Toast Topping - Pseudo Pesto Mixture

This is my first pesto something, was not sure what to expect.
 
I do not know what I made. It tastes good but is more of a spread than a sauce.
 
I was overwhelmed by the volume of spices the recipe called for. I did not realize I did not have enough of any of them, so I tried to downsize the recipe.
 
Also, is it really a Toast Topping?


Pseudo Pesto Mixture
(Adapted from: https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Cookbook:Pesto)

 
1/3 C Basil, dry, crushed
1 C Olive Oil
1/2 C Parmesan cheese
3 level Tspns garlic powder
1/3 C parsley, dry, crushed
1 level Tspn rock salt and Matcha mix (Matcha, optional)
1/4 C Peanuts or almonds, crushed (Optional)


Basically, mix ingredients together thoroughly. Store in refrigerator.

Toast Topping - Avocado Mixture

Avocado Mixture

Ingredients:

1 Avocado
1- 2 TB olive oil
1 TB Parsley, dry, crushed
1 Capful Lime Juice concentrate



Process:

 

After cutting avocado in half and removing the large seed, scoop out the avocado flesh and place in a small bowl or storage container.
 
Add olive oil. 
Mash and stir the avocado flesh and oil until smooth.
Add parsley and lime juice.
Stir well.

Spread 1-2 TB on toast.

Updated 8/12/18.

Toast Topping - Eggplant Mixture

Eggplant Mixture
(Adapted from: https://www.buzzfeed.com/food52/how-to-microwave-eggplant?utm_term=.ilrvlzM3d#.rwmo6QJdW)


Ingredients:

1 eggplant
1/4 C Soy sauce
2 TB Cilantro, dry, crushed
1 TB Red wine vinegar
3 Dashes of garlic powder
3/8 oz Ginger paste


Process:

Cut eggplant in half.
Slice flesh with criss-cross hatch marks.
Place flesh side up in microwave dish.
Mix other ingredients together.
Cover eggplant with mixture.
Rub mixture into flesh.
Flip eggplant halves over.
Pour remaining mixture into dish to soak eggplant.
Cover dish with plastic wrap.
Microwave on high for 10 minutes.
Remove and let cool.
Spoon out eggplant flesh from skin into a bowl.
Pour remaining sauce from cooking dish into bowl.
Stir and mash well.

Spread about 1-2 TB of eggplant mixture on toast.

Toast Topping - Mushroom Mixture

Mushroom Mixture
(Adapted from: https://www.countryliving.com/food-drinks/g2293/toast-recipes/ and https://www.recipetineats.com/mushroom-bruschetta-balsamic-thyme/)


Ingredients:

1 8oz can of mushrooms, drained
Olive oil for skillet
2 TB Balsamic vinegar
1 Tspn sugar
1 TB Thyme, dry crushed
2 Dashes hot pepper sauce
s/p to taste
a Dash of garlic powder (Optional)


Process:

Add mushrooms to skillet.
Saute over medium heat.
Add vinegar and sugar, stir. Add thyme, pepper sauce and s/p.
Stir and mix well.
Remove from hot plate or stovetop.
Sprinkle toast with garlic powder, spread 1-2 TB of mushroom mixture on toast.

Toast Toppings - New Food Craze

 Note: Look for updates below.

Instead of posting each new Toast Topping combination separately, I will just add them here.

I am into a new food craze, Toast Toppings. I eat them mainly for breakfast and/or late evening meal.
 

Like Crazy Salads, you can get inventive with the various toppings.

Toast Toppings are like a mini-meal or half a sandwich. What I like is I feel I can get essential vitamins, minerals and healthy herbs and spices without having to eat full portions or three-course meals.

Toast Toppings
(Adapted from: https://www.positivehealthwellness.com/diet-nutrition/14-fillings-toast-toppings-100-calories/ , https://www.rd.com/food/recipes-cooking/toast-topping-snack-recipes/ , https://www.buzzfeed.com/tashweenali/energy-boosting-breakfast-toasts?utm_term=.jujMxRb9n4#.rx1ZPvO0KE, https://mykidslickthebowl.com/healthy-toast-toppings/, https://spoonuniversity.com/recipe/10-unique-toast-toast-toppings-that-aren-t-avocado)

Basically, toast a slice of bread, any kind, and top with a variety of topping choices.
 
I don't have a toaster. I use a skillet. I add a bit of oil and then toast slices of wheat or integral bread on both sides.

Then, I spread 1-2 Tablespoons of the following items or mixtures or other items:

Peanut Butter
-with banana slices with cinnamon
-with blueberries or other fruit slices

Beans on Toast

Black Beans and Salsa
 
Refried Beans with salsa, topped with poached egg
 
Cream Cheese with
-cucumber slices with basil
-blueberries or other fruit
-banana slices with cinnamon
 
Mozzarella Cheese slivers placed on bread slice while toasting the bottom to soften and warm, then remove and top with 1-2 tspns of canned salsa and a sprinkle of dry crushed basil
 
Scrambled eggs
 
Poached Egg with or without salt and Matcha mixture

Avocado mash with lime, garnish parsley

Avocado mash, topped with poached egg and Garam Masala

Avocado Mixture
Pseudo Pesto Mixture
Hummus Mixture
Eggplant Mixture
Mushroom Mixture
Mashed Baked Potato Mixture
 
Pictured: Toast Toppings - Mozzarella Cheese with salsa; Poached Egg with Matcha; Scrambled Egg with salsa and Matcha; and Hummus.
 
