Chocolate Cake with Buttercream Frosting and Berry Mousse

This is my go-to cake recipe.  What's not to love?  

Fudgy, moist chocolate cake...yum.  Buttercream frosting that is silky smooth and perfect.  Mousse filling that is to-die for.

Cooking Show: Breakfast for Dinner, Part II

It's been about 2 years since we filmed our first Breakfast is My Favorite Kind of Dinner cooking show.

There are so many great breakfast recipes that I just don't make for breakfast very often (if ever), simply because I don't have time!

Please tell me that I'm not the only one who would rather get extra sleep than drag myself out of bed an hour early in order to prepare an awesome breakfast.

Nothing should stop you from preparing breakfast recipes for dinner, however!

Considering that she cooked with me for the first show, it was only fitting that my friend, Maureen, cook with me again for this show.  We were able to prepare a few recipes that didn't make the cut the first time!

 Fruit Salad with Honey Lime

A taste of summer in the middle of winter!

Mini Frittatas

One of the most practical breakfast recipes in existence.  Stir together some eggs with a splash of cream and a dash of salt, pour into muffin cups and then mix in whatever cheese, meats and/or veggies you happen to have on hand.  A great way to use up leftovers!  And they freeze beautifully...defrost them as needed for those mornings when you need a quick hit of protein before you start your day.

We neglected to plan for a drink, so we poured a Bellini or two as an afterthought.  Two parts prosecco to one part peach juice (or peach puree).

Baked French Toast

This needs to be prepared in advance (whenever is convenient for you!  At least an hour, but up to overnight is fine), to give the bread time to absorb the egg mixture.  Sooooo good.

 Open-Faced Egg Sandwiches with Ham and Cheese

These take very little effort!  Scramble some eggs, layer the eggs into a hollowed-out bread load with ham and cheese, pop it under your broiler and voilà!

Fruit Salad with Honey/Lime

As I am typing this, it is 18 degrees out and the local forecast says that it will be a whopping 10 degrees when I get up to walk my dogs tomorrow morning.

A week ago, I was still able to embrace the beauty of the snow as I walked out my front door.

Today, I'm over it.

I've got a bad case of spring fever.  This fruit salad, drizzled with a little bit of honey and lime, is like a bowlful of warmer temperatures and sunny skies.  Well, not really... but during the cold month of February, fruit salad is a nice touch of summer!

Mini Frittatas

Whether you are looking to use up the half-empty packages cluttering your fridge or simply looking for a recipe for leftovers, I can't think of a better recipe than these mini frittatas.

The only ingredients that are absolutely required are eggs, cream and salt.  The rest is up to you!

It took less than 10 minutes from the moment I started pulling ingredients out of the fridge until the moment I popped the frittatas into the oven.

I baked them in a regular cupcake tin this time, but you can also use a mini-muffin tin for bite-sized frittatas.

While the frittatas were baking I spent time with my latest obsession--watching the cardinals in my backyard.

They've always had a major presence at my bird feeder, but since we've had snow those flashes of red are really popping!  I'm totally obsessed.

I've tried counting them, just to see how many there are hanging out.  They move around so much, I lose count!

On this particular day, I counted 10 males (all red) and 4 females (brown with red at the tips of their wings, tail & head).  

Clyde was so perturbed by my focus on the cardinals that he started acting up (chewing on sticks is a no-no...tearing them off of the shrubs is a double no-no!), trying to get my attention.

Ham & Cheese Bites

Tomorrow is Super Sunday, so I thought it would be a good idea to post this appetizer recipe which has been one of my go-to recipes this football season.

Even though my favorite team was eliminated during the conference championship, I'm still planning on watching the game tomorrow and you can bet I'll be making these Ham & Cheese Bites!