Breakfast Cookies

My former sorority sister Lauren should be voted Mom of the Year.  She's a hard-working entrepreneur, dedicated Mom, social chair for other Mom's, and also a healthy chef for her beautiful daughter Bryn and her friends.  Her most recent playdate featured Breakfast Cookies that were devoured by the kids and adults alike in about one minute flat. They're so good that it's hard to believe they're nutritious.  It's no surprise since everything she does is extraordinary. 

Recipe after the jump:

Here's the recipe from Weelicious:

Yields: 30 cookies

3 bananas (preferably ripe or spotty bananas)

2 cups old-fashioned oats

1 cup pitted and chopped dried dates

1/4 cup oil (Lauren uses sunflower oil)

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 cup any of the following: raisins, craisins, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, or chocolate chips*

1/4 tsp salt

*I use a mix of raisins, craisins and sunflower seeds; Lauren uses raisins, sunflower, and pumpkin seeds.

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Mash the bananas in a bowl until runny and mix in the remaining ingredients.  Allow the mixture to sit for 10 minutes.  Using a mini ice cream scoop or tablespoon, place the batter onto a silpat or parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for 25 minutes.  Cool and serve.

To make into bars, place the dough in a greased 7" x 11" dish and bake for 35-40 minutes. Allow to cool.  Cut into bars or squares. 

To freeze: allow cookies to cool ompletely after baking and then place them into a Ziploc bag, label, and freeze for up to 3 months.

PC: Yummly.com

Happily Ever After

Cheese Plate (for two) with Heart-Shaped Figs:

(Cut the figs in half and shape into hearts)

Beet-heart Salad:

Filet Mignon with Herb-and-Cheese Potatoes

OR

Rack of Lamb with Herb Crust

Chocolate Fondue (include your favorite dippers):

If you prefer milk chocolate (rather than bittersweet chocolate) try this sauce from Betty Crocker

Can't celebrate on Monday? Surprise your loved one with Breakfast in Bed over the weekend:

Classic French Toast:

OR

Heart-Shaped Eggs and Toast

PC: Martha Stewart

New Year's Brunch

This past Sunday my husband and I had the pleasure of hosting 20 of our closest friends for a memorable New Year's brunch. We've decided that brunch is our favorite way to entertain because everyone is in a great mood, it's fun to recap the weekend, and most of all indulge on good food with good company.

I personally prepared about 5 of the dishes served and had the rest catered by Zucker's Bagels in Tribeca. 

 Here is what we served:

Fresh lox and sable plate (from Zucker's in NYC)

-be sure to include sliced tomato and red onion with lots of good cream cheese

(3 lbs of lox and 1.5 lbs of sable served 20 people)

*NOTE- pregnant women should not eat smoked salmon/sable

Assorted Bagels (also from Zucker's)

Two dozen bagels should fit the bill.

Homemade fruit plate:

Include the best produce you can get your hands on at your local market. I personally buy organic fruit, but do whatever you can afford.

My Mother in Law's Noodle Kugel

Since it's a family recipe, I linked Ina Garten's version instead which is delicious!

Sky's Homemade Granola Station:

Using my Apricot and Raisin Cinnamon Granola recipe, I set out big bowls of granola, low fat organic vanilla yogurt and fresh berries along with clear glasses to make parfaits

Grilled Chicken Sausage Plate

We grilled a bunch of Aidell's Chicken Sausages (the chicken apple sausage was the biggest hit) but we also served Buffalo chicken. This sausage is great because it's free of nitrates (for pregnant women), dairy, and gluten.

I then made my best friend Bibby's Mom's Pumpkin Cake-it was a big hit!

And finally, I served Ina Garten's Sour Cream Coffee Cake with hot coffee of course.

Flowers and such:

I decided to buy a beautiful white orchid with pink centers and set it out on the main table of the buffet.  I also used all white platters and accented the second table with a small vase of white tulips. I took a few of the tulips and placed them in a smaller vase for our guest bathroom.  I think it was a nice touch.

Don't forget to have a drink station with fresh orange juice, cold water, and hot coffee.

PC: Salmon: Bie, Bagels: Russ & Daughters, Fruit bowl: seoworldwide.com, Noodle Kugel: foodjunta.com, Sausages: seriouseats.com, Orchid: southern living, tulips: amyramaker.blogspot.com

You are (not) what you eat

One of my favorite pregnant (and non-pregnant) past times is watching the Food Network for hours on end. It's like self-prescribed bed rest that is actually enjoyable. Ina Garten, my hero, recently made a wonderful breakfast for friends that I decided was exactly what I needed for my belly at that very moment. So, I ran to my kitchen and combined two of her recipes to make the best granola of all time-Apricot and Raisin Cinnamon Granola (recipe to follow).  I have a scoop for breakfast mixed with some cereal and I top it with fresh strawberries and blueberries. It's pure bliss.

