Coastal Reflections

Fried Okra

I was able to get some organic okra from the co-op - yay! - and made this last night.  I love, love, love fried okra.

1 pound okra

1/2 tsp. sea salt

1 1/2 cups buttermilk

2 cups self-rising flour

Olive oil

Wash the okra and drain well.  Cut off the stem and tip; slice into rounds.  Sprinkle the okra with the salt and add the buttermilk; stir to coat well.  Let stand 15 minutes or so.  Drain well and dredge in the flour.  Fry in hot oil until golden.  Drain on paper towels.

* I use organic ingredients and made the buttermilk and self-rising flour rather than purchase those products.

Parmesan potato wedges

Parmesan Potato Wedges

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 tsp. garlic salt

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

1/2 tsp. oregano

1/2 tsp. paprika

4 large baking potatoes

Mix the first 5 ingredients together and set aside.  Scrub the potatoes, cut into wedges, and place on a baking sheet.  Sprinkle with the cheese mixture and bake at 400* for 30 minutes or until tender. 

My ds's recipe

This is too cute.  I found this while going through ds1's old coloring pages and such today.  It's a recipe he dictated to me when he was three and a half years old.

An Apple Recipe

5 cups of flour

30 apples

1 cup of sugar

5 Oreos

5 cups of oil

Put it all in a big bowl.  Put it in the oven for 6 mintues.

Maple Cornbread

Maple Cornbread

1 cup organic unbleached all-purpose flour

1 cup organic yellow cornmeal

1 T. aluminum-free baking powder

1/2 tsp. sea salt

1 cup organic milk

1/4 cup maple syrup

4 T. organic butter, melted

2 organic or free-range eggs

Heat oven to 425*.  Grease an 8x8-inch square baking pan.  Mix all ingredients together and pour batter into the prepared pan.  Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Cut into 9 servings.

Orange French Toast

We prefer this over recipes using milk.

2 organic or free-range eggs

1/2 cup orange juice

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

Sliced bread of your choice

Combine the first 3 ingredients and mix well with a wire whisk.  Dip both sides of each piece of bread in the mixture.  Cook on a hot griddle until both sides are golden.  Serve warm with maple syrup.  *** These also freeze well.

Homemade Bread

This is my ds1's favorite.

1 T. yeast

2 cups warm water

1/4 cup organic butter, softened

6 T. honey

1 tsp. sea salt

3 cups organic whole wheat flour

2 cups organic all-purpose flour

Dissolve the yeast in the warm water.  Combine the butter, honey, and sea salt; mix well.  Add the yeast mixture.  Add the flour a bit at a time and knead until smooth.  Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover and let rise until doubled (about 1 hour).  Punch down dough and divide in half.  Place in 2 greased loaf pans, cover and let rise 1 hour.  Bake at 375* for 35 to 40 minutes.

Peach Cobbler

Peach Cobbler

1 cup organic all-purpose flour

2 tsp. aluminum-free baking powder

1 cup organic evaporated cane juice crystals

1/2 cup organic butter, melted

1 cup organic milk

4 to 5 fresh organic peaches, peeled and sliced (or a 10-oz. bag of frozen organic peaches works if fresh are not available)

Combine the first 5 ingredients and mix well.  Pour into a greased 2-quart baking dish.  Add the peaches on top of the batter and do not stir.  Bake at 350* for about 1 hour or until the top is golden.

Cheese Breadsticks

Cheese Breadsticks

2 cups organic all-purpose flour

1/2 cup shredded organic Cheddar cheese

3/4 cup organic milk

2 T. organic butter, melted

2 tsp. aluminum-free baking powder

1 tsp. organic evaporated cane juice crystals

1 tsp. sea salt

Mix all until dough leaves sides of bowl.  Turn onto a lightly floured surface and knead about 20 times.  Cover bowl and let dough rest for 15 minutes or so.  Divide dough in half.  Roll out one of the halves into a rectangle and cut lengthwise into strips (you should get 12 or so strips).  Twist each strip a few times and place on a greased baking sheet.  Repeat with the remaining half of dough.  Bake at 400* for 12 to 15 minutes or until the breadsticks are golden. 

Bean Basics

Potatoes, potatoes, potatoes

Pear Bread

Pear Bread

3 cups organic unbleached all-purpose flour

1/4 tsp. aluminum-free baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. sea salt

1 T. ground cinnamon

3/4 cup olive oil

3 T. organic soy flour + 4 T. water

2 cups organic sugar OR organic evaporated cane juice crystals

2 peeled and shredded pears

1 cup chopped pecans

2 tsp. vanilla

Combine all and mix until just moistened.  Spoon evenly into 2 greased loaf pans.  Bake at 325* for 75 minutes or until done in center.  Cool and remove from loaf pans.  Enjoy!

This is my dh's favorite quick bread.

Yummy zucchini bread

Ginger Cookies

Thought I would share the recipe for one of our favorite cookies.

Ginger Cookies

3/4 cup organic butter, softened

1 cup organic evaporated cane juice crystals

2 1/4 cups organic whole wheat pastry flour

2 tsp. ground ginger

1 tsp. baking soda

3/4 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. ground cloves

1/4 tsp. sea salt

1 T. organic soy flour + 1 T. water

1/4 cup molasses

Extra organic evaporated cane juice crystals

Cream together butter and sugar.  Add the remaining ingredients (except the extra cane juice crystals) and combine well.  Sprinkle some cane juice crystals in a shallow dish.  Shape the dough into 1-inch balls and roll lightly in the cane juice crystals.  Place on ungreased baking sheets 2-inches apart.  Bake in a preheated 350* oven for about 10 minutes or until lightly browned and puffy.  Remove from oven and let cool on baking sheets for a couple of minutes.  Transfer to wire racks to cool completely. 

~ These also freeze well.