Hey, there.

Hey, there. Remember me? I remember you. I think of you often, but things and stuff and more things keep getting in the way of me reaching out with a new blog post. But, here I am, trying to give this a go again.

So, what is on my plate? Over the course of the past year or so, Hubs and I have developed a Sunday Brunch ritual. I am not a morning person, and unless traveling, we have never done breakfast together. But, on Sundays, Hubs' schedule usually lightens up a bit and he comes home after completing the morning feeding chores at the farm. It opens a perfect opportunity to share breakfasty foods that normally get neglected.

Today's menu was Smoked Salmon and Spinach Quiche with a hash brown crust, fruit salad (that was just odds and ends of this and that I threw together), Blueberry Muffins from Dessert for Two's Comfort and Joy cookbook, fresh squeezed orange juice (because I had a bowl of oranges on the counter starting to get hard), and iced coffee.

The star ingredient in the quiche was salmon that I had prepared in the smoker a few weeks ago. Every couple of months, I smoke whole salmon fillets, portion, wrap, and freeze to add to quiches and other egg dishes, pasta, dips, and just as an alternative to lox with cream cheese and bagels. This isn't the cold-smoked or cured salmon of lox; it is hot-smoked and cooked through. It flakes just like your dinner entree salmon fillet, but it has a delicious smoked flavor. You should be able to find similar salmon pieces near where the lox and fake crab are sold at your grocery. If not, check out some specialty markets, they have smoked salmon in a can similar to tuna. It works for this, as well.

I am not a hash brown fan, but this crust paired with the eggs and salmon is pure perfection. It is so delicious that there isn't even any cheese in this quiche. Now, if you are a purist that demands a quiche have cheese, throw some in. This time, though, I am going to pass.

Oh! And you know how I told you just a few minutes ago that Hubs' schedule eases up on Sunday? Well, the exception to that is planting season...and the second exception to that is haying season...and after that there is harvest. And, you guessed it, it is planting season. So, all of that brunch got packed up today and taken to the field. Hubs took a quick break and ate on the tailgate of my car, and we still got to brunch together.

I packed the OJ, coffee, and fruit in wide-mouth Mason jars. A pro tip would be to not pack the butter for the muffins with the warm muffins. It can melt into the dish towel before you get to the field. My cast iron pan kept the quiche warm during the journey. It wasn't piping hot, but quiche is good even at room temperature​.

So... that's what I have today: brunch. Even in all the hectic mess that has consumed my time, brunch has pretty much been a constant​, and it seems like a good place to get back to On My Plate.

Smoked Salmon and Spinach Quiche

(with a hash brown crust)

(Adapted from Country Cleaver)

2 Russet Potatoes, baked

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 tablespoon olive oil

4 ounces smoked salmon (NOT Lox)

1 cup fresh baby spinach

3-4 thin slices red onion, pulled into rings

6 eggs

1/4 cup heavy cream

2 tablespoons flour

Salt and Pepper

Preheat oven to 350°F.
In a large skillet melt butter and olive oil over medium heat.
Shred the baked potatoes (can be baked a day ahead of time, or done in the microwave just before needed...your choice)
Add the shredded potatoes to the melted butter and oil.
Season with salt and pepper.
Spread potatoes out into a thin, even layer and allow to crisp on one side.
When browned and crispy, flip with a spatula to brown the other side.
Meanwhile, coat a medium cast iron skillet with cooking spray.
When fully cooked, press potatoes into the cast iron skillet to form a crust on the bottom and up the sides of the pan.
Arrange a layer of flaked salmon in the bottom of the crust.
Next, add half of the spinach and some rings of red onion.
Then, another layer of salmon and more spinach and onions.
Beat the eggs with the cream and flour.
Season with salt and pepper. (Watch the amount of salt that is already in he salmon.)
Pour egg mixture over the salmon and spinach in the crust.
Bake for 40-45 minutes, until set and cooked through. (Serves 6.)

Just Spiced.

Back in June, we celebrated National Doughnut Day. Today, November 5, we are told it is time to celebrate again. Two National Doughnut Days in one year? Who am I to argue?

For today's festivities, I made Spiced Cake Doughnuts. Not Pumpkin Spiced. Not Spiced Pumpkin. (There is a difference.) Just SPICED.

Several years ago, I was in enamored with all things pumpkin spiced. (And for the record, "pumpkin spiced" means that the spices used to flavor pumpkin baked goods are used. Cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, maybe a little ginger. No actual pumpkin is involved. "Spiced Pumpkin" includes the pumpkin, be it roasted, pureed, boiled, mashed, or a combination of any of those, AND the spices. Got it? NO real pumpkin in your pumpkin spice.) Anyway, I loved pumpkin spiced lattes, pumpkin spiced creamer, chocolate, cookies, and cakes. If it was seasoned with the spices of autumn, I was going to try it.

Then, one day, I had had enough. I don't know what happened, but pumpkin spice didn't do it for me anymore. Maybe it was the overkill of absolutely everything in the market place being labeled "pumpkin spice" from Labor Day through Thanksgiving. Maybe it was like the time that I realized that I do prefer butter to margarine. Just part of an evolving palatte. Who knows. I am just over Pumpkin Spice.

Thankfully, I am not over everything nice, as the Spiced Cake Doughnuts I made today are absolutely nice. No pumpkin required.

Happy National Doughnut Day, again.

