Harry cooks!

Been changing our dietary habits here at Squirrel Haven. Trying to add in way more veggies, fruit, whole grains. Doing with less white flour and sugar (altho' the occasional dark chocolate has found it's way into my system with some red wine...)

I'm not buying meat.
Haven't bought meat since before New Year's.

Now, don't get me wrong, I love meat. I am a carnivore by nature. But I am trying to be more of a Vegetarian by heart.

But the fact remains that I still love steak and bacon.

What to do?

Well, the other night I got some huge Portabello mushrooms and marinated them in some Balsamic vinegar, a little soy and Worschestireshire Sauce and sauteed them in EVOO. Added a baked potato with some sour cream and some steak sauce and it was FABULOUS. The mushrooms cut like steak and the flavor was really good!

But what about the bacon replacement? Hmmmm.

I bought some of this:  Tempeh/Tofurky Bacon.

Yah, I know it's not bacon. But then again....why not try it IN something?

So this morning, Harry and I cooked together. I took pictures because he never cooks with me and I was happy that he helped.

I like to use what I have on hand, and so looking through my fridge I found a lonely tube of refrigerator biscuits, fresh local eggs, some red pepper, mushrooms and mozzerrella cheese.

So here's what we did:

Sprayed a pan with some Organic Olive Oil.

I had Harry smush some biscuits down.....

we added some of the Tempeh "bacon" already fried,

some red pepper,

some mushrooms,

cracked some fresh eggs in on top,

and shredded cheese to top it.

Baked it at about 400 for 18-20 minutes

and Voila!!

It certainly didn't suck~ Actually, it was pretty fabulous.

Just had to add coffee.

Harry had seconds. Me too.

Try substituting some of these meatless variations in with your cooking. They cost a little less, there is less saturated fat, less calories, good flavor...

and well.... Nobody dies. :)

When Mommy Cooks.....

This week marks my daughter, Jesse's 27th birthday on Wednesday. Where did the time go??
Wasn't she just a wee little bairn not too long ago??

What did she want for her birthday?

Her "Mommy's Eggs Benedict"  So I invited her and her boyfriend, Tristan, Jesse's dad Dave and her sister over with me and Harry for Jesse's birthday celebration dinner on Sunday afternoon.
We are quite silly when we get together!

Jesse and Tristan make a cute couple, don't you think?

They are really a perfect match. I really like him a lot and so does Harry.
Tristan is a good kid.
He is responsible, hard working and funny as all get out too.

While I've had Eggs Benedict out and about....I will tell you truly....

I don't think I've ever had a better batch than the ones I made yesterday. 
ANYWHERE.
I defy anyone to make a better batch and I welcome the challenge to a cook off.

When Jesse asked me to make them special, I said "Yes, of course! But honey, I'm not currently buying meat. But bring some ham if you want it on yours and I'll cook it for you."  
(I'm having a rebellion towards the way Agribusiness is treating food animals.)

ANYWAYS....surely I digress.
ahem.

She brought a goodly sized piece of ham.
Note: Harry has not had meat for 3 weeks. I was not going to stop him if he wanted to eat what was gifted if he decided to imbibe.

So, I made up the Eggs Benedict the regular way, (I will give you my AMAZING recipe below) and I also made a Vegetarian version without the ham. Instead I substituted some sauteed kale as one layer, and a layer of sauteed mushrooms in my veggie version. The eggs came from local small farms. I have no guilt.

Well, Jesse thought that the mushrooms sounded like a great idea and added them to her traditional plate of Eggs, English Muffin, Ham and Sauce. She LOVED it.

Harry, Dave and I had my version. It ROCKED!!

Harry then had a second plate with the Eggs Benedict with Ham. He said it was also very good, but he was surprised that it "wasn't as good as I thought it was going to be." He said, "I thought it would pop into my mouth with this big taste, but it was really very salty and quite diminished."

Result?

I think the Veggie Version won. I know it did.

I offer this to you, my foodie dearie darlings!

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Merlyn's Eggs Benedict Recipe

"Merlyn's Mocking Hollandaise"

1 large can of Cream of Mushroom Soup
5 egg yolks
Generous splash of lemon juice
Dash of Franks' Red Hot Sauce
1 stick of butter, melted

In a blender, combine soup, egg yolks, lemon juice and hot sauce. Blend till smooth. While blending, SLOWLY drizzle in the melted butter. Let blend for about another minute or 2. Pour sauce into a pan, and heat on low till cooked and bubbly. Don't let it burn. Bubbles will form on side of pan. It will thicken.

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EGGIE VEGGIE VERSION

In a kettle, tear washed kale leaves into bite sized pieces. Add a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of tamari. (soy sauce). Cook down covered on low until soft. Set aside.


In a sautee pan, cook sliced mushrooms in some olive oil and a drizzle of soy sauce. Cook till browned and soft. Set aside.


Cook eggs sunny side up. Soft yolk. When ready to assemble, the sauce will "cook" the tops of the eggs.

Assembly as follows on plate:

2 Toasted dry English Muffin halves (you don't need to butter it. Good God there's enough butter in the sauce!)
Topped with layer of Kale, layer of Mushrooms, 2 eggs and a ladle of the Mocking Hollandaise.
Sprinkle of parsley or cilantro on top.


I wish I had a picture, but I was busy cooking, chatting, and loving up my family to remember taking one!
**********************************************************************
VOILA!

OMG. It was TOO delicious to be true.

You are Welcome.

While I cleaned up the dishes, the kids visited with Harry, Dave and I continued to chat while he made a batch of Chocolate Chip cookies in my kitchen. Yes, my ex husband and I are still very good buds.
We are family still and always will be.
Dave and I have a bizzare sense of humor. We stayed together for 17 years married and 23 years as a couple because we make each other laugh. A LOT.

Jesse had NO Choice but to be silly too, with Dave and I as Parents.
She got her bawdy wit and and outrageous silliness from me,  her mother...

And she got her sense of bizarre jokes and potty humor from her dad...
He's a great guy and a fabulous dad for my girls!

 But wait! There's more...

Add in her fun and silly Step Dad, Harry...

Add in some Merry Mischief to her life....

And well....

She's turned out RIGHT NICE.

Smart! Silly & she has grown into an AWESOME fun lady with wit, intellect and a bit of bizarreness that we all need and admire!

Beautiful!

Gorgeous!

We finished our day with a lovely snuggle on the couch, chatted and laughed all afternoon....
added a warm chocolate chip cookie out of the oven with hot coffee...
It was the PERFECT topper to a perfect day.

We didn't need a big birthday cake. Just a little something sweet. Just like Jesse. :)
 

Jesse dubbed it, "The Best Birthday Dinner EVER."

Happy Early Natal Day to my darling girl Jesse!! She's the best.
And I am VERY Proud of the Lady you have become.