Breakfast Foods

NECTARINE AND LAVENDER MUFFINS:

Adapted from http://herz-allerliebst.de/2011/06/22/lust-auf-etwas-ses/

Makes about nine muffins

Ingredients:

  1. 120 g butter (softened)

  2. 150 g caster sugar

  3. 1 vanilla bean

  4. 2 eggs

  5. 200 g flour

  6. 1.5 tsp baking powder

  7. 2 tablespoons cream

  8. 2 nectarines

  9. 3 tablespoons dried lavender

  10. *optional* Icing sugar

Method:

  1. Pre-heat the oven to 190ºc.

  2. Using a hand mixer, combine butter (softened), eggs, and vanilla bean in a large bowl.

  3. To infuse the cream with the lavender, pour it into a small saucepan over a low flame and begin adding lavender. Stir until the mixture starts to come to a boil.

  4. Drain the lavender cream mixture through a strainer before putting the now lavender infused cream into the large bowl with the other wet ingredients.

  5. Now add the flour and baking powder in small increments. Stir until mixture reaches the consistency of smooth dough.

  6. Spoon a heaping tablespoon of mixture into muffin tins before adding sliced nectarines on top of each muffin.

  7. Bake for 30 minutes, or until the muffins turn golden brown.

  8. *optional* When presenting, sprinkle muffins with extra lavender and sifted icing sugar.

Brioche french toast with chocolate ganache and fresh strawberries

This perfect french toast recipe will satisfy everyone's sweet tooth. This recipe yields about 4-6 servings of french toast depending on size and thickness of bread used.

Ingredients for the french toast:

  1. 2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon

  2. 2 tablespoons sugar

  3. 4 tablespoons butter

  4. 4 large eggs

  5. 1/4 cup milk

  6. 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  7. 8 slices of brioche bread

  8. Maple syrup (as needed)

  9. Icing sugar (as needed)

 

Ingredients for the chocolate ganache:

  1. 1 cup of semisweet chocolate chips

  2. 1-2 cups double cream for preferred thickness

  3. Washed and sliced strawberries

Method:

  1. In a small bowl, combine cinnamon, and sugar, set aside briefly.

  2. In a 10-inch or 12-inch pan, melt butter over medium heat.

  3. Whisk together cinnamon mixture, eggs, milk, and vanilla and pour into shallow dish or baking pan.

  4. Dip the brioche into egg mixture and fry slices in butter until golden brown, flip to cook other side.

  5. Pour double cream into pot and heat until just boiling. Immediately pour over chocolate chips in a heat proof bowl.

  6. Gather two pieces of french toast and put cut strawberries in between. Drizzle chocolate ganache over the berries and place another slice of french toast on top.

  7. Dust with powdered sugar and serve.