I spent a great deal of this past week (or at least from last Wednesday on) laying on the sofa feeling sorry for myself as I suffered from my illness. In between bouts of coughing myself inside out and blowing my nose, I watched episodes of Martha Stewart on You Tube.
Doesn't everyone? 😟😟😟
I was not up to cooking anything for myself. I was not up to eating anything much either. But, ever the foodie, I was quite into watching Martha cook, and wishing she would bring some of it over as well.
I have a real soft spot for Martha. First of all, my daughters and I used to watch her program on the television when they were growing up.
One year my oldest daughter (who is developmentally challenged) decided she didn't want to go to school, but that I could home school her. I think she was getting picked on. Watching Martha Stewart became Home Economics class.
My late mother then offered my daughter $10 for every week she went to school. How could she resist! Our Home Economics classes with Martha ended, and my girl went back to school. But we often talk about the "Home" Economics classes we enjoyed together, and with a great fondness.
On one of the episodes I was watching, Martha was making cookies. You can catch that episode here. She made these huge breakfast cookies, a browned butter refrigerator slice and bake cookie, some graham crackers and delicious looking coconut macaroons.
I have a great fondness for Coconut Macaroons. I was especially fond of Mrs Crimble's Coconut Macaroons in the UK. They were not cheap, but they were worth every penny. I liked the ones drizzled and dipped in chocolate.
So for the last almost week I have been laying on my sofa and thinking about coconut macaroons, and maybe trying Martha's recipe when I felt better. With only four basic ingredients, they sounded super easy. I felt they wouldn't tire me out. (My energy is at an all time low.)
I was feeling a whole lot better today, although still not 100%, and so I decided to make them. (Sunday as I write this.) How hard could they be?
Really. How hard could they be? Well, looking at these photos, they actually don't look too bad, but . . . I would consider my attempt at making Martha's Coconut Macaroons to be an unmitigated failure. You are seeing the best bits, and they are quite laughable!
I decided to dip the bottoms in melted chocolate. If you look closely at the photos you will see little pools of melted sugar. I used sweetened coconut, which Martha said you could use. You just don't use any sugar in the recipe, with the exception of 1 TBS.
They looked crisp and brown on the outsides, but were very chewy in the middle. Well, chewy macaroons are not that bad I guess. I think they are supposed to be somewhat chewy.
Deciding to dip them into chocolate like the Mrs. Crimble's ones was probably a bit too much. When I tried to dip the tops like Martha suggested, the tops came off right in the chocolate. When I tried dipping the bottoms, likewise (for the most part.) I then tried lifting them out of the chocolate with a fork. Not so easy.
I was getting somewhat tired by then and so I decided to just flick some chocolate over some of them after fighting to keep them whole.
Some ended up with torn chocolate bottoms. Some ended up with no tops, and the rest had chocolate flicked over top of them. The chocolate bottom ones were difficult to peel off of the waxed paper I put them on while the chocolate set.
I am not sure what I did wrong. But I suspect that either the oven temperature on the recipe is wrong, or they are not cooked long enough. Either way this recipe is a dud.
I do want to try to make them again, but using another recipe. This one looks rather promising. Martha's recipe did not call for Sweetened Condensed Milk, but most other recipes that I have looked at do. I think I will try to make macaroons again, but with Sweetened Condensed Milk, and see how they come out.
I hate feeling defeated!
I have made Almond Macaroons many times without any problems. So delicious too. Have any of you made coconut macaroons and experienced the same thing? I wonder if the age of your eggs matters? These were really fresh eggs.
Anyways, my promise to you has always been transparency and honesty wherever possible. So, although it only ever rarely happens, I like to share my failures with you also. Just so you know that not everything I make or bake comes out as it should! I am quite capable of falling short of my goals as well!
Sometimes you just have to laugh! If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Watch this space.
This content (written and photography) is the sole property of The English Kitchen. Any reposting or misuse is not permitted. If you are reading this elsewhere, please know that it is stolen content and you may report it to me at: mariealicejoan at aol dot com
Well, this was the week, everyone in my immediate family came down with Covid. Three years of evading it and it finally caught up with us. My sister and I ended up having to rush over to my father's on Sunday morning as he had collapsed. We did not know it was Covid then, so we took no precautions.
We had the ambulance there, but he didn't want to go to hospital and so we took him back to my sister's place to spend the day and so she could keep an eye on him. I took his laundry home to my place to do and the we all met back at my sister's for Easter Dinner.
On Monday my sister tested positive and so she tested Dad. He also tested positive. My brother in law tested positive on Tuesday and by Wednesday I tested positive, but by then I was feeling very poorly, or I thought I was anyways. I had no idea.
