Scotch Eggs

I'm told that this simple dish is standard pub fare in England and Scotland.  What a great idea for a picnic, a brown bag lunch, or . . . Sunday brunch! 

I served them on my beautiful platter from HomeGoods . . .  It's so pretty that it's almost a shame to cover it . . . almost . . .

Hard-boil some eggs, peel them, and cover them with ground pork, seasoned to your liking - some people use bulk sausage - then bread them and fry them.  Scotch eggs!  Even better, this is a Paleo recipe.  I used almond meal, instead of bread crumbs, and I fried them in coconut oil - a healthy, medium-chain fatty acid.  Each serving provides 5 ounces (35 grams) of protein - a pretty decent meal if you are on a low-carb diet!

Then I laid them in a bed of baby romaine lettuce, and filled the gaps with cocktail tomatoes . . .  The tomatoes added sweetness and balance to this high-protein entrée.

And what could be better than serving this British dish on English pottery?  The transferware plate is Blue Calico, by Burleigh . . . Just a peek for now.  I need to play with them a little longer before I share . . .

How to Manage An Inferiority Complex

What do you serve your friends, all members of the high school Cuban Club, 1973 through 1977?  Hint:  NOT CUBAN FOOD!  They are all either better cooks than you, or their mothers can run circles around you with their perfect black bean soup and pumpkin flan.  And besides, where's the surprise?  No, no, no dear friends, you need to go in an altogether different direction.  Enter:  The Italian Antipasto Tray . . .

Start out with a large platter to hold it all.  I picked this one up at HomeGoods for about $10!

Then, go nuts!  I included cantaloupe, prosciutto, sopressata, black olives cured in olive oil, jumbo green olives stuffed with sun-dried tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, provolone cheese, green grapes, roasted red peppers, and Formaggio Ciliegine (fresh mozzarella balls, marinated in olive oil, red pepper flakes, basil and black pepper), all prettily showcased against a backdrop of radicchio . . .

Is your mouth watering yet . . . ?

And this is an old, old photo of the Cuban Club, from the year I was president.  Where's Maria?



A Tablescape With A Tuscan Vibe coming tomorrow . . .