Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day

I LOVE fresh bread!  It fills the house with a homey aroma and is delicious slathered in jam or butter or with a slice of cheese.  It makes great sandwiches, a quick toast breakfast, or a simple snack.  I especially love artisan bread: peasant loaves, french bread, olive bread, and cheese breads.

Artisan Bread in Five Minutes A Day is a great, easy method for baking as much fresh bread as I want.  The basic idea is that you make a large batch of dough, mix it without kneading, let it rise once, let is rest in the refrigerator, and then pull it out and bake it whenever you have a fresh bread craving.

In using this cookbook I have learned to bake on a pizza stone, including the difficult task of sliding a fully dressed pizza off of the peel onto the hot stone.  One piece of advice: coat the pizza peel liberally with corn meal or flour.  You will be glad you did!  You can also freeze partially baked loaves and finish baking them at a later date for the treat of fresh bread straight out of the oven.

Improvisational Basil Pizza

In the midst of making pizza, I discovered I didn't have any tomato sauce!  So I improvised and used olive oil and frozen basil leaves instead.  The result was a delicious white gourmet pizza and a good use of our frozen bumper crop of basil from last summer.  Definitely something we'll have again!

Italian Sausage Spinach Lasagne

Sometimes the Lasagne Fairy visits our house!  When I get home from work there is a prepared lasagne in the fridge with instructions for cooking.  All I have to do is throw it in the oven!  Not only is the Lasagne Fairy's visit a treat for me...Cory is happy because he loves sausage!  Luckily I found a local sausage company, so I can feel a little better about purchasing and eating meat.  This week I used fresh spinach from our CSA!  Although you *can* make this recipe with uncooked lasagne noodles, the Lasagne Fairy recommends cooking the noodles first for a perfect lasagne!

Italian Sausage and Spinach Lasagna 
Adapted from fortheloveofcooking-recipes.blogspot.com

Ingredients

.875 lb Italian sausage

1 small yellow onion, diced
1 pinch of red pepper flakes
2 cloves garlic, minced
15 oz ricotta cheese
1 egg
1 lb fresh spinach leaves, chopped or 1 box frozen spinach, thawed & drained

2 tbsp fresh basil, chopped
1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp fresh nutmeg, grated
1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese (divided)
2 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded (divided)
1 jar Newman's pasta sauce

1 box Lasagna noodles

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. 

In a skillet, cook the Italian sausage, breaking it into crumbles. 

Add the onions and a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes and cook until the meat is brown.

Add the garlic and cook for 60 seconds.

Remove from heat and drain any grease.
In a large bowl, mix ricotta, egg, spinach, basil, parsley, oregano, nutmeg, 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese, and 1/2 a cup of mozzarella cheese.
Layer a 9 x 13 inch baking pan with: sauce, noodles, ricotta, noodles, sauce, sausage, noodles, ricotta, noodles, sauce & remaining cheese.

Bake covered for 30 minutes. 

Uncover and bake for 10-15 minutes, or until cheese is melted.

Raspberry Zinger & Lemonade

A refreshing summer beverage!

Raspberry Zinger & Lemonade

4 tea bags Celestial Seasoning's Raspberry Zinger tea
1/2 gallon lemonade

In a large glass pitcher, cover the tea bags with boiling water.  Let brew for 10-15 minutes.  Add lemonade and top off pitcher with cold water & ice.  Leave tea bags to continue brewing in the fridge.

Made From Scratch: Salad Dressing

Salad dressing is simple enough to make from scratch.  You can vary the seasonings and create many variations.


Salad Dressing
from my dad

Ingredients:
6 T olive oil
2 T lemon juice or vinegar
salt
pepper
garlic
herbs

1) In a small bowl, whisk together 1 T olive oil, 1 T lemon juice or vinegar, & seasoning.
2) Add 2 T olive oil and whisk.
3) Add 3 T olive oil and 1 T lemon juice or vinegar and whisk.
4) Adjust seasoning to taste.