Spiced Cake Doughnuts

1 cup flour

1/4 cup sugar, plus 2 tablespoons

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/8 teaspoon nutmeg

1/8 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup milk, plus 2 tablespoons

1 egg, beaten

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 tablespoon canola oil

Cinnamon Sugar for coating the doughnuts.

Preheat the oven to 325F.
Coat the doughnut pan with cooking spray. (I am quite liberal with coating the pan. There is nothing sadder than stuck doughnuts.)
Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, nutmeg, cinnamon and salt.
Stir in milk, egg, vanilla and oil.
Beat together until well blended.
Pour batter into a zip-topped bag, manipulating batter to one corner of the bag. With the bag over the baking pan, clip one end. (Batter will start running out immediately.) Squeeze the bag to fill each doughnut cup about 3/4 full.
(You can skip the zip-topped bag, and just ladle the batter into the baking pan, but I have found the bag to be a less messy option.)
Bake 8-10 minutes until doughnuts spring back when touched.
While doughnuts are still warm, remove from baking pan and roll in cinnamon sugar (heat will allow the sugar to stick to the doughnut).
Allow to cool on rack, or enjoy will warm. (Yields 6 doughnuts)

Wiffle or Waffle

It is International Waffle Day, but for Nilla, our one-year-old Australian Shepherd, wiffle and waffle are all the same.

Last summer, the kids next door loved to play ball. However, due to the growing size (and batting power) of the children and our relatively small lawns, many stray balls found their way over the fence into our yard. Nilla was thrilled. Who needs popcorn when there are pop flies? Wiffle, or waffle? It was all the same to her. If she found the lost balls before I could toss them back over the fence, they were her snack.

I tried to tell Nilla that the leather of a baseball isn't really jerky and that while good waffles are crisped on the outside and light and airy in the middle, it is much different from a plastic wiffle ball. She wouldn't listen, and unfortunately, the neighbor kids lost a lot of sports equipment. I felt badly, but what could I do? Our puppy door is designed to allow the dogs to come and go as they please, and I have too many other things going on to have time to umpire every spontaneous ball game.

Maybe today, for International Waffle Day, I should make a big batch of Spiced Waffles with Maple-Pecan Syrup and toss them over the fence as a peace offering for Nilla's ball fetish. These waffles have a hearty texture and a sweetly spiced flavor and unless you are a part of the Australian Shepherd crowd, are a home run over snacking on a wiffle ball.

Spiced Waffles with Maple-Pecan Syrup

(adapted from Fine Cooking)

2 cups flour

1/3 cup sugar

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1/8 teaspoon cloves

1 1/2 cups plain yogurt (I have used Greek yogurt and vanilla Greek yogurt with success.)

3/4 cup milk

2 eggs, separated

3 tablespoons vegetable oil

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup maple syrup (Come on; use the real stuff, not pancake syrup.)

1/2 cup toasted pecans, chopped

Heat the oven to 200F, and preheat the waffle maker.
Combine flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, and cloves. In a second bowl, combine yogurt, milk, egg YOLKS, oil, and vanilla.
Beat the egg WHITES to soft peaks.
Gently combine the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients until just combined. (Batter will be lumpy.)
Fold the egg whites into the batter until just incorporated.
Spray the waffle iron with cooking spray, and working in batches, cook the batter in the waffle iron until crisp and golden.
Place waffles on oven rack to keep warm; do not stack.
Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, warm the syrup. Stir in the pecans.
Serve the waffles with the warm syrup. (Yield: about 10 waffles)

Thank You for Sunday Brunch

Dear Lord, Thank you for Sunday brunch. Amen.

Ever wake up and want cinnamon rolls RIGHT NOW? Put that tube of biscuits aside. I have another easy alternative.

Our house used to always have a tube of biscuits, crescent rolls, or pizza crust in the fridge. Then, I just quit buying them. I am not sure why. While we don't follow a totally non-processed diet, we do try to limit those foods, and I guess at some point, I unconsciously decided that the tubes of dough weren't adding anything meaningful to our meals. One day, I had a craving for cinnamon rolls and picked up a can from the dairy case. However, when baked, they seemed to have a weird chemical taste that I hadn't previously noticed. Cue the sad trombone as one of my guilty pleasure comfort foods had lost its pleasure.

But, here I am to save the day with a new easy option. I won't claim that it is any healthier than a tube of biscuits, as one ingredient is Bisquick baking mix and another is soda. But, they certainly are delicious and most definitely are so simple. Those are two characteristics that I want for Sunday Brunch. I don't want to slave in the kitchen. I want to enjoy one day with a slower pace and linger and lounge at the table with some mouthwatering food.

Dear Lord, Thank you for Sunday brunch. Amen.

Cinnamon Biscuits

1/4 cup unsalted butter

2 cups Bisquick baking mix

1/2 cup sour cream or plain Greek yogurt (if you want a sweeter dough, I have subbed honey Greek yogurt with success)

1/2 cup lemon-lime soda (7-up or Sprite) or club soda (will not add extra sweetness to the dough)

Filling:

2-3 tablespoons melted butter

1/4 cup (or less) sugar

1-2 tablespoons cinnamon (depends on how cinnamony you like them)

Glaze:

1/4 - 1/2 cup powdered sugar

2 tablespoons heavy cream

Heat oven to 425F.
Place butter in a small baking dish (8"x8" pan; 8" or 9" cast iron pan...whatever you have) and place pan in the preheating oven to melt the butter.
Meanwhile, combine baking mix and sour cream (or yogurt) in a mixing bowl until crumbly.
Stir in soda just until dough comes together. (dough will be soft and sticky, but should be manageable...if too sticky, add a bit more baking mix; if too dry, add a bit more soda)
Use a bit of baking mix (or flour) to create a floured surface. Turn dough out onto said surface. 
Knead lightly (just a couple times) to coat dough with flour.
Lightly pat the dough out into a rectangular shape.
Brush with melted butter.
Combine sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle on dough.
Beginning on long side, roll dough toward you to form a log.
Cut the log of dough into 7 or 8 pieces.
Remove baking dish with melted butter from the oven.
Roll each cinnamon biscuit in the melted butter (first, I dip the bottom, then the top, then roll the sides in the melted butter as I put it in place in the pan). Repeat with each biscuit and arrange in the pan.
Bake for 12-15 minutes. (After 12 minutes, I usually pull the middle biscuit away a bit to see if it is done in the middle and add more time as needed).
Cool for a few minutes while whisking together powdered sugar and heavy cream for glaze. 
Drizzle glaze over baked biscuits. Serves 4-8.

A Fresh Start

So...Happy New Year?

2015 had a rough start here. Hubs brought home some ugly bug, and before long, we both wanted to be down for the count. But, life doesn't work that way. There are always commitments and obligations and responsibilities. We tried to keep up as best we could while supplementing with cold meds and naps, but a lot of things lost priority and fell by the wayside.

3 weeks later, and we are finally shaking whatever virus attacked and getting back in the groove. I am still occasionally hacking up a lung, but overall am much better. I feel ready for the new year and a fresh start.

Let's start with breakfast. Do you like bacon? eggs? quesadillas? Bacon and Egg Quesadillas? Crispy tortillas filled with smokey bacon, fried eggs, black beans, pepper jack cheese, and served with guacamole and salsa? Any reason to have guacamole for breakfast sounds like a great start to me.

Bacon and Egg Quesadillas

(adapted from Every Day with Rachael Ray)

4 medium flour tortillas

1/2 pound of bacon

4 large eggs

salt and pepper

4 ounces shredded pepper jack cheese

1 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed

guacamole

salsa

In a medium skillet, work in batches to cook bacon in batches until crisp. Drain on paper towels.
Remove all but 2 tablespoons of bacon fat from the skillet.
Fry the eggs over easy (or hard, if that is your thing) in the hot bacon fat. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Transfer to a platter and keep warm.
Meanwhile, heat a large cast iron skillet over medium heat.
Place a tortilla in the (dry) skillet and sprinkle some cheese over half. Spread 1/4 cup black beans over cheese. Top with bacon and an egg. Add a bit more cheese and fold the other (bare) half of the tortilla over the fillings. Heat in skillet until tortilla become crispy and golden on the bottom. Flip and crisp the other side.
Repeat with each remaining tortilla to create 4 quesadillas.
Cut each quesadilla into wedges and serve with guacamole and salsa. (Serves 4)

Just Peachy

Peaches.
Prosciutto.
A baguette.
A grill.

That's all you need.

Trust me.

It is just peachy.

Grilled Peaches with Prosciutto

peaches (choose ripe, but firm fruit)

olive oil

thinly sliced prosciutto

baguette

Prepare grill. (Gas or stove-top work, but charcoal instills a nice smokey flavor.)
Cut each peach in half and remove pit.
Slice the baguette.
Brush the slices of baguette and the cut side of the peaches with olive oil.
Grill 3-5 minutes until grill marks develop.
Arrange bread and peaches on platter with slices of prosciutto. 
Enjoy a slice of peach on a piece of the grilled bread with the salty prosciutto.

Thank You

I spend a great deal of time in late summer and early fall canning the produce from my garden. Preserving the harvest fills my pantry shelves for those long, cold days of winter.

One day as I simmered, and ladled, and processed jars of goodness, my husband joined me in the kitchen. I  was pulling finished jars of salsa from the hot water bath and listening to the satisfying "pop" of the sealed lids when he said, "Thank you." At first, I thought he was just especially grateful for my spicy dip that he loves with chips. And, he was. However, his thanks held another meaning.

He shared the story of helping an aunt can jams and jellies as a kid. When the aunt heard the snap of the processed jars, she responded with a "Thank you" each time. It was a fond memory for my husband, and good reminder for me. The garden and subsequent canning are a lot of work, but I am thankful for them. I am thankful for all they provide. Delicious sauces, salsas, juices, jams, jellies, and pickles fill my basement shelves. Shallots, onions, and garlic hang in bunches. Squash are in baskets. Dried peppers and herbs are jarred for seasoning future dishes. Still more herbs and a few vegetables are housed in the freezer. We will eat well this winter. "Thank you" seems more than appropriate.

I don't grow blueberries or limes, but that didn't stop me from stirring up some Blueberry and Lime Jam. Spread on toast, or warmed and poured over pancakes, it is certainly another sweet reason to be thankful.

Blueberry and Lime Jam

(adapted from Gourmented)

4 cups fresh blueberries

3 limes, juice and zest

1/4 cup water

4 cups sugar

1 envelope liquid pectin

Combine blueberries, juice and zest of limes, and water in a large, heavy pot. 
Cook over medium heat for about 10 minutes, until berries soften and release juices.
Add the sugar and stir to dissolve.
Heat to a boil and cook for about 4-5 more minutes.
Add pectin, and boil for about 2-3 more minutes until thickened.
Remove from heat.
Ladle into sterilized jars, leaving 1/2 inch head space and seal.
Process for 10 minutes in a water bath. (Yield: approx 6 1/2-pint jars)
(If you are unsure of the canning process, there are many informative sites online. I am not a canning authority.)

