Banger and Mash Pie

Here it is, finally. It's been a long day!
First attempt. Not so good. I've been up over 13 hours. Give me strength...

Second attempt. Better. No need to be perfect with puffed pastry in this sort of pie. Most pubs have the insides bubbling out all over the crust. It adds to the charm! (that's my story and I'm sticking to it!)


Bangers and Mash Pie
Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 1/2 tbsp olive oil


• 1/2 tbsp butter


• 1 large onion, finely diced


• 2 banger sausages


• 2 tbsp flour


• 2 cups water


• 3 medium potatoes, peeled and diced into 1/4 inch cubes


• 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce


• 1/2 tsp garlic powder


• 1/2 tsp onion powder


• 1.5 - 2 cups frozen peas


• Package of frozen puffed pastry or refrigerator pie crusts


• 1 egg, beaten

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375F


2. Heat a large skillet over medium high heat with the olive oil and butter


3. Saute the onions and sausage, removed from the casing until browned


4. Sprinkle in the flour and stir for 1 minute


5. Add in the water, potatoes, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder and onion powder.


6. Simmer for 10 minutes until the potatoes are fork tender


7. Add in the peas and heat through


8. Cut the pastry into 4 rectangles


9. Spray 4 small casserole dishes with cooking spray


10. Place one half of the pasty in each dish with the other half hanging over the side


11. Spoon in the filling mix evenly between the 4 dishes


12. Turn over the other half of the pastry to cover the casserole.


13. Brush on the beaten egg.


14. Cook for 25- 30 minutes until golden. Check often, ovens and casseroles vary!

Really tasty! Quite easy too (aside from the battle with the first puff pastry) They looked fine in the end.

Enjoy!

Wedding Day

Mom in her wedding hat enjoying her English Breakfast tea!

10 AM and I'm losing steam. Wedding was beautiful. Someone needs to provide Princess Eugenie and Beatrice some styling lessons. Camilla has no shame. But overall a lovely day. You can tell William and Catherine really love each other and share a solid foundation for a good relationship. He is lucky to have found such a great partner to share his royal responsibilities (and burdens) with.

If you think the monarchy costs the British people you'd be quite wrong. The monarchy actually pays the British government and the queen pays income and capital gains taxes. Check it out here along with other interesting facts (Camilla could actually become queen...).

No Pimms were to be found here so I had to forgo the Pimms Cup cocktail. Straight champagne it is!

I haven't made the Bangers and Mash pies but I will this afternoon and post the recipe then. If that's not enough time for you to make it tonight.... well it'll be here for another British event... Queen's Jubilee, opening of the Summer London Olympics, to celebrate the birth of William and Kate's first born (with a year I'm predicting!)....

The Royal Wedding Viewing Menu

I'm ready!

The hat is the extent of my official Royal Wedding outfit. I'll wear it with my jammies. 4am is a little early to put on a fancy smancy outfit...

Since I'll be glued to the TV all day, I'm doing some 'make ahead' dishes. Here's the day's menu:



Whole Wheat Cranberry Scones (not my recipe but very, very good. Serve with your favorite jam)



Assorted Tea Sandwiches

Curry Egg Salad (regular egg salad with a dash of curry powder)

Apple and Cheddar (sliced apple and cheddar with honey dijon mustard)

Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese (this one is pretty self-explanatory)

Ham and Mustard (again, self explanatory)

Bangers and Mash Pies

Instead of having bangers, mashed potatoes and mushy peas, I'm going to take puffed pastry and make a pie out of diced banger sausage, potatoes and peas. I'll post the finalized recipe once I make it. The point is that I can make these up tonight and they'll be ready to go tomorrow evening.

And a large pot of tea, of course! And maybe a Pimm's Cup or Pimm's Royal or two...

It's gonna be a partay!

Mom's Birthday Dinner

The day started with a lovely brunch of smoked salmon eggs benny with the yogurt sauce I posted yesterday (see below). Then I made this Sour Cream Cheesecake. Next time I'd half the topping since it spilled over the pan. It was a simple and delicious recipe. I sliced up some fresh strawberries for the top. We went with the traditional Newfie Jiggs Dinner but instead of salt meat we had corned beef, a preference of mine and mom's since our Jersey days. The beige mashed stuff in the blue glass bowl is pea pudding. Just yellow split peas boiled in the pot in a pudding bag. Any cotton pillowcase will do to in a pinch. Tie it up tight and toss it in the and simmer for a couple of hours until the peas are soft then mash with a bit of butter. OMG, it's sooooo yummy.

You start by boiling the meat and peas pudding in a large pot for a couple of hours until the peas are soft and the meat is tender. Toss in some turnip and carrots, peeled and cut into 2 inch chunks. Cook those for about 20 minutes and then toss in the peeled potatoes and chucks of cabbage. I usually pull out the peas pudding at this point. Cook the veggies and meat for another 20 minutes or so until the potatoes are fork tender. That's it.

I use any leftover pea pudding as the base for pea soup. I also freeze the liquid I boiled the meat and veggies in for a base for pea, veggie or beef soup or stew later. It's got great flavour. My favorite is the leftover hash the day after. Mash or dice up the veggies and meat and throw it in a pan with a couple of big spoons of peas pudding. Sometimes I add some diced onion first. Best comfort food ever!

I could have made anything Mom wanted for her birthday but she thoroughly enjoyed this meal!

Birthday Brunch Yogurt Sauce

Today is my mom's birthday. I'm in the kitchen all day making some favs for her. We started the day with Eggs Benny with Smoked Salmon. Mom's watching her weight so I thought I'd try something lighter for the hollandaise sauce. Here's what I came up with. (Mom licked her plate so I think it was an acceptable substitute!)
Birthday Brunch Yogurt Sauce
Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 1 cup low fat or fat free plain yogurt
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tsp dried dill
• 2 green onions (scallions or spring onions)
• 2 tbsp light miracle whip or sour cream

Instructions:

1. Mix and enjoy on eggs benny, veggies or fish.

Yup, that simple. Enjoy!

Rainy Day Minestrone

It's a crappy, rainy, cold day around here. Mud up to our eyeballs. Even the dogs are thinking it's too wet to play outside! I was going to heat up some leftovers from the freezer for supper so I could get some household chores done but it's too dreary to think about chores. So since I'm not getting anything done around the house I figure I might as well play around in the kitchen. This recipe is great to make a supper for one night and then have cups of it for a starter for the rest of the week in place of a salad since its full of veggies and a good soul warmer for these chilly spring days! I've got a multi grain ready to bake loaf in the freezer that will round out the meal quite nicely.

Use whatever veggies you've got on hand. The combo here is what I had handy.

Rainy Day Minestrone

Serves 8 -10

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp olive oil


• 1 onion, diced


• 2 large carrots, diced


• 2 ribs celery, diced


• 2 cloves garlic, minced


• 6 cups chicken broth


• 2 tbsp lemon juice


• 1 798ml/28 oz can of tomatoes


• 1/2 large cabbage diced


• 2 tsp each dried parsley, oregano and thyme


• salt and pepper to taste


• 1 medium zucchini


• 1 cup orzo pasta or some other small pasta.


• 1 540ml/19 oz white kidney beans (also known as cannellini beans)


• Parmesan to serve.

Instructions:

1. Heat a large pot over medium high heat with the olive oil


2. Add in the onions, carrots and celery and saute until soft, about 5 minutes


3. Add in the garlic, chicken broth, lemon juice, tomatoes, cabbage and dried herbs.


4. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes over low heat.


5. Add salt and pepper to taste.


6. If I'm making this for later I would stop here and let the soup sit until shortly before I'm ready to head to the table.


7. Bring the soup up to a boil.


8. Add in the zucchini and pasta


9. Simmer until the pasta is done. (refer to package directions for time)


10. Stir in the beans and heat through


11. Serve with a generous sprinkle of grated parmesan

Enjoy!

Rant - Processed Foods Are Evil!

• I'm pulling out my soapbox and hopping on it. Although I should be knitting my mother's birthday gift this is just too important. (and my hand is going numb again so I could really use the break) I just watched Dr. Oz reveal the recent research that has found a link between preservatives, processed foods and Alzheimer's. I've been saying for a couple of years now how important it is to find the shortest distance from Mother Nature's hands to your mouth when making food choices. Processed foods are EVIL! Stop eating them. They are bad for you. They increase the risk of cancer and diabetes. And now we see there is a correlation between type 2 diabetes (previously known as adult onset diabetes but is now seen regularly in kids) and Alzheimer's. Scared?! You should be!

