NUN'S PUFFS

Rise and Shine Kindred Spirits..the holidays are coming
and I am bringing you the best recipes for your family gatherings.
If you are like me, you plan a special brunch during the season
of entertaining and you will want to put this darling recipe on your
list of "must make!"
I thought the name was most intriguing and they are rather easy to make..
these were just soooooo delicious!!

Put out your best honey and a little bowl of sugar..
these are little bites of egg heaven.....

While baking, they will puff up to a beautiful cloud of elegance...
Once out of the oven and they cool for just a bit, they will deflate in the center..
that's okay....

Drizzle the honey on top while hot...

Sprinkle with sugar...and take a bite....
see, I told you.....a bite of heavenly goodness.....

 

CHERRY COFFEE CAKE...EASY AND SO DELICIOUS

Oh honey...
you are going to want to save this recipe
to add to your favorites!
I came across this little gem on Pinterest
the other day and what caught my attention
is that this is made with a can of PIE FILLING!!!!



Choose any flavor you wish and it comes together
with few ingredients, smells incredible while baking
and it's gonna go fast....absolutely delicious

1 ¼ Cups sugar, divided

¾ Cup vegetable oil

4 eggs

½ tsp. vanilla

2 Cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp. baking powder

½ tsp. salt

1 can (15 ¾ oz.) any fruit pie filling, even lemon pie filling

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°. Spray a 13x9" or 11 ¾ x 7 ½" baking dish 

In a stand mixing bowl, combine 1 cup sugar, oil, and vanilla; mix well. 
 Add eggs; beat until lightly lemon-colored. 

In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt. With mixer on low, add the flour mixture and mix until just combined. Give it a final stir by hand to make sure the flour isn't stuck at the bottom of the bowl.

Pour half of the batter into the prepared pan. Carefully top with the pie filling, smooth to the edges with the back of a large spoon. Pour the rest of the batter over the top of the pie filling.

Sprinkle the remaining ¼ cup sugar over the top of the cake, then bake for 30-40 minutes, until the top is golden brown. Cool on a wire rack in the pan.

This would be lovely to serve for a weekend morning breakfast.
having a friend over for coffee, your book club or bridge group!

Oh, how I love cherries......

Lucy on morning watch....

HOW TO MAKE THE BEST GRITS YOU EVER TASTED

 Sunday Brunch in the South
is always considered to be a special occasion
and garners as much praise as our layer cakes and homemade pies!
I am going to share a long kept secret which will help you
make the BEST EVER down South Cheese Grits you have ever tasted!



The Divine Miss M

Estelle's best CHEESE GRITS



First tip...always use REGULAR grits....
never instant....

And....yes,, the secret to creamy grits is to add
Heavy Whipping Cream.....
my mother and grandmothers taught me well.....



In a saucepan, pour in three cups water
Add one cup of heavy cream



Add one T. of salt...
bring to a simmer....

Grab a whisk and whisk in one cup of grits....
keep whisking and simmering.....

When the grits begin to thicken, about 5 to 7 minutes....
stir in one cup of cheese...I use cheddar and smoked gouda...

OH HONEY....I promise these are fall to your knees delicious....

Add this to your brunch or breakfast menu

and even better,,,,so good when serving

SHRIMP AND GRITS!

See y'all next time!

MOTHER'S DAY ENTERTAINING WITH COTTAGECORE

Hello Kindred Spirits....
We will be honoring and celebrating Mother's Day
this month so let's make the experience a delightful treat....

If you are craving the aroma of freshly baked bread, spending more time
in nature or seeing sunlight filter through the curtains, then
a cottage core way of life is for you!

Most of us love the idea of serving brunch on this special day,
and a cottage style Biscuit and Tea Bar sounded pretty delightful....



A gift idea would be this darling little cookbook...
A diverse array of recipes spanning cozy breakfasts to 
fireside desserts .
You can sip on refreshing herbal concoctions and
experience the timeless joy of slow living....

Cookbooks can take you on a culinary journey that will
encourage you to love your kitchen and utilize it to the fullest!
I am drawn to those that welcome you into the heart
of rustic charm and the simplicity style of living.
Food that will set the tone for the day and 
recipes that speak to the soul.......

In the heart of every cottage style kitchen lies a collection
of collectibles of past times...
each piece has a purpose and a history of traditions....
When decorating in a cottage motif, keep in mind, your
pieces need not match, but will compliment one another.

In this celebration, I wanted to feature rustic breads,
along with my favorite jams....what is more delightful
than a warm, flaky croissant?

