Breakfast in Georgia (Kellett edition)

I made it to my parent's place in Georgia last night after a long drive from the Old Dominion. (Although, the trip did include a brief stop at a splendid glass shop in Greensboro. That made the journey a bit happier!)

Since their guest room shares a wall with the kitchen, I awoke to the sounds of Dad banging things around in an attempt at breakfast.

It seems he's been cooking more, and even my mother ,who reserves her praise unless things are truly phenomenal, says he's getting "better." So, I jumped in as his sous-chef and we made an omelet, hash browns, and some of my mom's sour dough rolls.

Now, it isn't much to look at, but my dad and I have had some carefully guarded distance over the past few years and this little meal... I think it's the beginning of better times to come. Sigh. I like breakfast.

Cinnamon Raisin Pancakes with Jack Apple Compote

After a fun night, (and a funner morning, wink, wink) we rolled out of bed to make coffee and create breakfast. Our brunches tend to be egg and veggie based, but the fridge being a bit bare left Avery holding a red apple and saying, "What can we make with this?" Being the oatmeal pancake lover that I am, I said, "Jack Daniel's Apple Compote!" And so the morning began...

Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Pancakes for 2

• 1/2i-sh cup flour (pref. organic wheat)
• 1/2 cup of rolled oats
• 1 teaspoons of baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt
• 1 pinch of black pepper
• 1 tablespoons of sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg
• 1/2 tablespoon of cinnamon
• 1/3 cup of raisins
• 1 cups of milk (buttermilk is even better!)
• 1 egg

1. Stir together dry ingredients.

2. Add milk and beaten egg.

3. Preheat oven to 200. (so you can keep the pancakes warm after you make them)

4. Heat skillet to just over medium and grease pan with butter (yes, butter, just this once...)

5. Pour pancake-sized dollop of batter in skillet.

6. When it starts to get bubble on top, flip the cake.

7. Cook until golden brown on each side.

8. Place cake on plate or pan in the oven.

9. Repeat 5-7 times until out of batter and all pancakes are made. (for us this usually makes about 3 apiece - WAY more than we can eat!)

Jack Apple Compote

• 1& 1/2 red apples (with or without skin) chopped into small pieces
• 1/2 cup sugar or molasses
• 1/2 stick of butter
• 1 shot of Jack Daniel's whiskey

1. Melt butter in skillet over medium heat

2. Add Apples and cook until soft

3. Add sugar or molasses and let simmer over medium until ready to pour over pancakes

Served with sausage, cantaloupe, and scrambled eggs this delightfully sweet brunch came together quickly and contained all the good things a brunch should - sweet, savory, and a little dash of Jack Daniel's.

Nuevo Huevo Rancheros

This morning found Kellett in town and Avery ransacking his fridge to pull breakfast together...

Some churizo sausage, spring onion, thai hot sauce, roma tomato, and lime juice made a salsa-ish sauce to go over the toasty warm corn tortillas, sunny-side-up eggs, and a little shredded cabbage.  The resulting sweeter, spicier spin on huevos rancheros made for a lovely start of the weekend, reunion meal.

>From Brunch

Roasted Asparagus, Grit Cakes and Scrambled Eggs

After returning home from giving the final this morning, I roasted some leftover fresh asparagus, made the leftover grits into grit cakes and scrambled up some eggs. I love how a stocked fridge makes for great breakfasts!

Breakfast and the Museum

This morning's brunch led us to breakfast with our friend, Henry, over in Freemason. Scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, capers, cream cheese, bagels, jam, and my meager contribution of Georgia grits made for a filling breakfast while Benny Goodman played away on the phonograph.

After breakfast, we walked over to the Chrysler Museum's Norman Rockwell exhibit.Weekend mornings should always be this enjoyable!

Brunch is Back

After a hiatus from posting created by busy directing and work schedules... I'm thrilled to say I'm back in the kitchen and headed back to a routine. Avery came up for the show opening on Friday and we made sweet potato home fries and a Korean squash and cheddar frittata for breakfast on Saturday. Which was rare for us, as he's often at the glass shop and I'm often at rehearsal. Happy eating!

Rat-tat-twoey!

Rat-a-tat-twoey! Originally uploaded by mullinsusc

Hot Breakfast

photo.jpg Originally uploaded by mullinsusc

Drunch to come!

Sunday Breakfast Originally uploaded by mullinsusc

I'm getting good at this whole frittata thing! We might even have to have a drunch party soon...

90 seconds

You know, I'm continually amazed at how a perfectly a relationship can be going along and then suddenly "baggage" raises its nasty head. A week of too much work, stressed nerves, family strife, whatever, can make everything seem totally flimsy for one moment. One all encompassing moment that seems eternal.

But you take a deep breathe. And relax. And the moment passes and you remember. You remember the joy of first meeting. The rush of his breath on your neck. Of the kiss. And all is well.

A friend of mine was a quoting a book that says that emotions are chemical reactions that last for 90 seconds. If you let it go on after that, then you're CHOOSING to feel that way.

Here's to choosing a better way. Here's the joy of remembering our past and future.

K and A in the Kitchen - Crab Cakes with Chipotle Aioli

Tonight we made this amazing aioli to go with our crab cakes from the market.



It was easy!
One egg yolk beaten with 1/2 tablespoon of chipotle mustard.
Then slowly whisk in oil (1/4 cup of olive oil, three tbs of vegetable oil)
Last stir in a couple of mashed garlic cloves and salt and pepper to taste.

Lemon wedges and parsley made a great garnish!



Now that's cookin!

bummer

sometimes working in two different cities is just straight up annoying...

but... it has its payoffs...

i shouldn't complain

Cornish Hen

Sunday morning eggs

Ah... breakfast...

Rolling out of bed on a Sunday morning,
rinsing off the previous night's alcohol,
(and the current morning's love fest),
stumbling down to the kitchen,
making Americanos,
raiding the fridge for leftovers for the morning omelet or scramble...
goat cheese,
spring onions,
mushrooms,
salmon,
leftover clam chowder,
veggies galore,
have all made their way into our Sunday morning eggs.

THE ESSENTIALS OF EXCELLENT EGGS-
A little cream, but not too much - too much liquid makes for dried out eggs
Use the egg beater keeps things fluffy
Don't cook them too fast... slow and steady over just under medium heat
Fresh black pepper crushed in the mortar and pestle
Interesting cheeses are always fun
Sea Salt
A handsome breakfast companion

Happy Sunday!

The Ocean

I'm not sure I would be who I am without it. I don't know how people fall in love without it.

I think that every major relationship in my life has been impacted by her mighty presence. From college in Florida, to all those summer camping trips with friends, to the now constant influence of coastal Virginia and North Carolina...

Water's presence opens one up, allows fuller breath, soothes the soul, calms the brain, relaxes the body. Above all, it is ultimately honest and true.

It is home.

Honest water, which ne'er left man i' th' mire.
-William Shakespeare

Here Goes

An exploration in online living