Posts Tagged ‘Breakfast’

  1. Weekend Bits

    May 14, 2013 by The Squishy Monster

    This weekend was non-stop between baby brother’s arrival, mother’s day celebrations, and J’s birthday, but boy was the entire stretch delicious!

    IMG_8592Lunch with mama {for the noodle & beef recipe}

    IMG_8604Late night dinner

    IMG_8605Lobster fondue

    IMG_8651Afternoon BBQ at friend’s

    IMG_8698

    IMG_8655Red Velvet birthday cupcakes

    IMG_8680Cheddar eggs, bacon, and cinnamon rolls with cream cheese icing–yum!

    IMG_8631

    IMG_8697Mother’s day/birthday dinner

    IMG_8685

    photoand I capped off the weekend with a swing in the hammock and fresh, hand picked flowers.

    How was your weekend?  What did you do?

    Love,

    Your very full Squishy Monster ^.~

    Categories: Life | 44 Comments

  2. A Sunny, Delicious Morning

    October 30, 2012 by The Squishy Monster

    I often get asked, what’s your favorite ingredient?  That’s a toughie.  I’m partial to automatically (and most enthusiastically) exclaiming my allegiance to Butter or Bacon, but not far behind is the humble Egg.  Experts ping pong back and forth on whether or not they’re good for you, but my loyalty to the Egg remains firm.

    Legend has it that a Chef’s hat held as many folds as s/he knew how to cook an Egg, a 100-fold hat being reserved only for the heads of the most knowledgeable culinary experts.

    Eggs are affordable, versatile, convenient, and yummy!  Not to mention, they’re high in protein and have 13 essential nutrients.

    Fresh Eggs are the best and lend themselves beautifully in everything from my Quiche and Steak & Eggs to Bibimbap!

    I’m fairly unhappy when my fridge doesn’t hold any Eggs and with an abundance of them, (they had a mega-super-deal on Organic Eggs this week) I was happy to whip up another satisfying Egg based dish.

    Smothered with hot, gooey cheese, the yolks underneath are still rich and runny, spilling it’s butteriness onto a bed of robust, herbed tomatoes, happily pooling with more cheese.

    (Fyi, I had mine for breakfast, but paired with a salad and some rustic bread, it would also make for an amazing supper)!

    What else can you make with Eggs?

    • My favorite breakfast sandwich: Bacon, Egg, and Jam (crazy yes, but crazy good)!
    • Omurice/Fried Rice
    • Soft Boiled, paired with Asparagus and Cheese (another one of my fave ways to eat Eggs)
    • Frittatas
    • Crepes
    • Spanish Tortilla
    • Deviled Eggs
    • Eggs Benedict/Poached Eggs
    • Soft Scrambles
    • Custard/Zabaglione
    • Herbed Egg Sandwiches
    • Eggs in a Hole/Egg Nests
    • Breakfast Soufflé/Casserole
    • French Toast/Bread Pudding/Strata
    • Huevos Rancheros
    • Egg Drop Soup
    • Croque Madam
    • Eggs Sur le Plat
    • Steamed Eggs
    • Loco Moco
    • Cheesecake/Flan
    How to Make Baked Eggs {Shirred Eggs}

    Baked Eggs {Shirred Eggs}
     
    Save Print

    Prep time

    Cook time

    Total time

     

    Author:

    Ingredients
    • 1 tb Olive Oil
    • 2 cloves minced Garlic
    • 1 ts Thyme (or Basil)
    • ½ ts Crushed Red Pepper
    • 12 oz Crushed Tomatoes (I like San Marzano)
    • Salt and Pepper
    • 1 Bay Leaf
    • 2 ts Sugar (or ½ c diced Carrots)
    • Eggs (as many as you like)
    • 2 tb Cream
    • ¼ c Parmigiano
    • Slices of Fontina, Gruyere, Mozzarella, etc
    • Fresh Tomatoes, Toast, Parsley

    Instructions
    1. In a heavy bottomed pot, slicked with oil, soften your Garlic, Herbs, and Pepper Flakes.
    2. Slowly add in your Tomatoes, season, tuck in your Bay Leaf and simmer for 15-20 minutes.
    3. Sprinkle in your Sugar.
    4. Ladle in sauce on bottom of baking dish and crack as many Eggs in as you want.
    5. Drizzle over cream and sprinkle over and layer with lots of cheese.
    6. Broil at 350 for 5 minutes (less or more depending on how you like your Eggs).
    7. Serve bubbling with fresh, seasoned Tomatoes, buttered Toast Points, and garnish with fresh flat leaf Parsley.

