bread

Yucca Crispy Sticks

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? All the Buzz: Yucca Crispy Sticks! From time to time I get a little help from my friends. Recently The Dancing Herbalist* suggested I share a post on the yucca root with my readers. To be honest, I have yucca plants growing all over my yard, and while I enjoy their hardy green foliage year round, and their beautiful white fan of blossoms every summer, I never gave them a second thought as a food source. Apparently they contain dietary fiber advantageous in controlling blood sugar and cholesterol levels in subtropical regions. Tasting very much like a potato, with roots that simulate a sweet potato, the yucca root is an healthy option loaded with antioxidants. I admit, I learn something new every day. 

YUCCA CRISPY STICKS

Ingredients:

1 large yucca, peeled and cut into sticks

1-2 tablespoons olive oil

1/2 teaspoon chili powder 

1 teaspoon seasoned salt

1/8 teaspoon cracked black pepper

1/2 cup Panko seasoned bread crumbs

1/3 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs, finely ground

1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 425°. Peel yucca with vegetable peeler to remove waxy skin. Cut into sticks, as uniform in thickness as possible. Do not make too thin. Place in a 2-quart pan with enough water to cover. Bring to boil. Cook 5-7 minutes. Remove and drain immediately. Submerge in an ice bath. Transfer drained sticks to a large bowl. Coat with olive oil and chili pepper, seasoned salt, and cracked black pepper. Mix together panko crumbs, Italian seasoned bread crumbs, and Parmesan cheese. Spread on waxed paper. Roll each seasoned yucca stick in the crust mixture to coat and line in a single layer on a wire rack nested on a baking sheet. Bake 10 minutes, turn and bake 5 minutes longer until golden brown. Serve warm with spicy mayo. 

Ingredients for Spicy Mayo:

3 tablespoons mayonnaise 

1-2 tablespoons sriracha sauce

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1 teaspoon soy sauce

1 teaspoon chili pepper rings

Instructions:

Combine mayonnaise, sriracha sauce, lemon juice, and soy sauce in a bowl. Mix well until smooth. Garnish with chili pepper rings. 

* Please visit The Dancing Herbalist at 

https://thedancingherbalist.wordpress.com

Violet Crostini

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? All the Buzz: Violet Crostini! Edible flowers are kind of a new thing for me this year. Everywhere I look, nature has exploded with beauty and color. Because I take special care in avoiding chemicals and pesticides in my herb garden and on the grounds, I can reap the benefits of sweet edible flowers high in vitamins. This recipe for Violet Crostini is one step up from an ordinary salad of mixed greens. By toasting a sesame artisan bread and slathering it with Norwegian Jarlsberg Cheese Spread, the salad greens and fresh violet petals create an open face sandwich or crostini. Top it off with a pretty, light purple edible chive blossom for a light onion taste. Doesn’t it look delicious?

VIOLET CROSTINI 

Ingredients:

2-4 slices sesame bread, toasted

4 tablespoons Norwegian Jarlsberg Cheese Spread*

1 cup mixed salad greens

2 tablespoons violet petals

2 chive blossoms, stems removed

2 tablespoons lemon olive oil

2-4 sprigs lemon thyme 

Instructions:

Toast sesame seed artisan bread. Spoon two tablespoons of Norwegian Jarlsberg Cheese Spread on each piece. Divide salad greens between the crostini. Top with violet petals and chive blossom. Drizzle lemon olive oil over all. Garnish with lemon thyme. 

* Follow the link for the Norwegian Jarlsberg Cheese Spread recipe. 

https://snapshotsincursive.com/2016/06/10

Onion Basil Bread

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? All the Buzz: Onion Basil Bread! You have got to try this! Tasty Vidalia onions are unbelievably sweet and mild. They are grown locally in the state of Georgia, yet recognized all over the world. You begin to see them pop up in the neighborhood markets from mid-April to mid-June. Their unique fresh taste makes them an outstanding option for eating raw or cooking in recipes. Packed with nutritional value makes them a bonus. Become a believer; discover why Vidalia onions are all the buzz!

ONION BASIL BREAD

Ingredients:

Loaf of sesame artisan bread

1/3 cup olive oil plus 2 tablespoons 

1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon marjoram

1/8 teaspoon sea salt

1 large size Vidalia onion, sliced

1/4 teaspoon seasoned salt

1 cup Jarlsberg cheese, shredded

2-3 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, grated

Fresh basil

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 400°. Line a baking sheet with foil. Cut the bread in half, then length-wise, and quarters. Dredge the cut sides in 1/3 cup olive oil. Sprinkle with garlic powder, marjoram, and sea salt. In a skillet on medium-high heat, add 2 tablespoons olive oil. Add onion slices and seasoned salt. Cover and cook one minute. Stir, reduce heat to medium-low and cook until the onions are caramelized, about 12 minutes. Watch carefully to reduce scorching and stir if necessary. Meanwhile divide Jarlsberg cheese equally over the face of the bread. Top with caramelized onions. Bake for 10 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly. Remove from oven, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and garnish with fresh basil. 

