One for the weekend

Something delicious is heading your way!

What does the weekend mean to you? On Friday it's as though an excitement bubbles to the surface and breathing alone is more enjoyable, Fridays feel different, fresher somehow.

And weekends offer so much possibility, a time for play and rest, in equal measures and much more. Often friends and family visit, Sunday lunches are eponymous. I, no surprises here, love weekends. This recipe is a weekend favourite, it is methodical and makes light work of deliciousness.

Step 1 -

Watch out loaf!

  Step 2-

Yikes!

Step 3-

Ah that feels better!

There is order in everything, even when this doesn't seem possible. Certain conversations, smells and flavours stand the test of time. A few years back whilst visiting family in Ireland, one of my cousins mentioned that he had mastered the art of a leisurely breakfast for visitors. By simplifying the classic Irish breakfast to a more continental style one, spliced in with a few Irish favourites for authenticity - the idea being less stress and organisation to contend with - thus a slower and more relaxed get up. It got me thinking... hey, and fair enough - the seed took a few years to sprout into this post, which brings to mind one of my favourite quotes, 

"Courage is an accumulation of small steps." George Konrad

Today’s offering is one especially for the weekend, and whether or not you’re expecting visitors, these eggy bread inspired muffins are a joy to make and an even tastier treat to eat - happily they make a light and seasonable alternative that is difficult to forget and requires little to no courage at all, they're very easy to make!

If you happen to live near hedges, lucky, lucky you! The shopping list will be minimal, however if you’re a town mouse the blackberries will be shop bought, beautifully though, you’ll probably notice that these juicy berries haven’t travelled too far and are as plump as bells – for it is blackberry season. These deep purple berries lie at the heart of this morning moment, swaddled in egg soaked brioche with a splash of vanilla, a sprinkle of cinnamon and a pairing of chopped banana… YUM! YUM! YUM!

Plump and ripe for the picking.

Blackberries are bursting with vitamin c, high in anti-oxidants and contain 36% of the daily-recommended amount of vitamin K, which is particularly important in pregnancy. Vitamin K helps the body’s absorption of calcium and aids the normal clotting of blood.

The wonder of this recipe is that all the prep is done the night before and means simply unwrapping these beauties for baking in the morning. For the 25 minutes of cooking time needed, one may pop out to the shops to get the weekend papers, another joy, and also perhaps more importantly get the kettle on! Whatever the weekend means to you, these are sure to make it a more special one.

Lots of love,

FFX

Blackberry, Banana & Brioche Breakfast Muffins

SERVES 4 – yields 12 muffins

Brioche, 130g cut into bite sized cubes

Eggs, 3 medium

Milk, 200ml

Sweet freedom/ maple syrups 2 tbsp

Ground cinnamon, ½ tsp

Vanilla extract, ½ tsp

Blackberries, 200g (If large, cut in half)

Banana, 1 cut into small cubes

LIGHTLY grease a 12 hole muffin case.

MIX the blackberries and bananas together and drizzle over one tbsp of the sweet-freedom/ maple syrup – leave to one side.

POP 3-4 cubes of brioche into each case.

POUR milk into a suitably sized jug and whisk in remaining sweet-freedom/ maple syrup, cinnamon, vanilla extract and eggs, until frothy and well combined.

DIVIDE fruit equally amongst the cases; be sure to pour in juices too.

POUR milk mixture over the brioche.

COVER with foil and place in the fridge to leave over night.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

PRE-HEAT oven to gas 4, 350F, 180’C.

REMOVE foil and bake for 25 minutes.

SERVE with an additional fruit salad and Greek yogurt.
*For the eternal carnivores crispy bacon also pairs up surprisingly well. Most importantly relax and welcome the adventures of your weekend.