Irish Soda Bread

I’m not Irish, but that doesn’t mean I can’t like corn beef or Irish soda bread.  I’ll be sharing some Irish recipes with you for a couple of days in honor of St. Pat’s Day coming up March 17^th.  

It is such a super simple bread to make.

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

1 - 1 1/4 cups buttermilk

Preheat oven to 350F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, combine all dry ingredients and stir together. Add buttermilk and mix with a large spoon (or with your hands, shaping your fingers into a "claw") until the dough comes together. You might need two tablespoons more or less buttermilk depending on the weather. The dough should be moist, but not so sticky it is very hard to handle.

Shape into a round and place on baking sheet. Cut an X into the top with a sharp knife and bake for about 45 minutes, until dark golden. A toothpick will come out clean.

Cool on a wire rack for about 10 minutes before slicing. Bread is best served soon after baking while it is warm enough to melt your butter.  Try serving it with green mint jelly.

Tomorrow I'll be sharing corn beef.  It takes at least 5 days to marinate, so need to get started well before St. Patty's Day.

Be happy and may God bless you and yours.

Red Beans and Smoked Sausage

Red beans with smoked sausage served over rice …. Yum!  It has been many years since I was married to a Puerto Rican, but I still love rice and beans and it is healthy for you.

1 pound bag dried small red beans (you can substitue pinto beans if you like)

6 cups water

2  cups chicken broth

1 ham hock or small ham bone

1 teaspoon minced garlic

1 small onion, chopped

1 teaspoon thyme

1 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 teaspoon ground sage

1 ring of your favorite smoked sausage, cut into slices or pieces

1 bay leaf

1 teaspoon salt

Long grain rice (I love basmati rice)

Rinse the beans soak over night.  Rinse again after soaking and put in a large stock pot.  You don’t need to soak the beans, but they cook faster. Add water and remaining ingredients except for salt. Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat, cover and simmer on low for about 1 hour or until beans are tender. Taste and add salt before serving.  You may think that adding the bone is not necessary, but it adds a great deal of flavor to your beans, just like navy bean soup.  I recommend that you do not leave out.

Pull out the bone and bay leaf.

Serve cooked over rice. Use the sauce like gravy and pour heavily over the rice and beans.  If the sauce has become too thick add more waters or broth.

Rice  

2 cups of basmati rice

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 tsp. salt

½ pepper

1 tsp. garlic powder

3 cups of water (for more flavor you can add chicken stock)

Heat pan with oil and add your rice.  Stir rice in oil until it is beginning to turn whiter.  Do not walk away and keep stirring.  Add your salt, pepper and garlic.  When much of the rice has begun to change color (do not let it turn brown), pour in your liquid.  Let rice come to a boil and turn down to low and put on your lid.  Let it steam for 30 minutes.  Do not lift your lid. 

Fluff your rice with a fork and test to make sure done and for seasoning.  You can put lid back on to continue steaming if still not done.

I'm going to brave it today and go out in the snow.  Beans and rice sound awful good to come home to.

Starting tomorrow, I'm going to start sharing Irish recipes with you in celebration of St. Patrick's Day coming up March 17.

Be happy and may God bless you and yours.  

Fruit Filled Eggrolls

I’m always looking for simple recipes to use blueberries since they are so good for you and had to share this one with you.  It is so simple and beautiful, but elegant.  No one will know what little work went into these simple little pastries.

Large egg roll wrappers

1 can of blueberry pie filling (or any filling you have in the pantry)

1 egg

Oil

Powdered sugar

Heat up about 2 to 3 inches of oil in a deep pan to 350 degrees.

Lay out an egg roll wrapper and add approx 2 tbsp. of blueberry pie filling in the center.  Do not over fill them.  

Moisten the edges of the egg roll with some egg wash (1 egg beaten with a bit of water).  Bring the sides in and roll it up like a burrito.

Fry them in the hot oil until they’re golden on both sides.  Do not over crowd them in the pan and do not walk away.  It only takes a minute to brown.

Drain on paper towel.  Let them cool and dust them with powdered sugar. 

Try them with cherries or apples.  If you do apples, try sprinkling them with cinnamon sugar.  Make an assortment if you are having a lot of guests.  You could also serve them with a scoop of ice cream on the side.  What would you put in them?  Ohhhhh, ohhhhh…..chocolate!

