Easy Pancake Muffins

 

Ingredients 

1/2 lb breakfast sausage, cooked and cut into small pieces ( ground breakfast sausage or pre-cooked links or patties work just fine) 

1 1/2 C milk

4 tbsp. white vinegar

2 C all-purpose flour

4 tbsp. white sugar

2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

2 eggs

4 tbsp. butter, melted

1 tsp. vanilla

Maple syrup for drizzling

Directions

1) Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees. 

2) Cook breakfast sausage and cut into small pieces.

3) In a small bowl combine milk with vinegar and allow it to sit for 5 minutes. 

4) In a large bowl sift together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. 

5) Add in eggs, milk, vanilla, and melted butter and stir to combine. 

6) Stir in cooked breakfast sausage pieces.

7) Prepare muffin tins with non-stick cooking spray or line them with paper liners.

8) Fill each muffin cup 2/3 of the way full. 

9) Bake for about 15-16 minutes, or until done. 

10) Drizzle pancake muffins with maple syrup and serve immediately. 

Prep: 10 minutes

Cook: 15 minutes

Total: 25 minutes

Serves: 8

This is a recipe that if your really short on time or just wanna use a shortcut you can always use a box of pancake mix and just add the breakfast sausage to it and cook as above. I doubled the recipe and was able to get almost 48 muffins by doing so. They are great heated the next day and can be put in the freezer for a quick breakfast (just reheat in the microwave for a few minutes) . 

Sweet N' Sticky Polska Kielbasa

 

Ingredients

3 lbs polska kielbasa (beef or pork) 

27 oz. cola (regular , sweetened cola , NOT diet) 

Directions

1) Slice the entire kielbasa into 1/2 inch wide slices. Place them in a skillet and saute on medium high heat for about 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the both sides of the kielbasa  begin to lightly brown. 

2) Pour the 27 oz cola into the skillet. Cook on medium heat, stirring occasionally , until all the liquid has reduced, thickened, and glazed the meat (about 30 minutes). All the liquid should be gone from the skillet. 

3) Remove kielbasa from skillet and serve hot, alongside a serving of mashed potatoes and a veggie. Enjoy!. 

Prep: 5 minutes

Cook: 30 minutes

Total: 35 minutes

Serves: 12

You can double , triple etc this recipe and use it as an appetizer for a gathering if you like. 

Easy Honey Garlic Chicken

 

Ingredients 

6 chicken thighs, bone-in or out, with or without skin*

Salt and pepper, to taste 

2 tsp. garlic powder, to season

6 cloves garlic, crushed

1/3 C honey

1/4 C water (or chicken broth)

2 tbsp. rice wine vinegar (or apple cider vinegar, or any white vinegar)

1 tbsp. soy sauce

Instructions

1) Season chicken with salt, pepper and garlic powder; set aside.

2) Heat a pan or skillet over medium high heat; sear chicken thigh fillets or breast fillets on both sides until golden and cooked through.

For Bone In Thighs: 

1) Reduce heat after searing on both sides, cover skillet with a lid and continue cooking until the chicken is cooked through, while turning every 5 minutes until done. Alternatively , see below for oven method. 

2) Drain most of the excess oil from the pan, leaving about 2 tbsp. of pan juice for added flavor. 

For Sauce: 

1) When chicken is done and cooked through, arrange chicken skin side up in the pan (if cooking with skin); add the garlic between the chicken and fry until fragrant (about 30 seconds). Add the honey, water, vinegar and soy sauce. Increase heat to medium-high and continue to cook until the sauce reduces down and thicken slightly (about 3-4 minutes). 

2) Garnish with parsley and serve over vegetables, rice, pasta or with a salad. 

Prep: 10 minutes

Cook: 20 minutes

Total: 30 minutes

Serves: 6

* For chicken breasts: use 3 breasts, sliced horizontally in half. Sear breast fillets on each side until golden and cooked through ( about 6 minutes per side, depending on the thickness of your fillets).  Continue directions from the sauce, onwards. 

* For oven baked, bone-in thighs: Preheat oven at 400 degrees. Sear chicken in an oven proof skillet pan, skin side down for the first 3 minutes. Flip and sear for a another 3 minutes until browned on each side. Then bake in the oven for another 20-25 minutes, until completely cooked through and no longer pink inside. Continue directions from sauce, onwards. 

Honey Garlic Steak Bites

  

Ingredients 

2 lbs. top sirloin steak, cubed

2 tsp. sweet or smoked paprika

salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste

4 tbsp. vegetable oil, divided

6 tbsp. low sodium soy sauce

1/2 C water (or broth) 

8 cloves garlic, minced

4 tbsp. honey 

2 tbsp. sesame seed oil (you can also use extra virgin olive oil) 

2 tbsp. rice vinegar ( you can also use white vinegar) 

1 tsp. dried oregano 

2 tbsp. cornstarch

sesame seeds, for garnish (optional) 

sliced green onions , for garnish (optional) 

Directions

1) Cut up steak into 1/2 inch to 1 inch cubes.

2) Season with paprika, salt, and pepper; set aside. 

3) In a mixing bowl combine soy sauce, water, garlic, honey, sesame seed oil, rice vinegar, oregano, and cornstarch; whisk until thoroughly combined. Set aside. 

4) Heat 1 tbsp. vegetable oil in a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat until hot. 

5) Add 1/2 of the steak cubes to the hot oil and cook for 2 minutes per side, or until browned and done. Remove from skillet and repeat with the rest of the steak cubes, adding extra oil as needed.

6) Remove all steak bites from the skillet and set aside. 

7) Give the previously honey garlic sauce a good stir with a whisk and pour 1/3 of the sauce into the hot skillet; scrape up the browned pieces from the bottom of the pan. 

8) Add the steak bites back to the skillet and pour the rest of the sauce over the steak; cook for 1 to 2 more minutes, or until sauce starts to thicken. 

9) Remove from heat. 

10) Transfer steak bites to a plate and drizzle with the pan sauce. 

11) Garnish with sesame seeds and sliced green onions (if using).

12) Serve with a side and vegetable of your choice. 

Prep: 5 minutes

Cook: 15 minutes

Total: 20 minutes

Serves: 8