I have always loved barbecue pulled pork. It’s sweet, it’s tangy, and it’s a perfect comfort food. So when I can have it for brunch, my favorite meal, I am a very happy camper.
This recipe is a good transition to fall. It incorporates sweet potatoes, but it’s in in-your-face PSL ridiculousness either. It’s a good recipe for when the days first start to get chilly!
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Step One.
You’re going to want to prep the barbecue pulled pork the night before. Prep all of the ingredients for the sauce.
Add the sauce ingredients to a dutch oven and bring to a boil over medium heat.
Step Two.
Prep your pork ingredients. Cut the onions into thin slices. Rub the roast down with the olive oil; rub in the spices.
Step Three.
When the sauce has come to a boil, add the onions to the pot. Place the roast on top. Bake at 325°F for about 3 hours, or until it is falling apart. If you try to pick it up with tongs, it should fall apart. If you need to cook it extra – no worries! It will not get overdone since it is submerged in the sauce.
Step Four.
Pull the pork (against the fibers) using two forks. Put the pulled pork AND the sauce in a sealed container and let it cool slightly. Refrigerate the entire container until morning!
Step Five.
Wake up the next morning, ready to have the best brunch of your life.
Step Six.
Bake the sweet potatoes (you can use canned if you’re impatient!). Prick the potato six times with a fork. Bake, uncovered, on a baking sheet lined with foil, for 45 min – 1 hour at 375 °F.
Step Seven.
While the sweet potato bakes, make the barbecue sauce. Remove 2 cups of the liquid from the sauce you baked the pork in. Measure out the other ingredients.
Combine all ingredients in a sauce pan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Cover to avoid splatter. Boil until it is thick and reduced by about 1/3. Drain the pork form the rest of the liquid and stir in the sauce. Set aside until later.
Step Eight.
Prepare the pancakes. Mash up the baked sweet potato and let cool. It does not have to be room temperature, but it shouldn’t be hot, either. Measure out the other ingredients.
Step Nine.
Mix the dry ingredients together with a fork. Add the milk and melted butter; stir slowly until combined. Add the eggs, one at a time, and mix until combines. Finally, mix in the sweet potato mash.
Heat butter over medium heat in a skillet. Pour the batter into the skillet to make the size of pancake that you want. Cook for about three minutes, until the bottom is golden brown. Flip and cook the other side for about two minutes, or until golden brown.
Step Ten.
While the pancakes are cooking, fry up those eggs! Add about a tablespoon of butter to a skillet. Crack the eggs directly into the pan and cook until done and slightly crispy on the edges.
Step Eleven.
Time to assemble! First, put a stack of pancakes on a plate. You may add a little maple syrup if that floats your boat. Scoop a generous helping of barbecue pulled pork on top. Slide a fried egg atop that to finish. Dig in! Make sure you plan enough time for a nap afterwards =]
Prep Time: 45 minutes
Cook Time: 4 hours, 15 minutes
Total Time: 5 hours
Yield: 4 servings
This brunch recipe transitions from summer to fall. The pulled pork is sweet and tangy - a perfect addition to your next brunch!
Ingredients
Instructions
I love living in New Orleans, but I always get homesick for Wisconsin during fall. The cool weather, the leaves, the crisp air… it’s as cliche as a Hallmark movie, but I love every minute of it.
I’ve decided to start fall here anyway, even though my car registered at 110° yesterday when I got in after word. I stopped at Trader Joe’s (new to New Orleans! Finally!) and got a few fall staples. So I put a few to good use this morning for a simple fall breakfast!
Be sure to add this granola to your shopping list the next time you go to Trader Joe’s!
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Step One.
You want to use plain Greek yogurt for this parfait. It’s tangy and not-so-sweet flavor is exactly what you need to pair with syrup and sweet granola.
Prep your ingredients.
Step Two.
Mix the yogurt the with pumpkin and cinnamon in a bowl before you assemble the parfait.
Step Three.
Add a third of the mix to a cup or a bowl. Drizzle with one third of the syrup. Sprinkle 1/3 of the granola on top.
Step Four.
Continue layering like this until all of your ingredients are used!
Enjoy the first bite of fall!
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
A sweet and tangy bite of fall that is perfect for a protein-filled, energizing breakfast!
Ingredients
Instructions
Football season is here!
Despite the fact that I love frosting so much, I tend to eat a very healthy diet on a day to day basis. I stay active and eat right, and it gives me energy to do everything that I want.
One thing that I cannot understand is football snacks. Whenever football season comes, all of a sudden you see field-themed chips, nachos, fat-covered carbs bombs. All you’re doing is sitting there! You don’t need 1500 calories of empty, greasy carb to fuel your football passion.
These snacks fix that problem. They are simple, they are cheesy, they are beyond addicting. And the best part – they are low carb. That means that you can eat them guilt free!
Snack without guilt this football season with these ranch-seasoned, spicy, cheesy pepper bites. You won’t even miss the chips!