• For years we've known the correlation between diet and heart disease but we all must start to recognize the connection between our complete health, physical and mental (the brain is just another body organ after all) and what we put in our bodies. Any population that has been touted as 'being health', Sardinia, Greek, Italian, Indian, are population groups that eat natural food products with no processed foods. It seems living off the land is a good thing. But if you can't live off the land, you can at least make better choices when you put food into your body. What exactly are processed foods? A good general way to look at it, to help keep things simple, is once man has interfered, the food have become processed. Natural sources are always, I repeat ALWAYS, best. Read the ingredients, if you can't identify everything in the list put it back on the shelf. There are special things to look for, Glucose-fructose (sugar), MSG and has Dr. Oz pointed out, the dreaded Sodium Nitrite. Here's a good list to start with!

• The label says it's healthy and natural with less fat, injected with omega 3 or probiotics. Must be good for me, right? Hold the phone folks! If it's not as Mother Nature intended beware. It's officially a processed food. Adding nutrients into other food sources isn't the best way to get the nutrient. Get your omega 3 from fish, not added to your yogurt or margarine (don't even get me started on margarine, use olive oil and limited amounts of butter - way better than man-made margarine, I don't care what health organization the margarine producer is supporting...). Check out a great article from thatsfit.ca on foods touted as "healthy". Actually the whole http://www.thatsfit.ca/ site is pretty great for a different perspective on healthy living.

• One more thing to consider under the heading of processed foods. White flour, white sugar, white rice, anything processed to 'white' is bad for you. Period. No dancing around it. When it comes to food, white ain't cool. Save 'white' for your summer wardrobe, not your diet. If you can find a local small mill that is stone grinding flour or grains, buy, buy, buy! Even white salt should be replaced with sea salt. Yup, less processing, just as Momma Nature intended.

• I'm getting off my soap box now. For supper this evening I'll be having leftover Cheesy Spinach Pasta Bake (see below) which has all real foods, nothing processed!

Cheesy Spinach Pasta Bake

I'd picked up a large box of fresh baby spinach at the CostCo and wanted to use it up by it "Best Before" date so I was thinking veggie lasagna. When I checked I was low on lasagna noodles but had tons of these wonderful ziti noodles. Hmmm, baked ziti is one of my favorites of all times. This is a healthy variation on the dish. It's a bit time consuming making it a perfect weekend meal with lots of leftovers for lunches, another weeknight meal or the freezer.

Cheesy Spinach Pasta Bake

Serves 8-10

Ingredients:

• 1 lb/454 g dried ziti or tube type pasta


• olive oil


• 1 onion, diced


• 2 cloves garlic, minced


• 28 oz/798 ml can diced tomatoes, no salt added


• 2 tsp dried oregano


• 6-8 cups fresh spinach, chopped or 2 packs frozen, drained


• 500ml container low fat cottage cheese


• 3 cups shredded part skim mozzarella


• 1.5 cups shredded parmesan


• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Cook the pasta as directed on the package but pull it from the water about 2 minutes before the recommended cooking time (it will absorb more fluid while baking in the oven) and drain


2. Heat a large pot over medium high with a drizzle of olive oil


3. Saute the onions until soft.


4. Add in the garlic, tomatoes and oregano, simmer for 5 minutes


5. Add in the spinach and stir until just wilted


6. Remove from the heat and stir in the cottage cheese, 2 cups of the mozza and 1 cup of the parmesan.


7. Add in the pasta.


8. Pour the mix into a 9 X 13 baking pan (lasagna pan)


9. Top with the remaining cheese.


10. Bake at 350 for 35 - 40 minutes until the dish is bubbly and brown.

Enjoy! (This one is nice for a make ahead dish for entertaining!)

Quinoa!

This week I tried a recipe for Quinoa Cakes I'd seen on CBC's Steven and Chris show. They were cooking with "Best Recipes" Kary Osmond. This can be found here. I actually followed the recipe to the letter which is not something I usually do. While it was a bit time consuming (you have to cook the quinoa ahead and let it cool and once you assemble the cakes you have to refrigerate them for an hour) you could do it on the weekend and have leftovers for another meal during the week or for lunches. It was worth the effort! This recipe got rave reviews around here. Quinoa is a complete protein so it's great for a vegetarian meal. It has a fun texture that's quite appealing to most picky eaters. I came across another recipe for a Quinoa Bowl which looks like lots of fun because you can play with the ingredients. Treat it like a pasta or rice and toss with whatever you have on hand. Blue cheese, feta or parmesan finish off the dish (I'm a cheese-a-holic). ps. it's pronounced Keen-wha!

Tuscan Chicken and Bean Stew

Keeping with the theme of cheap, easy and healthy, I bring to you this delish stewie soup recipe.

Tuscan Chicken and Bean Stew
Serves 4 -6

Ingredients:
1 cup navy or cannelloni beans, dried (or 19 oz can)
2 slices bacon, diced
1 large onion, diced
3/4lb chicken breast, bone in, skin removed
4 cups water
2 tsp dried rosemary and thyme
28 oz. can diced tomatoes
salt and pepper as necessary
1 pk or 5 nuggets frozen spinach or 4 cups fresh chopped (as much as you want, use Kale or Swiss Chard if you're feeling frisky!)
1/2 cup or so of grated parmesan cheese for serving.

Instructions:
Soak the beans overnight covered in water if using dried. Drain and set aside.
Heat bacon in a large soup pot over medium heat. Cook until just crispy. Remove from pot and set aside
Toss onions in pot with bacon fat. Cook until soft and browned
Add in Chicken breast and brown on all sides
Add in beans, water, rosemary and thyme and simmer until the chicken is cooked through (20 - 30 minutes) (this makes a chicken broth which is why I used just plain water)
Remove chicken and tear chicken off the bone. Return the chicken to the pot
Check beans, making sure they are tender. Don't add tomatoes until the beans are as soft as you want them. (the acid in the tomatoes will stop the cooking process for the beans)
Add in the tomatoes. Check the taste and salt and pepper as necessary.
Simmer 10 minutes
Add in the spinach and heat through or until wilted.
Serve each bowl topped with a good shake of parmesan cheese.

Enjoy!

Sweet Potato Hash

This recipe rocks it out of the house. Seriously. And it's cheap, healthy and surprisingly quick. Food costs are expected to rise 7 - 10% in the next while so I'll really be focusing on cheap, healthy eats. The best way to combat rising food costs is to buy local! So hit those farmers markets!

This recipe calls for pork but you can use your favorite sausage and leave out the 1/2 tsp each of the dried spices. Try to buy the lean sausage. Take the sausage out of the casing and break it up in the pan as you brown it.

Sweet Potato Hash

Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
• 1 tbsp olive oil, canola oil or a bit of bacon fat (I use a combo of oil and bacon fat to give the pork more flavour - if using sausage, omit the bacon fat)
• 1 large onion, peeled and diced
• 1 lb lean pork sirloin, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 tsp each, onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, paprika, black pepper and coriander.
• Salt as necessary
• 1 1/2 tbsp maple syrup
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg

Instructions:

1. Place the sweet potatoes in a pot with about 1/2 inch of water on the bottom. Heat over high and boil about 5 minutes until just fork tender. Drain
2. Meanwhile, heat a frying pan over medium high heat with the oil/fat.
3. Saute the onion until soft
4. Add the pork, garlic and spices and cook through. Check for salt and add as necessary
5. Add the drained potatoes and cook until browned, about 5 minutes
6. Add the maple syrup and nutmeg and heat through

Enjoy!

Shrimp Quesadillas

Last night I made a quick and tasty dish with some frozen, cooked shrimp. I always have cooked shrimp in the freezer because they make a great low calorie, lean protein evening snack with a little cocktail sauce. But they're also great for quick meals, salads, to throw in with pasta...

Here's what I did
Per serving:
2 tortillas
spinach
red onion
shrimp
cheddar
avocado
lime juice (just a little squeeze on the avocado)
chili powder
garlic powder
onion powder
red pepper
mushrooms
Layer all the goodies on one tortilla, cover with the other tortilla and bake at 350 until the cheese has melted.

This dish inspired me to think of other ways to make quesadillas or tacos. Leftovers of any meat, fish or seafood will work. It's a great way to make a little go a long way. And each person can customize their own. I don't like mushrooms in general so I left them off mine. Easy!

You can be traditional and use salsa and sour cream. I find most fish taco recipes don't use a lot of or even any tomatoes or salsa and I find it's a nice break to leave them out. The point of this type of dish is to do what you want. You have a nice blank slate - fill it as you see fit!

ps. these were deadly tasty!

