Breakfast
Peanut Butter Banana Bagels
May 20, 2013 | 
Author The idea for these bagels spawned from reading a post on A Beautiful Mess, where Emma mentioned that her favorite bagel was from Panera – a peanut butter and banana bagel in fact! I never had the chance to try this gem, as it has been discontinued, but decided to take on this challenge of recreating what I imagine they would have been like. The execution of making these bagels however, poses the problem of adding two wet ingredients to dough, which would just result is needing more flour. But I have made bagels using pumpkin puree in the past and therefore substituted with mashed banana and used PB2′s powdered peanut butter instead.
I had hoped for a very obvious flavor, but the result was more subtle and I may need to try folding in real peanut butter for a swirl or try peanut butter chips. Or maybe my desire for a super peanut buttery-banana-y bagel is unrealistic, and this is as close as it gets. Don’t get me wrong, these were wonderful bagels! I wouldn’t be sharing them on my blog if they were not, just not a “wow that’s an explosion of peanut butter-banana flavor”. That response might be reserved for moister items such as muffins and blondies. To compensate, these were particularly good with a smear of Dark Chocolate Dreams peanut butter. Peanut butter on top of peanut butter – that’s just how I roll!
Actually, I recently discovered that cake batter flavor exists, and upon searching their website while writing this post found both banana and peanut butter flavorings. I feel like it would be a cop out to use them instead of real banana and peanut butter, but maybe a couple drops would get this bagel flavor up to the next level. What are your thoughts?
Two years ago: Baked Blueberry Almond Pancakes
PEANUT BUTTER BANANA BAGELS
Makes 8 bagels
Ingredients:
2-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup white whole wheat flour
1/4 cup PB2 powdered peanut butter
1 tsp salt
1/8 tsp ground cinnamon
1 cup warm water
2-1/4 tsp active dry yeast
2 Tbsp sugar, divided
1 large very ripe banana, mashed
Directions:
- In a small bowl, combine the two flours. In a large bowl, whisk together 2-1/2 cups of the flour, powdered peanut butter, salt, and cinnamon. Set aside. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine water, yeast and 1 and 1/2 tablespoons of sugar. Whisk together slightly and allow to sit for 3-5 minutes or until slightly foamy.
- Add the mashed banana and mix using a dough hook, then begin to slowly add the flour mixture. Mix for 5 minutes or until smooth, alternating between slow and medium speeds as you add flour. You want to mix it until the dough is no longer sticky. After 5 minutes, if the dough is sticky, incorporate the remaining flour, a little at a time.
- Form the dough into a ball and place in a lightly greased large bowl. Cover and allow the dough to double in size, around 1 hour.
- Remove the dough and punch it down. Divide into equal pieces. A digital scale is very helpful, but if you don’t have one just eye out 8 even pieces of dough. Press your finger through the middle of the ball, and form into a bagel shape. They will rise some more, so if you want a hole, make it bigger than the size of a quarter. Repeat with the the rest of the dough. Place on prepared baking sheet and let rest until risen but not doubled, 20 to 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and bring 12 cups of water to a boil with the remaining 1/2 tablespoon of sugar.
- In batches, boil the bagels for around 20 to 30 seconds per side. Remove from water and place back on prepared baking pan. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden. Allow to cool before serving.
Source: Adapted from Pumpkin Bagels, inspired by A Beautiful Mess.
Posted in Bagels, Bread Rolls Buns & Dough, Breakfast | 
Tags: bananas, peanut butter, whole wheat, yeast | 
15 Comments »
Bacon, Egg and Avocado Taco
Today I commence a little project I came up with called Single Serving Sunday, where I will share recipes that serve just one. Being a grad student, living alone and being a food blogger is an interesting mix sometimes when it comes to cooking and baking. I don’t have a very large budget, I prefer to not eat the same thing for an entire week, and yet I like to make things that the general public can relate to on my blog. As a result of this combination, I scale a lot of recipes from their original sources in half when I make and post them on my blog. But sometimes I need a recipe that just serves one, and certainly there are other people out there just like me.
Sometimes I will share recipes that make two servings for those of us that like leftovers for lunch or dinner the next day. The plan is to keep these recipes simple for one and occasionally two servings. The biggest challenge is going to be tackling the problem with single servings, which is the inevitability of having leftover ingredients. In those situations I will offer suggestions on what to do with what remains, or offer a post the following Sunday using the leftovers. If any other bloggers feel like joining me in this adventure feel free to do so!
