My awesome sister-in-law has this blog…Englishhawks…it’s funny and a bit quirky and informs me on 4 of my active nieces and nephew, whom I love dearly. She’s led a 10-day blogging challenge. It’s day 7, so I’ve missed the boat. HOWEVER, I thought it might be fun for 10 random facts. Sip that cherry cocktail from Sunday’s post, and I hope you don’t get bored by this one…

UNO: I am an only child and, when new friends are surprised to learn this, I take it as a compliment.

DOS: My Willy Wonkaland would consist of a queso fountain with chips falling from trees, as well as cannoli, French macarons, and anything by Jean Philippe Maury. And a bird bath of blackberry cobbler, Blue Bell vanilla on the side, please.

THREE: The concept of riding bikes in your neighborhood and going to school with kids on your street is completely foreign and strikingly idyllic. (Note: Cleavers) I loved commuting into town with my parents and went to schools with kids from all sorts of neighborhoods while growing up, so I sometimes wonder what Matt & I’ll end up doing with our own kids.

FOUR: If I could have tea with any two people (because tea is the classy way to go), it would be Ella Fitzgerald and my dad’s mother, both of whom I’ve never met but owe a ton of gratitude.

CINCO: Fear is my biggest obstacle. It paralyzes me sometimes and whispers poison about failing, falling short and never finishing a task. I would never, under any circumstances, invite it to tea.

SEIS: Matt is much more visibly organized than myself; however, I know where 99.8% of our belongings are at any moment.

SEVEN: I honestly think there is innate good in all people, even the really, really difficult ones. (And I’ve worked in prison ministry.) Copying from people smarter than me, I’ve observed that 99% of all upset people can be calmed down if you just make is blatantly obvious that you are LISTENING to them and (if you can) that you’re on their SIDE.

EIGHT: I love to dream. Fantasy vacations, restaurants and houses. Granted, I’m also very cheap, so the perfect scenario would be a six-week grand voyage to Australia or Italy with friends to meet in each town, incredible food and hotel stays, and all for under $99. And we’d come home to our open, airy, modern apartment in the middle of Manhattan with grandfathered rental rates. Sure, a lady can dream.

NUEVE: I’m not the type that laughs out loud at corny jokes, movies or slapstick humor. However, sarcasm or silly time with old friends always causes a giggle or two. Sometimes snorting.

DIEZ: I dream in colors. And butter, flour, chocolate, raspberries and orange peel. It’s so much fun. Do you?

Okay, that’s enough for now. Happy evening, friends.

Happy eating!
Laurel

~Laurel~

Roasted. Garlic.
Two words that are music to my ears. It’s also a great way to encourage those of us who are not big on heavy garlic flavor or heavy garlic breath after an Italian meal. Roasting garlic is easy, and the cooking process mellows out the garlic flavor (aka mild garlicky taste). Some people add it as a side to a dish (can you imagine eating an entire bulb of garlic? Oo, I can.), while other use it as a spread for crusty sliced bread or on top of a good steak. For Memorial Day, we mixed it into “loaded” mashed potatoes (recipe later).

Roasted Garlic
1-12 bulbs of garlic
1 TB oil for each bulb
Salt and pepper

Preheat the oven to 400. On a cutting board, peel the outer skin of the garlic bulb (not the skin around each bulb, but the layers wrapping the entire bulb together). Then, cut the top layer of the garlic head across, about 1/4 to 1/2 inch. This will expose all of the tops of the cloves so they can cook more evenly.

Using a muffin tin, place each bulb into a muffin cup. Drizzle with 1 TB olive oil (roundabout) and spread with your fingers or a brush to ensure it coats the top of each bulb. Cover each bulb with a tiny piece of foil and let cook at 400 degrees for 30 minutes.

Let cool in the muffin tin for at least 5 or 10 minutes before handling. In order to remove the soft, piping hot garlic, use a cocktail fork or my Push Pop Method: Lay the bulb on its side, top away from you. Using a large spoon on its side, push down from the bottom of the bulb and toward the top. Voila, you have roasted garlic for bread, potatoes, meat, or whatever!

Health benefits of garlic:

• Increases our natural supply of hydrogen sulfide (antioxidant), protecting us against cancers like colon, breast and prostate.
• Can protect against heart disease
• Helps improve our iron metabolism
• Consumption of garlic may help regulate the fat cells that are formed in our bodies
• Middle Eastern and Asian cultures consume an average of 9–14 cloves a day, but most doctors recommend 5 or more cloves daily (easy to do if you’re cooking with it!).
• Sources: New York Times and WHFoods

Happy eating!
Laurel

~Laurel~

Happy Memorial Day weekend!

Comfort food. Sometimes we just crave something creamy, warm and home-y. I don’t recall ever having biscuits and gravy at home with my parents, but it was always an option when with my grandmother or her Southern family. Sausage has never been agreeable with my tummy, but this version uses meatless maple sausage to cut back on the heaviness and the fat. Dig in…it’s easier than you think!

Biscuits ‘n Gravy
4-6 servings, 10 biscuits
From here and here

Biscuits:
2  1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups skim milk

Gravy:
10 ounces veggie sausage (like Morningstar Maple Sausage Patties)
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups skim milk
Salt and black pepper, to taste

biscuits step one: Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a large bowl, mix together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt for one minute. Add milk and stir until dough forms.

biscuits step two: Turn the dough on a floured surface, knead for 1 minute, then form into a ball. Form into a disk about 3/4-inch thick. Using a 2 1/2-inch biscuit cutter or a floured rim of a glass, cut out 8 biscuits. On a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or non-stick spray, place the biscuits at least 1 inch apart. Bake for 15 minutes, or until golden brown.

gravy step one: In a large skillet, cook the sausage according to package instructions. Set aside.

gravy step two: Spoon the flour into the skillet on medium-high heat and spread around with a whisk or wooden spoon for one minute. Continue whisking while slowly adding the milk. Stop whisking and let the gravy mixture come to a boil. Once boiling, add a few dashes of salt and pepper. Reduce heat and let simmer for 3 minutes.

gravy step three: In the meantime, chop up the sausage (if they came in patties or links) and stir into the gravy mixture. Stir and pour over the hot biscuits.

Pretty easy, right? And it’s super filling without making you feel super guilty for eating 8,000 calories and 80 grams of fat (estimated nutrition facts of Aunt Edna’s version). Gotta love that.

Happy weekend to you. Enjoy it. Eat lots of berries and grilled corn. Bask in the sun. Lather, rinse and repeat.

Happy eating!
Laurel

~Laurel~