The Hungry Wife

Zucchini bread is one of my all-purpose standbys.  It is so moist and delicious, perfect for when company stops over, and great for holidays to wrap up and give as a wonderful homemade treat.  When making Zucchini Bread I like to use small loaf pans, where this recipe will make 4 loaves at a time.
Zucchini Bread Recipe, continued…

Orange Blossom Muffins are delicious little treats that are perfect for a quick breakfast, or to put out at brunch.  They are easy to make, taking less then an hour start to finish.  Some pastries can be a bit difficult to make, but not Orange Blossom Muffins.  If you have a fear of baking, rest assured these muffins are a snap.
Orange Blossom Muffins, continued…

Quiche Lorraine is an awesome dish, with lots of flavor, simple ingredients, and easy preparation.  In French cuisine, a quiche is an oven-baked dish made with eggs and milk or cream in a pastry shell.  What makes a Quiche Lorraine is the addition of cheese and bacon.  And we all know, cheese and bacon makes everything better.  Although I have classified this Quiche Lorraine Recipe as a breakfast, it can also be served as an entree for  lunch, dinner, or an evening snack.
Quiche Lorraine Recipe, continued…

There is nothing better then to wake up to the smell of fresh baked cinnamon in the morning.  Most people are not going to make fresh baked goods everyday, but for those special Sunday mornings, Monkey Bread is super delicious and easy to make before the rest of the family crawls out of bed.
Monkey Bread Recipe, continued…

Sage and Honey Skillet Cornbread is a recipe that I have been making for a while now, it is always a big hit and never lets me down.  Cornbread is a simple dish that is found at holiday tables everywhere, this recipe makes it extraordinary.  Sage adds a subtle herb flavor that works so well with the slight sweetness of the cornmeal and the honey.  Sage and Honey Skillet Cornbread is super moist, and holds together better than any other cornbread I have every had before.
Sage and Honey Skillet Cornbread, continued…

Cooking with foods that are in season is one of the best things you can do.  Not only do vegetables and fruits taste so much better, packed with flavor, but you can get them from local farms.  This helps your local economy and the environment, and provides you with the best tasting food you can ever imagine.  The fall harvest gives us some amazing squash, and pumpkin is one of them.  Pumpkin is extremely versatile, and can be used in many more recipes then just pie.
Pumpkin Waffles, continued…

Oatmeal Banana Pancakes are a great weekend morning treat.  These are fairly sweet, so you may prefer a fruit topping on them rather than syrup, although good maple syrup is mighty fine on them, too.  Sliced strawberries with a light dusting of confectioners’ sugar is one of our top choices, providing a lovely balance of flavors.
Oatmeal Banana Pancakes, continued…

Savory Cheddar Thyme Biscotti are great to have around for eating with soup, pasta, and even all by themselves.  I love nibbling on biscotti when drinking tea or coffee, and this Cheddar Thyme Biscotti is perfect when your not in the mood for something sweet, but for something savory.
Savory Cheddar Thyme Biscotti, continued…

French toast is called Pain Perdu, or “lost bread,” because it is made from stale bread.  What makes this Pain Perdu Breakfast different from regular French toast, is that it is a way to reclaim stale bread; hard bread is softened by dipping in a mixture of milk and eggs, then deep fried.  The bread is sliced on a bias and dipped into a mixture of egg, milk, sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla. The slices are pan-fried in butter and traditionally served dusted with powdered sugar and with jam on the side. Alternatively it may be served with syrup.
Pain Perdu Breakfast, continued…

Recently, one of The Hungry Wife fans asked about recipe for Sausage Bread.  I instantly thought of this recipe that I have seen in one of my cookbooks.  Now, I have not personally tried this one out, but it sounds great and is on my list of things to make.

I have seen Sausage Bread made a couples ways before: As a loaf, where you roll out pizza dough and place the sausage mixture all down the middle, roll up the sides of the dough and seal it, then bake it; the other way I have seen Sausage Bread is to make it more like individual rolls, which is what I am about to show you.
Cajun Sausage Bread, continued…

You know it’s summertime when zucchini and summer squash are everywhere.  Between our home garden and the CSA farm, The Hungry Wife is overflowing with zucchini.  We have been working overtime trying to find recipes and unique ways to use up all our zucchini surplus.  This Sausage and Zucchini with Cheeses recipe, is an excellent way to put a dent in all the squash.  It is nice and versatile, you can serve it at brunch or as a light supper (The Hungry Wife’s favorite way to eat it).

Sausage and Zucchini with Cheeses is easy to make, and can be made ahead of time.  Just keep it in the fridge and pop it in the oven when your ready to cook.  If your not a big zucchini fan, I encourage you to try out this recipe.  With the help of sausage and cheese, the zucchini is nicely hidden within the casserole and can be enjoyed by all, even the kids.  The Hungry Wife likes to use hot Italian sausage in this recipe, but some breakfast sausage would be excellent too, especially if your making it for a brunch.  Get your helping of veggies and embrace all the joys that summer crops have to offer.
Sausage and Zucchini with Cheeses, continued…

Irish oats, sometimes called thick oats or steel-cut oats, take close to half an hour to cook on the stovetop, so baking them takes no longer and leaves your hands free from stirring over the stove.  And besides the convenience, there’s no need to worry about burning the oatmeal at the end.

