I had this dip in a restaurant once and it was such an experience, It’s still memorable to me years later. I hadn’t thought much about recreating it at home until this pandemic hit and I found out my absolute favorite bagel spot was selling […]

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This is my obligatory one pumpkin recipe per year! Up until recently I had never tried pumpkin and chocolate together. I thought the flavors wouldn’t go together. But I was so wrong! Chocolate and pumpkin really compliment each other and these muffins are a great example.

My favorite part about this recipe is that it requires no electric mixers! You can do this whole thing with bowls and whisks which makes it a great recipe to take on a trip with you in a condo/cabin kitchen, or just something easy to do when you don’t feel like washing a ton of dishes.

The process is simple: first melt 1 cup of chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl for 30 seconds at a time, stirring in between until the chocolate is melted. Set aside to cool. Then whisk together your dry ingredients and set aside.

Next, whisk together your wet ingredients and pour in your dry mixture into the wet. Here’s what the batter should look like:

It’s a thinner batter, but don’t be alarmed. That’s how baked goods with an oil base are. Batters with a butter base tend to be thicker. Pour this batter evenly into 12 lined muffin cups.

Now you can spoon the chocolate onto the top of each muffin. use a toothpick to make swirl shapes on the top of the muffin.

Bake at 375 degrees for 18-20 minutes, until the tops of the muffins start to brown and an inserted toothpick comes out clean.

Let them cool for a few minutes before digging in, but I do recommend eating them warm! Some of the chocolate drops to the bottom of the muffin, so when they’re warm, there’s a melted pocket of chocolate in the middle when you bite into it. So good!

These muffins are perfect to bring to a party, make with your kids on a Saturday morning, or keep around for an afternoon snack. If you make these, post a picture on Instagram and tag me in it so I can see your hard work! My handle is @beckeatsworld

• 1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup canned pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
• 2 large eggs, room temp
• 1/4 cup orange juice

• In a small, microwave safe bowl heat the chocolate chips in 30 second increments in the microwave, stirring in between, until the chips are fully melted. Set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 375. Line a 12 cup muffin tin with parchment liners. In a medium sized bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the granulated sugar, brown sugar, vegetable oil, pumpkin puree, eggs, and orange juice. Pour the dry ingredients into the pumpkin mixture in two batches, whisking after each pour until the batter is fully mixed.
• Fill the muffin cups 3/4 full with the pumpkin batter. Then drop a large tablespoon of the melted and cooled chocolate in the top middle of each muffin. Use a toothpick to swirl the tops.
• Bake the muffins for 18-20 minutes, or until the tops start to brown and an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Let the muffins cool in the tin for 5 minutes before removing. Serve warm or room temperature.

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The NC Egg Association is running an awesome contest that showcases the best restaurants in the state that serve amazing egg dishes. State residents are encouraged to nominate a local restaurant in your area – Coast, Piedmont or Mountains – that you think serves the best eggs around!

This contest not only champions small business but at the end of the nomination period, one restaurant in each region will win a $1,000 prize to help rebuild, make updates, or support employees after a difficult year. 

As as avid egg lover, I was excited to show off the 3 restaurants in the Triangle I believe are serving up some killer eggs! Of course there are other restaurants in North Carolina that have amazing egg dishes, but I also considered who could really use a boost after a tough year dealing with COVID. Some restaurants suffered a bit more due to location and clientele and I really wanted to shine a light on unique restaurants that we could have potentially lost during the pandemic. 

My 3 picks were Neuse River Brewing and Brasserie in Raleigh, Taverna Agora in Raleigh, and True Flavors Diner in Durham. I encourage you to do your own Tour De Egg of North Carolina and submit your nominations by August 8th, 2021! By participating, you will automatically be entered into weekly drawings for $25 gift cards to local restaurants. Visit NcEgg.org/BestEggs to submit your entry now! 

Neuse River Brewing & Brasserie 

Croque Madame

Nestled in a neighborhood near Five Points in Raleigh, Neuse River Brewing has a relaxed brunch vibe with elevated dishes. For Sunday Brunch they play reggae, serve up their delicious beer alongside all the egg dishes you can imagine and other brunch classics that make up a stellar menu. The Croque Madame sandwich is stuffed with ham, dijon mustard, gruyere cheese between two slices of sourdough bread from Union Special Bread and finished off with béchamel sauce and a sunny side up egg. Rich doesn’t even begin to cover it!

• Duck Hash
• PEI Mussels

Pictured above is their Duck Hash which looks pretty plain in the photo, but this dish packs a flavor punch! The hash is packed with duck confit, roasted potatoes, caramelized onion, shaved brussel sprouts, white cheddar cheese, two fried eggs, and Union Special Bread toast. I’m also a sucker for Mussels and their PEI mussels in a white wine garlic sauce did not disappoint. Don’t forget to order their burger! It is seriously one of the top 5 burgers in Raleigh and I was totally blown away.

Neuse River Burger

Taverna Agora

Shakshuka

If you’re looking for an awesome open air patio that transports you to another place, try brunching at Taverna Agora in Downtown Raleigh! Their menu is Greek themed with dishes like Shakshuka, Baklava Sticky Buns, and Gyro Eggs Benedict. Shakshuka is a Mediterranean staple that involves baked eggs in a tomato sauce, topped with herbs, feta, and various pickled things.

Not only is the Shakshuka dish unique, but it’s a pretty healthy way to enjoy your morning eggs. I loved the breakfast potatoes on the side of the Gyro Eggs Benedict, and the Baklava Sticky Buns were to die for! Soo soft and pillowy with a sweet syrup and crushed nuts… a total brunch indulgence.

• Gyro Eggs Benedict
• Baklava Sticky Buns

The outdoor patio is on the upper level overlooking Hillsborough Street with all the plants and pretty decor!

True Flavors Diner

If you weren’t looking for True Flavors Diner, you might never stumble upon it because it’s hidden in a shopping center strip mall in South Durham with an unassuming sign. But don’t let the humble building fool you – True Flavors is well known for having some of the most over-the-top breakfast and brunch dishes in town!

True Flavors and their internal pop-up menu, Debbie Lou’s Biscuit shop, take biscuit sandwiches to the next level and if you think you’re finishing one of these bad boys in one sitting… you’re wrong! They are HUGE and so beautifully presented. Check out my two favorite dishes… the Blueberry Chipotle Chicken Biscuit and the egg dish that I think deserves this nomination – the Pastrami, Egg, & Cheese Biscuit!

• Blueberry Chipotle Chicken Biscuit
• Pastrami, Egg, & Cheese Biscuit

Another great menu staple here is the Country Fried Steak and Eggs, served over breakfast potatoes with a delicious gravy poured on top. I’m pretty sure True Flavors is a heart attack waiting to happen but I really couldn’t care less! Their food is SO GOOD I would try basically anything on the menu! Just make sure you get there during the first hour of breakfast service or you’ll be waiting in line to sit in their small but adorable dining room.

Country Fried Steak, Egg, & Cheese

Thank you so much for reading this blog post, and don’t forget to make your nominations by August 8th for the best eggs in North Carolina! If you have a great recommendation for the Triangle you’d like to see me feature, comment below or reach out to me in Instagram! My handle is @beckeatsworld and I’d love to see a pic of your food if you visit one of these restaurants.

Coffee Cup at Neuse River Brewing & Brasserie

I had this dip in a restaurant once and it was such an experience, It’s still memorable to me years later. I hadn’t thought much about recreating it at home until this pandemic hit and I found out my absolute favorite bagel spot was selling […]