Toaster Pastries

Growing up Pop-tarts were a staple in the house. My personal favorites being strawberry or brown sugar & cinnamon (prefered with icing). Well this weekend I was watching the Food Network and saw Alton Brown's Good Eats. The episode was titled "A Pie in Every Pocket" and fittingly Alton was making "pocket pies". Towards the end of the episode he showed how to make toaster pastry, where the pastry was partially baked in the oven then finished in the toaster when you want to eat it. I can't wait to try it!

Pocket Pies

Hungry Girl Blueberry Pancakes

Serves: 1
Points: 3

1/3 cup regular oats (not instant or steel cut)
1/4 cup blueberries
3 tbsp. egg whites
1 tbsp. nonfat milk
1 tbsp. fat-free cottage cheese
1 tbsp. flour
2 tbsp. water
pinch salt


Combine all ingredients except for the blueberries and stir until well mixed. Gently fold in blueberries. In a skillet sprayed with nonstick spray, drop batter into pan to form 3 pancakes (or 1 big pancake). Once pancakes begin to look solid (about 3 minutes), gently flip (if possible, re-spritz the pan with nonstick spray as you flip 'em to prevent sticking). Cook for approximately 3 additional minutes, or until both sides are lightly browned and insides are cooked through.

Artichoke and Red Pepper Frittata

POINTS® Value: 4

Servings: 4

Preparation Time: 20 min Cooking Time: 16 min

Level of Difficulty: Moderate

1 sprays cooking spray, or enough to coat skillet
1 medium onion(s), peeled and chopped
1 medium potato(es), red, cooked, peeled and sliced 1/4-inch thick
6 oz canned artichoke hearts, without oil, about 1 cup, coarsely chopped
1 cup roasted red peppers, about 8 pieces, coarsely chopped
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp table salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
6 large egg white(s)
2 large egg(s)
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes, crushed
1/2 cup hard cheese, Asiago, grated

Heat a 10-inch nonstick, ovenproof skillet coated with cooking spray over medium heat.
Add onion and sauté. Add potatoes, artichokes and peppers. Sauté 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.

In a bowl, beat together red pepper flakes, oregano, salt, pepper, egg whites and eggs. Pour over vegetable mixture. Cook over medium heat until eggs begin to set, about 5 minutes. Gently lift egg mixture to let uncooked egg portion run to bottom of skillet. When almost set, sprinkle with cheese.

Place skillet under broiler 3 to 4 inches from heat until cheese melts, 1 minute. Cut into 4 wedges.

Source: Weight Watchers Online

Quiche Lorraine

Pie Crust
6 ounces thick cut bacon, cut into narrow strips (or “lardons”)
2 large eggs
2 large egg yolks
1 1/4 cups half-and-half
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
Pinch freshly grated nutmeg
1 cup grated Gruyere or Swiss
Simple Salad, recipe follows

On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to an 11-inch circle. Fit into a 9-inch fluted tart pan with a removable bottom and trim the edges. (Alternatively, a 9-inch pie pan can be used.) Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Line the pastry with parchment paper and fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake until the crust is set, 12 to 14 minutes. Remove the paper and weights and bake until golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack. Leave the oven on.

In a medium skillet, cook the bacon until crisp and the fat is rendered, about 5 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Discard the fat or reserve for another use.

Arrange the bacon evenly over the bottom of the baked crust.

In a large bowl, beat the eggs, yolks, and half and half. Add the remaining ingredients and whisk to combine. Pour into the prepared crust and bake until the custard is golden, puffed, and set yet still slightly wiggly in the center, 30 to 35 minutes.

Remove from the oven and let cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes before serving.

Source: Food Network

Leek, Potato, and Bacon Casserole

2 leeks, white and light green (about 6 ounces)
6 slices smoked bacon
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, plus for brushing the pan
3 teaspoons kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
2 medium red potatoes, diced (about 8 ounces or 2 cups)
2 cloves smashed garlic
2 sprigs fresh thyme
6 large eggs, beaten
1 1/2 cups half-and-half
6 ounces Jarlsberg Swiss cheese, grated (about 2 cups)
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

Preheat the oven 325 degrees F.

Butter an 8-by-8-inch square glass casserole dish. Halve the leeks lengthwise, and then cut them crosswise into half circles (There should be about 1 3/4 cups.). Put the cut leeks in the basket of a salad spinner, or a colander set in a bowl, and fill with water. Swish the leeks around to flush out any grit. Lift the basket from water--don't pour the water off or you will pour any grit right back over the leeks.

Heat a medium skillet over medium heat and fry the bacon until crispy, about 5 minutes. Transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to cool, then crumble. Discard all but 1 tablespoon of the pan drippings, add the butter and leeks, and season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and some pepper. Cook until tender, about 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, put the potatoes in a small saucepan with the garlic, thyme, and 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt and water, to cover. Bring to a boil over high heat, then drain. Discard the thyme and garlic and add potatoes to the leeks.

In a medium bowl whisk together the eggs and half-and-half, then stir in the leek mixture, 1 cup of the cheese, the bacon, and nutmeg. Season with 1 teaspoon of salt and some pepper. Transfer the mixture to the prepared dish, cover with foil and bake until just set but still moist, about 55 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside.

Position a rack in the upper part of the oven and preheat the broiler. Scatter the remaining 1 cup cheese over the casserole and broil until the cheese browns, about 3 minutes. Set aside for 5 to 10 minutes before serving. Unmold or serve from baking dish.

Source: Food Network

Baked French Toast Casserole with Maple Syrup

1 loaf French bread (13 to 16 ounces)
8 large eggs
2 cups half-and-half
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Dash salt
Praline Topping, recipe follows
Maple syrup

Slice French bread into 20 slices, 1-inch each. (Use any extra bread for garlic toast or bread crumbs). Arrange slices in a generously buttered 9 by 13-inch flat baking dish in 2 rows, overlapping the slices. In a large bowl, combine the eggs, half-and-half, milk, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt and beat with a rotary beater or whisk until blended but not too bubbly. Pour mixture over the bread slices, making sure all are covered evenly with the milk-egg mixture. Spoon some of the mixture in between the slices. Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight.

The next day, preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Spread Praline Topping evenly over the bread and bake for 40 minutes, until puffed and lightly golden. Serve with maple syrup.

Praline Topping:
1/2 pound (2 sticks) butter
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup chopped pecans
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and blend well. Makes enough for Baked French Toast Casserole.

Source: Food Network