Breakfast Fun: Oven Baked Eggs and Ham in Muffin Tins #breakfast

 

My son has been learning to cook. We find simple and fun things for him to make as he learns new skills. He seriously makes the BEST breakfast burritos I have ever eaten! He wanted to make something fun, so we decide to make Oven Baked Eggs in Ham in Muffin Tins.

This is simple and easy to do. We use a stainless-steel muffin tin with a quick swipe of oil to keep it from sticking to the bottom. We used ham lunch meat as the base creating a cup like shape to put the egg into. Make sure to get a somewhat thick cut ham like Applegate brand from Walmart. Thinner ham will burn up before the eggs are fully cooked.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Crack one egg per ham cup and season to your liking. Baked eggs will have a similar texture to a hardboiled egg. I recommend cooking them for about 10 to 12 minutes if you want your yolk a bit runny. Add or remove a minute to ensure the yolk is done to your liking. You will know the eggs are done when the whites are thick and set.

These eggs in ham would be a great way to make your own breakfast sandwiches too. Put it between two english muffins add some cheese and you have a hearty breakfast sandwich. 

We served ours with avocado slices and toast.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread Recipe

Are you as happy as I am now that it's officially fall? This is absolutely my favorite time of the year, especially when it comes to cooking and baking. I love baking all things pumpkin and apple, and I'm always on the look-out for yummy new recipes.

This recipe for Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread comes from the cookbook, Sally's Baking Addiction. It's so incredibly moist and delicious. I ended up making another loaf the very next day because it was gone so quickly. The recipe is very easy to make, and I promise you will love the smell in your kitchen as it bakes in the oven.

I can't say enough about how wonderful this book is, and that I have been a big fan of Sally's blog, Sally's Baking Addiction for a very long time now.

Her recipes are always delicious and easy to follow, and her photography is simply mouth watering.

This bread would be fabulous for making two loaves at a time, one to keep at home, and one to give to a friend or share at work. Believe me, people will love this pumpkin bread, and love you for sharing with them!!

My granddaughter Ashley has turned into my little baking buddy. She adores baking with me and we have become a real team. She scoots the chair up to the counter, puts on her apron and is ready to go. She was very proud of this pumpkin bread and I'm hoping this instills a love of baking in her. You never know, she could be the next Sally!!

And excuse the messy background, that's just the real life of a blogger, right??

Here's the recipe for this yummy pumpkin bread. Just a note that the recipe calls for regular sized chocolate chips, but all I had on hand was the mini sized, so either size works.


Recipe for Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread

Ingredients:

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon cloves
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup orange juice
2/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions:

Adjust the oven rack to the lower third position and preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x5 inch loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk the flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt together, making sure to break up any large brown sugar lumps. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs. Add the pumpkin, vegetable oil, and orange juice, whisking until combined. Pour the wet ingredients into the flour mixture and gently mix together using a rubber spatula or wooden spoon. There will be a few lumps. Do not over mix the batter. Gently fold in the chocolate chips.

Pour into the prepared baking pan. Bake for 60-65 minutes, making sure to loosely cover the bread with aluminum foil halfway through to prevent the top from getting too brown. The bread is done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool in the pan on a wire rack before removing and cutting. The bread will stay fresh in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator for up to 10 days.

Alphabet fun with cookie cutters!

 

With Back to School in full swing around here we are brushing up on our ABC's with these alphabet cookie cutters. I made a simple sugar cookie recipe, but when the boys started the cookie cutting they seemed so bland in color. We added food coloring, although it was messy and didn't blend well the boys loved it!  

 

 

We didn't decorate them with frosting or anything since they were already colored blue, it worked out well and they last longer that way. We sealed them in a plastic bag and they boys have been going back to them to "play", I love an activity that gets lots of use. This activity is a great way to let them play and learn all at the same time, perfect!

How about you? Have you done anything fun or different to get your kids eager to learn? Do tell, we are always looking for ideas!

Not so Homemade Homemade pizza

The boys getting ready to make dinner.

Making dinner almost every night can be daunting and tiresome. Sometimes it is nice to get a little break and let them make their own dinner. So every once in a while we bust out the pre-made pizza flats, cut up the meats and veggies and just let them go to town. I like to think they are also using their creativity and imaginations, every good mom wants their child to do that as much as possible right? ;) Fun for them and easy for us. A win win!!!!

Working so hard...

Love that you can add whatever makes you happy.... I love the green peppers. YUM!!

JJ's sausage and olive delight!