Bacon + Cheese Croissants

Are pictures even necessary? Bacon + cheese in any form is unbeatable. I’ve been trying to get rid of a small sliver of cheese in my fridge and instead of making an extra gooey cheese omelet like I normally would, I decided to make something that I could freeze and eat later.

I had never worked with puff pastry before but I’m already addicted and dreaming of all the things I can fill inside of these croissant like crusts – Nutella, Thanksgiving leftovers, Nutella..

When I’m cooking for just myself I love anything that I can freeze and reheat later. This is a great recipe to make ahead of time for tailgates or even a nice back up for any unexpected company!

IMG_3162

You will need:

– 1 Puff pastry sheet
– 3 pieces of cooked bacon
– 3/4 cup of cheese
– 1 Egg
Makes 16 croissants

 

  • Cook bacon and after it’s cooled begin to crumble it into tiny pieces. Set cheese and bacon aside while preparing the puff pastry.

IMG_3164

  • Roll sheet out to roughly a 12″ square and divide into 16 individual squares.
  • Place an even amount of the bacon and cheese mixture into the center of each square.

IMG_3163

  • Brush the edges of the squares with water and gently fold over one corner to form a triangle. Using a fork, seal the edges of the dough. *If you are planning to freeze the pastries, stop here and seal them in an air tight container. 

DSC_3450

  • Lightly brush an egg wash over top the puff pastries to give them a beautiful browning in the oven.
  • Bake at 400° for about 18-20 minutes or until brown.
  • Let cool before serving.

Enjoy!

 

Holiday Pancakes

IMG_3126

Whether you’re throwing a festive Valentine’s Day brunch or looking to feed a very hungry partner in the kitchen, these heartful pancakes are a must!

Every year I ambitiously plan to make a super elaborate Valentine’s Day brunch.. but every year I wake up on the 14th still dreaming that my non-existent private chef is patiently waiting to serve me breakfast in bed.

I often forget how easy pancakes are and with one extra step you can dress up an old recipe into a stunning holiday plate! Add a fun twist to your routine breakfast without losing any of the original, scrumptious pancake flavor.

DSC_3412 - Version 2

You will need:

– Pancake Mix (I used Martha Stewart’s recipe)
– Red food coloring
– Heart shaped cookie cutter
– Powdered sugar or toppings of choice

 

  • Split pancake batter into 2 bowls and put a few drops of red food coloring in one of the bowls. I used about 5 drops of coloring until the mix turned a medium red. Make pancakes as instructed and place them on a flat surface.
  •  Press your cookie cutter into the pancake and gently move it from side to side to make sure it has successfully cut through.
  • Collect the heart cut outs and gently place it back inside the pancake of opposite color. *Optional: place pancakes in the oven at 200°F for a few minutes to warm up before serving.  

IMG_3125

  • Top with powdered sugar and enjoy!

DSC_3412

Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich

I’ve been brainstorming some dessert ideas to make for my Valentine this year immediately thought to combine his two favorite things – ice cream and cookies. Selfishly I love this recipe because it doesn’t require any baking.

These ice cream sandwiches are a festive treat that you can customize for any occasion and you likely already have half of the ingredients in your kitchen!

IMG_2837You will need:

– Chewy Chips Ahoy cookies
– Ice cream of choice
– Melting chocolate
– Sprinkles

 

  • Gather your cookies and ice cream of choice. Be sure to use a softer cookie like the Chewy Chips Ahoy cookies – remember the cookies will harden when you freeze them later.

IMG_2841

  • Place a small spoonful of the ice cream on the cookie and level it out before sandwiching it with another cookie. Immediately place in the freezer to harden.

IMG_2840

  • Once the sandwiches have hardened, assemble the melting chocolate and sprinkles. Quickly coat the sandwiches in chocolate followed by sprinkles and stick back in the freezer.

IMG_2852

  • Let the sandwiches harden for 10 or so minutes and enjoy!

IMG_2851 - Version 2