One Pan Breakfast

Everyone is always looking for the one-pot meal. The frittata can be more than just breakfast, including brunch and lunch. Fill it with fresh veggies and good eggs like my recipe below and you'll have a powerful one-pan breakfast. A frittata is also the perfect way to repurpose leftovers like roasted potatoes; or spring greens like chives and asparagus.

safety tip: The pan will be hot when taken out of the oven. Place a ktchen towel on the handle as a reminder to prevent burning yourself when dishing up.

Spinach Frittata

Makes six servings

chefgeorgehirsch.com | As seen on George Hirsch Living it UP! TV Series

1 Tablespoon olive oil

1/4 cup sweet onion, chopped

1/2 cup fresh mushrooms, sliced

1/2 cup smoked sausage, chopped

10 eggs, well beaten

2 Tablespoons water 

1 Tablespoon fresh basil, chopped

2 Tablespoons grated parmesan cheese

1/4 teaspoon hot sauce

pinch fresh grated nutmeg

fresh ground black pepper

1 cup fresh baby spinach

1/4 cup shredded fontina or Swiss cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. 

Beat eggs with water, basil, parmesan cheese, hot sauce, nutmeg, and pepper. 

On the stovetop, pre heat a large oven proof saute pan to medium temperature. Add olive oil to sauté pan, cook onions, mushrooms and sausage until slightly brown.

Increase heat to high temperature, add baby spinach, stir quickly until spinach wilts. Add egg mixture over the spinach filling and continue stirring while adding cheese. Place pan in oven for additional 5 minutes or until fritatta is firm yet moist. 

chefgeorgehirsch.com

Time for Shrove Tuesday

aka Pancake Tuesday since aprox. the 12th century. This celebration was marking the days preceding lent by using valuable ingredients like eggs, milk and sugar; hence cooking up pancakes 

George's Griddle Cakes

Pancakes are one of the earliest forms of bread and are served up geographically in many different ways. You can be-all-traditional with baking powder, or try prospecting with sourdough pancakes like the early pioneers. Flip’em with oatmeal or buckwheat when in Vermont; or for a Dutch style treat serve with lemon, powdered sugar and jam. Substitute the flour for cornmeal and you’ll be enjoying it as Native American speciality.

Go Pollack by designing your own pancake creations with sliced apples, bananas, blueberries, strawberries, chocolate chips, chopped nuts.  

George’s Pancake Recipe

Makes eight pancakes | recipe by George Hirsch

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 Tablespoon pure cane sugar

1 1/4 cups milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 egg, beaten

3 Tablespoons butter, melted

In a large bowl, mix together well with a whisk all dry ingredients the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. In a separate bowl mix all wet ingredients the milk, vanilla, egg and melted butter. Yes, use two bowls so the dry and wet ingredients blend better when combined. Add the wet to the dry and just strip with a large spoon or spatula until the dry ingredients have absorbed the wet. There may still be a few lumps, thats OK. Do not over mix, or pancakes will become tough.

Pre heat a non stick pan or lightly grease a griddle over medium high heat at 375 degrees F. Test the temperature by dropping a drop of water on surface of pan. Water will dance across the surface when at the correct temperature. You can test one cake before proceeding.

Pour one 1/4 cup scoop of batter onto the griddle for each pancake. If adding any fresh fruit or creations add at this time. You will begin to see bubbles form on the top side when brown on bottom, flip and brown on second side. Serve hot with syrup or favorite topping eaten immediately right off the griddle.

Finish off your stack with honey, molasses, can syrup, preserves, Nutella, or maple syrup.

Thank You Mr. and Mrs. Benedict

The story behind this world famous legendary brunch dish may or may not be true. But, when a dish calls for eggs to take center stage, or center of the plate this is always the one that first comes to mind. Here's my Eggs Benedict Recipe, taken from Know Your Fire cookbook by George Hirsch with Marie Bianco. Enjoy!

 Know Your Fire cookbook by George Hirsch with Marie Bianco

Better Batter

If you are planning on a house filled with guests this upcoming summer season, waffles are a crowd pleaser. It is always a request, prior to guests arriving at my house. I guess I'm wanted for more than just my good company. I always say, your only as good as your next meal. And, good meals are always remembered.

TIP: I make the batter the night before, it gives the gluten in the flour time to rest, making lighter textured waffles. The only step you will need to do prior to baking the waffles is whip + fold-in the egg whites.

Blueberries, add them to the batter or serve on-top to get your daily dose of antioxidants. 

KitchenAid Pro-Line Waffle Maker

KitchenAid Pro-Line Waffle Maker: The impressive feature of this waffle maker is its dual-sided baking capacity for plating-up continuous hot waffles. For more information on this product from GOOD STUFF.

George's Steamy Belgium Waffles 
recipe by Chef George Hirsch | makes 8 waffles
As seen on George Hirsch Living it UP! TV Series
chefgeorgehirsch.com

2 egg yolks
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 Tablespoons Sugar
2 cups milk
1/3 butter, melted
2 cups flour
2 egg whites, stiffly beaten
1 Tablespoon baking powder

Preheat waffle maker. Put all ingredients, except egg whites, in a large mixer bowl. Beat on low until moistened. Increase to medium, mix until smooth. By hand, gently fold in beaten egg whites. Pour 1/2 cup batter over grids. Close waffle maker, bake until steam no longer escapes, about 3-5 minutes. Repeat. Serve while hot with your favorite topping.

Note: Serve with fresh fruit, maple syrup, whipped cream or ice cream.

chefgeorgehirsch.com

Vanilla Infused

Seems like the perfect match–freshly tapped maple syrup and Madagascar vanilla. There are a few recipes I can immediately think of that would benefit from a warmed topping of D&D's new infused syrup; like my steamy belguim waffles, holiday maple cookies or hot stack of flapjacks! Thumbs up!

Suggested Companion Recipes:

George's Belguim Waffles

Stack of Choc Chip Griddle Cakes