Napa Cabbage Salad

This week in our CSA we got a large head of Napa Cabbage, sweeter and finer than typical cabbage.  I used it in a variety of dishes, but this was my favorite.

Napa Cabbage Salad
Adapted from Ollin Farms CSA Newsletter

Ingredients:
1/2 c slivered almonds

1 lb napa cabbage, chopped

2 scallions, thinly sliced

2 carrots, grated
raisins
3 T vegetable oil
1 T soy sauce
1/2 t sugar
pepper

1) Combine almonds, cabbage, scallions, and carrots in a large bowl.
2) In a small bowl, whisk together oil, soy sauce, sugar, & pepper.
3) When ready to eat, sprinkle with raisins and drizzle with dressing.

Creamed Greens and Spring Onions with Pasta

Last week I used the delicious spinach from our CSA and spring onions from our garden to make...

Creamed Greens and Spring Onions with Pasta
Adapted from smittenkitchen.com

Ingredients
1 lb greens (Swiss Chard and Spinach work nicely), remove stems and slice into ribbons
3 spring onions, sliced
1 clove garlic, minced
3 T butter
3 T flour
1 3/4 c milk
1/2 c parmesan
salt and pepper
1 lb pasta, cooked

1) Wash the greens and do not dry them.  Place them in a large pot over high heat.  Cook covered until wilted (about 6 minutes).
2) Place greens in a mesh strainer and press out any extra liquid.  Set aside.
3) Using the same pot, cook the onion and garlic in the butter over low heat until softened.
4) Stir in the flour.
5) Gradually add the milk, stirring constantly.  Stir in the parmesan.  Cook until thickened.
6) Stir in the greens and pasta.  Salt and pepper to taste.

Smoothies

A summer breakfast favorite.

Smoothies
Adapted from the UltraSimple Diet
Serves 2.

1 c yogurt
1/2 c milk
1 banana
1 c fruit (fresh or frozen)
1 T ground flax seed
1 T peanut butter
1 T honey
8 ice cubes

1) Mix ingredients in blender or with immersion blender.

Spinach Calzones

You can fill calzones with all sorts of yummy pizza toppings.  Spinach calzones are a delicious spring meal!

SPINACH CALZONES
From Zack & Liz

Makes 6 calzones.

Ingredients:

Quick Rise Pizza Dough

1 box frozen spinach, thawed and drained
½ onion, chopped
1 t basil leaves
¼ lb cheddar cheese, grated
salt &pepper

1) Make Quick Rise Pizza Dough

2) While the dough is rising, sauté spinach, onion, & basil.
3) Divide dough into six balls.
4) Flatten dough into rounds, approximately 6” in diameter.
5) Spoon filling onto dough onto half of the circle.
6) Top with cheddar cheese.
7) Fold dough into half circles and pinch the edges closed.
8) Slice tops lightly with a knife.
9) Cook 20 minutes until golden brown.
10) Serve with warm pizza sauce. 

Linguini With Walnut Sauce

Fancy enough to serve when you have company for dinner!  Easy enough for a busy weeknight!  You can make it ahead of time and freeze it, too.

LINGUINI WITH WALNUT SAUCE

from my dad

Ingredients

½ c olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
¼ t pepper
2 t dried basil
2 c parmesan, grated
1 c warm water
1 c broken walnuts
6 c (3/4 lb) hot cooked linguini pasta

1) Place oil, garlic, pepper, and basil in an electric blender. Blend until smooth.
2) Add cheese and ½ c water. Blend until smooth.
3) Add nuts and remaining water. Blend until smooth and thick.
4) Heat sauce gently and serve over hot pasta.

Made From Scratch: Yogurt

Last year I discovered how easy it is to make homemade yogurt!  You don't have to have a yogurt maker, but it makes the process a lot easier and more reliable.

Equipment
Double boiler OR a large pot and smaller pot or metal bowl that fits inside
Spoon, metal
Thermometer
Tongs (for removing items after sterilizing)
Yogurt maker, heating pad, oven with pilot light, or slow cooker.

