Asparagus and Mushroom Breakfast Strata

This spring asparagus and mushroom strata is assembled the night before making mornings both easy and tasty! Delicious spring vegetables pair with nutty Parmesan cheese and fresh dill in this egg bake dish that brings life to day-old bread.

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Asparagus and Mushroom Breakfast Strata
Serves 4 - 6

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons butter, plus 1 tablespoon for greasing the pan
1 leek, greens removed and white portion chopped
12 oz sliced cremini mushrooms
8 oz sliced shiitake mushrooms
3 cups day-old bread cut into1-inch cubes
2 cups Parmesan cheese, gratedand separated
1/2 lb fresh asparagus, stemmed, and spears cut into thirds
1/4 cup fresh dill, roughly chopped
10 eggs
1-1/2 cups whole milk
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 teaspoon mustard seed
1 teaspoon Kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Directions:

1. Grease a 9x13 baking dish with butter.

2. In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the leeks, cremini mushrooms, and shiitake mushrooms. Cook until all the liquid has evaporated and the ingredients begin to brown, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside. (Depending on the size of your pan, you may need to do this in two batches to avoid steaming the mushrooms in their own liquid).

3. Spread the cubed bread evenly in the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with half of the Parmesan cheese.

4. Evenly spread the sautéed leeks, mushrooms, asparagus, and half of the fresh dill on top of the cubed bread.

5. In a large mixing bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, sour cream, mustard seed, salt, and pepper until combined.

6. Pour the egg mixture over the bread and vegetables, and sprinkle the top with the remaining cheese and reserved dill. Cover the strata and refrigerate overnight.

7. When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and bring the strata to room temperature. Bake for 40-45 minutes until the center is done (165 degrees F) and the top is a nice golden brown. Cool slightly before serving.

Acai Smoothie Bowls

Smoothie bowls are a fun, colorful, and healthy option for breakfast! We love this easy recipe featuring vibrant acaí (ah-sigh-EE) berries. Simply blend all of the ingredients together until smooth. Have fun placing delicious garnishes on top in a beautiful way. Breakfast is served!

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Acai Smoothie Bowls
Serves 2

Ingredients:

7 ounces frozen açai berry packets (substitute 1 cup of frozen mango or berries if not using acai packets)
1/2 frozen banana
1/2 cup blueberries (fresh or frozen)
1 cup fresh spinach leaves
1 tablespoon ground flax seed
1/2 cup oat milk (or a milk of your choice)

Garnishes:

fresh banana slices
blueberrie
sshaved coconut
chia seeds

Directions:

1. BLEND the frozen açaí berry packets with the banana, blueberries, spinach leaves, ground flax seed, and oat milk until smooth. Use the blender tamper when blending to help move the ingredients around.

2. POUR the smoothie into two bowls and top with an array of garnishes. We chose to garnish ours with banana slices, blueberries, shaved coconut, and chia seeds. Get creative with garnishes and arrange your choice of toppings with care for an artful and delicious experience!

3. Enjoy!

Savory Dutch Baby with Bacon and Caramelized Onions

This dish is a real crowd pleaser, mostly due to the high impact, wow-factor of the puffy, airy pancake. The savory toppings complement the egg-forward pancake for a delicious and filling breakfast. It’s a nice, new twist on a classic!

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Savory Dutch Baby with Bacon and Caramelized Onions
Serves 4

Filling Ingredients:

3 slices bacon, cooked and sliced
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 medium, sweet onion, sliced pole-to-pole and caramelized
1/4 cup extra finely shredded parmesan cheese, plus a few more shredded tablespoons for garnish handful of arugula, washed

Pancake Ingredients:

4 eggs, room temperature
1 cup whole milk, room temperature 3/4 cup all purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
a few grinds of black pepper
3 tablespoons butter

Directions:

1. On the stovetop, in a 10-inch cast iron skillet, cook the bacon until crispy, then set aside to cool on a paper towel-lined plate. Once the bacon has cooled, slice or tear into bite-sized pieces.

2. In the same skillet, remove all but 1 tablespoon of the bacon grease. Add the 1 tablespoon of butter. Cook the onion until caramelized and golden brown. Use low-and-slow heat to allow the onion to caramelize and not simply brown.

3. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Wipe out the cast iron skillet and allow to warm further in the preheated oven until very hot, about 10 minutes.

4. Meanwhile, prepare the pancake batter. In a blender or food processor, mix the eggs, milk, flour, and salt together until the batter is smooth and free of any lumps.

