The Cheap Gourmet

French Toast Bread Pudding

Earlier today, I discovered French Toast Bread Pudding at Windy City Restaurant Hopper; a fabulous blog with amazing recipes! This blog has archives dating back to September 2006 and categories include appetizers, chicken, lobster, seafood, shrimp, wine pairings and more.

I think the thing I enjoy most about blogging is connecting with other passionate foodies who are eager and willing to share their secrets. I left a message at Windy City Restaurant Hopper and asked if I could post her French Toast Bread Pudding recipe. Robyn, the founder of the blog, contacted me within a few hours, granting me permission. Let's all give Robyn a round of applause and a great big THANK YOU! And, by all means, please stop by Windy City Restaurant Hopper and browse around. You'll be glad you did!

Please note the photograph below was "borrowed" from Windy City Restaurant Hopper. You can also obtain the recipe for French Toast Bread Pudding by clicking here.

French Toast Bread Pudding
Serves 6
Prep Time: 15-20 minutes
Bake Time: 40 minutes
*Requires overnight refrigeration before baking

Ingredients:
1 loaf French bread (13 to 16 ounces)
8 large Eggs
2 cups Half-and-Half
1 cup Milk
2 tablespoons granulated Sugar
1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon ground Cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground Nutmeg
Dash salt
Praline Topping, recipe follows
Maple syrup, if desired

Directions:

• Slice French bread into 20 slices, 1-inch each. (Use any extra bread for garlic toast or bread crumbs).
• Arrange slices in a generously buttered 9 by 13-inch flat baking dish in 2 rows, overlapping the slices.
• In a large bowl, combine the eggs, half-and-half, milk, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt and beat with a rotary beater or whisk until blended but not too bubbly.
• Pour mixture over the bread slices, making sure all are covered evenly with the milk-egg mixture. Spoon some of the mixture in between the slices.
• Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight.

The next day, preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Spread Praline Topping evenly over the bread and bake for 40 minutes, until puffed and lightly golden.
Serve with maple syrup, if desired.

Praline Topping:

1/2 pound (2 sticks) Butter
1 cup packed light Brown Sugar
1 cup chopped Pecans
2 tablespoons light Corn Syrup
1/2 teaspoon ground Cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground Nutmeg

Banana Bread with Chocolate Chips Recipe

There's nothing better than banana bread with chocolate chips on a cold winter morning. This easy-to-prepare recipe is the perfect choice for Christmas morning breakfast, holiday brunch or any holiday celebration. Chocolate Chip Banana Bread makes a fantastic gift for teachers, mail carriers, neighbors, co-workers, family and friends. Simply wrap individual loaves in colored plastic wrap, tie with ribbon, stick on a festive bow and voila!, you'll have a gift everyone will enjoy!

Banana Bread with Chocolate chips pairs well with a cold glass of chocolate milk or a cup of steamy Milk Chocolate Hot Cocoa . For an exotic flavor, try SBS Teas Chocolate Flame Chai or Winter Frost coffee, a delicious hazelnut coffee rolled in white cocoa powder. Now is the perfect time to indulge in Winter Frost coffee, as SBS is offering a 10% discount during the month of December.

To obtain more servings and offer guests "finger food", slice the banana bread in half lengthwise, then cut each half into 1-inch slices. Serve plain, top with ice cream or whipped cream, or slather on a layer of peanut butter and put two slices together to create a decadent chocolate chip peanut butter banana sandwich. Yum-O!

Banana Bread with Chocolate Chips
Yields: 2 loaves
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Bake Time: 45 to 50 minutes

Ingredients:

2 cups unbleached all-purpose Flour
1 cup granulated Sugar
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
1 cup ripe Bananas, mashed (about 3 small or 2 medium)
1/2 cup shortening or solid Coconut oil (Coconut oil will add a rich coconut flavor)
2 Eggs
1 cup semi-sweet Chocolate Chips
1/2 cup Pecans or Walnuts, chopped

Directions:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Grease bottom only of two 8-1/2 x 4-1/2 x 2-1/2-inch loaf pans.
• In large mixing bowl combine all ingredients except chocolate chips and nuts.
• Blend ingredients well using a hand-held electric mixer set on medium speed.
• Stir in chocolate chips and nuts.
• Pour into prepared loaf pans.
• Bake 45 to 50 minutes or until wooden toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
• Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans and transfer to cooling rack to cool completely.