Ingredients
Milk, (I use 2% milk from our local dairy, but skim, 1%, or whole milk work, too.  The fattier the milk, the thicker the yogurt). You need an equal amount to the amount of yogurt you want--for example, 1/2 gallon milk = 1/2 gallon yogurt.
2-3 T plain yogurt (for starter)
Powdered milk (optional, to thicken yogurt, 1/4 c per 1/2 gallon of milk)
Fruit (optional, for flavor)
Sweeteners, like honey, maple syrup, agave (optional, to sweeten)

How to...
1. Boil a large pot of water.
2. While you wait for the water to boil, make an ice bath in your sink.
3. Sterilize your equipment by dunking it in the boiling water.
4. Put the milk in the top of the double boiler and heat to 180-degrees F, stirring frequently.
5. Place milk pot into ice bath to cool the milk to 110-degrees F, stirring occasionally.  (This is a good time to add the powdered milk, if you're going to use it.)
6. Add yogurt to milk once it's cooled and stir until dissolved.
7. Put yogurt into yogurt maker and follow manufacturers directions.  Or put it in a warm place (with a heating pad, in the oven with a pilot light, or in the slow cooker) and let it sit undisturbed for 7 hours. The longer it sits, the thicker and tangier it will become.
8. Chill the yogurt in the refrigerator.
9. Add sweetener or flavor. I like to sweeten my yogurt by the bowl with honey and fruit and eat it with granola.
10. Enjoy!  But don't forget to save a few tablespoons of yogurt as starter for the next batch!

Cashew and Green Pea Bhaji

An easy recipe!  Especially with a rice cooker to make perfect brown rice!

CASHEW AND GREEN PEA BHAJI
Adapted from World Vegetarian by Madhur Jaffrey

Ingredients
1 1/2 c whole raw cashews
1 1/2 T peanut oil
1 t whole mustard seeds
15-20 fresh basil leaves
1 fresh Jalapeno pepper
1 c fresh or frozen defrosted peas
3/4 t salt
brown rice

1. Soak the cashews overnight in water, covered by at least 3 inches.  Drain.
2. Heat oil in frying pan over medium heat.  Add mustard seeds.
3. As soon as the seeds start to pop, add the basil leaves and stir once or twice.
4. Add the cashews, chile, peas, and salt.
5. Cook, stirring frequently for 5 minutes.
6. Serve over brown rice.

Teriyaki Greens

The easiest way to prepare dark greens!  And delicious, too!

TERIYAKI GREENS

From my mom

Serves 3-4.

Ingredients

1 head kale, chard, or collard greens

Olive oil

Soy sauce

1)    Wash greens and cut from stalk.

2)    Chop into bite-size pieces

3)    Sauté in olive oil until almost wilted

4)    Add olive oil and sauté until limp.

Chocolate Strawberry Scone Cake

A delicious spring dessert with fresh strawberries! A birthday favorite at our house!

I am not 25 anymore, alas!

CHOCOLATE STRAWBERRY SCONE CAKE

I think I clipped this recipe out of the newspaper years ago.

Serves 8-12.

Ingredients

2 ½ c flour

¼ c sugar

4 t baking powder

¼ t salt

2/3 c butter

2/3 c milk

2 eggs

6 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 c whipping cream

2 baskets strawberries

1)    Preheat the oven to 425.

2)    Combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.

3)    Cut in the butter until mixture resembles coarse meal.

4)    In a small bowl combine milk, 1 egg, and 1 egg yolk.

5)    Mix into dry ingredients until just moistened.

6)    Turn out onto a floured board and knead lightly several times to form a ball.

7)    Divide in half.  Pat each half into a circle 8” in diameter.

8)    Place one circle on a greased baking sheet.

9)    Cover evenly with chocolate chips.

10)   Top with remaining circle, pressing lightly to seal edges.

11)   Beat the remaining egg white and brush it onto the top of the cake.

12)   Sprinkle generously with sugar.

13)   With a sharp knife slice halfway through top later to form six wedges.

