My late mother in law, Louise, was a great cook. Many years ago she made a cookbook just for the girls and boys in the family. Every Christmas we would get an insert. She called this cookbook: Recipes, Begged, Borrowed, & Stolen. The Ratatouille is from her cookbook and it is prepared skillet style.
This is one of those dishes that you can prepare year round. But, in the summer vegetables are so beautiful and delicious that it is probably the best time of the year to make it. Those bright colors shine in this recipe.
Some people consider it a stew. Olive oil, garlic and herbs add so much flavor to the Ratatouille.
Following is the recipe. Hope you like it.
RATATOUILLE
1eggplant, peeled and cut into cubes. (I did not peel mine)
3 medium squash – zucchini, sliced
2 large onions – chopped
1 clove garlic – minced
1 large can tomatoes – or several fresh ones ( I used the fresh ones)
1 green pepper – chopped
1 small jar of pimiento, juice included
1/3 cup olive oil
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. oregano
1/2 tsp. marjoram
1/2 tsp. dill seeds
In olive oil saute onions for a minute or so, and add rest of the vegetables and spices. Stir well and simmer vegetable mixture for as long as you wish, stirring occasionally.
It is good to cook it for a long time to get those veggies to soften, but do not let them stick.
You can eat the Ratatouille as a side dish, main dish, over pasta, over polenta like I did, as an appetizer with crackers. Add a dash of hot sauce for some kick. In other words, make this recipe your own.
You can double the recipe. Enjoy!!
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It was early evening and once in a while I get on the band wagon of writing about Meatless Monday. It is a global organization trying to get peopple to eat a little healthier even if it is one day per week.
Sadie, my Rescue, was sitting outside guarding. I had the ingredients to make Cabbage and Celery Casserole. I was not doing a thing. It is Monday, what can I say.
But a few times I make it my own recipe, adding a little bit or this or a little bit of that. The recipe really belonged to my late mother in law, Louise Merryman. She was a fabulous cook. Years ago she made a recipe book for the girls in the family called Recipes Begged, Borrowed and Stolen. And, every Christmas she gave us inserts.
This recipe is an old one she had for many years and even though she said it fed 6 to 8 people, if my late husband, John, was around that was not the case. John loved it.
Tonight I fixed the recipe just like she gave it to me. If you have a gluten allergy it would be very easy to convert.
I hope you like it. Here it goes:
2 cups sliced celery
6 cups thinly sliced green cabbage
4 tblsps. butter
In a large frying pan, melt butter and saute celery over medium heat for about 5 minutes. Then, add cabbage and saute for another 4 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Season with salt and pepper. Place in a fairly shallow bakig dish or casserole.
The baking dish I used was a Pyrex 9 x 13 inch one. You don’t want a deep dish.
Make the Cream Sauce:
4 tblsps. butter
3 tblsps. flour ( If you want to make it gluten free used a different flour)
2 cups milk ( I had non fat milk)
1/2 tsp salt
Dash of red pepper
1 small jar of chopped pimento
Dry Bread Crumbs are optional. I did use them. Again, if you want to make the dish gluten free you will have to adjust that.
Melt the butter in a pan, add flour and stir constantly for a minute or two over low heat to blend ingredients and take away the floury taste. You are, actually, making a roux. Then, gradually add milk, stirring and cook until mixture thickens but not too heavily thickened. Add salt, pepper, and pimento, including the liquid in the jar. Mix well and pour over the vegetable mixture in the baking dish. Sprinkle with dry bread crumbs and bake in a 350 degree oven for about 20 minutes. If you want it a little more brown on top then just broil it for a bit. But, watch it.
The exact proportions of celery and cabbage is not important. Use what you have or prefer.
I decided I needed some color on my plate. So, local tomatoes and grilled asparus was another easy thing to add.
All I had to do is serve wine and sit outside.
Deliciously good and so satisfying.
I love the following saying: “Pull up a chair. Take a taste. Come join us. Life is so endlessly delicious.” How true.
Follow me on AboutMyBeaches on Face Book and Instagram.
Summer 2019 is flying by!!
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Meatless Monday is a trend. In reality you can do this any day of the week. One day or more than one. But it is catchy to say “Meatless Monday”. Leaving the meat behind and for one day enjoy the many dishes that usually revolve around meats.
I have roots in Baltimore. My husband was from Baltimore. My sister in law lives there. I worked in Baltimore for years before moving to the Delaware Beaches. Way before I started this blog too. Baltimore is a city of many firsts. Museums, churches, hospitals, neighborhoods. Many times it gets bad reviews but I really enjoyed my time there.
Private Collections: A Culinary Treasure is a cookbook that contains timeless recipes put out by the Women’s Committee of the Walters Art Gallery, a one of a kind museum located in Baltimore. Beautiful art treasures are displayed in its pages, along with amazing recipes from soups to nuts.
I have posted this recipe before, but just in case you missed it, here it is again. It is a different type of onion soup but the combination of ingredients makes it a winner.