Snowing here and suppose to snow all day.  This will be a good warm dessert to serve your family coming in out of the snow and cold.  Be happy and may God bless you and yours.

Spinach Salad with Mandarin Oranges

My grandson Sal turned 8 yesterday and we went shopping and out to lunch.  He is a cheap date.  I asked him where he wanted to go and it was no surprise when he said McDonalds.  McNuggets and him are great friends.  After our shopping, we returned home to his family to have a pizza party.  I decided to bring something that was “Saylor friendly” which meant gluten free and diary free so I brought a spinach salad because that is what I had in the house.  The dressing was not a diet dressing, but it was a party after all. 

I’ll share what I had in my refrigerator and what went into the salad with you.  I always have Mandarin oranges in my pantry.  I love them and use them when ever I can.  They had been on sale when I bought them, so I stocked up.  The spinach had been on sale this week also, so that was the start of my salad.  I pulled some walnuts from the freezer and have some beautiful Balsamic vinegar I bought in Chicago that I save for very special occasions like this.  A cucumber and celery in the veggie drawer and I was ready to go. 

Spinach Salad with Mandarin Oranges

½ cup vegetable oil

¼ cup sugar (you may cut this if you like)

1/3 cup good Balsamic vinegar

The juice from the Mandarin oranges can

1 teaspoon salt

Salad

¾ cup walnuts

4 tsp. sugar

1 bag of fresh spinach

1 ½ cups sliced celery

1 English cucumber

1 can drained mandarin oranges

In a mason jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine the dressing ingredients; shake well. Set aside and let everyone pour their own.  This is not a diet dressing, so they may want to go easy on it.  It needs to sit awhile for the sugar to incorporate.  Shake well just before serving. 

In a skillet, cook and stir the walnuts and sugar over medium heat until the sugar is melted and walnuts are coated. Spread on foil to cool completely.   This is what really took the salad over the edge.  Don’t skip this part unless your are dieting.

In a large salad bowl, combine the spinach, celery and cucumbers. Add the drained oranges and sugared walnuts; toss gently. Shake dressing well and serve on the side.

Hoping you have a great week.  Be happy and may God bless you and yours.  

Sunday Brunch Egg Bakes

Bacon, cheese blends egg bake

My favorite go to for a brunch is an egg bake.  Each time it differs a little depending on what I have in the refrigerator.  Of course you need eggs, meat, and cheese, but from there you can go in so many different directions. 

Consider adding:

• Sour cream, cottage cheese, cream cheese, butter milk or cream of mushroom soup
• Chopped peppers of any color (add heat by adding a seeded jalapeno)
• Add ham, bacon, Canadian bacon, sausage or Chorizo sausage for heat
• Add frozen hash browns or dried cubed bread (any old bread you have) for filler
• Green onion, sautéed or caramelized onions, sautéed scallions or chives
• Cheese can be Monterey Jack, cheddar, Mexican blends, Pepper Jack, Parmesan
• Add veggies like spinach or broccoli (cheesy broccoli soup)

Broccoli, bread cubes, ham and cheese bake

I’ll share a couple with you to get your started.

Potato Spinach Egg Bake

Spinach, ham and cheese bake 

8 eggs

¾ cup milk

2 ½ cup hash browns (or replace with 2 ½ cups of cubed dried bread)

1 ½  cups shredded cheddar cheese

½ cup chopped spinach

1 cup cubed ham  (or what ever meat you have)

1 tbs. green pepper (optional)

1 tbs. red pepper (optional)

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. chopped chives or green onion

1/2 tsp. black pepper

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease a 9 x 9 baking dish.  Set aside.

In a small bowl, beat eggs and milk together until well blended.  In a large mixing bowl, combine potatoes, ¾ cup cheese, spinach, ham and/or bacon, peppers, salt, chives and pepper.  I love the fact that you can now buy ham cut up in chucks for you.   Add the egg mixture to the potato mixture and mix well.

Pour into the prepared baking dish.  Sprinkle with remaining cheese.  Bake about 45 minutes or until mixture is set and knife comes out clean when inserted into the center. 