Beautiful Beef Stew

The ingredient list looks long but this really is a simple stew. I was quite impressed with the flavour if I do say so myself. Wonderful for these dark, cold days of winter.

Beautiful Beef Stew
Serves 8 - 10

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 lbs stew beef
• 1/4 cup flour
• 2 medium onions, diced
• 2 ribs celery, sliced thin
• 4 - 6 carrots, peeled and diced into 1/2" pieces
• 4 - 6 parsnips, peeled and diced into 1/2" pieces
• 1/2 - 1 turnip, peeled and diced into 1/2" pieces
• 4 cloves roasted garlic, minced (or 2 cloves raw garlic)
• 1/2 bottle red wine
• 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 1 beef bouillon cube
• 6 cups water (or 6 cups low sodium beef broth instead of the bouillon cube and water)
• 25 shakes Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tsp dried rosemary
• 1 tbsp dried oregano
• 4 cups potatoes, peeled and diced

Instructions:

1. Heat the olive oil in a large soup pot over medium high heat.
2. Saute the stew beef until brown.
3. Sprinkle with the flour and saute until thick
4. Add the onion and celery and saute until soft, about 5 minutes
5. Toss in the everything but the potatoes
6. Simmer over medium low heat 15 minutes
7. Add the potatoes and continue simmering until they are tender when poked with a fork.

You can also make this dish in the slow cooker/crock pot. Do steps 1 -4 as directed then add them and everything but the potatoes in the slow cooker. Simmer 6 hours on low. Add the potatoes and turn the slow cooker up to high and cook until the potatoes are tender, 20 - 30 minutes.
Enjoy!

Spinach and Beet Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing

Here is a quickie that's super tasty. Nice with a pureed soup or grilled meat.

Spinach and Beet Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing
Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp pumpkin seeds
• 1 shallot, sliced
• 8 cups of washed and torn up spinach
• 1/2 cup diced pickled beets
• Light blue cheese dressing

Instructions:

1. Heat a dry saute pan over medium high heat
2. Toss the pumpkin seeds in the pan and heat until brown and plump
3. Remove the seeds and set aside
4. If you wish you can saute the shallots, add oil to the pan and saute until soft and golden. (but you can serve them raw in the salad)
5. Divide the spinach, beets, shallots and pumpkin seeds between 4 salad plates.
6. Drizzle with the blue cheese dressing.

Yes it is that simple. Elegant. Impressive. Easy. Done!

Meatloaf Most Excellent

Moist. That's the word to describe this meatloaf. And what's winter without meatloaf?! Well dull really. So here's one I whipped up last week. I used my food processor but if you don't have one just chop up the ingredients really fine.

Meatloaf Most Excellent
Serves 4 - 6

Ingredients:

• 2 cups diced stale french bread
• 1/2 - 1 cup milk
• 1/c grated parmesan
• 1 small onion, diced
• 2 cloves roasted garlic (or 1 large raw clove)
• 1 tbsp dried rosemary
• 1 lb ground beef
• 2 tbsp creamed horseradish (the kind you get in the jar)
• 5 or more good squirts of Worcestershire Sauce
• pinch of salt and pepper
• 1 tsp steak spice
• 1/4 cup ketchup

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 F
2. Soak bread and milk in a bowl for about 5 minutes until the milk is absorbed. Squeeze out the excess milk from the bread and place the bread in the food processor.
3. Add the parmesan, onion, garlic and rosemary to the food processor and pulse until finely chopped
4. Add the parmesan bread mix to a bowl with the remaining ingredients and mix until just blended.
5. Form into a loaf, spread the ketchup on top and bake for 55 minutes or until the internal temp is 165F.

The soaked bread really does make it moist! Enjoy!

Sesame Broccoli - Super Simple Sides

I often find that broccoli is bitter during the winter months. This recipe is perfect for dressing up that out of season broccoli. Or you can use frozen. You can make this side while chicken or fish bakes in the oven. Add a potato or sweet potato for a quick, balanced, healthy meal!

Sesame Broccoli
Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 2 tsp sesame seeds
• 1 bunch of broccoli (about a pound or 500 grams), cut into long stalks
• 1/2 tbsp sesame oil
• 1 medium clove of garlic, minced

Instructions:

1. Heat a DRY wok or saute pan over medium high heat. Toss sesame seeds around the pan until golden, 2 - 5 minutes
2. Remove the sesame seeds from the pan and set aside.
3. Fill the pan with 1/2 inch of water and return to the heat
4. Add the broccoli and stem until tender, 5 - 10 minutes
5. Remove the broccoli from the pan and set aside with the sesame seeds
6. Add the sesame oil to the pan and heat until hot
7. Add the garlic, broccoli and sesame seeds to the pan and saute until heated through, about 5 minutes

Enjoy!

Chinese Sesame Noodles

Here's a yummy dish I made for Chinese New Year but it's great for any night of the week. Use any combination of veggies you like.

Chinese Sesame Noodles
Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 1 lb whole wheat spaghetti
• 2 tbsp sesame oil
• 3/4lb chicken boneless breast or thighs (or leftovers)
• 2 cups each, broccoli and red cabbage, both chopped
• 2-3 green onions sliced diagonally
• 2 tbsp sesame seeds

Sauce:

• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 inch cube of ginger, minced
• pinch of red pepper flakes
• 2 tbsp rice vinegar
• 1/3 cup soya sauce, low sodium
• 1/2 cup natural peanut butter
• 1/4 cup hot water

Instructions:

1. Cook the spaghetti according to the package instructions.
2. Drain and toss with 1 tbsp of the sesame oil
3. Heat 1 tbsp sesame oil in a wok over medium high heat
4. Saute the chicken until cooked through and remove from the wok
5. Meanwhile, mix all the sauce ingredients together in either a blender or use a hand blender (immersion blender), set aside.
6. Add the broccoli and red cabbage to the wok and cook until tender
7. Toss in the green onions and the sesame seeds. Cook for 2 - 3 minutes (you can also toast the seeds in a dry pan if you wish)
8. Add in the sauce and heat through
9. Add in the noodles and heat through again.

Enjoy!

Polenta with Italian Tomato, Zucchini and Bean Sauce

Late night I was in the mood for some "stick to your ribs" food. I made this dish and it got rave reviews. (And I felt like I had just spent the day on the Italian Alps.) If you don't want to make polenta (although it's dead easy and freezes well) then pasta or gnocchi would also work. You can make up the polenta ahead of time or on the weekend and have it ready to go for a quick weeknight meal.

Polenta with Italian Tomato, Zucchini and Bean Sauce
Serves 4 - 5


Ingredients:

Polenta:

• 3 cups chicken broth
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1 1/4 cup cornmeal
• 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Sauce:

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 medium zucchini, diced
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 2 tsp Italian seasoning
• 14 oz can of No Salt Added tomato sauce
• 19 oz can of chick peas, drained and rinsed
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
  

Instructions:
Polenta:

1. Grease a 9X5 bread pan and put aside.
2. Heat the broth and Italian seasoning in a saucepan over medium heat until simmering
3. Pour in the cornmeal a bit at a time, whisking until blended.
4. Heat until thickened (add more cornmeal if necessary) about 3 minutes
5. Stir in the cheese and immediately pour into the prepared bread pan
6. Let cool for 30 - 45 minutes. The turn the loaf out on to a cutting board and slice into 1/2 inch slices. At this point you can freeze the polenta for another time or refrigerate it for later in the week.

Sauce:

1. Heat the olive oil in a saucepan over medium high heat
2. If using the polenta, heat a saute or grill pan over high heat.
3. Add the onion, zucchini and Italian seasoning and saute until soft, about 5 minutes
4. Pour in the tomato sauce and beans.
5. Simmer for 5 - 10 minutes
6. Meanwhile, brown or grill the polenta slices in the saute or grill pan on both sides until brown.
7. Stir the Parmesan cheese in the tomato and bean sauce and serve immediately over the polenta.

Seriously - delicious... (I have got to remember to get a pic before it's all gone...)

Never a dull moment around here (Tips for making life easier in the kitchen.. I can't help you with everything else...)

Wondering where I've been? Well December 28th I fell on the one lone little patch of ice in my driveway while taking out the garbage and I broke my wrist. It's been a real treat... New Years dinner at my house was an adventure in frustration. I directed and mom cooked. She enjoyed it as much as I did. (can you smell the sarcasm from there?)

