Peaches and Peanut Butter Stuffed French Toast

Mmmm... French Toast. One of the best breakfast foods out there. Everybody has "their way" to eat French Toast. I used to be very stuck in "my way", until a dear friend of mine introduced me to A NEW WAY. Gasp.

I grew up eating french toast with nothing but a massive mound of icing sugar plopped on top. No, I can't even say dusted or sprinkled... it was a real life mound or powdery goodness. I can't believe my mother let me put that much sugar on. But it was the best way!
I (obviously) think of French Toast as being a sweet dish, as opposed to savoury. I think that many people do too, however not my Ma. She thinks that French Toast should be savoury, not sweet! How bizzare! How not fun. She puts salt and pepper on her French Toast... which still baffles me to this day.
What baffles me more is that my Pa DOESN'T EVEN LIKE FRENCH TOAST.
Why family?! Why?! At least my brother knows what's up about icing sugar too. Two people have got it right.

Oh yeah, the new way! So, friend tells me his way to eat French Toast is with Peanut Butter and Syrup (Aunt Jemima's brand is ideal). Or, if they're available, PB+Syrup and fresh peaches.
When I first heard this, I thought, eww weird. Then I tried it and life changed forever. Now I have noticed that my powdered sugar policy is a thing of the past, and peanut butter is my new present. Try it, you may just fall in love.

In da pan.

One of my most favourite (in fact, probably my favourite) blogs, A Beautiful Mess, featured a post about Peaches and Cream Stuffed French Toast. This totally made me think "Yes, I do want to make Stuffed French Toast" as it is something I have not yet done. I adapted the recipe to use peanut butter instead of cream cheese because HOLY GOODNESS do I love me some peanut butter. And it being my "New Way" to eat French Toast, it just makes sense.

 Peaches and Peanut Butter Stuffed French Toast

Recipe adapted from A Beautiful Mess

Makes two sandwiches

• 4 slices french bread
• 1 egg
• 1/4 tsp vanilla
• 1/8 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tbsp milk
• 1 peach, sliced
• peanut butter
• butter for the pan

In a shallow dish, whisk together egg, vanilla, cinnamon and milk. Heat a pan on medium high heat with a bit of butter in the bottom. Spread peanut butter on one side of two of the bread slices. Dip the non-peanut butter side into the egg mixture, then place in the hot pan eggy-side down. Place peach slices on top of the two slices of bread in the pan. Meanwhile, spread peanut butter on one side of each of the other two slices. Dip the non-peanut butter side in the egg. Place this top slice (eggy-side up this time) atop your peach covered slice in the pan. When the bottom of the sandwich is nicely browned, turn the whole shebang over and cook on the other side.
Serve with more peach slices on top, and a generous drizzle of syrup. YUM in the tum.

What is your way to eat French Toast? Maybe I will discover a new one :)

<3 Lari

Wishlist Wednesday

Oh hey it's Wednesday! Here's what I have added to my lengthy wish list:

An ice cream maker attachment for Kitchen Aid Mixers. HECK YES.

This is a pretty big ticket item... but a girl can dream. In the meantime, I shall make homemade ice cream by hand. Which is on my to do list for the next couple of days! I have been thinking about trying to make homemade ice cream for some time now.

And using that to make Homemade Ice Cream Sandwiches... ohhhhh yes please!

(Potential hint for future post??? I hope so.)

The. Best. Waffles. Ever.

There are few things I love more in the world than these.

Yes, this post's title is four words, and also four sentences. I believe that it adds seriousness to the subject. And boy, is it a serious subject. When it comes to waffles in my family, we don't joke around.

I can honestly say that me, along with the rest of my family, and everyone who we have served our waffles to, can all agree that these waffles are THE BEST WAFFLES WE HAVE EVER HAD. Which is why I have some trepidation in sharing our family's recipe... Sometimes you want to keep all the good things to yourself, you know?

But then again, it is technically not OUR recipe, although it kind of feels like it is after making it so many times. This waffle recipe has been around for 18 years, and I have been around for 19 years. I can proudly say that I have been raised on this waffle recipe. It all begins with a Christmas gift from my Aunt to my parents in 1993. The was a book called "Waffles: From Morning to Midnight" and contains a plethora of various waffle recipes. Breakfast waffles, lunch waffles, dinner waffles, savoury snack waffles, and over the top dessert waffles. What a brilliant book.

The sad thing? I only just today discovered that this book contains all of this. You may be thinking, "But Larissa, if this book has been around nearly all your life, how could you not know  it had all those delicious recipes until today?"

WELL. Time for honesty. We started with the first recipe, which is a super simple, quick, easy recipe for basic waffles. No frills or fancy flavours, just your regular fluffy waffles. ABSOLUTELY PERFECT! My family fell in love immediately with the recipe, and since 1993, we have not ventured through the rest of the book and tried any of the other recipes! I hadn't even read them... AND I LOVE READING COOKBOOKS. So that is weird. This means we have only ever made the one recipe from the book. We may have thought about trying something new, but then again, what is the point? We would probably just end up wishing we had made our favourite waffles instead.

