Saturday, February 12, 2011

The Perfect Breakfast and a Sweet Giveaway!


Let's be honest. We've all had those days when you wake up and need a pick-me up right off the bat. For those kind of days, a nice breakfast might just do the trick. For me, frittatas are definitely the way to go when you have time for a hearty morning meal. Beat a couple eggs with a little cream, add some greens and a little cheese and let the frittata bake in the oven while you prepare the rest. This breakfast platter includes some greek yogurt topped with blueberries and oats, some sliced apples and a parmesan, spinach and green onion frittata. Add a glass of freshly pressed grapefruit juice and a good cup of coffee and you can be sure the day ahead will be that much brighter!

And to continue the day on a good note, I'm offering a great giveaway. I have 3 copies of Kings of Pastry to send to 3 lucky readers. This movie follows chefs as they compete for the Meilleurs Ouvriers de France. It's a wonderful movie for anyone interested in the pastry realm and will bring you backstage at one the most intense culinary competitions in the world. To enter the contest, comment on this post and tell us what your favorite pastries are. For a second entry in this contest, add a comment on Chocolate Shaving's facebook page. This contest is open to US and Canadian residents only and ends on February 18th, 2011. Good luck!


Parmesan, Green Onion and Spinach Frittata
Serves 2

4 eggs
1 splash of heavy cream
1/4 cup milk
3 green onions, sliced
1 handful of baby spinach, coarsely chopped
1/4 cup of shredded parmesan
Salt and freshly ground pepper

Preheat your oven to 375F. Beat the eggs until homogeneous and add the cream and milk. Stir in the green onions, spinach and parmesan. Season generously with salt and pepper. Add the egg mixture to a cast iron pan on medium heat. Using a whisk or wooden spoon, stir the mixture until it just start to cook. Place the cast iron in the oven and bake until the frittata is just set and golden brown (about 15 minutes).
Serve warm. Enjoy!

77 comments:

Unknown said...

I have a weakness for ALL pastries! I love everything better in pastry form :)
Thanks for sharing your lovely breakfast idea!

The Church Cook said...

I love frittatas! This looks fabulous, Jennifer!

Terri. said...

I love cheese and fruit pastries
tshaw6580@yahoo.com

Emma said...

I love puff pastry and palmiers of all descriptions. I also like Chocolate Pear Tart, from the blog Confessions of a Tart

Emma said...

I like palmiers and everything with puff pastry. I like palmiers with ganache especially well!

Anonymous said...

I like palmiers and all things puff pastry. I especially like a version with ganache which i had in france.

Carole said...

I am not particular. Any pastry will not live long in my house.

Taylor said...

Your frittata looks and sounds delicious! As far as pastries, I am partial to chocolate filled croissants!

Eat the Love said...

I had the opportunity to participate in a wonderful Kings of Pastry event here in San Francisco where the Baker's Dozen group baked lovely desserts for a reception of the movie. You can read my recap of it here http://www.eatthelove.com/2010/12/apple-slab-pie-with-dried-fall-fruit-html/ and I will say that movie was quite amazing. After watching it, it is now one of my life goals to make a spun sugar sculpture like they did.

Not sure how I'm going to do that, but you know, I have a lifetime to figure it out.

That said, my favorite pastie is the standard steak and onion pastie. If, however, that was a typo and you were asking what our favorite pastries are, then I'd probably go with a fruit pie. Preferably one made in the summer with seasonal fruit.

Chocolate Shavings said...

Eat the Love: Thanks for noticing the typo - it is pastry!

Unknown said...

I really love Baklava. Especially when it's made with pistachios.

Anonymous said...

A chocolate croissant can't be beat!

Alice said...

Eclairs -- best pastry, ever! I can be falling of my feet but one bite of eclair and... POOF! I am feeling better. :)

My favorite breakfast is crepes. My mouth is watering now... Buttery blintzes, with homemade farmer's cheese (not sour stuff sold in stores or even ricotta) and raspberry jam...

