PB & Banana Stuffed French Toast

Ever want one thing and then 10 minutes later you decide you want something completely different even after gathering the necessary ingredients for said first thing, start prepping, pre heating and getting your kitchen dirty?
Please tell me that its not just me.
Please!

So I suppose you could say breakfast started this way today.
I was going to go french toast route.
Then I decided maybe I just wanted a banana smoothie (totally not filling enough)
Peanut butter sandwich?
In comes another idea.
French toast that incorporates peanut butter AND bananas.
Stuffed french toast.

Sure, why not right?
So I cut up the bananas (sneaking a few slices here and there)
Get my egg wash ready.
Slather the PB on the bread and arrange the slices, dip, dunk and fry.

I totally just wanted a smoothie.
I had half a slice because, well, I made it so I better make sure its edible before I pass it along to the sleeping boys in the house.
Shoulda just made a smoothie.  *not because it tasted gross, just because I really just wanted a smoothie*

Pretty sure I should have timed Little Ugh while eating. 
Pretty sure he didn't even take more than 3 breaths.
Almost positive he asked for seconds (I was prepping my smoothie when he dropped his plate on the counter)
Definitely was asked to make again.
Hopefully the next time my pregnancy food weirdness will subside slightly because it really was awesome.

Bet you'll like it!

I'm Listening to:  Little Lion Man - Mumford and Sons

Sweet n Spicy Orange Tilapia and Why I Havent Been Around Much!

Of late the days seem to start early and end early.
By 6pm I am barely awake and lack the energy to make dinner let alone come up with new ideas and write them all down.
Do I feel guilty.
Sure do.
I haven't let the family starve, although there may have been more take out and pre prepped grocery store meals consumed in the last month or two.
I sense a shift however.
At least I'm hoping!!  They say in the second trimester you regain energy.

Oh wait...did you just read that right? 
Sure did....we're expecting!!
Little Ugh (who's nearly 15) wont be the Little Ugh anymore...well maybe, hopefully I can expand the palate of our newest member and they wont have the "ughhh's" but I'm sure I will have to wait for those days.

So that's our news, that's why I've been MIA for a while, and this is why you'll likely find all of my favorite things being shared on the Facebook page.  Anything that makes me drool is going up - I have a whack load of talented food blogging friends who keep me mentally full every day!

There's been no unique cravings, that I'm aware of anyway, or major food aversions (other than the ones I previously had) but I have been keenly aware that my sense of smell is helping me in the kitchen when creating dishes I wont be eating!
Like last nights dinner.
Fish
GROSSSSS
I don't eat anything that comes from the water.  Don't get me wrong, I have tried most although there are things I refuse to even put near my mouth - escargots, squid, raw fish to name a few.
But the boys love it and if it was up to me there wouldn't be a trace in the kitchen.
So I made them a fishy dinner.
A sweet and slightly spicy tilapia!
They loved me it!!

This is super easy, a few ingredients at most and the best part is they are all wrapped up in parchment when baked so clean up is a breeze :)

Enjoy!

I'm listening to:  Magic Carpet Ride - Steppenwolf

Cranberry Pistachio Cookies

This recipe popped out at me when I was flipping through one of our local grocery store flyer's.
We all make sugar cookies and short breads for the holidays (ok, not EVERYONE does) but I just loved the addition of pistachios and cranberries.  Festive no?
Then I realized they are rolled in coconut as well, like snowflakes :)

MUST MAKE

They were so tasty that I even brought the recipe to work and we started making them for the customers there too!

I didn't embellish this recipe at all, wait, I did, I didn't have coconut extract so I increased the vanilla by 1/2 tbsp.
I think I'll take some time and tweak it a little the next go round but until such time I really encourage you to try these just as they are!

Here's the recipe from Sobey's:

1 c. room temperature butter

1 c. sugar

1 1/2 tbsp pure vanilla

1/4 tsp salt

1 egg, room temperature

2 1/2 c. flour

3/4 c. flaked sweetened coconut, divided

1/2 c. dried cranberries, chopped

1/2 c. pistachios, chopped

 

I your stand mixer, cream together butter, sugar, vanilla and salt until smooth. Scrape down sides of bowl, add egg and mix well.

Slowly add flour, coconut, cranberries and pistachios.

Divide dough in half and, using a piece of parchment paper, roll dough into logs about 1 1/2-in. thick and 16-in. long. Roll each log in 2 tbsp of the remaining coconut, lightly coating outside of dough. Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, about 30 min.

 

Preheat oven to 350F .

Use parchment paper to line baking sheet. Unwrap dough and slice into 1/2-in. thick rounds and place on prepared baking sheet, spaced about 1 in. apart.

Bake on middle rack of oven until firm, but not golden, about 12 min. Remove from oven, transfer cookies to a cooling rack to cool completely

 

They don't spread so if you want a larger cookie make your logs larger in circumference.

 

Enjoy!