One of my favorite morning rituals is to bake breakfast for my family well before they are awake. I like it even more when most of the work has already been done the night before! These cinnamon rolls are super simple to make and the flavor is amazing with just a hint of lemon. When available, I love to use fresh lemon from our greenhouse lemon trees.
Ingredients For the Dough 1 cup fed sourdough starter 3/4 coconut milk (dairy works too) 1 large egg (or flax egg for vegan) 4 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled (we use vegan butter) 3.25 cups all purpose flour 1/4 cup sugar 1 tablespoon lemon juice For the Filling 3/4 cup brown sugar 1.5 tablespoons cinnamon 2 tablespoons butter, softened (we use vegan butter) 1/8 cup flour For the Icing 1.5 cups powdered sugar 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1/2 tsp vanilla extract 1-2 tablespoons coconut milk (dairy is fine too) Directions Mix all of the dough ingredients together in a large bowl and combine until a sticky dough forms. If using an electric mixer, stir ingredients on medium for about 2 minutes or until well mixed using a dough hook attachment. Let the dough rest for 20 minutes, covered. While dough is resting, make the filling. Roll the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface into a rectangle measuring about 20" long and 12" tall. Spread the filling over the dough in an even layer from edge to edge with the exception of one short side. Leave about 1/2" of space on one short end. Starting with the short end covered with filling, roll the dough jelly-roll style until you have reached the opposite side. Pinch the end to close along the body of the dough. Using a very sharp knife or baker's twine, slice the cinnamon rolls into 10-12 even slices. Place in a greased baking sheet or a greased/well-seasoned cast iron skillet. Cover and allow to rise in the refrigerator over night. In the morning, remove the cinnamon rolls and uncover. Allow to rest while oven heats to 400°F. Bake for 20-25 minutes until edges just begin to turn a dark golden color. Remove from the oven and allow to cool. While the cinnamon rolls are cooling, combine the ingredients for the icing. Start with one tablespoon of milk and add more to thin the icing if needed. Drizzle over cooled cinnamon rolls and serve immediately. Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator in an air-tight container for one or two days. Fresh strawberries don't last very long around here. In my family strawberries are pretty much only fresh eaten; they never make it in the door! But if I can save a few to spare my go-to is this Sourdough Strawberry Shortcake. It's relatively healthy-ish and isn't loaded with processed sugar. Plus it's so refreshing for a summer evening.
Ingredients for the Biscuits 2.5 cups all purpose flour 1 tablespoon baking powder 1/2 tsp pink Himalayan salt 1/2 tsp baking soda 6 tablespoons softened butter (we use vegan butter) 1 cup sourdough discard (unfed) 1/4 cup raw honey 1/4 cup milk (we use coconut milk) 1 tablespoon lemon juice Ingredients for the Berries 1 tablespoon lemon juice 4 cups raw strawberries, ends cut and sliced 1/4 cup raw honey Directions for the Biscuits Combine all of the biscuit ingredients into the mixing bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a dough hook. Mix on medium for two to three minutes, until a smooth dough forms. Roll out on a lightly floured surface to 1/4 to 1/2" thick. Using pastry cutters, cut out 2 or 3" circles. Set aside on a parchment lined baking sheet. There should be roughly 12 biscuits. Cover the biscuits with a cloth and allow to rise for two hours. After two hours heat the oven to 425F. Bake for 8-10 minutes just until edges are slightly browned. Remove and allow to cool. Directions for Berries While the biscuits are rising combine the lemon juice, strawberries and honey in a bowl. Toss to coat evenly and allow flavors to meld in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Construction To plate the shortcake start with one biscuit. Spoon on top a generous layer of strawberries. Repeat with another biscuit and another spoonful of berries. Serve as is or garnish with whipped cream or vanilla bean ice cream. I grew up in an Italian family, practically raised on pasta. My mom cooked different types of spaghetti recipes from different family members plus favorites from family-owned restaurants. I learned, especially after visiting Italy, that the secret to perfect pasta is simple flavors without a lot of fuss. Dishes don't need to take hours; a beautiful pasta meal can be made in 20 minutes or less. This is a spin I created off the classic Aglio e Olio (Garlic and Oil) and is one of our go-to dinners in our household.
