Simple Breakfast Salad ...

Its simple to add veggies to your breakfast, but most dont consider the ease and comfort of a salad. Instead of a boring bowl of scrambled eggs, try them with chicken sausage and poppyseed dressing over spring greens! Add a sprinkling of cheddar, and you wont believe you've never thought of and egg salad like this before!

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Simple Ricotta Meatballs . . .

So, I love a good, juicy, oven-baked meatball as much as the next Italian (even if I'm Swiss). This is a simple recipe I love, and they are so juicy!

I make a bunch and freeze them. This way I alwyas have a quick meal:

INGREDIENTS

4 cups ricotta

1 pound sausage

1 pound ground beef

1/2 cup italian parsley

2 cups grated parm

1/4 cup plain breadcrumbs

2 eggs

Mix in a giant bowl, I use a pot, even. Roll into balls a little bigger than golfballs. Line up in a pan with sides as the fat will pool during cooking. Bake 375 for 35-40 min. Remove and add to your favorite noodles and sauce, freeze rest!

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Simple Apple & Brie App

Borrowed this from Bloghungry.typepad.com . . . so easy!

Brie and Apple Tarts

I've made these a few different ways as a shout out to baked brie in a more manageable and pre-portioned size. In a pinch you can wrap crescent rolls around apple and brie slices and pop 'em in the oven. The cheese is a little understated so don't be shy with it. You might also consider bringing another cheese or two to the party if you have other interesting fruit and cheese pairings on hand.

Individual Brie and Apple Tarts

1 box (2 sheets) of puff pastry, thawed

1 green apple

1 Tbsp brown sugar, divided

1 Tbsp butter, divided

1/4 tsp cinnamon, divided

1 medium wedge of brie

1 egg

flour (for rolling)

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.

Unfold 1 sheet of puff pastry onto a lightly floured board and roll it slightly with a floured rolling pin until it's a 10 by 10-inch square. Cut the sheet into quarters with a sharp knife. Place a good-sized slice of brie and 3 or 4 this slices of apple the middle of each of the 4 squares. Sprinkle apples with cinnamon and brown sugar and top with a pat of butter. Brush the border of each pastry with egg wash and fold 2 opposite corners to the center, brushing and overlapping the corners of each pastry so they firmly stick together. Brush the top of the pastries with egg wash. Place the pastries on the prepared sheet pan. Repeat with the second sheet of puff pastry.

Bake the pastries for about 20 minutes, rotating the pan once during baking, until puffed and brown. Serve warm

Simple Peppermint Bark (Oh Martha!)

If you don't have a double boiler, use a metal bowl set over a pot of simmering water.

Martha Stewart Living

Ingredients

• 2 pounds white chocolate, chopped into 1/2-inch pieces
• 12 large candy canes
• 1/2 teaspoon peppermint oil

Directions

1. Line an 11-by-17-inch baking sheet with parchment, and set aside.
2. In the top of a double boiler, melt white chocolate, stirring constantly.
3. With a chef's knife or meat tenderizer, cut or pound candy canes into 1/4-inch pieces.
4. Stir pieces of candy canes and peppermint oil into the melted chocolate. Remove from heat, and pour the mixture onto the prepared baking sheet; spread evenly. Chill until firm, 25 to 30 minutes. Break into pieces, and serve. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.

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Simple, Mini Doughnuts (not fried!)

Photo Courtesy The Pioneer Woman

Why I never found this machine before amazes me. I love a mini doughnut as much as the next delightfully plump-minded mamma. 

BabyCakes mini doughnut maker is available at Bed Bath and Beyond

$19.99

Mini Doughnut Maker

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Simple, Curtain-rod Pot Hanger . . .

Buy a curtain rod and use it to hang your pots! Clean out that cluttery under-the-oven drawer and display a few of those pots we pay so much for! Turns any ordinary kitchen into a culinary attraction.

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Simple, Skip-The-Drive-through Egg McMuffins

Why fill your body with all those extra preservatives you don't need when you can make your own McMuffins at home, for even cheaper! Buy a dozen eggs and put that muffin tray to good use. Bake in the oven and layer with a slice of cheese, some preservative/hormone free Canadian bacon, and a whole wheat English Muffin. Wrap with foil and freeze. Come morning, just pop in the oven before your shower and by the time you leave the house you'll have a tasty breakfast treat you can feel simple about!