So due to this recent development, there have been a lot of short cuts in my kitchen. And while I have had to find simpler ways to cook I have realized that these are great ideas for busy people too! Here's a few simple things you can do to help make meal times easier at your house even if you haven't got a gimp fin:

• Have a food processor? Use it! It can do all the chopping, shredded, dicing, etc for you. Throw the parts in the dishwasher (except the blade - hand wash and dry it immediately and put it away in a safe place) and you're done. If you don't own a food processor, think about buying one if you find meal times a chore. And keep it on the counter. If you put it away in the cupboard it will be more of a chore to pull it out.
• Buy pre cut fresh veggies. They may cost more but if you're not eating them because you don't have time to prepare them then the extra cost is worth it.
• Pick up frozen veggies. They are pre cut and precooked so it's less time to the table (just don't overcook them!)
• Opt for shredded cheese instead of blocks of cheese. Or when you do shred or grate cheese do up extra for later in the week. (this is a great use of the food processor)
• Buy garlic and ginger already minced in jars. Spooning out a little to add to dishes is so much simpler than mincing or chopping some every time you need it.
• I'm not a huge fan of canned veggies but one thing I can't live without is canned diced tomatoes (watch the added salt!). Why buy fresh to chop when you can just open a can? I find the tomatoes in the off season are quite tasteless so a good can of Italian tomatoes is perfect!
• And once again I'm going to preach about cooking once, eating twice and freezing the extra. Nothing is better than having healthy meals already to go in the freezer when live throws you a curve ball.

I have a few recipes in my book just waiting to be added here but up until now typing was a painful activity. Now it's manageable so stay tuned! Did I mention this is my favorite time of year? With the short dark days and cold weather I turn to my kitchen for adventure, experimentation and a little joy! This time of year I'm inspired not just to cook comfort foods but also ethnic cuisine. And of course everything has to have a healthy twist because it's just too easy to pack on the pounds this time of year.

PS. As I go back and use this space as my own recipe database, I've been noticing all the spelling and grammatical mistakes I make. Wow I really need an editor! Thanks for your patience. I'll try harder!

Pumpkin and Squash Lasagna

Here's a delicious recipe for comfort food lasagna made with seasonal veggies. Lasagnas always take some effort but the leftovers are worth it. And never mind that lasagnas are great for make ahead meals, perfect for entertaining! This one is truly elegant.

Before:

Pumpkin and Squash Lasagna.

Serves 6 - 8

You can buy can pumpkin and frozen squash. If you buy fresh, put some slits in the skin and microwave for 7 minutes on high. This will par cook the pumpkin and squash enough so it's manageable.

Ingredients:

White Sauce

• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/4 cup flour
• 3 cups skim milk
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 2 tsp dry mustard
• 1 tsp dried parsley
• 1/2 tsp salt (to taste)

Veg Filling:

• 2 cups diced butternut squash
• 2 cups diced pumpkin
• 1 cup diced broccoli
• 1 500g tub of 1% cottage cheese
• 2 tsp dried sage
• salt and pepper to taste

Additional Ingredients:

• 9 - 11 lasagna noodles, spinach would work nice for added colour
• 1 cup small scallops
• 2 cups shredded part skim mozzarella
• Dried parsley to sprinkle on top

Instructions:

1. Heat the oven to 350
2. Heat a saucepan over medium high heat and melt the butter until bubbly
3. Whisk in the flour and cook one minute, reduce the heat to medium
4. Slowly whisk in the milk and heat until thick
5. Stir in the Parmesan, thyme, parsley, dry mustard and salt. Set aside
6. Place all of the vegetable filling ingredients in a food processor and blend (if you don't have food processor, finely chop or mash the veggies and mix with remaining ingredients). Set aside.
7. Take a 8 X 11 (or whatever size pan you have!) pan and spoon is a nice bit of sauce. Place a layer of noodles on top of the sauce, then cover those noodles with another layer of sauce.
8. Scoop on a layer of the veggie mix. Cover with another layer of noodles and then white sauce.
9. Spread out a layer of scallops and cover them with mozzarella. Then another layer of noodles and sauce.
10. Keep layering until you run out of ingredients. End with a layer of noodles, white sauce and mozzarella.
11. Bake at 350 for 50- 55 minutes until golden.

After (this is all that's left...):

This will freeze nicely but I've run out of freezer space. We all knew it would happen one day. (I've been stocking up on meats and veg for the holiday season when things have been on sale!)

Christmas Baking 2010

I've started my Christmas baking... that's right, I've started. I have a few things going on and I might not have the time later so I figured I should take advantage of my time now. Most baked goods freeze well so it's a great thing to get ahead on before the season slaps you in the head and you're staring at Christmas Eve like a dazed reindeer stuck in the headlights.

I've done up a batch of Swedish Pepparkarkar and Skor Cookies. Whether or not they make it to Christmas is another story. I would like to point out that when making the Skor cookies it is best to use parchment paper. You'll run the risk of ruining your cookie sheets if you just grease them. The melted skor bits are like cement stuck to the pan, no matter how well you grease it. Parchment saves your pan, you can use just the one sheet for the entire batch and clean up is a snap!

Also I've also been stocking up on sales items now to defray the cost of the holidays as we get closer to the winter solstice. I've already got my turkey when one store had buy one get one free on turkeys recently. I've stocked up on chicken; whole, pieces, bone in and boneless. I've bought prime rib and steaks.... And there has been some nice sales on excellent quality frozen veggies (because by the end of December our local fresh veggies are starting to get scarce so frozen is the way to go). I've also stocked up on crackers. Hmmm, must watch out for sales on pop and juices....

The Best Ever Butternut Squash Soup.

I've enjoyed my fair share of pureed fall squash soups but this one rocked it out of the park. Simple and cheap too, some of my favorite qualities in a recipe. I only used half a medium squash so I diced up the rest of the roasted squash and tossed it in the freezer for use at a later date.

Butternut Squash Soup with Bacon and Apple
Serves 5 - 6

Ingredients:

• 5 cups diced butternut squash
• 5 slices of bacon, diced
• 1 large onion, diced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 3/4 cup diced tomatoes, fresh or canned
• 1 tsp dried sage, thyme, savoury and oregano (or any combination of these)
• 4 cups chicken broth, low sodium
• 3/4 cup apple juice or cider

Instructions:

1. Cut squash in half, scoop out the seeds and roast for 30 minutes at 350 or slit the skin of the squash with a knife and microwave for 5 - 7 minutes. Peel the squash, remove the seeds and dice into small pieces.
2. In a large saucepan, over medium low heat cook bacon until crisp. Remove from the pan and drain on paper towel. Leave about 2 tbsp of the bacon grease in the pot.
3. Increase the heat to medium high and saute the onions until soft
4. Add the garlic, tomatoes and herbs. Cook until the tomatoes break down
5. Add the broth and scrap any bits off the bottom of the pot.
6. Add the squash, bring to boil and then simmer until the squash is soft
7. Use either a hand blender or regular blender to puree the soup.
8. Serve with the bacon sprinkled on top.

This soup freezes really well and is perfect for those chilly fall or cold winter meals!

In honour of Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Pink Risotto! (If your computer doesn't show it as pink, trust me - it was bright pink!)

Beet Risotto - just dice and boil or roast the beets first. Make your risotto and add in the beets when the rice is almost cooked. I threw in a pinch of dried rosemary and, of course, lots of Parmesan! YUM

Moroccan Chicken, Turnip and Carrot Tagine

I had one tasty dinner tonight! It incorporated some root veggies that are piling up in the farmers markets at the moment and turmeric. I do rave on about turmeric but it's for a good reason. I remembered to get a pic before it was all gone...




I used chicken breasts because I hadn't taken anything out of the freezer and I knew they would defrost and cook quickest. I would have used chicken pieces on the bone if I had planned ahead.

Moroccan Chicken, Turnip and Carrot Tagine
Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 tsp turmeric
• 2 tsp cumin
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 2 tsp paprika
• 1/2 tsp ginger
• 1 tsp thyme
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 chicken breasts, cubed
• 1 medium turnip, peeled and cubed
• 4 large carrots, peeled and cubed
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 2 cups chicken broth (or enough to cover everything in the pot)
• 1 cup brown lentils(optional)

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 325
2. Heat a large, oven safe pot over medium high heat with the olive oil
3. Saute the onion until soft.
4. Add in all the spices from turmeric through thyme and cook in the pan for 2 -3 minutes
5. Add garlic, chicken, turnip and carrots, sauteing until a bit brown, 3 - 5 minutes
6. Mix in the tomato paste and broth.
7. Cover and place in the oven for 1.5 hours.
8. Place the pot on the stove on medium heat.
9. Add the lentils and let simmer until they are tender, about 20 minutes
10. Serve with couscous!

