Southern Duties, Love, Pride, and Magic Bags of Tricks

First, one must understand that as a Southern woman, I do dearly love to cook.  Most of us ladies here do.  We pride ourselves on our "specialties".. and take great delight in being "famous" for our particular dish.  (mine is baked beans... also known as the "Kumbaya Beans".  LOL)  I can't tell you how I make em.  My own secret recipe.  But I am quite proud of my title as the reigning "Bean Queen".  Oh, yes I am!  LOL

Anyhoodles,.. here in the South, food = love.  So as much as I dearly love my family and friends, I am constantly cooking.  Full bellies = happy folks!   This thinking is in our blood.. in our very DNA.  

Lately, however, I have taken the "slacker" way out.  Sandwiches.  Leftovers.  One pot "throw together meals".  Picking up a box of fried chicken from the Publix Deli, (which when sliced makes delicious fried chicken sandwiches).   I have been lazy as sin in the kitchen.

Last night, hubby was whinin' and complaining.  "There's no cookies!  No cake!  No goodies!"   He said it in that wounded husband voice that reads in my mind as "If my dear wife LOVED me, I'd have baked goodies to eat."  (followed by a wounded hubby face... adding to my guilt.

So this morning I started out by frying chicken... followed by corn pones, (served piping hot and with real butter).... then some yellow rice to eat with the chicken... fresh green beans from my Momma and Daddy's garden cooked with bacon (of course), fresh sliced garden tomatoes, a loaf of zucchini bread, (zucchini is also from the garden), and over 3 dozen cookies, (I used peanut butter and some cranberry granola).  Also (of course) fresh brewed sweet iced tea, (also known as 'the House Wine' here at our house).

Two downfalls to this tale.  Mr. Picky NOW reminds me that he doesn't 'like' zucchini bread.  Grrrr.  Fine.  More for me and the kids to enjoy.  Also.. got it hot in here with that oven going.  I usually hate turning my oven on with summer heat... but sometimes, 'you just gotta'.  :)  A toaster over just does not do the same job.

My kids love home cooked food.  They are forever asking me, "Mom!  Where'd you get THIS from?"  (always some ingredient I found in the back of the pantry or hiding in the freezer and just decided to do something with, or add it to something we usually eat, thus adding some interest.  They are always, without fail, completely impressed.  (which makes me amused and happy too, I admit!)  And I always reply the same answer.  "Oh, just something I had in my magic bag of tricks."   I think Robyn is convinced that such a bag actually exists, and she'd LOVE a peek inside!  LOL!!

Back to business.  ;)  The recipe to the corn pones is ridiculously simple.

  

Self-rising cornmeal, Boiling water, Oil or lard for frying.  That's it.

Nothing in this recipe is measured. Depending on the amount of cornbread you want to make, pour cornmeal in a large bowl. Pour boiling water over cornmeal and stir quickly. Batter should be very thick. Drop by rounded spoonfuls into hot cooking grease. Fry until golden brown. Turn em' and fry the other side. Drain on paper towels (I use leftover brown paper bags from the grocery store) and serve hot. Similar to Hush Puppies, only better.  Good with butter or without... trust me we will eat them happily either way.

The Zucchini Bread is 2 cups self rising flour, 1 cup sugar, a good shake of cinnamon, 2 eggs, 3/4 cup shredded unpeeled zucchini, 3 tbsp. vegetable oil (or melted butter), a half cup (or so) of pecans, and a little milk.  You want cake batter consistency.   I add the pecans last, and you don't 'have' to have them.  Its just how we like ours.  Pour it out into a greased bread pan and bake at 325F for 60 - 70 minutes til it's nice and golden.  Let it cool a bit before you attempt to turn it out onto your cooling rack.  Then just let it finish cooling there.  Yummy eaten like cake or you can put cream cheese on it if you want to.  Quite good with tea or coffee. ;)

I am almost embarrassed to explain the cookie recipe.  I started with 2 cups self rising flour, a cup of brown sugar, a good shake of cinnamon, and a big scoop of peanut butter... probably about 3/4 cup worth but to be fair I did not measure it.  I worked the peanut butter in.. and found that I had no eggs.  Terrific.  I remembered that mayonaise is nothing but eggs and oil, so I added some til it got to the right "cookie dough" consistency, (stop making faces these turned out pretty darn good), and then lastly I dumped in about 2 cups of cranberry granola.  Mixed it all up good and rolled it into balls and put on UNGREASED cookie sheets and baked at 350F til golden.  Don't ask me how long.. LOL I have no idea.  Ten minutes maybe?  I don't know I just baked til they were done. :)  Robyn was a little grossed out that I used mayo in the cookies but she sure does like them.  She said, "You can't even tell there's mayonnaise in these, Mom!" :)   See?  Old Mom always knows a trick or two. ;)

Banana Cranberry Bread Recipe

Banana Cranberry Bread Recipe


I double this recipe, and pour into a 9 x 13 pan instead..
Ingredients


* 3 or 4 ripe bananas, smashed
* 1/3 cup melted butter
* 1 cup sugar (can easily reduce to 3/4 cup)
* 1 egg, beaten
* 1 teaspoon vanilla
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* Pinch of salt
* 1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
and a handful of Craisins!!


