Breakfast Burritos

I call my son "Pickiest Eater Ever" for a reason.  He has always been, let's call it "particular" about what he would eat.  People said "Cover the veggies in ranch dressing".  Nope.  He wouldn't eat condiments.  Seriously, no condiments.  Not even ketchup.  People said "Mix everything together in a casserole.  He'll never know it's there".  Nope.  He would spend all of supper time picking out the tiny pieces of onion or peppers or carrots.  By the time he was satisfied they were all gone, the food was cold.  So, trust me, I've tried everything.  I finally learned to chill out and let him eat when he got hungry.  In other words, I'd treat him like a camel.  When he was hungry I would fill up the hump.  Let him eat till he was stuffed.  Then, if he didn't eat so much later, it wasn't that big of a deal.  It worked for us and avoided a lot of arguing and stress.  Now that he's gotten older, he's actually started to try things he would have never even considered just a few years ago.  Growth.  What do you know?

One meal he has always loved is breakfast.  When we would go out to dinner at a restaurant, I would ask if they could make him some pancakes.  Seriously.  Now that he is a growing teenager, he can really shovel some food down, including breakfast foods.  Here is a recipe I make for him that is easy, filling and he absolutely loves.  You can modify it to include your favorite ingredients.  You can wrap them in foil and take them with you.  You can make a bunch. keep them in the fridge and microwave them when you want one.  It's a good recipe to have in your pocket.

 

*Note:  I use 1 egg per burrito, 1 piece of ham or bacon per burrito.  The following recipe makes 2 burritos.  You can scale it up as needed.

BREAKFAST BURRITOS

2 eggs

1 Tbs milk

Cajun Seasoning to taste (or salt and pepper)

2 slices of deli ham (or bacon), chopped

shredded cheddar cheese

2 flour tortillas (soft taco size)

Heat a nonstick skillet over medium heat.  Add chopped ham to the skillet and let brown, stirring occasionally.  (If you are using bacon, make sure it is fully cooked and drain any excess grease).

  

Meanwhile, whisk together the eggs, milk and Cajun seasoning until well combined.

Once the ham is browned, lower the heat to medium-low then add the egg mixture to the pan.  The trick to making really good scrambled eggs is cook them low and slow.

Stir the eggs around occasionally with a wooden spoon.  (A metal utensil will ruin the finish of a nonstick skillet).

Don't over cook the eggs or they'll be dry and rubbery.  This is what they'll look like when they are done.

Turn off the heat so the eggs don't over cook.  Next, add some shredded cheddar cheese and let it melt.  You can add a little or a lot.  Whatever you like.

While the cheese melts, warm the tortillas so they will be pliable and easy to fold.  You can microwave them for a few seconds, but I like to put one in a warm skillet, let it sit a minute or so then flip it and let the other side warm up.  Really easy.

Once the tortilla is warmed up, transfer it to a plate.  Add half the egg mixture.  At this point you can add a little more shredded cheese if you like,

Fold in one side just a bit, like this:

Next, fold the bottom half way up, like this:

Then, fold the top half way down to close the burrito up, like this:

There you go, a delicious, handy dandy, portable breakfast.

If you are a vegetarian, just replace the meat with onions and peppers (or black beans, maybe).  You could use pepper jack cheese and add some salsa.  You could add chopped tomatoes and green onions.  The options are endless!  Give this one a try.  After all breakfast is the most important meal of the day!  (You knew I had to say it at some point, right?).  Enjoy!

Nanny Steph's Breakfast Casserole

I got this recipe many, many years ago in college (wait, not that many years ago).  My friend, Steph, and I took a public speaking class and had to give a how-to speech.  She spoke on how to make this breakfast casserole.  Afterward, she gave out the recipe to the class on a slip of paper.  I recently found that slip of paper tucked into a cookbook.  I decided to make it and share it with my kids (who call her Nanny Steph).  They loved it!

*Note:  I halved this recipe.

NANNY STEPH'S BREAKFAST CASSEROLE

6 slices of bread (white, wheat, whatever you have)
8 eggs
1 lb Jimmy Dean breakfast sausage
2 cups milk
1/2 tsp Cajun Seasoning, optional
shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cook sausage and crumble.  Drain off the grease.

Break the bread into small pieces and place in the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish.

Scatter the cooked sausage over the bread.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, milk and seasoning.

Pour the egg mixture over the sausage and bread.

Top with as much shredded cheese as you like.

Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes to 1 hour.  (45 minutes was perfect for me).

You could substitute bacon or ham for the sausage and use any kind of cheese you have (pepper jack would be so good).  This casserole is really easy to make.  It's a hearty breakfast that fills you up.  Plus, it's yummy!  Thanks Nanny Steph!

5 Ways to Use Boiled Eggs

Easter is almost here and if you're like me you will dye eggs, lots of eggs.  My kids are teenagers now, but we still love to dye eggs together.  The question is, what do we do with them?

I hate to waste food!  I always try to use up ingredients before they go bad or repurpose leftovers.  After Easter, the dozens of boiled eggs call for some extra creativity.  Here are 5 ways you can use up those boiled eggs.  But first, here are some tips for hard boiling eggs.

How to Hard Boil Eggs:

1.  Put eggs in a pot and add just enough COLD water to cover.

2.  Bring to a boil.  Put the lid on the pot.  Turn off the heat.

3.  Let sit for 15 minutes.

4.  Remove eggs to a bowl of ice water.  Let sit for 10 minutes.  This will cool them down to stop the cooking process so they don't over cook and make them easier to peel.

*Another tip for easy peeling:  Buy your eggs about a week before you boil them.  Fresher eggs are harder to peel.


5 Ways to Use Boiled Eggs:

1.  Deviled Eggs

A classic in the South and at Church potlucks everywhere.  I like an easy version called Ranch Deviled Eggs.  Cut the eggs in half lengthwise.

Remove the yolks to a bowl.  Add a little ranch dressing and mash with a fork.  Salt and pepper to taste.

I like to season the whites with a little salt and pepper then fill each egg white with a little of the yolk mixture.  Garnish with sliced green onions.  Easy but so good!

2.  Egg Salad Sandwiches

Dice the boiled eggs into small pieces.  Add a little mayonnaise (too much will make it goopy) and a little bit of mustard (too much will over power it).  Salt and pepper to taste then stir in some chopped fresh parsley.  Serve on bread.

3.  Tuna Salad

Mix 1 can of tuna, drained, with 2 diced boiled eggs.  Stir in a little mayonnaise, a little mustard, a small pickle, diced, and season to taste with Cajun Seasoning.  I also like to add a little bit of pickle juice.  It gives it some zing!  Serve with crackers, on bread or wrapped in lettuce.

4.  In a Green Salad

Prepare your favorite green salad and top it with sliced boiled eggs.  This will add protein and make it more satisfying.

5.  Potato Salad

Mix cubed boiled potatoes, cubed boiled eggs, mayonnaise, mustard and sweet pickle relish in a large bowl (the amounts depend on how many potatoes you use.  Just add enough mayo and mustard to get it the way you like it.  Taste as you go).  Mash everything together with a potato masher to get desired consistency (Some people like it very chunky, I like it a bit smoother).  Then, season to taste with Cajun Seasoning (or salt & pepper).

So, there are 5 ways to use those leftover boiled eggs.  I'm sure you can think of more.  So, go ahead, dye as many as you like.  Happy Easter!