Joys of Granola

Finally, I lifted a leg today - a try at least to attain some form of fit; but, oh, this was an unexpected and healthy surprise!  I stumbled upon my own home-made Granola, while actually making Banana Coconut Bread - the mix of Walnuts, Brazil Nuts, Almonds, Peanuts, Dried Cranberries, Pineapple, Raisins, Coconut, Sunflower, Pumpkin & Flax Seeds, Honey, Molasses, and so on; basically, just put in it what you like!  The mix tasted soooo good, even before I mixed in the remaining ingredients of what would make it a bread.  #ThingsThatMakeYouGoOom

Granola Made Your Way

In your world, you would put your favorite dried fruits, nuts and seeds!

So, one day, I tried roasting the wet mixture in the oven, as is, and man-o-man, I'm telling you, it is too good to be true!  So versatile, too - as satisfyingly delicious as a candy bar, a great-tasting and nutritious snack, atop fruit and yogurt and even, on it's own, a great cold cereal.  I was so excited on how my own granola turned out, I jumped up with such unexpected joy; I threw up my arms and even clapped with intended encore; yes, motivation enough, but uh, that's enough exercise for today!

Trust me; try it!  You will love my home-made granola, as much as I do!  Here's my recipe!

COMMENTS WELCOMED!

Trust me, you'll eat it with unexpected joy and I mean, straight from the pan, before it even gets to the bowl!

Mariby Corpening's

Home-Made Granola

Descriptions, Recipes & Images by Mariby CorpeningTM

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Belgian Waffles

Golden brown, thick, light on the inside, crispy on the outside, warmed syrup, melted butter AND some bits of cold butter on the side.  I tell ya, these waffles make me go, Ooooooom!  And, I have never been a waffle person; sure, if that's what's being served for breakfast; but never preferred over some good old buttermilk pancakes.  So, well, this recipe just so does it for me.  As always, made from scratch and like anything else I do, I keep trying something new - a dash of this, a sprinkle of that!  My Belgian Waffles sing to me!  No, really, if you know me, oh, wait, see, I sing, really, and sometimes even a little jiggle of the hips, as I go, Ooooooom!  No kidding! #ThingsThatMakeYouGoOom

Mariby Corpening's Best EVER Belgian Waffles

Yields: 

Approx. 4 Servings - 2 squares ea.

Ingredients:

• 1+1/2 cup buttermilk (or Milk + 2 tsp Vinegar)

• 1+1/2 cake flour

• 1 cup all-purpose flour*

• 1/4 cup corn meal

• 2 tsp baking powder

• 1 tsp baking soda

• 1/2 cup sugar

• 1/2 tsp salt

• 2 eggs

• 2 sticks (1 cup) melted butter

     *Note:  If using Self-Rising Flour, then NO Salt, Baking Powder nor Baking Soda!

Instructions:

• Pre-heat waffle iron

• Set out table butter (to ensure room temperature for serving)

• Add vinegar in milk and set aside (5 minutes until thickened)

• In mixing bowl, combine sifted dry, then all wet ingredients (don’t over beat batter)

• Pour in (over-filled) quarter cups of batter (more or less, as preferred)

• When the waffle iron stops steaming (3-4 minutes, depending on your iron) and it’s done!

• Keep warmed at lowest temperature in oven until ready to serve

Serve:  Taste good just plain; though, optionally, serve with fresh, cooked-in or topped with a pan-fried fruit compote (blueberries, apples, peaches, black plums, etc.), warmed maple syrup, softened butter (room temperature) and/or sprinkled with powdered sugar! 

COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED!

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Mariby Corpening's

Best Ever Belgian Waffles

Descriptions, Recipes & Images by Mariby CorpeningTM

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Lamb Meatballs

Torn!  What's my mood - hamburgers, a meatloaf or meatballs?  I had some ground lamb and I thought I'd do something different; maybe go a little Greek in flavor, rather than the traditional Italian Meatballs. Pulled up a random recipe (always 5-star) for Greek Meatballs & Tzatziki, but of course, added my spin.  Then, I think I just got a little carried away!  Started out Greek, but ended up, well, let me be frank and say, It was something else!  Yes, they do appear all that!  With the spices - Cumin, Coriander, Paprika, Oregano, Garlic, Onion, Red Peppers, threw in some Caper Berries and even Sun-Dried Tomatoes - so, the flavor was great! 