5. Once the oven and pan have preheated, quickly melt the 3 tablespoons of butter inside the hot pan swirling to evenly coat the bottom and sides. Immediately pour the batter into the hot skillet. Quickly add the 1/4 cup of parmesan cheese to the center of the batter. Bake for 13-15 minutes or until the pancake is puffed and the edges are nicely golden brown.

6. Top the pancake with the cooked bacon, caramelized onions, a handful of fresh arugula, and additional finely shredded parmesan cheese. Enjoy immediately while hot!

Savory Crepes

These luxurious, savory crepes are an impressive, yet deceptively easy, brunch entree. For an organized morning, prepare the batter the night before, then dazzle family and friends with a quick swirl of the pan, a few minutes of cooking time, and a tasty, savory filling.

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Savory Crepes
Makes about 12 crepes

Crepe Ingredients:

3 eggs
1-1/2 cups whole milk
1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt
4 tablespoons butter, melted
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

Filling Ingredients:

8 ounces Gruyère cheese, finely shredded
12 slices thinly sliced ham or prosciutto
4 ounces arugula
Dijon mustard
chives, minced for garnish

Directions:

1. Prep the crepe batter. In a food processor, blender, or using a bowl and whisk, mix the eggs, milk, and salt together, blending thoroughly. Slowly add the melted butter and blend again. Add the flour to the mixture, and mix until just combined; do not over mix. Let the batter rest covered in the refrigerator for a minimum of 2 hours, or up to two days to allow the gluten in the flour to relax. This resting step will help deliver smoother, paper-thin crepes!

2. Prepare the filling. Finely shred the Gruyèrecheese. Mince the chives. Wash the arugula, and have ready the thinly sliced ham. When it’s time to make the crepes, the final assembly will happen quickly.

3. Make the crepes! When ready to make the crepes, heat a crepe pan, or nonstick skillet, over medium heat. Swipe the cooking surface with an oil-soaked paper towel. Pour 1/3 cup of batter onto the heated skillet and immediately swirl the batter to coat the bottom surface. (Use more or less batter depending on the pan and size of crepes being made). The batter will quickly set, and the top will become dry-looking. Loosen the edges of the crepe and check the bottom for light golden brown marks -- about 1-2 minutes. Flip the crepe and cook the other side for about 30 seconds. Remove the finished crepe from the pan and place on a waiting dinner plate. Crepes may be stacked as they are removed from the hot pan.

4. Assemble the crepes. Place a cooked crepe back in the warm pan and sprinkle with cheese and let the cheese melt. Layer a piece of ham, swipe on a thin layer of Dijon mustard, and remove from the heat. Add a light layer of arugula, fold in half, then in half again. Garnish with chives, and enjoy immediately!

Sausage and Egg Strata

Prepare this festive strata the night before when serving breakfast for a crowd. The rich flavors of breakfast sausage, eggs, and cheese are perfectly complemented by savory onions and bell peppers. We love this dish because it is easy, yet hearty. It also reheats well for anyone who might have slept through breakfast!

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Sausage and Egg Strata
Serves 6 - 8

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons butter
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 medium onion, diced
1 lb. breakfast sausage (we used classic pork breakfast sausage)
1 loaf French bread (about 16 oz or, 10 cups cubed)
3 cups fresh spinach, chopped
1-1/2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, grated
9 large eggs, beaten
2-1/2 cups whole milk
1/4 teaspoon mustard powder
1/4 teaspoon cayenne
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Directions:

1. In a large sauté pan over medium-high heat, sauté the diced onion and red pepper in butter until the onion is translucent and the peppers are softened. Place the sautéed onions and peppers in a large rectangular baking dish.

2. In the same sauté pan, brown the sausage. Break up any chunks into small crumbles. Transfer the cooked sausage to a paper towel-lined bowl to drain excess grease.

3. Meanwhile, cube the bread into 1 inch cubes. Chop the spinach and shred the cheese. Set each aside.

4. Crack the eggs into a medium bowl, and whisk until beaten. Add the milk, mustard powder, cayenne, paprika, salt, and pepper to the eggs, and whisk again.

5. Add the cooked sausage, cubed bread, and 1 cup of cheese to the strata pan. Carefully, mix together with the onions and peppers and chopped spinach. Pour the egg mixture over the strata, and top with 1/2 cup of shredded cheese. Cover, and refrigerate overnight, or for at least 4 hours.

6. An hour before serving, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and bake the strata for 50-55 minutes, or until golden and puffy, and the internal temperature in the center reaches 165 degrees F. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.

