apple & Berry Crumble – my quick version for the busy cook

IMG_0044This is a very quick and easy Apple & Berry Crumble that can be made in less than 10 minutes – it takes just 25-30minutes to bake in the oven.

Now what makes this particular recipe quicker than most is that you use canned apples rather than peeling, chopping and cooking some Granny Smith apples!

I know this is kind of cheating for the traditional home cook however I work full time, & there would be little to no chance of a fresh fruit dessert coming out of my kitchen at the end of the day – as well as a main meal!

And if you have a teenage boy in your home, then I guarantee you that they are always hungry! One lesson to learn is that dessert is a good tummy filler – and made with fruit, a healthier option than bread & butter on the table as was the case at my mother-in-laws house in the 70’s and 80’s.

Ingredients

  • 2 x 415g sliced apples
  • 3/4 cup of frozen berries of your choice
  • 1 teaspoons grated lemon rind
  • 50 g melted butter
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cups rolled oats

Place the apples into a oven proof dish – I have learnt that the best dish for a crumble is a flatter one so the crumbs are a thinner layer. Mix through the lemon rind.

Mix all the other ingredients together – and then sprinkle over the apple and press down lightly.

Bake at 190°c for 30 minutes or until golden brown and crisp! Serves 4-6

Now wasn’t that easy?

I added 3/4 cup of frozen raspberries to our Apple & Berry Crumble last night – (another ingredient I always have in the freezer) –  you could leave out the berries and add sultana’s or raisins and whole cloves for a change; more like a strudel taste!

Try this with ice-cream as a dessert or with a dollop of yoghurt (to soothe your conscious) and as a hot breakfast on a cooler Winter morning.

Happy cooking xx

 

lessonstodate2 Comments

One Pan Breakfast or Brunch!

Bacon,eggs, beans & tomatoes – all in one pan and all in under 10 minutes!

Seriously?

Yes!

I made this for a late breakfast this morning with the following pulled-together ingredients from the fridge:

  • 1 teaspoon of olive oil
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 1/4 each of a red & green capsicum or pepper
  • 4 rashers of bacon, chopped
  • 1/3rd of a can of baked beans
  • 1/3 can of tomatoes (any variety)
  • 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon chilli flakes or powder
  • 2 eggs
  • Sprinkle of fresh herbs – whatever you have in the garden!
  • salt & pepper to season.
  • Crusty bread or toasted ciabatta to serve.

 

Okay, oil & onions in the pan, chop the capsicums/peppers and add to the pan. Next comes the bacon, cook for about 2 mins. Tip in the tomatoes and beans…stir in the spices and let the aroma fill the kitchen! Make a little dent in the mixture to settle an egg into – repeat! Pop a lid over the pan and turn down the heat for about 2-3 minutes depending on how you like your eggs cooked. 

While the eggs cook, cut up your crusty bread or toast a slice or two from the freezer (that was me this morning!) 

Sprinkle fresh herbs over the top with a little cracked black pepper and salt. And there you have it 🙂

 

 

I have presented this for dinner on the odd occasion I have not ‘felt kitchen love’ after a day at the office and it has gone down well.  I have added spinach to the pan before adding the eggs to get a dose of greens too. Just let the spinach wilt before adding the eggs.

ps….first time I have taken photos as I went – what do you think?

Happy cooking!

xx

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Breakfast like a King – French Toast Anyone?

My husband tells me that your should ‘eat like a King’ at breakfast time – in other words eat something more substantial than a cup of coffee and a slice of toast! With tomorrow a public holiday in New Zealand I thought I would share with you a quick and easy breakfast alternative. And with some extra time on your hand’s a good opportunity to treat yourself 🙂

This is an old recipe I have used for a couple of years now starting when my daughter came to stay for the holidays. She was on that never-ending diet trail, and quite frankly whilst I didn’t have her will power to stick to the plan for long, it didn’t hurt any of us to try a low-carb option or two during that particular holiday period!

For 4 people you need:

  • 1 small egg
  • 150ml skim milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla essence( I use vanilla bean paste)
  • 4 slices of sourdough bread, crusts removed
  • 2 small banana’s
  • 250g punnet of fresh strawberries/or any other seasonal fruit.
  • 2 tsp icing sugar to dust
  • 1 tablespoon of maple syrup

Oil spray 

  1. Combine the egg, milk and vanilla essence in a shallow bowl.
  2. Cut slices of bread in half and dip the bread into the egg & milk mix allowing it to soak for a few second so the liquid can be absorbed.
  3. Heat a large non-stick frying pan over medium-high heat. Spray with oil. Add soaked bread & cook on both sides until browned. Transfer to warmed plates.
  4. Cut the banana’s into halves or slices & heat through in the pan.
  5. Slice the strawberries over each portion, add the banana’s. Dust with icing sugar & drizzle each plate with 1 teaspoon of maple syrup. Serve at once.

ps….I also add a little serving of yoghurt with this which goes down well with the family. 

I use whatever fruit is seasonal with this dish and as the photo shows, I made the ‘King’ breakfast with fresh peaches and blueberries last time! Having just bought fresh strawberries today that will be our ‘fruit option’ tomorrow.

Prep Time is just 10min, and cooking time even shorter at 5mins. Super easy, super quick and really tasty. Give it a go if you have the day off tomorrow 🙂

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x

 

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