by Joann Rackler
Today you are just going to get two kitchen hacks that have served me well. This morning while deciding breakfast is what brought this on. I don’t know how many of you are looking for a more efficient, quicker, or better way to do things, but I’m all about it. Time is a huge commodity in my life, never enough and I can’t turn off the OCD of wanting things done.
The first is a super quick breakfast trick. I don’t know about anyone else, but I have this waffle maker that was only used a few times a year. This is much quicker than heating up the oven, which seems to take forever when there are hungry mouths to feed. Bonus, the waffle maker does not heat up the whole kitchen. Now that all my grands live elsewhere I use it even less, such a waste too. I saw this initially in 2014 and once I made these the grands have come to expect it when they are Oma & Dadoo’s. It is a favorite and one can is not enough.
All you need is 1 can of cinnamon rolls from the dairy case & real bacon bits. If you don’t want the bacon, it’s totally optional, just not in my life.
When I saw the hack for this, bacon was not included, but naturally I had to put my spin on it. Results, it’s a keeper. If you have an older waffle maker that is not coated I’d suggest spraying it with butter spray before you begin. I just lay 4 cinnamon rolls out at a time in the waffle maker then generously sprinkle the bacon bits on top. Close the waffle maker and let it do its job. When the rolls are brown around the edges and doesn’t give to the touch, it should be done. There is no exact timeframe since there are many brands with varying temperatures. I heat the frosting in the microwave for 15 seconds. It makes it pourable and I don’t even use all of it because the icing gets in the grooves and you don’t need near as much. Even better for those of us watching our girlish figures.
My challenge to you is to just eat one!
I’ve not tried the frozen potatoes hash browns or tater tots in my waffle maker. Just not keen on the flavor, but I imagine it would be just a quick and you could add peppers and onions easily to them for a side. I have also seen what was supposed to look like a panini made with biscuits rolled out and meat and cheese in the middle, looks simple enough but I do have a panini press so I just use it.
Hack #2
Bacon
I know this may shock some of you but it is a staple in our life. I could not be a vegetarian again because I enjoy it too much. Have you ever wondered how restaurants keep it almost the same size as when you buy it in the package? This is an easy one without all the mess. Preheat your oven 350-400 depending on your oven. I use my large jellyroll pan that has sides. Whatever you do make sure you pan has a rim. I line it with heavy foil covering the entire pan, otherwise it defeats the purpose of the easy clean up. At this point you can use a baker’s rack or just place the bacon on the foil (that’s what I do). I buy the 48 oz. size and cooked in two batches that serve several meals. BLT’s, BLT salads, breakfast, the list is endless. I don’t even turn it over when cooking; just check it until I get the desired doneness. Once you have achieved the bacon to your liking remove from the oven and place on wadded up paper towels, not neatly folded. The wadding helps the excess grease to drain away.
Have you ever picked up that neatly folded paper towel and it is just laden with grease, and the bacon grease on top is still sitting on the bacon. This seems to leap with even distribution and less on the bacon. I store any remaining bacon… (YES at this time there is bacon left, unheard of in most cases) in a Ziploc and store in the fridge for future use. Super-fast to heat up, wrap a few pieces in a paper towel for 30 seconds and you are ready to use it in your next meal.