Method


Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). With a wooden spoon, mix butter into the mashed bananas in a large mixing bowl. Mix in the sugar, egg, and vanilla. Sprinkle the baking soda and salt over the mixture and put the mixer in. Add the flour last, mix at high speed until it's velvety. Add a handful of Craisins and hand-stir them in. Pour mixture into a buttered loaf pan. Bake until golden. Cool on a rack. Remove from pan and slice to serve. We like cream cheese on ours!! :)

How to Make Bread for Fasting

How to Make Bread for Fasting

A recipe used in Medjugorje

I have this posted so I can find it, :) but anyone is welcome to copy it and use it. :)  I got it from


  http://www.medjugorjemir.org/bread_for_fasting.htm

Fasting is good for the soul and the body, I hope that Lent is will not be the only time for us to do it.  If you want to know more, please check out 

 http://www.medjugorjeusa.org/fastingmessage.htm   


It's excellent! :)  And also here:

http://www.fathersofthechurch.com/2007/02/22/intro-to-lent-ii-fasting/

Ingredients

3 cups white flour

4 cups wheat flour

1 pkg dry yeast or three tablespoons of active yeast

1\2 cup of lukewarm water

2 cup of very hot water

1 beaten egg

1 tablespoon of salt

2 tablespoons of sugar

2 tablespoons of Olive Oil

1 teaspoon of butter

1 cup of raisins (or fresh apple cut up into small pieces)

1 cup of almonds or walnuts

1 cup of Plain Oats

Blend flour in a large bowl. Make a well in the flour. After yeast dissolves in1/2 cup of lukewarm water (5-10 minutes), add to flour. Mix flour over yeast mixture making soft balls. Add salt, sugar, butter, oil, raisins (or apple) and nuts, 1/2 beaten egg to 2 cups of hot water. Pour over yeast. (Continually add flour and water as needed) Knead the dough until it comes clean from the bowl. Let it raise 10 minutes covered. Knead again until it has spring on it. Place in a well greased desired shapes. Brush the top with remaining egg and sesame seeds, oats, or poppy seeds, if desired. Bake at 375 degrees for 35 minutes, until done and golden brown. (Use the “wet knife” test) Make 2 larger, or 3 medium loaves.

The quality of bread depends largely on the kind of flour used. A mixture of whole wheat flour and white flour can be used.

On fasting days it is crucial to drink a lot of water. Our Lady did not specify weather it should me hot or cold water, or give any other details of this sort, so each is free to decide these details for himself, in full freedom, from the heart, and according to the condition of his health. Fasting is easier when we ask God the day before for this grace, since to fast well is a grace we should not take for granted. As we ask our Father for “our daily bread”, let us humbly ask Him also for the gift of fasting on bread and water. To fast with the heart increases the power of our fast against evil, divisions and wars.

Here's another:

Oatmeal Bread for Fasting

By Deanette Pease.

"I thought I would share with you an awesome bread recipe. It is great for fasting. This recipe will make two loaves. This bread takes 4 hours from beginning to end. The bread also freezes very nicely. It was taught to me by an 86 year-old prayerful Italian woman. If you have a Kitchen Aid mixer the kneading goes easier." 

Oatmeal Bread

Add 2 tablespoons of dry yeast to 1/2 cup warm water and let stand for 10 minutes (good yeast foams up)

In large mixing bowl add (mix well):

2 cups oat bran flour

3 1/2 cups white flour

1 flat tablespoon salt

1 cup quick (not old fashioned) oatmeal

Make a little hole in the center of your bowl before adding:

dissolved yeast

2 eggs beaten (eggs should be room temperature)

1/4 vegetable or canola oil

1/2 cup of honey, maple syrup or light molasses (your choice)

3/4 cup of warm water (Add water little bit at a time, when bread is dry add a little more, if too soupy too much water, no fear - can always add a little more flour to stiffen up the dough). Roll onto floured surface and knead into a large ball. Place in a lightly oiled large bowl to let rise for 2 hours (on a warm place preferably). Cover with spray-oiled plastic wrap and let rise. Then when risen, punch down and roll onto floured surface again and split the dough into two balls. Roll flat and shape into elongated rolls and place in an oiled bread pan. Cover again with lightly spray-oiled plastic wrap. Let rise again for about an hour. When dough rises to just above the top of bread pan, (a rounded look), you can take egg white and a little water and brush lightly on top of bread and sprinkle quick oats on top. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes and then lower temperature to 375 degrees for another 35-40 minutes. When bread is nicely browned and the top taps hollow sounding, take out and cool on wired surface. Tip: Let bread cool a bit before slicing or even better yet at least a couple of hours. Enjoy and good fasting to all!