Jalapeño, Jack & Bacon Breakfast Grits

Grits are one of those foods that can be completely disgusting or simply amazing. It's all in the way they are prepared. Luckily, working at a BBQ restaurant for 4 years gave me exposure to some delicious cheddar grits, and I have always been a fan. 

My boyfriend was reluctant to try this, as he has only tried the slimy, tasteless version. I promised him that he would like my recipe, I mean, how could he not? My grits have cheese, bacon, and jalapeños. That's a winning combination. Is decided to top it all off with a fried egg, and it was amazing! The yolk combined with the spice of the peppers, the salt of the bacon, and the richness of the cheese is simply amazing! 

Jalapeño, Jack & Bacon Breakfast Grits

Ingredients:

8 slices thick-cut bacon, diced

2 small or 1 large jalapeño, seeded and diced

1 cup skimmed milk

3 cups low sodium chicken broth 

1 1/2 cups hot water

1/2 cups corn grits/polenta

1 tsp. salt

2 cups reduced fat shredded Colby Jack cheese, divided

4 eggs

1/4 cup green onions, sliced (for garnish)

Directions:

1. In large sauté pan or cast iron, add bacon and jalapeños. Cook over medium heat until bacon is crispy. 

2. Remove from heat, transfer bacon and peppers on to plate with paper towel. Pat with towel to remove grease. Drain grease from pan and set aside. 

3. In large sauce pan, add milk, chicken broth and water. Bring to a boil and slowly add the grits and stir with whisk. Reduce heat and continue simmering 5-7 minutes or until grits have thickened, stirring frequently. 

4. In the mean time, fry eggs in frypan used for cooking bacon. I prefer mine sunny-side up, but cook eggs however you like them. Remove eggs from pan and set aside. 

5. Once grits reach desired consistency, add salt, bacon, jalapeños and half of the cheese. 

6. Transfer to fry pan, top with remaining cheese and broil in oven 2-3 minutes to melt cheese.  

7. Top with green onions, spoon evenly in to four bowls and top each with 1 fried egg. Enjoy!

Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole

Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole

I've said it a million times, breakfast is by far my favorite meal of the day, hands down. However, finding the motivation to cook breakfast every day is hard. This recipe is great because you get all the delicious layers of breakfast-y goodness and you can prepare it the night before! My recipe makes enough for 2-4, but double it and make enough for company too! My recipe below gives low-cal substitutions for those of you watching your weight! Yum!

Ingredients:

4 uncooked Johnsonville original breakfast sausage patties (or 1/2 log Jennie-O turkey breakfast sausage or 1 cup Morning Star Farms breakfast sausage crumbles)

1 tsp oregano, divided 

4 large eggs (or 6 egg whites)

Salt and pepper, to taste

1/2 cup Mexican Four Cheese Shredded Cheese (or light/reduced fat shredded cheese blend), divided

20 frozen Ore-Ida Crispy Crowns tater tots (or sweet potato tots)

1 tbsp chives, chopped

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350. 

2. In fry pan, cook and crumble sausage until fully cooked, stirring frequently. Drain excess grease and add 1/2 tsp oregano. Spread evenly across bottom of small casserole dish. 

3. In cereal bowl, whip together eggs with fork. Season with salt, pepper and remaining oregano. Pour over sausage in casserole dish. 

4. Sprinkle 1/4 cup shredded cheese over egg mixture. Place tater tots evenly across top of egg mixture. 

5. Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes or until eggs are fully cooked. Sprinkle with remaining shredded cheese and bake an additional 5 minutes. 

6. Allow casserole to cool 5-10 minutes. Garnish with chives and enjoy! 

Brunch Chilaquiles

I am a huge fan of brunch food, mostly because it is perfectly acceptable to eat at 2 pm and still resembles breakfast. Chilaquiles are one of my absolute favorite dishes of all time! I was first introduced to the dish working at a Cuban restaurant in Michigan. This is definitely one of my go-To's for an impressive brunch dish that everyone will love! 

Brunch Chilaquiles

Ingredients:

1 tbsp cooking oil (olive, coconut, or vegetable)

4 cups good quality, restaurant style tortilla chips (the thicker and crunchier the better)

4 eggs 

Salt and pepper to taste

1/4 cup green onions, chopped 

1 can enchilada sauce or salsa verde

1 cup reduced fat Mexican style shredded cheese 

1 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped

1/2 avocado, diced 

Optional: 1/4 cup pickled jalapeños (recipe here: http://www.jocelyndieboltdesigns.blogspot.com/2014/04/soy-pickled-jalapenos.html?m=1)

Directions:

1. Heat oil on medium in oven safe fry pan. Add tortilla chips and cook in oil about 5-10 minutes until very crispy and golden brown, stirring frequently. 

2. In a separate pan, fry eggs to your liking. (For this recipe, I like my eggs sunny side up.) Season with salt and pepper. Set aside. 

3. Add green onions, enchilada sauce, and half the cheese to the tortilla chips and mix lightly. Top with eggs and the rest of the cheese. 

4. Turn on oven broiler. Broil pan in oven 1-3 min on high until cheese melts. (Make sure to watch carefully!)

5. Remove pan from oven and top with cilantro, avocado, and jalapeños of you want more spice. Enjoy!