ULTIMATE FRITTATTA AND GRANOLA

So, I was watching Food Network yesterday and saw several pretty cool recipes. One of them really stood out. It was a breakfast/brunch recipe. And since I am a HUGE fan of brunch, I had to make it. The recipe involved a frittatta, homemade granola and a freshly squeezed blood orange mimosa. Sadly I forgot to buy champagne ahead of time (this was a Sunda brunch so the liquor stores were closed) to prepare it, but everything else turned out great! It was just as delectable as it looked on TV. Frittata is nothing more than eggs with vegetables, cheeses, or meats cooked into it. It's like a breakfast pizza without a crust. There are many reasons why you should know how to make a frittata:

1. They're ridiculously fast and easy to make.
2. They're the perfect meal for the end of the week when you've run out of food. You could put just about anything in a frittata (though I'd avoid chocolate chips).
3. They're endlessly versatile. Make them with whole eggs, egg whites, or Egg Beaters; add meats, cheeses, or veggies; and eat 'em for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
4. They make great leftovers for tomorrow's breakfast/lunch. Try some in a sandwich.
5. They're so much fun to say. So in your best Italian accent and say, "fri--taaa-taa" as if it's the greatest word in the world.  

Frittata:

Ingredients

• 8 extra-large eggs
• 2 tablespoons heavy cream
• 1 cup grated Gruyere cheese
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 1 small onion, diced
• 4 small red potatoes, diced
• 1 cup diced smoked ham or Canadian bacon
• 1 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, for finishing top
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 1 bunch chives, chopped

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, cream, Gruyere cheese, salt, and pepper until foamy. Melt butter in a cast iron pan over medium heat. Add the onion and potatoes and cook thoroughly. Pour the egg mixture over the top. Pull the edges away from the sides of the pan with a spatula so the eggs flow to the bottom of the pan. When the frittata is half set, add the ham. Transfer the pan to the heated oven. Bake for 10 minutes until puffed and golden. Shower with grated Parmesan and serve garnished with sour cream and chives.

Granola:

Ingredients

• 4 cups oats (NOT quick-cook or instant)
• 1 1/2 cups whole almonds, shelled, but skin still on
• 1/2 cup flax seeds
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 cup neutral cooking oil (canola)
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups raisins or dried cranberries
• 1 cup diced dried apricots
• 1/2 cup dried banana slices

Directions
Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Mix oats, almonds, flax seeds, brown sugar, salt and cinnamon in a bowl. In a saucepan warm the oil and honey. Whisk in the vanilla extract. Pour the honey, oil, vanilla mixture over the oat mixture and mix gently, but well. Mix with spatula and eventually your hands. Spread out onto a sheet pan and bake for 40 minutes (stir after the first 20). Cool and break up any clumps. Mix in dried fruit.