Chocolate Freckles said...

This looks absolutely divine... I wish my hubby would cook it for me tomorrow morning!... mmmm not likely hahahahah

A Bowl Of Mush said...

Yum this frittata looks delicious, think this might be my breakfast tomorrow!

My favoourite pastry is the classic french eclair...mmm bliss :)

Poires au Chocolat said...

Argh jealous of US/Can residents, I really really want to see Kings of Pastry! Annoyingly the BBC own the rights here and I missed it on TV and no DVD :(

Lovely frittata!

Trissa said...

Too bad am not eligible for your giveaway but it's still a pleasure to visit your blog and see great recipes like this one. Indeed a fantastic way to start the day.

S said...

So difficult to choose favorites, but I love cream puffs, baklava, and cream cheese danishes.

foodie and the chef said...

I was trained by a few winners of the Meilleur Ouvriers de France... the amount of work the competition involves is horrendous! My favourite pastry is flaky, buttery Galette des Rois... it's a sentimental love, I used to eat it for breakfast every morning in Paris.

Jennie said...

I like fruit pastries and I like them sweet!

Amy said...

My favorite pastry...hmm...a cream cheese danish! Yum!!

Amy said...

My favorite pastry...hmm...a cream cheese danish! Yum!! :-D

Amy said...

Cream cheese danish...yum!! :-)

cavadan said...

I love puff pastries because they are an open canvas for anything. Whether savory or sweet. In all reality don't we love them all though.

Pat R said...

Eclairs, eclairs and more eclairs please!!!!

Robyn said...

Tarts, any and all. And then just move down the pastry case. I could be like that guy in Chocolat and pass out from eating in the window.

N Wilkes said...

Chocolate Nut Cigars made with phyllo dough. I made these for the SC House of Representatives when my husband was a member and I was the "Cookie Lady" every Wednesday. Eight years of a different sweet treat every Wednesday and those still stand out to me.

N Wilkes said...

Chocolate Nut Cigars made with phyllo dough. After 8 years of being the "Cookie Lady" of the SC House of Representatives from 1995-2002, making a different sweet treat recipe every Wednesday, these still stand out to me.

polwig said...

I think my favorite pastry is Pain au Chocolat, or maybe a rhubarb one... oh so tough to choose.

Chocolate Shavings said...

NWilkes: That's an exciting place to be the 'cookie lady' - chocolate cigars are always a delicious sweet treat!

JuLo said...

Chocolate croissants. Love em!

Meg Luby said...

yummmm, i love sfoglia

thanks for posting, your blog is always a treat :)

-meg
@ http://www.myscribblednotebook.blogspot.com
@ http://www.clutzycooking.blogspot.com

Kathy - Panini Happy said...

I've had this movie in my Netflix queue for months - can't wait to see it. I will always love a fresh-baked croissant. :-)

Anonymous said...

I love whole wheat and honey croissants with red fuits marmelade!
Elena

Emma said...

I'm sorry about the double comment. It didn't send at first, so I did it again. My email address is: caitlinmclaren@rogers.com

Caroline @ chocolate & carrots said...

Anything chocolate...especially a rich dark chocolate and ganache cake. Mmmm...

caroline@chocolateandcarrots.com

Kelly said...

I love all sweet pastries - the breakfast kind with the fruits in them!

Anonymous said...

Mmm my favorite pastry is a praline filled one with chocolate drizzle. Heaven.

Rosy said...

That frittata looks amazing. The great thing about them is you can eat them anytime of day.

pbach1 said...

love croissants with chocolate inside (microwaved to make the chocolate nice and soft!)

Anna said...

I saw this movie when they premiered in chicago. The whole theater groaned when he chucked his "not-quite-perfect" cake into the trash after taking just one bite.

G'ma Jan said...

I love cream horns and eclairs and cream puffs.

grace said...

do cinnamon rolls count? if not, i love a good bear claw. :)

Sewbusy17 said...

I'm not particular...any thing chocolate!

stephie said...

