Refrigerator / Toaster Oven: Polish-Style Sardines on Toast

It’s 2:30 in the morning and I could not get a line of dialogue out of my mind. I had been watching Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot’s BBC TV show, “Elephant’s Can Remember.” A character in the story had said, “I had sardines on toast.”

Because I enjoy British dramas, I occasionally focus on the food mentioned in the stories.

I laughed, nothing says British cuisine like “Sardines on Toast.” It’s simple, cheap and sounds bland.

But, I like sardines and knew I could find some “fancy” recipes for “Sardines on Toast.”

The recipe I choose (link below) is an enjoyable read. Also, the author provides more information and ideas on ways to make and serve “Polish-Style Sardines on Toast.”

 

 

Polish-Style Sardines on Toast
(Adapted from: https://www.everydayhealthyrecipes.com/sardines-on-toast/)

Ingredients:

1 Slice Multigrain bread, toasted

Mustard, or Butter, or Veg oil

1 Large sardine from 425g can of sardines

2 TBspns DIY Pickle Relish

1 Tspn Onion flakes

2 Tspns Dry Parsley

1 TBspn Ketchup

1 TBspn Mayo

Salt to taste

Ground Black pepper to taste

1/2 Capful Lime juice

Optional: add diced radishes.

 

Process:

Spread mustard or selected spread on toast.

Place toast on a plate.

In a bowl, add 1 sardine, pickle relish, onion flakes, parsley, ketchup, mayo, salt and pepper.

Mix, stir, and smash ingredients until ingredients are throughly mixed and smooth.

Spread mixture over toast.

Sprinkle with lime juice.

Sprinkle a little parsley on top.

 

Refrigerate any remaining spread.

 

Microwavee / Toaster Oven: Mug O'Scrambled Egg Bread Pudding or Toast Topping

Went to the frig, what did I need to use up? There was a cracked egg. There was a bit of salsa and a piece of baguette. Sounds like a bread pudding, to me.

Now, while I am getting better at making dishes from various food items and while they often come out ok, I always assume it will be a disaster.

 Mug O’Scrambled Egg Bread Pudding or Toast Topping

Ingredients:

Vegetable oil

Black pepper and Garlic powder

1 Egg

3 TBspns Coconut creme or milk

1-2 Tspns Canned salsa

1 Tspn Dry Thyme, crushed between the palms

1 Small piece Baguette (Approximately 2” in length), torn into pieces

Variation: a slice of toast with a light layer of mayo.

Optional Topping: Cilantro dressing

 

Process:

In a mug, add vegetable oil.

Add black pepper, garlic powder, egg and coconut creme.

Stir and whip ingredients well, for about 30 seconds.

Add salsa, thyme and bread.

Stir thoroughly, so the bread is soaked in liquid.

Cover mug with a saucer.

Microwave on high for 2 minutes.

Note: the saucer may pop off.

 

 
Serve straight up in mug, or tip onto a plate, or onto a piece of toast with a light layer of mayo. If on toast, slice egg mixture so that it covers the top of the toast.

 
I was amazed, the thyme gave this a scrambled egg bread pudding a special flavor. I also tried a bit of Cilantro dressing, while I liked it, I liked it plain, better.

 

Toaster Oven: BBQ Chicken Rollups

This recipe is an example of how when I find a recipe that inspires me but how I must adapt the recipe when I do not have all the ingredients or the ability to follow the processes like making handmade rolls.

I laughed when I made this recipe because it is like making a sandwich except you roll up the contents in bread.

I agonized over using waxed paper or aluminum to cover the microwave tray to prevent the items from sticking. Isn’t wax paper or aluminum unfriendly to the environment?

During my recent dive into DIY crafts, I was shocked at the amount of waste material one person can accumulate.

I choose aluminum because it can be reused.

Note: this recipe has a few GERD-friendly touches. I try to avoid onions, so when a recipe calls for onions, I use onion flakes but the BBQ sauce and cheeses are not GERD-friendly.

