holidays & recipes: 4th of july guests for breakfast & the belgium waffle

July 4th. Independence Day. The day when all Americans celebrate their freedom. From one region of the United States to the next traditional foods are prepared with the anticipation of backyard feasting and evening fireworks. Growing up on the East Coast, we often had many out of town guests, some opted for the “Hotel” experience and others dug in their heels (or sneakers) and spent the night at our house. Being the host or hostess can be hectic, I know this all too well.  What a better way to serve your guests with homemade waffles? We finally perfected the waffle batter over the years, this is, hands down, one of our favorite recipes.  You might want to buy another waffle iron depending on how many guests you have, but we usually have three going at once with a party of six or more (guests are hungry from the long trips... Read the Rest →

 

breakfast & recipes: history of eggs benedict

One of the most scrumptious breakfasts enjoyed by many is Eggs Benedict. It is hardy, elegant and sinfully delicious. It is perfect for a leisurely winter weekend morning for it requires time and patience. Eggs Benedict is filling without making you feel weighed down. And, the buttery goodness will warm you from the inside out. We honor the three possible origins of Eggs Benedict for our recipe is a combination of recipes from three very famous culinary artists. But, before we get to the recipe here are the three conflicting stories surrounding the origins of this delicious breakfast: 1. A retired Wall Street stock broker named Lemuel Benedict was featured in “Talk of the Town”, a column of The New Yorker, in 1942. Benedict stated that he went to the Waldorf Hotel in 1894, ordered “buttered toast, poached eggs, crisp bacon, and a hooker of hollandaise.” He hoped this breakfast... Read the Rest →

 

breakfast & recipes: history of eggs benedict

One of the most scrumptious breakfasts enjoyed by many is Eggs Benedict. It is hardy, elegant and sinfully delicious. It is perfect for a leisurely winter weekend morning for it requires time and patience. Eggs Benedict is filling without making you feel weighed down. And, the buttery goodness will warm you from the inside out. We honor the three possible origins of Eggs Benedict for our recipe is a combination of recipes from three very famous culinary artists. But, before we get to the recipe here are the three conflicting stories surrounding the origins of this delicious breakfast: 1. A retired Wall Street stock broker named Lemuel Benedict was featured in “Talk of the Town”, a column of The New Yorker, in 1942. Benedict stated that he went to the Waldorf Hotel in 1894, ordered “buttered toast, poached eggs, crisp bacon, and a hooker of hollandaise.” He hoped this breakfast... Read the Rest →

 

holidays & recipes: baked ham and egg cups

Paula Deen is just outrageously fun to watch on TV. I imagine that I will have that much fun in the kitchen when Marie and I can finally meet and cook together. Paul Deen’s over-the-top personality suits me and, I think, Marie, perfectly. I think, together, Marie and I could tear it up a bit, if you know what I mean. Marie and I are ourselves, no holds barred. Paula Deen is herself and she is having a ball or as she would say, “bahwel”. I love thinking about having the opportunity to bake and cook with Marie as I know we will have as many laughs and, dare I say, be as outrageous as Paula Deen herself. Paula Deen’s specialty is southern cooking. I was born and raised in New Jersey. I didn’t know a grit from a green when I first moved to the south in the early... Read the Rest →

 

holidays & recipes: baked ham and egg cups

Paula Deen is just outrageously fun to watch on TV. I imagine that I will have that much fun in the kitchen when Marie and I can finally meet and cook together. Paul Deen’s over-the-top personality suits me and, I think, Marie, perfectly. I think, together, Marie and I could tear it up a bit, if you know what I mean. Marie and I are ourselves, no holds barred. Paula Deen is herself and she is having a ball or as she would say, “bahwel”. I love thinking about having the opportunity to bake and cook with Marie as I know we will have as many laughs and, dare I say, be as outrageous as Paula Deen herself. Paula Deen’s specialty is southern cooking. I was born and raised in New Jersey. I didn’t know a grit from a green when I first moved to the south in the early... Read the Rest →

 

holidays & recipes: christmas breakfast buffet savory quiche

We’ve shared a few sweet breakfast dishes for the Christmas breakfast buffet menu. Now, let’s add a savory dish to help balance out the buffet. A flavorful, cheesy quiche is one of the best items to serve at a buffet. Easy to make, easy to serve and a virtual kitchen sink of ingredients can be added to the egg and cream mixture. We chose to use leeks, gruyere cheese and ham. Of course, you could easily substitute those items for a more American flare by using mild onions, sharp cheddar and chopped bacon. The ingredients in this quiche are merely a suggestion. You can clean out your refrigerator and add whatever ingredients will please your palette. Just use the basic egg/cream mixture and the pie crust recipe then add anything else that you fancy. Christmas Breakfast Buffet Menu 1. Crème Brûlée French Toast Bake 2. Creamy Polenta with Honey and... Read the Rest →

