umommy: Brunch

In beverages, Brunch

Is it just me or did winter just blast by and spring suddenly arrive? I blinked and Easter is this weekend and April is around the corner. So in typical fashion, I'm scrambling to put together some dishes for our family Easter brunch celebration. So I'm going to some family favorites that are easy to whip up and sure to please.

Monkey Bread French Toast
Our kids go nuts whenever we make this. You can make this with challah bread or cinnamon raisin bread. We'll often make extra and freeze them for easy toaster french toast.

INGREDIENTS
1 cup half-and-half
3 large eggs
3 tablespoons honey, warmed in microwave for 20 seconds
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
8 (1/2 inch) slices day old monkey bread (or brioche or challah)
4 tablespoons butter

DIRECTIONS

In medium size mixing bowl, whisk together the half-and-half, eggs, honey, and salt. When ready to cook, pour custard mixture into a pie pan and set aside.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Dip bread into mixture, allow to soak for 30 seconds on each side, and then remove to a cooling rack that is sitting in a sheet pan, and allow to sit for 1 to 2 minutes.
Over medium-low heat, melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a 10-inch nonstick saute pan. Place 2 slices of bread at a time into the pan and cook until golden brown, approximately 2 to 3 minutes per side.
Remove from pan and place on rack in oven for 5 minutes. Repeat with all 8 slices. Serve immediately with maple syrup or fruit.

Mom's Granola with Yogurt
I forget how simple it is to make homemade granola. Whenever we make this, I kick myself for buying store-bought and not making this sooner.

INGREDIENTS
2 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1 1/2 cups wheat germ
1/2 cup shredded coconut
3 tablespoons sesame seeds
1/3 cup sunflower seeds
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup sliced almonds
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 cup canola oil
3/4 cup vanilla extract
2 teaspoons vanilla exract
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup raisins

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper
In a large bowl, combine oats, wheat germ, coconut, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, walnuts, almonds, cinnamon, and salt and mix well. In a small bowl, whisk together the oil, honey and vanilla. Pour wet ingredients over the dry ingredients and mix thoroughly until the dry ingredients are evenly coated.
Pour mixture onto prepared baking sheet and spread in an even layer. Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until golden brown. Stir the granola with a spatula several times during the baking to ensure even browning. Let cool completely, then add the cranberries and raisins and mix to distribute them evenly.

Carrot Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
You gotta have some sweets for Easter, right? These are to dye for (get it? Easter egg dyes?).

INGREDIENTS

2 Eggs1 cup packed light brown sugar¾ cup canola oil3 tbs lowfat buttermilk½ tsp vanilla extract1 cup plus 2 tbs unbleached all–purpose flour½ tsp baking powder½ tsp baking soda½ tsp kosher salt½ tsp ground cinnamon¼ tsp ground ginger2 cups shredded carrots½ cup raisins½ cup chopped walnuts

Cream Cheese Frosting

12 oz cream cheese, at room temperature½ cup unsalted butter, at room temperature1 2/3 cup confectioners’ sugar

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line standard 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners.
In a large bowl or using a stand mixer, beat together eggs and brown sugar on med-high speed for 3-4 minutes, or until mixture is light in color and thick. In a small bowl, whisk together the oil, buttermilk, and vanilla. On low speed, slowly pour the oil mixture into the egg-sugar mixture.
In a small bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and ginger. Using a rubber spatula, fold flour mixture into egg-sugar mixture until fully incorporated.
Add carrots, raisins, and walnuts and continue to fold until well mixed. Pour the batter into the prepared muffin cups.
Bake cupcakes for about 50 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool in muffin tin on wire rack.
Meanwhile to make the frosting, beat cream cheese (with paddle attachment) on medium speed for about a minute until smooth. It is important cream cheese is at room temperature or the frosting will be lumpy. You can microwave on medium power for 30 seconds to soften (be sure to remove foil wrapper!).
Add the butter and continue to beat for another minute. Then add the confectioners’ sugar and beat for one more minute until well mixed. Chill frosting in the refrigerator to firm it up before using.
Remove cupcakes from muffin tin and frost cupcakes. Decorate with shaved coconut, carrot strips or lemon zest.

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, by umommy

In Boston Brunchers, Brunch

Boston Brunchers Review: M3 (Davis Square)

As I’ve mentioned previously, brunch is my absolute favorite meal. Other than waiting for a table at some of the more popular brunch spots, it’s a win-win when it comes to dining out with your kids. What kid doesn’t like pancakes (or in my case, bacon)? And brunch is the few times when it’s totally acceptable to have a cocktail before noon.

But let’s be honest for a moment, most brunch places are kind of the same. You got your eggs benedict, pancakes, waffles, French toast, omelets, etc. So when I heard the Boston Brunchers were going check out M3, Davis Square’s new Southern-inspired restaurant, I quickly jumped at the chance faster than you can say “Meat & Three.”

M3, which stands for the southern concept of “meat and three sides,” is the brainchild of owner and Nashville, Tennessee native Jason Owens. There is a very hip, retro vibe as soon as you walk in. It could be the pretty blue tin decorative ceiling and light fixtures, the kitschy salt & pepper shakers, or the fact that the walls and tables are covered with chalk-board paint. Whatever it is, it is way cool.

While I was not with my kids, I can confidently say M3 is kid-friendly. There were plenty of diners with young children. I know my kids would get a kick out of drawing right on the table with the bowls filled with chalk. While M3 does not have a kids menu, there certainly is plenty of items even the pickiest eater can find enjoyable on the menu.

As a group, the Boston Brunchers were treated to a sampling of their greatest hits when it comes to brunch. We started off with a refreshing pickled watermelon salad with minty goat cheese and cucumber. The combination of sweet and sour plus the silkiness of the goat cheese was a perfect palate cleanser.

Pickles is their thing here. And they do it well. There is the perfect balance of tangy, sour, bite and crunch.

Next came the Scotch Eggs. I’ve never had scotch eggs before, but always wanted to try one. M3’s Scotch Eggs are made with quail eggs, wrapped in a house sausage and deep-fried. I like ordering things I would never make for myself at home. This is definitely one of them.

Then came some true southern dishes according to some of the fellow brunchers who hailed from the south. Our group swooned over the Chicken and Biscuits - house-made chicken patties served between fresh buttermilk biscuits and gravy.

At this point I was getting full, but our server brought out another southern classic - Fried Chicken and Waffles. And looking around the dining room, this was a popular item. The chicken was cooked perfectly but was outshined by the waffles in my opinion. Hard to compete with made to order waffles stuffed with pecans and topped with cherries.

Athena Yang of Finance Foodie excited to dig in

It was official. We were stuffed. But then it happened. Stack of the fluffiest blueberry pancakes topped with lemon ricotta and house berry syrup. We all just *had* to try it. And so glad we did.

Just as we were all trying to loosen some clothing due to expanding waistlines, the final dish made its entrance: cinnamon bran, texas-style, French toast with apple butter syrup and, wait for it… bacon covered with chocolate. Oh. My. M3’s pastry chef is also a chocolatier and makes and hand-dips the bacon in-house. Over the top? Maybe. Delicious? You bet.

As we all rolled out of there, it was unanimous everyone would return. Maybe only after running a marathon the day before so we would not feel so guilty consuming all those calories. But brunch is supposed to be indulgent. And M3 hits “indulgence” right out of the park.

Disclosure: Thanks to M3 and Boston Brunchers for hosting brunch, which I received free of charge. As always, all opinions are my own.