"Dutch Baby" Apple Pancake

It's funny to me that I posted "single serving" pancakes just yesterday, and today I'm posting a GIANT, family sized pancake! =)

Until yesterday, I had never heard of a dutch baby pancake.   I thought maybe they were tiny, baby sized pancakes... but no, quite the opposite!    It's a huge, puffy pancake, baked in a cast iron skillet in the oven, to share as a family!   (And no, they aren't Dutch, they were invented in Seattle).

Most of the ones I saw, didn't have fruit in them, they were just a plain (but still beautiful) pancake that you would top with fruit or sugar and a squeeze of lemon.  When I came across this one, here, the description (you should read it) reeled me in immediately!   It sounded like the perfect, delicious breakfast to serve to my family on a cozy, snowy Saturday morning.   It was. =)

The best part of all, is how puffy it gets while it's baking!    It makes a grand entrance as you set it on the table in all of it's puffy glory...

Check out that edge!

...add some sifted powdered sugar

Notice the edges have already settled here

Topped with a little whipped cream, cinnamon and pecans

It was soo much fun to photograph! =)

So, when are you coming over for breakfast??

There are a few steps to the recipe, but it's all very easy, and I did some prep (peeled and chopped the apples, and measured out all the dry ingredients) the night before.   

Single Serving Pancakes

 Again, single serving recipes...  Awesome.   This recipe makes four small pancakes, which makes a great breakfast on their own, or you can split the stack with someone you love and have eggs and bacon with it, like I did this morning. =)

 Mmm....

 Keenan was my syrup pourer for the photo

...he got a little carried away =)

The recipe is here!

One Skillet Lemon Chicken and Potatoes

I'll admit, the photos from this recipe on the blog where I found it are what drew me in. =) A.mazing. You should check them out, they're much better than mine.   (My lemons were not photo worthy once I was done cooking, like hers were) =)

Also, I DO love a recipe that you can cook all in one skillet!

Philip and I both really liked this, but found it a little too "lemony".  I would recommend using 1 lemon, instead of 2, and either doing the lemon juice, OR the slices, not both.   But you Should make it - get the recipe here!

Strawberry Baked Oatmeal

Good stuff, right here. They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day. I didn't use to think (or eat)this way, but I sure do now! I also think breakfast should be the "prettiest" meal of the day! =)  After all, you're getting out of bed for it, make sure it's worth it!

This is Chocolate Covered Katie's, Strawberry Shortcake Baked Oatmeal.
If you missed my Blueberry Baked Oatmeal, check it out, too!

Slow Cooker Broccoli Beef

We don't always buy Chinese food, but when we do, we get Broccoli Beef. =) I was excited to find a good recipe to make this at home!

While it's traditionally paired with rice, we had ours over *spaghetti squash

A couple notes about the recipe:  It calls for flank steak, but I just used some stewing beef I had on hand and it was delicious.

The recipe calls for low sodium soy sauce.  I just had regular, so I used that.  It was delicious, but there's definitely a reason they used the Low sodium one!   I recommend that. =)

*If you haven't given spaghetti squash a chance, you should!    It's delicious, versatile, and compared to pasta's 200 calories per serving, spaghetti squash has only about 30!  =)

Maple Pumpkin Muffins (with Pumpkin Granola topping)

After I made the pumpkin granola, I still had most of a can of pumpkin left... so, I saved 1/4 cup for a pumpkin baked oatmeal (for another day), and used the final cup to make these delicious morsels!

I gotta say, I think mine look better than the ones in the recipe, and I think it's because I used the cinnamon pumpkin granola on top, instead of just oats! =)

These are good for you, but also moist and yummy!

So, I bought this adorable treat ferris wheel quite some time ago.... but was super sad to discover when it arrived in the mail that cupcakes (with ANY) frosting on them don't fit in it! =0/  So, it's just been sitting in my pantry waiting for inspiration to strike (in the meantime, I decided that tea lights in mini holders, or pretty painted eggs could also work well in it).   I decided to try it out with these muffins and was Delighted to find that they fit! =)

...a little melted butter...

Make these!  Recipe is here!

(...and make the granola to go on top!   And add pecans to the batter!)

Smoothie Bowl

I think smoothie bowls are kind of a new thing, at least I hadn't heard of them until the last few weeks. It's a pretty sweet concept, though!  Make your favorite smoothie (a little thicker than usual), and instead of drinking it out of a glass, put it in a bowl, and top it with extra goodness! Fruit, nuts, coconut, granola, you name it!

Check out some really awesome smoothie bowl creations here!

Cinnamon Pumpkin Granola

I've been enjoying my homemade coconut granola so much, I thought I'd try another flavor!

This one is a keeper, too!

The recipe is here.  I used a little extra pumpkin puree, and used almonds, walnuts And pecans.  Soo good!

Single Serving Blueberry Baked Oatmeal

Single serving recipes are genius! This breakfast isn't something that the rest of my family would enjoy, so I was able to have just the right amount, without leftovers to graze on! Brilliant!

I like oatmeal in smoothies and granola, but it isn't my favorite cooked on the stove.  Baked, however, is a whole different story...

All baked and golden

So, I know this looks sort of "desserty", but I only sifted enough powdered sugar on top to make it look pretty, and the drizzle is actually yogurt! =)

Perfect breakfast for one

I found the recipe here at Chocolate Covered Katie, but decided to use blueberries instead of strawberries.   I will try that one next!   I added shredded coconut to mine, which is one of the add ins she suggests.    At only six ingredients, this is super easy to throw together!

Homemade Tortilla Chips

What to do when you have salsa, hummus and an event to go to, but you don't have any chips...And you don't want to go to the grocery store?   Make your own! =)   I usually have tortillas on hand because my kids looove some cheese quesadillas..