Banana Spice Loaf Cake

Personally, I love loaf cakes more than just about any type of dessert. They are easy to prepare and can be served with nearly any meal. Loaf cakes make a terrific snack or stand-alone dessert. They can be topped with ice cream, whipped cream, berries or fruit toppings. You can add fruits, veggies, nuts, flavored syrups and liqueurs. In essence, loaf cakes are probably the most versatile dessert on the planet.

The following Banana Spice Loaf Cake was developed by me when I worked at a famous Country Club. We would cut it into thin slices, slather one slice with a delicious cream cheese spread and place another slice on top. Then, we would cut the loaf cake "sandwich" diagonally to create four triangles. This technique makes the perfect appetizer or bite-size snack.

Banana Spice Loaf Cake

Yields: 3 loaves
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Bake Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes

Ingredients:

6 very ripe Bananas
1/4 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/4 cup Applesauce
1/2 cup Butter, unsalted
2 cups Sugar
4 Eggs
3 cups Whole Wheat Flour
2 teaspoons Baking Soda
1 Tablespoon ground Cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground Cloves
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1-1/2 cups Golden Raisins, Raisins or Currants
1-1/2 cups Pecans, Walnuts, Almonds or Hazelnuts, chopped

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Lightly grease 3 loaf pans with butter.
• In a medium bowl, mash bananas with a fork, then add olive oil and applesauce. There is no need to mix ingredients. Set aside while making cake batter.
• In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar using electric mixer set on medium speed. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Stir in banana mixture and mix well.
• Combine dry ingredients in a separate bowl. Add to banana mixture.
• Stir in raisins and nuts and mix thoroughly.
• Pour mixture into loaf pans and place in oven.
• Loaf cake is finished when a toothpick inserted in the middle of the cake comes out clean.
• Cool on baking rack for 15-20 minutes.

You can leave the loaves in the pans, or remove them and transfer them to a serving plate. Run a knife along the edges of the pan to loosen cake. To freeze, double wrap cakes in plastic wrap, then wrap in aluminum foil. Cakes can be frozen for up to 3 months. To retain freshness, always cover cake in plastic wrap, waxed paper or store in airtight container.

Banana Spice Loaf Cake makes a great holiday gift. Wrap in colored plastic wrap and tie with festive colored ribbons. Write the recipe on an index card and insert inside the recipient's holiday card. They'll love you for it!

Sweet Cream Cheese Spread

Yield: 1 cup
Prep Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

1 (8-ounce) package Cream Cheese, room temperature
3 Tablespoons Confectioner's Sugar
1 teaspoon Vanilla extract

Directions:

• In a small mixing bowl, combine all ingredients together.
• Using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat ingredients until well-incorporated and creamy.
• Cover and store in refrigerator until needed.

If you're using this spread on loaf cakes, let it warm up a bit before trying to spread it. Otherwise, the bread slices will crumble. Leftover cream filled loaf bread sandwiches need to be refrigerated.

Pumpkin Bread with Cranberries and Almonds

Pumpkin Bread with Cranberries and Almonds
Yield: 1 loaf
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Bake Time: 1 hour, 10 minutes

Ingredients:

2 cups Whole Wheat Flour (or all-purpose white)
1 tsp Cinnamon, ground
1/2 tsp Nutmeg, ground
1/4 tsp Ginger, ground
1/4 tsp Cloves, ground
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
3/4 teaspoon Sea Salt
1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted Butter, room temperature
1 cup plus 1 tablespoon Sugar
2 large Eggs
1 cup Pumpkin, canned, solid pack
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2/3 cup Buttermilk
1/2 cup dried sweetened Cranberries
1/2 cup coarsely chopped unsalted Almonds

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit.
2. Butter 9x5x3-inch loaf pan. Line bottom and long sides with waxed or parchment paper.
3. In medium bowl, whisk flour, spices, baking powder, salt, and baking soda until blended. Set aside.
4. Using electric mixer, beat butter in large bowl until fluffy.
5. Gradually add 1 cup sugar, beating until blended.
6. Beat in eggs, one at a time.
7. Add pumpkin and vanilla; beat on medium-low speed until ingredients are well incorporated.
8. Slowly add one-third of of dry ingredients and one-third of buttermilk into pumpkin mix. Repeat two more times.
9. Fold in cranberries and almonds.
10. Pour batter into loaf pan.
11. Sprinkle with 1 Tablespoon sugar, if desired. 
12. Place loaf pan in oven and bake until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean; about 1 hour and 10 minutes.
13. Cool bread in pan on baking rack for 15 minutes.
14. Cut bread at short ends of pan to loosen. Turn bread out onto rack; peel off waxed paper.
15. Cool completely before serving.

