Cook School by Amanda Grant Cookbook

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Cooking and I have a love-hate relationship. I love to eat, I hate to cook- the process that is. I just don't have a mind for it, get impatient and loathe washing the dishes, but cook I do -- otherwise we'd be eating cereal and for every meal. And although that is essentially what I subsisted on during my childhood I'd prefer my children have a more balanced diet.

What I do love is getting into the kitchen with my kids and gently assisting them as they learn how to measure, slice, mix and create a nourishing meal. I thoroughly enjoy the delight when they enjoy something we've made together. Adding a bit of love to a home cooked meal really does make it taste better.

When I stumbled upon the book, Cook School by Amanda Grant I knew I'd found a gem. The book is broken down into segments based on age/ability. The photos are gorgeous, if you're into that kind of thing- I am! And the recipes are super tasty. I had each of my kids pick two dishes each we'd make together and then a few of my own that I just wanted to try. All in all I think we tried close to ten and they were all winners.

We "adopted" the chickens produced by a class "hatching" project a couple years ago. And by adopted I mean my kids begged for days and made wild promises if we could just take them home. Two years later and we are gifted with fresh eggs everyday along with fresh "landmines" in the yard, but all in all I love those birds and am glad they're part of family. Them are some classy ladies!

One of our faves from Cook School was the Tasty Bread Tarts...The recipe is easy and adaptable and only requires multi-grain bread, fresh eggs, a few splashes of milk, a vegetable like peas, a sprinkle of cheese and some seasonings. For the recipe click here.

Do you have any favorite dishes that you prepare with your kids? Any books to recommend? Please share!

Bon Appetit,

Deirdre

*I was not compensated monetarily for this review.

Time to Make the Doughnuts

My daughter asked for doughnuts as the sun rose this morning. Befuddled by sleep I vaguely recalled the job I had at a "mom and pop" doughnut shop during the summers on-and-off as a teen.

I remember the particular silence on the streets as I drove in to work, the sky an undecided grey as it slowly made its commitment to welcome the sun and the air as fresh as it would ever be.

When I'd arrive the baker had already been at it for hours and rack upon rack of old-fashioned, glazed, sugar-cinnamon, jelly and the distinctive crueller awaited me to place them on display.

The intoxicating smell, yeast and sugar, cinnamon and chocolate would linger in my clothing for a wash load or two afterward.

Friends and family would good- naturedly associate me, doughnut girl, with the popular advertisements from a certain popular doughnut purveyor.



So early that morning, when my eyes just barely cracked caught that familiar grey light in the early sky, I said, "Yes, let's have doughnuts."

I never knew specifically what ingredients went into the doughnuts I served all those years ago, but I found a great baked doughnut recipe on Krissy's Creations and came to realize, with the exception of the leavening it, was a lot like a pancake or waffle, which I've curmudgeonly groaned to my husband, who is all too happy to make them for the kids on the weekend, that it is just glorified cake, gosh darn it! Well I suppose a doughnut is too. But this morning they were extra special.

A bit of yeast and milk.

Sugar and spice and everything nice: butter, milk and egg.

Rise. Then bake.

Sifting.

A delicious doughnut, on a beautiful morning, spent with a sweet gal.

Bon Appetit,

Deirdre

What I Ate Wednesday

Welcome to the very first “What I Ate Wednesday”on Aliment. Both Tamar and I have participated in past WIAW over on Ladies Holiday, but we thought it would only be right our WIAWs get their very own stage.

So breakfast is pretty standard for me (use the Austin Powers Dr.Evil voice for that one. Pretty Standard.”) If for some reason you don’t get the reference click below and be carried back to the 90’s version of the 60’s. Pretty fun really.

But this is how I start each day and really it doesn’t get boring for me.

As for lunch I usually mix it up... I often open for something fresh and light, but on this particular day I noticed an abundance of eggs in my refrigerator. Eggs from my chickens, who up until recently free ranged upon their our land when we discovered much of our crops had been pilfered, kale, basil, squash, beans and most horrifically the tomatoes, we sought to confine them at least until our veggies matured. The speckled one is a Houdini and keeps finding a way out of her enclosure..we're on to you Poppy!

Anyway, these girls, now that they are in their pen have turned into major egg producers. For the past couple years we would get maybe a half dozen eggs or so a week. Which seemed okay based on our egg consumption, but now we're getting two or three a day. Makes me wonder if they were laying in some covert nest. I'll have to keep a look out.

So for lunch I made mini-quiche "muffins" with plenty to offer the kids for a snack when they got home from school or to save for breakfast (for them) the next day.

Interestingly, the photo of the final product has disappeared from my camera...make me wonder about those chickens and what kinds of shenanigans they get up to.

The procedure is simple:

1. Fry up some onions and peppers or whatever veg you like with your eggs. Heat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Crack some eggs and scramble (preferably from some laying hens from a nearby family or farm.)

3. Add a splash of milk. I like almond and or coconut, my daughter likes coconut and my hubs likes the almond coconut blend- so we have a revolving circuit of alt-milks in the fridge.

4. Spray or butter or oil a muffin tin.

5. Fill with egg mixture.

6. Add onion and pepper mixture.

7. Top with cheese of your choice. I'm all over the place combining dairy, non-dairy. I love Daiya.

8. Top with some foil for the first leg of cooking - 20 mins then uncover for last 5 mines for a total of 25. My oven is odd...my cooking times vary- the back is warmer than the front and the left cooler than the right. So the point is, keep an eye and be sure the eggs are cooked through.

9. Enjoy! I added a small mixed green salad with balsamic vinaigrette.

California veggie burger with lettuce, mustard and grass-fed cheddar. Sweet potato fries recipe here,  I opted for coarse salt and smoked pepper. I have to say, those are the best sweet potato fries I've ever had. They are baked and oh so perfect! On the side is homemade coleslaw with cilantro.  

And no that napkin is not a result of a laundry accident…my kids and I made tye-dyed napkins last summer. Barrels of fun.

I also drink fountains of water throughout the day. Just so you know.

And now for dessert which on this day basically replaced my-would have been snack around three thirty, I was saving myself:

I am a cookie lover. When I happened upon Natalie of Nat the Fat Rat fame on a cookie quest I just about fell over. What a genius idea. I like cookies of all persuasion and very rarely have I met one I didn’t like. (The highlighted words are all links to her cookie escapades. Just in case you need to see for yourself. You know, strictly for academic purposes ;)

When I tried the winner from Natalie’s Cookie Tasting Party. I fell deeply in love and for the space of three days those cookies and I made sweet music. The is the subtle crunch as I took a buttery bite, the soft squish as I chewed the chips and a barely detectable sigh when I swallowed. I was one smitten kitten.

Tonight I eat the final cookie. I swooned. My sweet children laid claim to the other two and with that, dear cookies, I bid you adieu. Until next time.

If you are willing to trod down this dangerously delicious path, I urge you, click here for the recipe, you won't be sorry.

In case you want to go on your very own cookie odyssey here is more and this too. Capped by the grand finale with the very best recipe ever. Chipper Champs. It was a good run. Sigh.

Bon Appetit,

Deirdre