Tag Archives: breakfast

Potato and Zucchini Spanish Tortilla

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The beauty of this dish, is not only that it is texturally satisfying, but it can be served at any meal in the day as a side dish OR an entrée. We’ve experienced the Spanish tortillas lining the counters at tapa and pintxo bars all over Spain. They’re one of the most beloved and popular dishes in Spanish cuisine and are eaten at any time of day: breakfast, lunch, dinner, on school field trips, after beach excursions…. or just because you’re hungry…

For purists, a Spanish tortilla should only contain 4 ingredients: olive oil, potatoes, eggs, and salt. Personally, onion is a must but in this recipe zucchini is also added, which ends up melting into the potatoes creating a velvety dish. The trick to creamy tortilla is to use lots of olive oil—more than what you would ever think you need.

According to America’s Test Kitchen (ATK), it is about poaching the potatoes and zucchini in the oil and not really frying to a crisp. The potatoes and zucchini will absorb some of the oil, but a lot of it will get drained after they are cooked (leftover oil can be reused after straining so it doesn’t go to waste). Everything gets mixed with eggs and is given a quick scramble in the pan, then it’s flipped, using a plate, and finished with a quick stint in the pan on the second side.

In Spain, a true tortilla should have a soft and creamy interior and exterior that is light in color. It should not be cooked through or deeply caramelized on the outside, but of course, you can cook it a bit longer to your liking. Loved it! As melt-in-your-mouth tender as the ones they serve in Spain.

NOTES: It is best to wait a few minutes before cutting into it as it will set a bit more with carryover cooking. It is important to use a nonstick pan so the tortilla slides easily out of it. 

Potato and Zucchini Spanish Tortilla

  • Servings: 4
  • Difficulty: easy
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Ingredients

  • 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 small onion, chopped fine
  • 1 lb. Yukon gold potatoes, peeled, halved lengthwise and sliced crosswise 1/8-inch thick
  • 8 oz. zucchini, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
  • 1 1/4 tsp. table salt, divided
  • 5 large eggs

Directions

  1. Heat 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil in 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add 1 small finely chopped onion and cook until just softened but not browned, 3 to 5 minutes.
  2. Stir in 1 pound Yukon gold potatoes (peeled, halved lengthwise, and sliced crosswise into ⅛-inch-thick pieces), 8 ounces chopped zucchini, and ¾ teaspoon table salt. Compress vegetables to submerge in oil as much as possible (it’s OK if vegetables aren’t fully submerged; as they cook they will shrink and become submerged). Cook until potatoes and zucchini are very tender and lightly caramelized, 25 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally (zucchini should be falling apart). Remove from heat.
  3. Whisk 5 large eggs and remaining ½ teaspoon table salt together in large bowl. Strain vegetable-oil mixture through fine-mesh strainer set over clean bowl. Transfer vegetables to bowl with eggs, stirring to combine, and set strained oil aside.
  4. Heat 1 tablespoon strained oil in now-empty skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add egg-vegetable mixture and cook, stirring center to scramble eggs lightly, until edges are set, about 1 minute. Run rubber spatula along edges of pan, then shake skillet gently to loosen tortilla from skillet. Cook for additional 1 to 2 minutes until set but not browned.
  5. Remove skillet from heat. Run rubber spatula along edges of pan, then shake skillet gently to loosen tortilla from skillet. Place large flat plate over tortilla in skillet and, holding plate with 1 hand and skillet handle with your second hand, invert skillet to transfer tortilla to plate. Slide tortilla back into now-empty skillet, tucking edges of tortilla as needed around perimeter of skillet, and cook over medium-high heat until second side is just set, 1 to 2 minutes.
  6. Gently slide tortilla onto serving plate and let rest for 10 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature, drizzling with extra strained oil if desired.

http://www.lynnandruss.com

Recipe by Aran Goyoaga for America’s Test Kitchen’s Cooks Country

Cast Iron Crispy Home Fries with Bacon

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Super-savory spuds for any time of day—breakfast, lunch, dinner, or late night. We beta-tested this recipe for America’s Test Kitchen many months ago, and it was published in Cook’s Country April/May 2025 issue.

This recipe for bacon-y potatoes demonstrates the superior browning ability of cast-iron skillets. For home fries with tender, fluffy insides and crispy, browned exteriors, precooking the potatoes is essential.

Peel and cut russet potatoes into ¾-inch pieces before microwaving them, covered, with oil, salt, and pepper until tender. Then crisp the potatoes in a hot cast-iron skillet, using bacon fat to give them smoky savoriness.

Fresh garlic and delicate chives provided sweet-savory depth without overpowering the spuds. As mentioned, these potatoes aren’t just for breakfast—they can be enjoyed any time of the day.

NOTE: To minimize food waste, when cutting peeled potatoes into cubes, don’t bother squaring off the sides of the potatoes. The cubes just need a few flat sides; some rounded sides are fine too. FYI: Six slices of bacon should weigh six ounces.

