For the first time, in a long time, I had a “laugh out loud” fail. I was trying to replicate “Jo’s Fatayar” from my Magnolia Table cookbook. It was an uphill battle from the start. I knew the name itself would draw criticism from my family. It did. Not that they had any knowledge on which to base their rejection, just the simple fact that my family had not heard of it before is enough to get them riled. Of course, after reading the ingredients (ground beef, cheddar cheese, thawed hash browns, biscuit dough, etc.), I knew there was nothing really objectionable. I likened it to a pasty; beef, potato and onion in a baked crust- a personal package of seasoned meat filling. I don’t know if it was because I replaced the suggested “Grands” with my organic “Annie’s” pre-made biscuit dough, or because the method just relied on pinching the triangle-cornered pockets together without any type of egg wash, or such, binding… But, I knew about half-way through the cooking process, when I went to switch the baking sheets on the oven racks for even heat distribution and saw that my ‘pockets’ looked more like little ‘pizzas’ with unevenly disbursed mounds of beef and cheese, that my attempt was a complete fail. It really was laughable compared to the picture from the cookbook. My kids certainly (after hearing the confession of my mess up) wouldn’t try it now. My husband was a good sport, after smothering it in ketchup. (I liked it best with a dash of Frank’s Red Hot Sauce.) The dough, easy to bend into a taco shape while warm, actually reminded me of a Taco Bell chalupa shell. I made a mental note of this for future experimentation, took a picture of the mishap, and reheated various leftovers to salvage dinner. The kids were pleased.
I, however, am pleased with one of my new cookbooks, Real Girl’s Kitchen. I’m a fan of Hailey Duff’s blog, Real Girl’s Kitchen, and have followed it for a while. I really love her not overly complicated, but heart felt approach to cooking and living. I know the book has been out for a while, but it was still new to me and instantly one of my faves. I appreciate how transparent she is about trying to make healthy choices while still being delicious (my goal in food), as opposed to many celebrity books I buy where I’m constantly questioning to myself as to whether or not they actually eat their recipes (although tasty). I also really like that the majority of recipes are for one. I know that might sound weird, but usually when I cook healthy or want to try something fun (like goat cheese stuffed chicken breast, wrapped in prosciutto with shallot sauce), I know I will have to fight my children to take every bite. This way I can make myself, or myself and a couple of friends, a fun lunch without waste. If I think it’s something my family would enjoy, I can easily double… or quadruple… or sextuple… the recipe too. But mostly, I think I LOVE how that the Real Girl’s breakfast recipe for one, Quinoa, Butternut Squash, Kale and Fried Egg, calls for one whole butternut squash and two eggs. I don’t know if that’s a misprint, but that’s my kind breakfast and I think we could be best friends. It also comes with great suggestions and tips (I’ll take everything I can get). Here are a couple gems I eagerly pass along to you: #1 If you are traveling to New York City please note that between 3-5 pm taxi cab drivers are doing a shift change and therefore make it more difficult to hale a cab, so plan carefully. #2 If you leave a wooden spoon across the top of a boiling pot of water, it will not allow the liquid to boil over. So clever!
Recently, my husband encouraged me to go out and take a morning for myself- a rare, but welcomed treat on a weekend where we try to make the most use out of our “family” time. I went to the local café and got a pastry, pain au chocolat, a coffee (from their in-house roaster)… and, ahem, a breakfast sandwich, a toasted english muffin with Gruyère and bacon. Diet fail… but a pampering win. Priceless.
Not very far from the local coffee roaster, is my favorite store in the whole world, Acorn Farms. They don’t know it, yet. They sell kitchen wares, Polish pottery (as seen in there store window display above), cookbooks, oils, etc. They’re fabulous, and I rarely can walk in without bringing something out. They also offer cooking classes (of which I have taken a couple, such as, Julia Child’s Boeuf Bourguignon, Cookie Decorating and Canning Strawberry Jam). One day, I will admit my affection toward them, and make a plea to let me feature them on my blog.
One of my recent purchases from my aforementioned favorite store was this book, Tablescapes. Oh my word, I cannot say enough about this treasure… What a find! Everyone should own it (at least everyone that has an interest in setting a pretty table). I want to show you every picture in the book, except I’m sure that would infringe upon copyrights. Just know this, it’s a goodie. See how inspired I was to set a pretty ‘scape’ around it just to take a picture? Lol!
I’d love to hear about your finds (especially in cookbooks). I’m always looking for inspiration! And of course, feel free to share your fails… the gift that binds us together!
I learned to make Fataya when I was at College and my room-mate was Lebanese. I can see how a packet of Grands would work as a substitute for making the dough yourself but I think the main thing is that you would definitely need to pinch them hard (preferably with a wash of some sort to glue them) into proper parcels. It’s kind of cute having the open sides but maybe safer to make them little closed purses.
To make you feel better. When I was a teen, I entered my pasties (normal Cornish pasties) in a class at the local county farm show. The judge was clearly so shocked by the fact that I had not left the requisite chunks of potato and rudebager in the filling raw to cook in the parcel but rather had pre-cooked them so they softened nicely and melded with the meat and seasonings that they had cut open every single one and pulled out the filling trying to find the earthy nuggets and then left me a note for all to see saying ‘this is not a proper pasty’. The shame. I was 17.
I want to go to that shop. That is all I need say. In fact its possible that if I did go to that shop I would need to hire a haycart to transport all my treasures home … just the window tells me it is heaven!
Wow! Such ambition at 17! I am impressed! I had no confidence in the kitchen in my teens (or even early 20’s). I’m sorry your experience was less than favorable, I bet your pasties were delicious at any rate. I’m (almost) certain that I would have had more success with a proper dough (from scratch), but naturally the appeal to this busy mama was a shortcut! Lesson learned.
The shop is really lovely- so full of charm (and wares)! Thank you Fiona ❤️?
Ha! I think I was probably required to enter something and I liked pasties so probably erroneously believed I could rule pasty world, no problem! Have a great week and yes, any short cut for a mum is a good thing. A very very good thing!
I love The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook–have many a staple recipe from it (banana muffins, pastry cream, lemon sage chicken, etc.). Also, The Beach House Cookbook by Mary Kay Andrews…her books are great beach reads and she owns a house here on Tybee where I live and her cookbook is both a fun read and full of great, easy recipes.
I love how precise the Barefoot Contessa books are, don’t you? She has made me a much more confident cook- and baker! I have not made the lemon sage chicken… I’ll put it on next week’s list. And I can’t wait to order The Beach House Cookbook! Thank you Brenda! ?
This getaway weekend I have been reading every page and recipe of The Beach House Cookbook- what a treasure! Thank you so much for the suggestion! I am so inspired to try these practical and delicious-sounding recipes! Honestly one of the best cookbooks I have read in a while! Such a sense of real food and classic dishes that I have grown up loving and serving. Really, thank you.
If I remember correctly from your writings (that I am ashamed to admit I am behind on reading), you spend much of your time on Tybee Island. I imagine this to be a proud embodiment of offerings from an area you love. I know I would proudly boast of it, and probably will from the unrelated area of the upper Midwest! Although regionally we are separated, in the spirit of food, celebration and family we are kindred indeed! Sincerely- Thank you again! This is the kind of thing I most enjoy. ❤️