Perfection

I am a star.  I made not one, but two loaves of bread today.  The first was this super-easy beer bread, courtesy of the Catskill Kiwi (seriously, it takes me longer to clean the prep bowl that to make the bread and it goes perfectly with a nice soup or stew for dinner) and the second is an Irish Soda Bread from my Canadian Living Cookbook that I have had for years and have thoroughly loved.  I first tried soda bread at a friend’s house, it was from Uprising Bakery (just off Commercial Drive), and found I couldn’t stop thinking about it.  I bought my own loaf a week later, and then came across my very own recipe.  I am hoping it turns out – it’s still in the oven right now.

Irish Soda Bread

What you need:

4 c flour

1/4 cup sugar (I might use honey next time)

1 tbsp baking powder

1 1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

2 eggs

1 3/4 cup buttermilk

What you do:

Combine flour, sugar, b powder, salt and b soda; mix thoroughly. Cut in butter until mixture resembles fine crumbs.

Beat together eggs and buttermilk.  Add to flour mixture all at once, stirring with a fork to make soft dough.

Knead lightly on a floured surface about 10 times. Form into ball, place on greased cookie sheet and flatten to 8″ round.

Cut a large “X” about 1/4 inch deep on top of loaf.  Bake in 350 degree oven for 1 hour or until golden brown and tester inserted in the middle comes out clean.

Enjoy!

Now it is time to continue the Sunday List of things to get done.  I started the day with a quick hike, then made lunch and had a nap and finished up my laundry, and now it’s time to clean out the big cold garbage can fridge and get food for the week.

Recipe Thursday…new obsession

So I had Book Club last night, and despite our best intentions to actually discuss the book we had miraculously all even READ!, the evening reduced to a lot of eating, wine and sparkling pear juice drinking, gossiping, sharing and being lovely friends.  No complaints from me, although I am going to make sure I bring some sort of discussion questions for next time to aide us in actually speaking about the book…

When I arrived, I plunked myself down next to some humos and that was it for me.  I had been nervious about attending and not being able to eat anything, but I was officially quite tickled to see this pesto humos waiting just for me (at least that’s how I acted all night).  Had I been alone, I may have removed my clothing and rubbed it on myself it was so good…an added bonus is that it is loaded with protein, fiber, and everything that is good in the world, like rainbows and un-expired parking meters. 

It got me thinking, I am entertaining this weekend, and nothing says “Welcome to my Home” like a fresh batch of humos.  I have found this recipe on the big, friendly internet (no copyright issues to worry about…) and fully intend to make it the moment I am next in my kitchen:

What you need:

• 1 (16 ounce) garbanzo beans (chickpeas), drained and rinsed
• 1/2 cup basil leaves
• 1 clove garlic
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon soy sauce
• salt and ground black pepper to to taste

What you do:

Combine the garbanzo beans, basil, and garlic in a food processor; pulse several times. Use a spatula to push mixture from sides of processor bowl. Pulse the mixture again while drizzling in the olive oil. Add the vinegar and soy sauce; pulse until combined. Season with salt and pepper.

Deliciousness doesn’t get much better than this.

Recipe Thursday

One out of 14 ain’t bad, right?  I am behind in posting, I am behind in my life.  I have been meaning to wash my whites, for instance, for a LONG time (pre New Year’s) and have yet to do it.  Meh.  I don’t actually care a whole lot.   I did find time, however, to make homemade dog cookies with Baxter.  I did most of the work, he drooled, watched me, whined occasionally, and happily accepted scratches behind the ears when I needed a break. Here we go – Baxi’s Cheese Nuggets  

Assemble all that you need

• 1 cup uncooked oatmeal
• 1/4 cup margarine 
• 1 1/2 cups hot water or meat juices 
• 1/2 cup powdered milk 
• 1 cup shredded cheese (cheddar or any hard cheese will do) 
• 1/4 tsp salt 
• 1 egg, beaten 
• 1 cup cornmeal 
• 1 cup wheat germ
• 3 cups whole wheat flour

Step one: gather an audience  and preheat the oven to 300 degrees

Slightly suspicious dog and Hot Husband

Step two: in a large bowl, pour hot water over oatmeal and margarine.  Let stand 5 min.

Step four: Stir in powdered milk, grated cheese, salt and egg.  Add cornmeal and wheat germ.  Mix well.  Add flour, 1/2 cup at a time, mixing well after each addition.  Add extra flour if it’s sticky – you want to end up with a stiff dough (heh, heh)

Where was I?  Oh yes, 

Step five: roll out dough to 1/2 inch thickness and cut out cookies with a cookie cutter.  We used a few different dog bones, but really, is the dog going to care a whip if you use a candy cane?

 Step six: arrange on a greased or parchment-lined cookie sheet.

Step seven: Bake for 1 hour, turn off the heat, and let sit in the cooling oven for one more hour.  Your dog should be going crazy by this point.

Step eight: drink some wine, check email…

Step nine: remove cookies from cooled oven, place a few in the freezer for a few minutes, then give  them to the dog – he’s earned them.  All done!

 

Ta-da!