Food: Bring your own recipe!

These and other items we discussed last Sunday.

Offer you to try traditional English Muffins

Ingredients:

• 1 cup milk
• 2 Tbsp white sugar
• 1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
• 1 cup warm water (45 degrees C)
• ¼ cup melted shortening
• 6 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt

Directions:

1. Warm the milk in a small saucepan until it bubbles, then remove from heat. Mix in the sugar, stirring until dissolved. Let cool until lukewarm. In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
2. In a large bowl, combine the milk, yeast mixture, shortening and 3 cups flour. Beat until smooth. Add salt and rest of flour, or enough to make a soft dough. Knead. Place in greased bowl, cover, and let rise.
3. Punch down. Roll out to about ½ inch thick. Cut rounds with biscuit cutter, drinking glass, or empty tuna can. Sprinkle waxed paper with cornmeal and set the rounds on this to rise. Dust tops of muffins with cornmeal also. Cover and let rise ½ hour.
4. Heat greased griddle. Cook muffins on griddle about 10 minutes on each side on medium heat. Keep baked muffins in a warm oven until all have been cooked. Allow to cool and place in plastic bags for storage. To use, split and toast. Great with orange butter, or cream cheese and jam.

Among different products and kinds of food you can find marvelous za`atar. People of Middle East are mad about it. Ancient Greeks said that eating this blend made everybody happier and bolder.

Za’atar Herb Blend

Ingredients:
1 part dried Greek oregano, preferably wild-harvested
1 part dried thyme
1 part ground sumac
½ part white sesame seeds
Salt to taste

Directions:

Grind the oregano and thyme in a spice grinder or blender, making sure it’s free of sticks and stems. Put the herbs in a glass jar with a tight sealing lid. Add the sumac, sesame seeds, and salt and shake well to thoroughly combine. Put on the lid and close it tightly. Store away from heat and light.

It`s wonderful to eat with (flat)bread and olive oil.

Za’atar Olives (great last-minute appetizer)- good cooling meal

Ingredients:

2 cups olives
½ cup olive oil
3 Tbsp. Za’atar Herb Blend

Directions:

Rinse the olives and dry them well. Put the olives and olive oil in a small saucepan, bring the olive oil to a simmer, and simmer the olives for 15 minutes. Stir in the Za’atar Herb Blend and simmer for 5 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Enjoy your meal!