Quick Breads

Zucchini Chocolate Chip Streusel Loaf

April 19, 2019

Sometimes I think it’s important to keep a simple “quick bread” recipe up your sleeve. You know, for moments when you’re in dire need of something sweet, first thing in the morning. Or just a little something right after dinner. Perhaps, you’re in need of a sweet treat late at time right before bed. Whatever the case might be, whenever the craving hits, you’ll want a quick and easy recipe that requires hardly any work. That’s where this Zucchini Chocolate Chip Streusel Loaf comes into the picture. The zucchini, oil and yogurt makes the moistest cake you’ll ever have. The chocolate chip streusel in the center and the topping takes it over the top, without being too much. It’s like a spring time coffee cake that I think you should always have on hand. You never know when the cravings will hit. You’ll want to be ready with this loaf cake when it does.

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Savory Carrot and Asiago Bread

February 27, 2018

It’s never too early to begin planning your Easter menu, but the great thing about this bread recipe is that you don’t only have to eat it on Easter. You can make it any time of year, especially because carrots are always in season it seems. You know how when you think of carrots in baked goods, carrot cake usually comes to mind? And how could it not? It’s sweet and delicious all by itself, but throw cream cheese icing into the mix and all bets are off. Well, this bread is the complete polar opposite, but in the best way possible. It isn’t sweet at all, but rather, it’s the king of all savory breads, flavored with Asiago cheese, a hint of cayenne and topped with sliced almonds which gives this bread the crunchiest crust you ever did see. It’s a great quick bread—reminiscent of an Irish soda bread in texture—that you can easily whip up whenever you’re in need of a tasty bread for mopping up sauces. It makes the best sidekick for stews, soups and even chilis. So what are you waiting for? Pick up the ingredients today after work so you can make it this week!

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Pepperoni Pizza Scones

January 4, 2018

First of all, Happy New Year, friends! This is officially the first post of 2018 and it couldn’t be more fitting. My friend Joy (Joy the Baker) and I are having a little virtual brunch pizza party going on today. We both made out-of-the-box pizza recipes that are perfect for your next brunch (either together or separately, but preferably together) or maybe just for dinner alone by yourself. I mean who am I to judge? Pizza parties for one are always a good idea in my book, and don’t let anyone tell you different. It’s 2018 and we should be living our lives to the fullest, and if that means having pizza for brunch, then so be it.

Joy made this amazing Supreme Pizza Quiche. You read that right. It’s quiche meets supreme pizza and you’d be crazy not to make it this weekend. Homemade pie crust loaded with sausage, pepperoni, olives, bell peppers, eggs, cheese and pizza sauce. It’s a dream come true, and I mean that completely. I on the other hand, made Pizza Scones. They’re like biscuit meets scone studded with plenty of cheese and pepperoni and of course served with pizza sauce. They’re modeled after these scones, and I can’t express enough just how much you’re going to love them. Give both these recipes a try soon, or when you’re feeling uninspired; they’re sure to make you happy!

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Cornbread Breakfast Muffins

January 3, 2017

These are some giant muffins. Like jumbo status muffins. You can’t really tell in the photo but these aren’t your regular standard cupcake sized muffins. These are more like eat one for breakfast and you’ll be good for lunch and dinner type of muffins. Okay, that’s an exaggeration, but you get the picture. I bake them off in a jumbo muffin pan so even though we only end up with six muffins in the end, they are really satisfying so you actually don’t need that many. They’re fill you up muffins that will get you ready for the day, making it more productive for you. Plus did I mention that they are made up of homemade cornbread batter studded with bacon, cheese, scallions, jalapeños with an egg in the middle? You can’t really go wrong with any of those ingredients.

Seeing as this is the first post of the New Year (Happy New Year btw), I think that one of our New Year’s resolutions should be to eat breakfast regularly. I don’t know about you, but I’m really bad about eating breakfast during the week. Sometimes I’m too busy so I end up just skipping it. That’s no bueno, so I decided that this year I want to be better about that. These Cornbread Breakfast Muffins are my answer to that resolution. They freeze well, so making them in advance will save use all a bunch of time. Just in case these muffins aren’t cutting it for you, try out these Steak and Avocado Breakfast Burritos are a great alternative, as well as this Breakfast Pie, Roasted Tomato Breakfast Tart, Breakfast Grilled Cheese, Breakfast BLTs, or Steak and Egg Breakfast Sandwiches. Now, there’s really no excuse not to eat a decent meal in the morning. Let’s work together to be better about eating breakfast this year. Deal?