Cast Iron Crispy Home Fries with Bacon

  • Servings: 4
  • Difficulty: easy
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Ingredients

  • 6 slices bacon, cut into ½-inch pieces
  • 2¼ lbs. russet potatoes, peeled and cut into ¾-inch cubes
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, plus extra as needed
  • 1¼ tsp. table salt
  • ¼ tsp. pepper
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 2 Tbsp. minced fresh chives

Directions

  1. Cook bacon in 12-inch cast-iron skillet over medium heat until crispy, 5 to 7 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer bacon to paper towel–lined plate. Transfer rendered bacon fat to small bowl and reserve. (You should have about 5 tablespoons fat; add vegetable oil as needed to equal 5 tablespoons.) Wipe skillet clean with paper towels.
  2. Meanwhile, toss potatoes with 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, salt, and pepper in large bowl and microwave, covered, until potatoes are fully tender, 10 to 12 minutes, stirring halfway through microwaving. (Take care when removing cover; steam will be very hot.) Transfer potatoes to colander and let cool for 15 minutes.
  3. Heat reserved 5 tablespoons bacon fat in now-empty skillet over medium-high heat until just smoking. Add potatoes and cook without moving until first side is well browned, about 3 minutes. Continue to cook, stirring every 3 minutes, until potatoes are well browned and crisp all over, about 12 minutes longer.
  4. Off heat, stir in garlic. Transfer to platter and sprinkle with chives. Serve.

http://www.lynnandruss.com

Recipe by Mark Huxoil for America’s Text Kitchen

Breakfast Casserole

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What a wonderful breakfast/brunch item that will please up to 8 people. I got the recipe from a friend, who got it from her friend, who got it from who knows who? Doesn’t really matter the source, the thing is, you can customize it to suit your own preferences. For instance, if you are following a keto-friendly diet, skip the hash browns, but you might want to increase some of the other ingredients that go into the eggs. Instead of 1/4 cup of chopped onion, The Hubs added 3/4 cup of minced shallot.

You can even assemble it the day before, just cover the uncooked dish with foil and refrigerate overnight, then bake it in the oven until cooked, about 45 minutes. Which was EGGSactly what we did, so the morning of the feast, we were basically prep-free!

Store any remaining casserole in tightly wrapped foil, and store in refrigerator for up yo 3 days.

Breakfast Casserole

  • Servings: 8-10
  • Difficulty: easy
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Ingredients

  • 20 oz. shredded hash browns, thawed
  • 1 lb. sausage cooked, crumbled and drained
  • 1/4 cup onion, finely diced
  • 1 red or green bell pepper, diced
  • 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 8 eggs
  • 1 12 oz. can evaporated milk OR 1 1/3 cups milk
  • 1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 tsp. Kosher salt
  • 1/4 tsp. black pepper

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. Grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish.
  3. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the sausage, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until no pink remains. Drain the fat.
  4. In the prepared dish, add hash browns, sausage, onion, bell pepper, and a 1/2 cup cheese. Gently mix and spread evenly.
  5. In a large bowl, add eggs, evaporated milk, salt and pepper, and Italian seasoning. Whisk until combined.
  6. Pour the egg mixture over the pan ingredients, and sprinkle on the remaining cheese.
  7. Cover dish with foil, and refrigerate overnight, or bake immediately, uncovered for 45-55 minutes until cooked through.

http://www.lynnandruss.com

Healthy Blueberry Banana Bread with Dark Chocolate

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Healthy-ish. A closer look at the ingredients of whole wheat flour, ripe bananas, fresh blueberries, dark chocolate and 2% Greek yogurt, you can’t help but feel a bit smug when eating something so decadent. No butter, honey instead of refined sugar, and you are patting yourself on the back.

This combines parts of two previous banana bread recipes I’ve made in the past. And it is a treat anytime of day—for breakfast with more fresh fruit, a snack in the afternoon, or dessert in the evening with perhaps a dollop of good French vanilla ice cream. OK, so maybe the ice cream isn’t in keeping with the healthy factor, but sometimes you just need some self-love, right?

No mix master needed. Simply get a large mixing bowl, mash the ripe bananas, add the other ingredients and then pour batter into your prepared loaf pan. Top with a smattering of additional blueberries and chocolate pieces, pop in the preheated oven for an hour. Voila, masterpiece accomplished!

A popular item to share at a Sunday brunch. If it is not all eaten right away, wrap in plastic wrap followed by a layer of tinfoil and keep in the refrigerator, or freeze.