Today’s breakfast taco does have some leftover ingredients, and I can already hear you asking “But what am I supposed to do with the remaining 3/4 avocado and corn tortillas?” For the avocado you could whip up a simple guacamole, or you could make these for breakfast another day. I actually did make these two days in a row because I enjoyed them so much and then used the remaining 1/2 in a pasta dish that I will share next Sunday. As for the corn tortillas, they keep in the fridge for a long time but you could also make baked tortilla chips to go with that guacamole 
. Or have friends over for a taco night dinner!
Do you have any single serving ideas, suggestions or requests? Please share! I may even get a fancy button if this project is a hit.
Two years ago: Penne with Eggplant and Pine Nut Crunch
BACON, EGG AND AVOCADO TACO
Serves 1
Ingredients:
2 slices turkey bacon
1 egg
1/4 avocado, sliced
1 6-inch white corn tortilla, warmed
Directions:
- In a frying pan over medium heat, fry the bacon to desired doneness. Drain on paper towel, and crumble.
- In the same frying pan, fry the egg until the yolk is set. Season with salt and pepper if desired.
- Assemble the taco by layering egg and avocado slices on the warm tortilla, and top with crumbled bacon. Fold and enjoy!
Source: Adapted slightly from Fitness, January 2013.
Strawberry Banana Granola
Today I get to branch out and guest post on The Little Ferraro Kitchen! Go over and check out this recipe for strawberry banana granola.
STRAWBERRY BANANA GRANOLA
Source: Adapted from A Cozy Kitchen.
One year ago: Raw Cookie Dough Bites
Birthday Overload Pancakes
Did you really think I would leave off for my birthday weekend with my post yesterday, lacking cake batter, peanut butter, and cookie dough? Yes it was a most splendid ice cream, but I refuse to spend my birthday without at least one of those 3 things! So I went ahead and made breakfast using all three…
Peanut butter pancakes.
Eggless chocolate chip cookie dough.
Funfetti “syrup”.
Put the three together and you get an overload of some of my most favorite things about the dessert world… but for breakfast! And since it’s my birthday it’s completely acceptable to eat this first thing in the morning.
And since today is also star wars day (may the fourth be with you), I had originally made these pancakes with star wars vehicle pancake molds, but they didn’t come out right so I ended up just making the rest regular. So you’ll have to just imagine these as cool Millenium Falcons and X wings and Tie Fighters.
One year ago: Funfettinutter Cupcakes for Two (or One Birthday Girl)
Two years ago: Peanut Butter Cup S’mores Ice Cream
BIRTHDAY OVERLOAD PANCAKES
Makes about 1.5 dozen
Ingredients:
COOKIE DOUGH
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
2 Tbsp sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 Tbsp milk
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/8 tsp salt
1/4 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips
PANCAKES
1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1-1/2 cups milk
1 egg
1 Tbsp sugar
1/4 creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup vanilla Greek yogurt (I used 0% vanilla Chobani)
CAKE BATTER “SYRUP”
1/2 cup dry white cake mix
1/4 cup water
2 Tbsp sprinkles, plus more for garnish
Directions:
- To make the cookie dough, in a large bowl, beat butter and sugars with an electric mixer on medium until light and fluffy. Mix in milk and vanilla.
- Stir in flour and salt and mix on low until incorporated. Fold in chocolate chips. Set aside.
- To make pancakes, in a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- In a medium bowl, combine the milk, egg, sugar, peanut butter, and Greek yogurt. Beat with an electric mixer on low until smooth. Add mixture to the dry ingredients, and mix until just combined.
- Heat a large griddle over medium heat. Ladle the batter onto the griddle and cook until golden brown on both sides, about 2-3 minutes per side.
- Keep pancakes warm by placing on a oven-proof tray in an oven preheated to 200 degrees.
- To make the “syrup”, whisk together the cake mix and water until smooth. Fold in sprinkles.
- To serve, layer pancakes alternating with crumbled bits of cookie dough, topped with a drizzle of cake batter “syrup”. Add extra sprinkles if desired.
Source: Cookie Dough from The Cookie Dough Lover’s Cookbook. Pancakes adapted from The Peanut Butter & Co. Cookbook. Cake Batter “Syrup” adapted slightly from Little Bitty Bakes.
