Breakfast Club

BREAKFAST CLUB

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I recently spent some quality time up north at a magical log cabin. What was so awesome about the experience is I could actually wake up to the smell of sizzling bacon and take the time to enjoy it all. I do love me some tasty breakfasts and it looks like I'm not the only one. Check out this cool tumblr filled with delicious petit dejeuners. Isn't it mouthwatering? I can almost hear a rooster calling, "Cockadooledoo"! See if you can spot a few of my photos in the mix.

ON THE MENU / Buttermilk pancakes with cranberry orange compote / Peachy banana country style pancakes / Cheese & black currant scones / Mexican potato latkes and omelette / Fresh coffee with Monocle and Mick

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BREAKFAST TUMBLR bkfst.tumblr.com

Breakfast Club

3 days off = 3 delicious breakfasts. It's been months since the last Breakfast Club. I've been on the go running to work with a piece of toast in hand – not exactly photogenic. So this weekend I took to time to make brunch every morning and ate every last bite without interruption. Heaven.

The Breakfast Club Menu

THE DECADENT Three berry baked brioche french toast with mimosas (um, yes!) THE FRENCHIE Homemade warm buttery croissants with fresh OJ THE CLASSIC Organic bacon, cheesy scrambled eggs and Adrian's super amazing homefries with a side of Architectural Digest.

Breakfast Club

I'm stuffed. And completely shocked that I'm not 900 pounds after eating my weight in breakfast treats. Next month I predict a switch to healthy smoothies. But for now I'm still a full-fledged Breakfast Club member. Tell me, what's your favourite breakfast?

The Breakfast Club Menu

Banana walnut pancakes, roasted corn cakes with guacamole and cherry tomato relish, Mexican scrambled eggs served with pickled cactus and fresh avocado, baked raspberry french toast, coconut bread with ricotta, banana, honey and pistachio crumbs and homemade eggs benedict with double smoked bacon. Heaven.

Coffee Talk

AUSTRALIA'S NEXT TOP CAPPUCCINO

Sleeping is for jerks. And there is nothing like a good cappuccino, right? I would safety say that Adrian and I went to close to 120 cafés around Sydney and Melbourne in search for Australia's Next Top Cappuccino (ANTC). We clearly need the energy to watch toned surfers and read magazines on the beach. But most importantly we require that extra zip for shopping and eating – life in Oz is so exhausting.

During our caffeine fuelled journey, we've narrowed it down to 7 finalists. Fear not my coffee lovin' friends, I have the ANTC list stronger than a kick to the gut by an unruly kangaroo. And here it goes...

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1. Arguably the best coffee in Melbourne head to Degraves Espresso Bar. I ordered an orange poppyseed cake that was so moist and delicious it was my When Harry Met Sally moment. Oooooh baby.

2. For a not too shabby cappuccino in St. Kilda try Il Fornaio. Although Adrian felt it was heavy on the milk, I didn't mind it's mellow taste. For an even better cap try Miss Jackson around the corner. This place rules and the food is yummers too.

3. Oh love is in the air at the Bourke Street Bakery, Sydney. Come for the cappuccino but develop a giant crush on their pastries and breads. I sampled a blushing rhubarb tart and ended up proposing (to the tart of course).

4. Jed's Food Store in beautiful Bondi Beach makes one hell of a breakfast. The coffee is decent, but on the weak side. I recommend devouring something off the Caribbean-Mexican inspired menu and chill the F out. Why? Because there is an even better café around the corner for your caffeine fix (check out #7).

5. Bonjourno! Ah, yes we're in Italy again. Where else can I order a plate of spaghetti with my cappuccino? Pellegrini's Espresso Bar, Melbourne of course. OHMYGOD it's one freakin' strong brew with real fluffy foam. But even better is their watermelon granita. To. Die. For.

6. St. Ali in South Melbourne makes a devine brunch and a good cup of joe. Plus their caps are all fancy pants with elaborate designs with chocolate sprinkles. What's super cool is they roast the beans in the restaurant. I think they might consider themselves the saint of coffee. They mean business and even use an artisanal espresso machine from Seattle called The Slayer – I'm not one to argue.

7. Our favourite cappuccino in Sydney belongs to the charming Gertrude and Alice. Strong and straight to the point their java has that bold caramel flavour we're looking for. I actually experienced a caffeine overdose here so it's got to be good. Right? Wowza.

Breakfast Club: Island Chapter

Can I get a what what for breakfast? All week I've been sampling some seriously good morning creations here on Vancouver Island. But before I devoured every morsel like a crazy jackal, I somehow managed to snap a photo (no fingers where lost in the process, I swear). Although for some recipes I have been sworn to secrecy I can let you in on one... just one. Drum roll please!

