Eggs and Polenta

something different on the breakfast plate , polenta.

Very easy to make , simply stir the corn flour/meal into boiling water, cook for about 5 minutes.

Place the mixture in a greased bread pan, let cool and refrigerate, the mixture will gel.

Similar to cornbread, but more gelatinous, slice the polenta, bake slightly and broil and/or fry, with olive oil.

If desired, make a sauce, veggie and re-hydrated mushrooms were available.

Plated up

The cooled and refrigerated polenta

The mushroom veggie sauce.

Sliced and fried polenta.

The ingredients for the polenta: Colavita instant  Polenta Cornmeal Mix.

100% pre-cooked corn flour, 100% Gluten free

Fruit Crisp

Photos to be added later….

A recipe adapted from America’s Test Kitchen (2001/2015), Apple Crisp .

I call it the crust less crumb top apple pie. Any other suitable fruit can be used.

In addition, cardamom , allspice and cloves (ground) was added (to taste) to the topping ingredients.

Also  the quantity of ingredients of the topping, ( less the butter) is doubled and 1/2 reserved for later use.

1 and 1\ 2 cup all purpose flour

6 oz pecans, chopped fine

1 and 1/2 cups oats

1 cup light brown sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom

Ground all spice to taste

Ground cloves to taste

1 teaspoon salt you may lessen if using salted butter.

Divide and Reserve 1/2 of the above for later use, it is easy to store in a baggie or mason jar  and will quicken future recipes.

Cut in to the remaining 1/2 , 1 stick butter ( unsalted )

The filling : I’m using a combo of 4131 Fuji and 4130 Cripps Pink, about 3 of each variety

Less the apple cider, (none available) the apples were cooked partly in a skillet with butter, there was plenty of juice released from the apples.

Sprinkle the partially cooked apples  with the topping,  if the butter wasn’t cut in, just cut the stick of butter in small pieces and dot the surface of the topping.

This is done in the same pan, naturally.

A hot oven at 450 degrees Fahrenheit,  will crisp up the topping and finish cooking the apples.

Remove and cool  after about 45 minute total cooking time.

Scoop portions of the fruit crisp to plate, serve plain or garnish with ice cream, drizzled chocolate etc.

shopping

recent shopping and prices

Herbed butter

My herbs are going wild, the cool weather and in the kratky system , spent one night in from the cold , now with the return of mild (relatively speaking) weather they are back out doors. The basil and the chives grow just as fast as we use them. Oregano in the DWC bubbler system gets harvested from time to time.

Just chop , mix with butter , and leave available for use. 

  
  
  
  
Made this before with garlic, left the garlic out this time. 

A good spread on toast , would be even better on garlic bread, or added to sautéed food.

Fusion paella

Chicken thigh, seafood mix, tomato, peas, carrot, onion, garlic, hot red pepper and green pepper. Arborio rice.

Pizza toast

Instead of preparing another batch of dough, making use of bread already baked.

Lightly toasted white bread that has a small addition of spent stout grains, topped with sausage, green peppers, mushrooms, tomatoes and cheese. Of course a sprinkle of dried hot peppers.

The sausage, green peppers and mushrooms were sautéed, added to the toast, broiled and then add tomatoe and cheese, several  seconds under to broiler to finish.

Sprinkle with grated cheese , garnish with basil. 

 

Fall cleaning

Why does Spring get billed as the season for cleaning? Maybe indoors ?

In a climate with defined season changes, clean up becomes eneviatable, that is outdoors if you have shrubs, trees (leaves)garden etc.

Also the spat of wild blown storms will supply you with branches , twigs, and debris for cleanup.

Some of the shrubbery grows likes weeds so trimming is essential for that clean cut look. !

 

random views

200K , gear  heads often take pictures of the odometer.

Food…..

work….

driving around….

market transport….

Baked gnocchi

Another gnocchi recipe

Gnocchi, instead of macaroni, in traditional baked macaroni and cheese.
Start with the roux,

 

 

 

Olive oil, butter, garlic, and basil with flour.

Add some vegetable broth, milk, a spot of heavy cream, typical sauce, heat through, add cheese. If necessary temper in a beaten egg.

I ,mixed in some shredded mozzarella cheese with the gnocchi.
Gnocchi dough keeps well in the fridge, available when needed , just roll it out into a cylinder about 1/2 inch diameter, cut and boil. It’s not necessary to roll each one over a fork unless you want to be fancy.
This gnocchi dough had some chives in it.

Add the cheese sauce to the gnocchi……

Bread crumbs……..

And bake, 300 degrees or so for 20 minutes, then briefly under the broiler.

Wow! I didn’t add any hot pepper….

 

*different computers, different spell checkers!updated

Bacon potatoe hash with gravy

A few diced potatoes slightly microwaved, then  fried with  bacon, onion , green, and a light amount of  hot pepper. A veggie broth, cream sauce gravy to plate.