Quote

"I cannot live without books: but fewer will suffice where amusement, and not use, is the only future object." -- Thomas Jefferson

Saturday, August 11, 2018

Toast Topping - Poached Egg with Matcha

An article in Taste featured the food trend of using Matcha, a green tea powder, as a seasoning. The article raved about a poached egg on buttered toast seasoned with rock salt and Matcha. I was less impressed.

Poached Egg with Rock Salt & Matcha
(Adpated from: https://www.tastecooking.com/subtle-revolution-matcha-poached-eggs/)

1 slice bread of your choice
1 egg
Olive oil
salt and Matcha mixture

I made a poached egg (http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-perfectly-poach-an-egg-in-the-microwave-2016-6)) and toasted a slice of wheat bread in a skillet with olive oil. After topping the toast with the poached egg, I seasoned the egg with a mixture of rock salt and Matcha.

I normally do not use salt. Everything tastes better with salt, so I was not impressed by this recipe. Maybe the Matcha added some flavor but it was not easily detectable to me, but I am not going to give up trying to learn to use Matcha in various recipes, new or standard.

Toast Topping - Hummus

Hummus Mixture
(Adapted from: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/14830/hummus-iii/?internalSource=hub%20recipe&referringId=1281&referringContentType=recipe%20hub and https://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/hummus/)

Ingredients:


1 Can Garbanzo beans, drained
1/8 C Lime juice concentrate
1/2 Tspn garlic powder
1 TB Olive oil
2 Dashes paprika
1/2 Tspn parsley, dry, crushed

S/P to taste 


Process:

In a bowl, add garbanzo beans and mash them until you can not discern a partial bean.
Add other ingredients, stir and mix well.
 

Spread 1-2 TB on toast.

Note: Most Hummus recipes are used as dips and the paprika and parsley are garnishes. This recipe is to make a toast topping spread, so I mixed in the paprika and parsley.

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