Pearl Pirie/The BUZZ
Pearl Pirie
A key to good health: greens and beans, brights, grains, or seeds. This food combo hits all the spots. The cornbread is nutritional, bright, and colourful. The broccoli is green.
Not a fan of the green flower? This soup could change your mind. After snow shovelling, it tastes even better.
Side Dish: Savoury Cornbread
I’m not a fan of sweet cornbread, nor dry, so this one hit the spot. Vegetarian and dairy free, it is dense but not moist and is full of flavour.
Preheat a 10-inch cast iron pan at 400F.
Mix dry:
- 1 cup yellow cornmeal
- 1/3 cup whole wheat flour
- 1/2 cup unbleached white flour
- 1 Tbsp baking powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup frozen corn
- pinch to 1/4 tsp hot pepper flakes (to taste)
- 1/2 large red bell pepper, diced
Mix and add wet to dry:
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 85g frozen spinach (thawed and drained)
- 1/4 cup corn syrup
- 1/4 cup whisky
- 1/4 cup melted margarine
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
Pour into the hot pan and bake 30 to 35 minutes until the top is browned and a toothpick comes out clean.
If you don’t have whisky on hand, water or water with a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar works.
The loaf freezes well so you can thaw slices as needed.
Main Dish: Broccoli Soup
(30 minutes, serves 6)
Cut up one head of broccoli into florets (discard the stems). Boil or steam until crisp-tender.
Puree the cooked broccoli with:
- 2 roasted cloves of garlic
- 2 yellow onions, diced, cooked in olive oil until tender
- 1 red potato, cubed, boiled
- 1 Tbsp cornstarch
- 1 bouillon cube
- ground black pepper
- pinch of salt
Add to blender or food processor:
- up to 1 cup unsweetened almond milk until desired thickness is reached
Garnish:
- sprinkle of sesame seeds and black pepper (optional)
Pearl Pirie’s fourth poetry collection, footlights, is getting good reviews! Coming in April: online classes on editing at www.pearlpirie.com/classes Keep staying home, washing your hands, phones and masks. Get the vaccine when you can.