 

 

Microwave: BBQ Chicken Rollups
(Inspired by: https://jamiecooksitup.net/2017/03/bbq-chicken-pinwheels/)

From a collection of recipes from: https://www.crazylaura.com/best-pinwheel-recipes/)

For 2 Rollups.

Ingredients:

2 slices of bread, flattened or two tortillas
4-6 TBspns leftover cooked chicken, diced
1-2 TBspns BBQ sauce
1-2 Tspns Dry Onion flakes
1-2 TBspns Mozzarella cheese, diced, shredded, or grated
1-3 Tspns Parmesan cheese
S/P to taste

Optional Topping: Cilantro dressing

Note: when using tortillas, double the amount of the other ingredients.

Process:

On a cutting board, lay 1 slice of bread.
Trim off crusts.
Use a rolling pin or a tall round glass to roll out the bread slice to flatten it. Roll until you have fully flattened and extended the slice.

In a bowl, add chicken, onion flakes, sauce, cheeses, salt and pepper.
Stir well to mix ingredients.
Add 1 TBspn of the chicken mixture at one end of the flattened slice.
Take that end and roll the mixture and bread forward until you reach the end of the slice.
Lay the roll with the closed side down on a toaster oven tray.

Follow the above steps again for additional BBQ Chicken Rollups.

Bake at 350 degrees for 7-8 minutes.

When serving, offer Cilantro dressing as a topping.

 

 

Toast Topping: Poached Egg & Ham

A relatively simple Toast Topping.

 

Toast Topping: Poached Egg & Ham

 

 

Ingredients:

 

1 slice of multigrain bread toast

Mayo

Ground Black pepper

2 Drops Hot Sauce

1 Slice of ham lunchmeat, diced

1 TBspn Mozzarella cheese, grated, or shredded, or diced

2 TBspns Water

1 egg

Topping: Cilantro dressing (Optional)

 

 

Process:

 

•  Place toast on a plate.
  
• Swipe toast with a light layer of mayo.
• Sprinkle mayo with ground black pepper.
• Add drops of hot sauce on top of toast.
• Place ham chips evenly on toast.
• Add layer of cheese over mayo and ham.
• Place plate with toast and toppings in toaster oven. If it is still warm, let it sit, if cold, turn on toaster setting for about a minute until the cheese melts.
  

 

 

 Make poached egg:

 

• Add water to a small microwaveable bowl.
• Crack egg carefully and gently drop egg into water.
• Place bowl in microwave.
• Cover.
• Microwave on high for approximately 30 seconds.
• Remove bowl using a pot holder.

• Remove toast from toaster using a pot holder.
• Use a slotted ladle to lift egg gently out of water. Tip ladle a little to drain off water.
• Add egg on top of cheese and ham.
  
• Sprinkle with more ground black pepper.

  

Option: Add a dribble of Cilantro dressing.

 

 

 

Art in a Pandemic -- "The Toilet Paper Story" Exhbiit at Galeria El Zapote by Manuel Taure

Recently, two friends and I visited the Galeria El Zapote to see Manuel Taure's exhibition "The Toilet Paper Story."

 

We were greeted by the Galeria owners. The Galeria is located in the front rooms of a large, beautifully renovated colonial home.

 

What I appreciated most about the exhibit was Taure's determination to produce art for viewing during a pandemic.

 

As more Mérida businesses begin to open gradually with COVID19 precautions in place, artists are struggling to find their audiences.

 

Taure uses a variety of methods to reach out to his audience. He sends out announcements to a diverse collection of businesses, galleries and people to generate interest in art.

The Galeria El Zapote was impressed with his efforts. So, they installed Taure's exhibit, "The Toilet Paper Story."