See blog for recipes for above mixtures.


Toast Toppings Updates:

12/15/18

Cream cheese with a layer of canned salmon, topped with some leftover slaw from carryout, a sprinkle of onion powder, and a few capers.
(Adapted from: https://bestfriendsforfrosting.com/smoked-salmon-and-cream-cheese-toast/)


1/23/19

Small, thin wedges of cheddar cheese, spinach, bacon bits, ground black pepper, strips of slice of jamon lunchmeat, Chile Chipotle Mayonesa, paprika...Add cheddar cheese wedges on top of one side of toasted bread while toasting other side in skillet, cover, cook less than a minute to avoid burning toast. Add cooked spinach, sprinkle with bacon bits and ground black pepper. Top with jamon strips. Add a bit of Chipotle mayonesa, sprinkle with paprika.

 Types of "Toast":

Bread, various types
Tostada
Fried tortilla, flour or maize
Pre-toasted pan/bread

1/23/19

Toast Topping: Cottage cheese, cucumber slices, onion powder, black pepper, paprika, parmesan cheese

Toast Topping - Mashed Baked Potato Mixture

Mashed Baked Potato Mixture

This is a 2-step recipe. First, cook the potatoes, then make the mixture.

Ingredients:
 
4 medium Yucatan white potatoes

4 TB Mashed potatoes
1 TB heaping, Mayo
2 Capfuls lime juice concentrate
2 TB garbanzo beans
2 Tspns paprika
a dash of vinegar
s/p to taste


Process:

Step One: First cook the potatoes.
 
Clean potatoes.
Pierce several times with a fork.
Place in microwave dish.
Microwave on High for 6-8 minutes until soft. Test softness by piercing with a fork, if the fork goes through easily, the potato is done.
Cut cooked potatoes into cubes.
 
Step Two: Make the mixture.
 
Add 4 TBs of potato cubes to a storage container.
Add Garbanzo beans.
Mash potatoes and beans until smooth mixture.
Add Mayo, lime juice, paprika, vinegar, s/p.
Stir mixture until thoroughly mixed.

Note: Any remaining potatoes can be used to make potato salad.

Spread 1-2 TB of potato mixture on toast.

Variation: consider adding mustard

Great Depression Cooking With Clara - Pasta and Peas

I had heard of Clara's cooking show on YouTube years ago but during a recent random search on YouTube, I found her videos. Also, found Clara on @food52.

"In 2007, her grandson Christopher Cannucciari began filming Clara preparing her mother's Depression meals and assembled the footage into the YouTube series Great Depression Cooking with Clara. She retired shortly after her 96th birthday and her last video was posted on November 10, 2013 (Twice Baked Potato)"  (Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clara_Cannucciari)

You can find Clara's recipes and more in her book, Clara's Kitchen, Wisdom, Memories and Recipes from the Great Depression (https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/claras-kitchen-clara-cannucciari/1101904999#/).

I watched several of Clara's videos. I was particularly impressed with her dandelion salad. But, her Pasta and Peas Recipe caught my attention because it was a perfect recipe to use for my leftover cooked potatoes, peas, and pasta.

Clara's Pasta and Peas Recipe
(Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuMkW35BwK8)


Ingredients:

1 Potato, diced
1 Onion, diced
Olive oil
1 Can of peas, drained
1 Bag of pasta macaroni
s/p


Process:

Put potatoes and onion in a pan.
Add a dash or two of olive oil.
Cook until soft.
Add peas
Stir.
Add enough water to cook pasta.
Simmer until pasta is cooked.
Season to taste.
 
Variation: add some tomato sauce.

Serve a portion on a plate, top with Parmesan cheese.


Leftover Potatoes, Peas and Pasta
(Adapted from Great Depression Cooking with Clara, Pasta and Peas, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuMkW35BwK8)

I made Clara's recipe backwards in order to use my leftovers.


Ingredients:

1/2 Bag package pasta
Water
LO Cooked potatoes
LO Canned peas
1 tsp Onion powder
2 TB Olive oil
s/p to taste
Hot sauce to taste
Topping: Parmesan cheese


Process:

Make pasta first. When ready, drain most of water.

Note: I call the pasta I used in this recipe "Octopus Pasta" because I have never seen pasta in such an unusual shape.

Add leftover potatoes and peas.
Add onion powder and olive oil.
Season to taste with s/p and hot sauce.
Stir well, cook on medium-low for a few minutes to make mixture warm.

Serve warm, top with a few shakes of Parmesan cheese

Thank you Clara.