Glitter in the Air

This morning, I joined an auditorium of people in celebrating the life of a long time friend who last week lost her battle with cancer. I sat in that room with countless people sharing their memories and thoughts and heard one word echo endlessly.

Passion.

My friend, Diane, lived with passion. True. Complete. Total. Real. I-Don't-Give-A-Rat's-Behind-What-You-Think; This.Is.What.I. Know.Is.Real. Passion.

She gave herself fully to her family, her students, her interests, and her beliefs. She didn't hold back, and she encouraged each of us to do the same.

"Have you ever looked fear in the face and said,
'I just don't care.'?"

 -- P!nk. Glitter in the Air. So What album.

   

I was lucky enough to be able to spend some time with her and her family in the week before she passed. When I arrived at her home, I told her I was there to do her bidding. She simply asked me to cook. Late into the night when her steroids refused to let her mind calm, I crafted lists of menu items and she suggested the danish I had once prepared for a camping trip we shared with another high school friend. I quickly added the ingredients to my grocery list, and before my stay ended, I made three (!!!) batches of these easy, delicious Cream Cheese Danish for everyone to scarf down. I am glad my simple contribution made her happy. And now, I reflect on how even in her own last days, she nurtured me and my passion for cooking by giving me a platform to shine.

Passion.

Hers.

Mine.

Ours.

That was Diane.

She will be missed. Very much.

Cream Cheese Danish

3 (10 ounce) cans crescent roll dough

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup sugar

1 teaspoon lemon juice

3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon sour cream

1 cup powdered sugar

1 tablespoon milk

1 tablespoon butter, softened

Preheat oven to 350F.

Slice (unrolled) crescent roll dough into 1/4 inch slices (as if making slice-and-bake cookie dough)...I usually manage 12-16 slices per roll depending on my mood when cutting.

Place slices of dough on cookie sheet and make slight indention in the middle.

In a large bowl, cream together cream cheese, white sugar, lemon juice, vanilla extract and sour cream.

Add a tablespoon of filling to each roll.

Bake for 15 to 20 minutes.

In a small bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and butter.

Drizzle with icing. (36-48 danish...depending on slices)

Frittatas for Mama

Oh my! I seem to have fallen far, far behind with updates of my South Dakota Magazine submissions. Did you catch the Mini Zucchini Frittatas that I shared for Mother's Day?

The zucchini plants in my garden have little 3-inch baby zucchinis growing from their blossoms. Soon, I should be able to make these little egg bites again. You should, too. They are delish.

Mini Zucchini Frittatas - Frittatas for Mama

The Most Important Meal of the Day

I have told you how I have trouble with lunch. I get wrapped up in projects and forget to eat...or the fridge is full of "ingredients" and not "food" and cooking for just myself seems like a hassle. Unfortunately, I also have trouble with breakfast.

Breakfast foods are my heart's desire. Pancakes and waffles. Eggs: poached, scrambled, fried, or rolled into an omelet. Bacon. Sausage. Biscuits. Sweet rolls. Fruit. Bagels. Lox. Burritos and cold pizza. Big glasses of milk and steaming mugs of coffee or tea. Those foods make me drool. Except when I wake up. Food sounds gross first thing in the morning.

I need to get up, move around, wake up a bit before I want to partake of a delicious morning meal...BUT, I always stay in bed as.late.as.possible. (I have my fabulous friend, insomnia, to thank for that.) So, if I am on a schedule, you can pretty much count out time for breakfast after I have finally drug my butt through the shower and gotten myself presentable for the world. If I am not leaving the house, when I finally think I am ready to eat, I am probably wrapped up in a project or the fridge is full of "ingredients" instead of "food." Sound familiar? Yes. It is the same song and dance that is my excuse for not eating lunch. Second verse, same as the first.

I require something simple to eat that is also easily portable, if need be. Brown Sugar Granola is the tasty solution. I can have it as cereal with milk, fresh or dried fruit optional. I can fill a baggie with these crunchy morsels and some dried fruit to gobble by the handful on the go. Or, I can gorge on savor it my favorite way, as a topping with Greek Honey Yogurt and fresh fruit. (BTW...Hubs favorite way to inhale enjoy it is sprinkled over a bowl of vanilla ice cream.) Brown Sugar Granola is one way I manage to (sometimes) get breakfast On My Plate.

Brown Sugar Granola

(adapted from The Food Network)

1 1/2 cups brown sugar

1/2 cup water

4 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 teaspoon kosher salt

8 cups old fashioned rolled oats (not instant or steel cut)

1 cup pecans, coarsely chopped

1 cup almonds, coarsely chopped

Heat oven to 275F.
Line baking sheets with parchment.
Combine brown sugar and water in a microwavable bowl or measuring cup.
Microwave on 'High' for 5 minutes, until sugar is dissolved.
Remove from microwave, stir in salt and vanilla.
 Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine oats and nuts.
Add the brown sugar mixture and stir to coat evenly.
Spread on cookie sheets and bake for about 1 hour, until oats and nuts are roasted.
When granola has cooled completely, store in an air-tight container.
Note: I have found that it keeps better if I don't mix dried fruit in for storage and just add to individual portions. 
(Serves 10-12)

Blisters

Don't mow the lawn in flip-flops.
Aside from all of the safety issues,
there is another huge danger.
Blisters.
Between your toes.
Blisters.
That make all summer footwear choices painful.
Blisters.
Ouch.

