Tag Archives: breakfast recipes

Easy Almond Croissants

Being in the fashion industry over all these years, I had the privilege to spent time in the greatest cities in the world – and the center of that fashion world is Paris. It is one of the most beautiful and extraordinary cities and of course for anyone who loves food- it’s perfection. I would love to wake up early in the morning and stroll the quiet streets and meander to one of the many exquisite patisseries – filled with all kinds of confections. One of my favorite breakfast treats would be a croissant along with my cafe au lait. So on a cold blustery morning here by the bay when I reminisce about the streets in Paris and the warm patisseries, I decided to create a little bit of Paris by the bay by making a quick and easy almond croissant. All it takes is a package of puff pastry, some frangipane – which is an easy to prepare smooth almond cream that fills the croissant with more richness and texture and few blanched almond slices. You can transform any ordinary morning into  a dreamy romantic one. The aroma alone will intoxicate you! 


From by the bay wishing you the most romantic food memories!
Maryann
blog croissant
Easy Almond Croissants
Makes 16 

Ingredients
1 package 17.3 ounces ready rolled butter puff pastry
1 recipe frangipane ( recipe follows)
1 egg
1 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons blanched sliced almonds 
confectioner’s sugar to top

Directions
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. You will have 2 sheets of puff pastry, take the first sheet and roll out. Divide into 4 squares. Cut each square on the diagonal and to make 8 triangle pieces.
Spread on teaspoon of the frangipane on each triangle. Then starting from the widest end of the triangle roll to the point of the triangle. You will have a long croissant , seal the dough and shape into a crescent and place on a Silpat or parchment lined baking sheet. In a small bowl add the egg and water and whisk. Brush each croissant with the egg wash and top with a few almond slices. Repeat with second sheet of puff pastry. Place croissants into the oven and bake for 12-15 minutes until golden brown. Remove from oven and serve. 

Frangipane

Ingredients
1/2 cup ground almond meal
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
3 tablespoons unsalted softened butter
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoons flour 

Directions
Combine all ingredients in a food processor until smooth and creamy.

Buttermilk Blueberry Muffins

blog blueberries
One of my favorite times of year is July! This was especially true when I was a kid. July was when my family would go on vacation. My absolute favorite vacation was visiting with my Aunt Julia and Uncle Tom in South Jersey so we could spend time with my cousins. We would have the best times playing, rough housing with the boys and taking day trips – which always included a trip to the Boardwalk and the Steel Pier. My Aunt’s house was surrounded by farms,  which was especially fun for us city kids from Queens. In July , blueberries would grow plentiful.  We would help the boys pick berries to bring back to my aunt and mom to use for cooking, that is if we hadn’t eaten them all , or worse yet had a food fight with them! I’m sharing here a few blueberry recipes to get you through a long summer day from morning until night.
Wishing you sweetest blueberry food memories!
Maryann
blog blueberry muffin

Buttermilk Blueberry Muffins

Makes 12 muffins


1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1/4 cup white sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon lemon zest

4 tablespoons melted butter

3/4 cup buttermilk

1 egg

3/4 cup fresh blueberries


Directions

Preheat oven to 400 F. Take a 12 muffin pan and line with paper baking cups. Put  tin to the side. In a bowl combine flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, baking soda and lemon zest. Add melted butter and stir. Add the egg to the buttermilk , mix and pour into the flour mixture and combine.Add blueberries and then fill each muffin liner about 3/4 filled. Place tin on baking sheet and bake  on the center rack for 20 to 25 minutes until cake tester comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes then remove muffins to wire rack to cool. Serve warm or room temperature.

Toasted Steel Cut Oatmeal with Maple Soaked Raisins

Oatmeal, we all know it’s heart healthy and a great breakfast to start your day. It wasn’t until I tried steel cut oats that I went from liking oatmeal to loving it. Oats are grass and the grain is called a groat. Steel Cut oats are made from the inner portion of the oat kernel. The grain is run through steel blades and cut into tiny pellets. It’s the least processed of the oat cereals and the results when cooked is a nuttier taste with more texture. This is a  much more chewy, hearty and tasty oatmeal. Cooking with steel cut oats takes longer to make but it’s well worth the results. This oatmeal stands alone well, but it you are looking to pump up the flavor top your oatmeal with maple soaked raisins for a real breakfast treat!
From by the bay wishing you some tasty maple soaked food memories!
Maryann
 

 blog oatmeal

 
Toasted Steel Cut Oatmeal
Serves 4

Ingredients
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 cup steel cut oats
3 cups boling water
1 cup whole milk
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt

Directions
In a large sauce pan, melt the butter and add the oats. Stir for 2 minutes to toast. Add the boiling water and reduce heat to a simmer. Keep at a low simmer for 25 minutes without stirring or until liquid is almost gone. Add the milk and simmer for 10 minutes, Add brown sugar and salt to the oatmeal stirring gently to combine and cook for an additional 10 minutes. Spoon into a serving bowl.

Maple Soaked Raisins

Ingredients
1/4 cup raisins
1/2 cup maple syrup

Directions
In small sauce pan add the raisins and maple syrup and gently simmer for 5 minutes. Set aside and let cool and let the raisins continue to soak in the syrup. Rewarm to serve on top of hot oatmeal or any other breakfast favorite such as pancakes , waffles or french toast.

BLOG OATS

 

Maple Bacon Scones

Waking up to a beautiful fall morning, I decided to capture the flavor of fall at breakfast with this delicious maple bacon scone. These scones are light and tender as well as slightly sweet and savory. They are perfect eaten just as they are or with little butter on the side. This is definitely a recipe to be tried, especially for a nice leisurely weekend morning when it’s slightly cool out of doors. Enjoy!
From by the bay wishing you maple bacon food memories!
Maryann
blog maple bacon scones

Maple Bacon Scones

Makes 12

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour (9 ounces), plus 1/4 cup

2 tablespoon granulated sugar or maple sugar, plus extra for sprinkling

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt

8 tablespoons chilled unsalted butter, cut into small pieces ( 1 stick)

6 strips thick cut bacon cooked and cooled and diced

1/2 cup heavy cream, plus 1 tablespoon for wash

2 large eggs

1/3 cup grade B maple syrup

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 425 degrees. Line baking tray  with parchment paper and set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment mix 2 cups flour, 2 tablespoons sugar, baking powder and salt . Add the cold butter and mix at the lowest speed until the butter is the size of peas. Combine the eggs with the heavy cream and at to the flour and butter mixture at a low speed.  Add the maple syrup next still at a how speed  and then the bacon. Mix until just blended. Dump the dough on to a well floured work surface.  Using a fork, whisk together half and half and egg white in liquid measuring cup. Then add half and half mixture and maple syrup to your flour. Flour your hands and pat dough into a 6-inch square about 1 1/4 inches thick. Flour a 2 1/2 inch cutter and make 12 rounds.  cut into four 3-inch squares. Transfer to prepared baking sheet. Place baking sheet into refrigerator for 30 minutes. Remove from refrigerator and use a pastry brush to wash the tops of the scones with the cream and then sprinkle with sugar. Bake at 425 degrees for 18 to 20 minutes, or until the tops are golden. Transfer to w wire baking rack to cool. The scones are best eaten as soon as possible.