Posted in Breakfast, Pancakes | Tags: cake mix, chocolate, Funfetti, Greek yogurt, peanut butter, sprinkles | 15 Comments »
Strawberry, Mango, and Yogurt Smoothie & Red Jacket Juice Giveaway
Everyone’s had apple juice, but have you ever had FUJI apple juice?Leave it to Red Jacket to create an entire line of fantastic juices including strawberry apple, raspberry apple, blackcurrant apple, grape apple, tart cherry stomp, apricot stomp, apple cider, and even spiced apple cider. And their company is close to where I grew up, so it’s great to support a local company!
Located in the beautiful Finger Lakes Region of New York State along the rolling hills of Seneca Lake, Red Jacket was originally planted in 1917. Today, the orchard and juice company is managed by the second and third generation of the Nicholson family, who have spent over 50 years mastering the art and science of quality fresh fruit and juice production.
But what makes their juice so special? It is 100% juice, never from concentrate, cold-pressed, unfiltered (so it retains the fiber of the fruit), 50% more antioxidant activity than clear juice, and made right on the orchard in Geneva, NY. It’s as close to eating the whole fruit as you can get! And I’m giving away a 6-bottle variety pack and the end of this post! (US residents only – but they cannot ship to CA.)
After thoroughly enjoying drinking a couple juices straight up, I decided to make a smoothie using the Fuji Apple Juice. I make green monster smoothies almost religiously, so it was fun to change it up a bit. The tangy-ness brought by the Greek yogurt and mango was well balanced with the sweetness of the strawberries and juice. I may need to add some of their juice to my green monsters!
One year ago: More Fudge Less Pudge Brownies
Two years ago: Coconut Chicken Salad with Apricot Honey Mustard Vinaigrette
STRAWBERRY, MANGO, AND YOGURT SMOOTHIE
Makes 2 large or 4 small smoothies
Ingredients:
1-1/4 cups Red Jacket Fuji apple juice
1 cup vanilla Greek yogurt (I used 0% vanilla Chobani)
1 cup fresh or frozen strawberries
2 cups fresh or frozen mango chunks
Directions:
- In a blender, combine all ingredients and puree until smooth.
Source: Adapted slightly from Everyday Food, June 2010.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclosure: I was sent a variety pack of juice from Red Jacket. Giveaway provided by Red Jacket. I was not compensated for this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Posted in Beverages, Breakfast, Giveaways, Smoothies | Tags: apple juice, Greek yogurt, mango, strawberries | 27 Comments »
Hot Oat & Quinoa Cereal
Memphis may be experiencing highs in the 80s and lows only in the 60s, but that doesn’t stop me from craving a warm breakfast. The great thing about this oatmeal/cereal is that you can prepare it the night before and then reheat it in the morning, complete with some great toppings. It even has some quinoa in it instead of just being all oats so it’s packed with extra protein. And by the way even if you are not a quinoa fan, it blends right in. Which got me to thinking, maybe I should try adding quinoa to granola bars?
One year ago: Blueberry Oatmeal Bagels
HOT OAT & QUINOA CEREAL
Serves 4
Ingredients:
CEREAL
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup steel cut oats
1/2 cup rinsed quinoa (you can buy it pre-rinsed)
1/4 cup golden raisins
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp cardamon
4 cups water
TOPPINGS
Milk
Maple syrup
Toasted pepitas
Toasted walnuts
Directions:
- In a medium saucepan, bring dried fruit, steel-cut oats, quinoa, raisins, salt, cinnamon, cardamom, and water to a boil. Cover and let sit off heat overnight. (Alternatively, bring mixture to a boil; reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until grains are tender, 20-25 minutes.)
- Before serving, reheat cereal in saucepan, covered, over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally and adding water if needed, until warmed through, 5-8 minutes. Serve with milk, maple syrup, pepitas, and walnuts.
Source: Bon Appetit February 2013
Posted in Breakfast, Oatmeal | Tags: cranberry, maple syrup, oats, pepitas, quinoa, raisins, walnuts | 4 Comments »
Baked Peanut Butter Cup Banana Pancakes
In the past I’ve salvaged pancakes that stick to the skillet by cooking the remaining batter in either a doughnut or muffin-top pan. But my dad and step mom gave me a griddle for Christmas so I haven’t had to get creative with my pancakes in awhile. However, I now find myself purposely baking my pancakes sometimes when I don’t want to stand over the griddle watching and flipping until all the batter is gone. When they are baked you just pop them in the oven and walk away until the timer goes off, which is exactly what I did for these peanut butter cup banana pancakes. Of course you can cook these on a griddle as well, but I was feeling lazy.
Side note: For those of you wondering about my health, I am nearly 100% recovered! Still keeping the tissues around but hopefully will be able to detach myself from them in the next couple of days.