Creamed Honey on Toast

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? All the Buzz: Creamed Honey on Toast! Begin today at the Farmers Market on a quest for liquid gold. This version of natural honey is thicker in consistency, lighter in color, and creamier than ordinary honey varieties. For one, it does not contain the noticeable sugar crystals that can often leave a grainy aftertaste. Trained beekeepers put more effort into this little delicacy but, in my opinion, it is worth the extra time and effort. Pick up a couple jars this summer. Store them at room temperature and they will be good until you scrape the bottom of the jars. 

CREAMED HONEY ON TOAST

Ingredients:

Artisan bread, sliced

Sea salt French butter

Creamed honey

Ground cinnamon 

Instructions:

Choose a nice artisan bread for toasting. Slather on a tablespoon of sea salt French butter and watch it melt. Next, drizzle a generous swirl of creamed honey over the butter layer. Finally, top it off with a sprinkling of cinnamon. 

Yellow Bloomin’ Onion

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Food Junkie Favorites: Yellow Bloomin’ Onion! Nothing is more fitting for Spring than an appealing appetizer that resembles a flower, in my opinion. Now you can make a healthy version at home by baking the breaded onion instead of deep-frying it. The last few minutes under the broiler give it a crispy finish that adds extra crunch to the delicious petals. And the dipping sauce….oh my gosh, you have to try it!

YELLOW BLOOMIN’ ONION

Ingredients:

1 large yellow onion

2 tablespoons flour

1/4 cup Italian bread crumbs

1/4 cup Panko crumbs

1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

1 tablespoon Cajun spices

2 eggs, beaten

1 tablespoon milk

1-2 tablespoons butter, melted

Seasoning salt to taste

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 400°. In one bowl, combine the flour, bread crumbs, Panko crumbs, Parmesan cheese, and Cajun spice. Mix well. Set aside. In another bowl, combine beaten eggs and milk. Whisk together. Set aside. Cut the top side of the onion. Turn over and carefully cut the root side just enough to peel the outer skin of the onion. Leave the root intact as this will be the base and hold the onion together. Discard onion skins. In order to give the appearance of an open flower, 16 sections are made. With the root side up, place the knife 1/8″ away from the core and slice straight down. It is best to begin with quarters and then make 3 slices in each quadrant all the way around. Carefully turn the onion over and spread the “petals” apart. Dip the onion in the milk bath and wash it completely using a pastry brush. Carefully transfer the onion to the bowl filled with breading. Beginning at the bottom, cover each petal with dry coating. Again using the pastry brush, continue coating the petals until the egg wash is gone. You may alternate the egg mixture and dry coating to cover the petals. Transfer the onion to an oven-safe pie plate or dish. Cover with foil and bake for 15 minutes. Using hot pads, take the pan from the oven and remove the foil. Using a pastry brush, coat the onion with melted butter. Return to the oven. Bake 10 minutes longer, or until crispy. I set the broiler on High and broiled it for 4-5 minutes to make it extra-crunchy. Watch carefully so it does not burn. Remove from oven. Sprinkle with seasoned salt. Place on a serving platter. Serve with dipping sauce. 

DIPPING SAUCE

Ingredients:

1/4 cup mayonnaise 

1/4 cup Greek yogurt

3 teaspoons ketchup 

2 teaspoons Lea and Perrins 

2 tablespoons horseradish 

1/2 teaspoon paprika 

1/8 teaspoon cayenne 

Instructions:

Combine mayonnaise, yogurt, ketchup, Lea and Perrins, horseradish, paprika, and cayenne. Mix well and refrigerate for one hour. Pour into a small cup and place in the center of the onion. 

Marble Rye Deli Classic

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Food Junkie Favorites: Marble Rye Deli Classic! One of the most sophisticated breads around is the marble rye with its identifiable dark swirls in geometric design. Did you know that cocoa powder is responsible for this transformation? Truth. Another little secret about marble rye is when eaten for breakfast, it actually keeps hunger pangs at bay for the rest of the morning. I like that idea, which is why an egg salad sandwich on rye is often my choice. The next time you pass by the deli, pick up a loaf of bakery fresh marble rye bread. 

MARBLE RYE DELI CLASSIC

Ingredients:

4 slices marble rye bread

1 tablespoon butter

4 hard boiled eggs, peeled and chopped

1/4 cup mayonnaise 

1/4 teaspoon celery seed

Salt and pepper to taste

2 slices red onion

Curly endive lettuce 

Instructions:

Toast and butter the marble rye bread. Set aside. Using a mini chopper, pulse the eggs to bite size crumbles. Mix together the chopped egg and mayonnaise. Fold in celery seed. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. To assemble sandwich, place the lettuce on the rye bread. Next spread the egg salad. Layer with red onion slices. Top with another slice of buttered marble rye bread. Voilà! A Deli-style egg salad sandwich. 

