Super Simple Banana Pancakes

This recipe has worked well as a simple go-to when I don't know what to make for dinner and I want to keep it simple. And, best of all, it only uses TWO ingredients--talk about keeping it easy peasy! (Marigold blossoms are extra.)

2 eggs

1 banana

Pre-heat griddle or non-stick pan over medium heat. Mash banana. Add eggs and mix thoroughly to batter consistency. Pour onto hot griddle in "silver-dollar" size circles. When bubbles pop on the top and the edges are dry, flip and cook on other side. Serve with syrup or fresh fruit.

Yield: 9-12 "silver-dollar" pancakes

**Be sure your griddle/pan is fully heated. It should start to cook the batter as soon as it hits. Otherwise, it spreads out too much and you get a messy not-quite-crepe.**

How to Make Egg Salad for Sandwiches

Hard boiled eggs can be used in many ways to make various meals. In this episode of How to Cook When There Is No Cook, we'll go over the basics of making egg salad. It's a great way to transform hard boiled eggs into a sandwich spread.

How to Make Hard Boiled Eggs

A simple skill the backup chef needs to learn How To Cook When There Is No Cook is how to make hard boiled eggs. Hard boiled eggs can be used for multiple things like deviled eggs, egg salad, on sandwiches or in salads. We may go over some of these specific uses in later videos. Until then, here's a video to help you master the basics.

Crab Quiche

2 eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 tsp cornstarch
1/2 lb imitation crab meat, flaked
1 1/2 cup shredded Swiss cheese (I used Havarti that I had on hand)
1 unbaked pie crust

1. Preheat oven to 350'F.
2. In a medium bowl, mix together eggs, milk, mayonnaise and cornstarch. Mix in the imitation crab and Swiss cheese. Pour into pie shell.
3. Bake in preheated oven until a knife inserted into center of the quiche comes out clean, about 30 to 40 minutes.

I didn't have pie crust handy, so I just poured the egg mixture into the glass pie plate.
One review I saw said that cooking the quiche in a glass pie plate will make a flakier (as opposed to soggy) crust.

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.
___________________________________

I definitely want to try this with various fruit.  If you do, please add variations to the comments.

Frittata Recipe

I found a recipe from Lidia Bastianich for a Frittata in the Mother's Day PARADE.  I scanned it in so you can have the original recipe.  Just click on the photo.

My variations were:

Bermuda Onion
Zucchini
Low Fat Ricotta
No Peppers
Garlic
Spinach

I used my large cast iron skillet.  It worked just like the recipe stated.  In the future I'll use the crusts of bread.  It was easy and filling.  I'll add more variations as I try them in the future.  If you do, please add them in the comments.

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. 

Taco Muffins

I got this from the Biggest Loser website.  The only changes I made was using 6 whole eggs & omitted olives - I'm a hater.  I think egg substitutes are not right or normal (super nasty) and it only increased the calorie per serving by 53.  The leftovers were great for a grab and go breakfast.  I have a non-stick silicone muffin tin and they popped right out without any oil beforehand.  Depending on your oven you may have to cook longer.  I did by about 7 mins.  Hope you enjoy them!

Cooking Tips: Hardboiled Eggs

If you like to have hard-boiled eggs in the fridge (they'll keep there for up to a week), add a drop or two of food coloring to the water as you're boiling them so you'll know at a glance which are cooked and which are raw.

pan-crisped deviled eggs on frech lettuces