Bread, Buns, Surprises

When You Make Your Own Bread
You Know What is In it.

Ah, the smell of fresh baked sodium bisulfite, lipoxygenase, azodicarbon-amide, and good old fashioned DATEM (diacetyltartaric acid esters of monoglycerides), to name a few.

What could grandma be cooking in the kitchen? Well, labeling laws allow all of the above and more to be listed as “dough conditioners“ and “dough enhancers” on bread, buns, etc. They make both big corporations and little mom and pop bakeries, (that sometimes don’t label any of the contents) more profitable by speeding up proofing and kneading time, along with giving a pretty homemade goodness look, better crumb, and a bonus of longer shelf life! Wow! What a deal!

Grandma should be making authentic sourdough bread with a starter culture instead of buying store bought labeled sourdough that has yeast and vinegar. Folks, real sourdough is not a sweetbread, but it’s not necessarily sour tasting. It also has big holes throughout the loaf.

It’s true that these dough conditioners and enhancers that are in the majority of bread products purchased in grocery stores, restaurants, and bakeries make picture perfect bread and perfect crumb with no gaping holes. However, let’s have holes in our bread and not in our head.

Orlando’s Secret Dining Deal

After skipping breakfast, which I almost never do, I needed a hearty lunch and didn’t want to break my budget. Here was my total bill:

There is no tipping so this $14.89 was the price including tax!

What did I receive for under $15.00? One Greek salad, containing delicious pitted black olives, and Balsamic Vinaigrette dressing, one lemon breaded cod fillet with pesto sauce, peas, and corn with summer squash.

Greek Salad, Lemon Breaded Cod Fillet Hardy Lunch.

Where did I find this secret deal?

At a furniture store called IKEA. It is located next to the Mall at Millenia Off I-4 between the theme parks and downtown. Just type IKEA Orlando Florida into your navigation.

Since I joined the FREE IKEA family club, I get coffee or tea with refills free daily. I like to get a glass of ice and pour my fresh hot black tea over it. This is so much better than any instant iced tea anywhere.

The pesto sauce is free to anyone with the meal. Just ask for it. If peas or corn with summer squash is not your thing, they also have fries or, mashed potatoes (gravy if you ask), and macaroni and cheese.

The Greek salad comes with a side of dressing, but Newman’s dressings are also free if you want them. They are near the small salads and soup of the day.

And if you have never visited an IKEA store before, they sell more than food and furniture. IKEA can plan, and the kitchen designers work is free, an entire kitchen for you including major appliances, faucets, sinks, cookware, and utensils. They have a great selection of toys and furniture for children too. Well I could go on and explain they have everything INCLUDING the kitchen sink, but go and see for yourself!

One Skillet Meal from Buy One Get One Free

Publix Supermarket has Patagonia Scallops on sale through Wednesday. Here is how I made a generous serving meal for two adults using a skillet and in less than 20 minutes.

How to use frozen scallops to make a quick, flavorful, one skillet meal.

Ingredients: olive oil, salt, pepper, baby spinach, one leek, fresh garlic, frozen scallops, feta cheese,

Method: On medium heat, thin coat skillet with olive oil and lightly brown the white part of one leek, which was cut into thin slices and seasoned with 1/4 teaspoon salt, and freshly ground pepper. Turn heat to low.

Add 4 cups washed, torn, and salad spinner dry baby spinach. Stir fry for a minute on medium heat.

Add one half package of frozen scallops that have been rinsed and drained. Keep on medium heat, cover skillet, and cook for five minutes.

Uncover and stir fry for a minute. Now without stirring, reduce heat to low and sprinkle over spinach and scallop mixture: 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese, and three cloves sliced garlic. Cover and let cheese melt and garlic soften on low heat.

Uncover and stir fry on medium until moisture is absorbed and all scallops are opaque.

When Cooked, Scallops Turn Opaque White

After reducing the liquid, the feta will be melted and form a flavorful glaze on the spinach and scallops.

Recipe is ready to be served and savored.

Orange October in Florida

The orange, pumpkin colored soft flesh of a papaya with limes.

Although diets disappear when pumpkin pie appears, this Orange color October treat is delicious, healthy, and puts you back on track.

Although, I have had papaya trees in my yard, it’s available in grocery stores all over the US now. Pick them when they are yellow on the outside without bruises. If they are rock hard, just put them in a paper or plastic bag overnight. As long as they can be easily sliced, they should be ready for feasting.

Serve with a minimum of two whole limes. The combination of papaya and limes is like peanut butter and jelly. It’s classic for a reason; it’s more delicious together. Also, it’s less work than than making a sandwich!

Pot Luck Brunch Détente

Pot Luck Brunch détente

Super easy, low sugar, and high protein this breakfast lunch or dinner meal was inspired by the following: German Pancake Recipe on the website: http://www.lecremedelacrumb.com and my own version of a Jewish blintz filling. When you go to the LeCremeDeLaCrumb website, find breakfast recipes in the menu and then scroll until you see German pancake.

