Ham and Cheese Breakfast Bake

Great news!  The wedding planning is going great...which means a little time has cleared up in my schedule to return to blogging.  Phew!  I was missing it!  But planning the most epic wedding Cleveland's ever seen takes a lot of time!  Anyway, now I'm getting back into the groove of my normal food-obsessed self and doing things like making risotto on weeknights and hosting fancy brunches on weekends - my favorite things!  Last Sunday, Howie's parents were staying with us and I made them a Ham and Cheese Breakfast Bake that my family has been making for years!  This isn't just any old ho-hum egg bake.  It's my favorite egg bake!  It's just so tasty and different from the breakfast dishes you're probably used to making because you crush Corn flakes over the top and drizzle it with melted butter before you bake it in the oven.  It sounds strange, but it's an explosion of flavors and textures!  Try making it for your sweetie on Valentine's Day tomorrow!

Apple Cinnamon Cranberry Bread

So I just came to the mind-shattering realization that Thanksgiving is 2 weeks away.  Where did the fall go??  Why haven't I started listening to Christmas music??  Just kidding about that last one.  I had you, didn't I?  The only thing I seem to be on top of this season is coming up with some ahhhh-mazing holiday recipes!  Like Apple Cinnamon Cranberry Bread.  Seriously though, the sweet apples, tangy cranberries and fresh orange zest combined with a heavenly brown sugar cinnamon mixture that caramelizes on top of the bread when you bake it in the oven...it's just perfect.  On top of how great it tastes, the bread is light enough that you can serve it for breakfast on Thanksgiving or Christmas Day and it will tie your guests over until the scrumptious dinner!

  Let the holiday season officially commence on the blog!

Pancetta Quiche with Carmelized Peppers & Onions

Even though people will tell you that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, they're wrong.  At least on Saturdays and Sundays, when it's all about the art of the brunch. 

In my crazy mind, breakfast is about getting that perfect low-calorie balance of fruits, veggies, whole grains and protein.  Boring.  But brunch is a whole different animal!  It has to be slightly greasy, because it's a weekend, treat yo self!  It also has to be super flavorful because brunches at restaurants are always delicious and, let's face it, easier than making all of this at home.  And most importantly, the meal must be enticing to people who rolled out of bed at 7am for morning yoga and people who are going back to bed after this meal because they closed down the bars last night.  Tough crowd!

One of the most perfect brunch recipes that I can think of is my Pancetta Quiche with Caramelized Peppers and Onions.  This savory, cheesy, melt-in-your-mouth quiche is easy to prepare thanks to this awesome thing called refrigerated pie crust, but has a sophisticated flair from the sweet and crunchy Pancetta.  Brunch game strong! 

Jack Flaps Downtown Cleveland

I don't think there is anything better on a Saturday morning than a nice, leisurely brunch with good company.  And I don't think there is anything better on a Friday afernoon than learning that a popular Ohio City brunch spot has opened a new downtown location.  You guessed it, Jack Flaps recently opened a second restaurant in the 5th Street Arcades in between Prospect and Euclid.  And it's sooooo good.  While I was delighted by the taste and presentation of my meal, I might be even happier that visitors and locals alike aren't forced to flee to Ohio City and Tremont to eat the most important meal of the day - but let me tell you, I will be fleeing from Lakewood to eat at Flap Jacks many times in the near future!

Steph's Pick: Brown Butter

So if you've read my blog in the past, you might remember that I have an avid dislike of butter.  Yep, I'm one strange creature.  I promise it's not because it's unhealthy - I totally work out enough to compensate for a least a few tablespoons a week.  It's the taste!  So the even weirder part in this twisted story is that I'm going to introduce a new type of blog post about cooking tips that you can apply to any recipe involving the featured method or ingredient...and my first one is about BUTTER.

What?!

