Buns

 In my last post I wrote that I was making buns for lamb burgers.  They turned out better than expected. I used a recipe from King Arthur Baking.  

1 Cup water

2 tablespoons room temperature butter

1 egg

3 1/2 Cups AP Flour

1/4 Cup sugar

1 1/4 teaspoon salt

1 package of yeast

Mix and knead all of the dough ingredients-by hand, processor  or bread machine-to make a soft, smooth dough. I used the dough hook with my Ninja food processor.

Cover the dough and let it rise for 1-2 hours, or until it has doubled in bulk.

Gently deflate the dough and divide into 8 pieces.  Shape each piece into a round ball, flatten to about 3 inches across.  Place the buns on a lightly greased or parchment lined baking sheet, cover and let rise for about an hour, until noticeably puffy.

Brush the buns with half of the melted butter.

Bake in a 375 degree oven for 15 to 18 minutes, until golden brown.  Remove from the oven and brush with the remaining butter.

Cool on a rack.

I followed this recipe exactly and they turned out very good.  Nice flavor with a good texture.  The only thing I will do differently next time is instead of brushing with butter I will do an egg wash half way through the bake.  I think that will give them a better shine and hold the sesame seeds on better.  We had them with our lamb burgers and then for sandwiches for lunch one day.  I froze the remaining buns.  I will be making all my buns from now on instead of buying.

Random Thoughts

2020 was such a strange year.  In some ways I feel like we were all stuck in March when the Pandemic started here in the US but at the same time it's like the year flew by. We all experienced so many changes.  Some good, some horrible.  I know I stopped doing a lot of things that were 'the norm' for me and I want to be sure and get back some of what I had stopped doing.  I know things aren't going to magically get better so I decided this year to just focus on the little things that I can control. 

 Today is the 22nd day of this new year and so far I have done a mani- pedi each week. I had forgotten how nice it is to have nice looking polished nails.  I have started putting my daily outfit together the night before and included accessories. Firefly Grill is our favorite place to eat.  They are re opening in March and I have made the bold move of actually making a reservation in April for our Anniversary.  I know...living on the edge.  I hope things are at least manageable by then.  We will see.

We have consumed zero store bought bread.  I have made bread from scratch each week, sometimes twice.  I know we're saving money and flour, salt, yeast and water are so much better than store bought loaded with chemicals and questionable ingredients.  This weekend I'm going to attempt hamburger buns.  I'm craving a lamb burger so hopefully they will come out well.  Stay tuned to see how this works out.

My husband doesn't care for steak. (I don't understand it at all)  I on the other hand LOVE it.  For the last few years though I limit my steaks to only 2 or 3 a year.  So I enjoyed steak number 1 Saturday night.  It was a grass fed local sirloin that I seasoned with black pepper and black lava salt and cooked in a cast iron skillet.  It was so good.  

Sunday night I roasted one of our local chickens.  The taste is so amazing compared to grocery store chicken.  We had it roasted one night, I made stock and then a big pot of spicy chicken soup.  

We even had a little snow on Sunday so I was able to let Jet outside to check it out.  He's an inside cat but I do let him have supervised time outside occasionally.  How he sits his behind in that cold snow I do not know.

Now it's Friday.  I'm off work for the weekend.  Tonight I'm going to work on my grocery list and tomorrow we will go get groceries.  I haven't shopped since the day after New Years except for one trip for fresh veggies.  

What has life been like in your neck of the woods?  Are you daring to actually plan anything yet?

Flavor

I keep a pretty full pantry with all of the staples we routinely use. I always have a variety of pasta, rice, beans and canned tomatoes.  I have some veggies from the summer in the freezer along with a fully stocked baking cabinet.  I always have done this since that is how I grew up. I don't do a weekly menu plan, I plan the day before unless it is a special occasion  or one of us is craving something specific. First I look at what fresh vegetables we have that need used first, then I pick a protein or not and then I pull from my pantry and then plan what I will cook. It works for me.  

Along with a stocked pantry a large selection of herbs, spices and oils play a huge part in my cooking.  As a matter of fact, I need to hang another spice rack as mine is full and I have spices in a drawer as well.  I just love the fact that you can take a piece of chicken and turn it into countless different dishes just by the way you cook it and the spices or sauces that you use.