Ingredients 1-2 Tablespoons olive oil 6 large cloves of garlic, sliced 1 teaspoon or more of crushed red pepper 2/3 cup fresh or thawed frozen peas 1 pound thin spaghetti or angel hair pasta Directions Boil the pasta according to package directions. Reserve one cup of pasta water and set aside. Drain pasta. In a large skillet, drizzle the pan with olive oil and heat to medium high heat. Once the oil is hot add the garlic cloves and crushed red pepper. Do not allow to brown; only cook for about one minute. Add the peas and cook one minute more. Next add the pasta water to the pan and simmer for 4-5 minutes. Lastly, add the drained pasta and toss to coat. Allow to meld in the pan for one or two more minutes. Then remove from heat and serve. Optional Toppings or Garnishes: Bacon (we use veggie bacon), additional crushed red pepper, a slice of lemon or a small sprinkle of Parmesan These sourdough biscuits are flavorful, buttery, vegan and perfect for dipping in pot pie or your favorite local honey. They come together easy so long as you have freshly fed sourdough starter on hand.
Ingredients 1 cup flour, sifted 1/3 tsp salt 2 tsp baking powder 6 Tbsp cold vegan butter (regular if you prefer), cubed 1 cup fed sourdough starter Directions Preheat the oven to 425°F. In a mixing bowl combine flour, salt, and baking powder. Stir to combine. Next add cold cubed butter and mix with your fingers to form crumbs. Once a flaky, crumbly consistency is reached add sourdough starter. Mix lightly to incorporate and then turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead until all ingredients are well mixed. Roll out to about 3/4” thick and cut into biscuits. Place on parchment lined baking sheet. Reroll scraps and cut again until all of the dough is used. Place baking sheet in heated oven and bake for 12-15 minutes until golden brown. I’m not a big breakfast person. But I have noticed that if/when I don’t eat in the morning, I am much more likely to snack throughout the day, most likely on junk that’s quick and accessible. This breakfast bowl is quick and easy to make, is full of protein to keep me feeling full and loaded with nutrients.
Ingredients 1/2 cup buckwheat cereal groats 1 cup of coconut or nut milk + a splash for later 1 sliced banana 1 Tablespoon cacao nibs 1 Tablespoon goji berries 1 teaspoon of chia seeds 1 teaspoon hemp seeds A drizzle of maple syrup Directions Mix buckwheat groats and milk in a cereal bowl. Microwave for 2.5-3 minutes. Stir and add a splash of coconut or nut milk to thin. Top with remaining ingredients and drizzle with maple syrup. Oxalic acid is a naturally occurring acid within the hive. We can use this acid from common wood bleach, sold at most hardware stores, to create a last varroa mite treatment for the fall before we seal the hives for winter. Keeping our bees varroa free greatly increases their chances of winter survival. When the bees are clustered in their hive in late fall, find a day where the temperatures reach 50ºF or greater. Here in Central New Jersey, we perform our Oxalic Acid Dribble treatment around Thanksgiving.
Ingredients 600mL warm water 35g wood bleach 600g white table sugar (roughly 3 cups) Directions Mix the warm water and wood bleach until the bleach crystals are dissolved. Next add the table sugar and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Test the temperature to ensure it will not scald the bees. To apply to the bees, dribble with a syringe at the rate of 5mL per seam. A seam is the gap or space between the frames within the hive. Do not exceed more than 50mL per colony. Again, ensure the temperature outdoors is around 50ºF. We Italians take our pizza extremely seriously. Homemade pie is served up in our household at least once per week and while the kids have their usual favorite, I prefer to vary it up and try new combinations. This recent recipe, inspired by my first lemon harvest from my own tree, is a definite keeper. And note that the term “white pizza” doesn’t imply white sauce. A white pizza means there simply is no sauce so we rely on the flavors of rosemary and fresh lemon in this recipe to give our tastebuds the burst of flavor.