Here's the recipe.   Have tortillas, an oven, oil and salt?  Go make some!

Kale Pesto

I love pesto. I like it on pasta, potatoes, zucchini, spaghetti squash, veggies. It's just awesome stuff.

My favorite part about this recipe is that it doens't need basil!   I love basil pesto, but basil is kind of expensive, and I feel like almost 50% of the time I look for it in the grocery store they're out!   This one just skips the basil all together and uses stuff you have on hand!   So, grab a bag of kale, and go nots!

Recipe here.   I don't bother toasting the walnuts.

Banana Nut muffins

Moriah Loves banana bread (who doesn't?) and has really been wanting to bake with me. I find banana bread hard to control myself with, so I opted to make muffins instead, and use a recipe that only makes a dozen. Something about them being contained in their own wrapper helps it seem like a "serving" to me. =)

This recipe is fun and easy and soo good!    We decided to add pecans to the batch and raisins to a few of them as well.   Yum!

*I (oddly) couldn't find my baking powder, so found out that you can substitute 1/2 tsp of cream of tartar and 1/4 tsp of baking soda for 1 tsp of baking powder!*

Butternut Squash Soup

Mmmm....

This is delicious and easy.   There is nothing better on a cold day, paired with some crusty bread!

The recipe is here.   The only change I made was using less chicken stock.   They called for 6 cups, and I found the soup very thin at the end, so I ended up cooking it down for a while.  I think 4 cups would have been better (you could always add more at the end if it was too thick).

Hummus

I've been making my own hummus for several years, but somehow the recipe never made it on here!

This is the first time I've made it since we moved, because I had a hard time getting my hands on tahini.   Our other commissary sold it, but this one doesn't and neither does the Dillon's I shop at.   I finally ended up buying it on Amazon for the same price I've paid in store.  =)

Hummus is easy, delicious and a healthy alternative to dips!

Here is the recipe:

Ingredients:

• 1 16 oz can of chickpeas or garbanzo beans
• 1/4 cup liquid from can of chickpeas
• 3-5 tablespoons lemon juice (depending on taste)
• 1 1/2 tablespoons tahini
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

Directions:

Drain (and keep) liquid from chickpeas.  Measure out 1/4 cup of liquid.

Blend everything together in food processor until it reaches the consistency you like.

Serve with warm or toasted pita bread or your favorite veggies.

I found the recipe here.

Oven Roasted Radishes!

So, the radishes looked so pretty at the grocery store the other day that I couldn't resist, and bought a bunch. =)

Aren't they gorgeous?

 Now what?   I don't particularly love radishes and actually find them a little tart and "spicy" for my taste.   I looked up recipes and when I came across one that roasted them in the oven, I had to try it!   It's amazing!   It totally mellows out the taste and they are more like a roasted potato.   So good, and good FOR you!!

1. Trim off the tops, rinse and quarter your radishes.

2. Toss them with olive oil and whatever spices you want.  I did salt, pepper, thyme and garlic powder.

3. Roast at 375 for 35 minutes.

  Enjoy!

Chicken or Turkey Peanut Lettuce Wraps

 I made these today for a lunch date with a friend.   They are really easy to make, but did require some new ingredients.    I had to hunt a few things down in the asian section, but none of them were expensive, and I know I'll be making this again, so it's all good. =)

Unlike typical lettuce wraps, these ones have rice noodles, which add some substance

Soo good

The recipe is here.   It calls for "chili paste", which I couldn't find.   I substituted salsa, but I think you could just skip it as well, as it's only a tablespoon.

Healthy 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Granola Bars

I had some dates on hand and this recipe was the perfect way to use them!   Chewy, yummy, easy and nutritious!

Date, Peanut Butter and Oats.   Bam.

Recipe here

Ricotta Pancakes

Yes, I do have a thing for bananas, strawberries and blueberries with my breakfast =)

I did not grow up liking pancakes.  At all.   However, as an adult, I'm a Big fan!  Sweet potato pancakes, quinoa pancakes, banana nut pancakes, blueberry pancakes, just about any way you can make them... I Love them!

I recently saw these ones on one of my favorite food blogs, Top With Cinnamon.  They are likely the best pancakes I have ever had.   As the name indicates, they have RICOTTA cheese in them!  Wow.   Soo light and decadent.   Her recipe also calls for honeycomb butter, which sounds Amazing, but I wasn't able to get my hands on honeycomb or a Crunchie bar, so I did without.

Make these (or just look at her amazing photos of them) and be amazed.

Strawberry Oatmeal Breakfast Smoothie

This is super delicious And good for you!

Here is the recipe.   I love it because it's easy and you don't need anything weird for it.  It calls for soy milk, I use almond, but you could use any kind of milk you want.

This is half a recipe pictured here.  If you make the whole thing, plan on that being your entire breakfast! =)

* The recipe doesn't say to do this, but it is better if you put the oats in the blender first and grind them up fine before adding your wet ingredients.

Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cupcakes!

Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cupcakes

When I was trying to decide what to make for Philip's birthday, I came across these and the decision was made.  This is his all time favorite cereal and they just looked too good not to be awesome!    I think I can safely say that whether or not you even like Cinnamon Toast Crunch, you would like these!

A cream cheese frosting with cinnamon toast crunch powder mixed right in... oh yum.

 Crumbled Cinnamon Toast Crunch sprinkled on top

I found the recipe here

Egg Toast Cups!

I love breakfast. I just found these egg toast cups on pinterest and tried them for breakfast this morning. Genius!

They are easy, cute and delicious!

1. Grease muffin tin.
2. Cut crust off a slice of bread.
3. Press bread into muffin tin.
4. Crack egg in.
5. Cook at 375 for 20 minutes or until set.

Enjoy!