French Toast Sticks

This week we are channeling our inner child with French toast sticks! The extra surface area achieved when preparing French toast sticks brings twice the flavor while enrobing wonderfully custardy insides. Their handy shape means they are destined for easy dipping, serving, and sharing with the whole family. Good Morning!

Cinnamon-Sugar French Toast Sticks
Serves 4

Ingredients:
1 large loaf bread (such as a brioche or Italian loaf that’s 3-4 days old)
3 eggs
3/4 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/2 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon
4 tablespoons salted butter, divided

For Serving:
Pure Maple syrup
Seasonal berries

Directions:
1. Trim the crust off of the bread and slice it into equally-sized strips, roughly 1" thick.

2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, cream, vanilla, salt, and allspice. Pour the mixture in a shallow bowl. In a small bowl, mix together the sugar and cinnamon. Spread the mixture out on a medium-sized plate.

3. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a medium-large skillet.

4. Separate the bread sticks into two even batches. Starting with the first batch, dredge the bread sticks one at a time in the egg mixture by rolling them for a few seconds to evenly coat the bread all the way around. Shake off any excess egg mixture.

5. Place a few of the sticks of bread into the skillet, spacing them evenly, with about 1" in between (this spacing will make them easy to grab and turn). Cook the French toast sticks over medium-low heat using tongs to turn. Cook evenly until all sides are golden brown (roughly 1-2 minutes on each side).

6. Immediately remove the sticks from the pan and coat with the cinnamon and sugar while the French toast sticks are still hot, repeating until all of the sticks from the first batch are coated.

7. Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and repeat Steps 4-6 with the remaining sticks.

8. Once all the French toast sticks have been cooked and coated, serve immediately with warm maple syrup and fresh seasonal berries.

Manchego and Thyme Popovers

Popovers are impressive, high-rising rolls with a soft, airy inside and a crispy, crunchy exterior. These delectable morsels are meant to be enjoyed freshly baked straight out of the oven. IN THIS ISSUE, we feature Manchego and Thyme Popovers with an Herb Butter that would be enjoyably delicious as a savory breakfast, or as a side at lunch or dinner! 

Manchego and Thyme Popovers with Herb Butter
Makes 12 popovers

Popover Ingredients:
1-1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon Kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
1 tablespoon fresh thyme, finely chopped
4 large eggs, room temperature
1-1/2 cups whole milk, room temperature
1/2 cup Manchego cheese, finely grated
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted (for greasing the popover pan)

Herb Butter Ingredients - makes 1/2 cup
1/2 cup (I stick) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tablespoon fresh sage, finely chopped
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, finely chopped
1/4 teaspoon Kosher saltPopover

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 450°F. Place the empty pan in the oven while it preheats.

2. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, salt, and pepper and mix with a fork for about 30 seconds to incorporate evenly. Add the thyme and continue mixing until evenly distributed.

3. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs and whole milk together until contents are frothy, about 5 minutes.

4. Slowly add the flour mixture to the egg mixture and continue whisking until all the ingredients are combined and the batter is the consistency of thick cream. (Try not to over whisk!) Stir in the cheese.

5. Remove the preheated popover or mun pan from the oven and brush the cups with the melted butter. Fill the cups 3/4 full with the batter. Bake the popovers on the lowest rack for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, reduce the temperature to 350°F, ensuring the oven door stays closed so no steam escapes (this is crucial to getting the pop effect!). Continue to bake for another 20 minutes, or until golden brown.

6. Remove popovers from the oven and serve hot with herb butter. If not serving right away, remove popovers from the pan and cool on a wire rack immediately to keep that delightful crunch!

Herb Butter Directions:
1. In a small bowl, combine all of the ingredients together and mix with a fork or a hand mixer until the herbs and garlic are distributed evenly.

2. Transfer the butter onto a sheet of plastic wrap and roll into a cylinder. Twist the ends of the plastic wrap tightly and refrigerate for at least one hour until cold and solid.

3. Serve herb butter alongside warm popovers in a small dish. Butter is best when enjoyed within 1 week, but can be frozen for up to two months. To freeze, simply wrap the plastic wrapped butter in parchment paper and freeze in a freezer bag, removing excess air. Extra herb butter? Heat and drizzle butter over homemade popcorn or add to baked potatoes.

Green Chile & Cheese Egg Bake Bites

Holiday preparations are in full swing, and that means busier mornings and weekends. We find ourselves searching for protein-packed recipes that come together in a snap. These featured savory egg bake bites are just that! IN THIS ISSUE we share our favorite recipe for petite-sized breakfast bites, along with tips on how to crack an egg one-handed. 

