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We ate the last of the bread today, but no break has occurred in the weather since I baked bread two weeks ago. Usually, there is a cooler day when I can seize the opportunity. Although we did get a nice, albeit all too short rain shower late this morning, it has been an oppressively hot, humid day. As I mulled the prospect of not having bread for sandwiches tomorrow, I remembered the KAF "Blitz Bread: No Fuss Focaccio" that I once baked when I needed bread fast. It bakes in a 13x9-inch pan. We can cut pieces, then slice them lengthwise, and voila—the bread for sandwiches this week in about 1-1/2 hours.
I substituted 1-1/2 cups whole wheat flour for that much of the AP, and I reduced the salt to 1 tsp. I also added 1 tsp. of honey for proofing the yeast. (Yes, I know, but I LIKE proofing yeast and seeing it bubble.) I also added 2 Tbs. flax meal.
Here's the link:
https://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/blitz-bread-no-fuss-focaccia-recipe
I made a new recipe tonight, “Turkey and Zucchini Meat Loaf,” which I found online at Epicurious, attributed to Bon Appetit (September 1998). I made a number of changes, and we really like how it turned out. The glaze, made of the last of my peach jam from two years ago, and Dijon mustard is particularly tasty. As everyone can use yet another zucchini recipe, and peaches will soon be in season, I will post the recipe in the next few days.
We had it with baked potatoes (cooked alongside the meat loaf) and steamed green beans from our garden.
Note: The Black Raspberry Cobbler had much more flavor after I had refrigerated it. We finished it up last night with some vanilla ice cream on the side. I would use a different cobbler topping next time.
We picked blueberries yesterday. On Thursday morning, my weekly email from Smitten Kitchen arrived with berry recipes. I took that as a sign that I should bake her Blueberry Crumb Cake, which she adapted from Maida Heatter’s Book of Great Desserts. I had two changes. I wanted to include some wholegrain, so I used 1 Cup AP flour, then added whole wheat pastry flour to make up the 240grams weight. I also did not have whole milk, so I used 1% with a smidge of heavy cream. I used the minimum weight of blueberries, since the ones I have are large. The cake baked well. I used THE grease on the pan and parchment at the bottom, and I was able to turn it out after 20 minutes with no problem, remove the parchment, then turn it right-side up onto another plate. It has some sinking in the center, although it tested done at 40 minutes. That sinking actually like a “crease” that is about 2 inches long and off center. I'll add a note this evening about taste and texture after we cut into it for dessert tonight.
Here is the recipe link:
Promised Note: The cake is delicious, and it was cooked through, even though in has that off-center dip in the cake. I'm wondering if it needed a slightly larger pan.
Today, my husband and I went to our local blueberry place and picked 20.25 pounds. I'm taking a break from stowing them away. Some are going into quart freezer bags (4 1/2 cups per bag), so that my husband can have them during the year for his morning oatmeal--and maybe I will also be able to use them for some baking projects. I'll be setting some aside for a fresh blueberry pie, and blueberry hot cross buns and blueberry muffins are also in the immediate future.
We plan to pick more berries in a couple of weeks.
I have not yet resolved what I will do for canned blueberry pie filling. I bought some limes, so I may try stirring in some lime juice (in addition to, not in place of the lemon juice) and see what that does to the flavor. Of course, it will be a while before I crack open those canned pie fillings for pies--and maybe for sweet rolls. Another alternative might be to add the lime juice after opening a jar of the filling before using it in a pie. Or can the terpenes in limes endure the high heat of canning?
After lunch on Wednesday, I made “All American Potato Salad,” a recipe from Cook’s Country (June 2006) that I got online (back when Cooks used to send us recipes in emails). It uses peeled Yukon Gold potatoes. I used 1-½ pounds waxy red ones from the farmers’ market and did not peel them. I had adapted the recipe a bit by slightly increasing the dressing. I use green onion, which my husband prefers, rather than chopped onion. It should have chopped celery, but I do not have any. The recipe calls for cutting up the potatoes and cooking them until tender. Then they are drained and put on a sheet pan where they are drizzled with a mixture of dill pickle juice and mustard. (I use Dijon, but the original uses yellow, which I rarely have in the house.) I let it cool for five minutes, then it is refrigerated for 30-40 min. The rest of the dressing ingredients are mixed with chopped dill pickle, onion, and celery, then the potatoes are added. It is refrigerated until well-chilled. I have a note that it is best overnight, but we will have it with dinner tonight.
To accompany the potato salad, my husband will cook boneless pork chops, and we will have more of the wonderful steamed green beans from our garden.
Navlys--The CI Maple roasted pork tenderloin recipe that I like to make does not use cornstarch, and it does bake in the same pan as the sauce. It makes a very light sauce. I've found that the recipe works best in my stainless steel rather than my Calphalon pan. I always use the dark maple syrup for this recipe.
