[BakerAunt]

For Tuesday's dinner, I roasted sweet potato chunks to go with leftover roast chicken. We also had a salad featuring mixed greens from the farmers' market, along with store mushrooms and cherry tomatoes.

[BakerAunt]

For those of us wondering about the Maryland Sheep and Wool, here's an NPR story, complete with video:

https://www.npr.org/2023/05/15/1176174760/sheep-shawl-fiber-art?utm_source=npr_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=20230516&utm_term=8431167&utm_campaign=news&utm_id=65169537&orgid=680&utm_att1=

[BakerAunt]

Note: The vegan cinnamon rolls turned out well. The homemade hazelnut milk was important, as was using avocado oil rather than canola in place of the coconut oil. I also used slightly more than half white whole wheat flour and added 2 Tbs. flax meal. The correct size of baking dish (8x10) helps as well. I used Penzey's China Cinnamon in the filling. I made a half recipe of the glaze, and that is sufficient.

My friend gave me her recipe for making the nut milk, so I will give that a try at some point. I have until October when my husband's next family reunion will occur, but I will only bake the recipe if my vegan brother-in-law is coming.

[BakerAunt]

My visiting friend brought some of her homemade hazelnut milk with her, so I decided that I would give that Vegan Cinnamon Roll recipe that I tried a couple of months ago another attempt with a quality nut milk. I made the dough and shaped the rolls on Monday evening and refrigerated them overnight to bake tomorrow morning. I will report tomorrow whether this second effort produces an improvement over my first.

[BakerAunt]

For dinner on Monday, I made Salmon and Couscous with Penzey's Greek Seasoning. As a side dish, I combined asparagus from the farmers' market, chunky mushroom slices, and cherry tomatoes and tossed them in olive oil with garlic powder before roasting at 450F for 9 minutes, stirring, roasting another 6 minutes, sprinkling with Penzey's Sunny Paris, and roasting 3 more minutes. My friend, who is staying with us overnight, had it with our salmon. My husband, who is not keen on asparagus, had microwaved fresh broccoli,

[BakerAunt]

Thanks for posting about the mini-funnels, Italian Cook. I buy my Penzey's spices by the bag, and getting them into the jars is not always easy. I think that these funnels would solve that problem. I just wish that Vermont Country Store did not have such a high minimum for free shipping.

[BakerAunt]

I had one of my Italian Breakfast Cookies with my tea the next day (Sunday), and I liked them a lot more than my husband seems to have, although he did insist on eating one on the day that I baked them instead of waiting overnight. I think that I have worked out the perfect recipe for me.

[BakerAunt]

I'm glad you were able to bake your cookies, Italian Cook.

I tried, yet again, on Thursday, to tweak that recipe for Italian Breakfast Cookies that I found several years ago when I had to give up butter due to high cholesterol numbers. This time I used a combination of white whole wheat flour and whole wheat pastry flour and used avocado oil. I also used the rind of my last Cara Cara orange. I have not eaten one yet, as I want to let the flavors meld overnight, but my husband told me that they are still a take it or leave it cookie. I think part of the issue is that I just am not crazy about honey in cookies. I have made a note that when I have oranges again next year, I will replace the 4 Tbs. of honey with 5 Tbs. of sugar and a tablespoon of orange juice.

All the talk of peanut butter reminds me that there is an excellent peanut butter cookie that uses honey posted here at Nebraska Kitchen. It might have been from Mumphy? I baked it shortly after I posted it here from the Baking Circle when Nebraska Kitchen first opened and baked it shortly thereafter.

[BakerAunt]

I'm glad your stove is back in action, Joan.

I made stir-fry for dinner on Friday using the leftover pork and pan deglazing from last night's meal. The vegetables were green onion, carrots, celery, red bell pepper, mushrooms, and some kale. I added 2 tsp. cider vinegar at the end to offset the kale, then mixed in cooked soba noodles.

I also made my usual batch of yogurt.

[BakerAunt]

Italian Cook: I saw your question and searched "peanut butter cookies" here at Nebraska Kitchen and found the link that Joan posted to the recipe:

The Best Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies

If it were not for the butter, I would try this recipe, but at least I have one that does not require butter.

[BakerAunt]

Thursday night's dinner is sweet potatoes, which I roasted in the countertop oven, boneless pork chops that my husband cooked on the stove top, and microwaved frozen lima beans.

[BakerAunt]

So, how did the cookies come out, Navlys?

This Thursday evening, I will be making the dough for my Whole Wheat Sourdough Cheese Crackers, which I will bake next week.

[BakerAunt]

Joan--I'll be thinking of you and Sonny tomorrow when he has the PET scan. He will have to fast before it, so have good food on hand to feed him afterwards.

[BakerAunt]

I baked Lemon Ricotta Cookies on Tuesday morning to use up the leftover ricotta from when I made the Turkey Lasagna last week. I like my adaptation of the recipe from the Olive Tomato blog. I use just 5 oz. of lower fat ricotta, use half white whole wheat flour, and add 1 tsp. Bob's Red Mill milk powder.

[BakerAunt]

Those dinners are perfect, Joan. I'm glad his appetite has returned.

I made my lighter version of my Mom's hamburger stroganoff for dinner on Tuesday. I served it over brown rice (she always used white rice) with microwaved frozen peas on the side.

[Author]

Posts