A Winter's Breakfast (or How to Survive a Deep Freeze)

A cold wind is blowing from the north, and it made the trees rustle like living things. - George R. R. Martin

 

As news of the dropping temperature is covering headlines...I wanted to share some of my favourite foods for a cold winter morning. My mom is convinced that if you eat according to the weather...you will not feel as cold.  (Yes, she is giving me this advice from sunny Florida).  But I will say, cold mornings start better for me when they begin with warm foods.

 The Quick Whole Wheat Molasses bread is a dense, filling, lightly sweetened bread that is nice served warm with butter. The addition of fresh warm homemade ricotta and fried pears will warm your soul...and my mom guarantees...you will soon be going out in sub zero temperatures saying,"Hey! This isn't too bad.". I hope you enjoy this breakfast as much as we did.

In three parts....

Quick Whole Wheat Molasses Bread (from NY Times )

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F

bake for 45-60 minutes

serves 6-8

Ingredients

1 2/3 cups plain yogurt

2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

1/2 cup cornmeal

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 cup molasses

Directions

1. Mix all the dried ingredients in a bowl.

2. Mix all the wet ingredients together. 

3. Stir liquid into dry. Stir just until combined.

4. Bake in a greased 8x8 inch pan or a loaf pan at 325 for 45-60 minutes.  An inserted toothpick should come out clean.
5. Cool in pan on rack for 15 minutes before serving. Enjoy!

Fried Pears
cook on stove top : skillet
serves 6-8

Ingredients
 4 large pears
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup cream or milk.

Directions
1. Remove peels and cut pears into wedge shapes.

2. Melt butter over medium heat. Add brown sugar. Then cream. While stirring, allow the mixture to cook for about a minute. 

3.  Add pears to the hot brown sugar mixture.  Continue to cook over medium low heat until the pears are a golden brown and tender. Serve Warm. Enjoy!

Homemade Ricotta Cheese

Stove top: Saucepan

Ingredients: (yields about 1-2 cups)

6 cups milk

2 cups cream

3 Tablespoons lemon juice (or vinegar)

1 teaspoon salt

Directions

1.  Heat milk, cream and salt in a saucepan over low heat until bubbles start to form. (be careful not to let the milk boil over the pot)

2.  Add lemon juice to bubbling milk.

3.  Continue to stir until curds start to form in the hot milk and the remaining liquid begins to turn more opaque.

4.  Remove from heat source.

5. Pour currdled milk into cheese cloth or a collindar lines with a light tea towel or as a did...a fine meshed collander works and there is less clean up.

6. Let the whey drain out.  

7. Serve warm.  Warm ricotta cheese tastes great topped with honey or maple syrup. 

Enjoy and stay warm!!