Baked Blueberry-Pecan French Toast Island Style

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• a 24-inch baguette or baba's brioche
• 6 eggs
• 3 cups milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 cup pecans
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups blueberries
• zest of one lemon

Butter a 13 x 9-inch baking dish or use individual ramekins. Cube the baguette and layer with blueberries in the baking dish. In a large bowl whisk together eggs, milk, zest, vanilla, brown sugar and pour evenly over bread. Chill overnight. Wake up and bake in a 350°F oven for 30 minutes, or until any liquid from blueberries is bubbling. Sprinkle toasted pecans on top and serve with drizzled real maple syrup. Hello!

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BREAKFAST PHOTOS: Simple hard boiled egg with a warm café latte, eggs benedict with thick cut bacon and creamy hollandaise sauce, fresh raspberry buttermilk pancake the size of a small child, roasted tomato and sharp cheddar omelette with homemade whole wheat bread, individually baked blueberry french toast with a glass of chilled mimosa, hot homemade bread with peach preserves and farm butter. Yum.

Breakfast Club

I've got 3 words for you: homemade cinnamon buns. Is there anything better? Um, no. I was feeling rather ambitious and obviously hungry so I made a batch of buns from this recipe. Sweet jebus, they are tasty. To be honest I could have eaten the entire pan. Where is my will power when I need it?

Clearly Adrian and I are back in the breakfast zone. I blame it on spending time in the woods wearing plaid lumberjack shirts and drinking Bud. Its affected my judgement and portion size. So yes, the Breakfast club is back – in full effect.

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BREAKFAST CLUB DETAILS

Cinnamon bun with cream cheese frosting; classic honey Golden Grahams; cheesy scrambled eggs, hash browns, fruit salad, applewood smoked bacon and cheese toast; feta, mushroom and spinach omelette, breakfast sausages with rosemary potatoes; Adrian's country ham hash; 3 cheese and fresh herb frittata, roasted fingerling potatoes, maple baked beans, honey ham and cheesy toast. Huh! No need to eat for the rest of the day, hey? Wowza.

Breakfast Club

I'm a slacker. It's official. As you know, the weekends always start with a healthy homemade breakfast of champions. We try a new recipe, eat it and then sit on the couch in post-egg bliss (usually with a little NYTimes action afterwards). The last month has been more about eating a slice of toast and heading to the dog park than making our usual masterpieces. Not to fret, I have a few choice Breakfast club selects to whet your appetite.

Try this mmm good omelette. Tried and tested.

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• 5 large eggs
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh tarragon
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh flat leaf parsley
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter
• 1 1/4 cups crumbled soft fresh goat cheese
• 3/4 chopped mushroom (try something fun like morel)
• Small handful of cherry tomatoes (cut in half)
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Tip: Fry up the mushroom first so they are tastier

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Breakfast Club: wild blueberry pancakes with blackberry and apricot compote, cheesy scrabbled eggs with thyme and cracked black pepper, Fairmount blueberry bagel with organic cherries and Reanna's most delicious omelette.

Breakfast Club: The France Chapter

So you thought the Breakfast Club would end while I was away? Not the case. While in the land of baked goods, The Club continued overseas. Cool thing is, we didn't have to cook or do the dishes but we might have to add some of these French treats in our weekend repertoire. Cake for breakfast anyone?

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1. The first day in Metz, we grabbed a handful of cherries and a sugar coated croissant before spending the day with the relatives. A super sugar zip for a long day catching up. 2. On top of the Alsace mountain castle, Haut Kœnigsbourg, I needed to fight off jet leg with mini expressos. One wasn't enough. How about five? 3. The best brunch on Paris at Le Loir Dans La Theiere. Delicious creamy eggs sent from heaven. 4. Yes, I ate tart for breakfast. In fact I had two pieces but ate the first one so fast I couldn't shoot it in time. It was so good I almost died. Rhubarb tart = love. 5. You can't go wrong with a latté and croissant can you? 6. Double expresso while sitting at a delightful outdoor café where Adrian made friends with our server over his "funny Québécois accent". 7. Sitting at Café des Arts for our 3 euro baguette extravaganza. Bread, bread, bread. Yeah for carbohydrates.

Breakfast Club

Here's the big question, why don't we have breakfast delivery? Forget about pizza, I want eggs benedict. I think I could make a killing if I got a little meals on wheels truck to serve up fresh weekend brunch to your doorstep. Am I right? Now that's breakfast in bed. Since the new addition of our puppy pal our brunches have been on the slim side but here are some tasty photo treats from this month's Breakfast Club. I also thought I would share a delicious muffin recipe which I made a few weeks ago and served with apricot jelly. Mmmm...

Banana Macadamia Nut Muffins

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1 1/2 cups unbleached all purpose flour

• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 1/4 cups mashed ripe bananas (about 3 large)
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 large egg
• 1 cup unsalted macadamia nuts, toasted, chopped

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Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease twelve muffin cups. Sift first 4 ingredients into large bowl. Combine bananas, sugars, butter, milk and egg in a bowl. Mix into dry ingredients. Fold in half of nuts. Divide batter among prepared muffin cups. Sprinkle tops of muffins with remaining macadamia nuts. Bake until muffins are golden brown (about 25 minutes). From Bon Appétit magazine.

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