    Wishing you a golden delicious morning, noon, and night!

    Love,

    Your Squishy Monster

    Categories: Breakfast Breakfast Videos | 44 Comments

  3. These Are a Few of My Favorite Things

    August 9, 2012 by The Squishy Monster

    I’ve had it in my head to watch The Sound of Music very soon.  Maybe I’ll watch it with the Gabs.  She and I have had an amazing whirlwind week of fun and games.  I’d always wanted a boy, but she’s making me want to change my mind!

    Eggs Benedict.  With a rich and runny egg, it starts the day off right with a bit of decadence, like the golden ambrosia of early morning.

    and I’m here to tell you that there’s nothing wrong with a bit of dessert after breakfast–why not?  Warm Coffee Cake–da bomb paired with a bold french press… (video is written down in the books).

    Our Tea Party complete with baby Red Velvet Cakes,  jammy-clad because that’s just how cool we are ;)

    Pretty little fishies.  They remind me of the ones that my Aunty had when I lived with her in Texas.

    “Chocolate Milkshakes” –total fake out for finicky eaters: Unsweetened Almond (or Coconut) Milk, Unsweetened Cocoa, Crushed Ice, and a bit of Agave for a subtle hit of sweetness.

    One even landed on my shirt but flew away before I could catch a shot.  One of the most beautiful things an adult ever told me when I was a kid?

    “Just when the Caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a Butterfly.”

    All of the other Hydrangeas had browned and sagged, but this little cluster still made it through!  (I wish I had a macro lens to capture all the water droplets).

    After the week I’ve had, I thought this was too funny.

    I hope that through ordinary life, you’re able to see the good, the happy, the great.  Bad news or not!

    Love,

    Your Squishy Monster ^.~

     

    Categories: Life | 30 Comments

  4. Fluffy Flipped Flap Jacks

    July 14, 2012 by The Squishy Monster

    Look Ma!  I learned all about alliteration! ;)

    I’m kidding, but what I’m not kidding about is this week.  Anxiety and depression is something that I struggle with everyday but it’s been bearing its weight on me pretty heavily this week.  It’s been a mad and tumultuous week and something that I’m glad is over–ish, and glad that I experienced it to bring me to where I am now…reveling in a rare moment of clarity where I can truly enjoy simple pleasures such as swimming in a lazy cup of tea with a thick stack of warm pancakes before me, mesmerizing me with its thick glossy coat of golden maple syrup.  (It has to be the real stuff)!  Sure, the carbs don’t hurt but it’s how ever so soft and fluffy pancakes can be with its irresistible crispy edges that, when paired with Saturday morning cartoons, makes everything seem alright.  It’s like the food version of a big fluffy robe and soft cozy slippers.

    So c’mon, sink in and get lost with me (at least for a little while).

    Fluffy Buttermilk Pancakes

    Buttermilk Pancakes
     
    Save Print

    Prep time

    Cook time

    Total time

     

    Author:

    Ingredients
    • 1 c unbleached Flour
    • 3 tb Brown Sugar
    • 1½ ts Baking Powder
    • ¼ ts Baking Soda
    • ¼ ts fine Salt
    • ¼ ts Cinnamon
    • ⅛ ts freshly ground Nutmeg
    • 1 room temperature Egg
    • 1 c room temperature whole Buttermilk
    • 1 ts pure Vanilla Extract
    • Butter

