AMAZING BREAKFAST PIZZA

According to Junior and Junior Too, I’ve finally mastered the pizza (yeast tends to stump me). However, Junior Too advised me to stick to pizzas like this one and my taco pizza and leave traditional pepperoni and supreme pizzas to pizza joints, Freschetta, and Digiorno. Sniff…some habits are just hard to break.

PIZZA DOUGH (or you can buy pre-made):

1 cup warm water

1-1/2 tsp yeast

2-3/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp sea salt

3 tbsp olive oil + 2 tsp olive oil (divided)

PIZZA:

1 cup mozzarella cheese

1/2 cup parmesan-romano-asiago cheese blend

1 cup chopped grape tomatoes

5 slices turkey bacon, fried to slightly crisp and chopped

1 green onion, sliced thin

6 eggs

1 tsp minced fresh parsley

Optional: tabasco or other hot sauce

1) PIZZA DOUGH: Add warm water and yeast to small bowl, stir gently, and let sit 10 minutes

2) To large bowl, add flour, salt, and 3 tbsp olive oil; stir to combine; pour in water-yeast mixture and stir well to combine; turn dough into a lightly oiled bowl, cover, and let rise 1 hour

3) Preheat oven to 475 degrees

4) Lightly oil large pizza pan with 1 tsp olive oil; on floured surface, roll out dough to fit pan; transfer dough to pan; brush surface of dough with remaining 1 tsp olive oil

5) Sprinkle mozzarella and parmesan-romano-asiago cheese over dough, followed by tomatoes, bacon, and green onion

6) Crack 6 eggs on pizza and sprinkle with fresh parsley; bake in oven 10-12 minutes and serve

Servings: 4 (but don’t be too hungry)

BACON-SPINACH SHIRRED EGGS

This was one of those breakfast-themed dinners of which my guys are so fond. And they were not at all disappointed with this recipe which is amazingly tasty–better yet, easy to put together. Though I served it in individual casserole dishes, it works equally well in a large casserole dish. Enjoy!

spray olive oil

2 cups baby spinach

8 eggs

4 strips bacon, fried and chopped

1/4 cup half-and-half

sea salt

ground black pepper

paprika

1/4 cup shaved Parmesan cheese

1) Preheat oven to 375 degrees; lightly coat casserole dishes with spray olive oil

2) Assemble individual servings as follows, dividing ingredients equally between dishes; place spinach in bottom of dish, crack 2 eggs on top, scatter with bacon, drizzle with half-and-half, and lightly sprinkle with salt, pepper, and paprika

3) Bake eggs in oven 20-25 minutes until whites are firm and yolks are set to your preference; scatter Parmesan cheese over top and bake additional 2 minutes until cheese melts; remove from oven and serve (see…easy!)

Servings: 4

SAUSAGE-CHEESE BREAKFAST CASSEROLE

Yes, it’s another crowd-pleasing breakfast casserole–a special request from Junior who surprised us with a visit home from university. Though I made this in individual casserole dishes, it can be prepared in a large baking dish, but you’ll have to adjust the cooking time upward a bit. Was Junior happy with his special request? Oh, yes, and those two extra individual casseroles will soon be installed in his dorm room fridge. Go mom!

3 cups milk

12 eggs

1 tsp ground mustard

1/2 tsp ground black pepper

1/2 tsp sea salt

French bread loaf, cubed (about 10 cups)

10 oz fully cooked turkey sausage crumbles (I used Jimmy Dean brand)

1-1/4 cup sharp cheddar cheese, divided

 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

1) To large mixing bowl add milk, eggs, mustard, black pepper, and salt; whisk to combine

2) To a separate large mixing bowl, add bread cubes, sausage, 1 cup cheese (reserving 1/4 cup), and parsley; pour egg mixture over top and gently mix; cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate 2 hours (or overnight if you think farther ahead than I do)

3) Heat oven to 350 degrees

4) Lightly oil 6 individual casserole dishes; divide egg-bread mixture between casserole dishes and bake in oven 40 minutes until golden brown and just firm in center; scatter reserved 1/4 cup cheese over casseroles and bake additional 3-5 minutes until cheese melts; remove from oven and dig in!

Servings: 6-8

MIXED BERRY-RICOTTA-SOUFFLE OMELETTES

Anything with berries lights my guys’ appetites. Yes, they hesitated when I told them I was stuffing an omelette with those juicy beauties, but–hey– they gave it a try. And loved it. Thumbs up!

