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Balthazar Granola
This morning I popped into Balthazar Bakery to pick up a bag of their handmade granola. Good granola is hard to find and I have to say Balthazar’s is one of the best I have ever tried. The bakery, on 80 Spring Street in Soho, is adjacent to the famed and timeless Balthazar Restaurant, and offers a selection of pastries, breads, cookies, cakes and tarts that allow you to take a little taste of the restaurant–and its Parisian-inspired style– home.
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Saturday Morning at Russ & Daughters
It’s a Saturday morning tradition for us. We wake up, grab coffee at Think Coffee and then swing by Russ & Daughters for some of the best bagels and smoked fish in the city.
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Heavenly Cheese Danish
The ultimate crowd-pleaser, my recipe for Heavenly Cheese Danish is an easy treat to be enjoyed for breakfast, dessert or any time of day. This recipe uses refrigerated crescent rolls in place of puff pastry, making the preparation easy and quick. The filling is a creamy and sweet cream cheese mixture, with a hint of fresh lemon juice and vanilla extract. Once out of the oven, golden and crispy on top and drizzled with glaze, you will be amazed at the finished danish that truly tastes better than a bakery. The texture is very light and has far more creamy filling than any pre-packaged danish you’d find in the stores. Make this ASAP for your family and friends – I guarantee you’ll be making your second one shortly after! 😉
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Orange Date Oat Bran Muffins
I had some extra dried dates around (see Pan-Latin Picadillo), so I decided to put them to good use by creating a healthy oat bran muffin recipe that features this delicious dried fruit. I love dates for a special reason. They remind me of my unforgettable trip to Istanbul last summer, where bazaars overflowed with hundreds of plump dried figs, apricots and dates around every corner of the city. For this recipe, I used oat bran and whole wheat flour as a base and Greek yogurt and applesauce as a substitute for oil. The finishing touch is the addition of freshly grated orange rind and, of course, chopped dried dates for a Middle Eastern-inspired health muffin.
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Sunday Egg Sandwiches
Every weekend my boyfriend makes us mouth-watering egg sandwiches, so I decided to share the deliciousness. The recipe and ingredients couldn’t be more simple, but it’s easy to forget what a fantastic breakfast a simple egg sandwich can be. So here it goes:
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Apple Bran Muffins
Continuing with the apple theme, I set out to make hearty apple bran muffins. I love bran muffins in general so I was excited to try making them with fresh-picked apples. For this recipe I used both shredded apple and small apple chunks, which bring a lot of texture and moistness to the muffins. With the addition of flaxseed meal (you can substitute toasted wheat germ as well), these muffins are full of fiber and make the perfect healthy snack. Try them warm with a little whipped butter… heavenly!
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Sticky Bun Cake
As a lover of sweet breakfast dishes, I am always thrilled to find new and easy recipes for breakfast and brunch ideas. My boyfriend’s Mom makes a scrumptious Sticky Bun Cake that I look forward to every time I visit. The cake is made using plain frozen bread rolls that, when baked together, form a complete cake in the shape of a bundt pan. The fun begins the night before by preparing the frozen bread rolls and sweet topping in a bundt pan, and simply leaving the pan in a cold oven overnight.
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Six Week “Baptist” Bran Muffins
Love the taste of freshly baked, homemade, hot bran muffins every morning? I have found a recipe to make this happen. With this delicious and healthy recipe, you are able to make the muffin mix and keep the batter in the refrigerator for up to six weeks so you can bake the muffins as you wish! Frequently called “Baptist Muffins” or “Six Week Muffins,” this full-of-fiber recipe includes 2 popular types of cereal, Grape Nuts and Shredded Wheat, as well as buttermilk and a selection of your favorite sweet mix-ins to create a deliciously chewy, hearty muffin with a moist inside and textured top.
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Crazy for Cacio e Pepe? Check Out Two Recipes from NYC Hotspot Maialino…
If you have ever dined in Rome’s famous Roman Ghetto, you have most likely tried Spaghetti Cacio e Pepe. Situated in the Sant’Angelo district, the Roman Ghetto is rich in history and boasts some of the best rustic “comfort-food” cuisine in all of Italy. Cacio e Pepe – meaning literally cheese and pepper – is so simple, but packs a major punch. The sharpness of fresh, salty pecorino romano cheese and freshly grated course black pepper tossed with perfectly al dente spaghetti is pure heaven.
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Low-Sugar and Whole Wheat Zucchini Muffins with Pecans
I just finished a batch of healthy and delicious whole wheat zucchini muffins. I found this recipe on one of my favorite cooking blogs, Kalyn’s Kitchen, and I just had to try it out for myself! Because it calls for Splenda and agave in place of regular sugar, these muffins are low-sugar and perfect for those who are watching their carbs, but refuse to sacrifice flavor. The addition of chopped pecans makes for a hearty and crunchy texture. Perfect for breakfast or a snack anytime of day. Enjoy!!