By Wednesday night I really was very poorly. Hot and cold sweats. Chills, stuffy nose, and a headache like nobody's business. I had literally no appetite at all. But I kept drinking water and I made myself some lemon/ginger and honey tea off and on.
By Thursday I was deep into it. Coughing like crazy. I had gone through six boxes of tissues. I spoke to a nurse and because I am a diabetic and have high blood pressure she recommended I get this drug called Paxlovid. My sister picked it up for me on Friday.
Needless to say my meals of the week have not entirely been normal this week, but I thought you would be interested in seeing them anyways! Here's hoping next week will be better!
SUNDAY APRIL 9th - Easter Dinner at my sister's.
We all gathered at my sister's place for a delicious Easter Dinner of Spiral Ham, Homemade Baked Beans, Roasted Sweet and White Potatoes, Roasted Broccoli and Tenderstem Cauliflower and some delicious garlic rolls. For dessert we had a sugar free Apple Pie and some ice cream. The ham was cooked in the Instant Pot. Everything was delicious!
MONDAY APRIL 10th - Parmesan Crusted Chicken
I had some chicken breasts which needed using and so I cooked a simple recipe of Parmesan Crusted Chicken. Mayonnaise and Parmesan cheese, along with a few seasonings are slathered on chicken breasts and then they are baked to perfection. This was tender and delicious, moist also. I served this with some boiled and buttered baby new potatoes and sweet English Peas. It was a really tasty meal!
TUESDAY APRIL 11th - Chicken Hash
No waste here. I used the leftover chicken and potatoes from Monday's dinner and made myself a hash. I used the recipe for Turkey Hash that I always make after the holidays. You can make a hash out of just about anything really. Any kind of leftover meat/protein, starch, vegetables etc. Its always delicious and a great use of your leftovers.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12th, Hot Buttered Toast
Well, I managed to evade it for three years. Traveled half way across the world, in and out of three airports, sanitizing and masking and taking great precautions for the whole three years, and yet it still managed to catch me in the end. My father caught Covid and it spread very quickly to the rest of us, as we are his carers. My father tested positive on Monday, as did my sister. My brother in law tested positive on Tuesday and it caught up with me on Wednesday.
Needless to say I was not very hungry at all. I have mostly been drinking water, and honey/lemon/ginger tea. I did think I best have something solid so did make myself some hot buttered toast.
THURSDAY APRIL 13th, Quick and Easy Chicken Soup
Needless to say I was not all that hungry, but I did make myself some chicken soup. I confess I made myself a package of Lipton's chicken noodle soup because I really couldn't face standing up for very long to make anything else. If I could have though, I would have made this. This version of Chicken Soup is ideal as it is quick and very easy to make. Its also quite delicious.
Thankfully I haven't lost my sense of taste or smell. Although I am mighty surprised my coughing hasn't turned me inside out.
FRIDAY APRIL 14th - Ham Broccoli, Mac & Cheese Casserole
I feel quite a bit better today and think I have hit a turning point, although I am still coughing quite a bit. The headache is gone however, halleluiah! My sister has been so good to me. Today she brough me over this Ham, Broccoli, Mac & Cheese Casserole that she made. She found the recipe here on Food.com. It was delicious.
She was here earlier in the day to scoop my litter box and empty my compost. I had a container of Cherry tomatoes that I knew I wouldn't be able to use, so I gave them to her and they showed up on top of the casserole! Yummy!
I know!!! I am really blessed to have the sister that I have. She also picked up my prescription for me. We are really lucky to have a family filled with good people.
SATURDAY APRIL 15th - Bread and Cheese Omelet
I am still not 100% but I did feel up to making myself something for my tea today. Bread and Cheese Omelet. Tasty little buttery cubes of bread fried until crisp and golden brown and then tucked into a two egg omelet, along with some tasty cheddar cheese, and chopped spring onions. All you need on the side is a salad.
Simple suppers like these are often the best kind of all! Especially when you are not feeling 100% up to scratch.
Here's to a new week, and hopefully some much better eating!
I happened to look over and caught these two making themselves very much at home on the dining room table. I didn't have the energy to chase them off. Nutmeg, (Mr. Milk Moustache) in the foreground giving himself a good bath (he has no humility) and his sister Cinnamon in the background supervising him, making sure he gets behind his ears. While the cat's away and all that. How could I not love these two.
