Friday, January 29, 2021

Deciphering a recipe

This particular recipe journey had an interesting start:  Cliff and I were going on a road trip, so I checked out the audiobook version of a book entitled "The Best Cook in the World", read by the author.  Rick Bragg.  It's really a book about his southern heritage, about relatives long gone; but it's also a tribute to his mother.  Each chapter has, as its subject, a recipe or two.  Since Rick's mother never used a recipe, she and her son tried to come up with proper amounts and such, but the book isn't really a recipe book.  It's delightful reading.  Just don't read it hungry, because when Rick and his mother start describing things they've cooked, you are going to be hungry anyway.  The book makes everything sound delicious.  However, the one thing I knew I had to eventually try was the recipe for butter rolls.

The book starts in 1924:  a young boy just got married, and his wife cannot cook anything very well.  The boy gets on his mule and goes for a long ride into the wilderness to find his father, a hermit known as Jimmy-Jim, who knows how to cook.  This same Jimmy Jim is the author's great-grandfather.  The boy found his dad in a clearing, in a tumble-down shack.  The boy said to his dad, "You have to come with me, 'cause I married a pretty and hardheaded woman who can't cook a lick."

So the man cooked up a storm when they got back to the newly-wed couple's place.  One of the things that I knew I had to taste was what Rick Bragg's mother called simply "butter biscuits".  They deserve a much better sticky-gooey name than that, believe me.  

There are two versions of the recipe in the book, one for from-scratch biscuits and one for canned biscuits.  Rick's mom is ashamed to say she ever buys canned biscuits, and this is the only way she uses them.  The first time I tried making this stuff, I ended up with a mess in my oven.  

Why?  Because of the way the author wrote it down:


Notice in the last paragraph, where is says "then fill the empty can with whole milk and add that to the bowl"?  So, that would be one empty sweetened-condensed-milk can full of whole milk, right?  Unfortunately, I used the size pan Rick's mom suggested, and that sticky mess boiled over on the bottom of my oven.  

Later on, when he puts a genuine recipe in the chapter, it's not a whole can at all; it's 1/2 cup of whole milk.

When I finally tried the recipe again, I knew what to do differently.  By the way, I used canned biscuits the second time, to make it easier.

It definitely isn't something you'd make often, and if you don't like terribly sweet things for breakfast, it isn't for you.  Cliff and I both approve the recipe, but it will be a rare treat.

With the new stove I got recently, I have been baking up a storm.  I finally got on the scale last weekend and saw I've gained five pounds.  This is typical of me in winter, but it's the sort of thing that I cannot ignore.  If I keep eating all those cookies, pies, and other treats, I'll be too big to squeeze out the door.  Something has to give.

Enjoy your day!  I hope the sun is shining on you, like it is on me.  My mood elevates considerably when the sun shines, even if I'm in the house looking out at it.  And did you see the full moon?  It was big and beautiful at 4 AM.


14 comments:

  1. I don't have a scale but probably need to stop eating sweets. They are definitely a comfort food for me these days.

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  2. I’ve gained 5 pounds too. I’m blaming it on the nasty weather. I hope I can do more in the next month. Mostly, I’m thinking of what to eat next. I’ve read that book by Bragg. The recipes were all confusing to me. He’s a great writer.

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  3. Sitting next to the west windows, my eyes are soaking up the sun and blue skies. I also have all the daylight spectrum lights on, including the new AeroGarden, in this room. My S.A.D. is much improved this winter. Considering the pandemic, the political and World climate, that is amazing to me. I am so happy for you, bustling away at your new stove! What is the lowest temperature your oven can be set at?

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    1. I believe it's 170.

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    2. Mine too. In my dream oven it goes down to 110. Then I can easily incubate mason jars of yogurt. Which I turn into Greek yogurt. Meanwhile I make do with a thermometer and place a covered jar of hot water in each corner of the microwave.
      I used to watch Rico's shows on PBS. Learned a lot!

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    3. Autocorrect!!! Shakes fist! Rick's

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    4. When I made yogurt, I put two one-gallon jars full of hot water from the faucet into a an ice chest overnight. Perfect yogurt the next morning.

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    5. Great idea! I would do that to free up the microwave, if I had an ice chest. Now that it's been said, how long till a random one shows up? Lol

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  4. I really enjoy all the Rick Bragg books and this one is on my shelf though I haven't yet read it. Whenever I finish a Rick Bragg books, it makes me want to sit down at my computer and start writing about my family.

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    1. The only other of his books I've read is Ava's Man.

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  5. I got on the scale this morning and I have gained five pounds since the pandemic began...all that sitting around and reading I would guess.

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  6. That recipe sounds really really sweet.... but very very good. *haha* Yes, spring is coming and the pounds will come off once you're able to work outside again. Being a diabetic I don't have the luxury of gaining weight but oh what I wouldn't give to do it.... by eating all those delicious goodies. *lol* Have a bite or two for me, would ya? ~Andrea xoxo

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  7. Those biscuits sound good but very sweet! I'm more of a savory breakfast person but those sound like a nice mid morning treat with coffee! This has been the perfect winter for gaining weight in my opinion!

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  8. I have read a Rick Bragg book--All Over But the Shoutin" and totally loved his way of writing. Will have to see if I can find this one but I bet I won't try any recipes. Thanks for the warning:)

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