When I make breakfast for myself or my family, I always like to make sure it is creative all the time. I do this because I would rather feed my family freshly cooked meals than factory produced goods like cereal. Below are the common recipes i use to spice up breakfast time and encourage my kids to eat breakfast. We all know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but when you make it for your family, this time of day makes breakfast a special time to share together.
So do not ever feel you have to follow these recipes by the exact instructions. If you do not like some of the ingredients and know that you prefer other ingredients that i have offered, then feel free to change it. I just love the recipes as they are because when i am in a rush, these recipes help me out.
1. Crepes:
Ingredients
1 cup flour
1 1/2 cups milk
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
1/4 teaspoon salt
Method/Directions
1. Combine Sifted flour, milk, eggs, and oil
2. Mix all the ingredients together
3. Add salt
4. Heat a lightly greased skillet;
5. Remove the skillet from the heat
6. Spoon in 2 Table spoons of batter;
7. Lift and tilt the skillet to spread evenly
8. Return to heat; brown on one side only
9. To remove, turn the pan over paper toweling
10. Repeat with remaining batter
11. Fill with your favourite filling
Here's a few that I like:
For only one single ingredient you can use: any flavoured fruit jam, peaches, cream cheese, pineapple, ham, maple syrup, cream cheese, bananas or margarine.
For a combination of ingredients: cinnamon sugar, banana, lemon and sugar. Savoury broccoli and cream cheese.
Or just eat them on their own. There are just so many ideas to come up with.
2. Blueberry Cream Muffins:
Ingredients
4 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon of vanilla Essence
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 cups sour cream
2 cups frozen blueberries
Method/Directions
1. In a mixing bowl, beat the eggs
2. Gradually add sugar
3. While beating, slowly pour in oil;
4. Add the vanilla essence
5. Combine the dry ingredients (flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder); add alternately with the sour cream
6. Gently fold in blueberries.
7. Spoon the mixture into greased muffin tins
8. Bake at 400F for 20 minutes
The Blueberry cream muffins also freeze very well so if you wanted to save some for another day, you can and they will always still taste nice. If you want i sometimes sprinkled the top of the muffins lightly with some granulated sugar for my friends as a yummy afternoon snack.
3. Banana Bread:
Ingredients
4 to 5 Medium mashed bananas
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/3 cup unsalted butter (room temperature)
2/3 cup sugar
2 eggs, separated (Large or Medium)
1 1/2 ounces milk
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
2 tablespoons flax seeds
Optional - 1/4 cup chopped walnuts/pecans
Method/Directions
1. Cream together the butter, sugar, & egg yolks until creamy
2. Sift dry ingredients together (flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon & nutmeg). Alternately add the dry mixture to the creamed butter mixture with milk & mashed bananas.
3. Beat the egg whites until a stiff peak forms
4. Fold in with a wooden spoon (make sure you only use a wooden spoon to do this - this is KEY)
5. Add the chopped nuts and stir in with the wooden spoon
6. Bake in a loaf pan that you have sprayed with olive oil or nonstick spray and dusted lightly with flour at 350° for approximately 45 minutes
7. After 40 minutes, insert a toothpick into the centre of the loaf to ensure it is not runny, if it is runny let the mixture to bake for an additional 5-10 minutes
8. Cool on a wire rack
You can serve the bread with cream cheese or your favourite margarine. I love to wait a day and then toast a piece in my toaster because when you add butter to it, it is so yummy that sometimes i wish i did not have to share the bread with anyone. But i am not selfish.
4. Waffles:
Ingredients
2 eggs
1 2/3 cups milk ( or substitute ½ cup of canned evaporated milk)
1/3 cup vegetable oil
2 cups all-purpose flour (you can substitute wheat germ for 1/4 cup of white flour)
1 tablespoon baking powder
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
Optional- 1 teaspoon maple extract
Method/Directions
1. Mix all dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, sugar, salt) together using a large whisk
2. Mix the wet ingredients (eggs, milk, oil, vanilla) together
3. Gently combine both the dry and wet ingredients together, but do not over mix
4. Cook as your waffle maker directs
You can sprinkle your waffles with powdered sugar, or blueberries. Cover them with toasted nuts, bananas, and real maple syrup. I like to double the batter so i can freeze the left overs for another day.
5. Pancakes:
I never use a mix for this recipe. It is fast and simple to make this batter because you usually have the ingredients on hand.
Ingredients
1 egg
3/4 cup milk
2 tablespoons melted margarine
1 cup flour
1 tablespoon sugar
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
Method/Directions
1. Beat egg until fluffy
2. Add milk and melted margarine to the fluffy eggs
3. Add dry ingredients to the egg mixture and mix well
4. Heat a heavy griddle or fry pan which is greased with a little butter
5. The pan is hot enough when a drop of water breaks into several smaller balls which 'dance' around the pan
6. Pour a small amount of batter (approximately 1/4 cup) into pan and tip the pan to spread out the mixture or you can spread it with spoon
7. When bubbles appear on surface and begin to break, turn over and cook the other side
you can make it different by adding a handful of raspberries and chocolate chips into the batter which is wonderful.
Please enjoy the recipes as much as I love to make them for my family for breakfast.
