Category

Desserts

Category

 #Brunchy

BRUNCH:

a late morning meal eaten instead of breakfast and lunch.

When brunch comes to mind, I usually envision a cute restaurant, possibly parisian themed with a whole list of items to choose from. When I go for a brunch I like to eat healthy but also enjoy a dessert. Most restaurants know people like me will want this and offer separate options for healthy and dessert items. Makes sense. However, if I’m making my own brunch at home, it’s a whole other ball game. This is why for one of my brunch items I’ve chosen to do a French toast roll with Nutella and strawberries.

When hosting a brunch at home, here are some tips on what you’ll want to do:

  • Invite your guests
  • Create your menu well in advance so you have time to gather or check what items you’ll need
  • Put together a juice station (prep the night before for certain mixes like Sangria’s)
  • Match number of guests to tableware. If I had a quarter for every time I mis-counted how many people were coming, I’d be a billionaire! Make sure you have your choice of cutlery, serving plates, bow tie charms (see image below) for identifying your guests’ drinks etc.
  • If planning to use decor or a theme, keep it simple with matching tableware or paper balls/medallions for your walls

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Below I’ve put together a simple brunch with a touch of love. Rolled french toast, oat cups, Simply Simple Sangria (my own delicious recipe) and a side of fruit and heart shaped cheese.

Simply Simple Sangria

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My favourite thing about Sangria’s is the colourful combination of fruit. Not only does it taste amazing, but it looks pretty too! Most Sangria recipes call for slices of lemon, however I chose to add my favourite lemonade by Simply Orange instead and their new Simply Orange with coconut water.

Ingredients

  • 1 apple cored and cut into chunks
  • 1/2 cup Strawberries sliced
  • Orange slices (optional)
  • 1/2 cup Blueberries
  • 1/2 cup Blackberries
  • Clementine, peeled into pieces
  • 1/2 cup Simply Orange Lemonade
  • 1/3 cup Simply Orange Lemonade with Raspberry
  • 1/3 cup Simply Orange Coconut Water

In a large pitcher combine all ingredients. Refrigerate for as many hours as possible, preferably overnight.

Note: The longer the fruit stay steeped in your juice mix, the fruits will enhance the flavour of the juice and soak it up as well.
HOW TO HOST A (1)

Rolled French Toast

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Ingredients

  • Whole wheat bread
  • Nutella
  • Eggs
  • Cinnamon
  • Powder sugar
  • Strawberries

Directions

Mix eggs and cinnamon in a flat deep bowl.

I didn’t mention how many slices of bread, eggs or cinnamon you’ll need because that would differ based on how many guests you’re making this for. Now take one slice of bread and flatten the edges with your fingers. Spread Nutella and place strawberries on one end of the Nutella side. Roll the bread. Place bread into the egg mix. Make sure it’s all covered. Place it in a buttered pan on low-medium heat. Turn rolled bread to each side until it is golden brown. Place in plate and finish with powdered sugar on top.

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Oat Cups

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Ingredients

  • Rolled or Quick Oats
  • 1/4 cup mashed banana
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • Pinch of salt
  • Cinnamon (as desired)
  • Yogurt
  • Fruit of choice for garnish or taste

This recipe makes 6 muffin cups. Butter the cups and set aside.

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Mix together the honey, banana and vanilla.

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In a separate bowl mix together the oats, cinnamon and salt. Combine both mixes together.

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Press the mixture into the cups.

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Refrigerate for an hour or more so that they’re not crumbling. You want the mixture to stick to the walls of the muffin cups. Preheat oven to 330F and bake for 15 mins. Once baked, let the cups cool down for a bit before removing them from the muffin tray or molds. Once removed, add yogurt and garnish.

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What do you love having for brunch?

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Holiday Gift ideas 2014

holiday gifts 2014

 

Happy Plugs – I just got my first set last month and I love them! They really are jewellery and headphones combined! I have the rose gold and they look so good with my rose gold accessories. If you have a favourite colour or have a friend who loves a particular print, I’m certain you can find matching Happy Plugs for him or her. Makes for a great Secret Santa gift.

Vitabath Holiday Scents – Lathering yumminess. I love these holiday scents and they make for great presents because they come in a duo set.

Jelly Doughnuts – Instead of the usual box of chocolates, why not get that someone gourmet doughnuts? They have an amazing selection for the holiday season too! Check their website for locations in Toronto.

Marsala – You heard the big news right? Pantones colour for 2015 is Marsala. So why not give your fashionista friends a head start and get them something in Marsala to rock right into the new year? I know there has been some backlash of why this colour was chosen. But you can’t impress everyone. I personally love the colour and it can be worn through your outfits to your everyday make-up looks.

Cuppies – Here are my fave sites to get a special someone that unique cup they’ll be using all winter season long for their hot coco’s and lattes: Creature cups, Davids Tea & Royal Albert for the dainty.

 

Happy Holiday Gift Shopping! 

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I have been a HUGE fan of Dad’s chocolate chip and oatmeal cookies for as long as I can remember. Recently I found them in the chewy kind and I just fell deeper in love. With a cold glass of milk, you can easily eat a half a box. Or at least I can.

Then one day my…

“I wanna bake something with chocolate from scratch”

feeling kicked in and my husband suggested I take a shot at baking these yummy creations. After two bakes, we have mastered the very best chocolate chip and oatmeal cookie recipe.

I know I’ve said this before in my previous recipes. I mind as well make a motto of it.

Taste it, tweak it & make it yours.

Everyone likes a different amount of salt or chocolate or whatever it may be in their food. So choose accordingly. Take risks, baking should be fun!

cookies oats

Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
1 3/4 all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon of baking soda
3 1/2 cups of quick cooking oats
1 teaspoon of salt
1 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips OR milk chocolate chips

Directions

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until smooth. Don’t over mix. Cream for about 4-5 mins by hand. This ensures your cookies don’t fall flat. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt; stir into the creamed mixture until just blended.

Mix in the quick oats, walnuts, and chocolate chips. Drop by heaping spoonfuls onto un-greased baking sheets.
Bake for 12 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

TIP: Chill the mix for 2 hours prior to baking and the cookies won’t spread.

cookies

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My obsession for chocolate chip banana bread believe it or not was purchasing a loaf from the Forest Hill Shoppers Drug Mart. It was the perfect balance of sweet, yet salty and moist. My advice for this recipe is tweak it where you need to in order to get to perfection. Your perfection could differ from mine by a 1/2 teaspoon of more salt or less. On that note, take risks and enjoy! :”)

Prep Time: 2hrs

Ingredients

1 cup of granulated sugar (or regular sugar)
8 tablespoons unsalted butter (or salted based on your preference. I used salted once.)
2 large eggs
3 ripe bananas (1 cup of mashed bananas)
1 tablespoon milk
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup of chopped pecans (optional)
Semi-sweet chocolate chips (as many as desired or 1/3 cup is what I put)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Spray/Butter/Oil up a 9×5 inch loaf pan with a non-stick spray coating preferably.

Mix or blend together the eggs, butter, buttermilk, mashed bananas and milk.

Sift together the sugar, flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Add this to the mixture above and stir in desired pecans and/or chocolate chips. Mix well.

Pour into prepared loaf pan and bake 1 hour and 20 minutes. However, check up on the bread after an hour and do the toothpick test. If it comes out clean, it’s ready. From my experience sometimes it’s 1 hr 14mins or 1 hr based on maybe a miss-measurement of ingredients or the oven you use.

Banana Bread

 

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