    Instructions
    1. In your first bowl, gather all of your dry ingredients and sift them in. This includes your Flour, Brown Sugar, Baking Powder Baking Soda, Salt, Cinnamon and Nutmeg.
    2. In your second bowl, whisk together your Egg, Buttermilk, and Vanilla until nice and frothy (approximately 3 minutes).
    3. Slowly drizzle your second bowl into your first bowl and mix just to combine (don’t over mix, lumps are fine).
    4. In a hot skillet, melt a tablespoon or so of Butter and ladle in your batter. *Only flip once and don’t press down.*

    Notes
    Optional: ½-1 c Chocolate Chips, Blueberries, etc. It helps if you fold them in by hand at the last moment and coat them in a tablespoon or so of Flour first so they don’t sink as much

     

    Categories: Breakfast Breakfast Comfort Foods Comfort Foods Sweets Sweets Videos | 35 Comments

  5. Partyin’ like it’s 1999

    June 30, 2012 by The Squishy Monster

    um, nope.

    What happened to that girl that used to party all night long, slump over in a heap at 5, sleep in all day, smear on lip gloss and do it all over again?  She is gone.gone.gone.  When I think back of how stupid me and my gfs all were, it’s a wonder we didn’t have the SVU involved somehow.  We would hop into cars with boys we barely knew and drive forever, or at least until the next party.  I don’t know what I would do if my future daughter were to do these things.  I’d probably sweat and stress harder than on a day like today (it’s 109 out today eeek)!

    So sue me if that same girl today extracts more pleasure out of biting into something delicious at a hole-in-the-wall joint that she just happened to stumble into or perusing through shelves lined with groceries.  I dare you to call me homely.  Justin Timberlake brought sexy back?  I’m bringin’ homely back.

    Pssst…there’s nothing to be ashamed of, my friend if you concur ;)

    Breakfast

    There’s a local place that makes all-butter croissants from scratch.  You’ve probably unknowingly consumed a dozen pastries or so made with sweetex or crisco.  I really like Spectrum and I’m not afraid of lard…and I don’t suppose I must reiterate my allegiance to butter.

    Lunch

    A type of Korean 5-grain rice, spicy potatoes and stir-fried anchovies.

    Dinner

    $16 Kobe Burger. Geez louise.  This is what I get for being a foodaholic vs a shopaholic.  Nothing left but pictures and an anorexic wallet.

    Midnight Snack

    How many Orchids had to die for a chocolate cheesecake, lol (yes, part of being old–er is laughing at your own jokes) ;)

    Eating followed an entire morning of going somewhere to look at more food at my local Farmer’s Market.

    Sample of tabouli and falafel with baba ghanoush.

    Later into the day, me and my friend rode the light rail and watched the sunset…

    I hope everyone is having a great weekend so far!

    Stay cool (literally and figuratively) because cool is what you make it!

    Love,

    Your Squishy Monster

    Categories: Life | 34 Comments

  6. Saturday Morning Crêpes

    May 26, 2012 by The Squishy Monster

    It’s rare for me to get a Saturday off so when I do, it’s divine.  Any down moment is best spent indulging in all things yummy and this is especially true on the weekends.  It’s even rarer to be able to have breakfast with baby brother so he helped me make Crêpes and we ate them together ;) Baby brother has many talents but doing anything in the Kitchen but eating, is not one of them.  He will gladly sing you a lullaby to sleep and maybe even a good morning song the next day but ask him to fry an Egg and forgettaboutit!  Crêpes are fantastic because they’re a breeze and they reward you with a delicious mouthful (or two, or three…)

    Crêpes
     
    Save Print

    Prep time

    Cook time

    Total time

     

    Author:
    Serves: about 10 Crepes

    Ingredients
    Dry
    • 2 c Flour
    • 4 tb Sugar
    • ½ ts fine Salt
    Wet
    • 1 c whole Milk or Buttermilk
    • 1 c Water
    • 4 tb melted Butter
    • 3 ts pure Vanilla Extract
    • 4 eggs

