Frugal Panini Press

Living in the land of the great Cuban sandwich there are times when I really need a panini press.  But being frugal I don't like the idea of spending money on a one use item.  A kitchen full of doodads that can't multi-function just doesn't work for me.

So, here is my two cast iron pan panini press:

Preheat both pans on the stove, place your sandwich in the larger pan and place smaller pan on top.  This works beautifully, not only on sandwiches, but try it on a butterflied chicken to quicken the cooking process.

Keep on trying new (actually old) ways to use what we have in the kitchen, without spending money on an appliance that will sit in the cabinet most of the time.

Cuban Sandwich Recipe:

sliced ham
sliced roast pork
sliced Swiss cheese
mustard
dill pickles
Cuban bread

Assemble sandwich, then press between two heated cast iron pans.  Delicious!

God bless,
Pam

The Frugal Kitchen: Pancakes With Fresh Fruit

An easy summer supper was served here last night:  pancakes with fresh fruit.  Standing over a griddle is not fun in the heat, but pancakes for three people can be cooked quickly without overheating the kitchen.

We found some nice peaches the other day, so I peeled and sliced them and mixed them with a tablespoon of sugar.  These were left out in a bowl at room temperature to make some juices.

I used a basic pancake recipe from my handy dandy Joy Of Cooking (my copy is 31 years old).  The cooked pancakes were served topped with the sliced peaches and juice.  Maple syrup was served on the side for those that wanted extra sweetening.

Keep your left over pancakes in the refrigerator.  They heat up well in the microwave (15 seconds on high per pancake) and toaster.  An easy supper and next day breakfast.

God bless,
Pam

Out Of Grandma's Kitchen: Johnnycake Pan

Our favorite pan to use for pancakes is a cast iron Johnnycake pan that belonged to my great grandma.  What differentiates a Johnnycake pan from a griddle is the lip on the edge of the Johnnycake pan.  This held the sometimes watery batter from dripping off the edge into the fire or onto the stove.

The original Johnnycake was a basic mix of cornmeal, water and salt.  It was mixed into a wet batter and poured into the pan to cook, resulting in a thin, crisp on the edges, pancake.  Some people also call Johnnycakes by the name hoe cakes.  The story is that people would cook these cakes on the flat edge of a hoe for want of another pan.

Here is a Johnnycake recipe from the Joy Of Cooking:

1 cup cornmeal
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups boiling water
2 tablespoons butter
1 1/4 to 1 1/2 cups milk

Cook cornmeal with salt in boiling water about 10 minutes.  Add cornmeal slowly to boiling water to avoid lumps. Add butter and milk after taking off of the heat.  Stir to make a batter.  Drop one tablespoon full at a time onto a hot, greased griddle.  Cook on low just like you would a pancake.

Recipes that you see with flour and baking powder added are really for cornmeal pancakes, not Johnnycakes.  In the old days in the southeastern United States flour was hard to come by, but cornmeal was readily available.

See The Lip On Edge Of Pan

It's fun to cook on a pan that is not only a family piece, but a piece of our American history.  It keeps me in touch with my forbearers that might only have a bag of cornmeal to get by on.

God bless,
Pam

The Frugal Kitchen: Quinoa and Eggs

My great grandma was a farm wife.  She woke at 4:00 in the morning to fix breakfast for her family and the farm hands, cleaned up and immediately began cooking dinner for everyone.  These two meals were served outside on picnic tables, under the trees.  After cleaning up once again, she took a nap, then cleaned her house.

Farm wives were not responsible for feeding the hands supper.  Only family was served and it was done informally in the kitchen.  Needless to say, after a hard day of work, supper was not an elaborate meal.  Exhausted people don't feel like eating big meals.

Supper consisted of leftovers from the earlier meals.  Cornbread crumbled in a bowl with buttermilk.  Cold meat and bread.  Or everything thrown into a pot with water to make a soup.

In keeping with this tradition I am trying to serve my family simple, light meals during the summer.  This evening I served Tru Roots Sprouted Rice and Quinoa steamed with carrots, with a fried egg on top.  I put a dollop of an olive relish on top, but it would be good with just soy sauce.  We also enjoy just a fried egg on top of plain rice.

I am trying to get away from serving white rice.  My brother and sis in law serve quinoa on a regular basis.  After reading that it provides more protein than most grains and since it has a nice, nutty flavor I have decided to substitute quinoa for the rice.

Keep it simple, keep it plain.  It will be healthier and your family will be happy with supper as long as it is tasty and filling.

God bless,
Pam

Good Reads: Secrets Of The Apple

I don't often recommend books, but Secrets Of The Apple is being offered as an ebook on Amazon for 99 cents and it is a lovely read.

This is a touching romance in which two people from different cultures fall in love and overcome their culture based fears.  It is intelligently written and one of those books that leaves you feeling good about people.

It is also a rarity in today's world: a romance without graphic sex scenes.  The couple exchanges a few kisses, but Secrets Of The Apple is more about emotional love rather than physical love.

So, get a cup of tea, cuddle up on the couch and enjoy a good read.

God bless,
Pam

Out Of Grandma's Kitchen: Granny Fork

I don't remember either of my grandmas having much in the way of specialized cooking utensils.  A couple of stirring spoons, a spatula and a fork.

The three tined granny fork was used to turn meat, bacon and flip anything that wouldn't easily fall apart.  It was about the size of an everyday dinner fork, but had three, sharp tines.

Grandma alway had her fork nearby when she was cooking.  And mine is never far away from my stove top.  I've tried using tongs, but they just don't feel right in my hands.  I always go back the my granny fork.

You can get granny forks at Lehman's Hardware and Rada makes a nice, all metal one.  Isn't it fun how holding a granny fork in my hand brings back childhood memories of warm, soft grandma hugs and good food.

God bless,
Pam

Vacation's Over

We had a lovely time in California visiting my DB and SIL.  They have a great new (for them) house on 2 1/2 acres in the hills of Atascadero.  California is a great place and I would definitely like to put it on my list of places to retire to, but the cost of living is considerably higher than it is here in the southeastern United States.

Sunset View From Back Deck

But back to real life; I am resuming my writing this week, so you should be seeing more on Grandma's Kitchen and it's time for me to start some summer canning.  If anyone has subjects they are interested in please comment below.  I always appreciate input from my readers.

God bless,
Pam