Today I sat down with the book, and actually briefly took a look, before I had to run to work, at what else it had to offer. A lot! That is what it had to offer. I found myself very inspired by all these variations on one of my favourite breakfast foods. I love trying new things, and putting spins on old classics. So someday I might actually try one of these other recipes (Pumpkin Pie waffles for autumn? Yes please!). But my family is still hesitant to make anything other than our favies.

Sorry for the extra long rant, but guys! This is waffles we're talking about here! We take our waffles seriously, man.
My family will not order waffles in restaurants, because we like ours more. Is that stubborn? No, it is a simple fact of life.
We had some friends over for brunch one day and made waffles. These friends liked our waffles so much, that they went out a bought a waffle iron the next day, so they could make them too.

They really are that good.

We had said waffles for brunch today! Which is the best start to the day.

So here we go, sharing the best waffle recipe in the world. Use it wisely. Make them often. Have them for breakfast, lunch, dinner. Serve them warm with butter, syrup, and bacon OF COURSE!

I truly hope you like them after I have made all this hype! Otherwise, that was rather anti-climatic. But if I'm confident about anything, it is the wonderfulness of these waffles.

I give all credit of this recipe to our Waffle Book, because we never make any changes to it. 'Tis perfect just the way it is. (And ridiculously simple at that.) The only adaption we make is to double the recipe everytime, because we devour these babies. They also make fine leftovers.

Hope you like these as much as me! :)

Waffles. The Best Ever.

Recipe from Waffles: From Morning to Midnight

Serves: Not enough. Double it. You'll thank me later.

DRY:

• 1 cup flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 1/2 tbsp sugar
• pinch of salt

WET:

• 2 tbsp melted butter (cooled)
• 1 cup milk
• 1 egg

Mix together dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, mix together wet ingredients. Mix the dry with the wet until thoroughly combined. Cook in your waffle iron according to it's instructions... mine usually take about 3 to 3 1/2 minutes to get to golden brown perfection. Just a tiny crisp on the outside, with a fluffy, warm and buttery inside.

Spread with butter and watch it melt. Pour on generous amounts of syrup. And do like I do and crumble bacon bits into every little hole in the waffle so that each bite gets a bit o' bacon.

Perfection.

<3 Lari

Kettlecorn Bars

My first attempt at making popcorn balls! Which, by the way, didn't really work out so I made popcorn bars. I found out that it does not matter what shape it is, these are so good that I will eat them in whatever form they come. Also, breaking rules makes you feel rebellious.


This summer I had the experience of eating my first popcorn ball. It was underwhelming. Not bad or anything, but it was just so mediocre for something that has such potential! These, however simple they are, live up to that potential.


I have just recently discovered the AWESOMENESS of "Cowboy Popcorn"'s Kettlecorn which is a rare treat as they only have booths that pop up at certain festivals. Lucky for me, they had a booth at Folk Fest this year and I took full advantage! I bought the biggest bag I could and ate nearly all of it that night. AND IT WAS SO GRAND. However I showed some restraint and took some leftovers home with me. Thinking about my leftover kettlecorn... and also thinking of my leftover homemade marshmallows sitting on my counter that needed to be eaten...

I made these beauties! Using kettlecorn and home-made marshmallows really upped the anti (what does that even mean?) on these popcorn bars. I understand however that not everyone, including me, may have kettlecorn and home-made marshmallows just chillin waiting to be used up all the time. But the good news is that you can make these with any popcorn, and any marshmallows. Actually, you don't even have to use popcorn. You could use cereal! The classic and obvious choice would be Rice Krispies... but thinking outside the Rice Krispies box I have been dreaming up some different bars/square recipes to try someday:

Reese's cereal, CocoPuff cereal... heck any puffed cereal would be delish. But back to the real deal...

Kettlecorn! These are super fast and easy to make. So no excuses. If you are feeling fancy, throwing in some chocolates or nuts would probably be nothing short of scrumptious. Mix it up!

Kettlecorn Bars

• 3 tbsp butter
• 10 oz marshmallows
• 6 cups kettle corn

Avec Microwave: In a large microwave friendly dish, place the butter and marshmallows. Microwave until the marshmallows have melted (mine took about 30 seconds) and stir to combine the marshmallows with the butter.

Sans Microwave: Combine the marshmallows and butter in a large pot and let them melt together over medium low heat.

Next, add in your kettlecorn. Or Rice Krispies. Or Reese's cereal. Or whatever you happen to have on hand.

Pretty simple huh? 

Just press your mixture into a pan lined with parchment (these bad boys are seriously sticky before they are set, just a warning). Pop them in the fridge to set up, cut into bars and share with your family and friends.

<3 Lari

5 Things of Awesome. Pinterest Edition

Welcome to The Pinterest Edition of 5 Things of Awesome. Here is what I think is awesome this week, as seen on Pinterest:

The cutest serving dish ever! From ModCloth, of course.

