Shall I wear my horns or my halo this morning? French Toast or Oatmeal?

You think I'm having this for breakfast? I don't think soooooo!! I'm saving this for a special Sunday morning! The recipe for the Grand Marnier French Toast with Mascarpone Cheese is way down on the bottom below the picture of the... delicious?... can of oatmeal. Which, by the way, is what I'M having this morning!!!

Ok, so maybe this is a no-brainer breakfast but supposedly it is the one that really fills you up! That's what I need for sure! Steel cut oatmeal has a little crunch to it compared to the Quaker Oats brand that I grew up eating! I made some up in my rice cooker (three scoops) and now I have 1/2 cup portions for the rest of the week. Add some delicous raspberries and bananas with a little "Splenda"brown sugar and maybe a tablespoon of your favorite chopped nuts. Not bad at all! I'm trying... I'm trying so hard to be good!

Grand Marnier French Toast with Mascarpone Cheese

Ok,get ready to feast on this indulgent breakfast! OMGosh! Out of the ballpark amazing. I would pair it with some Italian champagne and pear necter to really put it over the top. This is one way to start your Sunday morning off with a bang!

6 extra large eggs

1 ½ cups half and half (or milk will do in a pinch)

Grated zest of 1 orange

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

1 tablespoon honey

1 tablespoon Grand Marnier

½ teaspoon salt (I use Kosher)

1 large loaf challah or brioche bread

8 ounces Mascarpone cheese

Vegetable oil for sautéing

Unsalted butter for sautéing

Have some pure maple syrup and fresh fruit to garnish the plate. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees to keep slices warm. Whisk together the eggs, half and half, orange zest, vanilla, honey, Grand Marnier and salt. Slice the bread into 1 inch thick slices and cut a small pocket in the middle of the slice. Stuff about a tablespoon and a half of the cheese into the pocket. Soak the bread slices in the egg mixture for at least 5 minutes. Heat 1 tablespoon of butter and 1 tablespoon of oil in a very large sauté pan over medium heat. Add the soaked bread and cook for a couple of minutes until nice and brown. Place cooked French toast on a cookie sheet and put in oven to keep warm. You might want to start sipping your champagne about now. Keep frying the bread, adding the oil and butter as need be. Plate up and enjoy!!!

Salmon Benedict with Chipotle Sauce

What a way to start the day!!

Enjoyed a fabulous birthday brunch for my daughter, Angela at the "Amaya" restaurant located in the "Grand Del Mar" hotel recently. Yes, the private room with the roaring fireplace and spectacular view was amazing but I had a Crab Benedict with Chipotle Hollandaise that was superlative! I put my own twist on it by replacing the crab with a salmon burger and that put it over the top to say the least. You can also replace the English muffin with an artichoke bottom if you are watching the carbs but gee whiz, if you're going to this much trouble...enjoy yourself for one day and eat the whole darn thing!!!

Start by sautéing a salmon burger. I use the ones from Costco and they are straight from Alaska. They are the best! (Did I mention that my husband is a commercial fisherman in Alaska? ) Keep them warm in a 200 degree oven while you prepare the eggs and sauce.

Next, toast up some great bread. Either an English muffin or some sliced Challah will do the trick. Pop that in the oven as well to stay warm. I like to warm my plates as well. It keeps the meal warm for a little longer.

Prepare the Chipotle Sauce and poach the eggs. I put a little white vinegar in my water before I drop the eggs in to cook. It seems to keep them together. Plate this up and dive in. I serve it with some seasonal berries and as usual, some Prosecco and juice. Now... how's THAT for starting your Sunday morning off with a bang?

Chipotle Sauce

3 egg yolks
1 tablespoon cold water
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 sticks unsalted butter
1 tablespoon pureed chipotle peppers in Adobo sauce
salt and pepper to taste

In the top of a double boiler or a heat-proof bowl whisk the egg yolks until they become thick and sticky. Whisk in the water and lemon juice. Place the pan or bowl over a saucepan of simmering, not boiling, water. Whisk until mixture is warm, about 2 minutes. (If mixture looks a little lumpy, dip the pan immediately in a bowl of ice water to cool, whisk until smooth and then continue recipe.) The yolk mixture has thickened enough when you can see the bottom of the pan between strokes and the mixture forms a light cream on the wires of the whisk. While whisking the yolk mixture add the pieces of butter, a tablespoon or so at a time, whisking thoroughly to incorporate before adding more butter. As the mixture begins to thicken and become creamy, the butter can be added more rapidly. Mix in the pureed chipotle sauce.
Add the salt and pepper to taste.

Now plate your dish. Place your toasted bread down first followed by the salmon burger. Put your eggs on top and then drizzle the sauce all over. Be careful not to drown out the dish. The chipotle sauce has a bite so a little goes a long way!

Hmmm...Now what's for dinner?