Category Archives: Breakfast

Buttermilk Biscuits

Bread, Breakfast January 4, 2026 Leave a comment

Soft buttermilk biscuits are a classic baked good renowned for their tender texture and rich flavor. Crafted with simple ingredients such as all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, and generous amounts of buttermilk, these biscuits are a versatile addition to breakfast, brunch, or any meal. They can also serve as a base for savory toppings like fried chicken, sausage gravy, or cheese. Their delicate crumb and slightly tangy flavor from the buttermilk make them a favorite among bread lovers and a staple in Southern cuisine. In addition to their delicious taste and texture, these biscuits are relatively quick to prepare, making them an excellent choice for both novice bakers and experienced cooks. Their adaptability allows for variations, such as adding herbs, cheese, or spices to customize the flavor profile. Overall, soft buttermilk biscuits are a comforting, versatile, and timeless baked good that continues to be cherished across many households and culinary traditions.

Ingredients

  • 3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting the board
  • 4 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ¾ teaspoon cream of tartar
  • ½ cup cold butter sliced into pieces, plus ¼ cup shortening (or ¾ cup cold butter, omit shortening)
  • 1-1/4 cup buttermilk * You can make your own buttermilk: Place a Tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice in a liquid measuring cup. Add enough milk to bring the liquid up to the one-cup line. (if possible, use whole milk or heavy cream). Let stand for five minutes. Then, use as much as your recipe calls for.

Process

Preheat your oven to 450°F.

  1. Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl
  2. Add shortening and butter. Cut butter and shortening into the flour until it resembles coarse meal, using a pastry dough cutter or two knives.
  3. Create a well in the middle of the dough, add the buttermilk all at once, and using a fork mix JUST until combined, do not beat.
  4. Turn the dough out onto a floured board.
  5. Fold the dough about 5 times, gently press the dough down to inch thick. Use flour to dust the board or counter if dough is sticking. Gently PAT (do NOT roll with a rolling pin) the dough out until it’s about 1/2″ thick.
  6. Use a round cutter to cut into rounds. You can gently press the scraps together and make a few more. Or pat dough into a square and slice 2-1/2” squares using all the dough.
  7. Place the biscuits on a cookie sheet. If you like soft sides, put them touching each other. If you like “crusty” sides, put them about 1 inch apart- these will not rise as high as the biscuits put close together.
  8. Bake for about 10-12 minutes- the biscuits will be a beautiful light golden brown on top and bottom.

Important Notes:

  • Do not over-bake.
  • The key to real biscuits is not in the ingredients, but in the handling of the dough.
  • The dough must be handled as little as possible, or you will have tough biscuits.
  • Use a fork to mix the wet ingredients into the dry – do not stir to mix – just “fluff” together
  • Rolling with a rolling pin is a guaranteed way to overstimulate the gluten, resulting in a tougher biscuit, use your hands to pat the dough out
  • You can make these biscuits, cut them, put them on cookie sheets and freeze them, place in plastic bags when frozen for up to a month.
  • When you want fresh biscuits, simply place them frozen on the cookie sheet and bake at 450°F for about 20 minutes.
  • Lastly; break biscuits apart, do not cut them open with a knife.

Old Fashioned Nuns Puffs

Bread, Breakfast, Dessert November 30, 2025 Leave a comment

A light, tender pastry that can be filled like a cream puff or eaten “as is” drizzled with

honey. They are so easy to make and you won’t be disappointed. They are not cake, a muffin, or a doughnut.  They are sunken after baking but oh so moist and delicious I guarantee you won’t eat just one.

INGREDIENTS

  • ½ cup butter
  • ¾ cup flour
  • 1 cup of milk
  • 4 eggs

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 375°F. degrees

  1. Heavily grease 12 muffin cups, be sure to grease the tops and edges.
  2. Melt the butter in a saucepan.
  3. When the butter is melted, add the milk and bring to a boil.
  4. Add flour all at once and stir until a ball forms and does not fall apart.
  5. Remove from heat for 5 minutes.
  6. After 5 minutes, add one egg at a time and beat with a wooden spoon for one minute.
  7. Continue with each egg beating with wooden spoon for a minute.
  8. Divide the batter between each muffin cup.
  9. Sprinkle the top with sugar.
  10. Bake for 30 minutes.
  11. Remove from oven and remove buns from muffin tin.
  12. Drizzle with honey and enjoy while warm.

