BLUEBERRY LEMON BREAKFAST CAKE

This is a coffee cake-type dish that isn't too sweet.  A perfect side dish for any brunch!

Blueberry Lemon Breakfast Cake
Serves 12


1/2 cup butter, room temperature
lemon zest  from 1 lemon
lemon juice from 1 lemon
7/8 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp kosher salt
2 cups blueberries
3/4 cup buttermilk
Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Cream butter with lemon zest and sugar until light and fluffy.

Add the egg and vanilla and beat until combined.

In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder and salt.

Add the flour mixture to the batter a little at a time, alternating with the buttermilk. Fold in the blueberries.

Grease a 9-inch square baking pan. Spread batter into pan. Sprinkle batter with  1 tablespoon of sugar. Bake for 40 minutes. Let cool at least 15 minutes before serving.

BRUNCH BRAID

Here's another one of those dishes that will impress guests and is easy to make.  It's a perfect side dish to any brunch. 

Brunch Braid

Makes 8 servings

12 oz pork sausage (1 package Jimmy Dean maple or sage flavored)

1/2 onion, chopped

1 cup mushrooms, chopped

1 garlic clove, minced

3 oz cream cheese

1.5 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded

2 tubes refrigerated crescent rolls

1 egg, lightly beaten

In a large skillet, cook the sausage, onions, mushrooms, and garlic.  Add cream cheese.  Cook and stir over low heat until cheese is melted; set aside.

On two separate greased baking sheets, unroll crescent dough and seal perforations.  Roll into a 12-in. x 10-in. rectangle.

Spoon sausage mixture to within 3 in. of long sides and 1 in of ends. Top with mozzarella cheese.  On each long side, cut 3/4-inch-wide strips 3 inched into center. Starting at one end, fold alternately strips at an angle, forming a braid.

Brush dough with egg. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.

Note:  No rolling pin?  Use a glass, pop can, or wine bottle.  I've used all of those before and it works.

CINNAMON CRUMB COFFEE CAKE

Why re-invent the wheel? Trader Joe's coffee cake mix is easy to make. Not only that, but it's delicious. Who cares if it's not from scratch, it almost is. And besides, presentation and taste are what count, right?

Cinnamon Crumb Coffee Cake
Makes 8 servings

1 box Trader Joe's Coffee Cake
1 egg
9.5 T Butter
2/3 cup milk

Follow directions on box.

Note: Use a 9" round pan instead of a square pan. It looks fancier. Add crushed raspberries to the mix for something that looks even more fancy.