So...anyway...
How about whipping a few eggs, some milk, flour, and green chiles together?
How about pouring that batter into a hot, cast iron skillet swimming with melted butter?
How about watching the Dutch Baby blister up around the edges as it bakes in the oven?
How about topping wedges of this egg-y, pancake-y, green chile delight with a fresh avocado salsa?
How about a scrumptious meal that is not painful at all?

Green Chile Dutch Baby with Fresh Avocado Salsa

(adapted from Sunset Magazine)

1/4 cup butter

3 large eggs

3/4 cup milk

3/4 cup flour

1 (4.5 ounce) can green chiles

1 cup avocado, chopped

1 cup tomato, chopped

1 tablespoon green onion, sliced

1 tablespoon lime juice

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

kosher salt

Heat oven to 425F.
Place butter in a medium or large cast iron skillet and pop into the oven to melt (but not brown).
Meanwhile, in a blender or food processor, whirl eggs and milk until blended.
Add flour and blend until smooth.
Add green chiles and stir just to combine.
Pour batter into hot skillet.
Bake until Dutch Baby is puffed and browned slightly, about 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, mix avocado, tomato, green onion, lime juice, cayenne pepper, and salt.
Serve Dutch Baby cut into wedges with the avocado salsa. (Serves 4)

A Healthy Start - NYC, volume 1

My recent trip to New York City was in the company of two great friends. One had Broadway stars in her eyes, and the other, like me, just wanted to go. Our agenda was clear: HAVE FUN. I am glad to report that it was accomplished in so many ways.

Our first morning found us headed in the direction of The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Magnificent. There is so much to see and absorb. We spent some time viewing Egyptian Art and then took a tour of Old Master Paintings from the 13th through the 18th centuries. The collections are amazing; the works are impressive; and the amount of time needed to fully appreciate everything displayed is unimaginable. We had to concede that there was only time and energy for a small portion of the exhibits. (A common phrase during this first trip to NYC for us all became, "Next time...") We wandered and gazed and admired and realized how much earlier generations provided for nearly every aspect of our modern lives. It was remarkable, and honestly wore me out.

Thankfully, we had started our morning with a great breakfast. While one friend was less than inspired by the use of bowls for beverages at Le Pain Quotidien, the food (and coffee) was incredible. An apple danish and porridge with fruit made appearances at our table, but I chose a Roasted Butternut Squash and Goat Cheese Frittata. It was served with a lightly-dressed mixed green salad and a couple of slices of hearty bread. There was so much food on the plate, but it was beautiful and all delicious. So delicious that I, of course, immediately knew that the butternut squash stored away from my garden's harvest had a new purpose when I returned home.

My version of the Butternut Squash and Goat Cheese Frittata begins with roasting small cubes of the squash in a hot oven with salt and pepper. Red onions and spinach are sauteed, then pulled from the pan as creamy beaten eggs are poured in. The tender and flavorful squash is dropped in along with bits of earthy goat's cheese (substitute feta or even cubes of cream cheese, if the goat's cheese flavor is too pungent for you). Finally, the wilted onions and spinach are added on top, almost as a garnish. I have baked this in a large skillet and cut into wedges to serve and also did individual gratin dishes. Either way, it is a fairly simple breakfast, lunch, or dinner for us, even when I don't have a marathon visit to The Met on the agenda.

Butternut Squash and Goat Cheese Frittata

(inspired by Le Pain Quotidien)

1-2 cups butternut squash, peeled, seeded, cubed into 1/2-3/4 inch dice

olive oil

kosher salt

freshly ground black pepper

1/4 cup red onion, chopped

1/2 cup baby spinach, chopped

6-8 eggs, beaten

1/2 cup heavy cream

4-5 ounces crumbled goat's cheese (or feta or cubed cream cheese)

Preheat oven to 475F.
Toss cubed squash with olive oil, salt and pepper and arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet.
Roast for 15-20 minutes, or until the squash is tender and beginning to caramelize.
Remove from the oven and set aside.
Reduce oven temperature to 375F.
Meanwhile, saute the chopped onion in a little olive oil in a large, heavy skillet.
When the onion is translucent, add the chopped spinach and stir to wilt slightly.
Remove the onion and spinach to a plate and set aside.
Beat the eggs with the heavy cream and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Pour egg mixture into the skillet used for sauteing onions and spinach (may need to add a little oil to keep eggs from sticking).
Drop cubes of roasted squash randomly into the pan with the eggs.
Repeat with the crumbled goat's cheese.
Top the eggs with the onion and spinach mixture.
Place skillet in oven and bake for 20-30 minutes, or until eggs are set.
To serve, slide frittata from pan and cut into wedges. (Serves 4-6)

Citrus Belt

The weather has been so mild this January. The majority of our days have been in the 40s and 50s, with several creeping up into the 60s. 60 degrees. In January. In South Dakota. In-credible.

I wore my flip flops to enjoy it and considered planting citrus trees in the backyard. A lemon, a lime, an orange, and a grapefruit tree to keep me company in the sunshine. Maybe clementines, too. I do love those cuties.

But, it seems that after every 60 degree heat wave, the weather takes a schizophrenic jump and throws us back to the reality of South Dakota winters. We still haven't had much snow, but we have had wind chills. Bitter cold, freeze any exposed body parts wind chills. Brrr.

Instead of planting citrus trees, I think I will stay inside and bake some Grapefruit and Pecan Quick Bread. Something warm in the oven suits the chill outside.