Green Chile & Cheese Egg Bake Bites
Makes 12 egg bites

Busy mornings are the norm! We often find ourselves searching for satisfying, protein-packed recipes that come together in a snap to help us approach the day with some solid nourishment. You’ll find that these savory egg bake bites are just that -- delicious, satisfying, and easy!

Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter, melted, plus 2 tablespoons softened
1/4 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon paprika
8 eggs
3/4 cup small curd cottage cheese
7 oz can chopped green chiles
2 cups grated Monterey Jack cheese (about 8 oz)

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Generously butter the cups of a standard-sized mun pan with the softened butter. 

2. In a medium bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, salt, pepper, and paprika.

3. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the egg mixture and whisk to combine.

4. Stir in the melted butter, cottage cheese, green chiles, and Monterey Jack cheese and continue stirring until the ingredients are incorporated.

5. Use a measuring cup to evenly distribute the egg mix into the 12 prepared cups of the mun pan.

6. Bake until set, about 20-25 min. Let the egg bake bites cool in the pan before removing. Eat while warm or store in the refrigerator for 3 days in an air-tight container, or wrap well and store in the freezer for up to two months.

Fresh Inspiration! Huevos Rancheros for Breakfast, Lunch, or Dinner

Today we’re featuring flavor-rich huevos rancheros. It’s a great dish to enjoy for any meal of the day. This classic Mexican breakfast translates to “ranch eggs” and highlights a perfectly fried egg served on a warm tortilla with black beans, cotija cheese, and fresh pico de gallo. Enjoy!

A Good Time to Have Brunch In!

There is no better time than the present to brunch . . . IN! If breakfast is the most important meal of the day, brunch is the most fun! Brunch implies a leisurely sort of day — where our schedules are less relentless and time together is well spent. Whether you spend it with family or a few good friends, we've composed a foolproof menu worth celebrating.

IN THIS ISSUE, we feature a Caramelized Onion, Mushroom, and Parmesan Quiche, Macerated Citrus Salad, and a side of Orange Poppyseed Bread.

Enjoy Bagels and Cream Cheese at a New Level!

Spaghetti and meatballs, Cookies and milk. Bagels and cream cheese. These undeniable pairings are a fact of life, and one we celebrate. On average, Americans consume roughly five million bagels a day. And we're not mad about it. Warm, chewy bagels slathered with tangy cream cheese is our idea of a wonderful breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

IN THIS ISSUE, we share the how-to for making delicious bagels at home, plus homemade cream cheese along with a few flavor variations, one savory, one sweet.

May 9, 2019 - Crepes for Mom

January 24, 2019 - Breakfast Power Bowls

December 20, 2018 - Eggnog French Toast Bake

Dec 15, 2016 - Hearty Holiday Breakfasts Made Easy

With relaxed work schedules, or guests in the house, the morning hours around the breakfast table with family and friends are some of our favorite holiday times. IN THIS ISSUE, we have three hearty breakfast recipes for your morning menus each with several do-ahead steps. WE'RE READY to help you conclude your holiday shopping whether you're just starting, or filling in some holes with a few stocking stuffers. We like to think of ourselves as a one-stop shopping spot -- we're certain to have something for everyone on your list!

Microwave Cooking

Is your use of the microwave oven limited to warming coffee or heating frozen meal trays? IN THIS ISSUE, we're unleashing the power of this modern-day appliance by first understanding how a microwave oven works, offering key tips for making the most of it, and making three recipes that teach the techniques. Read on! Tuesday, April 26 - 6:00 - 9:00pm                                                       $40.00 SOUL OF THE SOUTH Chefs: Julie Smoragiewicz. Go to the heart of the South with this lineup of Southern greats. Shrimp and Grits; Johnny Cakes; BBQ RIbs; Collard Greens; Brown Sugar Pound Cake with Praline Icing. A sample of wine will be offered with this class*   Friday, May 6 - 6:00 - 7:30pm                                                            $60.00 Saturday, May 7 - 5:00 - 6:30pm RIEDEL TASTING Riedel Crystal of America proudly presents a unique and fascinating wine glass tasting demonstrating the relationship between the shape of a glass and our perception and enjoyment of wine. To fully appreciate the personality of different grape varieties and the subtle character of wines, it is essential to have an appropriately fine-tuned glass shape. The shape is responsible for the flow of the wine and consequently where it touches the various taste zones of the tongue. Crystal of America's Regional Territory Manager, Mari Beth Baumberger will lead you through this sensory workshop. Four varietals of wine will be served with this class, as well as hors d'oeuvres at the completion of the tasting. Each class participant will receive a set of four Riedel wine glasses (a $118 value).