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Step One.
Prep Step! Measure out your ingredients. Preheat your oven to 350°F.
Step Two.
Prep the peppers! First, with a paring knife, cut the peppers in half so that you get two tall and deep halves, not the shallow ones.
Next, cut off the stems by making a “V” shape around it with your paring knife.
Finally, placing the blade of your knife flush with the pepper, cut off the veins.
Line up the peppers on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil. If some of them tip over, slice a small piece off of the bottom to make it flat.
Step Three.
Make the filling! Beat the cream cheese in a stand mixer on high for three minutes.
Grate the cheddar cheese into the bowl and mix until incorporated.
Tip: Don’t want to take the time to grate? Buy shredded cheddar, and give it a few chops to make smaller pieces.
Add the spices and mix until incorporated.
Carefully mix in the bacon pieces.
Step Four.
Stuff the peppers!
Add about 1 Tablespoon of the cheese mix to each pepper, enough so that it is full. Careful, though – you don’t want to add too much, because then it will melt out in the oven.
Bake at 350°F FOR 20 minutes.
Serve with some greens for an added health benefit!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Yield: about 30 pepper halves
Snack without guilt this football season with these ranch-seasoned, spicy, cheesy pepper bites. You won't even miss the chips!
Ingredients
Instructions
I remember the first time that I had a banana split. My grandpa had taken us fishing, and I had a really good day! This was not normal fishing, where 90% of the time is a test of your patience. This was a trout farm, where they bite the second the lure hits the water. So I was a very happy camper already, AND I got a banana split! I don’t know if I ate the whole thing, but I like to think I did. I remember liking the pineapple part the best.
This cupcake combines all of the yumminess of a banana split into one delicious baked treat that you can enjoy year round!
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Step One – Sauces!
Step Two – Cupcakes!
Prep the cupcakes! Measure out all of your ingredients. Let the butter and the eggs warm up to room temperature (about 30 minutes). Preheat your oven to 350°F.
With a fork, mix together your dry ingredients in a bowl and set aside.
Prep Time: 50 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour, 10 minutes
Yield: a dozen "double" cupcakes
This cupcake combines all of the yumminess of a banana split into one delicious baked treat that you can enjoy year round!
Ingredients
Instructions
Prep Time: 45 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Yield: 4 BIG Burgers
This flavor-packed burger pairs well with the light crunch of coleslaw and the tang on fried pickles. It is best enjoyed relaxing outside with family and friends!
Ingredients
Instructions
Back to school! I always loved back to school. New outfit, new pencils, new goals.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Yield: 12 "apples"
Whether you are a teacher, a student, or a parent, you will absolutely enjoy these cute and tasty treats. They are so easy!
Ingredients
Instructions
State Fair. What whimsy does that call to mind for you? First, I hear Templeton the Rat singing that obnoxious song in my head. But next, I remember all of the wonders, merrymaking, and smells of the Wisconsin State Fair.
We were always very methodical about it. We would get up at the crack of down, slather up in sun screen, and get there are soon as the gates opened. After picking up our coupon book, we would visit the animals in the barns. I always liked the cows the best. They’re so delicate for animals that weigh literally tons. When you look into their eyes, covered in the most beautiful, long lashes, it makes you almost reconsider hamburgers. Almost.
Then we went down the pig slide. To the “Oriental Market”, the name for the shops before Wisconsin got with the program and realized that was in bad taste. After picking up a fresh-shaken lemonade, I begrudgingly followed my eager mom to the pig races. I have never understood pig races. Just, why…?
Lunch was always a gyro from Eileen’s. Then the Kids from Wisconsin. When I was little, I dreamed of being one. The trade center, avoiding that creepy Smoky the Bear at the DNR exhibit and finally….
The Cream Puff.
It was always the last thing we got, and we ordered an extra to take home to dad. Now, truth be told, I’m not a huge fan of those cream puffs. It’s more the nostalgia that still makes me want one. They’re too sweet and as huge as your face. But there’s some kind of reminiscent satisfaction of getting cream on your nose that will never fade from my memory.
But that was years ago. Now, I live somewhere else. No more state fair. To try to relive the fun, my mom and I ran (well, I ran) in the Cream Puff 5k this summer. We posed with a live cream puff. It was pretty cool.
But it still doesn’t beat state fair and all of the weirdo people you see. So when you feel like running down memory lane or just need some good, ol’ fashioned, creamy deliciousness, whip up a batch of cream puffs. Be sure to get some on your nose.
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Cream puff pastry (pâte à choux) seems complicated, but it’s actually the easiest thing. And once you can make , your baking world is open to eclairs, profiteroles, and other such delights.
Step One.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 hours
Total Time: 15 hours, 15 minutes
One bite of this cream puff will take you to the state fair. Sweet whipped cream fills a delicate pastry for a nostalgic treat!