Salad, served in avocado halves. Brilliant.

Kids Coffee Shop Playhouse... ADORABLE

This cute decor, in which I want all over my future home.

A pretty display table with pastel pallet 

<3 Lari

Boozy Berries and a Flambe Fail

Have you ever made something that you weren't quite sure how good it would turn out, but you make it anyways, AND IT'S ACTUALLY AMAZING? This is one of those things.

Even while I was in the process of cooking this yummy ice cream topping, I was not so sure what the end result would be like. Our tale begins with Food Network, as so many do.

Once Upon a time (a month or so ago), I discovered a competition on Foodnetwork.ca called "Anna Olson's Bake Off". I am an Anna Olson fan! Because she too is a baker and a lover of dessert. Anybody who has those qualities is pretty much an instant friend of mine. I have been known to wake up a little earlier than I really need to in the mornings, just so I can watch Food Network while I eat my breakfast. "Bake with Anna Olson" is one of my favourite shows to watch, so when I discovered this contest of hers... I obviously HAD to try it out!

The contest goes like this: on the 15th of every month, Anna starts a new challenge where she sends out a recipe of hers for home cooks to try their hand at. You can follow the recipe, or add your own creative spin on it. Then all you have to do is take a photo of your creation, and email it to her with a little descriptive blurb. You have one month to complete the challenge, then Anna picks a winner from submissions and the winner gets sweet Foodie-Related-Prizes! Oh and even cooler, Anna posts ALL of the submission on food network.ca so everyone feels like a winner in the end. How awesome, is that. (Check out my first entry along with the others here!)

Anywho, this is what the challenge was for July/August: Snickerdoodle Cookies with Berries Jubilee. The Berries Jubilee is a fancy ice cream topping that you FLAMBE! (that would be the "challenge" part of the bake off...)

I have never Flambéed before...

I was nervous.

BUT ALSO REALLY EXCITED to see giant flames in my kitchen (That I put there on purpose)

I tried it, with caution!

Nothing happened.

I tried it without any caution at all!

I eventually got the smallest, wimpiest flame of life that fizzled away back to nothing immediately.

In the whole process of this, I added about double the amount of alcohol that the recipe is supposed to contain...

All this led to my doubts of how this was going to turn out. 

Luckily, it turned out like THIS! And was probably one of the better things I have ever made. I have submitted my Bake Off entry with pride, and even if I do not win the contest, I am a real winner here anyways because I now have an awesome ice cream topping recipe... and an excuse to try Flambee-ing once more. (Because even though the flame was small, it was a thrilling experience like no other. It feels rebellious... Muahaha)

I made Chocolate Sauce, Berries Avec Alcohol and Berries Sans Alcohol. Something for everyone. For me: Boozy Berries + Chocolate = Love on ice cream.

Boozy Berries Ice Cream Topping

Original Recipe from Anna Olson

• 3 cups mixed berries (fresh, or thawed frozen) I used 1 cup of blueberries, 1 cup of strawberries and 1 cup of raspberries
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1/3 cup raspberry jam
• 3 tbsp Brandy (if you wish to make a non-boozy berry sauce, use orange juice instead)
• 1 tsp vanilla

In a large sauté pan over medium high heat, stir berries and sugar until sugar is dissolved. Add the lemon juice and raspberry jam and stir to incorporate. Carefully pour the brandy in using a ladle to avoid splashing and unwanted flames. Now is the fun part, or the rather anti-climatic part, depending on your flambé abilities. You can either tilt the pan toward the flame to ignite the alcohol, or use a long handled BBQ lighter. If you are luckier than I, watch your berries flame away! And wait for the flames to subside. Turn off the heat, stir in the vanilla, and store sauce in a jar in the fridge.

Serve on vanilla ice cream and share with your neighbours. 

*NOTE* it is truly delish when the berries are still a tad warm, and you also serve it with warmed chocolate sauce. =) We have a winner folks.

<3 Lari

Today is Good.

Okay, if that picture does not tell you how good my day was, then I don't know what will.

• Went for a run. Always the start of something good.
• Met up with a friend I haven't seen in a long time for brunch at "A Ladybug and Cafe". HOLY COW I loved it there, and am SO going again and again and again. (I had a delicious crepe with strawberries, bananas and Callebeaut Chocolate)
• Created a Facebook page for Lari's Sweet Shoppe (!) This catering business is finally getting started and I couldn't be more excited.
• Started my YEAR CRAFT CHALLENGE! More details to come later, but it feels so good to be doing something creative again.
• Spent the rest of the day in the kitchen, which is one of my favourite places to spend my free time, of course.(Recipes to come soon!)
• Had our neighbours over for a farewell dessert, before they move away.
• Served a gorgeously divine dessert thanks to Anna Olson's Bake Off recipe. Seriously, check it out.
• EVEN got to have Bailey's + Coffee, thanks to a hostess gift from our neighbours.

Today was just perfect.

How about you?

<3 Lari