TO and Becca's Breakfast Bonanza

We are back from our 13 week hiatus!  TO and Becca have enslaved ourselves to the kitchen to once again do a little learnin’ and entertainment for our loyal readers!  Thanks to the new followers!  Sorry for such a long break but sometimes life gets in the way of blogging.  With that said lets get to what was on the menu for tonight Breakfast Bonanza!  

Mrs Marcia’s Veggie Casserole

Onion

Mushrooms

Green Pepper (or any other color will do)

Bread (older stale bread is best)

Eggs

Milk 

Salt 

Pepper

Cheese (your favorite flavor)

Preheat oven to 350

Saute the Onion, Mushrooms, and Green Pepper in a pan.

While this is going on take the Bread and slice off the edges and cut into squares. 

Spray your pan with your favorite cooking spray...I like the butter flavor because it makes it a little more flavorful.  Also while those veggies are cooking take an equal number of eggs to bread and crack the open and whisk them with the milk and salt and pepper.  This is all kinda “to taste” which i’ve never really been a fan of but it really does work so just go with it!!  

So after the veggies are cooked layer them on top of the bread pieces.  

The pour the egg and milk mixture over top of the bread and veggies.

Top with a layer of cheese.

Bake for about 45 min or until nice and golden brown.

Hashbrown Casserole

(recipe by Louise from allrecipes.com)

1 (10.75 oz) can of condensed cream of chicken soup

1 can of cream of mushroom soup

1 1/2 cups sour cream

1 stick (1/2 c) butter, softened

1/4 cup dried minced onion flakes (or diced onions to taste)

ground black pepper to taste

1 (2 pound) packages frozen shredded hash brown potatoes, thawed

1 cup extra sharp Cheddar Cheese, shredded

1 sleeve of crushed Ritz Crackers

Preheat your oven to 350F.

Combine soups, sour cream, onion, 1/4 cup melted butter, and pepper in a large mixing bowl. Next, mix in the cheese and hashbrowns until thoroughly saturated. In another bowl, cover the crushed Ritz crackers with the remaining melted butter. Lightly spray an 8x8 baking dish and pour in casserole mixture. Evenly distribute cracker topping over entire dish. Cook for 40 minutes.

Bacon

I’m not a fan of the house smelling like bacon for days and possibly weeks so I (Becca) used the grill out side to make this lovely dish.  I usually use the oven but it was pretty outside and I love my grill.  

Line a pan with foil, fire up the grill to a low setting and let magic happen.

The bacon will cook fairly fast so make sure you’re ready with some tongs and a plate.  

Bacon has a lot of grease so please BE CAREFUL.  

I only have a few wounds (note the photo) to add to my douggie injury (teach me how to douggie...teach me how to cook...i like to learn!).  

Remember kids, cooking is a dangerous sport!

Strawberries & Whipped Cream

Strawberries (buy at store)

Whipping Cream

Sugar

Vanilla

For every cup of cream mix in 1 to 2 tablespoons of sugar and 1 to 2 teaspoons of vanilla.  Whip until it becomes cream.  

TO’s Tidbits:

Unlike my cooking colleague, I'm not a huge fan of measuring cups, so for the hashbrown casserole the "eyeball" method was utilized. Like some of the culinary greats of our time (ie - Paula, Rach, and G), I somewhat perfected that technique. It's all in the motion and following your gut. This, like many other casseroles, are an easy fix for a hungry brood. They can be prepared the evening before and popped into the oven the following morning for a delicious breakfast alternative to your standard cereal/fruit/granola bar/Drive-thru morning fuel. 

To make this a more waist friendly dish, the cream of chicken and mushroom soups were of a reduced fat and low sodium variety, the cheese and sour cream were low fat, and the Ritz topping was low sodium. The dish was a hit, and we saved enough calories to have that extra mimosa! I increased the amount of cheese (as suggested by several allrecipe.com suggestions) and topped the casserole with crushed Ritz crackers which were drizzled with melted butter. Bon appetit, amis!