14)   Bake 18-20 minutes or until golden brown and springy to touch.

15)  Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

16)  Whip cream and add 1 c berries.  Sweeten to taste.

17)  Serve wedges of warm scone cake topped with whipped cream and strawberries.

Aloo Matar

We tried a new recipe from our friend Angela and were simply delighted with the results! Who knew cooking Indian food could be so easy? Thanks, Angela!

ALOO MATAR

Adapted from allrecipes.com

Serves 4.

Ingredients:

1/4 cup vegetable oil

2 medium onions, finely chopped

1 tablespoon ginger garlic paste

1 bay leaf

4 large potatoes, peeled and chopped

1 cup frozen peas

1/2 cup tomato puree

1 1/2 teaspoons garam masala

1 1/2 teaspoons paprika

1 teaspoon white sugar

1 teaspoon salt

naan or basmati rice

1. Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Stir in the onions, ginger garlic paste, and bay leaf. Cook until the onions are tender.

2. Mix in the potatoes and peas. Cover and cook until the potatoes are tender, about 15 minutes. Remove the bay leaf.

3. Stir the tomato puree, garam masala, paprika, sugar, and salt into the vegetable mixture. Continue cooking about 10-12 minutes.

4. Serve with naan or basmati rice.

Aunt Cathy's Amazing Granola

This is our standard summer breakfast fare, eaten with yogurt. It's a real mix-and-match recipe, so feel free to experiment!

AUNT CATHY'S AMAZING GRANOLA

from Aunt Cathy, modified from Cafe Beaujolais

Approximately 28 servings.

Ingredients:

6 c oatmeal

unsweetened big-flake coconut (We use ~5 oz.)

Nuts: (We use ~2 c sunflower seeds, 2 c roasted cashews, & 2 c almonds)

Sesame Seeds

Sunflower Seeds

Cashews

Almonds

Pumpkin Seeds

Macadamia Nuts, halved

1/2 c oil (We use safflower oil)

1/2 c honey

1 t vanilla

1/4 t salt

1 t cinnamon

Dried Fruit: (We add fruit by the bowl, as desired.)

raisins

dried cherries

dried cranberries

currants

Preheat the oven to 325-degrees F.

In a sauce pan, over low heat, warm the oil, honey, vanilla, and salt.

Mix together oats, nuts, and coconut in a large bowl.

Pour oil mixture over oats & nuts and mix well.

Spread granola on two baking sheets.

Bake for a total of 35-45 minutes, stirring every 5-10 minutes! Swap which pan is on top each time you stir.

Allow to cool, then add in dried fruit.

Store in airtight containers.

Serve with yogurt, milk, and/or fresh fruit.

Quick-Rise Pizza Dough

This recipe makes pizza an easy weeknight meal!  No more waiting for the dough to rise!

QUICK-RISE PIZZA DOUGH
from Liz

Serves 4.

Ingredients:
1 1/8 c warm water
1 package or 2 1/4 t yeast
1 t sugar
1 t salt
1 T olive oil
3 c flour (I use 1 c whole weat and 2 c white flour)
cornmeal
8 oz pizza sauce (tomato sauce with basil & oregano works great!)
mozzarella cheese
toppings

Preheat the oven to 425-degrees F.
Soften the yeast in water for 5 minutes.
Add sugar, salt, and olive oil.
Mix in flour gradually.
Knead the dough until smooth.

Sprinkle cornmeal on the baking sheet.

Roll out dough and lay it on the baking sheet.
Let the dough rise 15 minutes, while you prepare the toppings.
Brush with olive oil and pre-bake it for 10 minutes.
Add toppings. (We like to put the toppings under the cheese so they stick to the pizza better.)
Bake 10-15 minutes or until cheese is melted.
Let cool for a few minutes before cutting.

Our favorite toppings combinations:

• Olives & bell peppers
• Pesto, olives, pine nuts, sun-dried tomatoes, & feta (no tomato sauce)
• Pesto & pear (no tomato sauce)
• Olive oil, fresh basil leaves, mozzarella, & olives