Eggs on a Goldenrod

 Eggs on a Goldenrod

I learned how to make this when we were first married, as it was one of my husband's favorite breakfasts. This pulls together in a pinch (about 10 minutes) when hard boiled eggs are on hand. This warm and creamy comfort food, offset with crunchy toast, brings a welcome break from breakfast monotony. 

4-6 hard boiled eggs - reserve one yolk

Toasted bread (butter is optional)

Basic White Sauce

Basic White Sauce

4 tablespoons Corn Starch

1 quart milk
8 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper

Stove Top: Combine corn starch and milk in a small saucepan; stir until smooth. Add butter, salt and pepper. Stirring constantly, simmer over medium heat for 1 minute.


Microwave: Combine corn starch and milk in a 2-quart microwave-safe bowl; stir until smooth. Microwave on HIGH (100%) for 2 minutes; remove and stir. Microwave 1 to 2 minutes more, or until mixture thickens and boils for 1 minute. Remove from microwave. Stir in butter, salt and pepper.

Once the white sauce has thickened, use an egg slicer to dice 4 hard boiled eggs - reserving one cooked egg yolk. 

I use one like this, and hold the egg in my hand, and cut criss cross.  This can also be done with a knife and cutting board. 

Add diced eggs to white sauce, and stir to combine. 

Spoon sauce over toasted bread. 

Gently push the reserved egg yolk through a small sieve, to produce a fine egg yolk powder.  Sprinkle over the creamed eggs and toast as a garnish and serve.  

Serves 6-8

Pumpkin, Cranberry and Pecan Strata

Pumpkin, Cranberry & Pecan Strata

One of the things I love about stratas is that they can be made the night before.  And, since they take a while to bake, I can pop one into the oven and go out for a morning walk, and find breakfast ready when I get back, tasting like I’ve slaved away for hours, while the house smells amazing to everyone else just waking up. 

This is a great Christmas morning, or brunch solution as it can be made in advance and requires minimal fuss.  I initially came across this recipe on the Betty Crocker website.    

Here’s my version:

7 c. bread – cut or broken into 1 inch cubes (day old french bread is ideal)

½ c. craisins OR 1 ¼ c. frozen whole cranberries

½ c. toasted chopped pecans**

3 eggs

3 c. milk

2 c. cooked and pureed pumpkin OR 1 can pumpkin (15 oz. not pumpkin pie mix)

2 T. orange peel (peel of two oranges grated)

1 T. grated or finely chopped fresh ginger

½ t. ground ginger

¼ t. ground nutmeg

½ c. brown sugar

2 t. ground cinnamon

1 t. vanilla

¾ t. salt

Maple syrup or vanilla yogurt for serving

Spray a 9” square baking dish with cooking spray and spread with half of the bread.

Sprinkle half of the cranberries, nuts, and ginger (fresh) over the bread, and repeat.

In a large bowl beat eggs, milk, pumpkin, orange peel, sugar, salt, spices and vanilla together. 

Pour over bread and cover with plastic or a piece of foil that has been sprayed with cooking spray, and refrigerate for 4 – 24 hours. (No longer than 24)

Heat over to 325* and bake covered for 30 minutes.  Remove foil and bake for an additional 30 – 40 minutes or until top is golden brown and knife inserted into the center comes out clean.

Serve warm topped with whipping cream, yogurt, and/or maple syrup.

8 generous servings

**Toast pecans in the microwave for 2.5 +/- minutes.  Allow to cool slightly, then place in paper or plastic baggie and beat with a rolling pin.

Berry Morning Muffins

 

Last month a friend brought these delicious muffins over along with the recipe for my family. I came across the recipe while cleaning yesterday and realized that I need to do better about spoiling my family a little bit.
Here's my adaptation of the recipe based on the ingredients I had on hand this morning.

1 cup berries (macerated in 2 T. sugar)
1 c. sugar
1 1/2 c. flour
1/2 t. cinnamon
1/4 t. nutmeg
1/2 t. baking soda
1 t. salt
1 ripe banana (mashed)
2 eggs
1/4 c. olive oil (or applesauce)
1 T. lemon juice
1 c. chopped walnuts


Preheat oven to 350*

In a large bowl, mix banana, eggs, oil, sugar, strawberries, and lemon juice.
Add flour, cinnamon, baking soda, nutmeg, and salt to other mixture and gently mix all at once. Do not overmix.
Fold in walnuts.

Scoop into muffin liners in muffin tins, filling 3/4 full. Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar if desired.
Bake 30 minutes. Cool to room temperature.

Makes approx. 12-18 muffins.