California Gourmet: Two Easy Appetizers for the Holidays

California Soda Bread with cheese - a simple appetizer

Thanksgiving
is almost here.  If you’ve dried aromatic
leaves for seasonings, you may want to use them this holiday season.   Here are two easy bread recipes featuring
native plant seasonings.  They may be
just what you need for an appetizer.

The
California Cheese Biscuits add a
California touch to any party.  They are
quick,  easy and particularly tasty when
flavored with native Salvia(s) or California sagebrush (Artemisia californica). You could also make them with non-native
herbs like rosemary, thyme, basil, etc.    Make
them regular size and serve them with a holiday meal. Or use a mini-muffin tin
to make bite-sized appetizers.  We offered
the ‘bites’ at our last Second Sunday Stroll - folks of all ages liked them.

The California Soda Bread is another easy way
to incorporate California flavors into a holiday meal.  Soda Bread is easy to make and tasty.  We particularly like it as an appetizer with
slices of cheese or a favorite spread.  If
you have leftover turkey, it can also be used for sandwiches or toasted and used
with creamed turkey.

 

California Native Plants as
Seasonings

Many
California native plants can be used as seasonings.  They are traditionally used fresh to flavor
soups, stews, meats and other dishes.  Many
can also be dried for later use.  To
learn more about native plants as seasonings see: http://www.slideshare.net/cvadheim/gourmet-seasonings-2009
.     For a list of California native plants that can be used
as seasonings see: http://www.slideshare.net/cvadheim/ca-native-seasoning-herbs-spices

For
use in these recipes, the sage (Salvia species)
or other leaf herb needs to be fully dried, then finely ground with a spice
mill or mortar & pestle.  Remove any
large chunks prior to measuring. 

Some
native spices, particularly some sages and the sagebrush, are strong flavoring
agents.  We suggest using the smallest
suggested amount the first time you make a recipe.  Increase the amount, if needed, the next time.  You can use spices separately or combine them
according to taste.   Be creative!

 

California Cheese Biscuits are an easy way to

dress up 'from the box' biscuits

 

California Cheese Biscuits

All
Purpose Baking Mix (enough for one recipe of biscuits)

¼
to ½ tsp. dried, prepared native herb/spice

½
cup grated cheese (your choice of type)

Water
or milk (according to package directions)

 

Oven temperature:
400°F (or
as specified on package directions)

 

Preheat
oven.  Add the spice and grated cheese to
the Baking Mix. Stir well to mix. 
Prepare biscuits according to package directions.  Grease muffin tins with vegetable oil  (or use a pan spray).   Spoon
dough into prepared tins (fill about 2/3 full). 
Bake according to package directions.  
Serve warm or cold.

 

Fresh loaf of California soda Bread

 

California Soda
Bread

 

3
½ cups all purpose (white) flour

¼
to ½ tsp. dried, prepared native spice

1
tsp. baking soda

½
tsp. salt

1
½ cups milk

Oven temperature:
400°F

Note:
you can halve the recipe to make just one small loaf

 

Preheat oven.  Lightly grease a baking sheet with vegetable
oil.   Mix flour, spices, baking soda and
salt in a large mixing bowl (a 12 cup or 3 liter bowl is perfect).  Add the milk and stir to form a soft ball (if
too sticky, add a little more flour).  
Turn out onto a floured pastry cloth* or floured surface.  Knead until dough is smooth and holds together
– about 1 minute.   If using for appetizers, divide the dough in
two. 

 

 

Form two rounded mounds on the
baking sheet, each 4-5 inches in diameter and about 1 ½ inches thick.  Using a knife, cut a deep ‘X’ extending
almost to the edges.   Bake until the
breads are golden brown and the bottom sounds hollow when tapped – about 15-20
minutes for two smaller breads, 30-35 minutes for a single larger loaf.   Cool on a cooling rack.       For appetizers, cut the loaf in
quarters.  Slice each quarter
thinly.  Serve with slices of cheese,
fresh vegetable slices, cream cheese or other toppings.  

 

California Soda Bread is good, hot or cold

 

*ours is
just a double thickness of heavy cotton 'duck' material

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We encourage you to
send us your questions, comments and recipes (either comment below or e-mail to
us at : mothernaturesbackyard10@gmail.com