Sticky Cinnamon Raisin Rolls

If you guys haven't noticed, I've been trying to post some healthier recipes lately because summer is right around the corner, and it seems like everyone is trying to eat well so they can look and feel their best.  Well...this is NOT one of those recipes!  But hey, you gotta live a little!  And if living means making your own homemade Sticky Cinnamon Raisin Rolls, then bring on the butter!  Seriously though, I'm still in shock that I can make something like this without a professional pastry degree.  It's THAT good.  And flaky just like a croissant.  But there is no yeast, kneading or the oh-my-gosh-i-have-to-wait-like-3-hours-for-this-stuff-to-rise involved.  In fact, the whole process is under 45 minutes.  What's my secret?  Hmm I suppose you will just have to read more to find out!

Orange Juice Ice Cubes

This is sort of a random post, but also sort of brilliant!  It stems from the idea that there are 2 people in this world...juice drinkers and coffee drinkers.  Let's face it, everybody starts their day with one or the other.  Mine involves a massive thermos of hazelnut-flavored Folger's coffee with a dash of ground cinnamon, unless this juice we're talking about is in a mimosa!  Anyway, back to the topic!  I was super sick last week and bought orange juice to get a little extra vitamin C.  Flash forward 4 days later, and I still had over half the bottle left with no intention of finishing it.  What to do?  Freeze the leftovers in an ice cube tray!  It's been a great addition to my morning smoothies to add a little citrus kick without having to waste a whole orange.  I haven't tried freezing any other types of juice, but feel like it would work out just as well as long as it's 100% juice.  Just a little food for thought to get you recycling ingredients instead of throwing them away!

Blueberry Banana Oatmeal

Ever since I first discovered the convenience of microwavable oatmeal my freshman year of college, I've been hooked on the stuff.  Luckily, the microwave phase only lasted through my dorm years, because the real stuff is so much better tasting and better for you!  It's kind of like a blank canvas with unlimited topping possibilities!  On a normal day, I'll jazz it up a bit with some cinnamon sugar, raisins and walnuts.  But on the weekend, when my heart says blueberry pancakes but my brain tells me egg whites and a smoothie, I can compromise and make blueberry banana oatmeal!  With sweetness from fresh blueberries, banana, coconut and brown sugar, a little crunch from walnuts, some spice from ground cinnamon and a boost of protein, calcium and omega-3s from chia seeds, I have the perfect breakfast to satisfy my sweet tooth while staying on track.  It's seriously SO GOOD!

Bananas Foster Pancakes

Yesterday morning, I made the most delicious pancakes for Howie and I!  You got to admit, there's no better way to kick off a relaxing Saturday then a big breakfast!  These weren't just any old pancakes, they were my sinfully sweet bananas foster pancakes.  I heat butter, brown sugar, vanilla extract, a pinch of salt, and a ripe banana together until it forms this melt in your mouth "syrup" that will make you never want to buy the store-bought kind ever again!  I came up with this creation a few years ago, back when I was in undergrad, but never really wrote my recipe down.  Told you guys that's my downfall with cooking...I love winging it and seeing what happens!  Yesterday I measured everything in this breakfast treat, and want you guys to be able to make it in your own kitchen too.  Let's just say I've come a long way since Flapjack Friday at the Miami University Architecture School!

New Year, New Smoothie: Triple Berry Green Smoothie

Happy New Year!  I thought I would start 2015 off right with a healthier recipe, since almost everyone's New Year's resolution involves eating better, losing weight, exercising more, or a combination of all three.  Back in August, I started making a smoothie for breakfast everyday because they were the most convenient meal to take with me on my 45 minute drive.  Little did I know, they would actually make me lose about 6 pounds without even trying!  It's definitely the best way to improve your energy, increase your protein and nutrient intake, gain lean muscle...and it tastes great!  I make all different types of smoothies depending on the fruit I have at the time, but this Triple Berry Green Smoothie has definitely become my favorite combination lately!

