Recession Era Cooking

Recession Era Cooking. yes, that's something i made up. no, we're not technically in a recession.... but for all intents and purposes, we might as well be. i remember a couple of years ago when (economically) things were just starting to get sort of bad, and we all got a handy little check in the mail from the government. it seems to me that things are worse now, and i would like another. (just putting that out there so Big Brother can pass it on to the man in charge)

i digress.

as an honorary (if not authentic) old lady, i like to think of myself as fairly thrifty and economical. thanks to my mother, who let me start making messes in the kitchen when i was just a small girl, i learned lots of ideas for making cheap, hearty, filling meals that don't break the bank. sometimes making inexpensive, healthy food is a challenge, but it's completely doable, and so satisfying.

(and i must say, i'm BEYOND proud of Agnes for her foray into poultry preparation. i lived with her for a year and a half, and i can honestly say i saw her handle raw meat maybe twice. kudos, A!)

i'm putting together a little post of menu ideas for "The Poor Pantry" --- but for now i'll leave you with one of my favorite breakfasts, for those mornings when both time and money are scarce.

this is KIND of derived from a migasy sort of idea, and kind of like a quesadilla, and basically just delicious and easy.

in a skillet, melt a teaspoon of butter (you could use olive oil if you wanted)
once the fat is hot, lay in a corn tortilla
sprinkle the top with grated cheese (though truthfully, when i am REALLY broke i skip this)
let the tortilla warm through (about one minute)
then pour a beaten egg over top. sprinkle with salt and pepper (or whatever seasonings you fancy)
allow the egg to almost set, then lay another corn tortilla over top.

flip the whole thing over and let it get brown and crispy.


i cut this into wedges and eat it along a steaming hot cup of coffee, or when i'm in a hurry i just let it cool a bit, roll the whole thing up burrito style and eat it in the car.

it's full of protein, fiber (corn tortillas are actually good for you) and pretty tasty too. i think the cost per serving ends up around fifty cents (though my math skills are sorely lacking)

from my (slightly) impoverished pantry to yours -
e
PS
Agnes! don't you DARE throw away those chicken bones! i'll be back next time with a recipe for stock!

rustic

i love to bake, but i don't enjoy fussy, time consuming recipes that focus too much on aesthetics. of course, i don't want the food i spend time and money on to look unappealing, but really, in the scheme of things, it gets eaten whether it's pretty or not.

---- which brings me to today's (actually, yesterdays) recipe. i was laying about the house, feeling lazy and hungry and picked up this months Martha Stewart Living. i won't deny: i LOVE that magazine. it makes me wish i was far richer and could afford all the beautiful linens and table settings--- but even in my current financially challenged state, i always find the recipes to be affordable and delicious. (well, mostly affordable. i make substitutions on the spendy things, as you'll see . . . )

these cookies were delicious. just slightly sweet, with a nice crunchiness perfect for dipping in coffee or tea (or cider!). i'm going to make them again with different flavorings and see what combinations i can come up with. this is the recipe, directly from the Martha Stewart Website (with my substitutions in parentheses). this recipe came together in about 15 minutes and i couldn't be more pleased with it.

side note: use a good cornmeal here, as the flavor does come through quite strongly. also, i recommend sifting your cornmeal to avoid finding a weevil and having the toss the whole batch, buy new cornmeal, and start over. that MIGHT have happened.

happy baking!

xoxo
e
ps- this time i did take pictures.... but they turned out terribly sepia colored. i'll get this food photography down eventually. . . . .

Lemon Cornmeal Sheet Cookie
3/4 cup all-purpose flour

3/4 cup fine ground yellow cornmeal

1 teaspoon anise seeds (i omitted this and added 1 tsp vanilla for flavor)

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

Coarse salt (i used regular table salt and it was fine)

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature

1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar

1 large egg, plus 1 large egg white, lightly beaten for egg wash

2 teaspoons finely grated lemon zest

2 tablespoons sliced almonds

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Whisk together flour, cornmeal, anise seeds, baking powder, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl.
2. Beat butter and 1/2 cup sugar with a mixer on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat in whole egg and zest. Reduce speed to low, and beat in flour mixture.
3. Press dough into an even 1/4-inch thickness on a parchmentlined baking sheet. Brush with egg wash; sprinkle with almonds and remaining tablespoon sugar. Bake until golden, 22 to 25 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack. Break into pieces.

Fritter Fiesta

Tonight Ethel came over to make pumpkin fritters at my house! You'll have to ask her for the recipe specifics, but they were so simple, and SO good.

Powdered sugar and sweetened condensed milk
are delicious toppings.

They flip themselves over!


The finished product. Drooling yet?



Ethel and Gertrude, my 2 best friends!


Ethel and me.


"Sorry, Stanley, you can't have any."

"She Don't Use Jelly" (or) How Wayne Coyne = INSPIRATION

hello, all. (ethel here) . . . .

just got back (literally, a few hours ago) from an epic, whirlwind Austin adventure with my dear old friend L. . . .she and i have been friends for almost 20 years and even though we live VERY far away from each other, i think we're closer now than ever. spent three days at the most AMAZING festival (Austin City Limits, of course)------- soaking up the music and the sunshine equally (i have about a zillion new freckles) and just enjoying the company of one of my oldest, truest pals. *LOVE*.

one of the shows we caught was The Flaming Lips. i wouldn't have considered myself a HUGE fan before, though i certainly admired them and sang along with The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song every time i saw that silly salad dressing commercial . . . . .
but now? now i'm a FAN (capitalized. which makes it WAAAAAAAY more serious) ...
officially. I LOVE THE FLAMING LIPS.

since seeing their show i'm inspired to make an eternity scarf (you know, the kind you just throw on your neck and loop haphazardly and both ends are connected? is that a real kind of scarf or did i just make that up? i digress. . . .) in bright, magical colors. (yes, i just said magical, and usually i make fun of people who say magical. oh well. it's the only appropriate word for a scarf inspired by The Flaming Lips.)

come back here and visit in a few weeks when i've finished my scarf..... and in the meantime, go listen to The Lips.

until,
e

PS
"She uses VASELINE!"

and so it begins

the first blog.

bear with us as we work out the kinks on this new adventure. agnes and i plan to make this place cheerful, hilarious, educational and perhaps slightly awkward (like us) .... but it may take us a little while to get there. we're new to this, but SO excited. plan to hear about our adventures involving: yarn, baking, inappropriate jokes, new recipes and/or agnes' ever-changing hair color. (oh man. does it ever change) ...
hopefully in the not-too-distant future, we will be launching a line of handmade agnes&ethel goods, but until then, keep up with us here. we promise not to be boring. (well, i promise anyway. agnes just can't help being boring sometimes).

until next time ----

DON'T TAKE DRUGS!

- e