BAKED EGGS TORTILLA BITES

Posted in Appetizers, Breakfast & Brunch, Pizzas & Small Dishes by sallybr

I am totally in love with this concept, which I saw in one of those reels online that entice you but not always work. This one had a happy ending, and for that I am grateful…

BAKED EGG TORTILLA BITES
(slightly modified from food bites)

makes about 8

3 tortillas
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 eggs
3 tablespoons heavy cream
25 grams cheddar cheese, grated
1 teaspoon sea salt
pepper, to taste

5 grape tomatoes, one per tortilla cup
fresh chives, to garnish

Heat oven to 350F.

Cut out tortilla flowers with a cookie cutter. Brush the top and bottom of the tortilla flowers with olive oil, insert in a muffin tin. Bake until slightly golden, maximum 5 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly as you prepare the filling.

Mix the eggs, cream, shredded cheddar, salt, and pepper. Spoon the mixture on top of each tortilla flower till the bottom is covered. Bake again until the egg is cooked (about 8 minutes). Remove the egg tortilla bites and allow to cool.

Slice a grape tomato in the middle at a slant. Cut each half in half. Connect the two set of halves to make two hearts. Top the tomato hearts onto the egg tortillas. Arrange chopped chives as the stem.
Sprinkle with sea salt and pepper. Serve immediately.

ENJOY!

to print the recipe, click here

Comments: This was so simple and absolutely delicious. I used a carb-balance type flour tortilla, but I bet it would be even better with regular ones. Do what suits you. I include a little video to show you how to cut the hearts, as it was not quite clear for me when I read her explanation or watched her reel on Facebook. I hope it helps you.

These would be perfect to serve as appetizer for a Valentine’s meal, but I just enjoyed as lunch on a Saturday. Love this type of food. Leftovers were good warmed in a toaster oven, just make sure to keep an eye on the edge of the tortilla cup, they tend to brown quickly. Protect with foil if that bothers you. Each little cup, two small bites, one big smile!

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8Nov2025

SOUTHERN STYLE SKILLET CORNBREAD

Posted in Breakfast & Brunch, Pizzas & Small Dishes, Side dishes, Small Dishes, Vegetarian-friendly by sallybr

I made this three times in a row: easy, simple, delicious! It will shine next to a hearty bowl of chili (I highly recommend our favorite recipe, one of the oldest in this bewitched spot). This is a small version, good for 2 people with leftovers or 4 to clean the pan.

SOUTHERN STYLE SKILLET CORNBREAD
(adapted from fieldcompany)

bake in 8-inch cast iron skillet
(recipe can be doubled for larger size pan)

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 tablespoon honey
1/2 large egg (whisk and eye-ball half the amount for the recipe)
1 ear of corn, kernels removed (about 1/2 cup kernels)

Turn the oven to 425F and place your seasoned cast iron skillet inside, to heat it up as you prepare the recipe.

Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter gently in a microwave and set aside to cool.

In a medium size bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In a separate small bowl, whisk the buttermilk, egg, honey, and the cooled melted butter until well combined. Add the wet ingredient mixture to the dry ingredients and whisk gently until combined, being careful not to over mix. Gently fold the corn kernels into the batter with a rubber spatula.

Carefully remove the hot skillet from the oven. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter to the skillet and swirl to evenly coat the bottom and all sides. Pour the batter into the hot, buttered skillet and use a rubber spatula to smooth the top. Return the skillet to the oven and bake until the top of the bread is lightly golden and a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the center, 15 to 18 minutes.

Allow the cornbread to cool in the pan for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.

ENJOY!

to print the recipe, click here

Comments: It is recommended that you use fresh corn kernels, but the recipe works very well with frozen. Canned corn will be a bit too mushy, so I advise against using it. This is not a sweet type cornbread, even if it has a bit of honey. Cumin or chili pepper could be nice additions, if you like some heat.

We enjoyed it with a bowl of chili (recipe here) and it was truly wonderful comfort food on a Saturday evening.

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25Sep2025

COTTAGE CHEESE FLOURLESS MUFFINS

Posted in Breakfast & Brunch, Pizzas & Small Dishes by sallybr

Honestly, not sure what to call them… they remind me of the sous-vide egg bites sold at Starbucks, but are more complex in flavor and texture. Low-carb, perfect for a light lunch. Leftovers, kept in the fridge, heat surprisingly well in the microwave, no rubbery texture. Love them!

COTTAGE CHEESE FLOURLESS MUFFINS
(from The Bewitching Kitchen)

3 large eggs
1/2 cup cottage cheese
1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 bell pepper, seeded, de-veined, chopped small
½ cup spinach, chopped
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
¼ teaspoon paprika
dash of nutmeg
grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

Heat oven to 375F. Spray a muffin tin with oil. Reserve.

In a mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, cottage cheese, and spices. Whisk very well until everything is incorporated together. Add the veggies and the mozzarella cheese, fold to combine. Fill the muffin tins about 3/4 full, sprinkle with Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until all puffed and golden on top. Serve warm or at room temperature.

