Bread and Jam for Frances is our favorite Frances book and I don’t know how anyone can read it without getting a bit hungry. Somehow Russell Hoban writes these meal descriptions that are the equivalent of watching Jamie Oliver create some crazy delicious dinner. I personally always want to have spaghetti and meatballs or a lobster salad sandwich (which I’ve actually never tried but doesn’t it sound divine?). Bug latched on to the breaded veal cutlets, string beans, and baked potato. I found this odd because he doesn’t like potatoes or green beans really. Maybe it’s because we live in the land of schnitzel that he was drawn to the breaded cutlet. Either way a Bread and Jam for Frances was requested and I was determined to deliver.
Recipes
Dinner
Breaded Veal Cutlets (Wienerschnitzel)
- 4 veal cutlets
- 1.5 cups breadcrumbs
- 1.5 tsp parsley
- 1.5 tsp garlic powder
- 1.5 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 2 eggs
- frying oil (I use peanut oil)
Heat oil on medium-high heat until you can see small lines on the bottom of the pan(about 330F degrees). Beat the eggs in a wide bowl. In a separate bowl combine the breadcrumbs, garlic powder, onion powder, and parsley. I usually eyeball the amounts so if you want to add more or less or even something else (paprika anyone?)…do it! Take the cutlets and hammer them flat, about 1/4 inch. Then and one-by-one dip them in the eggs. Then move them to the breadcrumbs and coat them thoroughly. Lay them gently into the frying oil. Cook until golden brown 3-5 minutes. Remove directly to a cooling rack so the remaining oil can drip off.
String Beans
- 1 lb (500g) green beans
- 2-3 Tbs butter (or alternative)
- 2 cloves garlic
- sea salt
- pepper
Put trimmed green beans into a pan of boiling water for 5-10 minutes. I still like some crunch so I pull them out directly at 5 min. Rinse with cool water. In a wide pan melt the butter and toss the green beans in. Saute 3 min. then add the garlic. Saute another 2 minutes or until the beans and garlic are taking on a bit of color. Remove from heat and sprinkle salt and a couple turns of the pepper grinder. Serve immediately.
Baked Potato
Wash potato, prick it with a fork a couple times, then toss it in the oven at 400 F for 40 min. Boom! Serve with butter, salt, pepper.
Bread and Jam
Bread (Pound Cake)
- 1/2 lb butter (about 125g) room temp
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1/3 cup milk
- 3 eggs room temp
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 2 cups flour
- pinch of salt
Preheat oven to 300 F. Then butter and flour a loaf pan. Next beat the butter until light and fluffy. Add sugar in slowly and beat for at least 3 minutes. Then add the eggs one at a time beating after each until completely incorporated. Beat the whole mixture on med-high for 1-2 minutes. Next add 1 cup of sifted flour at a time. After each addition of flour add a little of the milk. Then add in the vanilla and a pinch of salt. Beat for an additional 3 minutes. Pour into the prepared loaf pan and bake for 60 minutes. Then increase the temp to 325 F and bake an additional 30-40 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack.
Quick Strawberry Jam
- 3/4 cup frozen strawberries
- 2 Tbs Lemon juice
- 2 Tbs Sugar
Put all the ingredients on the stove and simmer for 15-20 minutes. Then blend with an immersion blender. (Note: I don’t use the sugar because I think there’s plenty in the cake but the jam is not sweet so if that’s a problem you add the sugar. Also without the sugar it won’t stay good for very long use it up in a couple of days.)