Amazing!

Canadian Thanksgiving

Wow! It's been a while since I blogged. It's been a busy fall thus far! Today is one of those days when I feel like fall is officially here. Last week it was still warm and really humid. But now the weather has changed, it's getting cold at night, the leaves are turning wonderful shades of orange and red and this weekend is Thanksgiving! I do adore a turkey basted with herbs and butter and roasted until golden. Mmmmm, mmm!

This Thanksgiving I've added a few twists which I'll share but first make yourself - A Thanksgiving Cocktail! If you want so good tips for a perfect bird and lovely meal check out here.

Dry Brining
I dry brine my bird. It's easier then trying to find a space big enough to hold a turkey swimming in salt water. I just rub the bird with a good layer of salt put it in a bowl and cover and let it sit for 12 - 36 hours. Turn the bird around from time to time. I also added some herbs mixed with olive oil under the skin on the breast. She was a moist one, I've got to say...

Cranberry Sauce
I've been making my own for years but I got the feeling that my mother didn't really like my spicy pinot noir version so this year I went a little simpler and it was perfect!

Ingredients:

• 3 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
• 2/3 cup orange juice
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 2 tsp pumpkin spice

Instructions:

1. Mix everything together in a saucepan and heat over medium heat.
2. Simmer until the cranberries are all popped and broken down - about 15 - 20 minutes
3. Cool and enjoy!

Roast Veggies
This year, instead of mashing turnip and carrot, I boiled them the night before and then popped them into the oven while the turkey was resting. One less pot on the stove and it really cut down on my prep work on turkey day.

Ingredients:

• 5 medium parsnips
• 1 medium turnip
• 2 lb carrots
• 3- 5 cups chicken broth
• 2 tbsp honey
• 2 tsp turmeric
• 2 tsp dried thyme
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil

Instructions:

1. Peel and cut the veggies into similar size pieces, about 1 1/2 inches each
2. Boil the veggies in the chicken broth (I had already made my turkey broth so I used that!) until just tender when poked with the fork
3. Drain the veggies (this can all be done the day before)
4. Preheat the oven to 375F.
5. Mix the honey, turmeric, thyme and veg oil. Toss the veggies with the mix
6. Place in a shallow pan in a single layer
7. Bake for 30 - 40 minutes.

Not only is this a tasty dish but you get some turmeric which is good for everything from your joints to your brain!

Happy Autumn!

Veggies in Containers!

I started some mesclun greens in a container to grow continually all winter. Holy mackerel, has it ever taken off!

I did a second planting but the first one is giving me salad after salad. I cut the biggest leaves whenever I want them and a single seed gives me leaves night after night. Great mini-project for the kids to help them understand where our food comes from. And once they put in the effort and watch something grow you'll be surprised how eager they are to eat it!

I also have cherry tomatoes still on a plant that I can drag in on chilly fall nights.

And I've started two more tomato plants to have over the winter. Look for seeds that state they are good for containers because some varieties really don't do well in pots.

Summer Veggie Medley Bake

Got extra veggies from the fall harvest? Here's a great veggie dish to bake up and freeze for yummy veggies all winter long.

Summer Veggie Medley Bake
Serves 8

Ingredients:

• 28 oz. diced tomatoes
• 2-3 medium zucchini, diced
• 2 onions, red, white or both, chopped
• 3 green onions, sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 1/2 cup corn, about 2 ears of corn
• 1 cup feta, crumbled
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/4 cup Italian salad dressing

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven 350
2. Mix all the ingredients together and put in a baking dish
3. Bake 50 minutes until all the veggies are tender

Freeze any leftovers. They go great over couscous, rice or pasta with a side of pork, chicken or fish. Easy!

Turmeric

I've been trying to increase my turmeric intake lately. I don't get excited about every latest and greatest "super food" but this spice is worth the consideration. There is believed to be a correlation between turmeric and lower rates of Alzheimer's. It may help in the fight against cancer, slow down the progression of MS and that's not all! Seriously, check it out.

Most of us think of turmeric as a spice to add to curry. But since a lot of North Americans don't have curry regularly it's hard to get more turmeric in our diets. Here's a couple of easy ways to up your intake. And remember, ground spices only last about 6 months so be sure to replenish your supply regularly!

1. Add a good sprinkle to boiled or glazed carrots or turnip right before serving and toss well.
2. Add to tune, egg or chicken salad.
3. Add a bit to your dry rubs for ribs, chicken or pork
4. Add a bit to your breading if you're making fried foods or oven baking items with a breading.
5. Throw a bit in your tomato sauce for an interesting layer of flavour.
6. Sprinkle on cauliflower, squash, potatoes or broccoli... or whatever veggie peaks your interest!
7. Of course you want to add turmeric to any Moroccan, Indian or even Thai dishes.
8. Add it to Chili!

Tonight I'm having pork with rosemary, thyme and apples with diced turnip on the side. I'll sprinkle the turnip with some turmeric which will compliment the grilled apples on the plate. Yum!

Smoked Trout Clubhouse Sandwich

This is my new favorite sandwich. My uncle smoked some trout for me. Seriously delicious!!

Smoked Trout Clubhouse
Serves 1

Ingredients:
Your favorite bread!
Smoked trout or salmon
1 slice of bacon, cooked
Tomato, sliced
Lettuce
Mayo
Basil, chopped
Mozzarella or havarti

Instructions

1. Toast the bread
2. Mix the mayo with the chopped basil
3. Spread the mayo on the bread and top with the trout, bacon, tomato, lettuce and cheese
4. Enjoy!
   

Potato Salad

I had a great potato salad with my new potatoes. You can do lots of variations so have some fun!

Potatoes, boiled and diced
Sausage, cheddar smokies
Green beans, boiled and diced
Mayo
Dijon Mustard
Cider vinegar
A smidge of creamed horseradish
Fresh rosemary, thyme, basil and oregano. All chopped

Toss it all together and enjoy!

POTATOES!!

The fruits of my labour! Okay, to be fair, they are veggie, not fruits....

The first potatoes out of the garden! Note the one with the big line indent down it. Seems that one was growing near a rock. The skin is perfect inside the line indent. Isn't nature funny!?

Salmon Cakes

Here's an easy recipe. I'd love to add a picture but there was no way these delicious cakes were going to last that long around here!

Salmon Cakes
Serves 2

Ingredients:

• 1 tsp canola oil
• 1 tsp butter
• 200g/6 - 8 ounce fillets, skin removed and diced
• 2 medium potatoes, cooked and mashed (I microwaved them in their skins and then mashed them, skin and all)
• 1 egg
• 2 green onions, diced
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh dill
• salt and pepper

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Heat oil and butter in an oven safe skillet over medium high heat.
3. Mix everything together and shape into patties
4. Drop patties into pan
5. Cook until browned and flip
6. Place skillet in oven and cook 7 - 10 minutes until cooked through
7. Serve with some yogurt sauce

Enjoy

Best Green Beans Ever!

Last night I dressed up my green beans. So easy and sooooo tasty. So I just had to share. They're in season so go get yourself some!

Best Green Beans Ever
Serves 2

Ingredients:

• 1/2 lb green beans, trimmed
• 2 slices bacon, diced
• 1 shallot, diced
• 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
• 1/2 tbsp dijon mustard
• 1 tbsp lemon juice

Instructions:

1. Heat a pot of water on the stove until boiling, add green beans and cook 2-3 minutes until bright green. Immediately remove from heat, drain and rinse with cold water. Set aside
2. Put the diced bacon in a skillet and heat over medium heat
3. Cook the bacon until crispy.
4. Remove the bacon from the pan and drain on a paper towel
5. Remove all but 1 tbsp of the bacon fat from the pan
6. Add the shallots and saute until golden.
7. Add the green beans, red wine vinegar, mustard and lemon juice.
8. Heat through
9. Toss back in bacon bits.

Enjoy!

Sliders!

Just to jump on the latest trend, I did some sliders the other night. It is fun to sample a couple of different burgers instead of having to commit to one taste or eat like Attila the Hun.

I got the thin buns from the Atlantic Superstore. You could also use mini-pitas or dinner rolls. Each person gets 3 each (one of each!). You should get 12 burgers from 1 lb/454g of meat.