    Instructions
    1. Tip all your wet ingredients into a blender and pulse to combine.
    2. Sift in your dry ingredients (in three separate additions) into the blender. Lumps are your friend, you just don’t want to over mix.
    3. If you have the patience or time, stick your batter into the fridge for about 30 minutes. I find that this really helps with minimizing tearing your Crepe sheets.
    4. Melt 2 tb of Butter on your griddle/pan, and ladle in about ¼ c of your batter, more or less, depending on the size of your pan, and swirl to blanket the surface. You are aiming for a paper thin sheet.
    5. Flip only once. It helps to use a rubber spatula (and your fingers, if you’re brave).
    6. Allow them to rest/cool in a single layer.
    7. Serve/stuff/drizzle with whatever you please.

    Notes
    Flavor Variations: Banana Crème fraîche Lemon Blueberry Pineapple Toasted Coconut Caramelized Peaches or Bananas Brown Butter Caramel Mascarpone Berries or Nutella Berries For Savory Crêpes, omit the Sugar and add a total of 1 ts Salt + 1 ts Garlic/Onion Powder. The addition of Buckwheat Flour or Herbs is also very nice. I love Ham & Gruyere or Spinach Artichoke Savory Crêpes.

     

    I hope that you make these with your kids and that you’re having a delicious weekend!

    XOXO

    Your Squishy Monster

    Categories: Breakfast Breakfast Sweets Sweets | 16 Comments

  7. Fill in the Facts Friday

    May 4, 2012 by The Squishy Monster

    Kimbra – “Cameo Lover” [Official Music Video]

    1. This weekend, I am most looking forward to making Lemon Blueberry Pancakes with my Niece.  (I intend on posting a video for this recipe).
    2. The highlight of today was getting an Ice Cream Cone with my Niece.
    3. I am loving my multi-colored nails right now ;)
    4. For Breakfast, I ate smoked Salmon

     

    1. I want to go swimming!
    2. I smell the pear-berry lotion that my Niece made me put on
    3. I am listening to Kimbra over and over again.  and again.

    Grilling Burgers & Hot Dogs tonight.  My pretty Princess just informed me that she doesn’t like buns and that she’d like a large swirly mound of Ketchup on the side of hers =D

    Happy Weekend Everyone!

    XOXO

    Your Squishy Monster

    Categories: Life | 1 Comment

  8. Takin’ it back Old School

    March 19, 2012 by The Squishy Monster

    Grade School me saw an entirely different side of the world.  We were poor–no ifs and or butts about this one.  We were lucky if we stayed in one place long enough to make friends with the neighbor kids and even luckier if we could sit with the same kids we’d befriended earlier that year at lunch.  There were definitely lots-o-lunches that comprised of naked, uncooked Ramen Noodles or baggies of Cereal, lol.  Being poor did not afford us the luxury of any hot fluffy Eggs or golden drizzled Hot Cakes for Breakfast either.  On Sundays (the Family’s special day), we’d be treated to Canned Beans, Canned Corn, with a heap of bright and yellow scrambled Eggs, made even prettier with a lacey drizzle of Ketchup.  I’m not even the least bit resentful.  I will tell anyone just how fond I am of this particular meal.  I still crave it today: case in point ;)

    Ya know, that may just be where my affinity for the oh-so-humble Egg may have come from.  Dirt cheap and an endless giver ;)

    …but for most Breakfasts, I remember eating a lot of Poptarts–most of the time cold bc Mom was adamant that to even the bus stop we should always make it a point to make it there earlier rather than later. Poptarts are just one of those things that takes me instantly back to childhood–like the Playdoh that we weren’t suppose to eat but did.  So in an attempt to wrangle that nice and wonderful feeling and stick it in some dough, I present to you

    My Poptarts:

    How to Make Homemade Pop-Tarts

     

    Homemade Poptarts
     
    Save Print

    Prep time

    Cook time

    Total time

     

    Author:

    Ingredients
    • Pie Crust:
    • •16 tb cold Veggie Shortening (I love the Spectrum Brand) if you absolutely detest any type of shortening, you can use ½ Shortening + ½ Butter (I’ve never personally done it with just all Butter and love the flaky effect that the Shortening brings).
    • •14 oz All Purp. Flour (I aim to weigh most of my baking ingredients but get away without it for say, my Cookies but like to weigh it here).
    • •2 tb Sugar
    • •1 ts Salt
    • •4 tb ice cold Milk mixed with ½ ts Lemon Juice
    • •4 tb (give or take a few spoons) ice cold Water
    • Prepared Jam/Jelly/Preserves
    • Glaze:
    • •Powder Sugar + the teeniest bit of Milk to make a thick Glaze Consistency (experiment with a drop or two at a time) + Coarse Colored Sugar/Sprinkles
    • ?make sure to allow your Pop-tarts to cool before glazing.

    Instructions
    1. Do not overmix your dough, cut in your Shortening/Flour first then add your wet.
    2. You can mix this by hand or use a Food Processor but I would not pulse more than 25-30 short spurts. Additionally, you can also use a Stand Mixer fitted with a paddle attachment = similarly, don’t mix for longer than say…1-2 minutes.
    3. Allow your dough discs to chill in the fridge for at least an hour
    4. Fill with Jam/Jelly/Preserves then seal/crimp
    5. Bake these at 350 for 19-22 minutes
    6. Cool completely and glaze

    Does anyone remember the Pop-Tart Cereal?  Everyone thinks I’m makin’ it up, lol.

    Teeny tiny Poptarts and Homemade Poptarts alike—Poptarts unnnnnitee!!!

    LOL, I’m being way too kid silly right now.

    Love y’all!!

    Your Squishy Monster ^.^

    Categories: Pies/Tarts Pies/Tarts Sweets Sweets Videos | No Comments

  9. Blueberry Muffins on a Blue Day

    March 14, 2012 by The Squishy Monster

    Yesterday and today were a bit rough for me.  Irritatingly so too bc the weather outside was delightful (who says delightful anymore) but it truly was.  There isn’t much that can compete with the feeling of a full belly filled with a yummy meal, windows rolled down, music cranked all the way up, and the wind blowing in your hair.  Determined not to be buried too deep, I relished this feeling.  Your cheeks flush, your lungs gulp up the fresh air and your favorite song is blaring and you’re half screaming, half singing along.  For a quick pick me up, I swung by a corner bake shop, feeling laden with the gripping anxiety that can so selfishly seem to not want to let go.  I bought a gigantic Sugar Cookie.  Food never fails in providing me with such great pleasure.  As I dug in my purse, frustrated that I had allowed it to get so littered with crumpled up receipts and wondering where that last dime was that I needed, the man at the register asked me how I was doing and how my day was –in the most sincerest and warmest way.  It really made me pause and take a breath.  Just asking me, really asking me made my mouth itch to smile instead of remaining frozen in the grimace I’d worn most of the day. Thank you Mr. Stranger.

    Whenever I feel down and out, I find immediate comfort in the Kitchen.  When almost every exposed part of me is dusted with Flour and my hands smell of Butter and Sugar and the Kitchen perfumes the entire house with freshly baked Pastry smells, I feel much more centered.  I believe there to be truth to Aromatherapy.  There’s such an incredible tangible quality to the grittiness of Sugar between your fingers or the feeling of plump round berries in your hand.  Then, there are the colors and smells!!  The color of creamy batter dotted with round fruit and specked with golden Lemon Zest…the bright and citrusy scent that the Lemon releases…when such things are lovingly poured into a bowl, you are so quickly rewarded with such simple pleasures like…

    Blueberry and Lemon Cream Muffins!
    How to Make Blueberry Lemon Cream Muffins

    Blueberry Lemon Cream Muffins
     
    Save Print

    Prep time

    Cook time

    Total time

     