One year ago: Cake Batter Puppy Chow
Two years ago: Homemade Olive Garden Salad and Dressing
BAKED PEANUT BUTTER CUP BANANA PANCAKES
Serves 4-5
Ingredients:
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1-1/4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp brown sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1 medium very ripe banana, mashed
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1-1/2 cups milk
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup chopped peanut butter cups (I used minis)
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Coat holes in a muffin-top pan with non-stick cooking spray, set aside.
- Use a hand mixer to whisk together the banana and peanut butter.
- Mix in the baking powder, brown sugar, salt, and vanilla.
- Mix in the flour and the milk. Fold in the peanut butter cups with a spatula.
- Spoon 1/4 cup of batter into the pre-greased muffin top pan holes. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the tops begin to turn golden brown and middles are set. Allow to cool slightly before removing carefully from pan. Repeat with remaining batter.
- Serve with syrup of favorite pancake toppings.
Source: Adapted from Something Swanky.
Speculoos Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Dough Granola Bars
In my opinion the best granola bars are the soft chewy ones, and after the no-bake peanut butter granola bars I made I wasn’t sure a granola bar could get any better. But after seeing Lindsay’s recipe for oatmeal cookie dough granola bar in her Cookie Dough Lover’s Cookbook, I decided that the granola bar base from the peanut butter bars were destined to be combined with cookie dough. And not just any cookie dough, but an oatmeal raisin cookie dough with Speculoos cookie butter mixed in. I even went so far as to mix the cookie butter into the granola bar base itself. They may not be the healthiest granola bars, but they taste just like an oatmeal raisin cookie but are better for you than a cookie! Which means they are highly addicting.
One year ago: Flavor-Injected Glazed Ham
SPECULOOS OATMEAL RAISIN COOKIE DOUGH GRANOLA BARS
Makes 12 bars
Ingredients:
COOKIE DOUGH
2 Tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature
2 Tbsp Speculoos (or Biscoff) cookie butter
2 Tbsp sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 Tbsp milk
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp quick oats
1/8 tsp salt
1/8 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
BAR BASE
1/4 cup unsalted butter
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup Speculoos (or Biscoff) cookie butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups quick oats
1/2 cup crispy rice cereal
Directions:
- Line an 8 x 8 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving some overhanging over two opposite edges. Set aside.
- Make the cookie dough: In a medium bowl, beat butter, Speculoos cookie butter, and sugars with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Mix in milk and vanilla. Stir in flour, oats, salt, and cinnamon on low speed until incorporated. Fold in raisin and walnuts.
- Make the bar base: In a large sauce pan, add butter, brown sugar, honey, and Speculoos cookie butter. Heat over meadium-low, stirring occasionally until the mixture starts to bubble. Once bubbling, cook for 2 minutes while stirring. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
- Stir in the oats and crispy cereal until well coated. Pour half into the prepared pan. Press the mixture evenly into the pan. Sprinkle the cookie dough over the top followed by the remaining oat mixture and gently press with your hands until evenly spread and flat.
- Place the bars in the refrigerator and let cool for at least 30 minutes before cutting. Cut into bars and serve.
Source: Cookie dough adapted from The Cookie Dough Lover’s Cookbook, by Lindsay Landis. Granola bars adapted from Two Peas and Their Pods.
Posted in Appetizers & Snacks, Breakfast, Granola | Tags: honey, oats, raisins, speculoos, walnuts | 12 Comments »
Baked Eggs with Crispy Hash Brown Crust
After two days staying home sick I am finally out of the house again. No I am not feeling all that much better, but I don’t think I am contagious anymore and I was getting pretty bored at home (did I mention I don’t have cable or internet or smart phone?). I brought data results and research papers home with me to work on my own, but I find I am more in the mind-set to write sciencey things when I am at my desk at lab. So even though I do not have any bench work to do, I am at lab to get those nerd-brain-juices flowing.
The one benefit to staying home was cooking breakfast for myself (at noon when I finally dragged myself out of my sick bed). You should start one of your mornings this week/weekend with this fun breakfast because it has a crispy hash brown crust topped with eggs and cheese. It’s like a breakfast skillet pie! This recipe can also easily be doubled or tripled for a family-sized breakfast, just remember to use a bigger skillet.
