This recipe was submitted by Sherri for May’s Food Challenge.  If you have a recipe with eggs in it, you can enter too! Check it out ’cause there’s a great prize!  Thanks Sherri for entering!

Ingredients

• 12 frozen biscuits
• 12 oz country ham, thinly sliced
• 3 lg Egglands Best Eggs
• 1/2 med habanero pepper, finely chopped (optional)
• 1/4 c Tbsp honey
• 1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
• 1 Tbsp Italian seasoning
• 2 tsp chives, dry
• 1 lg onion, sliced
• 6 Tbsp butter, unsalted (3 Tbsp for onions)
• 3 pinch salt and pepper

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place biscuits on lightly greased cookie sheet. Have sides touching each other. Cook for about 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. One minute before cooking is complete melt 1 tbsp butter, add Italian season and half of the chives. Brush the tops of biscuits with the butter mixture; continue to cook the biscuits for one more minute. Remove biscuits from oven and place on a cooling rack.
2. Meanwhile, in a heated large skillet, add ham slices and enough water to cover ham slices. Cook at medium heat until liquid has reduced in half. This should take about 4-5 minutes. Flip ham slices half way through. After liquid had reduced, remove ham and set or warming plate.
3. Add chopped habanero pepper, mustard and honey to the pan sauce. Simmer on low heat for about 2 minutes. Set aside
4. Grill sliced onions in 3 tbsp butter. Remove and set aside
5. Whisk eggs, remaining chives, pepper and salt. In a medium size frying pan, add 2 tbsp of butter. Let melt, and then add eggs. Cook eggs about 1 minute and flip and cook for an additional minute. Remove and cut into 12 equal pieces
6. Slice biscuits in half. Layer equal parts of egg, honey mustard mixture, ham, grilled onions and tops of biscuits.

Serve with fresh fruit and veggies.

French Toast Casserole, a perfect breakfast for our family.  I recently shared the new KitchenAid Recipe Collection Cookbook with you and now want to share one of the recipes.  I truly love love love this cookbook.   There are so many wonderful, easy recipes that I can’t seem to decide what to make.   I chose this because a pretty sweet gal I know recommended it and because we are huge breakfast eaters around here.  It’s the one meal I insist that we all eat to insure a full, energy filled day.

The recipe was extremely easy to make.  I love that you can prepare it ahead and then bake that morning.  In fact, in my opinion, I’d actually bake the night before and let it sit overnight.  While it was GREAT out of the oven, we loved it even more once it had cooled off completely.  This made a huge pan full and was plenty for our family of 5.

Another great reason why I love my KitchenAid Refrigerator!  That pull out tray is the handiest thing ever!!

It was a little overdone. I have a horrible oven from the 70′s so I can never bake anything right but no matter ’cause it tasted delicious!!!  We totally give it 5 stars.

Hope your morning is just as delicious as ours was!

When I told my personal trainer Sarah that I rank #3 on the first page of Google for ‘homemade pancakes‘, she was slightly hesitant to give me a healthy pancake version.  She did give it to me though and I’m very excited about it. I never even thought these ingredients would make a pancake, much less a good tasting one!  I will always favor my pancake version, however, I do think these will be a nice change in our eating lifestyle. After all, I am trying to eat healthier!

Sarah’s…

A fresh start means fresh ideas and fresh foods.  I’ve been eating healthier with all my meals and breakfast is no exception.  I know most of us buy the instant oatmeal but try making it from scratch next time!  I promise it will taste great and it’s much better for you because it will not have all that sugar.

This is a very good and healthy breakfast which I am trying implement more and more with my all the family but specifically my toddler. Oatmeal is a good source of fiber and is excellent for the heart! There are gazillions of oatmeal variations out there but today I bring you some simple old fashion Banana Nut Oatmeal!

INGREDIENTS:

• 3 c fat-free milk
• 3 TBLS firmly packed brown sugar
• 3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• 2 c Quaker Oats (quick or old fashioned, uncooked)
• 2 medium-size ripe bananas, mashed (about 1c)
• Pecan pieces (optional)
• Dash of Honey:) (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

In saucepan, bring milk, brown sugar, and spices to a gentle boil; stir in your oats. Return to a boil; reduce heat to medium. Cook 1 minute for quick oats, 5 minutes for old fashioned oats, or until most of liquid is absorbed, stirring occasionally. Remove oatmeal from heat. Stir in mashed bananas and pecans and a dash of honey.

NOTE: The bananas, honey and pecans can be completely optional!! If you just want plain but tasty oatmeal, the cinnamon and nutmeg are quite wonderful.

ENJOY:)

How would you make your oatmeal? Nutrition is so important but don’t forget to get moving!!

Disclosure: I am an official Walmart Mom. Follow me and my fellow Walmart Moms as we share our ideas and tips for a healthier you! Walmart has provided me with compensation and gift card in return for my time & efforts to create this post. My participation in this program is voluntary and my opinions are my own, always have been, always will be.

