Apple Caramel French Toast by Suzanne

I love french toast, there is something so Sunday Brunch and New Orleans about it. I've done it all ... stuffed, smothered and even baked. This one tops them all in my book and it is so easy. No spices, creams or liquers. The people lucky enough to eat this will think you are a genius in the kitchen, let them think that way. Hide the bread mix wrapper deep in the garbage can so the secret stays with you!

Ingredients:

1 package of Williams Sonoma Apple Caramel Quick Bread mix - prepared

eggs

a couple of splashes of skim milk

unsalted butter...don't even think of using butter substitute...such a thing doesn't exist

powdered sugar - optional

fruit - optional

Preparation:

Make the bread mix the day before following package directions.

Go ahead and eat some of it...it is wonderful. If you didn't gobble it all up, slice the remaining bread and let it sit out on a wire rack all day and overnight to attempt to dry it out. This bread is so moist that is hard to do but...

Melt some butter in a pan over medium heat. Whisk a couple of eggs with a couple of splashes of the milk. Dip both sides of the bread slices in the egg mixture and place in the pan. Cook until browned on both sides. Repeat with remaining bread. Place a couple of slices on each plate and dust with powdered sugar. Pat yourself on your back for a job well done. If you want serious kudos pat one of your cheeks ever so slightly with powdered sugar, it works every time. Serve with fruit and hot coffee. Enjoy!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Goodies

Happy autumn! Got pumpkins on your mind? Try these two recipes!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

Ingredients:
4 eggs
2 cups white sugar
1 (15 ounce) can of pumpkin
1 1/2 cups canola oil
3 cups all-purpose flour (I used whole wheat)
2 t. baking soda
2 t. baking powder
1 t. ground cinnamon
1 t. salt
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips



Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease muffin tins or use paper liners.
2. Beat the eggs in a large bowl, and mix in sugar, pumpkin, and oil.
3. In a medium bowl, mix the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Blend in the egg and pumpkin mixture. Fold in the chocolate chips. Transfer to the muffin pans.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove muffins from pans, and cool on a wire rack.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 cup light brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup canned pumpkin puree
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
2 cups (12-ounce bag) milk chocolate chips, not semisweet
Nonstick cooking spray or parchment paper

Directions:

Heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray cookie sheets with nonstick spray or line them with parchment paper.Using a mixer, beat the butter until smooth. Beat in the white and brown sugars, a little at a time, until the mixture is light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs 1 at a time, then mix in the vanilla and pumpkin puree. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves. Slowly beat the flour mixture into the batter in thirds. Stir in the chips. Scoop the cookie dough by heaping tablespoons onto the prepared cookie sheets and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the cookies are browned around the edges. Remove the cookie sheets from the oven and let them rest for 2 minutes. Take the cookies off with a spatula and cool them on wire racks.

Banana-Apricot Nut Bread

This Banana-Apricot Nut Bread is a quick and easy snack or breakfast to prepare for your family or guests. Beware, the bread disappears quickly; it's addictive!


Banana-Apricot Nut Bread

Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup dried apricots, chopped
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
3/4 cup ripe banana, mashed
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup butter
1 egg


Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, sugar, apricots, and nuts. Mix thoroughly. In a separate bowl, combine mashed banana, milk, butter and egg. Stir in dry ingredients, mix until well blended. Pour mixture into a 9' X 5' loaf pan, bake for 1 hour or until bread begins to pull away from the sides of the pan and wooden toothpick comes out clean. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes, remove loaf out of pan and place onto a rack to cool completely. Makes 1 loaf.

Fruity Smoothie

On a hot summer day there is nothing quite as refreshing as a fruity smoothie. Have for breakfast or as an afternoon treat!

Fruity Smoothie

1/2 cup Cascadian Farm Organic frozen fruit (strawberries, blueberries or raspberries) or you can use fresh fruit that's in season.

1 cup of low fat Horizon's organic milk

1 cup of Horizon's organic yogurt (plain, vanilla, or fruity)

Bit of honey

1/2 of a banana (tip: cut up a banana and freeze to throw in a smoothie for added frostiness)

Blend and enjoy!