one day.

Ula Cafe Jamaica Plain, MA

I've really been enjoying making home brewed ice tea lately and this morning I decided to make my first ever trip to Ula Cafe to get a Lemon Poppy Seed Muffin. Sadly they had none today but this sticky bun more then made up for it.

Hair today gone tomorrow

Nothing good ever happens after 3am.

Breakfast Pizza done right

I adapted this recipe from Smitten Kitchen. Its great for brunch or a nice summer dinner.

I use bob red mills gluten free crust prepared to the directions using flax seed. Add rosemary, thyme and dried basil and proof for 2 hours.

3 medium eggs
Half a bunch or asparagus cut (roasted at 350 for 25/30 minutes with 1 tablespoon olive oil)
1 cup spinach lightly sautéed
2 strips prosciutto (I only put it on half the pizza)
2 tablespoons crushed garlic
cracked peppercorns
Red pepper flakes
Goat cheese (to desired)
1 chive minced
arugula


Preheat oven for 1 hour at 425
Bake crust without toppings for 7 minutes

Spread on crushed garlic
Layer on asparagus, spinach, and prosciutto
Sprinkle on goat cheese
Make 3 wells and crack on eggs and spread a small bit
Add cracked peppercorns and red pepper flakes (about 1/4 teaspoon each)

Bake an additional 15 minutes or until eggs are done (careful not to overcook!)

Sprinkle on chive and arugula and add black pepper and or hot sauce to taste.

Slice and Serve.

Bacon Maple french Toast Birthday Surprise Cupcakes

So for a 20's themed (Great Gatsby) Birthday Party I decided to make some silly cupcakes. I heard they were quite the crowd pleaser.

Brunch Cupcakes
(makes 24 cupcakes)

1 box Duncan Hines Fudge Marble Cake Mix
1 1/4 cup water
1/2 cup applesauce
1/4 cup oil
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup maple syrup
4 strips bacon cooked and chopped

Maple Bacon Frosting
(enough for 24 cupcakes and than some)

1 8-ounce package cream cheese, room temperature
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
1/4 cup maple syrup
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3 strips bacon, cooked and chopped for garnish
Walnuts chopped for additional garnish

For the cake:

Preheat oven for 15 - 20 mins at 350
Line 2 cupcake tins with cupcake liners of your choice
Blend dry mix, water, oil and eggs in large bowl at low speed until moistened (about 30 seconds).
Add bacon and beat at medium speed for 2 minutes.
Measure 1 cup batter into small bowl and blend with coca powder packet
Slowly swirl into mixing bowl with the rest of the batter being careful to just swirl NOT MIX!
Spoon batter (about 1/4 cup into liners

Bake for 21 - 25 minutes (in a dark or coated tins)
Cupcakes are done when toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Cool in pan on wire rack for 15 minutes. Cool completely before frosting.

For Frosting

Beat the cream cheese and butter with a mixer on medium speed until creamy.
Add the confectioners' sugar(slowly), maple syrup and cinnamon; beat until combined.
Pipeon the cooled cupcakes and top with chopped bacon, and walnuts if desired.

Pumpkin Cranberry Pecan Pancakes with Agave Nectar

I know I've made pumpkin pancakes and from scratch before but Trader Joe's is just too darn good and sometimes I feel a bit Lazy. I made some alterations to make them more healthy so you aren't stuffed full of fat and sugar.

Trader Joe's Pumpkin Pancakes with a Twist
(makes 4 to 6 pancakes)

1 cup Trader Joe's Pumpkin Pancake mix
2 tablespoons margarine melted
2 tablespoons flax seed mixed with 6 tablespoons warm water
1 cup water
1/4 cup dried cranberries

To top them off:
1 tablespoon chopped pecans
2 tablespoons agave nectar

Pre heat skillet or frying pan lightly greased (I use canola spray) over medium heat
In a mixing bowl whisk all ingredients (except pecans and agave) to combine until smooth

Spoon 1/4 - 1/2 cup batter into skillet and cook until bubbly and slightly brown (about 2 minutes) flip and cook another 1 -2 minutes.

Move to a seperate plate

Continue until all the batter is gone.

Top with agave and pecans and serve.