ENJOY!

to print the recipe, click here

Comments: I have a slightly problem digesting bell peppers, usually red and orange are not too bad, but when I made them a second time, I used black olives instead of bell pepper, and loved the way they turned out. If bell peppers don’t love your digestive tract, consider that change. I was quite happy with the way they re-heated a couple of days later, when I had them for lunch. Will definitely make this recipe again and again, I hope you’ll give it a try.

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22Aug2025

GLUTEN-FREE RED LENTIL BAGELS

Posted in Breads, Breakfast & Brunch, Small Dishes by sallybr

And now for something completely different… Do I need to avoid gluten? No. Do I like experimenting with recipes that cater to that need? Big yes. Haniela is my guru cookie decorator, as you might know if you follow my baby blog (can you call a blog a baby when it is 4 years old?). But she is also a fantastic cook and her blog covers a whole range of recipes, from cakes to breads and savory stuff. Check it out by clicking here. She bakes these bagels often, and I had them on my list of things to try for quite some time. Here I am to share her recipe and urge you to make them. Simple and very delicious! They freeze well too…

GLUTEN-FREE RED LENTIL BAGELS
(from Haniela’s blog)

2/3 cup dry red lentils (150 grams)
1 ¼ cup boiling water to soak lentils (300 ml)
1 tbsp lemon juice
scant ¼ cup psyllium husk (20 grams)
2 tbsp olive oil (20 grams)
1 tbsp lemon juice (15 ml)
¼ cup almond meal (30 grams)
1/3 to 1/2 cup water for the dough (120mL)
¼ tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
½ cup mixed seeds ( pumpkin, sunflower, sesame)

Pour 1¼ cup( 300 ml) boiling water over red lentils, add 1 tablespoon lemon juice, stir it and soak for 12 hours. Rinse soaked red lentils well under running water.

Into the food processor add rinsed, soaked red lentils, about 1/3 cup of water for the dough (reserve the rest of the water in case the dough is too stiff). Blend for about a minute or two, until lentils are broken up into a somewhat runny paste.

Into the blended red lentils add psyllium husk, almond flour, lemon juice, 2 tablespoons (20 grams) olive oil and 1 teaspoon table salt. Blend until well combined and thick, somewhat sticky dough forms.
If the dough is too dry add a little more water. Lastly add 1 teaspoon baking powder and 1/4 teaspoon baking soda, give it about 5-10 pulses.

Invert the slightly sticky dough onto the work on a plate. Lightly wet your hands and shape the dough into a ball, flatten it slightly. Cut it into 4 equal parts. Shape each piece into a ball, flatten slightly, dip both sides into the seeds and place buns onto a baking sheet lined with parchment. Repeat for other balls of dough. Make a hole in the middle of each bun. Use a back of a wooden spoon. Make the hole bigger than you think it should be, dough will spread a little in the oven. Bake red lentil bagels at 375F for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Allow to cool before serving.

ENJOY!

to print the recipe, click here

Comments: The only thing to remember is to soak the lentils the day before you want to make the bagels, other than that it is a very fast and straightforward recipe. They are hearty without being overly heavy, and perfect with toppings such as smoked turkey, or ham and a little mustard. Smoked salmon with cream cheese would be great too, or a simple spread of avocado, drizzle of olive oil and lemon juice. Salt. Definitely salt.

The recipe makes only four, but it can be doubled, so keep that in mind.
Check Hani’s blog for variations, I will try them soon.

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12Jun2025

ZUCCHINI FRITTATA

Posted in Breakfast & Brunch, Small Dishes, Vegetarian-friendly, Veggies by sallybr

I might be on a roll concerning special gadgets. Case in point, I have a pan that is designed to make Tarte Tatin (!!!), but today I am incredibly proud to show you how to use it to make a nice frittata. Do you need that pan? No. But are you going to be the coolest cook in town if you use it? YES, YOU ARE.

ZUCCHINI FRITTATA
(from The Bewitching Kitchen)

2 Tbsp. olive oil or unsalted butter
2 shallots, minced
2 medium zucchini, sliced and each slice quartered
4 large eggs
1/4 cup whole milk
4-6 pieces of fresh mozzarella
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp Herbes de Provence
¼ tsp. freshly ground black pepper

Place rack in middle of oven; heat oven to 350°. Heat 2 Tbsp. olive oil or unsalted butter in an oven-proof skillet. Add the shallots and zucchini, sauté, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, whisk the large eggs in a medium bowl with the milk, salt, pepper and spices mix.

Pour egg mixture into the skillet. Add the pieces of mozzarella. Cook, stirring occasionally, just until edges pull away from sides of pan, about 5 minutes. Transfer skillet to oven and bake until set, 10–15 minutes. Serve immediately or at room temperature within an hour or so.

ENJOY!

to print the recipe, click here

Comments: You can flip the frittata off the pan and serve it with the brown side up, or cut it straight in the pan, anything works. It turned out creamy, light and fluffy. The pan makes it a breeze to invert and flip the frittata onto a serving plate. We will be enjoying this type of meal in many variations on a regular basis… Mushrooms, red bell peppers, maybe even some smoked salmon in the mix.