1 cup part-skim ricotta cheese

10 egg whites

2 tbsp honey

2 tsp cornstarch

1 tbsp vanilla extract

4 tsp butter, divided

2 cups mixed berries (I used frozen and thawed)

1) In small bowl, beat ricotta cheese until smooth; set aside

2) In large bowl, beat egg whites until they form soft peaks; gently fold in ricotta cheese, honey, cornstarch, vanilla extract until just combined

3) To large, non-stick skillet, add 1 tsp butter and melt over medium heat; spread one-fourth of omelette mixture in skillet (about 8″ diameter, leaving a minimum 1″ clear around edges); cook 3-4 minutes until lightly browned, flip and cook 2 more minutes; scatter one-fourth of mixed berries over top, fold omelette over, and cook additional 2 minutes to warm berries through; transfer omelette to plate and repeat for remaining three omelets (Note: to speed process, use two skillets; and, yes, you may need to send the omelettes on a quick trip to the microwave before serving); serve with or without maple syrup

Servings: 4

BLACK BEAN-FETA SOFT BREAKFAST TACO

Don’t let the name fool you. This is dinner–in a big way. Not only is this breakfast taco fabulously easy and quick to prepare, but it’s incredibly tasty.

Olive oil spray

4 large flour tortillas

2 tbsp olive oil, divided

8 eggs

1/2 tsp sea salt

1/4 tsp ground black pepper

3 green onions, sliced thin

1 cup diced red bell pepper

1-15 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed

1/2 cup salsa

1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese

1 tbsp cilantro, finely chopped

1) Spray olive oil over large skillet and heat over medium-high; warm tortillas, both sides, until lightly golden; set aside

2) In medium-sized bowl, lightly beat eggs with salt, pepper, and green onions

3) Add 1 tbsp olive oil (reserving 1 tbsp) to same skillet and heat over medium; pour in egg mixture and, stirring occasionally, cook until scrambled and just done; remove from heat, cover, and set aside

4) Add reserved 1 tbsp olive oil to small skillet and heat over medium-high; add red bell pepper and black beans and cook, stirring often, 3 minutes; stir in salsa and, when warmed through, remove from heat

5) Assemble breakfast tacos as follows: divide egg mixture between flour tortillas, top with black bean mixture, feta cheese, and cilantro; serve

Servings: 4

SCRAMBLED EGG FAJITAS

Love, love these Scrambled Egg Fajitas. Though I made them for dinner, I’ll definitely be serving them for breakfast in the future. Not only are they easy and fairly quick to assemble, but talk about yum (and clean plates)!

Olive oil spray

8 corn tortillas

1 tbsp olive oil

5 green onions, chopped

2 tbsp diced jalapenos

1/2 tsp sea salt

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

8 eggs, lightly beaten

1 cup chopped tomatoes

1 avocado, pitted, peeled, and sliced thin

1) Preheat oven to 200 degrees

2) Lightly spray both sides of each corn tortilla with spray olive oil; cook tortillas in large skillet over medium-high heat, about 30 seconds each side; stack on oven-safe plate, cover with aluminum foil, and place in oven to keep warm

3) To same skillet, add 1 tbsp olive oil and heat over medium-high; add green onions, jalapenos, sea salt and, stirring often, cook 3 minutes; reduce heat to medium and stir in cilantro

4) Pour beaten egg into skillet and cook, stirring often, until eggs are nearly set; stir in tomatoes and cook until eggs are set, about 1 minute; remove from heat and serve with warm corn tortillas and sliced avocado; enjoy!

Servings: 4

SAUSAGE GRAVY BREAKFAST CASSEROLE

Junior likes breakfast casseroles. Junior likes sausage gravy. Mom decided to combine the two and we are talking tasty! Though some breakfast casseroles can be on the dry side, not this one. The hot sausage gravy-soaked bread cubes keep the casserole moist and make it extra yum.

4 sausage patties

2 tbsp flour

3-3/4 cups milk, divided

1/2 tsp sea salt

1/4 tsp ground black pepper

4 cups cubed french bread

10 large eggs

3/4 cups grated cheese (I used triple cheddar blend)

1) Preheat oven to 375 degrees; lightly oil 9×13″ baking dish

2) To large skillet over medium-high heat, add sausage patties and cook 2-3 minutes each side until cooked through; remove patties from skillet, finely chop, and set aside

3) To rendered fat in skillet (you should have about 2 tbsp; if not, add a bit of oil) over medium heat, add flour and whisk continuously until well combined; gradually whisk in 3 cups of milk (reserving 3/4 cup) and continue whisking and breaking up lumps until mixture is smooth and thick; stir in salt, black pepper, and chopped sausage; remove from heat

4) Spread bread cubes over bottom of baking dish and pour sausage gravy over them; let soak 10 minutes

5) Meanwhile, beat eggs and reserved 3/4 cup milk in large bowl; pour egg mixture over sausage gravy-soaked bread cubes and bake in oven 45-50 minutes until just done in center; sprinkle cheese over top and cook additional 2-3 minutes until cheese melts; enjoy!

