blog.jlp.company – Spoon Me

Clams a la us (a Sunday in July at…

July 16, 2023July 16, 2023
by jennifer.pryslak

Broth

Clams

1 bushel (50-count) little neck clams, cleaned and washed (soak in salt ice bath to remove grit)

Melt butter on low to medium heat in medium to large pot. Add minced garlic, parsley and red pepper flakes. Add stock and wine and simmer 8-10 minutes. Add prepared clams and btb rts with lid on – each batch 8-9 minutes – removing clams as they open. Ladle broth over clams and add a bit of parsley to serve.

Talk about how delicious they were for hours so you can relive the experience. Maybe add the recipe and the pic he took to the blog. 🙂

Blogging 101

Truly the King of Baking Oatmeal Cookies

November 8, 2022November 8, 2022
by jennifer.pryslak

They get it. They list the ingredients in the order you need to deal with them. This I so appreciate. Sometimes I make it up. Other times, I go to the pros. King Arthur. They know what’s up. And this is the only oatmeal cookie recipe you’ll ever need. Go straight to the source of these fantastic Soft and Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies.

I like to fiddle in the kitchen … a bit more of this and a dash of that. When asked if we should add chocolate chips I was met with an emphatic NO. Oatmeal raisin cookies. Nowhere does it say chocolate chips. Got it. Stick to the plan. Sometimes that’s the way to go. There’s a time and a place for improv. It’s not oatmeal cookies. This time. Stay tuned.

Dessert

Banana Apple Cake

September 5, 2022
by jennifer.pryslak

Don’t throw those bananas away. As tempting as it may be. Do this instead.

It’s a one bowl recipe because I hate doing dishes. Mash the bananas with a fork and add the wet stuff. Whisk (with the fork—because dishes). Add sugar. Whisk. Put a sifter over the bowl and add the dry stuff and incorporate gently. Fold in apples.

Pour into a greased pan and drizzle with melted butter and put in a 375 oven. Preheated. No cheating. 20-30 minutes or until done. You know—when it’s risen and it springs back in the middle to the touch and golden brown on top. Don’t go poking holes with toothpicks. That’s for novices.

Not apple season? Don’t use apples. Other fruits’ll do. Serve warm with a pat or two of butter and a drizzle of honey. Write this recipe down because you don’t measure anything ever and this came out delightful. (That part’s just for my reference.) Update the blog. You’ll be glad you did.

Blogging 101

Acorn Squash Seeds with Sea Salt & Cracked Pepper

September 26, 2021September 26, 2021
by jennifer.pryslak

It’s squash season. And I’m reading, “Braiding Sweetgrass,” by Robin Wall Kimmerer. Reciprocity. Respect. Gratitude. I applied it to acorn squash this weekend. Food is love. Level up.

“Knowing that you love the earth changes you, activates you to defend and protect and celebrate. But when you feel that the earth loves you in return, that feeling transforms the relationship from a one-way street into a sacred bond.”
― Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants

squash seeds (rinsed and dried) | olive oil | sea salt | cracked pepper | a desire not to waste what’s given freely

20 minutes in the oven on 325. Toss ’em once. All ovens vary so check ’em to see if they’re to your liking on toasty-ness. Top soups with ’em, or snack on ’em right outta the bowl. A delight. And served up with an apology to all the seeds that hit the trashcan before I knew any better.

Blogging 101

Cantaloupe Froze Fruit

August 29, 2021August 29, 2021
by jennifer.pryslak

Melon. In season. Good price. Seemed like a good idea. Tossed it in the cart. I looked at it for a week thinking, “I should cut that thing up.” Never happened.

Got a little soft and it wasn’t of cut-it-and-eat-it quality anymore. But sweet as hell. And I like ice cream. And homemade, upcycled kinda what-if-I-tried-this kinda treats. So here’s what I did.

1 RIPE CANTALOUPE | 1 RIPE BANANA | 1 CAN SWEETENED CONDENSED MILK | 1 C WHIPPING CREAM – WHIPPED

Blitz first 3 ingredients in the blender until smooth. Fold in the whipped cream. You could toss it in the ice cream machine, and voila! Would’ve been nice, but our ice cream maker is buried in the garage somewhere. Has been for years. Lack of equipment rarely sidelines me, though – into a container it went. Set it in the freezer – and gave it a stir every hour or so to minimize ice crystals, and keep it nice and smooth. A delicious delight. Less than 3 ingredients. And the melon fulfilled its melon-ic destiny.