ONION SOUP CHABLIS
1 lb. white onions, sliced very thin
1/4 lb. butter
2 cups chicken broth (your choice of unsalted or salted, or even a mixture of both)
1 cup Chablis
1 tsp. salt
pepper
2 cups medium cream (half and half will do too)
Swiss cheese, freshly grated
In a large soup pot saute the onions in butter until soft and transparent but not brown. Add chicken broth and simmer until the mixture is reduced somewhat. To tell you the truth, I skipped that step.
Add the Chablis, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil.
Reduce heat and simmer for about 2 minutes.
Stir in cream, heat, not boil, and serve.
Garnish with plenty of cheese. The marriage of flavors is awesome!! You’ll see. Enjoy!
Serves 6.
Remember that with any recipe you can always make it your own.
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I got into not eating meat on Monday. Following the Meatless Monday campaign if you want to know. This is an international campaign nonetheless. It is just a way of not eating meat one day of the week to improve your health. This organization was founded in 2003. There is also a Facebook Page called Meatless Monday. To know more about it, please visit http://www.meatlessmonday.com.
A few years ago I was visiting my cousins on the island of Culebra. Gorgeous beaches, beautiful scenery. On the photo a look at Luis Pena from their balconies. One of the recipes they prepared was a Spinach Pie. Not only was it good, but it was so easy with 5 ingredients. The chopped frozen spinach I was buying for this recipe had a lot of water but I found a few months ago a spinach that is steamable and to tell you the truth it is so much better. You can get it in all supermarkets.
I have shared this recipe on my website before so I decided to do it again as I remembered that this summer, here in Rehoboth Beach, Sharon, Amantha, Debbie and I would have impromptu dinners on the beach. This is one of the recipes I took. You can eat it hot, warm, room temperature or even cold.
Recipe – Spinach Pie
1 package or bag of spinach – 10 ounces
1 block cream cheese. You can use the less fat one or regular one.
1 onion (Cut in chunks.)
4 eggs
1 cup Parmesan cheese
Pre heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease lightly a pie dish. I use a glass one. Let spinach defrost and squeeze it to get all the water out. Take the cream cheese out of the refrigerator and let it soften a bit.
In a blender put eggs, spinach, onion, and cream cheese. Add salt and pepper to taste. I usually add just pepper since the cheese has plenty of salt. Blend. Pour into a pie dish.
Place in the oven for about 10 to 12 minutes. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top to cover. The cheese will make a crust and will add taste to the pie. Don’t be shy and sprinkle on.
It will take another half hour or so to be ready. Test it with a knife and if comes out clean then it is ready. It should have a nice rich crust.
You can really use this spinach pie for breakfast, lunch or dinner. And even for an appetizer. I would cut in squares instead of wedges if that is the case.
When I joined my friends this summer for our Rehoboth Beach dinners, I think they loved it. Don’t you think? They are smiling!
Remember that these recipes are begged, borrowed, and stolen…..please make them your own.
Until next time!
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Starting a diet on Monday…resolutions usually start on Monday, not in the middle of the week, right? Monday is a fresh start for most of us. Not eating meat on Monday, apparently, is not a new concept. There is also Wheatless Wednesday.
The awareness of Meatless Monday was reintroduced as a public health awareness campaign. It has taken off more so since 2003, with many restaurants offering Meatless Monday dishes. In our homes this is a concept easily adopted as 1, 2 3.
We need it today because after all the eating on Thanksgiving….some of us started before that, LOL. This recipe for Spinach Pie was given to me by my cousins in Puerto Rico. It is one of those recipes that is good, only 5 ingredients, and you can serve it for breakfast, lunch or dinner….adding or topping it with whatever comes to mind to make it your own. I hope you like it.
SPINACH PIE
1 package spinach – 10 ounces
1 block cream cheese (I use the less fat one)
1 onion
4 eggs
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Pre heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease lightly a pie dish. Let spinach defrost and squeeze it to get all the water out. While the spinach is defrosting take the cream cheese out of the refrigerator. You want it a bit soft.
In a blender put eggs, spinach and cream cheese. Add salt and pepper to taste. I usually just add the pepper. Blend.
Pour into the pie dish.
Place in the oven for 10 minutes, then sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top to cover. The cheese will make a crust and will add taste to the pie.
It will take probably another 20 minutes to be ready. Test it. It should have a nice rich, and brown crust.
Take it out of the oven, slice, and enjoy!!
Have a great day!!
Note: If you want it to be gluten free, please grate the Parmesan cheese yourself.
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It has been a while since I have posted a recipe for Meatless Monday. This is a “global movement, created in 2003 by Sid Lerner in association with Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health”. It is a way to eat just one day a week free of meat….go vegetarian for just that one day will help in our overall health. For more information, and recipes, as well, please visit http://www.meatlessmonday.com.
