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Garden Herb Focaccia Bread

1

It was 45 minutes till dinnertime, and we were in pretty good shape toward getting the meal completed and served on time (barring any unforeseen circumstances). No sooner had I had this thought, than one of our number spoke up excitedly and said, “Wouldn’t it be great to add fresh baked bread to the dinner?”

“Oh NO!” was my immediate response.

Provide fresh baked bread for 63 people in 45 minutes! I felt like one of the disciples when Jesus told them to feed the hungry multitude with one little boy’s lunch! However, knowing this sister as well as I did, I knew it was no use trying to discourage her from making this happen; once her heart was set on something, nothing was apt to change it, so no one even tried. The result? Fresh baked bread in less than 45 minutes, beautifully golden on the outside and perfectly textured and filled with fresh garden herbs inside…a miracle for all!

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Garden Herb Focaccia Bread
SERVINGS
8servings
CHANGE SERVING SIZE
servings
COOK TIME
35mins
PREP TIME
10mins
READY IN
45mins

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Sprinkle yeast and sugar into 1/2 cup of the water; do not stir.
  3. Let stand 1-2 minutes or until the surface becomes bubbly.
  4. While yeast is bubbling, combine flour and table salt in a large bowl.
  5. Make a well in the center of the flour and pour in yeast mixture and 1 tablespoon olive oil.
  6. Stir with wooden spoon or mixer, and add remaining 1/4 cup.
  7. Turn dough onto lightly floured surface. Knead for 5-7 minutes, adding small spoonfuls of flour if necessary.
  8. Spread dough into a lightly greased baking pan and cover with plastic wrap. Let dough rise in a warm place (low oven, heating pad) 10-15 minutes.
  9. Let rise in a warm place- about 80-85 degrees - until doubled in bulk, about an hour.
  10. Using the end of a wooden spoon, indent the dough every 1-2 inches.
  11. Combine remaining 3 Tbsp olive oil and herbs until leaves are broken up and oil is fragrant.
  12. Pour over dough. Rub gently into surface. Sprinkle with kosher salt.
  13. Bake 10-12 minutes, in a 375 degree oven.
  14. Let cool and cut into wedges.

Note: The speed of this bread is due to the quick rising in a warm place. I like using the oven light or a heating pad. If you don't have a warm place, no problem, just let it rise more slowly on your kitchen counter.

 

Creamy Tangerine Custard

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Have you noticed, how tangerines have broken into the food scene of late? Having made their debut they are now showing up in a variety of exciting new ways. I can’t think of a more pleasant or deserving fruit for this to happen to. This simple little citrus, which for so long has primarily been eaten as a plain healthy snack, with just a bit of “dressing up”, turns into a stunningly beautiful dessert with distinctive flavor and tangy zip and sparkle.

I am considering using this recipe for our Easter dinner dessert. So often I’ve chosen a light yellow lemony one for this meal but I’m thinking a tangerine creation could be a colorful, lovely and refreshing change. Of course, there’s no need to wait till Easter.  Why not try it for an early spring lunch or dinner to usher in the warmer weather?

Creamy Tangerine Custard Dessert 

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Creamy Tangerine Custard
SERVINGS
CHANGE SERVING SIZE
COOK TIME
3minutes
PREP TIME
READY IN
2hours

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Whisk together first 3 ingredients in a 3-quart heavy saucepan.
  2. Whisk in tangerine juice until smooth.
  3. Remove 1 (2-inch) strip of peel from tangerine, using a vegetable peeler, and add to pan.
  4. Bring to a boil over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally; boil, stirring constantly, 1 minute or until mixture is thick and bubbly.
  5. Remove pan from heat.
  6. Whisk eggs until frothy.
  7. Gradually whisk 1/4 cup hot juice mixture into eggs; add egg mixture to remaining hot juice mixture, whisking constantly.
  8. Return to heat, and cook, stirring constantly, 2 minutes or until thickened.
  9. Transfer mixture to a medium bowl; stir in butter and extract until butter is melted. Discard peel.
  10. Place heavy-duty plastic wrap directly onto warm custard (to prevent a film from forming); chill 2 hours. (Mixture will thicken as it chills.)

Garnishes: any citrus slices or mandarin, mint 

Spanakopita (Spinach Pie)

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I’m often amazed at the speed with which different foods become popular once they are introduced to the public. Growing up we always had homemade Greek yogurt available in our refrigerator for snacks, desserts, or general cooking. (This was before it was sold commercially). A cup of fine demitasse and a little dish of yogurt topped with a spoonful of homemade peach or cherry preserves was a typical dessert at our house. Often we had crumbled Feta cheese in our scrambled eggs for breakfast, and almost daily sprinkled it on our salad. None of my friends had it at their homes. Back then it literally was “foreign” to them. Today it’s very common. You can seldom make your way through a homemaker’s magazine without finding Feta cheese sprinkled somewhere on something! Here is a dish using both Feta cheese and yogurt that was once considered out of the ordinary and is now a familiar favorite of many. This is Spanakopita, Greek spinach pie… a healthy, flavorful, easy to make meatless meal.

Spanakopita (spinach pie)

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Spanakopita (Spinach Pie)
SERVINGS
15servings
CHANGE SERVING SIZE
servings
COOK TIME
25 - 30mins.
PREP TIME
READY IN

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  2. Wash spinach, cut off stems, dry and chop.
  3. Brown scallions in 1/2 cup olive oil until tender.
  4. Combine spinach, mint, parsley, cheese, yogurt, lemon peel, lemon juice and add beaten eggs.
  5. Add salt and pepper to taste and mix well.
  6. Grease a 9×13 inch baking pan and begin by layering one phyllo sheet, brush with butter/olive oil mixture.
  7. Continue for 10 layers then spread with the spinach mixture.
  8. Top with remaining sheets each brushed with the butter/olive oil mixture.
  9. Score the top into diamonds.
  10. Bake 25-30 minutes until golden on top.