Funnel Cakes at Home

It's the holiday season, and in just a couple of short weeks you are probably going to look across your breakfast table at your sweetie (who's off from work); your kids (who are home on Christmas break); or other visiting "loved-ones".
During most holidays at our house, everyone wants to sleep-in and they each get up at different times, so we have brunch at 10:00, 10:30....11:00 or whatever, and then just have a nice dinner that evening. You're preparing two meals instead of three and everyone thinks you're great because you let them sleep-in and.... had brunch ready when they got up! I'm not the "hostess with the mostess" when it comes to breakfast. I have just never been a breakfast person. So here are some of my ideas for easy breakfasts:

Egg Casserole (assembled the night before)
Irish Oatmeal (cooked all night in the crock pot)
Selection of cold cereals with bananas
Pan of (frozen Pillsbury) biscuits (microwave sausage patties)
Yogurt with fun toppings
Muffins and fruit salad (made ahead)


You can dress these basics up by adding several toppings, a bowl of fresh fruit, a couple of juices or special coffee (I don't skimp here, I grind it in my coffee grinder right before brewing for that super aroma!) Good coffee is like a good dessert; it will cover a multitude of sins at the end of a meal. The cook's inadequacies will be overlooked if the meal ends with a perfect cup of coffee or a cake that melts in their mouth. Believe me, there are just times that dinner doesn't turn out like you envisioned it.
Back to the subject of brunch for your bunch! How surprised would they be if you fixed them a funnel cake for that special holiday wake-up meal ? Here's a recipe. Please make sure that you have strawberries (either fresh or strawberry pie filling will do); whipped cream, cinnamon sugar and powdered sugar available for each person to make theirs the way they like.


Funnel Cake

2 beaten eggs
1 1/2 C milk
2 C flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 C cooking oil

In a batter bowl with a pour lip, combine eggs and milk. Sift together flour, baking powder and salt. Add egg mixture; beat smooth with mixer. Test mixture to see if it flows easily through a funnel. If too thick, add milk. If too thin, add flour.
In 8" skillet, heat oil to 360 degrees. Cover bottom opening of funnel with your finger and release batter into hot oil, swirling the funnel to make a spiral shape. Fry until golden. Use tongs to turn cake over. Cook 1 minute more. Drain on a paper towel; sprinkle with confectioner's sugar. Makes 5 cakes.


***********************************************************************************Marcia's Adventures in Texas: Dove Creek Cafe in Roanoke for chicken-fried chicken and homemade Blackberry Cobbler!.....oh, and a very good Elvis impersonator who gave a 2 hour concert, including requests from the audience. (He's there twice a month, but you have to have reservations :0)

***A BIG THANK-YOU to my son, Ben, who was sooo helpful in bookmarking and linking all of the recipe swaps that I list for you each week. That has made linking up so much more efficient as I write every day. Ben has been crazy-busy with the new app that he created called YUMMMBOX. It was accepted by Apple this summer and is available on Iphone in the Apple Store. He has been working feverishly to advance his business, and I'm very proud of him for his great ideas and follow-through!***

Next Friday is the drawing for The Southern Heritage Cake Book. Make sure you're signed on as a follower and Like Frugalhomekeeping on Facebook for a chance to win!


Swaps :
-Blessed with Grace
-From Mess Hall to Bistro
-Balancing Beauty and Bedlam
-Permanent Posies
-Hearth and Soul
-All the Small Stuff
-33 Shades of Green
-My Sweet and Savory