Green Eggs & Ham Scramble

You know the story..."Sam I am, I am."   Dr. Seuss was my favorite author when I was four.  Now I read him to my grandson.  Still fun...
 
So...as a young woman, I raised Araucana chickens.  It was the late 70s.  I lived in Yakima on one acre--a mini farm where I raised my own vegetables, kept a milk goat and chickens.  Araucanas are small colorful birds that lay green and other colored eggs. My daughter was three then and together we collected eggs in our shirt fronts--you hold up the hem of your T-shirt, making it into a bowl.  She had a favorite hen she called Blackie that she carried around under her arm.  Chickens can make great pets, if you feel inclined to be friendly with them.  But that makes it harder to retire them to the stew pot later.  Try stopping at one of the "fresh eggs" signs along the highway and buy farm fresh eggs.  The flavor of a real free range chicken egg is amazing.

Recipe:
Beat until frothy:

4 farm-fresh eggs
1/4 tsp sea salt
2 Tbl. water

In a heated oiled pan add egg mixture.  Toss in chopped ham.  Trader Joe's has a non-nitrated ham that is very good.  You could use instead their Apple Smoked Bacon, crumbled.  Stir mixture until it is cooked through, but not dry.  Serve with Udi toast.  Enjoy, Nan, I am.


  

Green Beans with Dressing

In a steamer basket, cook 5 to 8 minutes, or until tender-crisp, 2 pounds green beans with strings removed and tips broken off.  Cool in water, drain and transfer to a beautiful serving bowl.

In a jar, shake together 2 Tbl. extra-virgin olive oil, 1 Tbl. white-wine vinegar, 1 tsp. Dijon mustard, 1 tsp. coarse sea salt, and 1/4 tsp ground pepper.  Pour over beans and toss to coat.  Serve with a main dish and garlic mashed potatoes.

French Toast

I love French Toast.  Once I thought it wouldn't be something I'd ever get to eat again, until I found Udi's Gluten Free Bread.  Now, a plate of French Toast is possible,  a delicious Sunday breakfast.

Ingredients:

2 eggs, whipped with 1 Tbl. Water
4 slices bread.

Dip bread in egg long enough to soak up mixture.

Heat pan, melting 1 Tbl. butter or ghee.  Once pan is hot, drop in slices of battered bread.  Allow to cook until golden brown before turning.

Serve with fruit and real maple syrup.
Yummy!

Fagiolini Di Sant' Anna (St. Anna Beans)

When I visited Tuscany, I was served platters of chopped romaine drizzled in olive oil and plates of green beans, salted and drizzled with olive oil.  They were delicious in their simplicity. Here is a recipe I found for Italian Green Beans

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
3 garlic cloves, chopped
2 lbs. green beans (Chinese long beans if you can get them)
10 oz. plum tomatoes, peeled and chopped
Sea salt & fresh ground pepper

In a large skillet, saute garlic in olive oil.  Once translucent, add green beans and tomatoes. Salt and pepper to taste. Lower the heat and cook until beans are tender (about 15 min.).


 

Aioli Sauce for Angus Burgers

Aïoli Sauce

• 1 clove garlic
• 2 pinches salt (I likeFrench sea salt in this)
• 2 egg yolks
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil (or other combination of oils. See recipe notes for recommendations on this)

1. Cut the ends off of the garlic, peel it, and either chop it or put it through a garlic press.
2. Put the garlic in a mortar and pestle with the salt and grind it into a paste.
3. In a heavy mixing bowl whisk egg yolks, lemon juice, and garlic mixture together until well combined, about one minute.  (I use the blender.
4. Start adding the olive oil, drop by drop, whisking all the while. You can add it a bit faster as you go along, but as with mayonnaise, the key to success is going very slowly at the start. When you are done adding the oil you can adjust the seasoning as suits your taste.
5. This makes 1 cup - maybe you should double the recipe, it is so good.
6. Recipe from www.easy-french-cooking.com