Blue Cheese Burgers

• Beef
• Worcestershire sauce
• Onion
• Blue Cheese
• Bacon/Capocello/Prosciutto
• BBQ sauce

1. Mix the beef and Worcestershire sauce together and form into patties
2. Grill the burgers, onion and bacon/capocello/prosciutto
3. When the burgers are almost done top with the blue cheese
4. Put some bbq sauce on a bun, top with bacon, burger and onions.

Mediterranean Burger

• Beef
• Feta
• Mint, chopped
• Oregano, chopped
• Garlic Powder
• Red Onion
• Red Pepper
• Tzatziki sauce

1. Mix the beef, feta, mint, oregano and garlic powder and make into patties
2. Grill the burgers, peppers and onion
3. Place the burgers on the bun, top with the pepper, onion and tzatziki sauce

Traditional Burgers

• Beef
• Onion powder
• Garlic powder
• Cheddar
• Lettuce
• Tomato, sliced
• Ketchup

1. Mix the beef, onion and garlic powder and make into patties
2. Grill the burgers, add the cheddar cheese when the burgers are almost done
3. Assemble the burgers by placing on a bun and topping with lettuce, tomato and ketchup

Leftover Chimichurri

Here's a great use for that extra Chimichurri sauce. You can freeze it for later or......

Cut cherry tomatoes in half, grill and then drizzle with the chimichurri! Holy mackerel it's freakin' tasty!

Nice cold beer or wine and you're maxing and relaxing!!

Enjoy!

2010 FIFA WORLD CUP FINAL!!!

Have you been enjoying my 2010 FIFA World Cup Menu? Here's the links to each weeks menu.
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4

Waaahoooo! Could it be any more exciting?! Spain made it to the finals! Needless to say, I'm routing for Spain. I've even taught Ollie ( He's sitting on the couch, waiting for the game to start)

to cheer when they score. He even does a little dance!

Okay, on to the snacks for the game. We're doing a tribute to the two countries. We'll start with some Dutch cheese and beer. Then we'll move on to some Spanish tapas and beer. For the main course I'm grilling spring onions or leeks (whichever I can get) in place of the calcots which are the native onions, like small leeks from the Catalan region of Spain. They are traditionally served with romesco sauce and bread. I've actually seen the festival, the Calcotada, when the calcots are ready for harvesting. The Spaniards get a big fire going and grill huge batches of the calcots. They have big pots of sauce ready to go and everyone enjoys a meal with red wine or cava, Spanish sparkling wine. While the Calcotada is usually held at the end of winter when the calcots are ready for harvesting, grilling small onions or leeks is perfect anytime in the summer here in Canada.

Netherlands

• Bavaria, Heineken or Grolsch Beer
• Gouda and Edam Cheese
• Crusty Bread

Spain

Tapas

• Cherry tomatoes cut in half and sprinkled with garlic and thyme and grilled
• Asparagus and green beans wrapped in serrano ham and grilled
• Shrimp tossed with chopped dried or fresh red chilies, minced garlic and olive oil and grilled
• Mixed nuts
• Estrella Lager

Main Course

Grilled Leeks with Romesco Sauce

Ingredients:

• 1 dried red chili
• 1/3 cup red wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup almonds
• 6 cloves of garlic, peeled
• 2 slices bread, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
• 1 cup onions, chopped
• 1 cup diced tomatoes
• 1/2 tsp smoked Spanish paprika
• salt to taste
• 3 lbs, about 12 leeks

Instructions:

1. Soak the red chili in the vinegar
2. Heat the oil in a pan over medium high heat
3. Toast the almonds in the pan, remove and place on a towel to drain
4. Toast garlic in the pan until golden, remove and place on towel to drain
5. Toast the bread crumbs in the pan, remove and place on a towel to drain.
6. Cook onions in the pan until golden.
7. Add almonds, bread crumbs, garlic, tomato and paprika to the pan and heat through for 2 minutes. Add water if the sauce is too thick.
8. Place everything, including chili and vinegar, in a food processor or bowl and use a stick blender to puree until finely ground.
9. Salt to taste and set aside
10. Heat the grill to high.
11. Thoroughly clean the leeks or spring onions by cutting halfway down but not all the way through the root end. Then you can get between the layers quite well.
12. Brush the leeks with olive oil and grill until tender and charred a bit.
13. Serve the leeks with some sauce poured over and some bread on the side for scooping up the leftover sauce
14. Enjoy with a glass of cava!

Hmmm, seems to be considerably more food with a Spanish twist here.... Could it be that I'm biased?! You betcha!!! GO SPAIN!!!!!!!!!

Uruguay - Chivito al Pan

Here is the last recipe for the 2010 FIFA World Cup Menu - Week 4. Uruguay is the last remaining South American team in the World Cup so it is quite fitting that it is the last recipe! However, I am going to do 2 additional recipes for the 2 countries in the final game. Check back on Thursday July 8th for those.

This recipe is said to be a favorite with locals and tourists alike. It's so incredibly simple and basic that I was hesitant to use it to represent Uruguay. But Yummy is as Yummy does so here you go!

Uruguay - Chivito al Pan
Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 1/2 tbsp butter
• 1 lb 1/4 inch thick steak, boneless
• 4 slices carved ham or ham steaks (not deli meat but cut from a nice piece of ham is better)
• 4 slices mozzarella
• 4 crusty sandwich rolls
• 1 tbsp mayonnaise
• 1 tbsp ketchup
• lettuce
• 4 slices tomato
• 4 fried or boiled eggs (optional)

Instructions:

1. Heat a pan over medium high heat, add the butter and melt
2. Cook the steak in the pan when you flip the steak, top with the ham and mozzarella
3. Cook until the mozzarella is melted
4. Mix the mayo and ketchup together and spread on the 4 rolls
5. Slice the boiled egg if using
6. Top each roll with the steak, ham, mozza, lettuce, tomato and egg.

Enjoy!

Nigeria - Pancakes with Shrimp

Here is another recipe from the 2010 FIFA World Cup Menu - Week 4. This one is kind of different and interesting. Definitely worth a try if you're feeling frisky!

Nigeria - Pancakes with Shrimp
Serves 8- 10

Ingredients:

• 2 19 oz/540ml cans of white kidney beans or any white bean
• 6 eggs
• 2 medium onions, finely chopped
• 2 medium tomatoes, chopped in 1/4 inch pieces
• 1 lb cooked shrimp, cut in 1/2 inch pieces
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil

Instructions:

1. Drain the beans and place in a food processor or blender with the eggs, adding each egg one at a time. (You may need to add more or less eggs to get a nice batter consistency depending on the beans you choose)
2. Blend until smooth.
3. Pour the batter in a bowl and add the remaining ingredients except the oil. Blend
4. Heat the oil in a frying pan over medium high heat
5. Spoon heaping tablespoons of the batter into the oil.
6. Turn when the bottom is golden brown
7. Keep cooked pancakes warm while frying the rest of the batter.
   
   Enjoy with a nice salad!

Spain - Gazpacho

Here is another recipe for the 2010 FIFA World Cup Menu - Week 4. I love Gazpacho and it used to be one of my summer mainstays. I haven't made it much in the past few years but it is extremely healthy and terrific to have on hand during those long hot summer days. This version is inspired by Spain, so there are some differences so give it a try!

Spain - Gazpacho
Serves 6 -8

Ingredients:

• 2 red peppers
• 2 medium tomatoes
• 4 cloves garlic
• 1 cucumber, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 2 tbsp sherry vinegar or red wine vinegar
• 1/2 tsp fresh finely chopped tarragon or 1/4 tsp dried
• 4 slices thick country bread, crusts removed
• 1 liter vegetable cocktail, low sodium

Instructions:

1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees
2. Place the tomatoes, peppers and garlic on a shallow pan in a single layer.
3. Roast for 30 minutes
   (You can also roast the tomatoes peppers and garlic on the BBQ over medium heat)
4. The tomatoes will be done after 30 minutes, continue roasting the peppers and garlic for another 15 minutes
5. Place the tomatoes and peppers in a glass bowl, cover and let stand until cool enough to handle, about 20 - 30 minutes
6. Peel the peppers and tomatoes, discard the seeds and stems
7. Dice and place with the garlic, in a food processor or blender, blend until still a little chunky
8. Place in a large bowl.
9. Soak the bread in some of the vegetable cocktail until soaked. Drain the bread and add it to the blender or food processor.
10. Add cucumber, olive oil, vinegar and tarragon to the food processor or blender and blend until smooth.
11. Put the cucumber and bread mixture in the bowl with the tomatoes, peppers and garlic.
12. Add the rest of the vegetable cocktail to the bowl and stir
13. Chill for 8 hours.
14. Taste and add salt and pepper as necessary.

