Indulge In {Breakfast Boats}

Yesterday I gave you a few tips on hosting a home brunch and today I wanted to share one of my favorite brunch recipes with you. I've made these a couple of times and they are certainly a crowd pleaser. The genius part about this recipe is how easily customizable it is. I filled mine with chopped spinach and cheddar cheese, but you could fill it with just about anything. If you are hosting a brunch, try creating a breakfast boat bar. Include crispy bacon pieces, sausage crumbles, cheese, and an assortment of fresh vegetables. Scramble the raw eggs as guests build their boats to ensure freshness. The beauty is you only need to make one dish to satisfy all. Breakfast boats include your bread, vegetables, and protein all in a pretty little package that is sure to impress. Here's the recipe...

:: Ingredients ::
French Hoagie Rolls, hollowed
Raw Eggs (3 per Boat)
Assorted Vegetables
Shredded Cheddar Cheese (1/4 Cup per Boat)
Thin Sliced Pancetta (1 Slice per Boat)

:: Directions ::
1. Scramble raw eggs with whisk. Mix in desired vegetables and pour into hollowed hoagie rolls. Top with shredded cheese and wrap boat in slice of pancetta. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 25-28 minutes or until egg is cooked through out.


Have an indulgent Thursday!

Entertaining Home {Brunch}

Brunch has always been one of my favorite dining experiences. You can sleep in a bit late, take the morning slow and progress to a meal that combines some of my breakfast and lunch favorites. But, heading out to brunch can get a little expensive when you start to factor in appetizers, your meal, mimosas and bloody marys. That's why I'm going to show you how to create the perfect stylish brunch experience right in your own home. Imagine a simple, flavorful menu accompanied by pitchers of the best bloody marys and mimosas you've ever had in the comfort of your own home. Invite friends over to join in the fun and it will be like you're at your favorite brunch spot. Here are some tips for throwing a stylish and delicious at home brunch.

1. Simply Decorate: Put a colorful table runner down the center of your table topped by a low, beautiful blooming centerpiece. That's all you need. You wouldn't want to take away from the food now would you?

2. Take a Pitcher. It'll Last Longer: That's something the restaurants definitely can't do. Make a pitcher of the two most popular brunch beverages, Mimosa and Bloody Mary, for guests to enjoy. Pitchers will also create ease since you won't have to mix up a new drink every time your glass runs empty.

3. Plan a Perfect Menu: The menu is key to any event. Focus on flavorful seasonal items that your guests will really enjoy. Blend the sweet and savory using both breakfast and lunch items to please the masses.

Have a great Wednesday!

Weekend Warriors {9.14.12}

Woohoo! We made it through another week. I don't know about you, but this week has been very busy and seems to have lasted a lifetime. I'm glad to have a couple days to decompress and have some fun. I've got family time, brunch, football and more on the schedule and I've centered this week's weekend warriors around just that. While I anxiously await for the weekend's festivities to begin, here's the rundown of what to do this weekend!

1. Do Brunch: I must admit it is my favorite meal. This weekend though I'm moving it from Sunday to Saturday by making mimosas, mini chicken biscuits, and doughnut hole skewers to tailgate for FSU's noon kickoff.

2. Spend Time with Family: I'm excited for my sister, dad, and uncle to join us in Tallahassee this weekend for the game. It's been awhile since we've all seen each other and I know good times are in store.

3. Throw a Football: You may not be a big sports fan, but I have to say there is something rather refreshing about getting outside and throwing around the ball before cheering your team to victory.

4. Make Your Party Decor: Sometimes it can be difficult to find just what you are looking for when it comes to decorating your gathering. I challenge you this weekend to try and make some of the special touches yourself. This way you can customize the colors and style to your soiree. Need inspiration? Check out our Pinterest page full of great ideas!

5. Laugh: They say laughter is key in staying young and living longer. After a long week, it's always at the top of my list. It helps me relax and remember that life is just one big party!

Mini Me

As the temperatures have been getting hotter (with the exception of this week), I have been thinking of alternatives to the traditional late afternoon or evening gathering. Suddenly, it dawned on me. Why not through a reception centered around my favorite meal, brunch? The temperatures would be cooler and the concept unique. Pour up morning cocktails including mimosas, poinsettias, bloody marys, and screwdrivers. Feature omelet stations, cereal bars, and yogurt parfaits for the main meal. Start the whole thing off though by passing mini danish, bite sized quiche, and my favorite idea, mini pancakes. This miniaturized version can be made with all your favorite fillings, topped with fresh fruit, maple syrup, and served to your guests on a skewer. The bite sized treat is made adorable by its size and is sure to surprise guests with it's originality. Because, let's be honest, what's better than pancakes and mimosas?

Lusting After {Easter Brunch}

It's true. I'm lusting after this Sunday's Easter brunch. Full of bright blooms and yummy foods, I can't wait for Sunday at 2 o'clock. Not only is this festive meal a great time for family and friend to gather together and celebrate, but it is also the perfect introduction to a season full of outdoor soirees. 

