Fun & Festive Breakfast Recipes as seen on Breakfast Television

‘Tis the season to celebrate the holidays with fun, delicious & doable breakfast ideas.

What a treat to join the BT gang and share some festive morning grub recipes in the lead-up to Christmas!

From my kitchen to yours: Merry Christmas and Happy Everything!!

If you’re hungry for more delicious & doable recipes (using pantry staple items) grab a copy of my cookbook ‘Delicious & Doable ~ Recipes For Real and Everyday Life’ here.

And if you’re in need of some last minute holiday recipes, I’ve listed a few of my faves at the bottom of this post! Indulge & enjoy!

Grilled Chocolate Sandwiches with Citrus Vanilla Compound Butter

Yep, you read that right: Grilled chocolate sandwiches – Christmas (or New Year’s) Day brunch never tasted so sinful!

Ingredients

• 3 tbsp (45 mL) softened butter
• 1 tsp (5 mL) Crosby’s Fancy Molasses (click here for product info)
• ½ vanilla bean scraped (paste only) OR 1 tsp (5 mL) pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp (2 mL) finely grated orange zest
• 4 slices of brioche or egg bread (*or cinnamon raisin bread)
• 1 (100 g/3.5 oz) quality dark chocolate bar (at least 70%), broken in half * you can use milk chocolate or white chocolate – I just prefer dark chocolate

Garnish:

~ whipped cream and fresh berries

Directions

1. Stir together butter, molasses, vanilla and orange zest.
2. Divide butter evenly between, and on both sides of bread (as you would if making a grilled cheese sandwich).
3. Pre-heat a non-stick pan or flat griddle to medium high. Place two slices of bread on pre-heated griddle and divide chocolate evenly between the bread. Top with remaining pieces of bread (to make a sandwich).
4. Grill for about 3 minutes (gently press each sandwich down with spatula). Flip sandwiches and grill for an additional few minutes until bread is grilled and chocolate is soft.
5. Remove sandwiches from the griddle and let stand for a few minutes before cutting. Cut each sandwich in half (or quarters) and garnish with whipped cream and fresh berries.
6. Makes two sandwiches.

Gingerbread Baked Oatmeal

Baked oatmeal is a simple, nutritious and an economical breakfast that uses mostly pantry staple items. I’ve loaded this recipe with a ton of plant protein = fabulous & flavourful make ahead fuel/breakfast if you’re hosting an overnight crowd this holiday season.

Note: this baked oatmeal is not overly sweet. You are welcome to add a bit more molasses to the mixture (or some brown sugar (in addition to the molasses)) – but I like it as is. Once you drizzle each portion with the glaze – I find the level of sweetness perfect. Hope you do too!

Wet Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups (375 mL) full fat Greek style yogurt
• ½ cup (125 mL) milk
• 1/2 cup (125 mL) Crosby’s Fancy molasses (click here for product info)
• 2 eggs
• 2 tsp (10 mL) vanilla extract

Dry Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups (375 mL) large flake oats
• ½ cup (125 mL) roughly chopped walnuts (or almonds or pecans)
• ½ cup (125 mL) pumpkin seeds
• ¼ cup (60 mL) Char’s Magic Seed Mix (*see ‘recipe’ at bottom)
• 1 tbsp (15 mL) ground ginger
• 2 tsp (10 mL) ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp (2 mL) ground cloves
• 1 tsp (5 mL) baking powder
• 1/2 tsp (2 mL) salt
• 1 apple (I like McIntosh for this recipe), well-washed and finely diced (or grated) *leave skin on for added fibre
• 1 cup (250 mL) frozen blueberries (or raspberries)

Crunch Topping:

• 1 cup (250 mL) roughly chopped walnuts (or roughly chopped almonds or pecans)
• 1/4 cup (60 mL) pumpkin seeds
• 1/4 cup (60 mL) very finely diced candied ginger optional (also known as crystalized ginger)
• 2 tbsp (30 mL) brown sugar
• ½ tsp (2 mL) each of ground ginger and ground cinnamon
• 1 tbsp (15 mL) Crosby’s Fancy Molasses

~ Using your fingertips, mix together all ingredients until well combined. Set aside until ready to use.

Ginger Glaze

• 3/4 cup (175 mL) icing sugar
• 2 tbsp (30 mL) milk
• ¼ tsp (1 mL) each ground ginger and ground cinnamon

~ Stir together all ingredients until well combined. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use. Stir well before serving.

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 F (180 C).
2. Whisk together wet ingredients until well combined.
3. Add dry ingredients and stir until evenly combined.
4. Place mixture in an 8-inch (2 L) well greased casserole dish. Sprinkle top with prepared crunch topping. Note: recipe can be prepared in a 9 X 13-inch baking dish (if that is all you have), just be sure to decrease baking time by about 10 minutes.
5. Bake in the center of the oven for about 30 minutes or until the top is lightly golden and oatmeal has set.
6. Remove from the oven and cool slightly.
7. Garnish each portion of oatmeal bake with a drizzle of ginger glaze.
8. Makes 8 servings.

Note:

This oatmeal bake is fabulous right out of the oven, however, I actually prefer it once it has sat overnight (covered in refrigerator). When cooled, it cuts into 8 perfect size pieces. You can enjoy it at room temperature or reheat in the microwave.

Char’s Magic Seed

Mix Place equal parts chia, ground flax and hemp seeds in a large mason jar and shake to combine. Use in baking, in smoothies or sprinkle on salads for a boost of: plant protein, fibre and healthy fats.

Char’s Fave ‘Last Minute’ Holiday Recipes

(click on each title for link to recipe):

~ Char’s Gingerbread Caramel Covered Brie : showstopping holiday appetizer (this brie might just change your life!).
~ Roasted Cauliflower & Radicchio Salad with Tahini Molasses Dressing: fab Christmas Dinner side dish.
~ Char’s Apple & Rutabaga Soup: nourishing & flavourful addition to Christmas Dinner or serve at a holiday lunch.
~ Pasta With Mushrooms, Sundried Tomatoes & Gorgonzola Cream: decadent pasta dish perfect for holiday entertaining.
~ Triple Decker Gingerbread Whisky Fudge: sinful holiday sweet treat.
~ Char’s Gifts From The Kitchen: in need of a last minute gift? Look no further!

Where to Find ‘Delicious & Doable’ Across Ontario

Find ‘Delicious & Doable ~ Recipes For Real and Everyday Life’ here or at one of the below retailers across Ontario:

Type Books ~ 883 Queen Street West, Toronto
Lemonberry ~ 2 Orchard Heights Blvd #10, Aurora
Fanfare Books ~ 92 Ontario St, Stratford
Casual Gourmet ~ 1027 King Street West, Hamilton
The Post Office – 18 Front St. N, Thorold
Chef’s Paradise ~ 1314 Bank Street, Ottawa
Gift It Grey ~ 19492 Opeongo Line, Barry’s Bay
Creative Cook ~ 35 Manitoba St, Bracebridge
Muskoka Brewery ~ 1964 Muskoka Beach Rd, Bracebridge
Stephen’s Butcher Shop ~ 8 Harris St, Port Carling
Hilltop Interiors ~ 1150 ON-141, Rosseau
Cedar Canoe Books ~ 72 Main St E, Huntsville
Clark’s On Main ~ 1090 Main Street, Dorset
Bigley’s Cottage Kitchen ~ 39 Bolton St, Bobcaygeon
Farmer’s Daughter – 72 Main St E, Huntsville
Kitchen Bits ~ 1390 Kingsway, Greater Sudbury