Ingredients
Instructions
On a sticky summer day, I just love to crunch down on a crisp, flavorful salad. Usually I like to enjoy a hot dinner at night, but I just can’t bring myself to do that when it’s 95° outside!
I have a cooking philosophy that I think this salad does a wonderful job of exemplifying. Gourmet cooking is fun and zen, but sometimes “what’s in the fridge” is just as good, and way easier. This is that salad.
I didn’t run to the store. I didn’t spend a lot of time. Any cook of ANY skill level can whip up this salad and bite into yum.
Protein-rich salmon and hemp seeds paired with sweet mango and bursts of grape make this salad another summer staple.
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Step One.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Yield: 1 entree salad
Protein-rich salmon and hemp seeds paired with sweet mango and bursts of grape make this salad another summer staple.
Ingredients
Instructions
I think I’m ready to quit my life and start fresh as a farmer! Well, almost. But this experience was so zen and wonderful!
Travels have kept me away from the kitchen recently (sorry, but no apologies for that!), but I had to see what I could make when visiting Seattle. Apparently, blackberries are weeds, effectively, there. I first saw them when we were driving to a national park- they were everywhere!
Decision made.
I bought a perfect little pie tin at the Pike Place Market for my adventure. Then I set to picking berries, listening to a small creek behind me and smiling at the birds in my baking Cinderella moment.
Naturally, half of the blackberries went straight into my mouth. They were so perfect and tart, so I knew that a plain Jane butter crust would not be the perfect partner. A sweeter platform for a low-sugar filling would be perfect.
Quick question to address:
Why don’t these cookies have normal cookie ingredients?
Think of it more as a shortbread. Cookies are meant to rise, and that does not make for good pie crust. Trust me on this one!
This cookie crusty is the perfect base for all-natural, tart berries. Another quintessential summer treat!
Please Note: Unfortunately, my uncle’s kitchen has awful lighting. As such, I have not done the usual step-by-step with pictures before the recipe. I do have the pictures, though, so if you need more information or want to see what a step looks like, just ask! Thanks!
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 18 minutes
Total Time: 38 minutes
Yield: 1 full size pie
This cookie crusty is the perfect base for all-natural, tart berries. Another quintessential summer treat!
Ingredients
Instructions
Door County is one of my favorite places in the world. Granted, there are many places that I have not been, but I’m sure it would still rank highly had I been to every country. There are multitudes of outdoor activities, orchards, great restaurants, quaint boutiques, everything wonderful.
There are two types of big orchards there – apple and cherry. Each season is a celebration and there are festivals, custom dishes, and special treats galore. We even saw a musical up there are cherry picking. Seriously, they’re way into this stuff.
So, whenever i go, I stock up on fruit. Recently, I was there right at the end of kirschen (German for cherry) season. Naturally, I got many cherry things, along with a pint of tart cherries. I like their puckery flavor, so of course I ate a few straight, but these are best for baking.
I can’t promise that this pie will be as amazing with cherries sourced elsewhere (ok, maybe that’s a bit dramatic), but it will still be a spoonful of happiness on a summer day.
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**Note – I only bought enough cherries for baby pies, but the recipe here will yield you a full pie.
Step One
Prep – but just the crust. I always stick the butter in the freezer for a few minutes to get super cold after I cut it. Mix the vodka and water, and put that in the freezer too.
….Vodka? I’m giving this to kids….
No worries! The alcohol part will be gone after you bake the crust. But why vodka? It gets a lot colder than water without freezing. The secret to great crust is the coldness of the ingredients when you mix them in. This ensures that your “wet” ingredient will be as cold as possible.
Step Two
Make your crust now – cut the butter into the dry ingredients, then mix in the vodka / water mix by Tablespoon-ful until your crust is just wet enough. DO NOT OVERWORK IT. It will get all tough and nasty when baked.
Wrap that bad boy in plastic wrap and let it chill in the fridge for an hour.
Step Three
Filling time. If you have a cherry pitter, use it. So much less work. But if you don’t, you can push them out with a straw or the tip of a pairing knife. It’s just a pain in the butt.
Add the sugar and cornstarch (pre-mixed) to the cherries.
Step Four
Roll out your pie crust to fit your pie plate. You can do whatever you want on the top – make a full cover, do a lattice, or get fancy and cut out some shapes.
Step Five
Add your filling – it should be a bit domed so that the pie looks nice and stuffed. Dot with up to a Tablespoon of butter and place your top on. You can seal it with a fork (dipped in water so that it doesn’t stick) or make the pretty pinches. Later on, I’ll add a demo of how to do this – so check back!
Step Six
Time to bake! Even though it’ll be tempting to dig in as soon as it’s out of the oven, let it cool for at least ten minutes. Brew a pot of coffee while you wait. Slice, top with ice cream, and enjoy!
Prep Time: 1 hour, 15 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours, 5 minutes
Yield: 1 pie
Warm and juicy, this is a perfect pie for summer. Cherry pie is a classic!
Ingredients
Instructions