The Last Menu Monday

...That means this is the last day of January! It was a good month for me, how about you?

Here's what I made for supper.

*Moroccan Fish Stew

(It was very good, maybe a few minor improvements, but it was very good!)

*Oven-crisped Green Beans

*Fresh green salad with Citrus dressing

*Fresh Pletzlach

(a really yummy Jewish bread)

Living on a tropical island has provided several new foods readily available. Living in Arkansas all my life where there is very little fresh fish has made it quite new to have fresh fish available! We all like it and I'm discovering that it's quite easy to make fish in a variety of ways. Haven't tried fish stock yet...that'a little scary to me!!

Last quiz question: what do you prefer to cook- Breads, desserts, main dishes or vegetables?

Thanks everyone for joining me on my Menu jaunt!

Menu Monday

Happy Monday!

Today, Miles, my 13 year old brother helped me pick out the menu. He wanted something pork, so that's what I did. We sat and looked at recipes and got really hungry, then I went in and made barbeque pork instead!

Just a little note about my brothers: they are half carnivores, one quarter FHB-ivores (Fresh Hot Bread) and one quarter herbivores. Especially if that includes green beans, brown beans, corn, potatoes and sweet potatoes! Hehe...I love them! They make cooking so much fun! :)

So my menu for tonight was:

* Barbeque Pork

* Steamed mixed greens

* Candied sweet potatoes (Ok, I splurged and made them candied...I love sweet potatoes!!)

* Fresh fruit salad (pineapple, oranges and bananas)

* Irish Soda Bread

If you hadn't noticed, I love to bake bread. And Irish Soda Bread is a favorite! I tried this one tonight and it was great!

Brown Butter Soda Bread

Makes 2 loaves

3 1/2 cups flour

1/2 cup old-fashioned oats

1 tablespoon sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 stick unsalted butter

1 3/4 cups buttermilk

One beaten egg

Poppy Seed

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

Combine the flour, oats, sugar, baking powder, baking soda & salt in a large mixing bowl. Whisk to blend.

In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat, stirring, until it begins to brown {about 3 minutes}. Add the melted butter & buttermilk to the dry ingredients. Stir with a fork until the flour mixture is moistened.

Dump the dough out onto a floured work surface & knead gently, until the dough just comes together {about 7 turns}, do not overwork the dough! Divide the dough in half. Shape each half into a ball. Place the rounds on an ungreased baking sheet, sprinkled with cornmeal, spacing about 5" apart. Brush the tops with the egg & sprinkle with poppy seeds. Using a sharp knife, cut a 1/2" deep X in the top of each loaf.

Bake until the bread is golden brown & a tester inserted into the center comes out clean, about 45 minutes. Transfer the loaves to a cooling rack & cool for 30 minutes before serving.{I served it warm and it was great.} Serve the bread warm with butter.

Very tasty and very easy! Enjoy!

Menu Monday

Is it Monday already?! Wow...well, that was a fast week!

Today is not only the Monday I do my menu, it's also Mexican Menu Monday! Say that three times fast!! ;)

-Enchilada Casserole (garnished with lettuce and sour cream (Please see note at the end))

-Seared corn salad (It would have been even better if there were tomatoes...but...we didn't have any!)

A very simple, easy, and yummy supper. Mom has been wanting some Mexican food, so that turned out nicely!

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A little note on sour cream.

Do you live somewhere where there is no sour cream? Do you ever run out and need some? Do you have extra plain yoghurt sitting around, just waiting for something to happen to it? Do you need a new recipe to try? Well, do you? 'Cause I have the answer for you!

It's called Greek yoghurt. Sounds fancy and difficult? Nope, well, yes it does, but it's not hard at all. You take regular yoghurt, pour a couple cups into a mesh strainer lined with cheese cloth or a coffee filter. Drain yoghurt over a bowl to catch the whey, in the fridge overnight. Next morning carefully scrape the thick yoghurt into a glass bowl or jar. Stir to smooth out and serve, or use as sour cream. See?! It's simple! And healthy for you!

Have a lovely week!!