Benchmark Breakfast Recipes

Apple Pie Coffee Cake

Ingredients

Cake Batter

1 ¾ cup flour

¾ tsp baking powder

¼ tsp baking soda

¼ tsp salt

¼ cup butter

¾ cup sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

¾ cup oil

¼ cup or 4 oz vanilla yogurt

2 granny smith apples

1 tsp cinnamon

¼ tsp ginger

¼ tsp nutmeg

Cinnamon swirl

¾ cup brown sugar

⅓ cup flour

¼ cup cold butter, diced

½ tbsp cinnamon

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

1. Cream together butter and sugar.  Add eggs, oil, yogurt and vanilla
2. Sift in Flour, soda, powder, spices and salt.  Mix
3. Peel core and dice apples
4. Mix together the cinnamon swirl until the butter is well incorporated
5. Grease a square glass baking dish and spread out ½ of the batter in the bottom
6. Sprinkle ⅓ of the cinnamon swirl mixture over the batter
7. Spread the apples over the swirl
8. Sprinkle ⅓ more of the cinnamon swirl mixture over the apples
9. Spread out the rest of the batter with a spatula
10. Top with the remaining ⅓ of the swirl mixture
11. Bake for 35-40 min. Or until the a toothpick comes out clean.

Perfect Bacon every time!

Low and Slow and Turing often is the key!

Biscuit Donut Holes

1. Cut biscuits into 4ths

2. Deep fry until golden brown

3. Drain in a paper towel

4. roll in cinnamon/sugar

5. Eat up and enjoy!

Apple Fritter Donut Holes

1. Follow the above biscuit donut hole recipes

2. Then chop up 1 apple into small pieces and saute in butter until soft

3. Add some cinnamon sugar to taste and allow to melt and caramelize

4. Pour over the donut holes and toss to coat

Serve hot and enjoy!

For video see http://countrykitchenapproved.blogspot.com/p/apple-of-my-eye-apple-recipes.html

Fresh Cream Butter

1. Put 2 cups heavy whipping cream in a stand up mixer

2. Attach the whisk and mix for 4-5 mins, while mixing add up to 1 tsp of salt for salted butter

3. Mix another 3-4 mins until the butter bits form and liquid separates. This is buttermilk

4. Grab a handful of butter bits and squeeze as much of the buttermilk out as possible. 

5. Repeat until you gotten as much of the butter out as you can and discard the buttermilk or save and use later. 

Use right away or store in refrigerator 

Microwave Strawberry Jam

1. Empty a 16oz package of frozen whole strawberries into a large glass microwaveable mixing bowl

2. Sprinkle strawberries with 1 1/2 Tbsp of powdered pectin

3. Microwave for 12 mins

4. Remove bowl and add 1 1/4 Tbsp lemon juice and 1 1/4 cup sugar.  Stir until the sugar is melted. 

5. Microwave for another 12 min on 60% power. 

6. Skim off foam that has collected and stir once more.  If it sheets off the spoon you have done it correctly. 

7. Transfer to a sterilized jar and allow to cool. Top with lid (and fabric square) and store in the refrigerator.  

Breakfast Sausage Gravy (Served with biscuits)

Ingredients
1/2 package of pork sausage
2 Tbsp butter
2-3 Tbsp flour
2 1/2 cups milk
salt and pepper to taste
Your favorite biscuits

Preparation
1. Brown sausage
2. Put sausage in a small bowl and mix with 1-2 Tbsp flour
3. Add milk to pan and whisk
4. Add salt and pepper to taste
5. When milk starts to steam add sausage and whisk
6. Keep whisking till gravy has thickened
7. Pour over biscuits and enjoy!

Banana Roll Ups

I originally got this recipe from the following cite but adapted it to better suit my tastes.  http://www.the-girl-who-ate-everything.com/2013/05/french-toast-roll-ups.html

Ingredients

5-6 slices of bread

1-2 bananas thinly sliced

1 egg

3 Tbsp milk

½ tsp of cinnamon

1/3 cup sugar

1. Cut crusts off your bread slices and Roll sliced flat with rolling pin 

2. Put 3 slices of banana at one end of bread, and roll it up
3. In a shallow bowl mix egg, milk and ¼ tsp cinnamon In another shallow bowl mix sugar and remaining cinnamon 

4. Roll in the egg mixture then in the sugar mixture

5. Place in a non-stick skillet on medium heat. When sugar starts to bubble flip and cook on the other side.

Plate up and enjoy! ((I would put the seam side down otherwise it will stick to your plate)

Peanut Butter Banana Muffins

1.     Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2.     Peel and mash 4 overripe bananas with a fork

3.     Place in a stand up mixer (you can always mix by hand if you don’t have a mixer)

4.     Add ½ cup agave nectar or honey

½ cup packed brown sugar

2 eggs

½ cup softened butter

1 cup natural peanut butter

1 tsp vanilla

5.     Place on the paddle attachment and mix to combine

6.     Sift in 2 cup of flour (white or wheat or a combo of the two)

½ tsp baking powder

¼ tsp salt

7.     Mix to combine

8.     Add 1/3 cup milk and mix a final time

9.     Place 24 cupcake liners in muffin trays and spray with baking spray

10. Bake for 22 min

11. Let cool and enjoy!

**Optional Rum Sugar Glaze.
1. In a saucepan melt 2 tbsp butter, add 1/4 cup brown sugar and 1-2 tbsp milk
2. Add 1/4-1/2 tsp rum extract
3. Stir and drizzle over muffins.
4. Sprinkle with chopped pecans.