The “German” pancake, which is probably an American invention, is whipped together in a blender. I followed the recipe on the Le Crème de la Crumb website except, I noticed half way through that my oven was hotter so, I reduced the temperature to 400 F to avoid having it burnt at the edges and undercooked in the center. Watch this carefully.

German Pancake in 9 x 13 foil pan

Also, with the amount of butter, when cooled, the pancake sticks to the bottom of the aluminum pan. To fix this, I put a layer of non-stick aluminum foil on the bottom of the aluminum pan. Now after the pancake cools, it is easy to lift out of the pan and cut into small servings with kitchen scissors.

The topping is my own invention trying to simulate the Jewish cheese blintz filling. Into approximately two pounds of whole milk ricotta cheese I mixed a half Tablespoon of sour cream and two Tablespoons of Icelandic Provisions Extra Creamy Lemon Yogurt. The Icelandic yogurt is perfect for this, since it’s so thick; you can try it with the other flavors such as vanilla bean or coffee.

Thick and Flavorful Icelandic Yogurt

Get out your tasting spoons. You want to barely loosen up the thick ricotta, but still keep it flavorful and have it mound up. Left over ricotta topping/filling can be used to make a traditional rolled cheese blintz filling for tomorrow’s breakfast. Just put the topping/filling down the middle of the cooked pancake of your choice, fold over the sides and top with jelly, whipped cream, sour cream, and/or fruit.

Make your German pancake first. Store it in your refrigerator until just before leaving for the potluck. At that time, mound up the ricotta topping/filling on each piece of your pancake. On top of that, I like to put a fruit spread or jelly. Cover and transport to your event.

Topping can be any jelly of your preference, or use the plastic squeeze type; this is convenient to offer anyone in the buffet line wanting to up the sweetness. You can also add fresh fruit and even more sour cream, if you prefer savoy rich food over sweet. These are good choices to feed a crowd.

Enjoy!

Spring MixWild Caught Salmon Salad

Publix Supermarket Super Salad

Most Publix grocery stores in Florida carry this salad in their deli section. With all the ingredients, which includes capers, I cannot make it at home for less.

Happen to be passing by an out of state Publix today and discovered that if you don’t see this salad, ask at the SUB counter if they can make one or two up for you.

This is the only store that told us to ask if you don’t see what you want. Such nice folks here!

Rich, creamy, thick, healthy…

Icelandic Provisions Cold Brew Coffee, rich, creamy, thick, and healthy!

If you are having to make a trip to the coffee house for that flavor fix, why not try this brand of cold brew coffee flavored Icelandic yogurt instead.

Publix has them on BOGO, buy one get one free, starting today and ending on Wednesday. But if your store carries it and it’s not on sale, it’s probably less expensive than your coffee house drink, and a whole lot healthier.

Icelandic Provisions Skyr with Blueberries and Blackberries

Icelandic Provisions Skyr Yogurt with Strawberry Spoon

Pink Pop

Fresh Pressed Florida Pink Pop

To cut the sweetness of zero calorie soda pop, try adding fresh pressed bitter juice.

Top of picture: moringa leaves and fresh ripe elderberries are on the bottom.

The above picture shows what I picked from my tress today, moringa leaves and elderberries.

Remember to discard green elderberries and never eat the elderberry seeds as they are both said to be poisonous. However, the juice from the doll size dark ripe berries is safe and nutritious.

After picking berry sprigs from the tree, I wear a plastic glove and gently pull off the berries, put them in a fine mesh strainer and rinse them well. Then I put most of them in a container in the refrigerator for the next day, and throw a handful back in the strainer. I place the strainer right over the glass and press the juice with the back of a tablespoon. Then pour soda or coconut juice into the glass and enjoy the fruits of my labor!

Celebratory Pizza

My simple diet rule is get adequate fiber and everything else will fall into place. As a general rule of thumb, I try to count about ten grams of fiber per meal. If it’s more than ten grams, I just increase my water intake during that meal.

In a perfect situation, I would cook from scratch. However, life is full of surprises and many responsibilities, so I do take a few short cuts but still follow my simple diet rule of at lease ten grams of fiber per meal.

Today I celebrated figuring out how to take apart and put back together my old OXO salad spinner with this quick and easy treat that has 18 grams of fiber for one serving!

Quest Pizza has Almost Double my Fiber Goal for an Easy Lunch Treat

If you are not accustomed to getting at least 25 grams of fiber per day, increase your fiber intake slowly and always drink water with your meal. Consumption of high water content fruits and vegetables help meet your fiber and water goals.

Like a No Work Smoothie?

Freezer Bag with Frozen Black Grapes

Try a straight from the freezer grape. It’s in the 80’s here folks. What’s it like where you live?