Bran Muffins

2 cups boiling water
5 tsp. baking soda
1 cup shortening
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 quart buttermilk
5 cups flour
1 tsp. salt
4 cups all bran cereal
2 cups 40% bran flakes
2 cups chopped dates (optional)
1 cups chopped walnuts (optional)

Add soda to boiling water and cool.  Cream shortening and sugar.  Add eggs, one at a time; stir in buttermilk, then add flour and salt.  Add water and soda to above mixture.  Add cereals, dates and nuts.  Spoon into well greased muffin tins.  Never stir or beat, just fold ingredients together.  Store unused mixture in refrigerator for up to 6 weeks.  Bake at 375 degrees fro 20 minutes.

Cheesy Sausage and Croissant Breakfast Casserole

Cheesy Sausage and Croissant Casserole
adapted from Southern Living
serves 8 to 10

1 lb hot sausage (I used Jimmy Dean)
1 1/2 cups shredded Parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp onion powder
1 (10 to 13-oz) package mini croissants, chopped
2 cups milk
1 cup heavy cream
6 eggs, lightly beaten
2 cups shredded Gruyere cheese


Cook sausage in skillet over medium-high heat until done. Remove from skillet and drain fat.

Toss together cooked sausage, Parmesan cheese, onion powder and chopped croissants. Pour into a lightly greased 9x13-inch pan.

Whisk together milk, heavy cream and eggs. Pour over sausage mixture. Cover and refrigerate 8 hours.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Uncover casserole and top with shredded Gruyere cheese. Bake 45 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Conference Crepes

2 eggs
2 tbsp of sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp salt
2 cups of milk
1 cup of flour
1 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
oil for pan (I have found this to be optional if using a good non-stick pan)

Instructions:
Mix all the ingredients in a mixer or a blender really well and let sit for a few minutes.  Heat a non stick frying pan with a 1/2 tsp of oil really well or spray it generously with cooking spray.  It is very important that the pan is hot.  Pour 1/4-1/3 of a cup of the crepe mixture, or more depending on your pan size, into the pan and spread the mixture to cover the entire pan, by rotating the pan.  Leave about 1 to 2 min per side then flip over or until you see the edges of the crepe starting to brown a little bit. Once the crepe is done on one side it will also be able to slide it around and flip it over.  Repeat steps until you've prepared all the crepes.  You can just pile them all up on a plate as you cook them.

Fill crepes with berries, bananas, nutella, jam, cookie butter, pastry cream, cream cheese mix (see recipe below), whipped cream, etc. and roll and serve.

Cream Cheese Filling for Crepes:

8oz Cream Cheese, softened to room temp
8 oz Extra Creamy Cool Whip (defrosted in the fridge overnight)
2 tsp. Lemon Juice
1/2 c. Powdered Sugar (or to taste)
Mix all ingredients well and serve in crepes.

Instant Pot Steel Cut Oatmeal

There are 100 different ways to do everything in the IP, so when I find the way that works for me I like to write it down so I don't forget.  This is how I like Instant Pot steel cut oats.  The best part is that I can set the delay start the night before and we wake up to hot oatmeal!

1 c. steel cut oats
3 c. water
2 TB butter or coconut oil
pinch of salt
tiny splash of vanilla
You can also add spices like cinnamon, etc.

Place all ingredients in the pot, stir, and cook on (manual) high pressure for 4 minutes.  Then let it naturally release pressure until the "pin" drops.  Open the pot, stir, and serve (with butter and brown sugar!).  When I first open the pot it seems "watery" a lot of times, but if you stir it up the water just stirs right in and you are left with creamy steel cut oats.

Also, a tiny bit of Amber/Emily's Caramel Syrup drizzled over the top is really yummy.  Don't ask me how I know.  LOL

Easy Cinnamon Bubble Bread

Easy Cinnamon Bubble Bread

Rhodes White Frozen Rolls
1/2 c. butter, melted
2/3 c. sugar
1 Tbsp. cinnamon

In a small bowl, mix together the cinnamon and sugar.  Roll each piece of frozen dough in the melted butter and then in the cinnamon sugar mixture.   Place them in a greased 9x13 metal pan, following the directions on the back of the roll package for rising.  Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes.  Remove from oven and let cool.  Frost with your favorite cream cheese frosting.

Griddle Oat Pancakes

2 cups oats

1-2 cups oats ground up

1 tsp salt

2 1/2 tsp. baking powder

3 TBS. sugar

2 eggs

4 TBS. melted butter

1 1/2 cups milk

Mix all ingredients well.  Heat heavy girdle and bake pancakes until golden brown and flip.  Depending on consistency you may need to add more oats or ground oats to get pancake like batter.

Coconut Syrup

1/2 cup buttermilk
1 cube butter
1 cup sugar

Cook these 3 ingredients on medium / medium- high heat stirring continually until it comes to a boil. Boil for 1 minute.

Take off stove and add:
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon coconut extract

It will foam up a bit but will settle as it cools a little.

I've also tried it with maple extract and the kids liked that one as well.

Hashbrown Breakfast Casserole

Breakfast Casserole
1bag frozen hash brown potatoes (I have used shredded, potatoes o'brien, etc. All have worked great.)
1 cube butter, melted
salt and pepper to taste
2 c. diced ham
2 c. grated cheddar cheese
1/2 c. diced green pepper
8 eggs
2 c. milk
Rinse your potatoes in a colander under cold water and then lay them out on paper towels to drip dry. Pat the top of your potatoes with paper towels and then put them into a 9x13 baking dish. Pour the melted butter over the top of the potatoes and salt and pepper them to taste. Bake at 425 for 25 minutes and allow them to cool completely.
Sprinkle the ham, cheese and diced green pepper over the cooled hash browns. Mix the eggs and milk thoroughly with a wisk in separate bowl and then pour that over the potatoes, ham, etc.
Bake at 350 for 45 -60 mins, or until the eggs in the middle are cooked.
Notes: I always add some crushed red pepper flakes or a few dashes of hot sauce to my eggs/milk mixture for a little kick. I have also added a little finely diced onion with the green peppers.