Surprise Spinach Pancakes

Spinach Pancakes

These pancakes have a secret. Hiding in the center, just waiting to be discovered and enjoyed. It’s what makes them unique even though the original recipe title from “The Art of Good Cooking” gives no indication that this is anything but your average spinach pancake.

Normally, spinach pancakes are put in the category of zucchini cakes or potato pancakes (like latkes) from traditional eastern European origins. Often considered somewhat “Jewish” though the vegetable variations (i.e. zucchini and spinach) have become more mainstream in recent years with the popularity of frozen meals. For example, Dr. Praegers, a popular line of all natural frozen foods, makes mini spinach patties in different shapes for kids.

However, the secret that makes these different from the rest – a slice of hard boiled egg in the center- is pleasantly surprising yet practical. The hard boiled egg not only adds contrast, but provides a much needed protein boost to this light lunch or afternoon snack. Add a little shredded Parmesan (I’m officially guilty of adding Parm wherever and whenever possible…what? It’s not like salt for you?), a squeeze of lemon, and that somewhat boring spinach pancake just got a lot more interesting.

Note: Need spice? Don’t forget the hot sauce!

Ingredients:

2 packages frozen chopped spinach, thawed, and drained
1 raw egg
1/4 cup dry bread crumbs
salt and coarsely ground pepper
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
3/4 cup butter
4 hard boiled eggs, sliced
shredded parmesan cheese (optional)
lemon wedges

Mix cooked spinach with raw egg, salt and pepper, nutmeg, and 1/4 cup butter (melted). If necessary, add more bread crumbs so the mixture can be handled easily.

Wet your hands with cold water. Take about 2 tablespoons of the mixture, shape into a plump pancake, enclosing a slice of hard cooked egg in the center.

To serve, melt remaining butter in a large skillet. Saute the spinach pancakes gently on both sides until they are heated through. Remove and top with parmesan cheese. Serve with lemon wedges.

Note: pancakes will be extremely fragile and fall apart somewhat easily. To avoid this, a traditional breading method may be used (flour the pancake, dip in beaten egg, and coat in bread crumbs).

Serves 6

Adapted from “The Art of Good Cooking.”

 

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Fried Calamari with Two Dipping Sauces: Marinara and Aioli

I love all things seafood. Maybe it’s my upbringing in the landlocked Midwest and therefore lack of fresh seafood or that I was fed pureed sushi as a baby, or maybe its just my appreciation for it from a culinary standpoint. Whatever it is, you will see a few more Paula Peck seafood recipes on here soon. I had to modify this one quite a bit from the original in “The Art of Good Cooking.” The flour liquid proportions were pretty far off and had to be corrected. I also prefer to use a beer batter for both texture and flavor. This is not the breaded style fried calamari often served as bar food, but more of a tempura style. Though perfectly delicious on it’s own with a squeeze of lemon as noted in the original recipe, I like to take it a step further with a couple different dipping sauces: a simple marinara and a lemon aioli. The aioli is my favorite. I’ll eat it with just about anything fried, especially french fries. You can buy mayo and add lemon and garlic to make the aioli, but I really think it tastes much better homemade. This lemony garlicky sauce is the perfect complement to any seafood, especially this crunchy yet soft calamari. So enjoy this favorite bar food with an ice cold glass of beer at your next casual get together. Cheers!

Ingredients:

1 pound small squid
vegetable oil for frying
1 1/2 cups sifted flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups beer
1 lemon cut in wedges

Clean squid by washing under running water, rubbing off any outer speckled skin and pulling out all entrails. The fish will then be shaped liked tubes. Cut tubes into 1/4 inch slices.

Serves 6.

In a deep pan, heat 2-3 inches of oil to 375 degrees.

Sift flour, baking powder, and salt together. Whisk in beer. With a fork, dip slices of squid into batter and drop in oil. Fry until golden brown. Serve at once with lemon wedges.

Marinara Sauce

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 a small onion, chopped
pinch crushed red pepper
1 cup canned crushed tomatoes
salt, pepper

Heat a small sauce pan over medium heat. Add olive oil. When hot, add garlic and onion. Saute for 1 minute. Add crushed red pepper. Saute for 1 more minute. Add crushed tomatoes and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Aioli Sauce

Ingredients:
1 egg yolk
1 tablespoon dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon red wine vinegar
1/2 cup vegetable oil mixed with 2 tablespoons olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon lemon juice

Combine egg yolk, mustard, salt, and vinegar in a bowl or blender. Whisk or blend for 10-20 seconds. Begin adding oil drop by drop while whisking or blending until emulsified. Add the rest of oil in a steady stream. Once the mayonnaise is formed, add garlic and lemon juice.

Yum

Pizza Pennies

Pizza Pennies

I made these bite size cuties in honor of the Super Bowl. The crunchy, chewy, garlicky game day or party food seemed to disappear before they could make it off the baking sheet.  I surprisingly found this recipe in the hors d’oeurves section of “The Art of Fine Baking.” The dough is a Cuban bread recipe that my grandmother describes as “a crusty, delicious water bread. It was made popular by James Beard in his cooking classes, where students particularly enjoy making it because it is so quickly and easily learned.” It’s a versatile dough that can be used for rolls, garlic knots, or my new favorite concoction, “pizza bread.”

The toppings of these little pizza pennies are really up to you. The original recipe just used pepperoni, onion, garlic, and olive oil. I think that tomato, mozzarella, and basil make a nice addition as would Parmesan, olives, green pepper, or any traditional pizza toppings. Mixing the toppings together before piling them onto the pennies will save time but if you want to customize each one than the traditional one topping at a time approach will have to do (though a bit tedious…). Either way, these are fun not fussy, and almost too easy to eat so make sure your game plan includes making enough for everyone.

Recipe:

1/2 cup cornmeal
1/2 Cuban Bread dough
1/4 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Suggested Toppings: 3-4 cloves garlic minced, 60-70 thin slices sausage (pepperoni, salami, or freshly cooked Italian sausage), 1/2 an onion chopped, 1 medium tomato chopped, 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella, fresh basil chiffonade, dried oregano

Sprinkle baking sheets with cornmeal. After bread dough has risen once, roll it out 1/8 of an inch thick. Using a cookie cutter, cut rounds 1 1/2 inch in diameter. Place on baking sheets. Dab or brush each round lightly with olive oil. Sprinkle with toppings.

Place in cold oven. Set temperature to 425 degrees. Bake about 15 minutes or until pennies are puffed and golden. Serve warm.

Makes about 6 dozen.

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