One favorite pastry is a napoleon :) O the texture! :)

James said...

Nothing beats a strawberry tart fresh from the patisserie

Beverly said...

❤ Bon Appétit!
my husband makes a wonderful molten flourless chocolate cake in heart shaped ramekins...
melts my heart!

Unknown said...

a really good croissant.
real butter.

Keaton Wilder said...

Tempeh Wellington utilizes puff pastry in a savory way, but pan chocolat, cannot be beat.

clm said...

Always love a good frangipane tart

gohabsgo said...

My favorite pastry is definitely crème brûlée!

Unknown said...

Good old fashioned cream horns are irresistible for me. I recently learned to make Pithivier and love it, as well as Napoleans and Greek Kataifi.

trouble said...

The croissants from the Paris Baguette bakery by my house.

Unknown said...

I love croissants - good ones, not the kind we get in the supermarkets. If they are filled with chocolate, or custard with slivered almonds on top, even better! Danish pastries are a real treat but almost impossible to find good ones these days. Any kind of flaky pastry - well made - is a treat. From my home made pies to a custard slice I had in Greece. The pre-made pastry shells you can buy are definitely NOT anything like the real thing!

Ava said...

I never met a pastry I didn't like.....I DO HOWEVER LOVE Pomontierres(SP)Pig's Ears and Puff Pastries.....a little chocolate helps too.....
Oh and thanks for the recipe.....

Ava said...

I never met a pastry I didn't like.....I DO HOWEVER LOVE Pomontierres(SP)Pig's Ears and Puff Pastries.....a little chocolate helps too.....
Oh and thanks for the recipe...

Kari said...

I love chocolate éclairs. Delicious.

Unknown said...

Napoleons! My favorites.

Tara said...

Croissants, preferably with chocolate. I can't resist!

Carrie said...

Chocolate croissants are a love of mine! I haven't tried making them myself yet, but am excited to try.

Evangline said...

I love pain au chocolat (the chocolate croissant). Especially when it's made with really yummy dark chocolate. :)

Lynnette said...

I love puff pastry and phyllo in any form.

Jonnie (JB) said...

Apple Struedel is my favorite pastry. I can't get enough of it.

dftrew(at)gmail(dot)com

Holly said...

I love eating and making pastries. Any kind of pastries. I must admit I do love a good Danish pastry every now and then! Yum!

Anonymous said...

The tray is absolutely adorable!!!!

moonsword said...

always and forever my favorite pastry is cannoli!

Anonymous said...

I love pain au raisin, especially if I'm eating it in France!

Bazu said...

I have got to say, I like cherry pie in the summer or spring with fresh cherries, right off the tree...mmmmm

Suzi said...

I cannot understand why pastries in Paris taste better than any made in pastry shops in Ottawa, Toronto, or Picton that I have visited. Therefore my vote is for the Paris-Brest made in Paris, France.

-EBJJ said...

Ohh! I would definitely have to say a fresh chocolate danish! For realz.

A Canadian Foodie said...

The frittata looks wonderful and the way you described the breakfast - YUM! Freshly squeezed grapefruit, a good cup of coffee... I am SO in.
I have never heard of that movie. I MUST watch it. It sounds so very interesting!
Thanks for the heads up on that one!
:)
Valerie

Gina A said...

I love cookies! Chewy cookies!

And I've heard this film is awesome, so I really hope I win! :)

Anonymous said...

Hi, Jennifer. Since this is a French film, my favourite pastries are tarte au citron, tarte aux framboises, or religieuse au chocolat (or cafe - it's like an eclair).

Thanks for the giveaway opportunity,

Dan

Lisa@ButteryBooks said...

Bummer, I missed the contest. Sounds like an entertaining film. There has never been a pastry I didn't like.

Nive said...

I luv pastries in any form and type , but i have a craving for chocolate pastries in particular :)

Fast Food places said...

These looks so yummy. Yours look so delicious, I’ll have to give it a try.

MollyK said...

Do Beavertails count :)

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