Ham and Egg Bake

Ham, 3 cheeses, tomatoes, onion egg bake

You can make individual egg bakes by putting them in large muffin pans.

8 cubs of your favorite ham (again you can use any meat you like)

¾ cup whipped cream cheese

4 large eggs

1/3 cup milk

¼ tsp. salt

1 tbs. chopped green onion

½ cup chopped tomatoes (optional)

½ cup shredded white cheese

¼ cup shredded Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease 4 cups of an oversized (6-muffin) muffin pan.

Place 2 ham cubes inside of each of the muffin cups. Spoon 1 tablespoon of cream cheese into the bottom of each cup.

Whisk together the eggs, milk and salt. Spoon the mixture equally into the cups. Top with tomatoes, then green onions, then the two cheeses.

Bake for 14 to 16 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let stand for 5 minutes before removing from pan.

Simple Sausage Egg Bake

Not much in the house…no problem.  You can make a very simple egg bake with just eggs, sausage and an onion.  Add what ever you like from there.

5 Eggs

Olive Oil

3 Sausage Links (Without Casing) or ground sausage

1 Onion

Salt

Pepper

Preheat Oven to 350 degrees.

Sauté Sausage while you dice the onion.  Add your onion to the sausage.

Let onion sauté until it caramelized like the sausage.

When the sausage and onion are done sautéing, pour into baking dish.  Wisk 5 eggs and pour on top of sautéed onion and sausages.

Place in 350 degree oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until a knife comes out clean.

You may make them as simple and complex as you like using your favorite meats and cheeses.  I don’t think you can go wrong.

Have a great Sunday.  Be happy and may God bless you and yours. 

Honey Nut Oat Pancakes

It is the weekend which means you can fix a warm breakfast for the whole family.  How about pancakes?

These pancakes are not only delicious but good for you.  Serve them with syrup or honey on the side.

½ cup whole wheat flour

1 cup flour

¾ cup rolled oats

¼ cup honey

2 tablespoons baking powder

1 egg

2 teaspoons vanilla flavoring

2 tablespoons oil

1½  cup buttermilk

½ cup walnut pieces + extra for garnish

Butter

Mix all ingredients with a spoon and fold in walnuts.  This will be a thick batter. You won’t be able to pour it.   I dip it with a ¼ cup measuring cup for each pancake.  Heat your cast iron skillet, add a pat of butter.  Flip them when you see lots of bubbles.  Sprinkle with a few walnuts when you serve.  The recipe will make about 10 pancakes if you use the ¼ cup to measure.   

Have a great weekend!  Be happy and may God bless you and yours. 

Scalloped Ham and Potatoes

This is a tradition at my house for Easter along with the Easter ham. 

1/4 cup butter

1/4 cup flour

2 teaspoons Kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

3 cups milk

3 cups cubed cooked ham

1 tsp. onion powder (or 1 large finely chopped onion)

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (I use mild cheddar, but you can use a sharp)

5 cups sliced potatoes (you may leave skins on for nutrition if you like)

Melt butter in large sauce pan over low heat; blend in flour, salt, and pepper to make a roux.  Cook, stirring constantly, for about 1 minute. Remove from heat gradually stir in milk.

Return to heat; cook until thickened and bubbly.

Fold in ham (and any juices), onion powder, and ½ cup cheese. Pour over potatoes in a large bowl.  You may sauté onions if you like before you make the roux, but I like to save the time and mess.  After sautéing the onion add your butter and flour and proceed as written and leave out the onion powder.

Stir gently then move into a sprayed 13 X 9 inch baking dish; cover with foil. (I cut recipe in half since it is just me and put in a 9 X 9 pan.  You can do the same if you only cooking for 1 or 2. 

To save clean up or boil over, make an aluminum foil dam around the pan.  I always seem to over fill the pan and have boil over. 

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes and add ½ cup cheese on top.  Uncover and continue to bake for 1 hour.

A traditional Easter dinner also consists of baked pork-n-beans, deviled eggs, and lemon meringue pie.

Today is March 1st.  Spring and Easter come in March, along with my son Eddie's birthday and 2 grandson's birthday and just thinking of that makes me very happy. Be happy and may God bless you and yours.