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Sunday, March 25, 2007

Cookbook Spotlight: Ships of the Great Lakes Cookbook

Oh jeez, it's been two months now (time flies!) since I saw Mary's post about these yummy looking Walnut Bars.. and yeah they really did look that good, because I can't stand walnuts but the picture had me drooling =) As I read the post, I was so intrigued by the book that the recipe came from - it was a gift to her from her parents and it contained information and recipes from the stewards (the ship's cook) on the big freighter ships that travel on the Great Lakes.

I was so intrigued by the book, mainly I think, because these huge ships have been part of my life for, well, all of my life. I've lived no further than 2 miles (currently less than 1/2 mile) from Lake Erie my whole life, so these ships are a common occurrence in my neck of the woods. So common, in fact, that they become part of the background. I don't even really notice them all the time when I'm looking out on the lake.. just like someone who lives near a busy street or near a railroad crossing, sooner than you realize, you just block out the noise and you forget it's there.

Well thanks to my new friend, Mary, I started thinking about all of those ships and the people who live/work on them. And the more I got to thinking the more curious I was about what they ate. I left her a comment on that post and that was the beginning of many conversations between us. As it happened, Mary and sweet Sara were in touch with the publishers of Ships of the Great Lakes Cookbook

glships

with the idea of this book being the next Cookbook Spotlight. I received an e-mail from Mary asking if I'd be interested on reviewing the book.. oh hell yes, I'd be interested! I was tickled she asked me and just as excited to read the book.

A few weeks later a package arrived containing the book and a very cool nautical themed book mark! Maritime Book Threads to be exact - check them out, they are very cool (I got the anchor thread and it rocks) Okay so a cool cook book and some cool book bling - what's not to like about this deal, eh? =)

I think my first perusal of the book was more concentrated on the ship's stories and background info - also to see if there were any mentioned from Northeast Ohio (there was).. I really couldn't take a detailed look at it because I had a certain fisherman type person nagging me the whole time, "I wanna see!" "Can I look now?" "C'mon! My turn!!" Ugh. And so, I gave up the book for a few hours.

When I finally got it back, I started taking note of some recipes I wanted to try. There are many really good sounding recipes in this book - and most of them are easy to make, down home recipes that you'd expect from this kind of book. Although there is a french pastry recipe tossed in here and there ;) The only one thing that bummed me about this book was that I'd happen upon a recipe that sounded so damn good and I'd get all, "Oh yeah, I'm making this for dinner this week!!" and then it'd be a big let down because the recipe served like 97 people. Hello? I'm pretty confident in my skills to cut a recipe in half.. even thirds.. but from 97 to uhhmm maybe 4? Yeah, that's a lil too much friction for my wee brain cells, if yanno what I mean?

And that really is my only bitch about the book. The lay out is nice and it's the kind of cookbook that doesn't bother me with it's lack of pictures. I like how so many freighters, Coast Guard vessels, tall ships, passenger vessels and the old retired ships - some of which have been turned into museums - have been highlighted. Not only is there a picture of the ship, but information on what it carried, how large it was, who the key personnel were and actual menu's are printed too. There is just so much more to this cook book than recipes. I would recommend this book to just about anyone - I can't imagine someone not being able to find a few good recipes as well as not learning anything from the book's stories.

Now as for the recipes I made.. well, not to keep using this as an excuse, but it seemed that during the time from my mom's fall, through all of her follow up doctor appointments and just generally caring for her, my opportunities to actually cook or bake the recipes I wanted, just kinda of slipped by. I did manage to make two though! Although one was scarfed down so quickly by myself, hubbs and my little sister that when the thought surfaced to grab the camera there was pretty much an empty pan sitting in front of us. And that was the morning I made Cinnamon Rolls courtesy of the fine cooks on the Schooner Manitou, docked in Michigan. All I can say is they were the first yeast rolls that I've ever made and they were easy and soooooooooooooo delicious. All warm and gooey what with the cinnamon/sugar between the layers and the vanilla icing on top.. *swoon* I will be making them again and I will photograph how pretty they came out. =)

The second recipe was thought about for quite some time - especially when I saw that one of the loves of my life, that sexy Laura Rebecca had made my first two choices.. the roasted potatoes and braised pork chops with cabbage. I shall still make them, especially from seeing how gorgeous hers turned out.

But now we are having some especially lovely weather and I'm in the mood for a picnic, which led me to choose Marinated Focaccia Bread Sandwiches. The description reminded me of a muffuletta, a sandwich I've always wanted to make anyway. Unfortunately, I ran into a snag when purchasing the ingredients I'd need. We went to two different shops for focaccia bread (there was no way I could make my own) and struck out both times. So at the 2nd shop, I opted for Monterey Sour Dough. And as I was making the sandwich, I thought with just the meats and cheeses, it might be a little dry so I added a layer of roasted red and yellow peppers and also a layer of mild banana pepper rings. I made the marinade as per the recipe and used the salami, proscuitto and Provolone that was called for. I wrapped it tightly in plastic wrap and placed in my fridge. When I took it out the next day, my fridge smelled really quite good!

Marinated Sandwich
He's sticking his tongue out at me.

