Showing posts with label apple. Show all posts
Showing posts with label apple. Show all posts

Monday, July 4, 2011

German Pancakes

While we were staying with Ben and Nikki, Nikki made German Apple Pancakes.  Honestly, I was a bit skepticle because I don't love apples, especially Granny Smith Apples.  I was pleasantly surprised - it was really good!  Nikki added some fresh berries to hers and I liked it even more ;)  The recipe is from her America's Test Kitchen Family Baking Book.

German Apple Pancakes - serves 4

1/2 C all purpose flour
1 T. ganulated sugar
1/2 tsp. Salt
2/3 C. Half and Half
2 large eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
2 T. butter
1 1/4 lbs (3-4 large) apples, peeled, cored, quartered & sliced
1/2 C packed brown sugar
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. fresh lemon juice

Adjust oven rack to upper middle position and heat the oven to 500 degrees.  Whisk the flour, sugar and salt together in a large bowl.  In a small bowl, whish the half-and-half, eggs and vanilla together.  Whisk the wet into the dry until smooth with no lumps.

Melt the butter in a 10-inch oven proof nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.  Add the apples, brown sugar and cinnamon.  Cook, stirring often, until the apples are golden brown.  Approximately 10 minutes.  Off the heat, stir in the lemon juice.

Quickly pour the batter around the edge of the skillet, then over the apples.  Place the skillet in the oven and reduce immediately the oven temperature to 425.  Bake until the pancake is brown and risen above the edges of the skillet.  Approx. 18 minutes. 

Remove from the oven and if desired invert onto a serving dish.  Dust with powdered sugar and serve.
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I definitely want to try this with various fruit.  If you do, please add variations to the comments.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Homemade Breakfast Sandwich Recipes

Breakfast is the meal I struggle with the most while working full time.  I'm not a morning person and prefer taking my breakfast with me to work.  I also don't like prepackaged foods much.  I also have a short attention span and want variety.  Yup - I'm a mess!  Since I have some vegetarian tendencies, I struggle getting enough protein as well.  The two recipes here have helped. 

Turkey Sausage & Egg Sandwich
During our recent move I was forced to eat frozen meals for a couple days.  I tried the Jimmy Dean D-Lights breakfast sandwiches. 

They were ok, but I knew I could make better ones with a little more nutrition.  I try to never eat pork so mine were made with turkey breakfast sausage.  I found our bulk sausage in the freezer section.  It said that there were 6 servings per package, but I got 9 out of mine.  (if you leave the sausage partially frozen it's easier to slice into patties. You will have extra sausage patties for future stuff.  I froze my extras.)

6 Whole Wheat English Muffins
6 Slices Reduced Fat Cheese
6 Individually Cooked Eggs
6 Cooked Turkey Sausage Patties

Assemble each sandwich & place in single freezer-proof ziplock bags & freeze.  When time to re-heat, remove from plastic, wrap in a napkin/paper towel and microwave on low for 40 secs.  Flip and microwave for another 40 secs.  Adjust time based on microwave power.  If using a toaster oven separate the sandwich into halves with sausage on one side and egg and cheese on another.  Cook on 350 for 5 mins or until fully heated through.  (Ham or bacon would be good substitutes as well as using biscuits or regular toast for the bread.)
**Nutritional Info:  321 cals, 22 carbs, 17 fat, 23 protein, 3 fiber -- if you prefer egg whites only, it's 53 calories less per serving.

Apple, Honey & Nut Butter Sandwich
If you know my eating habits, you know I hate apples.  However, I feel SO much better when I eat them daily.  I have tried variations of this recipe and below is my preferred. 

1/2 medium Apple, sliced thinly
1 Slice Bread
1 T Nut Butter (Almond, Peanut, Cashew, etc.)
1 tsp pure Honey

Toast bread.  Spread nut butter on toasted bread.  Top nut butter with apple slices.  Drizzle apple slices with honey.  Enjoy!
**Nutritional Info based on my ingredients - Almond Butter, Sprouted Grain Bread, Jazz Apple: 242 cals, 35 carbs, 9 fat, 10 protein, 8 fiber

Note: Other variations of this sandwich use cheese & tofu in place of the nut butter.