There is no way I could pick a favorite meal profile because there are just too many to choose from.  If I had to pick my top used spices I would say cumin, coriander, smoked paprika, turmeric, Mexican and regular oregano, fresh garlic and fresh ginger as some of the ones I use the most. We lean towards Mexican, Thai, Italian, Japanese, Indian and Americanish dishes the most.  

What is your favorite spice?  What type of flavors do you lean towards? I hope everyone has a safe and peaceful week.

Cold dark nights call for soup

Every year I try to take the first couple of weeks of the New Year to plan, reflect and relax.  I take advantage of the long dark cold nights to read, watch movies or play in the kitchen.  Once a week every winter I try to make soup because it is what the season calls for.  This week we enjoyed this cabbage soup recipe.  I've made it many times.  You can do it vegetarian or add meat if you want to make it a bit hardier.

Cabbage soup

6 cups of chicken or vegetable broth

1 can diced tomatoes

2-3 cup sliced cabbage-I used purple and savoy all are good

1 onion chopped

1 or 2 carrots chopped

2 celery stalks chopped

2 cloves garlic chopped

1/2 inch nub of ginger chopped

1/2 tablespoon turmeric

1/2 tablespoon cumin

1 tsp coriander 

1 tsp paprika

1 tablespoon oregano 

salt/pepper to taste

red chili flakes to taste

lemon optional

cilantro optional

Put all of the ingredients into a soup pot except for the lemon and cilantro.

Simmer on low for 2 hours.

Add cilantro and a squeeze of lemon when serving.

This is not a very good picture, but this gives you and idea what it looks like when it begins.  I didn't get a picture of the end result but this is a delicious soup full of healthy ingredients. 

I hope everyone had a good week.  Do you have any favorite soups?

Hello 2021

New Years Day was very relaxing.  I got up and made a big breakfast then we went in to watch the movie Peanut Butter Falcon.  I've been wanting to see it forever.  We both really enjoyed it.  I'd say it's one of the best movies I've seen in a while.  The rest of the day was spent setting up this years journal and odds and ends around the house.  For dinner I made a big batch of stuffed shells and a salad.  When it is only the two of us, I only bake enough for our dinner and then we have two uncooked meals to add to the freezer.

I don't dream very often and if I do, I rarely remember them.  But four or five years ago I had a very vivid dream.  I was buying a new house and when I got there things were very chaotic so I walked down the street a block or two to the ocean.  I went quite far into the water and a whale came up to me, brushed my check and whispered Just Float.  When I saw the Dingbat journal with the whale on it, I had to have it.  I have it all set up for 2021 and my motto through the year will be Just Float.

Seed catalogs are coming in so I am looking forward to taking some time to plan my garden this month.  I remember even as a child I would flip through my grandparents seed catalogs when they came. 

I really enjoyed this holiday season even if it was a little different than most.  October through January has always been my favorite time of year and I'm a little sad to see it come to a close.  The decorations are all put away and today I'm getting everything ready for the first full week of the year.  Here's hoping 2021 will be kind.

Be safe everyone!

New Years Eve 2020

 Chocolate Cake:

2 Cups Flour

1 2/3 Cup White Sugar

2/3 Cup Cocoa powder

2 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 Cup oil

2 Eggs at room temperature

1 Cup buttermilk

1 Cup boiling water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees,  Grease 3 6 inch pans.

Mix all dry ingredients in a large bowl.

Add oil, eggs, vanilla and buttermilk on low speed until just combined.

With mixer on low, slowly add hot water.  Increase speed to medium for approximately 2 minutes.

This is a very thin batter.

Divide batter between pans.  Approximately filling, 2/3 full.

Bake 40 minutes.  Let cool for 10 minutes and carefully remove from pans to fully cool on baking rack.

Once fully cooled frost with your favorite frosting.  For this cake I used butter cream frosting.

Butter Cream Frosting:

2 sticks of butter at room temperature

2 tsp. vanilla

1-2 tablespoons milk

4 Cups of powdered sugar

Mix butter and vanilla on low speed for 1 minute

Slowly add powdered sugar.

Add milk until it reaches your desired consistency. 

It's been quite some time since I have made a tiered cake.  I need to get this skill back.  It looks pretty good and it is very tasty which is the most important thing.

I hope everyone has a wonderful New Year!  May 2021 be a little kinder to us all.

Stay safe!

