Author: M-J de Mesterton
M-J de Mesterton: Painter, Editor, Restoration and Historic Preservation Expert
Freestyle Eggs with Purple Onion and Serrano Peppers
I’m calling these two eggs “freestyle” because they were lightly fried to so-called “over-easy” level, but very uncooperative when I attempted to flip them with my spatula. The eggs are accompanied on this plate by purple (“red”) onions sautéed in butter with serrano chile peppers, and a bit of labneh (strained yoghurt) which is sprinkled with cayenne…
Nutritious, Versatile Pumpkin Seeds
Pumpkin Seeds are great freshly-ground and used as a salad-topper. Here is a salad topped with both ground raw pumpkin seeds, Cheddar cheese and walnuts. “Pepitas”, as they are called in Spanish, are delicious when toasted in a pan with a teaspoon of coconut oil and about a half-teaspoon of salt per cup. Stirred frequently…
Simple Greek Salad
Romaine lettuce, crumbled feta cheese, tiny tomatoes and vinaigrette combine to make a simple Greek salad. Other ingredients, if I had them in the house, would have been sliced cucumbers, chopped fresh cilantro (coriander leaves) and Kalamata olives.
M-J’s Nutritious Luncheon Pancakes Made with Magical Mung Beans
My husband Jacques likens this dish to blini with caviar and sour cream. To some, that’s quite an endorsement (I’ve resisted caviar all my life, with every fiber of my being). M-J’s HIGH-PROTEIN MUNG BEAN PANCAKES To my pot of cooked mung beans (one cup dry beans, three cups water) I add chia seeds (while…
M-J’s Elegant Pantry Update, August 2018
Groups of identical or similar containers make this busy cook’s pantry/kitchen cupboard look less cluttered.~©M-J de Mesterton
Strained Yoghurt
Straining your own yoghurt makes a delightful Mediterranean or Middle Eastern spread for bread or pita. Put a round coffee-filter into a bowl-sized strainer or sieve, empty a container of plain whole-milk or full-fat yoghurt into it, cover with another round coffee-filter, and place over a bowl that allows some space between the bottom of…
Elegant Tofu and Vegetable Dish
In George Mateljan’s Long-Standing, Much Respected “The World’s Healthiest Foods”, Here Is an Informative Article on the Benefits and Nutritional Qualities of Tofu
High-Protein and Vitamin C: Low-Cost Tofu with Shishito Peppers
Tasty Tofu with Mild Green Shishito Peppers As a nutritious austerity dish, there are scads of ways to prepare tofu. Three ounces of firm tofu, with only seventy calories, contain eight grams of protein and two grams of carbohydrate. This morning, I sautéed in coconut oil some cubed tofu that I had marinated in soy…
Elegant, Easy Egg Dish: Rolled Omelette
Above: Plain and Fluffy Rolled Omelettes For a rolled omelette with fillings, spread a thin layer of beaten egg onto a greased, hot skillet. Place cheese or chopped vegetables on the egg layer, then push it into a roll with a spatula, then keep it on the side of your pan. Pour egg mixture into…
Re-Purposing Commercial Containers
Re-purposing another commercial container: a tiny jam jar was converted into a mini-salt shaker and filled with Himalayan salt. I used a sharp-pointed pair of scissors and lightly pounded it with a meat mallet to poke holes in the lid. I also put three little holes in the screw-top of a nicely-shaped Herdez green…
From the Clothes Line: Elegant Survival of Your Clothing
Originally posted on Elegant Survival:
The Clothes Line, an Elegant Survival Original, Copyright M-J de Mesterton 2006 Clothes dryers are energy-wasters, and will ruin your clothes as well, through fibre-loss and shrinkage. Some electric dryers even tear holes in clothes. Hand-washing and line-drying your shirts and other washable garments will extend their lives. I use…
Elegant Breakfast Dish: Pink Grapefuit
Grapefruit is part of a healthy, elegant breakfast. Peeled and cut into sections, then drizzled with a bit of honey and a few grains of sugar, this exquisite pink grapefruit is ready to eat in an antique Japanese export bowl (which I acquired in 2004, and has disappeared–that’s all right; my main collection is Baron…
Elegant, Durable Cast-Iron Cookware
M-J’S CAST-IRON PAN PIZZA METHOD A cast iron pan can go under the broiler and come out even better condition than before, which cannot be said for other pans. After all, it was created in a sort of crucible. For an artisanal pizza, I like to place a thin layer of raw pizza dough in…