For the first big celebratory brunch of the season, embrace the day and decorate to the nines. Dyed egg should take center stage as centerpieces. Whether gathered together in a clear hurricane surrounded by green palm fronds or spaced intermittently between fresh blooming bud centerpieces, dyed eggs are a great way to add pops of color and pattern to your table. Complete the look with pastel tablecloths, coordinating patterned plates, and napkins with custom rings. Serve up mimosas, deviled eggs, and other tasty treats. Add the perfect ending to the day with a huge egg hunt for those of all ages! 

Delightful Dining {Sweet Cinnamon Biscuits}

Hopefully, your mouth has already started watering. But, if it hasn't already, forewarning, it's about to. First, let me tell you what this actually is. This delectable treat you are feasting your eyes on is a sweet cinnamon biscuit topped with warm cinnamon apples. And holy moly if it is not the best damn biscuit you have ever had, then you have had some damn good biscuits. Well last week, Paula Deen informed me that September is national biscuit month and clearly that meant that a batch of biscuits were in my future (and yours!).  But, these ain't your momma's biscuits. Let me tell you what we have going on here...

For the biscuits...

{1} 2 1/4 C Bisquik mix

{2} 2/3 C plus a dash of milk (I used Vanilla Soy instead of regular)

{3} 1/2 C cinnamon sugar (I mixed my own. I would say the ratio is about 2:1 sugar to cinnamon.)

{Instructions} Preheat the oven to 450. Mix all ingredients in a bowl. Place a sheet of aluminum foil on a cookie sheet. You now have two options. You can either roll it out and cut with a cookie cutter, or you can do what I did. Make drop biscuits. Take a spoon and just dollop it on to the cookie sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes. 

For the apples...

{1} 4 Granny Smith apples

{2} 1 C cinnamon sugar

{3} 1/3 C water

{Instructions} Peel, core, and cut your apples into bite sized pieces. Combine apples, cinnamon sugar, and water in a medium sized sauce pan. Bring to a boil. Once boiling, cover, reduce to a simmer and simmer for 10-15 minutes, until apples are soft and sauce is thick. 

For assembly and enjoyment...

{1} Cut your biscuit in half

{2} Ladle cinnamon apple over the biscuit 

{3} Eat and enjoy!

Sunday Brunch {Frittata}

Who doesn't love brunch? I'm pretty sure it's my favorite faux meal! I mean think about it. Weekend brunch is the only time where you can sleep in and still be able to get breakfast food where ever you go. Plus brunch constitutes mimosas. Breakfast does not. Anyways, today we did brunch at home and I decided to make a frittata.  The best thing about frittatas is that you can pretty much add everything but the kitchen sink and it's still good. Every time I make it, it's different.  I just add whatever I can find in the fridge and that's it. So, today's frittata included green and red peppers, tomatoes, spinach, and hot sausage. By the way, it was delicious and the whole thing is now gone. So, since there are no set ingredients for a frittata, here is a little basic step by step so you can make your own, however you please!

{Step 1} If you are including meat that has not been cooked already, cook your meat and set it to the side.  For example, we put sausage in it, so I had R. cook the sausage (I'm afraid to cook anything where grease pops.) and let it drain on a plate while I did the rest. 

{Step 2} In a separate (oven safe) pan, begin to cook what veggies need to cook down. So, since I needed to wilt the spinach, I cooked it first.  

{Step 3} Add whatever veggies do not need as much time to cook.  Example. I wanted my peppers to be a little crunchy still so I added them next, followed by the tomatoes. 

{Step 4} Add your eggs. The number you add is entirely up to you. It depends on the size and how egg-y you like it. I like when the add ins are more prominent than the egg, so when I make it for just R. and I, I usually do 6-8 eggs.  Anyways, crack them in a bowl, add salt and pepper to taste, mix together and pour in your pan with the vegetables.

{Step 5} As the egg cooks on the bottom, with a rubber spatula, begin to scrape down the sides to let the runny egg on top move to the bottom and cook.  It's almost like scrambling an egg.  

{Step 6} When the egg is about half way cooked, add in the meat.  Move it around to incorporate.  Also, in this step, add in the cheese if you so wish to use it. Obviously, since my recent milk allergy discovery, R. has had to enjoy his frittata sans cheese. But, honestly, I don't think it really makes that much of a difference whether it's there or not. 

{Step 7} When the egg is almost throughly cooked, but still slightly runny, add more cheese to the top (if you included cheese) and put it under the broiler until the cheese is slightly browned and bubbly. 

{Step 8} Pull the frittata out, turn the broiler off, cut a slice, pour a mimosa, and ENJOY!

So, I understand this seems like a lot of steps for one little egg dish, but it only take about 10 minutes from start to finish. Swear. Just wondering, what would you put in your frittata?