Every since I posted my homemade pancake recipe, I’ve received TONS of requests asking for a waffle recipe.  Well today, I bring you a waffle recipe that is light & fluffy and made from scratch.  It’s a recipe that was handed down to me from a dear old friend who has much more kitchen wisdom than myself.  While I always enjoy seeing what people create today, it’s the recipes from years ago that I have an appreciation for.

There are tons of waffle recipes out there, mostly the same type of recipe, but what makes this one a tad different is the separating and beating of egg whites.  This, in my opinion, is what makes them ever so fluffy.  I also would prefer a bit more sugar and perhaps a few blueberries in my own waffles but I wanted to give you the basics to work with so that you can make your own to taste by simply adding fruit, a wee bit more sugar, or even a touch of honey.

And because I have two teens that eat a lot, I invested in this handy Waring Pro double waffler maker that I absolutely love!!  It makes two a time and not just small waffles, but big round waffles that can be cooked to your desired crispness. (I have red but it comes in other choices too.)

INGREDIENTS

• 2 large eggs, separated
• 1 1/2 c milk
• 2 T sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 c flour, sifted*
• 3 tsp baking powder
• 4 T melted butter
• 1 tsp vanilla

DIRECTIONS

In a medium-sized bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff. In a large bowl, beat sugar, salt and milk until smooth. Add yolks to the milk and beat until creamy. Mix in flour and baking powder (batter will be lumpy…be careful not to over mix or the waffles will end up tough). Fold in the egg whites. Add the melted butter and vanilla, fold until combined.

Preheat the waffle maker. Pour in enough batter to cover the bottom, bake until brown or the waffle stops steaming.  Or in my case, until my beeper goes off!

Breakfast truly is the most important meal of the day so please don’t skip out on it!  It’s what gives you that much needed boost to get going and last through the morning.  I know that everyone is still struggling due to the economy so here are a few budget friendly breakfast ideas to get you going.

1. Have a piece of casserole. It takes time to cook eggs and bacon for breakfast. No one wants to ruin their clothes with the mess it can create. On Sunday night, get breakfast done early. Put together a casserole using your favorite ingredients. Fewer eggs are needed in a casserole than when frying or scrambling them for breakfast each morning. Depending on the size of your family, the casserole may last two to three mornings.

2. Yogurt. Yogurt is a healthy breakfast choice. When you are eating on the run, grab a container of yogurt and some dried or fresh fruit. Cutting up fruit on top of the yogurt adds carbohydrates to fuel you for the morning in addition to the calcium and protein in the yogurt itself.

3. Breakfast shake. This is even quicker and can be ingested while driving without taking your eyes off the road or both hands off the wheel. Put together some frozen fruit favorites, ice cubes, frozen yogurt, and unsweetened juice in a blender. Pour into Styrofoam cups to keep it cold. Everyone can grab a cup on the way out the door. The nutritional effect is about the same as yogurt, but without the spoon.

4. Pigs in a blanket. This is the homemade version. Whip up a batch of pancakes and freeze them in short stacks of three. A package or two of frozen link sausage is needed to create this quick and economical meal idea. Thaw out a stack of pancakes. Heat up three sausages in the microwave. Wrap a pancake around each sausage. Voila! You’ve got an instant pig in a blanket. Eat it as you watch the last of your favorite morning show or as you walk to the bus stop. It can be eaten in the car without too much fuss or mess. For a sweeter taste and less mess, add a little maple syrup or honey to the batter when making the pancakes.

5. Breakfast sandwiches. In the evening, while you are getting things ready for the next day, grill up a few breakfast sandwiches. Choose whatever you like: turkey slices, ham slices, cheese, tomato, bacon, etc. When the sandwich cools, cut it into bite size pieces and put it in a container. In the morning, just grab a container; pop it into the microwave for fifteen or twenty seconds and breakfast is served.

Most of these ideas use basic ingredients that are kept in every kitchen so you’ll be saving money too.  Do you have a favorite budget friendly recipe to share?

This recipe comes from my mom!  She’s helping me out while I’m in Florida at SeaWorld!  Thanks Mom!