Grapefruit and Pecan Quick Bread

(adapted from Cooking Light)

1-2 large pink grapefruits

1 tablespoon grated grapefruit zest

2 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 egg

1/2 cup chopped pecans

Vegetable cooking spray

1/2 cup sifted powdered sugar

1 tablespoon water

Preheat oven to 350F.
Over a bowl, peel and section grapefruit, reserving juice and membranes. Set sections aside.
Squeeze membranes to extract juice; discard membranes.
Place sections and juice in a food processor, and pulse 3 times.
Set aside 1 1/4 cups mixture; reserve remaining grapefruit mixture for another use. (It works well in a citrusy vinaigrette salad dressing.)
Combine zest, flour, and next 4 ingredients in a large bowl; make a well in center of mixture.
Combine grapefruit mixture, oil, vanilla, and egg; stir well. Add to dry ingredients, stirring just until moistened.
Stir in pecans.
Pour batter into an 8 1/2 x 4 1/2-inch loaf pan coated with cooking spray.
Bake for 1 hour or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.
Remove from oven; place on a wire rack.
Combine powdered sugar and water; stir well with a wire whisk.
Drizzle over bread; let cool in pan 10 minutes.
Remove from pan; let cool completely on wire rack.

Christmas Morning Dreams

Do you have a favorite Christmas morning breakfast? I shared a recipe for Egg Nog Pancakes over at South Dakota Magazine.

Christmas Morning Dreams - Egg Nog Pancakes

I know I say it every time, but check out their site. I bet you learn something new and interesting about South Dakota and our people. We are a pretty cool bunch, if I may say so myself.

*THE* Secret Ingredient

 

Check out that fabulous photo. Doesn't it look like the most delicious Apple Butter ever? Cinnamon delight spread on fresh biscuits is an absolute, pure pleasure of fall apple harvest. But, what's that? You don't have an apple tree? Neither do I. That is when *THE* Secret Ingredient comes into play. 

You see, the fabulous photo above isn't Apple Butter. It is Zapple Butter. Not a single apple was harmed in the production of countless half-pint and quarter-pint jars of my sweet and spicy spread. I did manage to mangle a few monster zucchini, though. Yes, z.u.c.c.h.i.n.i. That green squash that everyone always has too much of and that grows to monster proportions in the blink of an eye is the main ingredient in Zapple Butter. 

Surprised? I was. I knew that zucchini could mimic apples in pie, but I had no idea that when boiled until tender, whirled with an immersion blender, and mixed with a plethora of autumn spices it could really and truly taste like apple sauce. Cook it down slowly for several hours and voila! It is Apple Butter...err, Zucchini Butter...err, Zapple Butter!

I am sold. There are several little jars of this scrumptious treat cooling on my counter as I type. Another batch is just about ready for a night in the slow cooker. I haven't given up on Spiced Zucchini Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting for taming my monster zucchini, but I have found another delicious alternative.

 

Zapple Butter

4 cups cooked and pureed zucchini (For this, I peeled, seeded, and cut into large chunks about 3 of those super large zucchini that sneak into the garden; it was enough to fill my 7-1/4 quart round Le Creuset pot. I covered with water and added about 1/4-1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar. Boiled for 1 hour, or until tender. Drained. And, went to town with my immersion blender {also known as "the boat motor"} until it was the texture and consistency of apple sauce.)

4 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar

1 teaspoon lemon juice

2 cups sugar

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon allspice

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

I suppose that I should have started with the instructions to cook the zucchini, but oh well...you all probably know by now that I am not a recipe developer or writer. I just cook.
Combine all ingredients (cooked and pureed zucchini through the spices) until well blended.
Pour into a crockpot or other slow cooker and cook on low overnight (at least 8 hours, but I have allowed it to simmer for up to 10 hours).
Ladle into sterilized jars and process in a hot water bath for 10 minutes to seal. (If you are unsure of the canning process, there are many informative sites online. I am not a canning authority.) Yields about 5 pints...which I processed in 1/2-pint and 1/4-pint jars.

Not Husband Approved

It occurred to me how often I describe the worthiness of what is On My Plate by telling you how much Hubs liked/loved it and how many servings he ate. Not this time. Hubs didn't sample this recipe at all. I couldn't even guess if he would have liked it. French toast and roasted asparagus are definitely things he would dig into, but Orange Butter Sauce probably would have made him wrinkle up his nose...until his first taste of the lightly citrused cream...maybe? Even after all these years of marriage, he does sometimes surprise me by absolutely loving or hating something that I was sure would force him into the opposite camp.

Today, however, I am all alone and only seeking my own approval. I thought that French Toast with Roasted Asparagus and Orange Butter Sauce would be delicious. I adapted a recipe torn from Martha Stewart Living to use ingredients that I had on hand and was sure that *I* (not Hubs) would enjoy. It was divine and would be a perfect breakfast or brunch for guests, but I can assure you that you don't have to save this enticing meal for guests. Go ahead. Whip it up. You don't need anyone's approval.

French Toast with Roasted Asparagus and Orange Butter Sauce

Orange Butter Sauce:

1 1/2 cups dry white wine

3/4 cup fresh orange juice

2 small shallots, thinly sliced

1/2 cup heavy cream

12 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

1 teaspoon orange zest

kosher salt

fresh ground black pepper

Asparagus:

1 pound asparagus, cut into 1-inch pieces

2 teaspoons olive oil

kosher salt

fresh ground black pepper

French Toast:

4 large eggs

1 cup heavy cream

1 teaspoon orange zest

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

4 slices hearty bread (I used Honey-Wheat, but brioche, sour dough, or your favorite would work.)