The result for Oven Apple Oats is a very creamy and fluffy oatmeal that is lighter than bread pudding, but somewhat reminiscent of it.  Made with milk (a longstanding Celtic tradition), this sweet combination of apples, maple syrup, and currants is one of The Hungry Wife’s favorite oatmeals.
Oven Apple Oats, continued…

In the classic, Italian-type frittata, everything is stirred together in a bowl before you pour it into the hot skillet.  With dill, mint and feta, this Zucchini Rice Frittata has Greek and Balkan overtones.  Use this Zucchini Rice Frittata recipe as a basic template, and try different cheeses, vegetables, or herbs, or use croutons or potatoes instead of rice – or no starch at all.  If you wish, puree eight ounces of tofu in the blender with the eggs, water, and salt for a nutritious boost of soy protein.

Leftovers are good served either cold or at room temperature.  If you do not have an ovenproof skillet, instead of placing the skillet under the broiler, cover and cook the skillet on the stove top until frittata is firm.
Zucchini Rice Frittata, continued…

Delightfully delicate these Sweet Potato Pancakes are permeating with the enticing aroma of lemon, these deep golden-brown, thin pancakes are moist inside with crisp edges.

For breakfast, serve them plain or with butter or maple syrup.  For lunch or supper, top the Sweet Potato Pancakes with sour cream  and put a chunky salsa on the side.  For dessert, serve at room temperature drizzled with equal parts of lemon juice and honey stirred together and top with freshly whipped cream.  For another simple lemon syrup, stir together 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice and 1/2 cup of pure maple syrup.

For ease of cooking, combine the wet ingredients in a 1-quart measuring cup with a pouring lip, stir in the dry ingredients, and then pour the batter directly onto the hot skillet.
Sweet Potato Pancakes, continued…

There is few things I enjoy more than baking.  Making this Pumpkin Date Nut Bread recipe isn’t any different.  Some people dislike baking because you have to be very careful to measure and use the correct amounts, truth be told, that is one of my favorite parts of baking.  That, and baked goods are just super delicious.  This Pumpkin Date Nut Bread is awesome!

If you like any type of spice bread, zucchini or banana bread, then you must try this Pumpkin Date Nut Bread.  The bread is totally moist, and has just the right amount of sweetness and spices to not be overpowering.  Next time you find yourself wanting to bake, keep this Pumpkin Date Nut Bread in mind.  Also, if you find that you have no ground cloves (like it did), you can substitute with ground allspice from the pantry.

Pumpkin Date Nut Bread, continued…

Just by adding fruit, nuts, and/or chocolate chips, humble muffins can be transformed into a mutisensory treat, like this Mango Banana Chocolate Chip Muffin.  This is actually a pretty basic muffin recipe that leaves plenty of room for creative inspiration; there is endless possibilities to these muffins.  I’ve listed some additional delicious variations in case mangos and bananas are not your favorite combination.

The streusel topping adds a special touch.  It can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for a couple of weeks, so if you anticipate baking Mango Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins regularly, make extra topping and you’ll save time later.

For a vegan variation, omit the egg and use soy margarine and soy milk in place of the butter and milk.

Mango Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins, continued…

Good morning! Breakfast this morning was delicious, and is worthy enough to compete with the best. These Blueberry-Lemon Ricotta Pancakes are a good example of the boundless possibilities of pancakes. Serve them topped with your favorite syrup, additional fruit, or fresh whipped cream. These pancakes could even be offered for dessert – try them a la mode.

Because they contain ricotta cheese, use a good-quality nonstick pan or well-seasoned griddle or skillet with even heat distribution, so the delicate batter doesn’t stick or burn.
Blueberry-Lemon Ricotta Pancakes, continued…

Great for when company comes to town.  You can make it a day ahead of time, so you can relax in the morning.  Awesome on a chilly morning.

Alice’s Brunch Casserole, continued…

This Strawberry Bread has the flavor of summer, full of juicy strawberries, and if you like, you can add some chopped nuts (pecans or walnuts would be wonderful). It is delicious cut into thick slices, with or without a slathering of butter. Frozen strawberries allow you to make this bread any time of the year.  If you have fresh strawberries available, go ahead and use them.  Fresh local strawberries can really maximum flavor. If you like, when cutting them into bite sized pieces, before adding them to the batter, you can toss the strawberry pieces in a couple tablespoons of flour, making sure they are completely coated. This will keep them from sinking to the bottom of the pan during baking. Strawberry Bread is a delicious way to use everyones favorite fruit.  Our family loves this one.

Strawberry Bread, continued…