Monastery Cooking

There is something so earthy, comforting, peaceful and natural about eating foods from a monastery menu. Everything is fresh, homegrown, seasonal and for the most part meatless. Last week I purchased a new cook book by one of my all time favorite authors - Brother Victor-Antoine d'Auila-Latourrette entitled The Pure Joy of Monastery Cooking. Yes, it was a bit pricey, however it will more than pay for itself in the money his recipes will save me. The very first cookbook of his I ran across at the library a few years back - 12 Months of Monastery Soups. It was a true gem filled with the simplest recipes with few ingredients that most a people would have on hand. It was arranged by seasons and it was the first step in getting me to look at cooking and eating seasonally. I was in heaven - or - dare I say love?

The Pure Joy of Monastery Cooking follows the venue of vegetarian cooking with beautiful photographs of the monastery, the garden and of course Brother Victor and his tasty delights. This sweet gentleman's love for God, service and food shine through in his cooking. I have never been disappointed with one of his recipes and find they are very frugal to use and are used often in my kitchen. I have already made two of the recipes this week and plan on three more for next weeks menu. The following is one of the recipes I will be cooking next week.

Eggs in Potato Crousades
Makes 4 servings

4 large Idaho potatoes
4 tablespoons butter
4 Tablespoons milk
salt and freshly ground pepper
4 Tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley
4 eggs

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Bake the potatoes for 50-60 minutes, until tender. Cut a thin slice off the top of each potato. Carefully scoop out the inside of the potatoes, leaving intact a 1/4-inch shell.

2. Mash the scooped out potato flesh. add the butter, milk, salt and pepper, and parsley, and mix well. Place about half of this mixture into the potatoes, leaving a hollow space for the eggs.

3. Break an egg into the center of each potato and season it with salt and pepper. Use the remainder of the potato mixture to build a decorative edge on the top of the shell and around the egg. Generously butter a dish and place the potatoes in the dish. Bake for about 15 minutes. When the eggs are set, the dish is done. Serve hot.

My Booklist from 2010

In the past years I know I read books, however, I never could recall what or when unless I came across the book on the shelf or at the library. If you were to ask me if I even read I would answer, "Not Much." So this year I kept a running list of books as I read them – I guess I can officially answer, "Yes, I do read. And it would seem on a variety of literature, poetry and topics. The ones in Bold print are my favorites.

Books Read in 2010~

The Conscious Cook – Tal Ronner
The Pioneer Woman Cooks – Ree Drummond
Rustic Fruit Desserts – Cory Schreiber
Earth to Table – Jeff Crump
Plenty – Alisa Smith
Spaghetti for the Soul – Kathy Troccoli and Ellie Lofaro
Simply in Season – Cathleen Hockman-West
Radical Homemakers – Shannon Hayes
Charlotte Mason Companion – Karen Andreola  (I re-read this once a year- it helps me to keep my focus on our educational journey) 
Farmers Market Cookbook – Richard Ruben
Harvest of Hope – Jane Goodall
Sense and Sensibility – Jane Austin
The Age of Innocence – Emma Wharton
Entertaining with the Sopranos – Allen Rucker
Story's Basic Country Skills
The Creative Family – Amanda Blake Soule
Handmade Home – Amanda Blake Soule
The Self Sufficientish Bible – Andy & Dave Hamilton
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle – Barbara Kingsolver
Flower Fairy Library – Cicely Mary Baker
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – J.K. Rowling
Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austin
Nature Study and Life - Clifton Scott
Lady of the Lake – Walter Scott
Little Men – Louisa May Alcott
Under the Lilacs – Louisa May Alcott
Vegetarian Soups for All Seasons – Nava Atlas
Vegetariana – Nava Atlas
The Ultimate Book of Homeschooling Ideas – Linda Dobson
The Inner World of Farm Animals – Amy Hatkoff
The Backyard Homestead – Carleen Madigan
Faith Books and Spiritual Journaling – Sharon Sonefe
The Face on Your Plate – Jeffery Moussaieff
Nature's Playground – Fiona Danks & Jo Schofield
Three Cups of Tea – Greg Mortenson & David Oliver Relin
The Wholefood Harvest Cookbook – Rachel Hunt

 The running list worked so well for me that I can wait to get started on the list for 2011.

Kody's Cookbook

A couple of years a go my mother and I made a cookbook for Kody. It had favorite family recipes that were used often and still are. The recipes were simple and uncomplicated. It is a book that every one now uses.

Play Dough

1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
2 teaspoon cream of tarter
1 cup water
2 Tablespoons oil
3-4 drops food coloring

Mix the water, oil and food coloring together in a medium sauce pan. Add the remaining ingredients. Put it on the stove over medium high heat watching it and stirring, until it is a nice consistency. It will become very difficult to stir and clump together. At this point turn it out of the pan on to the counter and knead it. Cool and store in a sealed container or zip-lock bag to keep it from drying out. ( This is the first recipe that Kody helped me make when he was 3, it was in his preschool curriculum manual and he is now 14 and making it for his little brother.)