I cut the sandwich up into smaller, easier to handle portions and served this with a buffet of nibblers that we enjoyed on our "picnic" in front of the tube watching Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe *swoon* We both enjoyed this sandwich very much, but we agreed to try a different bread the next time and to double the marinade because it lended wonderful flavor but the bread was still a little dry. The addition of the roasted peppers and the banana peppers was spot on - they really went well with this sandwich. It was super easy to make, and was quite huge - plenty to serve 4 easily.

Marinated Sandwich
Marinated Focaccia Bread Sandwiches
Courtesy of Ships of the Great Lakes Cookbook, published by Creative Characters Publishing Group, 2001

2 (14 inch) Focaccia flat breads, homemade or purchased at an Italian bakery (Bobbi also works)

Marinade
1/4 c. extra virgin olive oil
2 TBS. fresh basil
1 tsp. dried oregano
2 TBS. onion, finely minced
2 TBS. garlic, finely minced
2 TBS. green olives, finely minced
Salt & Pepper to taste

Filling
1/2 lb. salami, sliced
1/2 lb. proscuitto, thinly sliced
1/2 lb. Provolone cheese, sliced

Marinated Sandwich

Combine ingredients for marinade and set aside. Cut a very thin top layer off each bread to expose bread and allow marinade to soak in. Spread 1/2 marinade on the cut side of 1 of the flat breads. Layer cheese, proscuitto and salami on marinated side of bread. Spread remaining marinade on cut side of second flat bread; place on top of layered filling ingredients. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. Unwrap cut into squares and serve.

Marinated sandwich

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Comments on "Cookbook Spotlight: Ships of the Great Lakes Cookbook"

 

Blogger Peabody said ... (3/26/2007 12:18 AM) : 

Yeah, I get a little disappointed in some of my professional baking books that have recipes that make 100 servings. That does me no good. I think if you are going to make a book and market it to the main-stream you should have a scaled down version too.

 

Blogger Helene said ... (3/26/2007 12:24 AM) : 

That is a wonderfully good looking bread...I would love to sink my teeth into it...ahahah!!1

 

Blogger breadchick said ... (3/26/2007 12:31 AM) : 

Lis! Thanks so much for participating. The sandwich looks super duper to me and I'm glad to hear the cinnamon rolls turned out so well. I'm adding them to my list of things to make from SGLC. Thanks again for participating!

 

Blogger Meeta K. Wolff said ... (3/26/2007 1:42 AM) : 

This looks really good. The bread really looks moist and the filling is drool worthy.
Nice one Lis!

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (3/26/2007 6:03 AM) : 

Now that's what i call food porn!

Sammich heaven! (And being a wine country boy, I would have gone with sourdough as well, though it's nearly impossible for me to get my favorite sourdough our here in Texas.)

I'll be knocking out a versionof these for lunch one day this week, I'm sure.

 

Blogger Ilva said ... (3/26/2007 7:13 AM) : 

Great photos and now I'm sooo hungry!

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (3/26/2007 9:15 AM) : 

Wow - I'm in sandwich heaven. Those look fantastic!

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (3/26/2007 9:57 AM) : 

Wow, how good does this sound!

 

Blogger MyKitchenInHalfCups said ... (3/26/2007 10:29 AM) : 

That is one wonderful sandwich!

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (3/26/2007 11:18 AM) : 

This sandwich looks very good! I too have always wanted to make a Muffuleta for many a picnics. I will definitely be trying this recipe for many a beach picnics to Lake Erie this summer!

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (3/26/2007 11:21 AM) : 

Talk about the mother of all sandwiches - that thing is a killer! I envy the lunch you and hubbs must've had feasting on that thing!

 

Blogger Brilynn said ... (3/26/2007 11:53 AM) : 

I was going to make those cinnamon rolls but didn't get around to it... I'll add it to the to-do list. I definitely agree though, some of the recipes were just enormous. My oven wouldn't even hold 30 lbs of chicken legs!

 

Blogger Morven said ... (3/26/2007 10:32 PM) : 

I've already had lunch but man those sammiches look great.

 

Blogger Lis said ... (3/28/2007 6:12 AM) : 

Peabody - Yeah, I agree. What would have been nice is if they showed a few huge recipes to show how it was done, but scaled down 95% of the rest.

Helene - lol and sinking is what your teeth would do - was hard taking a bite out the damn huge thing! hehe

Mary - My pleasure! I just wish I would have gotten pictures of those cinnamon rolls - they were SO GOOD. =)

Meeta - Thank you, sweetie =)

Jerry - I look forward to seeing your version!

Ilva - Thank you!!

Kristen - hehe thanks.. it really was a good sammich =)

Gilly - I know! hehe

Tanna - Thanks honey =)

Laurie - Cool! It's comin soon.. 80º here Monday, 75º yesterday :D

Ellie muh luv - It was quite a feast indeed. =)

Bril - haha yeah kind of a turn off when your brain has to scale down a recipe THAT much.

Morv - I'd really like to see a version of this from you.. from the meats and cheeses that you guys like wayyyy over there - but you'd have to make it for friends because it's huge and way, way too much for just two.

 

Blogger Ruth Daniels said ... (4/07/2007 1:57 PM) : 

What a fun read! And beautiful photos. Really mouthwatering.

Thanks for this great spotlight.

 

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