In addition, I selected a rustic style round loaf of raisin nut bread..bakery fresh

There is Nantucket and Hazelnut coffee by the Keurig
and in this vignette, assorted teas which will be a
testament to bring a feeling of contentment and relaxation...
Chamomile tea offers various benefits, including improved
sleep quality, reduced anxiety, relief from stomach ailments and is
known for it's anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

For a delectable sweet, Grandmother's bowl holds
Pistachio macaroons...

For the textiles, I included floral table runners
and vintage pear paper napkins

This is referred to as the "bread and spread" experience..

Enjoy a sip of nature with citrus flavored teas
which will taste even more delightful served
in heirloom vintage tea cups...

A sweet accompaniment is a little bowl of creamy butter balls.....

When creating the experience of Bread and Teas,
choose your favorite vintage plates....

I encourage you to make the most of sweet moments
by making those you love feel special and cared for...

BLACKBERRY CREAM CHEESE PUFF PASTRY....PERFECT FOR YOUR EASTER BRUNCH!

Good Morning Loves....
the EASTER holiday gathering is right around the corner,
and it's the perfect time to gather up all of the
best recipes to put in your binder
and you will be ready to serve your family
and guests the most delicious of foods....
Today, I am featuring this scrumptious
fresh Blackberry Cream Cheese Puffed Pastry..
it is beyond easy and so, so delicious!!! 

Using fresh fruit is by far the best, but you could
easily substitute frozen fruits also!

You will need one sheet of Puff Pastry, thawed from frozen.
One carton of fresh blackberries
One egg
Sugar
Lemon Juice
Cornstarch
Vanilla
Cream Cheese

Let's get started.......

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Blackberry Filling
1 cup fresh blackberries
1/8 cup sugar
1 T. lemon juice
1 T. water
1 1/2 t. cornstarch

Mix gently in mixing bowl and allow
to macerate for about 5 minutes.

Roll one sheet of pastry dough out onto parchment lined baking sheet.
flatten out a bit with a rolling pin for an even rectangle.
With a pizza cutter, make cuts in both sides of pastry
leaving the middle layer as is.

Cream Cheese Filling
4 ounces of cream cheese, room temp
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg yolk
1/2 t. lemon juice
1/2 t. vanilla

Blend all ingredients until smooth
in a small mixing bowl.

Spoon cream cheese mixture down the center
of the puff pastry.
For the next layer, spoon berries on top of the
cream cheese down the center of the pastry.
Fold the outer layers of puff pastry strips 
in a crisscross pattern over the center.
Brush with the egg white over all sealing
the pastry together.
Bake for 25 minutes until golden brown!

This makes a beautiful presentation for a special gathering.....

If you prefer, you can drizzle a  confectioner sugar over the pastry

It's gonna be so good y'all!

MY MIDNIGHT QUICHE

Good Morning Kindred Spirits...
today is colder than yesterday...
the coffee is brewing and the house
is warm and quiet....
I popped outside to capture the sunrise.... 
this morning I am preparing
our favorite Midnight Quiche,
and decided to make it a bit
pretty for this winter's day.....

The boys have flown out to Denver for a Hockey Game,

the Presidential Inauguration is preparing for Monday morning

and has been moved inside for the first time in over 40 years..

I am looking forward to watching every minute.....

You know, everytime we enjoy a sunrise or sunset,

we are grateful for God's amazing grace......



Breakfast is being served in the formal dining room today....



This is a quiche I make often and it's so easy and versatile.....
you can add your favorite veggies and cheese....

4 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup heavy cream or evaporated milk
1/2 cup pepper jack cheese-shredded
1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese-shredded
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1 diced green onion
1/2 cup frozen spinach
Salt and Pepper

Mix all ingredients well in a mixing bowl.

Pour in unbaked pie shell.
BAKE AT 350 DEGREES FOR 40 MINUTES

Heartwarming and absolutely delicious~

You're gonna want seconds...

AVOCADO TOAST FOR A FALL BREAKFAST

Good Morning loves...
I think the page may have finally
turned to the fall season...
those hot days are behind us
so let's dive feet first into the goodness
of our days, beginning with a delicious
breakfast of a kicked up version of Avocado Toast....
Yes, honey....we are going to add some special
touches to a piece of sourdough toast.....

Doesn't this look soooo delicious???

This was my favorite little corner house
in our Maine New England Village...
I thought they had THE most spectacular autumn tree
in all the village....it was a perfect
fall day with woodsmoke in the wind.....

Let's begin.....

Toast one piece of sourdough bread
spread toast with butter and then cream cheese.
Top with fresh sliced avocado
Sprinkle with Lemon Pepper.
Top with crispy bacon
Drizzle with Mike's Hot Honey

I believe this is my new obsession....
the crunch, the creaminess of the butter and cream cheese,
the tanginess of the lemon pepper and oh..that hot honey...
perfection I tell you......