Strawberry Coffee Cake

I think breakfast is probably my most favorite meal of the day. I am a total carb girl though. I DO NOT like eggs and breakfast meat. Bleck! But, I do love bread. Any kind of bread. Pancakes, muffins, waffles and.... coffee cake - yum! I also LOVE strawberries, so when I saw this strawberry coffee cake it just seemed perfect: and it pretty much was! Of course I modified it to suite my desires, but you know, that's just what I do.

Ingredients:

1 cup whole-wheat flour

1 Tb. gluten

2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup honey

1 egg

1/2 cup milk

2 Tb. melted butter

1 1/2 cups fresh strawberries

Topping:

1/2 cup whole-wheat flour

1/2 cup brown sugar

3 Tb. soft butter

1/2 cup chopped pecans

Directions:

1. In a large bowl combine flour, gluten, baking powder and salt. In another bowl beat the honey, egg, milk, and butter. Stir into dry ingredients until just moistened. Pour into greased 8-inch baking dish. Top with sliced strawberries.

2. For topping, combine flower and sugar in a bowl; cut in butter until crumbly. Stir in pecans and then sprinkle over strawberries.

3. Bake at 375 degrees for 30-35 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean.

Pear Sundae French Toast

Since today was National Ice Cream For Breakfast Day we decided to try this recipe that I have had my eye on for a long time. I could just never bring myself to put ice cream on the breakfast table though. But, if it's a National holiday then, by all means, ice cream on! Delicious!!

Pear Sundae French Toast

1/4 cup plus 3 Tb. packed brown sugar, divided

2 Tb. butter

1-1/4 tsp ground cinnamon, divided

3 medium ripe pears, pealed and sliced (about 2-1/2 cups)

3 eggs, lightly beaten

3/4 cup milk

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

6 slices French bread - 1 inch thick

       (I will probably be using my homemade cinnamon bread instead)

Ice Cream - of course!

In a skillet, combine 1/4 cup brown sugar, 2 Tb. butter and 1/4 tsp. cinnamon; cook and stir until sugar is dissolved. Add pears; cook until tender.

In a bowl, combine the eggs, milk, vanilla, nutmeg and remaining brown sugar and cinnamon. Dip bread in egg mixture to coat each side. Coat skillet with non-stick spray and cook bread over medium heat for 2 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Top with pear mixture and then ice cream.

 

Also, if you haven't seen my Family Strong post yet, here are some interesting numbers for you:

Syrup - 1/4 cup

Calories = 220

Fat = 0g

Sugar = 38g

Sodium = 130mg

Calcium = 0g

Protein = 0g

Ice Cream - 1/2 cup

Calories = 140

Fat = 7g

Sugar = 13g

Sodium = 50mg

Calcium = 8%

Protein = 2g

The way I look at it, ice cream is actually healthier for you on your french toast than syrup! Next time, don't hesitate, just go for it!