    Ingredients
    • Dry:
    • •2 c unbleached, unbromated all purpose Flour
    • •1/2 ts fine, table Salt
    • •1/2 ts Baking Soda (not Powder)
    • Wet
    • • 1 c Sugar
    • •2 Eggs (at room temp)
    • •1/2 c melted Butter or Canola or Veggie Oil
    • •1 ts pure Vanilla Extract
    • •1 c full fat Yogurt or Sour Cream
    • •1 c (or more) of Blueberries
    • •Zest of 1 Lemon

    Instructions
    1. Blend your Sugar, Eggs, and Butter
    2. Drizzle in your melted Butter/Oil
    3. Tip in your Vanilla
    4. Continue mixing and add in your Yogurt/Sour Cream + Lemon Zest
    5. In a separate bowl, sift together all of your dry ingredients and slowly add this to your wet.
    6. Lastly, fold in your Berries by hand
    7. Bake at 350 for 17-25 minutes

    Notes
    These babies will bake at 350 for about 17-20 min for standard cupcake size Muffins and they are especially lovely with Orange Marmalade or a dollop of Citrusy Marscapone Cream ^.^

    Turning Blue Days into Blueberry Muffins…

    Love,
    Your Squishy Monster

    Categories: Breakfast Breakfast Sweets Sweets Videos | 4 Comments

  10. Who Says?

    March 5, 2012 by The Squishy Monster

    Who says that you can’t have whatever YOU feel like eating for breakfast?  I adore French Fries or Pizza in the Morning time.  Unconventional?  Certainly.  Delicious anytime of day?  Absolutely!

    I heard somewhere that if you have a healthy appetite in the morning time, it’s an indication that you’re healthy.  I’m no Physician, but that sounds about right.

    If someone were to tell me to eat a Banana and drink some Juice for Breakfast, I think I’d be pretty sad about it.  Most mornings, I wish  I could afford the time to indulge in a Breakfast Buffet (each and every morning that is) but reality settles in and I understand that’s very unlikely.

    Steak & Eggs with The Squishy Monster

    Steak & Eggs
     
    Save Print

    Prep time

    Cook time

    Total time

     

    Author:

    Ingredients
    • •Any Steak of your choice
    • •Herbs de Provence (I used about ½ ts per side but use as much or as little as you’d like)
    • •Salt
    • •Pepper
    • •Olive Oil
    • •Eggs

    Instructions
    1. Massage your Steak on both sides with a healthy helping of Olive Oil (or Butter) and really work your Herbs, Salt and Pepper in there.
    2. Get your Grill Pan screaming hot and sear both sides (cook to how you like it)
    3. Top the whole thing off with a nice, runny Egg

    Notes
    •Please allow your raw Steaks to come to room temperature and give it a little TLC, when it’s done cooking to the temp. you desire, allow it to rest as well. These are very important things to remember. You don’t want to shock your meat and you want to give the juices within the Steak time to redistribute. You want it all in your belly not your plate then trash.

    Sunday is a very Lucky Lady indeed.  She sees the best of me.  I have no pressing obligations that are at my door and it’s my one entire day off!!!  They don’t call it Sunday Funday for nothin’!  Sunday is also where my more elaborate Breakfast/Brunches are made and eaten.  It’s a fantasy to think that at 6:30 am, I can efficiently function so much that I’ve washed up, gotten dressed, and grilled a Steak AND fried an Egg before heading out to battle traffic and go to work?  Uh-NO.  LOL.

    So join me in an indulgence on this dreary Monday and come have Steak with me!  Kick Monday’s butt out the door and say “Monday, you ain’t got nothin’ on me now!”

    Love Always,

    Your Squishy Monster

    Categories: Breakfast Breakfast Meats Meats Videos | 4 Comments

Older Entries

  • 1

    Welcome to The Squishy Monster!

    Here, I'll share the stories of my on going love affair with food as well as step-by-step tutorials/cooking videos featuring original recipes. I'm a firm believer that despite our differences, our one commonality as humans? Food.
    I'm 100% Southern & 100% Korean. My name is Angela and my friends call me The Squishy Monster.

  • Recent Posts

  • Support "Pack Away Hunger"

    		•