A Beautiful Breakfast

So my backlog is really, really, REALLY long but I just had the most fabulous breakfast today and I can't resist sharing it! I think this is the first updated post I've posted (redundant much?) in a long, long, long time! 

Last night, I was reading my sister's copy of The Mysterious Benedict Society* and flipping through Jamie Oliver's Jamie's Dinners. I chanced upon his recipe for FRENCH TOAST, and decided to make it for breakfast!

PHOTOFLOOD:

Crusty, thick bread, buttered on both sides

Buttermilk Pancakes, Yet Another Perfect Brekkie.

These pups are definitely the BEST.

The reason I actually made buttermilk pancakes is because I had some leftover buttermilk from the scones that I made over the weekend. I'm to embarrassed to post my scones simply because I haven't tweaked the recipe enough to my liking! I have a strong feeling that it will actually be up here soon simply because I LOVE MY SCONES with whipped cream and strawberry jam. 

I happened to cook my pancakes a quite right today, a crisp outer layer then chewy inside but not ooey gooey cause that would be sloppy and disgusting. I got the recipe from Tasty Kitchen, and the woman who made this whole concept of sharing recipes is just FANTASTIC. Hands down what I hope to be if ever I become a housewife.(but I really hope I won't become one! NO OFFENSE)

BUTTERMILK PANCAKES
makes 2 greedy servings

2/3 cup all purpose/plain flour
1 tbsp + 1 tsp sugar
2/3 tsp baking powder
1/3 tsp baking soda
2 pinches of salt
2/3 cups buttermilk
1 tbsp + tsp butter, melted
1 egg
1/3 tsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp + 1 tsp milk

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Buttermilk Substitute

1 cup full cream milk

1 tbsp white vinegar or lemon juice

Combine these two ingredients and let sit for 5-10 minutes. It sure does justice for buttermilk!

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Combine the dry ingredients together in a bowl. Separate the egg yolk from white in another bowl.

Whisk the egg whites until stiff peaks form. I was too lazy to bring out my mixer for this so I simply did it the old fashioned way which took me around 3 minutes. You'll know that stiff peaks are formed once you could hold the bowl with the egg whites above your head! BRAVO.

Mix butter, egg yolks, and vanilla extract in another bowl. Make sure your butter isn't too hot or else you'd end up scrambling your eggs. Once they're well incorporated, stir in your buttermilk.

Whisk the egg white mixture, dry and wet ingredients all together now. It might seem a tad dry at first but it will all come together with a little bit of whisking and muscle.

I find that the best sized pancakes are portioned at 1/4 cup, so that's what I use as measurement when I pour my batter onto my griddle. Swirl around butter in your hot pan, then pour in your batter. Make sure the pan isn't too hot or else your pancakes will be burnt on one side. Flip once bubbles form on the pancake!

I know the measurements and procedures require a fair amount of effort, but the pancakes are well worth it!;)

Serve with butter and maple syrup. I'm a big fan of maple syrup. It's to die for. And once again, I succumbed to the goodness of orange juice. The perfect match in my opinion for these hearty pancakes. Then again, I like pairing OJ with everything.

Till next time!

Brekkie Brunch

I've always been the type of person to take breakfast for granted. The maid always cooks oats, pancakes, sausages, eggs- YOU GET THE PICTURE. And all I'd have to do was scarf the food down. Basically, I was eating just for the sake of it, just to have my tummy full for school.

Thing is, since I've moved to Aussie, I have to make my own breakfast. At first, I ate a whole lot of cereal  until I finally got tired of it- it's just not worth it! So, I always take time to make the perfect scrumptious brekkie. But wait, I'd actually consider it brunch, since I find myself waking up at 10 am on a day to day basis, and yes, I do go to school.

My 6 Favorite Brekkie-Brunches

1. The Single Lady Oatmeal Pancake with Maple Syrup- I absolutely adore pancakes and I'd have them at least once a week!;) I'll share the recipe for this one soon! 

My Eggs and Cheesy Soldiers!

2. My Eggs & Cheesy Soldiers- My variation on the old time favorite!

3. Oh My Omelette- Eggs are amazing, and this is my favorite way of having it! I often put sun-dried tomato cheese, mushrooms, tomato, rosemary, and chives! What a stunner!

4. Low-fat Greek Yogurt with Honey & Seasonal Fruits- I used to have the yogurt with all the fruits processed and blended into it, but it's really CRAPPY once you try Greek Yogurt. It has this full creamy body that is just  scrumdiddlyumptious and a gazillion times healthier too! (The one I have has no preservatives whatsoever) And fruits are just such a joy! My favorite right now would be the combo with Kiwi and Banana. DROOL.

Hank's EPIC Jam

5. Jam on Toast- It's a very traditional thing. I started loving jam since I made a Rhubarb-Honey Compote, but then I started spreading it on my toast. (I put it on my Greek Yogurt too!) It's utter heaven. Since then, I've been a huge fan of jams! I'm loving Hank's Jams at the moment! They source the absolute BEST ingredients- so pricy! So, I reckon I should really start making my own ones, SOON!

6. Muesli in a Hurry- For those days that I simply have to eat and go! I just pour milk over some muesli and chop in some fruits! VOILA, simple gratification! I know that I should know better and make my own muesli, trust me, I will, SOON!

My love, Mister OJ.

As for my preferred beverages, OJ is definitely the way to go! I buy the 2L cartons from the grocery, they're FRESH PURE ORANGE JUICE! My favourites are Berri and Original. Must you know, I prefer the pulpy goodness.

And for those chilly days, there's English Breakfast with Skim Milk and Honey. It gives that nice warm fuzzy feeling. I always go for Twinings!

I'm so freaking careless, I ALMOST posted this on my school design blog! WHOOPSIES.