I had a couple of good size eggplants and decided that today, being Monday, I would use them to make Eggplant Parm. I have made this dish so many times, and every time I either add something or delete something. I always make recipes my own. So should you, it is fun to experiment.
2 medium to large eggplants
3 eggs
Oil for frying
Italian Breadcrumbs (If manking it gluten free, please make sure you buy some of the many available breadcrumbs that are gluten free.)
Spaghetti Sauce (I tried Mia’s Kitchen Bistro Marinara from Safeway and it is all natural and gluten free, made in Sonoma, California.)
Mozzarella Cheese (I used the already shredded cheese, but you can shred your own if you are eating gluten free. Make sure to read the labels.
1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese. I grated it myself, which is great if you are eating gluten free. The packaged cheeses already grated might have an additive that contains gluten.
Basil
Pre heat oven to 350 degrees
Slightly grease a 9 x 13 baking dish.
Put about a cup of the spaghetti sauce and spread.
Cut the eggplant in round slices. I do not peel the eggplant. I think the skin looks great and it is where your vitamins are, as well.
In a shallow bowl cracked the eggs and mix. In a plate put the Italian breadcrumbs.
In a large frying pan put enough vegetable oil in order to fry the eggplant. It does not have to be too deep.
Dip the eggplants in the eggs and then dip in the Italian breadcrumbs.
Fry them until lightly brown. I usually get them out and let them sit on paper towels, but you can just transfer them directly to the prepared baking dish, as well.
Arrange them on the baking dish as you wish. You will be making two layers.
Spread spaghetti sauce on them and also half of the mozzarella. Repeat the process and at this point you will also sprinkle the Parmesan cheese on top. Sprinkle some Basil for color too. Then to the oven.
Bake for about 45 minutes or so until they look like this…….
This dish has so much color….it should also be the center of attention on your plate. A green salad or green veggie is all you need.
For dessert, well, it is that time of the year when you just have to think that summer is around the corner but if you feel like living dangerously, well, go ahead and maybe go visit Edie Bees on Second Street in Lewes, Delaware, and grab something sweet and sinfully delish.
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All summer long the road stand markets keep us well nourished. Full of local vegetables and fruits. It does not get any better. Now we are into November and it is getting a bit chilly. So, yesterday I went by Brittingham’ Produce, located at Route 5 in Milton, Delaware. Tel. 302-684-4232
Unfotunately, this past week-end was the last one. Next year around June they will open once again. The vegetables looked gorgeous and it is a season for turnips. They are wonderful when roasted.
Their apples were from T.S. Farms in Bridgeville. Brittingham’s Produce is picked daily.
In this website you can find over 80 farm stands and markets in Delaware; Christmas Tree Farms, Creameries, U-Pick Farms, On-Farm Markets, Garden Centers and even Horse Racing. Or, there is a free APP for your smart phone. To get it visit http://www.apps.delaware.gov
For a great recipe for Roasted Butternut Squash with Corn, Red Onions & Cranberries please click on May 15, 2015 on this website, AboutMyBeaches. Just first click on May of 2015 and scroll down to the 15th. It is great.
Have a good one!!
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Definitely, farmers markets are not just for chefs anymore. In come the foodies who have a very discriminating palate. Nothing but the best for them. Getting up close and personal, the farmers love to show off their produce, so please ask questions!!
My friend, Cindi, drove all the way from Ocean City, Maryland, and Brenda Jones is a local. You will find Brenda at the Historic Lewes Farmers Market most every Saturday in the a.m. The market opens at 8 a.m. until Noon.
Historic Lewes Farmers Market is celebrating 10 years in the community. During the summer season, you can find the market at the Lewes Historical Society Complex, located between Second & Third Streets at Shipcarpenter St. Please note that on August 1st the market will take place at Shields Elementary School Parking Lot at 910 Shields St. Fall hours will be 10/3 – 11/21 from 9 a.m. until Noon at Shields Elementary Parking Lot. No pets are allowed, so leave Fido at home for a few hours. Please visit the website at http://www.historiclewesmarket.org.
The white tents are scattered throughtout the Historical Complex, a beautiful place to be on Saturday morning. To find out the vendors that come to this market, please visit http://www.historiclewesfarmersmarket.org/market-vendors.
Celebrate Summer’s Bounty by Growing Local, Buying Local and Eating Local!!
Markets are rising in popularity because consumers can get fresh produce directly from the farm. The pick of the day, shall we say.
Learning about ground cherries. Had not seen them before. They have a papery husk, which encloses the small fruit. The fruit is small and orange. Ground cherries are part of the same family as the tomatillos. They are good in pies and they are also good with salsa and in a salad.
Never too early to start your day with fresh shucked oysters!!
Beautiful mushrooms!!
Peach Season and Bennett’s tent was full of beautiful peaches. The long line of customers waited patiently but the line went fast.
“Let us not forget that the cultivation of the earth is the most important labor of man. When tillage begins, other arts will follow. The farmers, therefore, are the founders of civilization.” daniel webster
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