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Blueberry Cobbler Biscuits

August 13, 2014

The thing about biscuits is that you don’t know whether to eat them in the morning for breakfast or devour them at dinner as a roll to sop up all of the yummy sauce left behind. I’m getting off track…what was I saying? Oh, do you lean them towards something sweet or something savory? I don’t really care because just as long as biscuits are involved I’m not complaining. Whoever invented biscuits should get a huge monument built in their honor. Like a big statue or something, at least. I know that in different parts of the world, biscuits are completely different. It’s more of a cookie or a cracker of some kind. But here in the states, for the most part, we’re talking about buttery fluffy quick breads that I just want to stuff my face with.

These are a cross between a few different desserts. It’s like blueberry crumble meets blueberry cobbler—because cobblers are usually topped with biscuits—meets blueberry streusel muffins meets buttermilk biscuits. I chose blueberries because they’re currently in season and are on sale everywhere I turn. Literally, everywhere. They’re practically giving them away. So I thought it would be a good idea to come up with something sweet to use up all those free blueberries. Here we are now, knee deep in blueberry cobbler biscuits. Not really knee deep, but how cool (and delicious) would that be?! I’m making a mental note right now, as I type this, to make that fantasy a reality. Jonathan Melendez: Making dreams come true since August 2014.

True fact: My mamma’s favorite berry is a blueberry. She also shares my love (and passion) for biscuits so this recipe actually goes out to her as a BTW, FYI, and P.S. It’s the least I could do after she gave birth to me and fed me and clothed me and provided a roof over my head for all those years. I mean, biscuits pretty much makes us even. Right mom? You don’t have to answer because I know they do. That’s how magical biscuits are. Get in on all this magic.

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Loaded Baked Potato Scones

April 7, 2014

I don’t think I have to explain my undying love of potatoes to you. I think you just get it. If I were to say to you that potatoes are the best vegetable/starch ever, like in all the worlds, well you would know I wasn’t lying. You’d most likely agree with me, because umm hello, potatoes. I have this obsession with potatoes. That’s where Potato Tacos and Potato Balls come into the picture. Not like a “they’re so good I’m obsessed can’t get enough of them” kind of obsession. While yes that’s true, it’s more like a “I need to eat potato everything and anything because they’re that good,” kind of obsession. I think it’s a healthy addiction. Nothing to worry about. It’s quite common if you really think about it. Don’t look at me like that!

I know that at some point I’ll be asked if these are scones or biscuits, and to tell you the truth, I’m not quite sure myself. I have no idea. Let’s be frank, they look exactly the same. All I know is that they’re flaky and delicious and I want to eat them all. I guess we can call them biscuit scones. Biscones. Or sconsuits. Hey look at us, we’re inventing new things. Aren’t we clever? The answer is yes. Always, yes. In all honesty, jokes aside, scones and biscuits, they’re pretty much the same thing, right? I mean, I can’t really tell the difference. Some sources claim to know the answer. The answer being that scones have eggs in the dough. Um no. I know plenty of scones that don’t have eggs in them so therefore, are they biscuits? Others claim that scones are scones if they are triangular and biscuits are biscuits if they are circular. This might be the case but at the same time, I’ve seen circular scones so I don’t think there’s a right answer here. I think the people who invented each of them got together and decided to play a trick on all of us. They wanted to mess with our heads.

The bottom line is I made these potato scones/biscuits with bacon and cheese and I can’t think of anything more delicious at the moment. They’re something out of this world, especially right out of the oven all warm and flaky and delicious looking. Am I convincing you yet? These biscuits/scones are sort of like the ultimate snack, perfect for on-the-go. It’s potatoes, cheese and bacon and bread in a small package that you can eat with one hand while you (safely) drive to work or school or where ever else you drive. How about now? Are you convinced? These scones/biscuits are all like, “Hey look at us, we’re loaded with potatoes and crispy bacon and delicious cheese. You need to eat us!” They’re calling out to you because they know you can’t resist. Don’t fight it anymore, go on and make these biscuits/scones for yourself.

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