Tart Cakes and Fruity-O Cakes

These freaky-deaky breakfast pancakes are the spawns of seeds planted by Kenny Shopsin of Shopsins in NYC.  You may recognize his name as the inspiration for my French Toast Bagels post several months ago.  I've been reading his book Eat Me: The Food and Philosophy of Kenny Shopsin and have been very entertained and inspired by his writings and recipes.  

Ingredients

Pancake Batter (whatever kind you would normally use)

Butter

Cereal or Granola

and/or

Your favorite toaster pastry (we used strawberry)

Directions

Read Kenny's book.  Heat up your griddle and wet with butter then pour on pancake batter.  Sprinkle cereal or chopped toaster pastry bits on top.  Flip the pancake, topping side down, after about 2 minutes of cooking or until the pancake becomes bubbly.  Cook with topping side down for another 2 minutes.  Serve topping side up. 

I like to keep a warm plate in the oven (about 200F) if I'm cooking for a lot of people, and place each finished pancake on the plate until I am done cooking .  That way everyone can enjoy hot pancakes at the same time.

The Results

Well, the the Tart Cakes turned out far better then the Fruity-O Cakes.  The jammy parts from the pastry made a great filling and the iced tops added a bite of sweetness.  The cereal cakes were comparatively flavorless and overly carbohydrated.  In the future I'm going to experiment with raisin bran and granola with dried fruits, chocolate and nuts to try and enhance the flavor.  

Any other ideas?  

Happy experimenting!

Toaster Pastry S'mores

I just want to say.... this is one of the most beautiful and delicious creations I have ever made.  

The sweet berry filling mixed with the the quality dark chocolate makes this unlike any S'mores that has come before it.  

You must try this before you die. 

Ingredients

2 toaster pastries/pop-tarts (I recommend strawberry or cherry-pomegranate flavors from Nature's Path)

3 large marshmallows

1 bar dark chocolate (I used Newman's Own Dark chocolate-it was exactly the same size as the toaster pastries!!!)

Directions 

Place both Toaster Pastries, icing side down, on a plate.  Place 3 marshmallows on one pastry.  Place both pastries in the toaster oven.  Toast until marshmallow tops are brown. 

Remove from oven.  Place chocolate bar on the toaster pastry without the marshmallows.  

Sandwich together and let it blow your mind like a sticky, melty, sweet chocolate-marshmallow shotgun.

Chocolate Hazelnut Smeared Strawberry Toaster Pastry

I've been working on some ideas to improve upon the simple toaster pastry, or Pop Tart if you will.  I like to keep it clean and use the Nature's Path brand pictured below.  I've got a few Toaster Pastry recipe ideas up my sleave, but any suggestions are welcome, just drop me a line.

I thought I'd start with a simple improvement by adding some off-brand Nutella from Italy called Fantastico (yes, thank you Big Lots) to the top of  the pastry, as if it were a slice of toast.  The result is a warm strawberry-chocoolate-hazelnut treat that far surpasses the lone tart.

            

Ingredients

1-2 Strawberry Toaster Pastries

~ 1-2 tbsp Chocolate Hazelnut Spread

Directions

Toast your Toaster Pastry (or Pastries) and then spread Chocolate Hazelnut spread on top! You could even go nuts and sprinkle the top with, well, nuts!  (or shredded coconut or sprinkles or those silver ball bearings...)

yum.