Five days until 2021

It often is the two of us for Christmas Day but the month of December usually involves some get togethers with friends and family, a Christmas party or two and a trip or two to our favorite Mexican place for lunch or dinner.  None of that could happen this year and in my mind I fight feeling sad about what we couldn't do and guilty to be in such a good place when so many are not.  The ramblings in my brain this month have been a bit overboard.  My emotions this month have gone from sad to thankful and back again more times than I can count.  I know that when the clock strikes midnight on December 31st things are not going to magically improve.  I am putting my hope in being able to maneuver 2021 and all of the new "normals" and just keep my sanity while trying to remember to celebrate each and every day.

Christmas Eve we ended up staying home instead of going to look at lights.  It was bitterly cold here and we were quite cozy at home.  I decided to make loaded baked potatoes with pan seared beef sausage and green peppers and onions.  It has been a long time since we have had either and it was very good.  Loaded baked potatoes are going to be on the menu a little more this coming year.

Christmas morning I made bacon and pancakes.  I chopped up some pecans and warmed them in a pan with butter and maple syrup.  They were so good.  For lunch we had ham, party meatballs, scalloped potatoes, bacon and onion green beans and fresh bread.  I also made an appetizer tray of cheeseball, garlic onion dip, veggies, crackers, deviled eggs,  etc.  It was a munching kind of day.  We have so much candy and cookies right now I decided to put off making a cake.  Maybe I will do it for New Years Eve.

Every year I pick up two bags of these local pecans.  They are so delicious. 

Grandmothers Pecan Nut Cups

Dough:

3 ounces of cream cheese or Mascarpone

1 stick of butter softened

1 Cup of flour

Pinch of salt

Filling:

4 ounces of chopped pecans

3/4 Cup of brown sugar

1 Tablespoon butter

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 egg

Mix dough ingredients until dough doesn't stick to the side of bowl.  Refrigerate until chilled.  About an hour.  Meanwhile mix filling ingredients.  Shape dough into 1 inch balls and place in a greased small muffin tin.  Make an indentation in the middle of the dough and fill with filling.  Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 25 minutes.  

Hint:  do not put in too much filling.  It will overflow and cause them to stick in the pan.

What are your plans for the New Year?

Stay Safe!

Christmas Eve 2020 Style

I'm off work until Monday to celebrate Christmas.  2020 has thrown many curve balls at us all.  As everything else, the holiday will be very different.

I did go ahead and do the traditional luncheon with the doctors. We are exposed to each other on a daily basis so in a way we are part of each others "bubble".  I made two trays of stuffed shells and served meatballs on the side for those that eat meat, a large salad with the works, a couple loaves of my no knead bread and a cookie tray.  It turned out very well and was a much easier meal than last year. It's been so long since I've cooked for anyone but the big guy, it was nice to share a meal with people that enjoy good food.

We had a cold front move in last night so coffee and French toast was needed this morning.  We're ordering a pizza for lunch and plan to spend the afternoon playing Scrabble, reading and maybe watching a movie.  As soon as it gets dark we're heading out with Yeti's filled with hot cocoa to check out the town's Christmas lights.  It seems this year a lot of people went a little bigger with their decorations so this should be fun.  Tonight we will be relaxing at home together with a few cocktails and appetizers.

I'm trying to remind myself to be thankful for all that I have because I am truly blessed.  It's just been such a difficult year.  I miss seeing friends and family.  I miss the occasional meal out at our favorite Mexican place.  I miss parties.  But, so many others are missing way more.  So I will be thankful for all I do have.

I hope everyone has a magical Christmas Eve!

Things That Make Me Smile

Jet LOVES boxes and takes them over as soon as they are emptied.  If you look closely he has his tongue out.  I think he was a little upset that he didn't quite fit in this one.

 

The group I work for really spoils me over the holidays.  This was a nice surprise delivered to my office.  It is 100 percent real greenery, holly, flowers, pinecones.  The picture from my office doesn't do it justice.  I will get another picture of it as a center piece on my dining room table.

My almost 23 year old niece graduated this week.  She now has a Masters Degree in Social Work.  She has secured a good job in one of the largest Hospitals in Illinois and is planning to work on her PHD soon.  I'm very happy for her.

All and all it's been a very good week.  Now to sit down make a list and check it twice.  There's more baking to be done and preparations for our Monday luncheon at work.  I did simplify it quite a bit this year.

Hope everyone is staying safe and taking time this coming week to slow down and enjoy the meaning of the Season.

Discombobulated

This week at work was stressful to say the least.  The covid vaccine will be delivered Monday or Tuesday so scheduling all of my doctors has been a logistical nightmare. I'm trying to prepare myself for another very challenging week. I feel like my mind is spinning in 101different directions.