Cherry Chocolate Chip Granola Bars 

1. In a mixing bowl mix 1 stick of softened butter ½ agave nectar or honey and ½ cup of  peanut butter (make sure to mix the PB well before adding)
2. Add 1 egg, ½ cup packed brown sugar and 1 tsp vanilla extract and mix
3. In a separate bowl combine ½ cup whole wheat flour, 4 ½ cup of rolled oats, 1 tsp baking soda and a dash of salt
4. Carefully add the dry ingredients to the mixing bowl and combine
5. Chop up 1 cup of dried cherries and add them to the mixing bowl
6. Add 1 cup of mini chocolate chip and mix a final time
7. Grease an oblong baking dish and turn out the dough, flatten with a spatula and more with your grease hands
8. Bake in a 325 degree oven for 15-20 min
9. Allow to cool and cut into bars
10. Store in the refrigerator.

This recipe goes back to my teaching days.  It was a recipe we used in our microwave cooking lesson.  I'm not sure who first wrote it but I know its been around for a long time.

Microwave Monkey Bread

Ingredients

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 tsp cinnamon

3 Tbsp butter

1 Tbsp water

1 can refrigerated biscuits

(Optional 1/3 cup chopped nuts)

Directions

1. In a glass pie plate place butter, sugar, water and cinnamon and microwave for 1 min

2. Mix until well combine

3. Cut biscuits into fourths and place in plate. Use a spatula to toss and coat the biscuits in the sugar mixture. 

4. Place a small glass bowl in the center and form a ring with the biscuit pieces around the outer edge. 

5. Microwave for 3 min and let stand 1 min. 

6. Turn out onto a serving plate and remove middle glass bowl. 

7. Enjoy!

Blueberry Muffins

Ingredients

1 1/4 cup flour

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup milk

1 egg

1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries

1 tsp vanilla

Streusel topping

1/4 cup butter

1/2 cup sugar

1/3 cup flour

(A little lemon zest would be nice too ;0) 

Directions: 

Preheat oven to 400 degree

1. Mix oil and egg until well combine

2. Add milk and mix

3. Add sugar, vanilla, salt and baking powder and mix

4. Add flour and mix

5. Fold in blueberries and fill muffin cups with 1/4 cup batter

6. Make streusel by mixing all ingredients in a bowl until butter is incorporated. 

7. Evenly spoon streusel over muffins and bake for 20 min. 

8. Let cool and enjoy. 

Cherry Almond Scones

1. Sift together 2 cup flour, 1 Tbsp baking powder, 1/4 cup sugar and 1/2 tsp salt.

2. Cut 6 Tbsp of cold butter into slices and add to the mixing bowl

3. Using the paddle attachment mix until the butter is incorporated into the dry ingredients (it will still be powdery)

4. Add 1/2 cup cream and 1/2 cup milk to the mixing bowl and mix until well combined

5. Lastly add 1 package of sweet dark cherries (canned or thawed frozen is fine) and 1/4 cup sliced almonds and mix a final time.

6. Spread a healthy amount of flour onto your counter and turn out the dough.

7. Using more flour on top lightly shape into a thick disk and transfer to a greased baking sheet

8. Cut into slices with a pizza cutter.

9. Bake at 400 degrees for 22 mins

10. Recut the grooves and allow to cool.

11. To make the glaze melt 1 Tbsp butter and 1/2 cup brown sugar.  Stir in 2 Tbsp cream and drizzle over scones.

12. While the glaze is still wet sprinkle some sliced almonds on top of each scone.

13.  Allow glaze to cool and serve

Cinnamon Rolls

1. Dissolve 1 package of active dry yeast in 1/2 cup warm water

2. Add brown sugar and let sit 5 min

3. Scald and cool 1 cup milk

4. In a mixing bowl mix together 1/4 cup sugar, 1/4 cup shortening and 1 egg, add to the cooled milk, mix. 

5. Add that to the yeast and mix

6. add 2 cup flour and mix

7. Add another 2 cups flour and 1 tsp salt, mix

8. Knead dough for 5 min. (it will be a sticky dough)

9. Place in a greased glass bowl and allow to rise to double (about an hour) 

10. Turn out dough on a well floured surface and roll out

11. Cover dough with butter, sugar and cinnamon. Carefully roll dough up and slice (about 12-15 rolls)

12. Place rolls in a greased baking dish an allow to rise

13. Bake at 350 for about 15 mins. 

Cream Cheese Frosting

Whip the following ingredients in a mixer - 2 oz softness cream cheese, 2 Tablespoons butter, 2 cups powdered sugar, 1 tsp vanilla and water to make it the consistency you desire (Start with 1 Tbsp)

Caramel Blended Coffee

1/2 cup cold coffee (I just use some left over from my morning brew)

1/4 cup half-n-half

1/4 cup milk

2 oz caramel syrup (Starbucks sells it by the bottle if you ask for it)

2 cups ice

Blend in a blender for 30 seconds, pour in a glass and top with whipped cream and caramel sauce

**Makes 2 regulars or 1 extra large drink