Raspberry Cream Crepes

These are always such a treat for my family! I literally have to triple the batch for there to be enough to satisfy everyone! So, so yummy!

Crepes:

3 large eggs

1 1/2 c milk

1 c + 2 T flour

1 T sugar

1/4 t salt

2 T melted butter

Put all the ingredients in a blender in the order listed and blend them until the batter is smooth. Scrape the sides and briefly blend again. Set covered blender in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes or as long as overnight (this makes the crepes more durable and easier to flip... however I have skipped this step before and they turn out fine).

Cream Sauce: (this is just basically thinned down cream cheese frosting)

4 oz cream cheese (fat free or reduced fat work great, too)

2 T butter

1 t vanilla

2 c powdered sugar

Milk as needed for thinning

Beat cream cheese and butter until fluffy. Add vanilla and powdered sugar. Beat well. Add milk slowly and beat until it is the consistency you want.

Spread raspberry jam on crepe then roll up and drizzle with cream sauce.

Oatmeal Pancakes

I found this recipe on My Kitchen Cafe. The recipe is actually for a pancake mix, but I just figured out what the amounts would be for a normal batch for my family (which is a pretty big batch...you might have to adjust it if you decide to try it). I am always looking for a little variety in pancakes since Jared requests them at LEAST twice a week! These turned out really good!

1 3/4 c oatmeal

2 1/2 c whole wheat flour

1 1/2 T sugar

1 1/2 T baking powder

1/2 t salt

1/2 T baking soda

1/2 c oil

4 eggs

4 c buttermilk (half yogurt and half milk works great or I have just used 1 T vinegar per 1 c milk substitution. Also, you might want to decrease the liquid a little if you like a thicker batter.)

Mix dry ingredients, then add the wet. You can also make this the night before and by morning the oats are nice and soft.

Buttermilk Biscuits

We tried another biscuit recipe and found that we like it better than the one I originally posted.

2 c flour (1 1/3 c whole wheat and 2/3 c white)

1 T baking powder

3/4 t salt

1/2 t baking soda

5 T shortening

1 c buttermilk (I use fat free plain yogurt and it turns out awesome!)

Combine dry ingredients. Cut the shortening into the flour mixture until coarse crumbs form. Add the buttermilk (or yogurt), tossing with a fork until a dough forms. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead lightly a few times just until smooth. Pat dough to a 3/4" thickness. Cut out biscuits. Bake 425 degrees for 12 minutes or until golden.

Chocolate Pancakes

Dave had these at a scout activity at Lana Barney's house. Needless to say he made me call and get the recipe :). I made it for my kids, however, and they weren't impressed with the sauce... they usually are wary of trying anything new (they are no fun to cook for)! It's maple syrup or nothing! Not very nutritious...good for special occasions.

1 1/2 c flour
3 t baking powder
1/2 t salt
3-6 T sugar (adjust to your taste)
3-6 T cocoa (adjust to your taste)
1 c + warmed milk
2 eggs, beaten
4 T soft butter

Combine dry ingredients. Add milk, eggs and butter. Blend until just mixed.

Sauce for Chocolate Pancakes:

1/2 c soft butter
1 1/2 c powdered sugar
2 T hot water
1 t vanilla or orange flavoring (orange flavoring makes the sauce taste less sweet)

Blend until smooth

Pani Keke Samoa (Samoan Pancake)

Dave got this recipe from a co-worker. They are really good, but a bit on the unhealthy side due to the fact that they are fried...we usually save them for special occasions like Christmas morning.

Makes about 30 pancakes

2 ripe bananas
3 1/2 c flour
1 1/4 c sugar
2 t baking powder
1 t vanilla
1 1/2 c coconut milk (can substitute water or milk)

3 1/2 c oil for frying

Mash bananas. Mix dry ingredients in a separate bowl. Fold in the mashed bananas (don't use a mixer). Add the liquid a little at a time to make folding easier. Heat oil on medium heat. Make golf ball sized balls and place in the oil (coating a spoon with oil helps keep the batter from sticking). When the batter is brown turn the cake over. Remove from oil when entire ball is nicely browned. If the cake pops up to the top immediately the oil is hot enough, if it browns too fast the oil is too hot. Eat once the cake cools enough to handle with bare hands.

Best Biscuits

OK...here's my "healthy" biscuit recipe:

1 c flour
1 c whole wheat flour
1/4 c shortening
1/4 c oil
1 T baking powder
1/4 t salt
2 t sugar
2/3 to 3/4 c milk

Mix dry ingredients together. Cut in shortening; add oil and milk. Stir just until dough clings together. Knead gently on a floured surface 10-20 strokes. Roll or flatten to 1" thickness. Cut. Bake at 425 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until golden.

Angel Biscuits

These biscuits take a bit of forethought, but they are really good! They taste like a mixture of biscuit & roll.

4 1/2 t yeast
1/4 c warm water
2 c warm buttermilk
5 c flour
1/3 c sugar
1 T baking powder
1 t baking soda
2 t salt
1 c shortening
melted butter or margarine

Dissolve yeast in warm water. Let stand 5 minutes. Stir in the buttermilk; set aside. Combine dry ingredients; cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse meal. Stir in yeast/buttermilk mixture; mix well. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface; knead lightly 3-4 times. Roll to a 1/2" thickness. Cut out biscuits and place on a lightly greased baking sheet. Cover and let rise in a warm place about 1 1/2 hours. Bake 450 for 8-10 minutes. Lightly brush tops with melted butter. Yield: about 2 1/2 dozen.

Saturday Brunch

I have no idea what to call this. All I know is that it turned out so yummy. I guess that it is basically a quiche baked in a giant bread "bowl". You could do any variation of your favorite ingredients in it. I changed it a lot from the recipe that I had. also the recipe I had called for it to be baked in foccaica bread. I went with ciabatta (cam's favorite) and it worked great. Also as you may be able to tell I was on a cheese kick so I used one of my favorite cheeses in this. Cheddar would be just fine.

1 loaf crusty bread
4 oz smoked gruyere
4 oz cheddar
3 slices breakfast ham cut into cubes
half of a medium onion
1/2 tsp thyme
6 eggs
butter
parsley
olive oil

slice the top off of the bread and hollow it out making a nice bread "boat" brush the inside and top edges with the butter (melted) or olive oil would work. Then sprinkle with the parsley, place on a cookie sheet, and put into a 400 degree oven for 10-15 minutes or until toasted.

while the bread is toasting chop the onion and saute in a tbsp evoo until transparent and then add the cubed ham and thymeand contiue to cook. Shred cheeses and mix with eggs. add ham mixture and stir together. pour into the toasted bread and put back into the 400 degree oven for 35-40 minutes. when it is done let stand for 5ish minutes and then slice into 1 inch slices. and serve. It is tasty. There are so many fun variations you could do with this. I am going to be getting creative. I have lots of eggs to use up.