 

holidays & recipes: christmas breakfast buffet savory quiche

We’ve shared a few sweet breakfast dishes for the Christmas breakfast buffet menu. Now, let’s add a savory dish to help balance out the buffet. A flavorful, cheesy quiche is one of the best items to serve at a buffet. Easy to make, easy to serve and a virtual kitchen sink of ingredients can be added to the egg and cream mixture. We chose to use leeks, gruyere cheese and ham. Of course, you could easily substitute those items for a more American flare by using mild onions, sharp cheddar and chopped bacon. The ingredients in this quiche are merely a suggestion. You can clean out your refrigerator and add whatever ingredients will please your palette. Just use the basic egg/cream mixture and the pie crust recipe then add anything else that you fancy. Christmas Breakfast Buffet Menu 1. Crème Brûlée French Toast Bake 2. Creamy Polenta with Honey and... Read the Rest →

 

holidays & recipes: dutch baby part of our christmas breakfast menu

A wonderful addition to our Christmas breakfast buffet menu is the amazingly easy, incredibly inexpensive and inexplicably melt- in- your –mouth-delicious puffed pancake known as the Dutch baby. The ingredients for a Dutch baby are almost always found in all kitchens. Only requiring six ingredients, plus the lemon and powdered sugar garnish, the Dutch baby, hands down, is one of the least expensive dishes you could make for a breakfast buffet. The laughably easy prep time for the Dutch baby makes it a no brainer. The only drawback for this dish is that it should be eaten immediately and so it may not be the best dish to let sit at a buffet, this could be remedied with a warming dish, although, leaving it in the cast iron skillet will help as the cast iron will retain its heat. Having a lot of hungry mouths to feed will, of course,... Read the Rest →

 

holidays & recipes: dutch baby part of our christmas breakfast menu

A wonderful addition to our Christmas breakfast buffet menu is the amazingly easy, incredibly inexpensive and inexplicably melt- in- your –mouth-delicious puffed pancake known as the Dutch baby. The ingredients for a Dutch baby are almost always found in all kitchens. Only requiring six ingredients, plus the lemon and powdered sugar garnish, the Dutch baby, hands down, is one of the least expensive dishes you could make for a breakfast buffet. The laughably easy prep time for the Dutch baby makes it a no brainer. The only drawback for this dish is that it should be eaten immediately and so it may not be the best dish to let sit at a buffet, this could be remedied with a warming dish, although, leaving it in the cast iron skillet will help as the cast iron will retain its heat. Having a lot of hungry mouths to feed will, of course,... Read the Rest →

 

holidays & recipes: christmas breakfast with polenta

Our next recipe for our Christmas breakfast buffet menu is a hot cereal. Oh, no! Not mush again! No, not mush, but if you grew up watching “The Little Rascals”; reruns, of course, we aren’t quite that old, you may have had an aversion to the oatmeal your mother put in a bowl and served to you for breakfast. You might have looked at the oatmeal with disgust and declared, “I’m fed up with mush!” Hot cereals were the overalls, work boots and flannel shirts of the breakfast world. Hot cereals were almost always lumpy, plain and boring. The high-heeled fashionistas of this breakfast world were definitely the ever popular sugary cereals and pop tarts. Hot cereals couldn’t stand up to (Well, actually hot cereals could stand up your spoon.) the brightly colored, sugary confections we loved for breakfast. But, as we grow and mature. As our bodies begin to... Read the Rest →

 

holidays & recipes: christmas breakfast with polenta

Our next recipe for our Christmas breakfast buffet menu is a hot cereal. Oh, no! Not mush again! No, not mush, but if you grew up watching “The Little Rascals”; reruns, of course, we aren’t quite that old, you may have had an aversion to the oatmeal your mother put in a bowl and served to you for breakfast. You might have looked at the oatmeal with disgust and declared, “I’m fed up with mush!” Hot cereals were the overalls, work boots and flannel shirts of the breakfast world. Hot cereals were almost always lumpy, plain and boring. The high-heeled fashionistas of this breakfast world were definitely the ever popular sugary cereals and pop tarts. Hot cereals couldn’t stand up to (Well, actually hot cereals could stand up your spoon.) the brightly colored, sugary confections we loved for breakfast. But, as we grow and mature. As our bodies begin to... Read the Rest →