This content (written and photography) is the sole property of The English Kitchen. Any reposting or misuse is not permitted. If you are reading this elsewhere, please know that it is stolen content and you may report it to me at: mariealicejoan at aol dot com
- fine sea salt
- 2 ounces of maccheroni pasta (macaroni or some other tubular pasta, or even fusilli) (scant half cup/56g)
- 1/2 TBS unsalted butter
- 3 TBS soft white bread crumbs, mixed with 1/2 TBS melted butter
- 2 TBS of finely grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 TBS plain flour
- 1 cup (120ml) of whole milk, gently warmed
- 4 TBS grated strong cheddar cheese
- 4 TBS grated Comte cheese (can use gruyere)
- 2 TBS grated taleggio cheese (can use gouda or havarti)
- freshly ground black pepper to taste
- pinch of ground nutmeg
Some other recipes in my kitchen which are perfectly sized for just one person are:
LEMON GARLIC CHICKEN FOR ONE - A delicious moist and tender piece of chicken that marinades for a short time in a flavor filled tenderizing marinade before roasting to perfection in the oven. I use chicken breasts for this and have never had a dry one. Simply beautiful.
SINGLE SERVE GROUND BEEF MEALS - How to turn one pound of ground beef into four different and delicious meals for just one person. Glazed Meat Loaf and Mash. Maritime Poutine. Cottage Pie and Ground Beef Nachos. Each a delicious dish all in their own right!
Macaroni and Cheese for One
Ingredients
- fine sea salt
- 2 ounces of maccheroni pasta (macaroni or some other tubular pasta, or even fusilli) (scant half cup/56g)
- 1/2 TBS unsalted butter
- 3 TBS soft white bread crumbs, mixed with 1/2 TBS melted butter
- 2 TBS of finely grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 TBS plain flour
- 1 cup (120ml) of whole milk, gently warmed
- 4 TBS grated strong cheddar cheese
- 4 TBS grated Comte cheese (can use gruyere)
- 2 TBS grated taleggio cheese (can use gouda or havarti)
- freshly ground black pepper to taste
- pinch of ground nutmeg
Instructions
- Cook the pasta to al dente according to the package directions in lightly salted water. Drain well, rinse in cold water, and drain again. Set aside.
- Melt the butter in a large saucepan. Whisk in the flour in and allow to cook over low heat for about a minute. Slowly whisk in the warm milk.
- Cook and whisk until the sauce coats the back of a spoon and thickens.
- Mix together all of the cheeses. Stir in all but two TBS of the cheese. Whisk and stir until all of the cheeses have melted and the sauce is smooth.
- Season to taste with salt, pepper and a pinch of freshly grated nutmeg. Remove the pan from the heat and fold in the cooked pasta.
- Preheat the oven to 180*C/350*F/ gas mark 4. Butter a small shallow baking dish. (I used a small pie dish.) Pour in the pasta and cheese sauce.
- Sprinkle the buttered bread crumbs in the center of the dish. Sprinkle the remaining cheese around the edges of the dish. Bake in the heated oven for 15 to 20 minutes, until golden brown and bubbly. Allow to stand for a few minutes before serving.
Lemon Butter Tarts. You don't get much more Canadian than Butter Tarts. Butter Tarts are a dessert that Canada is known for and are pretty near impossible to resist on a dessert tray!
I have loved Butter Tarts my whole life. When my sister and I were growing up we would pool our allowances together to buy a package of two butter tarts at the shops. I can remember sitting on a hill above the shops eating them together. They tasted so good!
Rich and buttery and delicious!
- 12 partially baked tart shells
- 1/3 cup (80ml) fresh lemon juice (about 1 1/2 lemons)
- the finely grated zest of one lemon
- 2/3 cup (126g) granulated sugar
- 1 large free range egg
- 1 large free range egg yolk
- 1/4 cup (57g) butter, melted and cooled
- dried currants, optional
If you are fan of tarts, you might also enjoy the following:
Lemon Butter Tarts
Ingredients
- 12 partially baked tart shells
- 1/3 cup (80ml) fresh lemon juice (about 1 1/2 lemons)
- the finely grated zest of one lemon
- 2/3 cup (126g) granulated sugar
- 1 large free range egg
- 1 large free range egg yolk
- 1/4 cup (57g) butter, melted and cooled
- dried currants, optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350*F/180*C/ gas mark 4.
- If you are making your own pastry, roll it out and cut it into 12 circles large enough to fit your tart tins. Press the pastry into the tin. Ready made or homemade, pop the lined tart tins onto a baking tray and partially bake for about 8 - 10 minutes. Remove from the oven.
- If desired sprinkle a few dried currants into the bottom of each shell.
- Whisk together the lemon juice and sugar, until the sugar has dissolved. Whisk in the lemon zest, egg, egg yolk and butter. Pour the mixture into the partially baked tart shells, dividing the mixture equally.
- Bake in the preheated oven until set, 18 to 20 minutes.
- Leave to cool completely before eating.
Social Icons