*Pumpkin Bread with Cranberries and Almonds can be made up to two days in advance. Securely wrap loaf in plastic wrap and store in cool, dry area. Bread can be frozen up to 3 months if wrapped in plastic wrap, then a layer of foil. Let thaw at room temperature.

Need an Energy Boost in the Morning?

Are you in need of an energy boost in the morning? Instead of reaching for that pot of coffee, make yourself a bowl of Blueberry Oatmeal Energize instead. This recipe is provided by Viveca-Stone Berry, founder of FatigueBeGone.com and author of "Fatigue Be Gone Jumpstart eGuide".

If you're feeling tired all the time and/or suffer from insomnia, you should check out Ms. Stone-Berry's guide. For less than the cost of a fatigue-causing lunch, Fatigue Be Gone Jumpstart eGuide can literally change your life. That's what it did for me.

Thanks to the information tucked in the pages of this guide my doctor was able to get to the bottom on the cause of my chronic fatigue. It's called adrenal fatigue and it affects nearly 80 percent of Americans. You can learn all about adrenal fatigue by visiting www.FatigueBeGone.com.

Blueberry Oatmeal Energize Recipe

15-20 Fresh, Frozen or Dried Blueberries
One serving of cooked Oatmeal
2 Tablespoons Flax Seeds
1 Tablespoon Wheat Germ
Itsy bitsy crunchy Apple slices
Slivered Almonds
Teaspoon of Cinnamon
Add 2 Tablespoons of Milk (soy, rice or almond are preferred)

You can use any type of oatmeal that you like. If you're in a hurry, you might prefer the quick and easy microwavable oatmeal. My personal favorite is rolled oats, also known as old-fashioned oats. They take about 15 minutes to cook, but I think they are more flavorful than quick-cooking or instant oats.

Once you try Blueberry Oatmeal Energize, stop by and let us know how you like it and the energy boost you experienced.

Food Wishes Video Recipes

I recently found an amazing cooking blog. It's called Food Wishes Video Recipes and it's owned by Chef John. This blog features step-by-step cooking videos for American Classics, Asian and French Cuisine, Desserts, Dressings, Pasta, Poultry and much more. It truly is a feast for the eyes!

At Food Wishes Video Recipes you will find an ever-growing collection of mouth-watering gourmet recipes including. A few of the delectable creations include:

Chicken Breasts with Herbs de Provence and Mushrooms
Braised Chicken and Artichoke Hearts with Lemon, Cherry Peppers and Thyme
Mascarpone Brulee with Fresh Berries

If you love to cook, you're going to love this Food Wishes Video Recipes. Be sure to thank Chef John for sharing his cooking secrets!

Click here to visit Food Wishes Video Recipes blog.

Red, White and Blue Recipes for the 4th of July!

It's not too late to plan a bodacious red, white and blue menu for your 4th of July celebration. The Recipe Zaar offers an abundance of deliciously delightful concoctions that are certain to please your family and guests. You'll find everything from 4th of July Margaritas to Red, White and Blue Burgers and plenty of tastebud exploding desserts!

If you've never been to Recipe Zaar, you are missing out! Not only will you find thousands of mouth-watering recipes, you'll also be able to interact with other home cooks and chefs in the Recipe Zaar community, share your own recipes, and save recipes in a personal cookbook. Go check them out at www.RecipeZaar.com and sign-up for your free account today!

Photo by RecipeLink.com

Oatmeal Pancakes Recipe

Oatmeal Pancakes Recipe

Just because you have a passion for food, doesn't mean you can't stay fit. As we've discussed before, gourmet food can be healthy and provide your body with the necessary fuel to get you through the day. If you're interested in staying healthy while enjoying food, check out Warrior Fitness World.

There's a wealth of information presented on the topics of exercise, diet, and health. You'll also find a Forum where you can connect with like-minded people. 

Oatmeal Pancakes

 

photo: Courtesy of eHow.com

Founder of Warrior Fitness World, Akanke Birmingham, is a personal trainer in Atlanta. She is drop-dead gorgeous and has the physique we all desire. I'm jealous! She shares her recipe for Oatmeal Pancakes that look quite delicious and I'm definitely going to give them a try.

What's unique about these oatmeal pancakes is they provide a great deal of protein. She shows you exactly how to make them in her easy-to-follow cooking video. Click here to learn how to make these protein powerhouse pancakes.