Showing posts with label Simple Meals Friday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Simple Meals Friday. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Cinnamon Bun Pancakes. Crazy Good.

It's been a long, long time since I made a really good Sunday Breakfast. So when the big kid asked, I couldn't refuse. I saw these pancakes over at Kitty's Kozy Kitchen except Kitty's were pumpkin. And they looked amazing! I didn't have pumpkin so I checked out the link for Recipe Girl's original recipe. My guys like a big breakfast so I doubled the recipe. Made just enough.
My husband had one bite and said they were "crazy good!"
And he was eating the practice ones that came first!


Not getting the hang of it yet...



Practice makes perfect?

They really did taste like Cinnamon Buns!



Cinnamon Bun Pancakes

FILLING:
1/2 stick (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter, just melted
1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
1/2 tablespoon ground cinnamon

GLAZE:
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
2-ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

PANCAKES:
2 cups all-purpose flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups milk
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons canola or vegetable oil

Preheat an oven to warm setting.

PREPARE THE FILLING: Stir together the butter, brown sugar and cinnamon. Pour the filling into a quart-sized heavy zip baggie and set it aside to set. It should be thick. It may separate, just stir it again. Put it in the refrigerator for a few minutes after stirring. When it's ready to use cut just a small tip of the corner off the baggie.

PREPARE THE GLAZE: In a small pan, heat the butter over low heat until melted. Turn off the heat and whisk in the cream cheese until it is almost smooth. Sift the powdered sugar into the pan, stir and add in vanilla extract. Set the pan aside while you make the pancakes.

PREPARE THE BATTER: In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. Whisk in the milk, egg and oil, don't stir too much, a few small lumps are okay.

COOK THE PANCAKES: Heat a large, nonstick skillet over medium and spray with nonstick spray or wipe with a little butter. Use a measuring cup or a ladle to about a 1/4 cup of batter to the pan. When your pancake begins to form bubbles, add the filling. Take the baggie of cinnamon filling and squeeze it to get the filling into the snipped corner. Starting at the center of the pancake, squeeze the filling on top of the pancake batter in a circular swirl. Cook the pancake until the bubbles start to pop on top of the pancake and it's golden brown on the bottom edges. Slide a thin, wide spatula underneath the pancake and quickly but gently flip it over. Cook until the other side is golden as well, about 2-3 minutes. Transfer cooked pancakes to a baking sheet and place it in the oven to keep warm. Wipe out the pan with a paper towel, and repeat with the remaining pancake batter and cinnamon filling. Proceed with the rest of the batter until you’re done. Re-warm the glaze briefly, if it gets too thick.Top each stack with a drizzle of cream cheese icing and serve.



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Thursday, October 11, 2012

Finally getting to be soup weather!

I love the cooler weather. And I am looking forward to soup. Lots of soups. Hearty soups. So I went looking through past blog posts to see what's what. These are two I had forgotten about and I'm glad I went back to look. They will be on our table again very soon.




Minestrone with Tomatoes and Rice
Source: original recipe by Luca Marcato of Osteria al Doge, NYC

1/4 cup olive oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 medium red bell pepper, cut into 1/2-inch dice
1 medium carrot, cut into 1/2-inch dice
1 medium Idaho potato, peeled and cut into 1-inch dice
1 small zucchini, cut into 1-inch dice
1 small yellow squash, cut into 1-inch dice
1 Japanese eggplant or 1/2 small eggplant, cut into 1/2-inch dice
1/2 cup arborio rice
one 28-ounce can Italian peeled tomatoes, drained and coarsely chopped
salt and fresh ground pepper
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 small stalk of broccoli — cut into 1-inch florets, stem peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1/4 small head of cauliflower, cut into 1-inch florets
1 medium celery rib, cut into 1/2-inch dice
1/2 cup frozen baby peas
6 cups water, vegetable or chicken broth

Freshly grated Parmesan cheese, for serving

Heat the olive oil in a large non-reactive soup pot. Add the onion and red bell pepper and cook over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until softened and lightly browned, about 6 minutes. Add the carrot potato, zucchini, yellow squash and eggplant and cook, stirring often, for 5 minutes.

Add the rice to a skillet on medium heat with a little bit of oil, about a tablespoon. Stir well to coat the grains with the oil and toast for about two minutes. Then add the rice to the soup pot with the vegetables. Add the tomatoes, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, the crushed red pepper and 6 cups of water and bring to a boil over moderately high heat. Add the broccoli, cauliflower, celery and peas and cook, stirring, until all the vegetables and the rice are tender, about 35 minutes. Season the soup with salt and pepper.

(MAKE AHEAD: The soup can be refrigerated for 1 day. Reheat before serving.) Ladle the soup into bowls and serve, passing the Parmesan cheese at the table.  If it's too thick next day, add some stock or water and season again!
 




Tuscan White Bean and Garlic Soup
 adapted by There's Always Thyme to Cook
Source: Food Network, recipe by Giada De Laurentiis
Printable Recipe

2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 shallots, chopped
1 sage leaf
2 (15-ounce) cans cannelloni beans, drained and rinsed
4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
4 cloves garlic, cut in 1/2
1/2 cup cream
salt and freshly ground black pepper
6 slices crusty bread, cut into chunks
Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling

Place a medium, heavy soup pot over medium heat. Add the butter, olive oil, and shallot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the shallots are softened, about 5 minutes. Add the sage and beans and stir to combine. Add the stock and bring the mixture to a simmer. Add the garlic and simmer until the garlic is softened, another 10-15 minutes. Use an immersion blender to puree the soup. It will be hot so be careful.

Once all the soup is blended add the cream. Salt and pepper, to taste. Keep warm, covered, over very low heat.

Arrange the bread on a sheet pan in one layer. Drizzle the slices of bread with extra-virgin olive oil. Broil the bread until warm and golden, keeping an eye so they don't burn. Stir to toast all sides. Serve the soup in bowls with the croutons. 


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Thursday, October 4, 2012

Balsamic Skirt Steak

Really simple and really fantastic. That's all I have to say. My husband would be happy if I stayed a woman of such few words for a while but that's never going to happen, nope never! LOL! 




Balsamic Skirt Steak with Zucchini
adapted by There's Always Thyme to Cook
Source: Martha Stewart - Everyday Food, September 2012
Printable Recipe

1 1/2 pounds skirt steaks, pounded thin; cut into 4 pieces
olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
3 zucchini, cut into half-moons
salt and pepper
3/4 cup balsamic vinegar

In a large skillet, on medium-high, heat about 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Add the garlic and zucchini, season with salt and pepper, and sauté until zucchini is browned in spots and just softened, about 6-8 minutes. Transfer to a bowl.

Add remaining tablespoon oil to skillet. Season steak with salt and pepper and cook until browned, turn steaks over and cook to desired doneness. Transfer to a plate. 
Drain the fat from the skillet, then add the vinegar, salt and pepper, to taste. Cook, stirring, until reduced by about half, about 2-3 minutes. Add the steak to the pan for another minute to heat through. Serve the steak along with the zucchini. Drizzle the steak with more sauce and serve.

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