....is Coconut Oatmeal

Good Morning!
I'm studying for my (hopefully) last exam before I can officially call myself an Architect. (There are seven nationally required exams and California likes to throw on an extra one for good measure.) As I prepare to study each day I like a nice hearty meal to keep me focused, I also use it as my exam day meal. They don't let you bring snacks into the testing room and I don't test well on an empty stomach. In fact I have a tendency to get 'hangry', a term Mr. & Mrs. M taught me, it's that irrational anger that appears for no reason, except hunger is taking over and anything other than food is slightly infuriating. It doesn't make any sense, and some people manage it better than others, I do not.

So, to fend off the hanger and keep my head in the exam I choose oatmeal. I love oatmeal & brown sugar with a small cup of coffee in the morning, I probably use too much sugar but it's an amazing way to start the day. I like the warmth and it manages to hold me over to lunch without a snack. I also like to top it with Pecan Pie Shortbread, chopped walnuts, or coconut. I had shaved and shredded coconut left over from my winter baking extravaganza. I like a mix of sweetness and a bit of crunch to liven up the oatmeal.
What would you put on your oatmeal?

....is Spiced Brioche Apple Dumpling, For Breakfast

This morning at the Breakfast Hub take a look at my Spiced Brioche Apple Dumpling!

Happy Baking,

....is Buttermilk Crumpets, for Breakfast

This morning at the Breakfast Hub, Buttermilk Crumpets! Stop what you're doing, bake these crumpets, enjoy with a nice cup of tea and get ready to welcome Fall.

Happy Baking!

....is a Poached Egg on Toast with Avocado & Tomato

Good Morning Breakfast Hub! It's Elizabeth from Not Everything I Make is Pretty, I hope you're having a great Thursday morning so far. I'm (seriously) excited about this weeks post, it's a surprisingly easy homemade recipe that will definitely impress your breakfast guests.

I finally overcame one of my cooking fears! 

I poached an egg.

I was pretty sure they were going to be undercooked, fall apart into a stringy mess or I'd end up with a pot of soggy egg water (is that even possible?). I'm not sure why I was so scared but a poached egg was intimidating to me. I set to work on research, to learn from other homecook's do's and don'ts. Theres a lot of differing opinions out there so I compiled what I thought would be my best shot at a successful egg poaching. It worked for me, I hope you give it a try and let us know what works  for you 

(and maybe what didn't).

....is a Poached Egg on Toast with Avocado & Tomato, for Breakfast

Conquering my fears one poached egg at a time.

Head over to the Breakfast Hub to see my first attempt at this breakfast classic.

Happy Cooking!

....is Dutch Oven French Bread

I have a slight obsession with bread (along with zucchini, tomato, avocado & chocolate, though usually not all together) . I've been working on perfecting the fluffy crumb with a crunchy crust. I usually bake it on a pizza stone with a cup of water to help add some steam to the process, it's worked fairly well so far, but I have another option now too....

The Dutch Oven: I got mine, enamel coated, from World Market and it works great! I've used it primarily for Braising and once for Chili. I went on the hunt for other ways to use my new found toy, I would have never thought to make bread in one though. The lid on, allows the bread to cook, fluff and steam. Finishing the baking, with the lid off, gives it a golden, knock on wood crust with the perfect crunch.

....is a Spiced Crostata with Nectarines, for Breakfast

This might be my favorite Breakfast Hub post yet! (Ok, second favorite, the Baby Beignets were amazing.) Flaky crust, sweet fruit, my favorite spices and you can premake the dough, to bake and serve it right out of the oven for breakfast or brunch!

Happy Baking!

....is Petit Pan au Chocolat, for Breakfast

I made Petit Pan au Chocolat for the Breakfast Hub this morning!

They're warm and gooey, tiny chocolate croissants.

"There's soooooo fluffy!!"

Happy Baking!

....is Bacon, Onion & Cheese Tortilla Cup

While I was looking for an idea for this week's post it was the leftover ingredients in my fridge that served as the inspiration. Bacon (from a Cheddar Bacon Pizza I made over the weekend), half an Onion (leftover from Salsa Rosa) & a partial bag of Parmesan. The crispy shell of the baked tortilla worked as the perfect container for the delicious filling, and the ingredient options are near endless. These self contained savory breakfast treats are a great way to use up the odds and ends in your fridge! What would you choose for the filling?

....is Rosemary & Garlic Bread

A good loaf of bread has any number of uses. 

Here's my favorite basic dough recipe, it's incredibly easy. There's a lot of waiting time, but the effort involved is minimal. I've made a wheat version & used it for thanksgiving rolls too. I used it on one of my first breakfast hub posts: Mascarpone French Toast & Mixed Berry Syrup.

My newest favorite is mixing in Rosemary & Garlic

....is Bacon, Onion & Cheese Tortilla Cup, for Breakfast

My bacon, onion & cheese tortilla cup is on the Breakfast Hub this morning!

Happy Cooking!

....is Champagngria, for Breakfast

Another post up at the Breakfast Hub! I hope you enjoy this lovely addition to Brunch.

Happy Sipping!

....is Chocolate Zucchini Bread

Chocolate what?! But it's not green.

The Zucchini makes this breakfast treat deliciously moist and the Ganache is a gooey ribbon of  goodness (I'm practicing my alliterations) . I need to find a way to Ganache the middle (as I turn it into a verb) but maybe that would make it more cake like. But do you want to know the best part, if the chocolate bread and chocolate ganache isn't enough.... 

With three whole zucchini in the batter you can tell everyone, including yourself, it's (almost) healthy!

...is Zucchini Bread, for Breakfast

I'm on my way to Chicago but you should be on your way to the Breakfast Hub this morning. Chocolate Zucchini Bread! We can pretend it's healthy, Zucchini totally cancels out the slightly less healthy Sugar and Chocolate. I won't tell if you don't!

Happy Baking!

....is Sweet & Savory Pretzel Roll

If you had a choice between a sweet or savory treat for Breakfast, what would you pick? Breakfast is the only meal each that works with both the savory and sweet dishes, one of the many reasons it's the best meal of the day. A tightly wrapped pretzel bun gives a pastry like quality and it only takes a little something extra to make Sweet and Savory options for this fluffy treat. Enjoy!

....is Sweet & Savory Pretzel Roll, for Breakfast

Pretzel Rolls at the Breakfast Hub this morning!

Happy Baking!

....is Lemon Lime Macaroon Bars, for Breakfast

At the Breakfast Hub today, a tasty & refreshing sweet treat perfect for a warm summer morning!

Happy Baking!

....is a Few Favorites, May TwentyThirteen

My May favorites are all over the place, from New Orleans to my own kitchen, an old favorite for breakfast, two breweries and a chair.

....is an Apple & Walnut Tart

Breakfast, Brunch or how to ruin your Brenner. This tart is an easy way to do all three. I hope you give this recipe a try, it was Real Simple and delicious! I think next time I'll try it with summer fruit....maybe Peaches or Apricots. What fruit would you use?

....is an Apple & Walnut Tart for Breakfast

This morning at the Breakfast Hub, an Apple & Walnut Tart for breakfast!

Happy Cooking!