Ingredients For the cracker crust (makes two crusts) 1 cup all purpose flour plus more for dusting 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon baking powder 6 Tablespoons water 2 Tablespoons olive oil parchment paper For the toppings 3 cloves of garlic, thinly sliced 1 shallot, thinly sliced One container of mozzarella cheese balls (small size) 1 Meyer lemon, thinly sliced 1 Tablespoon dried rosemary 1/2 Tablespoon dried parsley olive oil for drizzling salt and pepper A handful of arugula for sprinkling on top (about 1/2 cup) - optional Directions Start by preparing the crust. Add all crust ingredients to the bowl of an electric mixer equipped with a dough hook. Mix until all ingredients are well combined. While mixing place a baking stone inside the oven if desired and preheat the oven to 500°F. Divide the dough into two equal parts. On a sheet of parchment paper dusted with flour, roll out one of the two balls of dough into a circular shape until it is thin. The crust will measure about 1/8” thick and the pizza crust size should form roughly a 10” circle. Poke holes throughout the center of the pizza with a fork to prevent air bubbles. With a pizza peel or a cookie sheet, slide the crust into the fully heated oven (onto the baking stone if using, or place the parchment paper directly on the oven rack). Close the door and bake for 2 minutes. This allows for a crispier crust. Remove the crust and parchment paper and leave on pizza peel or cookie sheet while assembling toppings. Add garlic and shallots. Top with cheese. Next add thinly sliced lemon and seasonings. Slide the pizza back into the oven and cook for about 5 minutes or until the pizza has browned to your liking. Pull from the oven and immediately drizzle with olive oil, and a bit of salt and pepper to taste. Let rest for about 2 minutes. When ready to serve, cut into slices. Eat as is or top with fresh arugula. Some recipes come down to a science and others are put together by feel. I often crave simple lunches of nothing more than bread sliced and topped with something savory. I pull what's in season from the garden or check my fridge for bits and pieces. Feel free to adjust the ingredients in this recipe to fit your tastes. Perfect for lunch or an easy appetizer.
I started growing my own food because I'm a foodie; I love cooking with fresh ingredients and getting the most flavor I can for each meal I prepare. This rustic homemade pizza was inspired by what's in season; I let my garden be my grocery store and combine seasonal flavors with my favorite homemade crust recipe.
Ingredients 1 pizza crust (store-bought or homemade) 12 oz. Bleu or Gorgonzola cheese crumbles 1 Delicata squash, seeded and sliced 1 Tablespoon olive oil salt and pepper 1 shallot, sliced 1 cup arugula, washed and dried 1/2 cup dried cranberries 1 cup balsamic vinegar 1/4 cup brown sugar Directions Roast the Squash Preheat the oven to 400F. Place the slices of squash on a baking sheet and drizzle with the olive oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Roast for 8-10 minutes, until slightly browned on the edges. Remove from the oven and set aside. Make the Balsamic Glaze In a small saucepan combine the balsamic vinegar and the brown sugar over medium heat. Stir with a whisk until the sugar is completely dissolved. Let simmer until glaze is thickened and easily coats the back of a spoon (usually around 10 minutes). When finished, remove from heat and set aside. Assemble the Pizza Raise oven heat to 500F. Place pizza crust on a piece of parchment paper. Top with cheese crumbles. Next top the cheese with the roasted squash slices, shallot, arugula, and dried cranberries. Use a baking sheet or pizza peel to slide underneath the parchment paper and transfer the paper and pizza to the oven. Bake until the cheese is melted and bubbles (roughly 8-10 minutes). Remove from the oven and cool and let sit for 2 minutes. With a spoon, drizzle the balsamic glaze over the pizza. Slice and serve. This butternut squash soup recipe is the only one you'll ever need. You can easily substitute pumpkin or acorn squash for the butternut and the sweet potato adds a little flavor boost. Don't let the fact that this recipe is vegan deter you; it's seriously delicious. Or just swap half and half cream for the coconut milk if you really can't get on board.
Ingredients 2 Tablespoons olive oil salt and pepper 2 Butternut squash, sliced and seeds removed* 1 sweet potato, halved lengthwise 1 white onion, halved 6 cloves garlic, peeled 2 cups coconut milk 1/4 cup maple syrup 2 Tablespoons curry powder 1 teaspoon thyme, dried 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder vegetable stock for thinning the soup of needed Directions Heat oven to 400° and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the sliced squash, sweet potato and onion on the sheet. Roast for 25 minutes. Open the oven and add the garlic cloves to the sheet. Roast for 10 more minutes. Remove from heat and set aside to cool. Once cool to the touch, scoop the flesh from the squash and sweet potato. Discard the skins and place the flesh into a blender. Add the roasted garlic, onion and coconut milk and purée until smooth. Pour the soup base into a stockpot over medium-high heat. Add the maple syrup and seasonings and bring to a simmer. Heat thoroughly for 10 minutes and thin with vegetable stock if desired. Ladle into bowls and serve. *The seeds can be saved and served as a garnish for the soup. Simply remove any pulp, rinse with water and toss to coat with a bit of olive oil, salt and pepper in a bowl. Spread on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and roast while the squash and sweet potato cook for 8-10 minutes. |
So what do you do with all that food you grow? This blog has some ideas.
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