Servings: 6-8

HAM ‘N EGG BURGER CROISSANT

This Ham ‘N Egg Croissant is a tasty cross between breakfast and dinner. Though you can add mayonnaise or a bit of Dijon mustard to moisten up your sandwich, runny egg yolk is a tasty way to go–if you like that sort of thing 🙂

1 lb ground beef

2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

1/2 tsp sea salt

1/2 tsp ground black pepper

4 eggs

1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese

4 thin slices deli ham

4 sandwich-sized croissants

1) In medium-sized bowl, mix ground beef, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper; shape into 4 patties

2) Heat large skillet over medium-high; add patties to skillet and cook 4-5 minutes each side until burgers are cooked to your preference; transfer patties to plate and keep warm

3) Using same skillet, reduce heat to medium and crack 4 eggs in skillet (shouldn’t need to add oil); cook 1-2 minutes until white sets; flip eggs with a spatula; immediately top eggs with cheese, followed by ham, and flip again; cook 1-2 minutes until cheese melts between egg  and ham and yolk is cooked to your preference; remove from heat

4) Assemble sandwiches as follows: bottom half of croissant, egg-cheese-ham, burger, top half of croissant; serve it up!

Servings: 4

BACON-FRENCH TOAST CASSEROLE

Our family is a turkey bacon family. However, in recent months Junior Too has developed a taste for the real stuff. Since he and Senior have no weight issues whatsoever, I was tempted by a sinful cookbook titled Bacon Nation which has now taken up residence in my kitchen. My recipe was inspired by “French Toast Bread Pudding with Bacon and Cinnamon” and, after I tweaked ingredients and preparation, it turned out to be a major hit. Many greasy bacon thumbs up!

6 slices thick-cut bacon (next time, I’ll give turkey bacon a try)

8 eggs, divided

1/2 cup granulated white sugar, divided

2-1/4 cup milk, divided

8 slices soft bread (I used potato bread)

1/2 cup chopped pecans

1/2 cup Craisins (or raisins)

2 tsp pure vanilla extract

1 cup half-and-half

1/4 cup pure maple syrup

3/4 tsp ground nutmeg

pinch fine sea salt

1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees; lightly oil 13″x9″ baking dish

2) To large skillet over medium-high heat, add bacon and cook 2-3 minutes each side until crisp; remove skillet from heat and place bacon on paper towel-lined plate; remove all but 2 tbsp bacon grease from skillet and set skillet aside (you’ll use it to cook the french toast); chop bacon and set aside

3) To large mixing bowl, add: 4 eggs (reserving 4), 1/4 cup sugar (reserving 1/4 cup), and 3/4 cup milk (reserving 1-1/2 cups); whisk until well blended

4) Return large skillet to stove top and heat over medium

5) Meanwhile, dip both sides of bread slices in egg batter and place in skillet (you’ll have to make in 2 batches of 4 slices each and, perhaps, add a bit more bacon grease); cook each side 3-4 minutes until golden; remove from skillet and cut each slice on the diagonal to form 16 triangles; overlap french toast in baking dish and scatter pecans and Craisins over the top; set aside

6) To large mixing bowl, add: 4 reserved eggs, 1/4 cup reserved sugar, vanilla, 1-1/2 cups reserved milk, half-and-half, maple syrup, nutmeg, and salt; whisk until well combined; pour over french toast triangles, sprinkle with cinnamon, and cover with aluminum foil; let sit 15 minutes

7) Place casserole in oven and cook 25 minutes; remove aluminum foil and cook additional 25 minutes; remove from oven and let sit 10 minutes before serving; you can serve with maple syrup, but this dish is so moist and tasty you shouldn’t need it; enjoy!

Servings: 6

EGG-HAM-CHEESE WAFFLE SANDWICH

Junior requested this tasty, protein-rich sandwich as he staggered out of bed. Junior Too seconded the motion. Fortunately, it’s fairy easy to put together. Good eats!

4 frozen waffles (I used buttermilk but, believe it or not, blueberry tastes good too)

2 eggs

Dijon mustard, to taste

1/4 cup grated cheddar cheese (the busy-busy me often stoops to buying pre-grated)

2 slices provolone

2 slices ham (not too thick)

dash of salt

1) Pop waffles in toaster and toast until lightly browned; set aside

2) In skillet heated to medium, crack eggs and cook until whites firm up (about 2 minutes); flip with spatula (Note: if you’re not into runny egg, gently press down on egg with spatula until yolk breaks free of the white and begins to cook)

3) Top each egg with a swirl of Dijon mustard (to taste), cheddar cheese, a slice of provolone, and a slice of ham; turn with spatula (this allows cheese to melt between layers of ham and egg); cook 1-2 minutes until cheese melts; add a dash of salt

4) Slide egg/cheese/ham onto toasted waffle, top with another waffle, and serve to your bleary-eyed, soon-to-be-chipper young ‘uns 🙂

Serves: 2

NOTE: This is a “repeat” recipe featured on my original “Kitchen Novelist” blog 04/11/12