With all of this, I still have been trying to remember to slow down and enjoy the season.  I've been watching Christmas movies, usually while I'm in the kitchen either making dinner or baking.  All of the fairy lights and candles seem to brighten up these long, cold nights and warm my soul.

Last weekend I made a batch of pecan, chocolate chip cookies.  They were wrapped and frozen.  Yesterday I made pecan tassies.  They too have been frozen.  I still have two or three different cookies to make but they do not freeze well so will wait until closer to the holiday.  I take a large tray to work for the doctors and I put together a tray for us to enjoy at home.  This year I am also going to make a cake for Christmas Day.  I haven't worked it all out yet, but I hope it comes out as good as it looks and tastes in my mind.  

Today I'm going to take time to sit down and finalize the menu for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  I've been keeping meals on the simple side the last couple of weeks.  It's funny how simple can still be so delicious.

                                Spicy chili and all the fixings is always a treat on a cold night.

This is one of my favorite quick and simple meals.  Spicy Mexican rice with chicken stir fry.  Filling and so flavorful.

Well I'm off to start my day.  There is so much to be done.  I hope everyone is taking a little time to enjoy this season.  I know 2020 has been rough but we have to remember to look for the little joys.\

Stay safe!!

It's beginning to look like Christmas

 We decorated our Christmas tree Monday and I spent a little time really thinking about each ornament as I pulled them out of the boxes.  Christmas decorations are like a trip down memory lane for me.  

This is the stuffed Santa I received for my first Christmas from my Mom and Dad.  He is in amazing condition for being 53.  The big guy thinks he's a little too creepy.  LOL

My Grandmother made this little cutie many years ago.

This is the new ornament for 2020.

This ornament was my Grandmothers.  I have no idea how old it is, but it is old.

My beautiful hand painted egg ornament from my friend in Newfoundland.  She has since passed away so this is a reminder of our friendship.

Both of these were made by my Grandmother.

This was made by my Great, great Grandmother for my first Christmas.

Another ornament made by my Grandmother.

I made this ornament probably 25 years ago.

This is one of my favorites.  My Grandfather made the sleigh and my Grandmother made the packages and painted the sleigh.  It's funny but I had put this decoration out for 5 or more Christmas's before I found the note she had written and tucked in under the packages.  It was like a sweet surprise. 

Today I'm doing some things around the house.  We're having lamb burgers and home made fries for dinner.  I plan on spending the evening making a couple different kinds of cookies to freeze for Christmas gifts.  Chocolate chip cookies are one.  I haven't decided on the other yet.  I like to make 6-8 different varieties to package and give away and some for us too of course.  

Do you have any Christmas decorations that really tug at your heart strings and bring good memories?

The end of November and the leftovers

One turkey yielded us a nice dinner on Thursday, two turkey sandwiches each, a remake of the leftovers, one jar of broth to use later and a large pot of soup that will end up giving us three dinners.  Not bad for a 12 pound turkey.

For the remake I took some of the cornbread stuffing and made waffles.  I added some of the cheese ball to the left over mashed potatoes and heated in the oven and warmed some turkey.  The sauce was a maple syrup with Sirracha sauce for the big guy and turkey gravy for me.  This was Friday's dinner and it was SO good. The big guy was especially happy with it.

The spicy turkey soup I made is one I do with chicken as well.  The flavors and spices are just amazing.  I started the turkey stock in the crock pot on Friday evening and used it Saturday to make the soup,  In a large pot I cook the diced onion until tender, add green chilis and diced garlic.  Then I add the stock and simmer for a bit.  The spices I use are cumin, coriander, turmeric, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes.  Once I add them I let simmer for awhile.  Then add the turkey and great northern beans.  I made cream cheese, cheddar cheese and cilantro roll ups to go with it. We each had a big bowl for dinner and there are four more bowls in the freezer for a couple of dinners in the next week or twol.  This soup, whether made with chicken or turkey is one of my absolute favorites.  Sorry Brunswick stew, but I just wasn't in the mood.

My four day weekend is coming to a close and I am fully aware that returning to work tomorrow is going to be brutal.

I have gotten the decorations down and some out.  The tree is going up today but may not get decorated until tomorrow evening or later.  I did get out my countdown to Christmas and put on the fridge.  This is how I start my day every December morning.  

Are you looking forward to December and the Holiday season?

Stay safe!