One year ago: Cheesy Cat Treats
Two years ago: Funfetti Cake Batter Smoothie
BAKED EGGS WITH CRISPY HASH BROWN CRUST
Serves 1-2
Ingredients:
1/2 cups shredded potatoes (I used frozen, and thawed)
Salt and pepper
2 eggs
1/4 cup shredded cheese (I used sharp cheddar)
2 Tbsp olive oil for cast iron skillet
Chopped green onions (optional)
Directions:
- Press potatoes firmly between two dish towels or a few layers of paper towels. The goal is to get as much moisture out of the potatoes as possible so they’ll brown up nice and crisp.
- Heat a 6-inch cast iron skillet with the olive oil over medium high heat. Add the potatoes and use the back of a large spoon to spread them evenly and then press them down firmly into a flat pancake. Let them sit and brown, undisturbed, for about 3-4 minutes. Make sure your heat isn’t so high that it burns the potatoes – you want them to get golden brown but not burn. You can use your spoon to lift up an edge and take a peek to monitor progress.
- When the first side is brown, use a large spatula to flip the whole thing over. They shredded browned potatoes should be intertwined with each other enough that this isn’t too difficult to do. Let the 2nd side brown for an additional 4 minutes.
- When both sides of the crust are browned, remove from heat and crack the 2 eggs evenly over the top. Season with a little salt and pepper if desired, then sprinkle the 1/4 cup of shredded cheese over the eggs.
- Pop in the oven on broil for 5-7 minutes, depending on whether you like your eggs to be soft or hard. Top with green onions, slice, serve, and enjoy!
Source: Down-sized from Two Tarts.
Cake Batter Cinnamon Rolls
When my friend Stephanie asked me to make cinnamon rolls for her Easter brunch on Sunday, it came as no surprise that I wanted to make some sort of crazy flavored cinnamon rolls. Had she asked anyone else she would’ve gotten traditional cinnamon rolls, but it’s me and any excuse to make a fun new recipe is pounced upon!
I first was torn between making raspberry or cake batter rolls, so I tweeted my dilemma only to realize how dumb of a question it was when I immediately got two votes for cake batter. Sure raspberry rolls sound delicious, but who can pass up anything involving cake batter? These cinnamon rolls not only are stuffed with cake batter flavor, but the dry mix is also in the dough itself and in the frosting! It’s cake batter mayhem.
By the way NYC ladies (particularly Tara), does this plate look familiar?
One year ago: Dark Chocolate Nonpareil Peanut Butter Cookies
CAKE BATTER CINNAMON ROLLS
Makes 24 rolls
DOUGH
1 box Funfetti cake mix, dry
2 pkg (4-1/2 tsp) active dry yeast
2-1/2 cups warm water
1 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
5 cups bread flour
FILLING
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white cake mix
Cinnamon
Sprinkles
FROSTING
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, softened
3 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup white cake mix
1 tsp vanilla extract
6 Tbsp milk
Sprinkles
Directions:
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, measure out 2 1/2 cups warm water. Pour in the 2 packets of active dry yeast and let it activate and foam up.
- Add rainbow chip cake mix, salt, vanilla and bread flour. Use dough hook attachment to knead dough together, just for a minute or two.
- Spray a large bowl with cooking spray and place dough inside. Cover with saran wrap. Let sit for an hour until doubled in size. Punch dough down with fists and cover again and let rise for an additional hour until double in size.
- Once dough has gone through its second rise, remove and placed on a clean floured surface. Roll out into a large rectangle shape measuring about 24 X 12 inches.
- Smear softened butter over top. Next evenly sprinkle, distribute and rub brown sugar over top. Then sprinkle yellow cake mix evenly over top of that. Rub gently to evenly cover if needed. Next sprinkle with desired about of cinnamon and sprinkles.
- On one of the long sides, roll up to make a long and skinny log. Slice into 24 even 1-inch rolls.
- Place in a greased 9×13 baking pan, 12 rolls per pan. (You can place them in the fridge overnight at this point on continue on.)
- Cover with plastic wrap and let cinnamon rolls rise a final time in the pan, about 30 minutes, or until they have doubled in size.
- Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes.
- While cinnamon rolls are baking, make the cake batter frosting. In a large bowl, beat butter, powdered sugar, cake mix, vanilla and milk. Add more powdered sugar/milk until desired consistency is reached. Add in as many sprinkles as desired.
- Spread frosting over warm rolls. Sprinkle with additional sprinkles if desired.
Source: Adapted slightly from Chef in Training.
Posted in Bread Rolls Buns & Dough, Breakfast, Pastries | Tags: Funfetti, sprinkles, yeast | 11 Comments »