Orange Butter Sauce:
Bring wine, orange juice and shallots to a boil in a large sauce pan.
Cook, stirring occasionally, until until reduced to 3 tablespoons, about 10 minutes.
Whisk in cream, cook and reduce by half, about 2 minutes.
Reduce heat to low.
Add butter, 1 piece at a time, whisking after each addition.
Strain into a heatproof bowl (to remove shallots).
Add orange zest; season with salt and pepper.
Keep warm.
Asparagus:
Preheat the oven to 475.
Toss asparagus with oil on a baking sheet.
Season with salt and pepper.
Roast until golden, about 8 minutes.
French Toast:
Whisk together eggs, cream, zest, salt, and pepper in a large bowl.
Pour mixture into a 9x13 baking dish and add bread.
Soak 2 minutes per side.
Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat until sizzling.
Add the bread and cook on 1 side until golden brown.
Flip and cook other side until golden brown.
Serving:
Top each slice of French toast with asparagus and drizzle with orange butter sauce.
Serve additional sauce on the side. (Serves 4)

Fridge Friday: Episode 21

Instead of opening my fridge today, I am going to take you back in time to Wedgie Wednesday. 

Yes. That is a brand new upright freezer. Yes. It is wedged into the stairs leading to the basement of my old house. After 3 hours of 2 delivery men straining and lifting and pushing and shoving, a 30 mile round trip to get different tools to remove the door, and my husband coming home from the farm to saw apart a portion of the stairs, the freezer was finally in place in my basement. Delivery complete. 

After the drama of my range purchase (I really need to blog about that some day), the tears with my washer and dryer, and the frustration of the new fridge, I don't know why I thought it would be easy to replace my old freezer. I think I am doomed to tragic appliance acquisitions.  

Let's just be glad that Wedgie Wednesday is behind us. A wedge of Tomato and Bleu Cheese Tart would be the perfect comfort to make me forget all about appliances. Topped with some of the first ripe Roma tomatoes from my garden and bursting with the earthy tang of bleu cheese, this tart is wonderful served with a lightly-dressed green salad and a glass of crisp white wine. Yes. The drama is forgotten already. Appliances? What appliances?

Tomato and Bleu Cheese Tart

(adapted from Every Day with Rachael Ray)

One Pillsbury Refrigerated Pie Crust

1 tablespoon olive oil

kosher salt

fresh ground black pepper

1 cup of cottage cheese (I used whole milk)

1 egg

1 cup bleu cheese, crumbled

3-4 medium tomatoes, sliced thinly

Preheat the oven to 400.
Unroll the pie crust and press into a 9-inch tart pan.
Prick the bottom of the dough with a fork, brush with the olive oil, and season with salt and pepper.
Bake for 10 minutes.
In the food processor, pulse the cottage cheese until it is smooth.
Add the egg and process until combined.
Remove the blade from the processor and crumble the bleu cheese into the creamy mixture.
Stir to combine.
Spoon the cheese mixture into the tart shell.
Top with the tomato slices.
Season with salt and pepper.
Bake for 25 minutes.
Allow to cook for 5-10 minutes before slicing. (Serves 4-6)

Don't Give Your Wife a Vacuum Cleaner for her Birthday

Let's face it. In the married world, you show an interest in something and suddenly it becomes fair game for gift giving occasions. However, just because I like my rugs to be dog hair free, doesn't mean that I will be doing the squealing happy dance over unwrapping a vacuum cleaner on my birthday. Thankfully, my Hubs has (kinda) got this. There are times when appliances have been draped in paper and ribbon, but usually they were appliances that I specifically requested. I have over the years pointed out a beautiful Cuisinart food processor when wandering before Christmas and then found it under the tree, picked out my own Kitchenaid mixer as a birthday gift after months of agonizing about the color and other features, and been delightedly surprised by a waffle iron under the tree. Yes, I did say "delightedly surprised by a waffle iron under the tree." It was an awesome gift that totally did take me off guard.

We hadn't been married long and had a ritual of pancakes on most Sunday mornings. (It is sad that chores at the farm have long since killed this tradition.) Almost every time that we made pancakes together, I lamented that I missed waffles. I had grown up on waffles made in an ancient waffle iron with a cloth-wrapped electrical cord. I loved butter and syrup in every one of the little squares. I was gleeful of the crisp crust and tender center of the waffles. Pancakes were good, but they weren't waffles. With the gift of a waffle maker, I could make beautiful waffles.

The other day, I was flipping through recipes I had torn from magazines and rediscovered a Rachael Ray treat. Potato, Sausage, and Cheese Waffles are not the light, fluffy, crispy waffles of my childhood, but are a super hearty meal. I have made them a couple times, and I must stress that you need to use FLAVORFUL ingredients. I liked the results much better when I grated a sharp cheddar and used a garlicky, fennelly Italian sausage versus the time I threw them together with breakfast sausage and shredded cheddar from a bag. Both plates of waffles were good, but using superb ingredients that could stand well on their own did make a HUGE flavor difference.

Hubs was ambivalent about the Ketchup Maple Syrup, but I really liked the citrus-like bite that the tomato added to the sweet syrup. I thought it was a perfect balance to the potato waffles. (Don't you add ketchup to your hash browns?) But, if you are leery, just drizzle on your favorite maple syrup. Either way, Potato, Sausage, and Cheese Waffles are something that I would like on my birthday. (hint. hint.)

