They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so why not eat it twice? Breakfast for dinner is a great way to mix it up, and if you have kids, a great way to add some fun to the same old-same old dinner time. Great for a low-key night in, put on your p.j.s, grab the newspaper crossword puzzle, put on a good pot of coffee and eat up.
You can invite all your favorite guests to join you, Cap N' Crunch, Aunt Jemima, The Muffin Man...or for a more dinner party type feel invite some of friends over for a "Breakfast for dinner" theme night. Request everyone wear their pajamas, serve mimosas and/or bloody marys, offer a coffee bar with different options and serve breakfast "buffet style". While everyone fills their plates and their bellies, watch old Saturday Morning cartoon re-runs, or the classic movie The Breakfast Club.
Or if you'd rather spend the evening alone with a loved one, turn your breakfast for dinner into a romantic breakfast in bed.
When it comes to ending your big meal, think outside the box when it comes to dessert. How about Bacon Caramel Pecan Bars:
Crust
8 tablespoons (1 stick) salted butter
2/3 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon of baking powder
1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
Topping
1 cup sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup water
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup of coarsely crumbled bacon (thick cut quality bacon is recommended)
3 cups toasted pecans
coarse sea salt
*Optional Variation: 2 tablespoons Bourbon
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a mixing bowl or Kitchenaid, cream butter and sugar until light. Add egg and vanilla and beat for one minute. Add baking powder and flour until everything is well mixed and has formed a cookie dough. Spray a 9×13 baking pan with non-stick spray. Press cookie dough mixture evenly throughout the bottom of the pan. Bake for 20 minutes or until the edges are golden brown. Allow to cool.
For the topping, combine water, sugar, and corn syrup in a large sauce pan or pot. Cook over medium-high heat stirring it occasionally until sugar is completely dissolved. When the sugar/water/corn syrup mixture begins to change to an amber like color (like a dark honey) immediately turn off heat. Carefully add vanilla and heavy cream stirring (add bourbon for optional variation) until smooth and looks like caramel sauce. Add toasted pecans and bacon stirring and coating everything. Spread bacon caramel pecan mixture over the cookie crust evenly. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight or until cold. Sprinkle with coarse sea salt sparingly and cut into bars/squares and ENJOY!
You can invite all your favorite guests to join you, Cap N' Crunch, Aunt Jemima, The Muffin Man...or for a more dinner party type feel invite some of friends over for a "Breakfast for dinner" theme night. Request everyone wear their pajamas, serve mimosas and/or bloody marys, offer a coffee bar with different options and serve breakfast "buffet style". While everyone fills their plates and their bellies, watch old Saturday Morning cartoon re-runs, or the classic movie The Breakfast Club.
Or if you'd rather spend the evening alone with a loved one, turn your breakfast for dinner into a romantic breakfast in bed.
When it comes to ending your big meal, think outside the box when it comes to dessert. How about Bacon Caramel Pecan Bars:
Crust
8 tablespoons (1 stick) salted butter
2/3 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon of baking powder
1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
Topping
1 cup sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup water
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup of coarsely crumbled bacon (thick cut quality bacon is recommended)
3 cups toasted pecans
coarse sea salt
*Optional Variation: 2 tablespoons Bourbon
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a mixing bowl or Kitchenaid, cream butter and sugar until light. Add egg and vanilla and beat for one minute. Add baking powder and flour until everything is well mixed and has formed a cookie dough. Spray a 9×13 baking pan with non-stick spray. Press cookie dough mixture evenly throughout the bottom of the pan. Bake for 20 minutes or until the edges are golden brown. Allow to cool.
For the topping, combine water, sugar, and corn syrup in a large sauce pan or pot. Cook over medium-high heat stirring it occasionally until sugar is completely dissolved. When the sugar/water/corn syrup mixture begins to change to an amber like color (like a dark honey) immediately turn off heat. Carefully add vanilla and heavy cream stirring (add bourbon for optional variation) until smooth and looks like caramel sauce. Add toasted pecans and bacon stirring and coating everything. Spread bacon caramel pecan mixture over the cookie crust evenly. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight or until cold. Sprinkle with coarse sea salt sparingly and cut into bars/squares and ENJOY!
American journalist, John Gunther once said, "All happiness depends on a leisurely breakfast," and now days, who can't use a little extra dose of happiness in their life? Isn't a little extra joy at the end of the day reason enough to splurge on making dinner into something special? For many people, breakfast food = comfort food and there are many scientific studies that suggest that there is more to comfort foods than meets the eye. Many of the foods we wat at breakfast are higher in calories, sugars, carbs and fat. These types of foods boost the levels of ‘feel-good’ endorphins in our bodies. Endorphins, anti-stress hormones produced naturally in the body, lessen pain and create a more euphoric effect in the brain. After a hard day at the office, dealing with bills, traffic, school, kids, laundry, the news, housework, etc., couldn't you use a little something to take the edge off?...and if thats not reason enough...
I love the idea of a pajama/breakfast party with friends! Especially the part about watching Saturday morning cartoons...what fun!
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