White Wine Garlic Shrimp

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Grocery List Ideas: White Wine Garlic Shrimp. You may want to add an artisan bread to this meal-in-a-skillet. I mean, look at those succulent juices just begging to be slurped. If you happen to have a bag of frozen shrimp in the freezer, once thawed, be sure to cook them gently no longer than 1-2 minutes. The object is to only warm them through. Then quickly remove the shrimp to keep them from turning rubbery. It’s easy to overcook shrimp, so avoid that mistake ahead of time. Are we good? Because it’s simply Shrimpolicious! 

WHITE WINE GARLIC SHRIMP 

Ingredients: 

2 teaspoons olive oil 

2 teaspoons butter 

6 garlic cloves, chopped

1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1/4 cup white wine 

1 cup clam juice 

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1 teaspoon anchovy paste 

1 teaspoon sea salt

1/8 teaspoon black pepper 

1 pound jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined 

Instructions: 

Warm the olive oil and butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add chopped garlic and red pepper flakes. Sauté 1-2 minutes, or until golden. Add white wine, clam juice, lemon juice, anchovy paste, sea salt, and black pepper. Bring to a boil. Cook 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the jumbo shrimp, stirring for 2-3 minutes longer until opaque. Do not overcook the shrimp. Serve with crusty bread to soak up all the juices. 

Sage Cheddar Beer Bread

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Grocery List Ideas: Sage Cheddar Beer Bread. Anyone can make this popular loaf of deliciousness. It doesn’t require yeast. It doesn’t require kneading. It doesn’t require complicated hoops to jump through, either. The freshly baked crust covers the soft cheesy texture inside. Feel free to toast a slice before sinking your teeth into its herbal addition. Bread-lovers unite. We’re on to something very pleasing and delightful right here. 

SAGE CHEDDAR BEER BREAD 

Ingredients: 

2 cups flour 

3 teaspoons baking powder 

3 teaspoons sugar 

1 teaspoon sea salt 

3 teaspoon fresh sage, chopped 

3/4 cup cheddar cheese, shredded 

12-ounces amber ale, room temperature 

1/4 cup butter, melted 

Fresh sage leaves, for garnish 

Instructions: 

Preheat oven to 375°. Spray a loaf pan with nonstick oil; line the loaf pan with parchment paper. Set aside. In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, sugar, and sea salt. Stir until mixed. Fold in chopped sage and cheddar cheese. Add the beer, stirring just until the dough forms. Set aside. Warm the butter in the microwave for 20-30 seconds. Brush the melted butter onto the parchment paper, the sides and bottom. Spoon the dough into the buttered loaf pan. Brush the remaining butter evenly over the top of the dough. Bake until golden brown and a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean, approximately 45-50 minutes. Remove pan from the oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes. Using the parchment paper, gently transfer the beer bread to a wire rack. Cool 20 minutes longer. Slice and serve. Garnish with fresh sage leaves. 

Kickshaw Grilled Cheese

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Grocery List Ideas: Kickshaw Grilled Cheese. Few things are as irresistible as a grilled cheese sandwich. I learned a secret, a few years ago, that switching out mayonnaise for the butter has its advantages. When sprinkled with onion powder, a savory essence of umami bursts through the taste buds for a culinary reaction that is deeply satisfying. Add that to the incredibly crisp crust and you can practically hear the applause. 

KICKSHAW GRILLED CHEESE 

Ingredients: 

2 slices sourdough bread 

2 tablespoons mayonnaise, for spreading

1/8 teaspoon onion powder

2 slices cheddar cheese, smoky flavor

2 slices Colby cheese 

2 slices American cheese 

2 slices pepper jack cheese

1-2 teaspoons red pepper jelly 

1 small jalapeño pepper, red or green, thinly sliced

Chili crisp, for garnish 

Instructions: 

Spread a thin layer of mayonnaise on one side of both slices of bread. Sprinkle onion powder on top of the mayonnaise. Against the plain bread, layer one side of the sandwich with the smoky cheddar cheese, Colby cheese, American cheese, and pepper jack cheese. Spread a thin layer of red pepper jelly on the plain side of the other slice of bread. Place the jellied slice, mayonnaise side up on top of the layered cheese slice of bread. Transfer sandwich to an iron skillet. Heat the skillet over medium-low heat. Cook for 3-4 minutes until the cheese starts to melt and the bread turns a golden brown. Flip the sandwich over and cook 3-4 minutes longer. The cheese will be completely melted and the bread will be a golden brown. Remove from heat. Cut in half. Add sliced jalapeños, if desired. Drizzle with chili crisp for an explosion of flavor.