Booze with Becca:

This week has it's own special recipe section! Yay! 

Mimosas

Champagne

Orange Juice

3 parts champagne to 1 part OJ

Blazzin’ Blood Mary’s

(another “Hungry Girl” recipe) 

4 ounces V8 Spicy Hot Vegetable Juice

1 1/2 ounces Vodka

2 teaspoons lemon juice

1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, or more to taste

Dash salt, or more to taste

Dash black pepper, or more to taste

Optional: hot sauce

Optional garnishes: celery stick, lemon wedge

This is pretty tasty but I’ve had better.  They’re good for a low cal fix.

Cosmo’s

(not a typical breakfast drink but can be if needed)

2 parts vodka

1 part triple sec

Splash of cranberry or cranberry light

Lime

Chill martini glass.  Mix all liquids in a shaker with ice.  Shake. Line rim of martini glass with lime.  Pour and enjoy;)

Cafe Becca’s

(like a Cafe Spankies with a vanilla surprise/kick)

Coffee

Bailey’s

Kahlua

Frangelico

Stoli Vanilla Vodka

Whipped Cream (see recipe above)

Grind some beans and make a pot of coffee.  In a mug combine equal parts Bailey’s, Khalua, and Frangelico. Pour in coffee, but not a full cup more like 3/4 of a cup.  Save room at the top for whipped cream.  Top with Stoli Vanilla Vodka.  

This is fan favorite!  Everyone always requests a Cafe Becca when visiting.  Sometimes they’re even made without the coffee;)  Make sure to use only Stoli Vanilla Vodka, no subs! 

Also a fun tip is the Frangelico bottle, which looks a lot like Mrs. Butterworth's syrup, has a nice story on the label.  So few read for pleasure these days.  

This week on television:  We hate to admit this, but we've lost interest in season 7 of Grey's...and we didn't watch Thursday's episode. BUT we are completely obsessed with catching VD at 7 (that is Vampire Diaries). Don't judge us until you've seen it! Season 2 went out with a bang...Stephan turned over to the dark side and became Klaus's minion to save the "life" of his much more fun, brooding, vampy brother, Damon (who was bitten by Tyler the werewolf). Elena kissed a very sweaty and dying Damon just as Katherine swooped in and saved the night.  Can't wait until season 3 this fall!

Who's who at the table:  This is a new section for the blog!  Our guest list grew this week past our plus one of Jongee.  This week at the table for our tasty take on breakfast was Sarah Dever, Jongee Jarvis & Oliver, Matthew Gann, Zach Ledbetter, Andrew Coleman, and a special guest appearance by Tegan Young aka Sweet T.  Everyone seemed to have a fun evening.  Shout out to Zach for calling in an Eric Church favor and Andrew for chatting with the Verizon guy about TO's new phone (see convo below).  xoxo, TO and becca;)

Please hold for a Verizon Wireless sales representative to assist you with your order. Thank you for your patience.

You are now chatting with 'JustinD'

JustinD: Hello. Thank you for visiting our chat service.  May I help you with your order today?

You: hey I'm ready for an upgrade and I don't know what to get

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JustinD: What key features in a cell phone are most important to you?

You: Well I'd like an iphone but everyone keeps telling me to get a android based phone

You: I'm confused

JustinD: I like Android phones . What would you prefer?

You: I want lots of memory, a dual core processor, and a curved screen so it fits my dainty hands.

JustinD: Alright, The Thunderbolt is the fastest phone we have. Its 4G. have you looked at that phone?

You: Does it come in pink?

JustinD: The Thunderbolt? No I'm sorry.

You: well that could be a deal breaker

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You: If I buy the thunderbolt, could I get a pink cover for a discounted price or free. Cause it's expensive.

You: the cover, not the phone

JustinD: You may be able to get a discounted price in the store. I'm not to certain. I'm sorry.

You: thanks justindieber....justindieber rules!

JustinD: LOL!!!!!!!!!!!

JustinD: Thank you for visiting Verizon Wireless, I look forward to speaking with you again.  Have a great evening!