Monthly Archives: April 2011

Matzo Maker

I was a lucky little girl.

I got to celebrate Hanukah and Christmas, Rosh Hashanah and Thanksgiving, Passover and Easter.

Always the food lover, most of my memories of these holidays are of the edible variety.  Potato laktes, pirogies, veggie stuffing, hard-boiled egg hunts, and matzo.

Lots of matzo.

Perhaps matzo is one of those things that tastes better because of the memories associated with it, it’s really just the simplest cracker possible.  In any case, I generally enjoy it and wasn’t going to let passover, er, pass-over without crunching through a few sheets.

But I really didn’t want to go the store when my noon matzo craving hit.  What’s a lazy girl to do but make her own!

Homemade Whole Wheat Matzo and Port Charoset

I followed a recipe!  Well, you know, mostly.

Adaped from Baked Bree.

  • 2 c. white whole wheat flour (mine was so not Kosher)
  • 1 c. water
  • 1.5 tsp. sea salt
Baked Bree describes that in order to keep things Kosher you must only take 18 minutes from start to finish to make these crackers.  While none of my ingredients were actually Kosher I thought it would be kind of fun to time myself anyway.
Pre-heat the oven to 450*
Prepare a baking sheet with parchment or cookie sheet liner
GO
After 5 minutes my dough was mixed and kneaded.
I used my new food scale* to measure out nine 2 ounce balls.
Time to roll.
I rolled these out as thin as I could to ensure crispness (and quick baking!).
While the crackers baked I got to work on the charoset.
  • 20 grams chopped walnuts
  • 1/4 cup port
  • 1 medium grated Golden Delicious apple
  • lots of cinnamon
Mix all ingredients in a bowl.
Most Charoset uses honey and red wine but I thought that Port would be a nice stand-in for both.
Confession: I didn’t make the 18 minute deadline.  I maybe could have if I’d skipped the pictures and the weighing.  It was kind of fun to move fast and at least attempt it though!
Kosher or not, it’s pretty tasty!
One of the traditional ways to eat Matzo and Charoset is the make an open faced sandwich.
Spread on some ground horseradish (I prefer the kind without mayo).
Top generously with Charoset.
Chow down.
I’m off to move some more dirt.
* Thanks for all the great feedback on food scales.  I ended up going with the cheap one from Bed, Bath, and Beyond (The Biggest Loser Taylor scale) because I had a coupon (of course, it’s B,B, and B) and because I am trying to avoid mail-ordering things (bigger carbon footprint + s &h fees).  It’s so fun to have a scale!

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Filed under baking, gardening, goals, passover, recipes

Bake, Bike, Grill

These gorgeous Spring days energize me.  Yesterday I walked and ran and before I knew it I’d covered 10 miles!  150 miles? I got this.

Good food energizes me as well.

Corn ‘n Beans Bread Muffins

Makes 12  Pre-heat oven to 365*

  • 1 c. white whole wheat pastry flour
  • 1 c. cornmeal
  • 4 tsp. baking powder
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1 eggs
  • 1 c. milk
  • 1/4 c. applesauce
Mix dry. Mix wet (if your applesauce is chunky like mine was then puree first in the food processor).  Add dry to wet.  Let sit while you prepare the beans.
  • 2 c. white beans
  • 2 T. olive oil
  • 1/2 chopped onion
  • lots of fresh ground pepper
  • red chili flakes
  • minced chives
  • minced fennel fronds
Sauté onions in oil over medium heat.  When onions turn translucent add beans.  Continue to stir and cook for a few minutes so beans soak up the onion-oil flavor and begin to brown.  Add herbs and spices, turn off burner, stir thoroughly.
Add beans to batter and mix.  Butter 12 muffin cups, fill, and bake for 30-40 minutes.  The muffins are done when the tops are slightly brown and a toothpick comes out clean.
A meal in a muffin!  These guys are dense, moist (why do so many women have a problem with that word?  I kinda like it. Moist.), and quite hearty.
I made these up for a potluck dinner party we attended on Saturday night but there ended up being loads of food and I got to bring at least half a dozen home with me.  Love leftovers.
The muffins are going to go great with all the grilled squash and asparagus in the fridge.
Um, yeah, that’s a mountain of veg to feed two people.  Leftovers. 🙂
I tossed the veggies in balsamic vinegar, a wee bit of olive oil, fresh ground pepper, and loads of rosemary.
Did you know that adding rosemary to your marinade can greatly reduce the risk of carcinogens in your grilled meat?  Vegetables don’t create carcinogens when grilled  like meat does, I added rosemary because I love the flavor.   If you grill meat consider cultivating a love for rosemary grilled meat.
After my 10 miles yesterday I am feeling less than motivated to hit the pavement today.  My exercise for the day may be biking back and forth to the clinic a few times and a mat Pilates class.
Thanks to Song for turning me onto my current favorite band, The Weepies!  They are perfect for playing in the clinic!  Here’s one of my favorites for your Monday morning listening pleasure.

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Filed under baking, goals, recipes, running