Recipe:

4 cups old-fashioned rolled oats

2 cups sliced almonds

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1/3 cup good quality honey

1/4 cup light brown sugar

1 1/2 cups dried apricots, chopped

1 1/2 cup dark raisins

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Toss the oats, almonds, cinnamon and brown sugar. In a separate bowl, whisk together the oil and honey and add it to the oat mixture.  Stir with a wooden spoon until all of the oats/nuts are coated.  Pour onto a sheet pan.  Bake, stirring occasionally with a spatula until the mixture turns a nice, even golden brown.  About 25-30 minutes.  (My oven took 25 minutes).

Remove the granola from the oven and allow to cool, stirring occasionally.  Stir in the apricots and raisins and store in an air-tight container.

Don't forget to share the wealth.  Give your extras to a friend/neighbor if you can actually part with it:

Or else make a granola parfait (it's not that bad for you if you limit the granola and use low fat yogurt).

PC: Butter, Sugar, Flour,  The Sweetest Occasion, Hannaford, Gorman & Gorman, The Boston Globe

Back in action

Hi all!

Sorry for the long response time... I just returned from my new favorite place on Earth-Greece.  Stay tuned for the unique Greek dishes I tried as well as entertaining ideas that I discovered on the other side of the world.  There's truly nothing like the Mediterranean... but I have to admit that it's nice to be back as I really missed my kitchen and had had enough feta to last me a lifetime!

This morning, after waking up at the crack of dawn, I decided to make an all-American breakfast that was exactly what I needed after 10 days of a foreign diet (let's just say I won't be eating Greek yogurt anytime soon).

Blueberry Corn Pancakes with Chicken Apple Sausage

If you use the Jiffy corn bread mix (as I did), this meal can be prepared in no time.  Add fresh or canned corn for a nice crunch as well as ripe blueberries to add a pop of sweet and sour in every bite. The sausage is the perfect complement along with good quality maple syrup.  Enjoy this meal while corn and blueberries are in season!

Oh baby!

Mixed Berry Dutch Babies

After having brunch at one of my favorite West Village hangouts, The Spotted Pig, I realized that Dutch pancakes need to be on my next brunch menu.  They're light and fluffy, and what I like to call 'food porn'. Be sure to cover yours with some good quality maple syrup and powdered sugar to get you extra excited.  No clean up necessary.

PC: Food & Wine, lazysundaes,

Rise and Shine

Some brunch recipes to add to your repertoire:

Strawberry 'Pop-Tarts':

Scrambled Eggs with Leeks, Fava Beans, Crispy Breadcrumbs, and Parmesan:

Brown Sugar Glazed Bacon:

Brunch Essentials

Hosting a brunch is a wonderful way to gather family and friends for a casual and enjoyable meal to top off the weekend.  Whether you're serving bagels and lox from the local deli, pain au chocolat from the patisserie around the corner, or else a combination of your own cooking with store-bought delights, anything goes when you have the right serving pieces on hand.  Here are some my favorite:

Squeeze Juice Glasses from Crate & Barrel

Le Creuset Baker in Red: (wonderful for kugels/egg casseroles)

Ona Pitcher featured in blog entry: 'Gossip Girl'

Cafe au Lait Bowls (for Oatmeal or Cereal)

Glass Pedestals filled with pastries or fruit:

Porcelain Egg Cups: (with soft boiled eggs)

Stainless Steel Toast Rack:

And a Porcelain  Butter (or Cream Cheese) Crock:

PC: Crate & Barrel, Pottery Barn, Sur la Table, Williams-Sonoma

Pancake Pancake Bakers Man

M(B)ake me those pancakes as fast as you can! Finding an inspiring blog is like having a birthday all over again. Today I got lucky and discovered http://closetcooking.blogspot.com/. Kevin, the blogger, has some of the most creative combinations I have yet to see. Be sure to try one of his delicious pancake concoctions: (I can't wait to try on Saturday morning!)
As Pictured:
Sweet Potato Pie Pancakes (You could add some marshmallows to these)

Blueberry Cornmeal Pancakes

Carrot Cake Pancakes

Apple and Cinnamon Oatmeal Pancakes