Enjoy!

Brazil - Chimichurri Beef

Here is a recipe from the 2010 FIFA World Cup Menu - Week 4. A lot of the South and Central American countries share recipes and there are variations of each so 'authentic' is more a state of mind than an actual requirement! Make it your own. This recipe can call for lime juice or not. I used lime juice because I had a fresh lime on hand. I've also seen the Chimichurri done with either cayenne pepper or crushed red pepper flakes. Use whatever heat source you want but use a little, the kick makes it really South/Central American. You can freeze this refreshing herb sauce in ice cube trays and have it on hand whenever you want a taste of Brazil (or Argentina or Mexico or Chile or .....)

Brazil - Chimichurri Beef
Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 1 lb of flank steak or lean sirloin
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp cumin
• 1/2 tsp ground coriander
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1 clove garlic
• 1 cup fresh cilantro leaves
• 1 cup fresh parsley leaves
• 1/4 cup white vinegar
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp lime juice
• 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper

Instructions:

1. Heat a grill to high
2. Sprinkle the beef with the salt, cumin, coriander and black pepper
3. Mix the remaining ingredients in a food processor or blender to make the Chimichurri sauce.
4. Grill the beef to medium rare ( the more you cook flank steak, the tougher it will be)
5. Cut the steak against the grain in thin slices
6. Serve with the Chimichurri sauce on top

Enjoy with various salads or grilled veggies that are in season!

Fifa World Cup Menu - Week 4

The final week! I'm going to do something special for the finals so check back next Friday, July 9th.

2010 FIFA World Cup Menu - Week 4
1. Spain - Gazpacho
2. Uruguay - Chivito al Pan (changed from Arapas which I had orginally planned but didn't feel it was really representative of Uruguay cuisine)
3. Brazil - Chimichurri Beef
4. Germany - Bratwurst Sausages and Sauerkraut
5. Nigeria - Pancakes with Shrimp

I can't wait to make the Nigerian Pancakes with Shrimp. The shrimp is put right into the batter! Sounds delicious! Gazpacho is one of my favorite summertime soups but I haven't made it in a while. My traditional recipe is more of a take on tex-mex but for this menu I'll stick to something more Spanish inspired. The Bratwurst and Sauerkraut are this week's menu's store bought item. Just pick up your fav for a quick meal. If you don't like Sauerkraut then substitute a coleslaw. Cabbage is incredibly good for you!

As per usual, I'll add the links to the recipes as I add them to the blog throughout the week.

Here are the links for the other weeks in the 2010 FIFA World Cup Menu.
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Final Game Menu

South Africa - Bobotie (Beef Pie)

Here is the final recipe for 2010 FIFA World Cup Menu - Week 3. One more week to go. I'm going to do something special for the finals after the week 4 menu so stay tuned!

No matter where I looked when researching South Africa's cuisine I came across Bobotie. Basically it's a curry meat pie. Hmmm, beef, curry.... what's not to like! Some recipes call for apples and raisins in the beef mixture but I don't typically have those items on hand so I left them out. Add them if you like, it will give the recipe a sweetness and extra nutrients.

South Africa - Bobotie
Serves 6 - 8

Ingredients:

• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 2 slices of bread (preferably stale) soaked in milk, drained and torn up into small bits
• 1 lb ground beef
• 2 tbsp curry powder
• 1 tsp turmeric
• 1 egg, beaten
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup milk

Instructions:

1. Heat oven to 325
2. Grease a 9 X 13 inch loaf pan
3. In a large bowl mix the onion through to the lemon juice together.
4. Place the mixture in the loaf pan and bake for 40 minutes
5. Mix the 2 remaining eggs and the 1/2 cup of milk together well
6. Place over the cooked beef loaf and bake for an additional 15 minutes

Enjoy!

Honduras - Black Bean Soup

Here is another recipe for the 2010 FIFA World Cup Menu - Week 3. This recipe has a few variables that allow you to make it your own. For the heat you can use whatever chilies you like. I've seen this soup done with jalapeno, chipotle or Tabasco. I've also seen people leave out the heat completely. In the summer a spicy meal that makes you sweat it a great way to stay cool so we'll be adding the heat here. I like a chipotle. When I open a can I take out each chipotle pepper and wrap it separately and freeze them. I never have a recipe that calls for a whole can of chipotle so freezing the leftovers individually means I have peppers ready to go for all those recipes that call for just one.

I've also seen this recipe call for sherry, red wine or dark rum. You can leave out the alcohol. I use whatever I have on hand. Usually that's red wine. It's only a small amount but it does give a little depth in the flavour profile of the soup.

Honduras - Black Bean Soup
Serves 4 -6

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 medium sweet red or yellow pepper, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 19 ounce cans black beans, rinsed and drained
• 2 cups beef or veggie broth
• 1 chipotle pepper, chopped (use 2 if you like it extra spicy!)
• 1 14 ounce can chopped tomatoes
• 1/2 lime
• 1/4 cup red wine
• 1/4 cup fresh chopped cilantro

Instructions:

1. Heat the olive oil over medium high heat in a saucepan.
2. Add the onion and sweet pepper and saute until softened
3. Add the garlic and saute for 30 seconds
4. Add the beans, broth, chipotle pepper and tomatoes
5. Simmer 10 minutes
6. Squeeze the juice from the lime and add to the soup.
7. Add the wine and stir well
8. Stir in the cilantro and serve

Enjoy!

Sole Meuniere

Here is another recipe from the 2010 FIFA World Cup Menu - Week 3. What a simple and tasty way to show off the wonderful taste of a lovely piece of fish! This recipe can be made with any white fish. I've done it with a nice piece of cod before and it was lovely. Also, you can leave off the dredging of flour. Some days I just can't be bothered. Yes, anything in butter is good....

Sole Meuniere
Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 4 4 - 5 ounce sole or white fish fillets
• 1 cup flour
• 4 tbsp butter
• salt and pepper
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
• 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 4 lemon wedges

Instructions:

1. Heat 3 tbsp of the butter in a saucepan over medium high heat.
2. Add the parsley and let the butter turn golden brown
3. Reduce the heat to medium and add the fish fillets
4. Cook until the fillets are golden on both sides
5. Season with salt and pepper as you like
6. Remove the fish from the pan.
7. Add the remaining tbsp of butter and the lemon juice.
8. Heat until the butter stops foaming
9. Place the fish fillets on their plates and pour the sauce evenly over each fillet
10. Serve with a lemon wedge.

Enjoy!

FIFA World Cup Menu - Week 3

Thus far it's been an interesting World Cup. I've been disappointed and shocked, often at the same time... Actually, that's pretty normal for the World Cup. That's why it's so much fun. It never goes exactly as you expect!

Here's week 3's menu.

2010 FIFA World Cup Menu - Week 3

1. South Africa - Bobotie (Beef Pie)
2. France - Sole Meuniere (without the same type of controversy the team has generated this year!)
3. England - Fish and Chips (We're cheating and buy this from take out. A new place opened up near me and it's causing a buzz so I must try it!)
4. Greece - Chicken Souvlaki
5. Honduras - Black Bean Soup

The official recipe for South Africa is the Bobotie. I wasn't keen on making a beef pie to bake in the oven this time of year but it is winter there... So I'll bite the bullet and be authentic.

I'll add the links to the recipes as I add them during the week. Enjoy!

Here are the other weeks in the 2010 FIFA World Cup Menu
Week 1
Week 2
Week 4
Final Game Menu

Algeria - North Africa Burgers

The final recipe from the 2010 FIFA World Cup Menu - Week 2. Deadly easy and even better tasting! These will become part of my regular summertime repertoire.


Algeria - North Africa Burgers
Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground beef


• 2 tsp ground cumin


• 2 tsp paprika, hot if you have a choice of which type


• 2 tsp garlic powder


• 1 tsp ground coriander


• 1 tsp curry powder


• 1/2 a large red onion, sliced


• 4 pitas


• lettuce, tomato, cucumber


• yogurt dressing or tzatziki sauce

Instructions:

1. Mix the beef with the cumin, paprika, garlic, coriander and curry.


2. Form into patties, I made mine more oblong to fit in the pita


3. Heat a pan or grill to high


4. Sear the burgers and red onion on the grill, turn and cook until cooked to your liking.


5. Remove the burgers from the grill or pan, turn off the heat


6. Place the pitas on the grill or pan and warm on each side


7. Assemble the burgers on each pita with lettuce, tomato, cucumber and yogurt sauce.

Enjoy!