A Work In Progress

BUT, well, you know like when you're watching a cooking show and at the end presentation, the taste-test response is always that, It's good?  Well, this ain't that show!  Oh, it looks all that, just can't believe I forgot to add Salt!  I even made the Tzatziki sauce (mainly Greek Yogurt and Fresh Dill), which is bland, less the Feta Cheese; so of course, I did a little more with it, adding Fresh Lemon and Garlic, too. Overall, some good stuff!  Oh, well, a work in progress!  Worth the try! 

So, this was off-the-cuff play with ground lamb.  Next time, my best recipe!

YOUR COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED!

Mariby Corpening's

Lamb Meatballs & Tzatziki Sauce

Descriptions, Recipes & Images by Mariby CorpeningTM

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Broiled Red Snapper

Never been a fan of bone fish, but man-o-man, I mean just look at it!  So, this is the second time I tried one of my favorite fish from back in the day.  In those days, I dined out and usually at a more ethnic restaurant, so the flavors were varied and always good.  It never occurred to me to cook it myself, with the herbs and spices I like best.

A tip I got from one recipe is to drizzle fish with butter and dust with flour before broiling!

Bone Fish, Wow!

But WOW!  Here it is, my Red Snapper, broiled in nothing more than butter, garlic, lemon (and all of its flesh), some paprika, parsley, salt and pepper!

I'll be honest and say, since only my second time, while it looks perfect and the flavor was outstanding, I didn't let it cook long enough; I hadn't accounted for the size of this particular fish, when I broiled it.  So, I am still perfecting this recipe and once I get all the elements just right, I will post it!

But, OOOOOOOM!  I have never had better flavor! 

COMMENTS WELCOMED!

Broiled Red Snapper

WITH LOTS OF BUTTER, GARLIC & LEMON

                          Descriptions, Recipes & Images by Mariby CorpeningTM

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Roasted Vegetables Frittata

Mariby Corpening

OMG!  I made this yesterday morning, my Roasted Vegetables Frittata topped with Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Parmesan Cheese & Capers and served with a side of my Buttermilk Biscuits.  Do you see all that flavor?  Oom!  Oom!  Oom!  Just look at it!  Grannie and I ate it for Sunday breakfast AND dinner, it was so good!  #ThingsThatMakeYouGoOom

That buttery crispness on my biscuits! Oooooom!

Roasted Vegetables Frittata

Do excuse me, I digress; though, here is my very easy recipe:

INGREDIENTS

Can either do by pan-started atop the stove, then finished in the oven or fully-baked in the oven!

• Eggs (4, 8 or 12)

• 1/8, 1/4 or 1/2 Milk (or Cream, Yogart, etc.)

• 1, 2 or 3 cups Fresh Vegetable chuncks of choice (to be roasted)

• Sun-Dried Tomatoes (chopped)

• Capers

• 1/4 cup each of Parmesan/ Mozzarella/Cheddar/Pepper Jack Cheese (or what's available)

• Fresh Scallions (chopped)

• Butter (2 pats or oil spray pan)

• Olive Oil (for roasting vegetables)

• Seasonings

INSTRUCTIONS

Half the cheese mixed in with eggs, half sprinkled atop

• Set oven temperature at 450 degrees

• Cut up chunks of preferred vegetables (I use tomatoes, broccoli, onions, mushrooms, bell peppers, diced hot peppers, etc.)

• Shower vegetables with olive oil, rosemary, a little salt, lemon pepper, garlic powder and a pinch of sugar

• Spread out vegetables on foil-lined sheet pan (do not crowd pan)

• Bake/roast for about 30 minutes until only gently charred

• Heat frying pan on medium (if starting atop stove, then finished in the oven or you can also fully bake in oven)

• A quick beat of eggs, add cream (milk or yogurt), half the cheese mixture, then add preferred seasonings

• 2 pats of butter and a swirl of olive oil in fry pan

• Pour in the egg mixture and essentially make an unfolded, open-face omelette (do NOT turn over; leave top uncooked)

• Remove roasted vegetables from the oven and pour atop the (still raw) eggs

• Top with sun-dried tomatoes, capers and the remaining freshly-graded cheese mixture

• Bake for about 15-18 minutes (if fully cooking in oven, bake for 30-40 mins.)

• Remove from oven and for effect, top with fresh scallions or spinach and a light swirl of olive oil

COMMENTS WELCOMED

Truly, this is the best baked egg dish I've ever had! The key is adding the flavor you like!

Roasted Vegetables Frittata

WITH SUN-DRIED TOMATOES

Descriptions, Recipes & Images by Mariby CorpeningTM

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