Showing posts with label French toast. Show all posts
Showing posts with label French toast. Show all posts

Friday, 4 May 2012

Bank Holiday Breakfast Bonanza

Bank Holidays and long weekends mean two things for me -  mega lie-ins and making amazingly delicious breakfasts or, by the time I've got up, more like brunch or a late lunch.

Below are some of my favourite long weekend breakfasts - perfect to share with friends and all taste even better with a bottle of champagne or sparkling wine!

Eggy Bread (French Toast)

The perfect breakfast in bed treat.

Ingredients:
Serves 2

Butter
3 eggs
Milk
Bread

Toppings:
Icing sugar
Maple syrup
Blueberries
Strawberries
Bacon
Chocolate spread
Honey





French toast recipe - 01
Image taken by HoneybrookDelights

Whisk the eggs and milk together in a large mixing bowl.  Once well mixed soak one slice of bread in the mixture.  Heat a knob of butter in a frying pan over a low to medium heat.  Once melted, fry the eggy bread on both sides.  Turn the oven on to a low heat and put all slices of eggy bread on a plate to keep warm while you make the rest of the batch.

For those with a sweet tooth, top with icing sugar and maple syrup and serve with strawberries.  Bacon also makes a great topping if you’re looking for something more savoury.

French Toast recipe - 02
Image taken by HoneybrookDelights
Blueberry Pancakes

Pancakes are another favourite of mine to make at weekends and blueberries are SO SO good for you.  They do take a while but are so much fun to make and flip with friends.

Pancake recipe - 01
Image taken by HoneybrookDelights
Chop up a large handful of blueberries and mix in with the pancake mix and then fry and flip.  

Porridge

I’m not sure if it was due to the freezing cold mornings but this winter I rekindled my love with porridge.   

I prefer porridge thick and creamy - farmhouse style - which is best made yourself rather than with sachets.  

A definite winter warmer to snuggle up in bed with, porridge can also be enjoyed in the spring and summer by adding refreshing citrus juices to the oats, rather than milk.  What’s more, endless studies highlight how great porridge oats are for you especially if you're on a diet or wanting to keep your cholesterol levels down.

Porridge Lady has a great blog for porridge fans like myself with a fantastic range of unique and adventurous serving suggestions and recipes.

My favourite serving suggestions:

Last Christmas I broke up Ferrero Rocher chocolates into small chunks and mixed in with the warm porridge which melted the chocolate and was soooo delicious.  More normal suggestions for sugar lovers include golden syrup, sultanas and honey.

Add a fruity kick by mixing in chopped berries, bananas, apples or pineapple chunks..  

If you're staying away from dairy products use lemon, apple or orange juices as a replacement to milk.  Heat the juice or pulp of one lemon or orange into a pan and slowly add the oats, making sure you get the right juice to oats consistency. The oats will soften and bind just as if they were mixing with milk.  This recipe is zingy and instantly wakes me up in the morning.


The Great British Fried Brekkie

A long weekend usually results in at least one messy night out and what's the perfect cure for the morning after? A huge fry-up! 

This MUST include the works (including hash browns, black pudding, sausages AND bacon) and the meat has to be the best quality, ideally from a local butcher.

Mmmmmmmm - enjoy!




Sunday, 12 February 2012

Indulge with that someone special this Valentine's Day

It's true to say that St Valentine's Day has the world population split more so than marmite...you either love it or hate it.  A day designed for admirers to show their affections and express their feelings to their loved ones, in my eyes, should be everyone's favourite day of the year and the PERFECT excuse to indulge with that someone special, whether it be your partner, best friend, mum, brother or even your dog.

To many it's seen as hype and a way to spend more money on unnecessary pink fluffy cards, expensive boxes of chocolates and flowers that will only wilt away in a few days.  But in a world where there is so much controversy, hatred and fighting, shouldn't we take some time out to show those around us just how thankful we are for their love and happiness that they bring into our lives?

I'd be the first to admit that this year's Valentine's hype has been on overkill since the Christmas decorations were boxed up, so this year go back to basics.  There's no better way to show your loved ones just how much you care and appreciate them than with some indulgent home-made goodies.

Below are some scrumptious suggestions that are easy and affordable to create and are guaranteed to put a huge smile on that lucky person's face.   Perfect as a breakfast surprise, lunchtime treat or as a way to spend some quality time cooking up together.

Enjoy! xx

Blueberry Pancakes
Jam-packed with anti-oxidant goodness, mix a handful of chopped blueberries to your pancake mix before pouring in the frying pan to bring a sweet kick and add some colour. Jamie Oliver has a great, creamy pancake mix recipe. Finish off with your favourite topping (maple syrup goes perfect with this).


Perfect blueberry pancakes

Eggy Bread!
I just loooove a bit of eggy bread in the morning! 

Serves 2
3 eggs
Milk - 200ml
Icing sugar
Bread

French Toast recipe - 01
Scrumptious eggy bread

In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk and a sprinkle of icing sugar.  Generously coat each slice of bread in the mixture and fry until the egg mixture has turned a golden brown colour.  Perfect topped with golden syrup and strawberries.


French Toast Recipe - 02
French Toast Recipe - 03 
Sickly Sweet Cupcakes
Not for those who don't have a sweet tooth.....these sickly treats are ideal to slip into your partner's lunchbox or send in a box anonymously to your Valentine.  To make these sickly treats, make a small well in your cooked cake mixture and pour in caramel or maple syrup and top butter icing mixed with caramel.


HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!