Keeping it simple with Aunt Jemima and Aaron McCargo Jr.

I tend to eat the same thing every morning: yogurt, granola, and maybe some fruit. No preparation and little clean up helps me get out the door on-time. Yet after a while, the same old routine gets pretty boring. I can only imagine the added craziness of getting kids ready in the morning, putting breakfast on the table, and keeping your own head on straight while headed out the door—getting creative definitely gets put on the backburner (pun intended!)

One morning last week, Aunt Jemima Frozen Breakfast gathered some local NYC bloggers and media to learn easy breakfast tips from Food Network star, Aaron McCargo Jr. and sample some delicious recipes from his new book, Simply Done, Well Done.

Aunt Jemima makes breakfast easy and delicious!

Using Aunt Jemima frozen pancakes as a base, he showed us how to easily get creative by adding fruit compote or bananas foster topping. Also, McCargo showed us how to make tasty omelets and Super Duper Easy Monte Cristo Sandwiches.

One trick I picked up from Aaron was using oil instead of butter to cook an omelet. It keeps the eggs not only from sticking but also from burning. Due to its fat content, butter burns quicker and the oil helps keep that nice yellow color of the omelet.

We also got to meet some of the Aunt Jemima factory staff, some who have worked there for over 20 years! They made the trip from Jackson, Tennessee especially to have breakfast with us and share how Aunt Jemima frozen pancakes are made “from scratch, every batch.” Using a pre-made product, especially one made with simple ingredients, and then adding a fun, easy topping to spruce up the morning breakfast routine is definitely an idea I can get behind.

Here are a couple of recipes that Aaron shared with us!

Slamming Banana’s Foster Pancakes

Serves 3

Ingredients:

• 9 Aunt Jemima Frozen Oatmeal Pancakes
• 2 bananas (sliced into ½ inch pieces)
• ½ cup dark brown sugar
• ½ cup orange juice
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• ¼ stick butter (chilled and cubed)

Directions:

1. In a medium sauté pan, heat on medium the orange juice, brown sugar, cinnamon and vanilla extract. Gently stir. Cook until reduced by a third or when sauce appears to become syrupy (approximately 5 to 7 minutes).
2. Add bananas and continue stir for about a minute or until the bananas are coated.
3. Cut off heat and stir in chilled butter constantly until fully incorporated in sauce.
4. Heat up Oatmeal Pancakes (or any variety of Aunt Jemima Frozen Pancake, Waffles and French Toast) according to package directions and pour sauce over pancakes.
5. Sprinkle with powdered sugar if desired. Eat and enjoy!

Tip: For an adult version, add 2 tablespoons of dark rum.

Homestyle French Toast Monte Cristo Sandwich

Serves 3

Ingredients:

• 6 slices of Aunt Jemima Frozen Homestyle French Toast
• ½ pound or 9 slices of store bought deli roasted turkey breast (thinly sliced)
• ½ pound or 9 slices of store bought deli sliced Tavern style ham or best brand ham (thinly sliced)
• ½ pound or 9 slices of mozzarella
• ¼ stick of melted butter

Directions:

1. Preheat press grill. Heat French toast for 90 seconds in a microwave single layered using a microwave safe plate.
2. Remove plate from microwave and take 2 pieces of French toast and top first piece with 1 slice of mozzarella cheese, 3 slices of turkey and additional slice of mozzarella.
3. Add 3 slices of ham and cap it off with 1 more slice of mozzarella cheese.
4. Add the last piece of French toast.
5. Butter both sides of bread with melted butter then place on pre-heated grill and grill for 3-4 minutes on each side or until golden brown.
6. Remove, cut in quarters, and serve. No syrup needed since the sweetness of the French toasts makes this Super Duper Monte Cristo sweet enough!

Tip: If you do not have a grill, feel free to use a non-stick 10” pan and pre-heat on medium-high heat. Butter both sides of the sandwiches with melted butter and cook in pre-heated pan for 3-4 minutes while placing light pressure with a plate that will cover all the sandwiches at once. Flip and do the same. Remove and serve.

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Disclosure: Mom Central attended a complimentary breakfast sponsored by Aunt Jemima and received a gift bag.

Mom Central