Dinner at the Pond

Personal

We live in the middle of a meadow, it’s my favorite place on earth. In the winter we ice fish on the pond and come warm nights we set up our “pond house” for backyard bbq’s and watching movies under the stars. Today I want to share our favorite campfire treat, naan bread with brown sugar butter. It’s better then s’mores and will make you famous at summer parties. So try them this weekend or very very soon!

Naan Bread

serves around 6 people, easy to double for more

1/2 package of active dry yeast

1/2 cup warm water

2 tablespoons of sugar

1 small egg

2 tablespoons milk

1 teaspoon kosher salt

2 1/2 cups bread flour

grape seed or olive oil for grilling

 

Dissolve yeast in warm water with sugar for 10 minutes in small bowl. Beat egg in large bowl and add milk, salt and bread flour. When yeast mixture is ready add it into the large bowl and start mixing. At this point you can either use a stand mixer or when the dough comes together start kneading. Adding more flour or water to get a soft dough, around 5-8 minties. Put dough into a well oiled bowl and place a towel over to rise. This takes around 1- 1 1/2 hours. In the meantime make the brown sugar butter.

Brown Sugar Butter

1 stick room temperature butter

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/8 teaspoon kosher salt

Mix all of the ingredients in small container and when well combined place in the refrigerator. This lasts for 3 weeks and can be used on toast or is the best butter for popcorn.

 

Back to the dough. When it’s done rising, push dough down and start taking small bits of dough to roll into 1 1/2 inch balls. Place on a cookie sheet and let rise again for 30 minutes. Start grill, clean and oil grates for cooking. Grill side take dough and shape into thin circles. Brush with oil and place on grill. When they puff up turn over and wait for other side. Each side take around 2 to 3 minutes. At this point you can either keep some for your meal like we do or make all of them into sweet treats by brushing the brown butter directly on them when finished grilling.

Fun Extra’s!!

We grill aromatic lamb meatballs and serve them with cucumbers, tomatoes and tzatziki dip. Then for dessert we cover the last 5 or 6 with brown sugar butter.

 

And some nighttime summer music…

for dancing Devendra Banhart – Santa Maria Da Feira. I have no idea what he is sing about but his voice goes beyond the limits of language. Also he’s wearing rainbow suspenders in the video.

for driving Firekites – By Night. Such a great band and there song is perfect for driving in the night with the windows down. Or at the least makes you feel a tiny bit free sitting at your office desk.

for dreaming Ari Hest – Cranberry Lake. I’m pretty sure this song is about our pond, just change the title to Cranberry Pond. 1:12-1:23 is my favorite moment.