Argentina - Empanadas

Here is yet another recipe from the 2010 FIFA World Cup Menu - Week 2. You can use chicken or pork. I used pork but afterwards realized chicken would have been a good idea. I also used refrigerated crescent rolls for most of the empanadas but had leftover filling so I had those on a pita for lunch. Frozen puffed pastry would also work perfectly here. So it's up to you!

Argentina- Empanadas
Serves 4 - 6

Ingredients:

1. 3/4 - 1 lb lean pork loin
2. 1 tsp dried thyme
3. 1 tsp dried oregano
4. 1 tbsp sweet and/ or hot paprika (I used a bit of both)
5. 1 tsp garlic powder
6. 1/4 cup olive oil
7. 2 medium onions, cut in strips
8. 2 medium peppers, green, red, yellow or orange (I used a bit of green and yellow)
9. 2 tbsp white wine or chicken broth
10. salt and pepper to taste
11. pitas, refrigerated crescent roll dough or frozen puffed pastry

Instructions:

• Slice the pork into 1/4 inch strips
• Mix thyme, oregano, paprika, garlic powder and olive oil in a dish large enough to hold the pork
• Add the pork and let marinate at least 4 hours or overnight
• Heat a large skillet over medium high heat.
• Add the pork to the pan and cook until the meat is brown on all sides
• Meanwhile add the peppers and onions to the marinate and toss
• Remove the pork from the pan and set aside, keep warm
• Add the peppers, onion and marinate to the pan.
• Add the white wine or broth.
• Simmer until the peppers and onions are soft
• Return pork to the pan and toss
• If using the pitas, put some of the meat mix in each pita and serve.
• If using dough preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• Roll out to make rectangles. The refrigerated crescent roll dough will give you 4 empanadas. The puffed pastry will have to be cut. Roll it to about 1/4 inch thick and cut into rectangles.
• Put a bit of filling in each rectangle, being careful not to overfill
• Fold over one side to make a triangle.
• Cook in a 350 oven for 12 - 20 minutes until the dough is golden.

Enjoy!

Denmark - Toast Skagen

Here's another recipe from the 2010 FIFA World Cup Menu - Week 2. This is one of my very favorites. I used to spend a lot of time in Sweden and I fell in love with the country. This is a common appetizer.  Midsommer is one of my favorite holidays anywhere, anytime! The Danish call it Sankthansaften. The Scandinavian countries are quite similar although I know for a fact that none of them would agree to that!

I love Toast Skagen and it really is a perfect summer dish. Yes it's more of an appetizer than a meal but I could not resist including it in this menu. The name comes from the northern tip of Denmark, Skagen which is a popular fishing port. So even though it is really Swedish I had to include it. Really - it screams summer!

I was also torn because even thought the Swedish national team didn't make the world cup, they are celebrating a royal wedding today! Crown Princess Victoria is getting married (or is by the time this is posted)! So perhaps my little cheat here will be forgiven. Don't forget, Midsummer is celebrated in Denmark on the evening of June 23rd. The actual summer solstice is June 21st. I may have a shot of Aquavit on both days! Celebrate the longest day of the year! Skaal! (Proncounced Skoal!)

Toast Skagen
Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 1lb small peeled cooked shrimp
• 4 tbsp mayonnaise
• 4 tbsp creme fraiche or sour cream
• 3 tbsp chopped fresh dill
• 1/2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• salt and pepper
• 4 slices white bread, buttered
• 3 oz white fish caviar (I've used the sushi red fish eggs because that's what I could get locally and they worked perfect)
• diced red onion for garnish
• lemon wedges for garnish

Instructions:

1. Dice up the shrimp
2. Mix the mayo, creme fraiche, dill and lemon juice. Salt and pepper to taste
3. Add in the shrimp
4. Saute the bread until golden, cut into triangles
5. Spoon the mixture on each triangle of bread
6. Top with caviar, red onion and a sprig of dill
7. Serve with a wedge of lemon on the side.

Enjoy with a shot of aquivat. Skaal!!

Korea - Kalbigui

Here's another recipe from the 2010 FIFA World Cup Menu - Week 2. Time for some ribs! Nothing screams summer more than ribs on the barbie. Today they're going to take a Korean twist. I've often seen this recipe done with beef short ribs but I have also seen it done with pork ribs. Use whatever you like. Life's easy.

Korea Kalbigui
Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp sesame oil
• 4 tbsp soy sauce
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tsp ginger, minced
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 2 tsp sugar
• 2 lbs ribs
• 2 tbsp sesame seeds

Instructions:

1. Mix the first 6 ingredients together in a pan big enough to hold all the ribs
2. Add the ribs, turn to coat thoroughly and marinated for at least 4 hours
3. Heat the barbecue on high.
4. Barbecue the ribs for 10 minutes on each side or so until cooked through. Baste with remaining ribs sauce with each turn.
5. Sprinkle on the sesame seeds and let them brown a bit on the ribs.
6. Serve with kimchi, a green salad with sesame dressing or an asian slaw made with shredded cabbage and carrots tossed with a little mayo, soy sauce, lime juice and cilantro.

I'm really enjoying incorporating asian flavours into the barbecue these days! Yum!

FIFA World Cup Menu - Week 2

Here it is! Week 2. 3 games a day, I'm in total overload. And I've discovered I'm seriously going for Spain. I was quite disappointed when they lost their first game. For the whole day... The emotions one goes through for their favorite teams - sigh - I'll never make it to the end!

2010 FIFA World Cup Menu - Week 2

1. Argentina - Pork Empanadas
2. Denmark - Toast Skagan (June 23rd is Sankthansaften or Midsummer in Denmark. Time to celebrate!)
3. Korea - Kalbigui (Grilled Ribs)
4. Italy - Pea Risotto
5. Algeria - North Africa Burgers

This week is going to be fun. I have fresh peas, first batch from the Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia! They'll make a great risotto. The link here is for my general risotto recipe. I've blogged about it a couple of times, type risotto in the search box on this page in the upper left corner and you'll get lots of tips and tricks. I just used shallots, garlic, and peas in this one. It was awesome.

Toast Skagan is a lovely summer treat and one of my favs. The Korean Ribs will be lovely on a hot day.

I'm looking forward to making empanadas but instead of making the dough (if you have a Mexican, South American or African food market handy you could pick up the empanada bread there, I don't have such a place around here) I'm going to just use pita bread or refridgerated cresent roll dough. Life doesn't have to be complicated to experience the great flavours of the world!

Check back as I'll add links to the recipes above as I add them to the blog, just like last week.

Here are the links to the other weeks in the 2010 FIFA World Cup Menu
Week 1
Week 3
Week 4
Final Game Menu

Portugal - Pasta with Mussels and Chorizo

Here is the last recipe for the 2010 World Cup Menu - Week 1. Week 2 will be up soon!

This is one of those recipes where freezing leftover pasta pays off. You can skip a time consuming step for this recipe if you already have pasts cooked and ready to go!

If you have a choice of chorizo, obviously get the portugese chorizo if you can but if you only have a choice between spanish and mexican, get the spanish.

Portugal - Pasta with Mussels and Chorizo
Serves 4 - 6

Ingredients:

• 1 lb pasta, penne, or small spirals
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2 chorizo sausage links, chopped
• 2 shallots, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlice, minced
• 1/2 cup white wine
• 4 lbs mussles, washed and debearded
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh flat leaf parsley
• 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
• Salt and Pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions, reserve 1 cup of the cooking liquid before draining. Set aside
2. In the same pot you cooked the pasta in, heat the oil over medium high and saute the chorizo and shallots until golden
3. Add in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds
4. Add in the wine and simmer about 5 minutes until reduced by half
5. Pour the sausage mixture into a bowl and keep warm.
6. Add an inch of water to the bottom of the same pot and add the mussels.
7. Bring to a boil and cook until the mussels are open, about 4 minutes
8. Drain the mussels, add in the pasta, sausage mixture and mussels all to the pot.
9. Add the leftover pasta water as necessary to get a nice moist pasta
10. Sprinkle with cilantro, parsley and lemon juice
11. Salt and Pepper as necessary

Enjoy!!

ps. I threw in some chopped up beet greens with the sausage and shallots. It was a great way to up the veggie content and a great way to use up some 'in season' beet greens. They tasted perfect!