 

"The Toilet Paper Story" covers the timeframe from the beginning of the COVID19 pandemic to now. It captures with scenes and images the precautions people were advised to follow, how our language has changed to include words like: curfew, alerts, quarantine and online, and how we were affected and how we have adapted.

Personally, the theme of the exhibit brought up memories of toilet paper shortages, fights in grocery stores over toilet paper and more at the start of the pandemic in March 2020. So, his artwork caught my attention.

 

Within the exhibit, Taure tells nine stories printed on strips of toilet paper.

The stories captured in over 50 images, tell how life has changed for many during the pandemic in delicate woodcut designs.

 

How are we surviving? How are vendors adapting to prescribed precautions?

 

Get out and enjoy art, again.

 

Consider making an appointment to see Galeria El Zapote exhibits. It's like getting a private showing.

Support our community, support our artists.

Apoya a nuestra comunidad, apoya a nuestros artistas.

 

 

"The Toilet Paper Story" exhibit runs

until March 29, 2021 at:

Galeria

El Zapote

C. 57 #545-A x 68 y 66

Centro

Mérida, Yucatán, México

galeriaelzapote@gmail.com

 

Email El Zapote to make an appointment to view

"The Toilet Paper Story."

 

Manuel Taure is a designer, printmaker, and illustrator.

 

 

Resources:

 

Yucatan Today

Galeria El Zapote

https://yucatanmagazine.com/venue/galeria-el-zapote/

  

Microwave: Mug O'Creole Bread Pudding

First, I am shocked.

 

This recipe calls for over 11 ingredients. Me, make a recipe with more than 5 ingredients, never.

 

What happened?

 

I am getting more comfortable cooking recipes that call for more than 5 ingredients, especially, if the ingredients are fairly common. 

 

Ok, ok, I know that reducing a recipe for many to a recipe for one often does not produce the same flavor combinations.

Also, reducing a recipe for many to a recipe for one is often not exact.

Second, I was surprised this recipe uses baguette bread rather than a slice of bread, and it gave this bread pudding quite a different flavor and texture! The pudding is more dense.

 

 

Mug O’Creole Bread Pudding

(Adapted from: Best of the Best V8, p126)

 

Ingredients:

A Dab Vegetable oil

1-3 Drops Hot sauce

5-8 Dashes Onion flakes

3-5 Grinds Ground black pepper

1 Tspn Chorizo, torn into bits

1 TBspn Apple cider vinegar or 3 Tbspns pickle juice

1 Dollop Coconut cream & a dab of water, or milk

1 Dollop Cream

1 Egg

1 Piece of Baguette bread, very small or slice of bread, torn in pieces

2 TBspns Shredded cheese

Toppings:

DIY Sour cream, a sprinkle of cilantro dressing

 

Variation: Add sprinkles of Parmesan Cheese

 

 

Process:

• Add oil, hot sauce, onion, pepper and chorizo to a mug.
• Stir.
• Microwave 15-30 seconds.
• Add coconut cream, cream and egg to mug.
• Whip and stir ingredients thoroughly.
• Add remaining ingredients.
• Stir and mix to make sure bread is soaked in liquids.
• Place mug in microwave, cover mug with a saucer.
• Microwave on high for 2 minutes.
• Check to see if liquid had cooked off. Microwave 30-60 seconds more, if necessary.
• Eat from the mug or spread over a piece of toast with a bit of mayo.
• Add topping of choice.
  

Tip: coconut creme adds a delightful flavor.

 

 

Note: photos taken from two different times,

I made this recipe.

Freakin Frugal: Mrs F has severe burns and needs help (March 2021)

I learned of Amy's accident via Mr F's video on the Freakin Frugal YouTube channel.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qiUVhhQ2vA

 

Mr and Mrs. Freakin Frugal are in the same situation as millions of us. We can't afford quality health care, so if we have serious health issues, we often go into debt.

 

I enjoy Mr. and Mrs' Frugal videos and tips. I hope Mrs F gets well soon.