Moist Banana Nut Bread You’ll Love

Bread, Breakfast, Dessert November 28, 2025 Leave a comment
Banana Streusel Bread

There are so many recipes for Banana Nut Bread and truthfully, they are all pretty good. I found this recipe about 10 years ago and discovered it is hands down the best recipe I have ever made for Banana Nut Bread, moist, dense with an intense banana flavor highlighted by toasted walnuts or pecans and a cinnamon streusel topping.

Ingredients:

  • ¾ cup butter, softened
  • 1 8oz package of cream cheese, softened
  • 2 cups of sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 3 cups of all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1-1/2 cups mashed ripe bananas (about 4 with dark spots)
  • 1 cup chopped toasted walnuts or pecans
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

  1. Beat butter and cream cheese with an electric mixer until fluffy
  2. Gradually add sugar, beating until light and fluffy
  3. Add eggs one at a time, beating until just blended after each addition
  4. COMBINE flour and next three ingredients
  5. Gradually add butter mixture at low speed until blended
  6. Add bananas, vanilla and nuts
  7. Spoon batter into two greased and floured 8 x 4-inch bread pans
  8. Top with streusel topping
  9. Bake for 1 hour in a 350°F. degree oven or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and sides pull away from pan.
  10. Cool pans on wire rack for 10 minutes and remove from pan
  11. Cool completely before slicing

STREUSEL TOPPING

Stir together ½ cup firmly packed brown sugar; ½ cup chopped toasted nuts; 1 tablespoon melted butter; 1 tablespoon flour; 1/8 tsp ground cinnamon. Sprinkle over batter before baking. It may be necessary to cover the last 15 minutes with foil to prevent overbrowning.

Maple Bacon

Appetizers, Breakfast, Dessert, Dinner Ideas, Fun Stuff April 24, 2014 Leave a comment

maple baconMaple glazed bacon, who doesn’t love the smell and taste of bacon, dress it up with a coating of pure maple glaze and you have a gourmet dish or appetizer. Glazed maple bacon can add a savory note to desserts, just crumble the bacon into maple flavored frosting for cupcakes.  Or consider sweet and savory appetizers; wrap maple bacon around sweet potato slices, or asparagus before baking. Wrap around prawns or cream cheese stuffed jalapeno peppers, or small smokey links before baking. Maple syrup adds a sweet note to thick-cut bacon slices, which are obviously delicious served right  alongside pancakes, eggs or waffles.

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup maple syrup (use the real stuff)
  • 12 slices good-quality thick-cut bacon
  • coarse ground pepper (optional)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper.

  1. Pour the maple syrup into a shallow bowl and give each bacon slice (both sides) a generous dip in the syrup.
  2. Lay the bacon on the prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle with pepper if desired.
  3. Bake for 20 minutes. Flip the bacon over and bake until it is crisp at the edges and caramelized on the bottom, another 10 to 15 minutes.*Note: this cooking time is depending on the thickness of your bacon, keep an eye on it while baking so it does not burn, especially if using a thinner bacon.
  4. Remove the baking sheet from the oven.
  5. Lift the slices from the liner so they don’t stick after cooling. Cool for about a minute, transfer to a long platter to serve.

Granola

Bread, Breakfast, Dessert, Dinner Ideas, Fun Stuff April 28, 2013 Leave a comment

Granola

Granola

With milk or yogurt, this home-made granola gives you a hearty start to the day. Made with walnuts, almonds, coconut, and sunflower seeds, this cereal has a healthy dose of protein wrapped up in a sweet maple-honey flavor. Serve it with warm milk on cold winter days for a great alternative to oatmeal.

Ingredients

  • 3 cups rolled oats
  • 1-1/4 cups bran flakes
  • ¾ cup shredded sweetened coconut
  • ½ cup chopped walnuts
  • 1 cup sliced almonds
  • ¾ cup salted sunflower seeds
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 2-1/2 teaspoons pure maple syrup
  • ¾ cup honey
  • ¾ cup canola oil

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

  1. Prepare two baking sheets by covering with parchment paper and grease paper with cooking spray.
  2. Combine oats, bran flakes, coconut, walnuts, almonds, sunflower seeds, and cinnamon in a large bowl.
  3. In a separate bowl, mix maple syrup, honey, and oil; add to dry mixture and stir until well combined
  4. Divide the mixture between each prepared cookie sheet; spread evenly
  5. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until golden brown, tossing granola halfway through baking time to keep edges from burning.
  6. Let cool completely before storing.
  7. Yields ½ gallon

*Great gift idea, store in mason jars