Blogging 101

Spinach Blueberry Mini Souffles

May 16, 2021May 16, 2021
by jennifer.pryslak

I followed a recipe this morning. I know, let’s throw this girl a parade, you’re thinking. But it’s not my style, really. Out of my comfort zone by miles. It was an easy one, but the kitchen still could be described as, “there may have been a struggle,” when I was through. Totally worth it. We like these. If you’d like to give them a go, check out Milk & Honey Nutrition. I added a bit of toasted coconut to the top, because I can’t leave well enough alone when it comes to cooking.

And if you feel about recipes as I do, may the force be with you. I grant you permission not to follow directions for the rest of the day if you make it happen. You’ll have earned it. But sometimes, rules have merit. And when you’re trying to make something that contains no flour, very little sweetener and spinach taste delicious, it’s not recommended to go it alone. And this recipe works. It’s gonna be part of the repertoire.

Blogging 101

One-bowl Banana Bread with Walnuts

February 27, 2021February 27, 2021
by jennifer.pryslak

I don’t bake a lot. I hate measuring, so it often doesn’t work out so well. But I’ve made my share of quick breads and there were bananas that were about to be garbage. So I went in. The recipe-ish kinda went like this:

One bowl. Mix it up. Make sure it’s quick bread consistency. If not, make adjustments. Toss it into a buttered pan, sprinkle a few walnuts on top and bake for 40 minutes. The lightest, fluffiest quick bread I’ve ever made. And I measured nothing. When you bake like a rogue you just never know what you’re gonna get. But this one was a success. And thanks to this blog, I might even remember how to do it again.

Blogging 101

Protein Pancakes

January 16, 2021January 16, 2021
by jennifer.pryslak

Protein pancakes. Recipes are a guideline to me. I took away the flour and whipped the egg whites and increased the eggs … used coconut “flour.” Bananas and oats. Butter in the pan. Unsalted. A bit of vanilla. And pancakes. They were fluffy and delightful. Here’s what they’re made of:

Again, recipes are not my thing. I find them inspiring. But I rarely follow them to the letter. I grew up in kitchens – the home variety, and professional grade. I’m comfortable with basic techniques and I’m creative. Often this leads to success … sometimes, it’s a flop. But these were lovely. And they belong in the repertoire. So, here they are. Give ’em a try. Delish, lower carb and higher in protein and they just tasted fabulous.

I have a goal to start my days with more protein. But I’m not willing to give up the griddle. Protein pancakes. A good solution!

Blogging 101

Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake Filled Dark Chocolate Truffles

October 3, 2021
by jennifer.pryslak

It’s Fall. So, pumpkin spice. Because why not?! 😉 Another episode of I-don’t-measure-so-baking-is-not-always-successful brought us these morsels of delight. Here’s what happened:

Used the stand mixer to whip it together (minus the dark chocolate). Set in the fridge for 24 hours – then with olive-oiled hands made spheres. Froze them for about an hour. Melted the chocolate, dipped the cheesecake balls and sprinkled with graham cracker crumbs. We just might do this again. Yum!

Blogging 101

Tumeric Tea and OJ

February 13, 2021
by jennifer.pryslak

Less sugar. More nutrition. Turmeric. A tea. In the fridge as a mixer for many things, but on this Saturday morning, OJ. There’s a good deal of sugar in orange juice. But I believe in less, not none. So this glass is filled with ice, turmeric tea (about 2/3 full) and a bit of OJ. Bright, refreshing and lighter and less sugar than straight orange juice. Infused with all of the health benefits of turmeric. A win all around. And if you’d like to dye something yellow (or even if you don’t) turmeric is your go to. My fingers are still tinted. But the tea was delicious, so worth the infusion of color.

turmeric (peeled and sliced) | water | orange juice

Vitamin C – with a boost! Turmeric Tea and OJ – or Sunny Side Up (that’s what I call it).

Blogging 101

Cauliflower Crust Pepperoni Pizza

February 7, 2021February 7, 2021
by jennifer.pryslak

I love pizza. Anything portable … a meal I can hold in my hands without dirtying utensils, etc. Perfect. But the carbs. I like to keep ’em less, if I can. This is my #superbowl #sunday #pizza pie. (Kidding. Not a football fan. Just a pizza and snack lover.) It goes like this:

Half for lunch. Half for dinner. A delight. I could make the cauliflower crust from scratch, but some things are worth $3.50 to me. Cauliflower crust is one of them.

Spoon Me - For the Love of Food