Brunch In The Beach

Hello Friendships!

There is nothing I love more on a Sunday morning than getting together with my friends for brunch. There are three couples: myself and Brian, Alex and AJ, and Amber and Vinny. The six of us are all actually friends from back home in Bethel CT. Through the years, each couple has made their way down to The Beach and its pretty cool having that kind of relationship with people when you're that far away from home. So once a month, we gather at Amber and Vinny’s house to enjoy all sorts of delicious breakfast food, and friendship.

Amber is pretty creative when she cooks and always comes up with something new. This last Sunday when we got together we had Pumpkin Butter Pancakes and Jack Daniel’s French Toast Bake. Both were absolutely amazing. I tend to like pancakes more than french toast, but anything Amber makes is always scrumptious and worth trying.

Amber and I enjoying our drinks while we finish cooking.

Since they are so delicious and look pretty amazing, Amber agreed to share her recipes for my blog.

(She’s so nice, isn't she?!)

Pumpkin Butter Pancakes

Ingredients:

• Pancake mix
• Pumpkin butter (or any variation of) 
• **You can find pumpkin butter at specialty stores such as Trader Joe’s, Le Gourmet Chef, Kitchen Collection, and even some stores like Home Goods, TJ Maxx, and Bed Bath and Beyond in their specialty items sections.
• Pumpkin spice seasoning (McCormick sells this with their other spices)

Directions:

1. Grab your favorite pancake mix and make as instructed on the box.
2. For every 4 pancakes, add in 1 tablespoon of pumpkin butter to the mixture.
3. (example: 4 pancakes, 1tbs, 8 pancakes, 2tbs, and so on)
4. Sprinkle in pumpkin spice. This will be to taste, but Amber recommends about 1/2 teaspoon to every 4 pancakes. 
5. Follow the directions on the pancake box for cooking directions.

French Toast Bake (Jack Daniel’s, or other liquors optional)

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup melted butter (1 stick)
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 1/2 cup milk **IF using liquor, use 1 cup milk, and 1/2 cup liquor)
• 1 loaf Texas toast (thick sliced bread)
• 4 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• Cinnamon for dusting
• Powdered sugar for dusting
• Maple syrup

Directions:

1. Melt butter in a microwave safe bowl, or in a small sauce pan and add brown sugar and stir until mixed.
2. Pour butter/sugar mixture into the bottom of a 9x13 pan and spread evenly
3. Beat eggs, milk, and vanilla (and liquor if you're using it, and are of legal age, by the way!)
4. Lay a single layer of toast in the pan and spoon 1/2 of the egg mixture on top
5. Add a second layer of bread and spoon on remainder of the egg mixture
6. Sprinkle top with cinnamon
7. Cover and chill overnight 
8. Bake at 350 degrees, covered with tin foil, for about 30 minutes
9. Remove tin foil and continue to bake for another 15 minutes or so until the top gets crispy
10. Dust with powdered sugar and serve with maple syrup

Along with these we cook sausage and bacon, (lots of bacon. I’m talking about 4 pounds of bacon between 6 people because each man gets a pound to himself, and us ladies share a pound between the three of us.) 

Mmmmm... Bacon! Sausage too!

We also can’t forget the most important part to any brunch. The glorious liquid to help wash down a tremendous meal. Of course I am talking about Mimosas! (and Bloody Mary’s too, but I personally do not like them.) What makes orange juice better is mixing it with that bubbly, crisp, chilled champagne.

Here's to great food, strong drinks, and stronger friendships!

After we eat our feast, we settle in the den to watch some football (the Jets game, to be precise)  or a movie if its not football season, and we catch up with each other and all the going ons of The Beach. I love getting together with friendship and being able to cook together and drink and eat. It really brings our little family from Bethel together!

If you try any of these recipes let me know how they came out!

I hope you all have a fantastic day Friendships!

xoxo

Nicole