breakfast in bed...
A luxurious breakfast in bed is the ideal way to show someone you care. Whether it’s a meal for you to enjoy as a couple and an excuse for more time in bed, a treat to show someone how much you love them or something for the whole family to have fun making and eating together - there’s always an excuse to create something delicious and spend an extra hour or so in bed!
stuffed savoury ham & cheese french toast
This french toast is gorgeously indulgent perfect for a luxury breakfast in bed or brunch with friends - start the day as you mean to go on!
Ingredients
125g (4oz) cream cheese, softened 125g (4oz) grated Cheddar cheese 2 spring onions, finely chopped salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste 4 slices ham 8 thick slices day-old white bread 4 eggs 125ml (4fl.oz) milk few shakes of hot sauce, to taste butter and vegetable oil, for cooking icing sugar and maple syrup, to serve
Instructions
In a medium bowl, mix the cream cheese and Cheddar with the spring onions. Season with salt and pepper. Spread 4 slices of bread generously with the filling, lay a slice of ham on top of each one and top with the remaining bread slices, making 4 sandwiches.
In a shallow dish, whisk together the eggs, milk, salt, pepper and hot sauce. Dip each sandwich in the batter, turning to coat both sides, and allowing each side to soak up some of the batter. Do not soak too long or the sandwiches will fall apart when you lift them.
In a large frying pan, heat a little butter and vegetable oil. When it is good and hot, lay 1 or 2 sandwiches in the frying pan, and cook them to a rich brown. Turn and cook the other side. Keep warm while you make the rest. Serve immediately, with a sprinkling of icing sugar and with maple syrup on the side.
classic blueberry pancakes
How about starting your day with a fluffy blueberry pancake, spread with butter, sprinkled with icing sugar, and drizzled with delicious maple syrup?
Ingredients
350g (12oz) fresh blueberries 200g (7oz) flour 3 tsp baking powder 2 tsp sugar good pinch of salt 2 medium eggs 225ml (8fl.oz) milk 1 tsp vanilla extract 50g (2oz) butter, for the batter and cooking icing sugar, maple syrup and butter, to serve
Instructions
Heat the oven to 140°C (275˚F/gas mark 1). Divide the blueberries into 8 portions. Sift the dry ingredients into a large bowl. Make a well in the centre, break in the eggs and add the milk and vanilla. Stir from the centre with a wooden spoon, slowly incorporating the flour from the sides as you stir. Do not overmix and do not worry about any lumps.
In a large frying pan, melt 2 tablespoons butter, and then tip it into the batter and stir it in lightly. Put the frying pan back on the heat, add a little more butter and swirl it around the base of the pan. When it is nice and hot but not smoking, spoon about 3 tablespoons of batter into the pan to form a pancake about 13cm (5in) in diameter. Spoon in 3 tablespoons more, forming another pancake. Drop a portion of blueberries on top of the pancakes, and press them slightly into the batter. The pancakes should make a sizzling sound and begin to bubble at once. When they look dry at the edges, turn them over. They should have a good brown colour. The second side will cook faster than the first. Place them on a platter, cover, and keep in the warm oven while you make the rest. Serve dusted with icing sugar, with butter and maple syrup on the side.
breakfast sausage burger with bacon & cheese
Very similar to fast food, but sooo much better homemade. Perfect for weekend brunch.
Ingredients
450g (1lb) pork sausage 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves 2 tsp freshly ground black pepper 2 tbsp vegetable oil 8 rashers bacon 4 slices cheese 4 hamburger buns, split
Instructions
Preheat the grill and preheat the oven to 170˚C (325˚F/Gas mark 3). Put 4 serving plates in the oven to warm. In a large bowl, mix the sausage with the thyme leaves and black pepper. Form into 4 patties. In a large frying pan, heat the oil, and fry the patties for a few minutes until golden brown and cooked through. Drain on paper towels.
Put the bacon in the frying pan and fry for a few minutes until crisp and cooked through. Remove and drain on paper towels. Place the hamburger halves on a baking tray and grill until golden brown.
Assemble the burgers. Put the bottom half of the buns on warm serving plates. Put a sausage patty on each bun and top with a slice of cheese and 2 rashers of bacon placed across the cheese. Put the top half of the buns on top and put the plates back in the oven for 3 minutes to heat through and to slightly melt the cheese. Serve immediately.
potato pancakes with smoked salmon
The friend potato pancake and smoked salmon make a delicious flavour combination - just perfect for that special breakfast treat.
900g (2 lbs) potatoes 1 small onion 1 egg, beaten 60ml (2 fl. oz) hot milk 2 tbsp white rice flour salt and freshly ground black pepper vegetable oil, for cooking 4–5 slices smoked salmon, to serve lemon wedges, to serve
Peel the potatoes and onion and grate them into a large bowl. Mix in the beaten egg, milk, rice flour and plenty of salt and pepper. Mix until you have a thick batter.
In a large frying pan, heat a small amount of vegetable oil. When it is hot, but not smoking, spoon in the batter to form pancakes about 18cm (7 in) in diameter. Cook for a few minutes until crisp and golden, then turn them over and cook the other side. Serve with slices of smoked salmon and lemon wedges.
spicy-ham-and-egg-cups
Here’s a fun way to have a full bacon and egg breakfast that will really impress!
Ingredients
6 small thin slices prosciutto or other air-dried ham 1 ball mozzarella, torn 3 tbsp spicy salsa 11⁄2 tbsp chopped fresh coriander 6 eggs salt and pepper fresh chilli slices, to garnish (optional)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 190°C (375°F/gas 5). Spray a 6-cup muffin tin with low-fat cooking spray.
Line each muffin cup with a slice of prosciutto or ham. It doesn’t matter if it tears, but ensure that the whole cup is covered. Sprinkle with the torn mozzarella. Top each cup with 1⁄2 tablespoon salsa and sprinkle with a little coriander.
Carefully break an egg into each cup and season with salt and pepper. Bake for 12 minutes for a lightly cooked egg and up to 17 minutes for a well-set egg. Sprinkle chopped chilli slices, if using, and a little more coriander over the eggs to serve.