 

Potato, Sausage, and Cheese Waffles

(adapted from Every Day with Rachael Ray Magazine)

1 link FLAVORFUL Italian sausage, casing discarded ...or try some of Jimmy Dean's Spicy Sausage

1 baking potato, grated and excess water squeezed out

4 tablespoons butter

1 3/4 cups flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

1 tablespoon chopped flat-leaf parsley

1 1/4 teaspoons salt

1 1/4 teaspoons pepper

2 cups milk

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

In a medium skillet, cook the sausage over medium-high heat, breaking it up with a fork until crumbled.
Add the potato and butter, lower the heat and simmer until the butter is melted and potatoes are tender, about 5 minutes.
Remove from the heat and let cool, about 10 minutes. 
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, cheese, parsley, salt and pepper.
Stir in the milk and eggs until smooth.
Stir in the sausage-potato mixture.
Using a waffle maker, cook the waffles according to the manufacturer’s directions. (Makes 8-10 waffles depending on waffle maker)

Ketchup Maple Syrup

1/2 cup ketchup

1/4 cup maple syrup

Whisk to combine ingredients.
Heat in microwave 20-30 seconds.
Serve warm over waffles.

Go With the Flo

I had planned to make these rolls on Sunday (Mother's Day). No, I am not a mom...unless you count my two pups and a husband that often needs to be reminded to brush his teeth before bed...but, that doesn't mean that I couldn't enjoy a light brunch of Florentine Rolls, fruit salad, and fresh squeezed orange juice. However, a fitful night's sleep on Saturday night (full of lots of weird dreams involving guns, classrooms, and snow storms) left me exhausted on Sunday morning. When Hubs rose and headed to the farm for the never-ending daily chores, I stayed in bed and thankfully, blissfully slept the sleep of the dead. It was much needed.

So, the rolls didn't get baked on Sunday, but I knew that I still wanted to try them. They are much like the Spinach Puffs that I previously shared, but jazzed up just a bit by wilting the spinach with garlic and onions, and adding Feta and toasted pine nuts. Delish. Tonight, they are going to be a side with some Spinach and Asiago sausages and sauteed veggies. I think that they would be most awesome paired with soup. And, of course, I am planning to work them in as a hearty option for one of my appetizer parties. Nothing wrong with going with the flow and putting some Florentine Rolls On My Plate.

Florentine Rolls

(adapted from a recipe torn from Better Homes and Gardens)

6 green onions, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon olive oil
12 ounces fresh baby spinach, chopped
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 13.8-ounce package refrigerated pizza dough
1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
2-4 tablespoons toasted pine nuts
1 tablespoon butter, melted
1/4 cup finely shredded Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Spray twelve muffin cups with non-stick cooking spray; set aside. 
In a large skillet cook green onions and garlic in 1 tablespoon of the oil until tender.
Add spinach; cook and stir over medium heat just until wilted.
Season with salt and pepper.
Drain off excess liquid. (This step took awhile for me. My spinach released A LOT of liquid. I pressed it down in a colander, but ended up wringing it out in handfuls.)
Set aside to cool.
On a well-floured surface, unroll pizza dough and shape into a 12x8-inch rectangle. 
Spread spinach mixture to within 1 inch of the edges of dough. 
Sprinkle with feta cheese and pine nuts. 
Starting with one of the long sides, roll dough into a spiral.
Slice roll into 12 pieces. 
Place cut side up in prepared muffin cups. 
Brush with butter and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. 
Bake for 18 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. 
Let stand in muffin cups for 2 minutes. 
Carefully remove from cups and serve warm. (But, I thought they were good at room temp, too.)

What Do I Do With? ...part two

So...I made lemon curd that was absolutely sweet and tart and wonderfully...well, LEMON. Ha. :-) But after stirring 14 egg yolks into that mixture, I was left with 14 unmated egg whites in a bowl on the kitchen counter. Once again, I was facing the "what do I do with..." question, and once again, I crowdsourced for options. Omelets and Frittatas were the popular suggestions, and a Sausage, Spinach, and Egg White Frittata seemed like just the thing for a simple dinner that night. I paired it with toasted Asiago Bread (smeared with sweet, creamy butter) and a fresh fruit salad. Simple. Delicious. Filling. Possibly even slightly healthy. Awesome.

Sausage, Spinach and Egg White Frittata

1-2 tablespoons olive oil

1/2 cup onions, diced

1/4 cup red pepper, diced

1 cup of sliced sausage (I used a Lamb and Jalapeno ring sausage {about 1/4 of the ring, sliced into half moons}...you could use Polska Kielbasa, Chicken Sausages, Smoked Sausage, or whatever suits you.)

2 cups of baby spinach, chopped

14 egg whites, beaten (go ahead and adjust to use whole eggs, if you don't just have the egg white leftover from making lemon curd)

1/2-3/4 cup of shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 350.
Heat oil in a large, oven-proof skillet.
Add onions and peppers and saute until almost tender.
Add the sausage and heat through. (My lamb sausage was pre-cooked & contained cheese that I didn't want to ooze out. Using another type of sausage, you may want to brown it first and then add the onions and peppers.)
Stir in the spinach and cook until spinach is wilted.
Remove pan from heat and pour in the beaten egg whites.
Sprinkle cheese over the frittata.
Bake in oven for 15-20 minutes, until egg whites are set.
Allow to cook 5 minutes before serving. (Serves 4-6)