Healthy Blueberry Banana Bread with Dark Chocolate

  • Servings: 8-10 slices
  • Difficulty: easy
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Ingredients

  • 3 very ripe bananas, peeled and broken into large chunks
  • 2 eggs
  • ½ cup 2% plain Greek yogurt
  • â…“ cup honey
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp. baking soda
  • 1 ½ cups whole wheat flour
  • ½ cup fresh blueberries, plus about 20 more for topping
  • ½ cup dark chocolate pieces, plus about 20 more for topping

Directions

  • Preheat the oven to 350ËšF.
  • In a medium bowl, mash bananas. Mix eggs, yogurt, honey, vanilla extract, and baking soda into mixture.
  • Add flour and mix.
  • Gently fold in blueberries and chocolate chips into mixture. Save about 20 blueberries and chocolate pieces for the top.
  • Grease a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan. Press in parchment that slings over the sides for easier removal. Pour the batter into the pan. Top with the saved berries and chocolate.
  • Bake for about 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean from the middle of the bread.
  • Allow to cool at least 20 minutes in the pan. Lift out of pan using the parchment sling and cool another 15 minutes or so before serving.

http://www.lynnandruss.com

Ham and Gruyere Quiche

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Quiche is one of those versatile dishes that can be served at any meal, be it breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner. Once baked and cooled slightly, it can be eaten right away, or refrigerated for another time. Using a combination of milk and heavy cream, it yields the richest, creamiest filling ever.

With a large amount leftover from a recent dinner party featuring Ham Braised in Madeira with Rosemary & Peppercorns, and a block of gruyere that never got used, we had the starter ingredients for our filling. To that we included some diced shallot and chopped fresh thyme.

We are “those” people that thrive on culinary challenges, but if you don’t have the time, or the stamina to create your own crust, by all means purchase a pre-made store bought variety. But be forewarned, this crust recipe is fabulous, and according to The Hubs, the best he’s ever made! He really liked the trick of adding the leftover dough to the edges for crimping and fluting. This also helped prevent the crust from sinking down.

Ham and Gruyere Quiche

  • Servings: 4-6
  • Difficulty: easy
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Homemade Buttery Flaky Pie Crust

Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (spoon & leveled)
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 6 Tbsp. unsalted butter, chilled and cubed
  • 3/4 cup vegetable shortening, chilled
  • 1/2 cup ice water

NOTE: This recipe is enough for a double crust pie. If you only need 1 crust for your pie, cut this recipe in half OR freeze the other half.

Directions

  1. Transfer the dough to a floured work surface.
  2. Using floured hands, fold the dough into itself until the flour is fully incorporated into the fats.
  3. Form it into a ball. The dough should come together easily and should not feel overly sticky.
  4. Cut the dough in half. Flatten each half into 1-inch thick discs using your hands. Wrap each tightly in plastic wrap.
  5. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to 5 days. Or freeze.
  6. When rolling out the chilled pie dough discs to use in your pie, always use gentle force with your rolling pin. Start from the center of the disc and work your way out in all directions, turning the dough with your hands as you go. Visible specks of butter and fat in the dough are perfectly normal and expected.
  7. Roll the dough into a 12-inch circle so that there is enough crust to go up the edges of the glass pie dish. Cut away extra dough but leave about an inch overhang.
  8. Gather all of the extra dough pieces, mush together and roll out into a thin rectangle. Cut 1-inch strips and add them to the top edge of the pie crust. Crimp or flute the edges.
  9. Chill the shaped pie crust for at least 30 minutes. This prevents shrinking. Remember that pie dough must be cold.
  10. Fill with pie weights (or dried beans). As the pie dough bakes, its fat will melt. The melting fat causes the pie crust to shrink down the sides of the pie dish. To prevent the pie dough from completely losing its shape, weigh it down with pie weights. Carefully line the pie dough with parchment paper first, then pour in pie weights/dry beans.
  11. Bake until the edges are lightly brown, about 15 minutes.
  12. Remove pie weights, then prick the crust with a fork.
  13. Bake crust for about 8 more minutes.

The Perfect Quiche

Ingredients

  • 1 unbaked flaky pie crust (recipe above)
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup whole milk
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream or heavy whipping cream
  • 1/4 tsp. each salt and pepper
  • 1 cup shredded Gruyere cheese
  • 1 cup cubed ham
  • 1 Tbsp. butter
  • 1 cup minced shallot
  • 1 1/2 tsp. chopped fresh thyme

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F. 
  2. Partially blind bake your pie crust as indicated above. Crust can still be warm when you pour in the filling. (You can partially pre-bake the crust up to 3 days ahead of time. Cover cooled crust tightly and refrigerate until ready to fill.)
  3. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F.
  4. Heat 1 tablespoon of butter in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. When melted, add shallot pieces and cook, stirring occasionally until translucent, about 4-5 minutes.
  5. In a large bowl with a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat the eggs, whole milk, heavy cream, salt, and pepper together on high speed until completely combined, about 1 minute. Whisk in ham, cheese, shallot and thyme.
  6. Bake the quiche until the center is just about set, about 45-55 minutes. Don’t over-bake. Use a pie crust shield to prevent the pie crust edges from over-browning. Allow to cool for 15 minutes.
  7. Top with optional toppings before slicing and serving, if desired. Or you can cool the quiche completely before serving– it’s fantastic at room temperature!
  8. This quiche makes great leftovers! Cover tightly and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Make Ahead & Freezing Instructions: The pie dough can be prepared ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. You can pre-bake the crust ahead of time too. To freeze, cool baked quiche completely, then cover tightly with a couple sheets of aluminum foil and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator or on the counter, then bake at 350°F for 20-25 minutes.

http://www.lynnandruss.com

Recipes adapted from sallysbakingaddiction.com