death metal cockatoo

Here's an awesome video for the weekend:

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easy-peasy cold weather breakfast

These are super-cute super-easy little breakfast casserolettes I've made a couple of times for cold-weather Sunday brunch.

They're quick to make, take minimum attention and leave almost no dishes to wash (which is ideal to me; who wants to wash dishes after champagne?)



This kinda strikes me as some ultimate mid-west diner fare, completely anti-gourmet but surprisingly delicious; I love the contrast between the salty bottom and sweet top.

You will need:

• a ramekin per person (or other small bowl that can take relatively high oven temperatures, my new dutch oven came with two mini-ovens that work perfectly)
• 1-2 strips bacon per person
• a small batch of your favorite pancake batter
• 1 egg per person
• maple syrup

1. using kitchen shears snip bacon in small pieces into ramekins
2. put ramekins in oven at 400 degrees
3. cook bacon in ramekins until crispy, pouring off fat as needed
4. meanwhile make up a batch of pancake batter
5. after bacon is crispy remove from oven and pour off fat again (or sop it up w/ a paper towel)
6. spoon pancake batter over the bacon, until ramekins are about 1/3 full
7. crack an egg over pancake batter an put lids on ramekins (if you don't have lids you can tightly cover them with tin foil, carefully 'cause they're hot)
8. put covered ramekins into oven and reduce heat to 350
9. bake 5+ minutes, until egg is cooked how you want (in the picture I left them in to long and had completely hard yolks)
10. remove from oven and pour maple syrup on top
    
11. serve on an oven-mitt or other heat-proof surface & enjoy!

What are other people's favorite cold weather comfort breakfasts?

Hoppin' John

Most cultures have some specific food you eat to welcome the new year and ensure luck/fortune/prosperity for the duration. Some people eat long noodles to symbolize a long life or food with names like what they want to bring about. In the southern US people eat a black-eyed pea dish called Hoppin' John. The black-eyed peas look kinda like coins, and it's often eaten with greens (the color of money) all adding up to a dish that should bring prosperity in the new year. Hoppin' John happens to be the tradition I've taken on; a little prosperity can't hurt, and the food really helps settle the morning after stomach. I have been trying to make a Hoppin' John that doesn't taste like dirt (black-eyed peas have a lovely if quite earthy flavor) for three years now, and have finally succeeded!

This serves 4-6 people as a meal

• 3 cups black-eyed peas
• 4 cups broth
• 3 strips bacon
• one medium onion
• healthy pinch red pepper flakes
• a handful fresh spinach per person

1. put peas in a large bowl and just cover in water
   
2. using kitchen shears cut bacon into small pieces over a large heavy-bottomed pot
3. cook bacon in pot until crispy
4. dice onion
5. pour off excess bacon grease and add onion to pot
6. cook onion until translucent
7. add peas & pepper and stir thoroughly
   
8. add broth (I used chicken) and simmer gently until peas reach desired doneness (3-4 hours)

1. rinse and roughly chop spinach
2. fill each bowl 2/3 with the fresh spinach
3. top with hot Hoppin' John and a pat of butter
4. enjoy, make a resolution to be less hung-over next year