Apple Cranberry Croissants and a Sugar Review

Have you heard of Zulka Morena Pure Cane Sugar?  It is a sugar that is minimally processed which you can tell as soon as you open the bag.  The sugar has a slight tan colour instead of white.  I also like that it doesn't taste as sweet as regular white sugar does and can still use less of it and my baking or cooking tastes wonderful.  Zulka Morena Pure Cane Sugar can be used cup for cup of regular sugar. Zulka Sugar is coarser so when I use egg white and sprinkle the sugar over my baking for example sweet bread, the sugar doesn't dissolve and you can still see some of the crystals after baking.

I have been using this sugar for a while and contacted the company to let them know that I loved their sugar. They replied back to me and asked if I would like some for my holiday baking... Of course I said yes, who doesn't like free things.  I offered to do a review for them as I am that kind of gal.  When I find a product that I like, I want to let you all know about it.  The free stuff is just a great perk.

I am also looking forward to some of their new products ~ brown sugar and powdered sugar.  They also have a Picante sugar that peaks my interest.

Now onto the recipe that uses this wonderful sugar....

Apple Cranberry Croissants

Ingredients:

2 cans Pilsbury Crescent ( I used the butter flake)

2 apples

Cranberries (1 per roll)

1/2 cup Zulka Morena Pure Cane Sugar

1 tbsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg*

1 egg white

1/4 cup butter

2 tsp heavy cream

1/8 cup Zulka Morena Pure Cane Sugar

Directions:

In small bowl mix sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg.  Set aside.

Roll out crescents, If they don't roll out flat, use a rolling pin and roll them out flat.

Slice apples into 32 pieces, 1/2 apple will make 4 crescents.

Slice cranberries in half

Sprinkle sugar mixture over each crescent.

Place 2 half cranberries between 2 slices of apple at the large edge of the crescent.

Roll fruit into the crescents from the wide end to the narrow.

Whisk egg yolk and brush to the top of each crescent roll.

Bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes or until croissants are brown.

For Glaze:  In a small pan add butter, heavy cream, 1/8 sugar mixture and 1/8 cup Zulka Sugar.

Over medium heat, bring to boil stirring to dissolve the sugar.

Remove from heat and drizzle over each croissant.

Notes: 

* I would add a little more nutmeg next time as I couldn't really taste it and I love nutmeg.

Next time I make these I am going to add a little more apple and cranberries.  

You will have extra Cinnamon Sugar Mixture ~ save the leftovers and make cinnamon toast.

I did have extra glaze.. I let it sit until hardened and it tasted wonderful on a spoon.

I took this recipe to our Christmas Party at work and it got great reviews.  It is easy to make and great tasting. 

An added bonus if you already use Zulka Sugar or plan to buy it soon ~ 

 Zulka is hosting a Holiday Bake-Off Facebook contest for a chance to win $500 to Sur La Table!  Entering is easy:

1.           Create a recipe using Zulka Pure Cane Sugar

2.           Upload the recipe with an image of your creation to Zulka’s “Bake-Off” Facebook tab by December 22 for a chance to win a $500 gift card to Sur La Table!

Good Luck and let me know if your recipe wins. 

 Other recipes I have made with Zulka Sugar:  Homemade Cranberry Sauce,  Baked Beans ,  Pumpkin Spice Syrup and Seared Gingerbread Tenderloin with Caramelized Onions and Mushrooms.  As you can see with these examples this sugar can be used in any type of cooking.


Disclaimer:  I did receive this product and was in no way under any obligation to do a review.  All opinions are 100% mine.

LINKS: Create it or Bake it, In and Out of the Kitchen , Blogger's Best of 2013

Salmon Croissant or Bread stick Casserole for breakfast

I am always on the look out for great breakfast recipes and I think I finally found something that is wonderful and fairly easy to make. You do have to plan ahead of time as it does take sometime to get it ready and cook... but once it is baking... just sit back and enjoy the smells.  I have made this recipe twice.  The first time I made it was with Pillsbury garlic bread sticks and it was yummy but the temperature the original recipe said I think was too hot and the bread stick got too brown for my liking.  The second time I made them, I used large buttery croissants and turned the temperature down and they worked out wonderfully.
My husband preferred the garlic bread stick one and I plan to make them again with the bread sticks at the lower temperature and see what happens.  I will let you know when  I do it.

Salmon Croissant or Bread stick Casserole

adapted from All Recipes Croissant and Salmon Breakfast Casserole

6 garlic bread sticks or 5 buttery croissants (large size)

1/4 cup onions chopped

1/3 cup mushrooms chopped

1/4 cup red peppers chopped

1 tbsp oil 

7 eggs beaten

1/2 tsp thyme

1 tsp dill 

1 tbsp garlic if using croissants

1 tsp salt

1/4 cup milk

1 cup Monteray Jack and Colby Cheese shredded

3 -4 oz smoked salmon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Bake garlic bread sticks or croissants as directed on package.  Cut up half of the bread sticks into small pieces or the bottoms of the croissants and place in the bottom of a 9 x 9 pan.  Place the other bread sticks and tops of croissants to the side.  

Saute onions, mushrooms and peppers in oil until golden and place on top of the broken pieces of bread sticks or croissants.  Spread cheese and salmon over mixture.  In separate bowl mix eggs and milk until frothy add thyme, dill, garlic (if using),and salt.  Pour this mixture over top of everything.  Arrange the left-over bread sticks or croissants on top, pressing into egg mixture.  Bake for 45 -50  minutes until eggs are set and croissants or bread sticks are brown.  Serve hot.

ready to go into the oven

the bread sticks came out very brown.  I also used a smaller
dish.  The second time I used a 9 x 9 pan and
it worked perfectly.

made with bread sticks...

made with croissants.

This dish would also be great for lunch with a nice salad or a light dinner.  You could change the meats, veggies and also the spices to make it your own.  The possibilities  are endless.  Enjoy!