Breakfast For One

Good morning!  I have been wanting to share my tips and tricks for Breakfast For One for a while.  I truly wanted someone else to take the pictures, mainly because I'm kind of busy during this process.  But alas, today is the day and it's up to me.  So here goes.

This Breakfast For One, as I call it, isn't because I'm single, because I'm not, but only because I cook breakfast for Shaun on the daily and I eat something else.  He needs a more "stick to your ribs" kind of start to his day.  So, I am sharing one of many breakfasts that I cook for him.  

This is for scrambled eggs, toast, and sausage gravy which today also features onions and mushrooms.

First... a tip.  It makes more sense to me to cook the eggs first.  Mainly because your pan is pretty full after the gravy.  So, I first get a bowl, pour some water in it and heat it on two minutes in the microwave.  When my eggs are cooked I pour the water out and put the eggs to rest in their warm bowl inside the microwave while I cook the sausage and gravy.

  Well thank goodness my microwave is semi clean.

Next I go ahead and chop up my onion and mushrooms while my pan is heating with a little butter in the bottom.  Even though I use a copper skillet I have little faith in "nothing" sticking, especially when I cook eggs.

And on to my next tip... I use a rubber spatula for this whole process.  It is so much easier to scrape around the sides of the pan.  And since I'm not flipping anything over it just makes more sense.

I always whisk my eggs with a little water in a measuring cup or bowl and pour them in when the pan it decently heated.  The spatula also helps to scrape around the sides of the eggs.  To scramble well I gently pull from the center while also working around the edges and turn over when necessary.  It truly only takes a couple of minutes to cook eggs.

 Look Ma!  I love my birthday mug from Cracker Barrel!!

When they're done, pour your water in the sink and place them in the bowl in the micro until you're ready to serve.

Now... on to the good stuff... gravy for one.

I precooked my mushrooms and onions in butter for just a minute then added my sausage.  I find it easier to twist the bottom of the tube of sausage and pinch off how much I need.  Let it cook until lightly browned.

You can see it really doesn't make a whole lot of grease if you use a decent quality sausage.

Here's what I use for my gravy, plus milk.

Toss in a tablespoon or a little more of flour right onto your sausage.

I like to throw in a pinch of chicken bullion and black pepper.  Toss it around with your spatula until you can't really see the flour anymore.

Then add your milk.

If I had to guess how much it's probably about a cup of milk.  Let it come to a boil.

Scrape around the sides.  I tried to get a picture of this next step.  Did not work.  When my gravy has begun to change colors to more of a tan than white and feels like it is thickening I like to take my spatula and drag it from the side inward.  When the gravy comes together slow then it's done.

Put your piece of toast on your plate next to your warm eggs and pour the sausage and gravy over the toast.  And WaaLaa!  Breakfast for one!

Kiss Kiss Hugs Hugs Have a good day!!

French Toast for Two

Good morning!  I cook breakfast everyday for my Hun and me.  No matter what I cook it doesn't take longer than about fifteen minutes.  It is just part of our routine everyday to sit down for a few minutes to eat breakfast together before heading out for a long day.  We both enjoy it and wouldn't have it any other way.  Plus it keeps both of us out of the gas station morning money trap or fast food lines.  I would much rather spend fifteen minutes in the kitchen cooking breakfast and hanging with Shaun than sitting in a drive through line.  Think about it.

This morning I made sausage, one fried egg for Shaun and four pieces of french toast. The sausage and egg you can figure for yourself.  I cooked the sausage first while I slapped the french toast dip together.  Then fried the egg in the sausage grease (gross.. I don't care for fried eggs but the Mr. loves them) then drain the grease and follow these directions: 

In a shallow bowl, combine with a fork, one egg, 1/4 cup milk, a splash of vanilla and a few shakes of cinnamon.  Melt a tablespoon of butter in your already hot skillet.  Dip the first two pieces of bread into the egg mixture and coat both sides.  Then transfer them into your skillet.  Don't leave the bread in the mixture to soak or you won't have enough dip for four pieces of bread.  Allow the bread to cook on each side for two minutes on medium heat.  Transfer to breakfast plates (paper plates = less clean up) and repeat with remaining two pieces of bread.  Drizzle maple syrup over and enjoy. 

I began breakfast this morning at 6:21.  We sat down to eat at 6:37.  Make time to feed yourself.  It doesn't have to be this breakfast.  Maybe I will share more of our breakfasts that I make with you just to show you how easy and fast it can be to include breakfast into your bust morning.  At least you know what wen in it and didn't wait in line inhaling exhaust for it. 

Have a great day!

Here is someone else that likes breakfast. 

You might have to press pause on my music at the bottom in order to enjoy this video. 

Please don't forget to unpause for your listening pleasure once this clip is done. 

Sausage Casserole

Granny made this casserole one evening at her house when we all came over for dinner.  It was so good that I thought about it and thought about it and finally called her a got the recipe.  I have made it twice now for the two of us.  The first time I followed the recipe like a good girl and it turned out wonderful.  The second time was tonight and I veered from the recipe just a touch and guess what... still wonderful. 

Sausage Casserole

1 Lb Sausage
1 Can Cream of Mushroom Soup
3/4  Cup Milk
1/2 Cup Chopped Onion
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
1/4 Teaspoon Pepper
3 Cups Peeled, Sliced Potatoes
2 Cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Brown sausage in skillet, drain on paper towels.  Mix together soup, milk, salt and pepper.  In a two quart greased casserole dish layer potatoes and onion, soup mixture, sausage and cheese.  Repeat layers but omit cheese.  Cover with aluminum foil and bake for one hour.  Uncover, add remaining cheese and bake for five minutes.

Tonight, in my second version, I browned the sausage with onions and green peppers.  Then drained on paper towels.  I used canned potatoes on the bottom layer then the soup mixture, then sausage and topped with cheese and baked for thirty minutes.  Turned out great. 

This could be served as supper or breakfast!

Raising your own hogs for meat is the way to go here!  Cook til the meat is lightly browned and onions are translucent.

 Canned potatoes, canned soup.

 Easier whisked.

 These I named Shirley Reds after Granny's friend Shirley shared them with me last summer. 

 Layered.

 The rolls got a little too brown on top whilst watching Idol.  Woops.

My Mother is the inspiration for the cheese on pears on lettuce salad. This lovely concotion used to grace our supper plates when we were growing up.  It can even be found in some cookbooks.

Thanks for the recipe Granny!