INGREDIENTS
Dough-2 pound ingredient

• 1 cup milk
• 1 egg, beaten
• 4 Tbsp. Melted butter
• 4 Tbsp. water
• ½ box instant vanilla pudding (3.4 oz box)
• 4 cups Bread flour
• 1 Tbsp. Sugar
• ½ tsp. Salt
• 2 ½ tsp. Bread machine yeast

FILLING

• ½ cup butter, softened
• 1 Cup brown sugar
• 2 tsp. cinnamon
• ¼ cup chopped walnuts, opt.
• ¼ cup raisins, opt

FROSTING 1 (Real Cinnabon Frosting)

• 4 oz. Cream cheese, room temp. (With walnuts and raisins)
• ¼ cup butter, softened (this is awesome)
• 1 ½ cup powdered sugar
• ½ tsp. Vanilla
• 1 ½ tsp. Milk
• 3 Tbsp. real Maple Sup

FROSTING 2 (not the real thing, but good)

• 1 tsp. milk
• 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
• 4 Tbsp. butter, softened
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1½ Tbsp. milk

PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS

Place all ingredients in your machine in order recommended by your machine’s manufacturer.
Place the pan in your machine.
Select the dough cycle and press start.
When cycle is finished, remove the dough, knead enough to punch down and roll to 17×10.

Combine first 3 filling ingredients and mix well.
Heat in microwave 10 seconds. To make spreadable.
Spread over rolled out dough with rubber spatula. Get as close to the edges as possible. Sprinkle nuts or raisins over dough.

Starting with widest end, roll the dough into a tight log.
Cut into ½ to 1” slices.
Place in a lightly greased baking dish with sides.

Place in a warm draft free place and allow them to rise until double. (I turn my oven on warm and place them inside. When the temp light goes off, turn off the oven.

Let them rise 20-30 minutes this way. Take out to heat oven to baking temp)

Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes.

When the rolls are done top with frosting of your choice.

Note: for a real treat replace raisins in the fillings with chopped dried cherries, blueberries or strawberries. When doing this use frosting 1 or 2 and add a Tbsp. Of matching fruit jam.

Yield: A Full 9×13 pan

Because I’m trying to lose weight, I’m really watching what I eat.  Every morning I wake up and decide what to eat.  I usually go for oatmeal, a healthy cereal or have a smoothie. Today is smoothie day!  My two favorite fruits, strawberries & bananas, in a drink!  And to make sure I’m getting a good dose of calcium, I use whole milk. You can substitute 2% or fat free if you want it non-fat but I think it’s healthy to have a good glass of milk throughout the day.

I have a blender that I just LOVE. The  Chris Freytag Personal Fitness Blender is my absolute favorite and it’s cheaper at QVC than at Amazon.  If you’re not a member of QVC, it’s a 30 sec sign up folks.

The blender is basically a mug that you can use to drink your shake or smoothie and comes with a to-go lid.  You put your ingredients in it, screw the top on (with the blender blades) and flip over onto unit. When done, you flip back over and swap out lids with the to-go one. I LOVE IT!  And you can also get extra mugs if you want more for other family members.

INGREDIENTS

• * 1 cup frozen strawberry
• * 1 cup milk
• * 2 packets of Truvia (or your favorite sweetener or 1/4 cup sugar)
• * 1 banana
• * 8-10 ice cubes

DIRECTIONS

Put all ingredients in blender. Blend until smooth.  VIOLA!  Super easy and VERY good!

What is your favorite kind of smoothie?

We are breakfast eaters around here so I can’t really afford to buy premade stuff like those bags full of pancakes or boxes of waffles.  It’s much cheaper to make my own from scratch and I have to say, much better tasting in my opinion.  They are very simple to make and even had my toddler help throw some powdered sugar on top for fun!  We eat pancakes with scrambled eggs and bacon.  YUM!  If pancakes aren’t your thing, try a traditional breakfast, bacon brunch bites or country fried sandwich.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 egg
• 1 cup flour
• 3/4 cup milk ( I usually add a bit more to my desired consistency)
• 2 Tablespoons oil
• 1 Tablespoon sugar
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

DIRECTIONS:

Mix your dry ingredients together, then add in your wet ingredients.  Mix until smooth and to desired consistency. I pour into a measuring cup I have with a pour spout but you can use whatever.  Pour out onto semi-hot griddle; not too hot or the middle of your pancakes won’t cook through.  I use my tortilla griddle.  When it’s bubbled up on one side, flip!  Serve with your favorite syrup, fruit or sugar!

HINT: For more flavor, add a bit of vanilla!

Just bringing you easy and affordable recipes these days huh!  To make these Apple Turnovers from scratch would be divine but since many of us don’t have the time, I found a shortcut from the coolest cookbook ever, 101 Things to Do with Canned Biscuits!  These only take a few minutes to prepare and about the same amount of time to cook.

I love cookbooks like this and if you’re into this stuff, check out the whole line of 101 things cookbooks for fun and easy recipes.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 can (16.3oz) biscuits
• 1 can apple pie filling
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• 4 tablespoons sugar

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 400′.  Flatten each biscuit into a 6″ round.  Place 2 heaping tablespoons of pie filling on each biscuit.  Moisten edges of dough with water.  Fold over and press edges firmly with a fork to seal.  Place on a lightly greased baking sheet.

Mix cinnamon and sugar and then sprinkly over top of biscuits.  USE IT ALL.  It might seem like a lot but it’s really not.  Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.  YUMMY!