Breakfast Power Smoothies

So I totally love everything about Cleveland...except the east side.  The traffic, the fact that you can't get from point A to point B without going 4 miles out of the way via winding roads, the fact that the highways somehow failed to connect to any of the important areas, did I mention TRAFFIC?  Clearly I've been a self-proclaimed west-sider for life (with the exception of an occasional hike or a Nordstrom adventure).  But then I landed this awesome design job in Solon.  Karma sucks.  It's a tough life making the 55 minute trek in the morning, so I basically attempt to wake up as late as possible while still looking presentable.  I started making these incredible breakfast smoothies so I can bring my meal on the go, and I realized I was officially addicted when I started making them on weekend mornings when I was in no rush to get anywhere.  It's nutrition in a cup, and so refreshing!!  Especially paired with a sunny Saturday morning and a brand new issue of Travel & Leisure magazine (with Firenze on the cover nonetheless)!  Try making it yourself, and be sure to experiment with the fruit you add too!

Western Breakfast Strata

I graduated with my Master of Architecture this past Saturday!  I was so excited for the day to finally arrive, and wanted to make a special breakfast to celebrate the big day!  I didn't want to make just any ordinary breakfast, I wanted to try something completely new...so I decided to turn my favorite breakfast - western omelette with toast and a side of home fries - into a single breakfast strata that is out of this world delicious!

Blueberry Banana Streusel Muffins

Today is the big moving day from Tremont to Lakewood for Howie and his 2 roommates!  Since I know I won't be much assistance with the heavy lifting, I decided to use my real skills to do my share for the day: baking!  My blueberry banana streusel muffins are soft and fluffy, with a slight tartness from the blueberries balanced out by a crunchy, buttery cinnamon topping.  I know the guys are going to love them...especially considering all their food is packed away in boxes!

Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Smoothies

I had the pleasure of getting mouth surgery yesterday morning, which has resulted in a liquid diet for the next 4-5 days.  It's the worst.  I made a promise to myself that I will try to follow these instructions for at least 2-3 days, but I'm going nuts already considering the fact that dairy upsets my stomach and they said no hot foods.  What happened to soup and oatmeal being my Plan A?!?!  Clearly I had to get creative to avoid not eating altogether, so I created a delicious Plan B.  My peanut butter banana oatmeal smoothies are not only filling, but taste like a dessert!  And did I mention that they're less than 400 calories (thank you almond milk!); this beats my favorite Mitchell's PB Banana Smoothies by a long shot!

Easter Brunch

Happy Easter!  I hope everyone is enjoying the beautiful sunshine and celebrating the holiday with family, friends and of course, food!  Howie and I's day got off to a bit of a rocky start when the mass time at St. John Cantius Church in Tremont randomly changed for Easter Sunday, but at least we got a chance to catch a glimpse of the (empty) interior!  The architecture of the nave was incredible, and brought back many memories of the massive cathedrals that I visited throughout Europe while I studied abroad in Italy.  Though we were a little bummed, especially after our half hour attempt of driving to every church in the Tremont/Ohio city area looking for a Catholic mass turned into an epic failure, we at least had a delicious brunch that made up for it!  Howie was in charge of the peach-orange-mango mimosas, and I made a savory breakfast skillet with sausage, homemade home fries, peppers, onions, egg and cheese!

The Best Banana Bread...Ever

The recipe I'm about to share with you is a very special one.  I've actually been sitting on my couch for the last twenty minutes debating if I should share it publicly because it's taken so long for me to make it perfect...but the smell of warm banana bread with a hint of cinnamon is wafting into my living room and bringing out my soft side, and I feel like it would be morally unjust not to spread the happiness that this recipe brings around to everyone!  I'm going to start by saying that banana bread is one of my all-time favorite desserts.  It's just so comforting, light, fluffy, it somehow feels healthy (even though it isn't), and tastes great anytime of the day, even for breakfast!  Usually, I make a recipe once, and if I like it, and then other people like it, I consider it a keeper.  This recipe, however, is a combination of 2 family recipes, a helpful tip from my friend's mom, and a new twist I added on my own...COCONUT!  I've baked this recipe close to a hundred times, experimenting with different additions each time, and can honestly say it's finally perfect...every single batch I share with people yields at least one response saying "this is the best banana bread I've ever had!"