Author Archives: Chatty Kathy

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About Chatty Kathy

Living in the beautiful Okanagan Valley in BC, we have an abundance of fresh food to cook with, and believe me, I do! We have 5 daughters, 3 grand daughters, and lots of honorary daughters ...I love cooking for family and friends and they all keep me busy in the kitchen. Here is hoping that this blog will allow my entire family to access those recipes they ask for, and maybe even enjoy a few travel photos!

Best & Easiest Brownies

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Best & Easiest Brownies

This brownie recipe is simply the easiest, quickest, and most kid friendly brownie I have found. Really – one pot, one spoon, a measuring unit or two and the baking pan … all done before you know it.

1/2 cup + 2 tbsp butter
6 tbsp cocoa powder
1 cup white sugar
2 tsp pure vanilla
2 eggs
3/4 cup flour
(optional – 1/2 cup chopped walnuts)
(optional – 1/2 cup chocolate chips)

Preheat oven to 350
Grease 8 x 8 x 2 square pan

In medium saucepan melt the butter and cocoa. Remove from heat, stir in sugar. Add eggs one at a time, beating well between each one. Add vanilla. Stir in flour and the walnuts (if using).

Bake for aproximately 30 minutes – test at 25 minutes to see if a toothpick comes out cleanly. Do not overbake.

Remove from oven, cool and eat – they won’t last long! If you chose to use the chocolate chips – I put them on top as soon as it comes out of the oven, allow to sit for a minute then spread until smooth. The chips melt pretty quickly.

By the time you think you are having a chocolate craving, these can be in the oven before you change your mind! Easy clean up too. The kids learned to make these on their own in elementary school and it is still a quick favorite around our house.

Chocolatey Chew Turtle Brownies

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These brownies are for those days when you have a little extra time, or really want to impress someone that loves chocolate.

6 tbsp unsalted butter

6 oz coarsely chopped good quality semi sweet chocolate

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (Not Dutch process)

3/4 cup all purpose flour

1/4 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup sugar

2 large eggs

1 tbsp pure vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350

Line a buttered 8 inch square baking pan wiht foil or parchment paper, letting enough hang over to make it easy to lift the brownies out later.  Butter lining too! 

Heat butter, chocolate and cocoa in either a heatproof medium bowl over warm water, or in a microwave, stirring at 10 second intervals.  If you choose the microwave be careful – they can be over heated in a few seconds.

Whisk flour, baking powder and salt together in another bowl and set aside.

Put sugar, eggs and vanilla in bowl of stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment and beat on medium speed until pale, golden and fluffy – about 4 minutes.  Add chocolate mixture, and beat until combined.  Add flour, beat again scraping down sides of bowl until well mixed.

Pour batter into prepped pan, smooth top with spatula.  Bake until a tester comes out with a few crumbs but not wet – around 35 minutes.  Let cool for about 15 minutes in pan.  Lift out brownies and allow to cool completely on wire rack before adding topping.

TURTLE CARAMEL TOPPING

1 cup sugar

1/3 cup heavy cream

2 tsp pure vanilla extract1/2 tsp coarse salt

1 cup coarsely chopped toasted pecans

Using medium saucepan combine water and sugar – bring to a boil over med-high heat, stirring until sugar has dissolved.  When syrup starts to boil – QUIT stirring and wash down your sides with a wet pastry brush.  Continue to cook, swirling pan every so often, until a medium amber – again – this is the place to watch carefully because it will go from a rich amber color to burnt pretty quickly.  Remove from the heat, and quickly add cream, vanilla and salt.  Stir very gently until mixture is smooth.  Add pecans and stir until caramel begins to cool and thicken.  A couple of minutes will do it.

Pour caramel over cooled brownies and spread with an offset spatula.  Refridgerate until cool – at least 30 min to an hour.

Let brownies stand at room temperature at least 15 minutes before serving.  If doing this for a dessert wipe knife with a hot damp cloth between each cut to get a smooth line.  Serve with a dollop of whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

Roasted Vegetables

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This works really well all year long in a hot oven, and even better on a grilling basket on your barbecue.

Preheat oven to 400. Use any assortment you like of vegetables, I usually try to go for color and cut the items so they cook at about the same rate – i.e., onions, broccoli and cauliflower take a little longer to cook so either cut them smaller or put them in the oven first, adding the peppers, zucchini and tomato after the first 15 min of cooking time.

Once you have all your vegetables prepped, toss in a generous amount of really good quality extra virgin olive oil, a couple cloves of crushed garlic and a good handful of fresh herbs.  Season with salt and pepper.

Turn vegetables out of oil seasoning onto roasting surface.  Reserve bowl that the oil and seasonings are in.

Roast until just tender and little brown carmelized bits appear.  Anywhere from 30-45 minutes.Toss again into the olive oil, seasoning mix just to brighten up the flavours a bit – taste for seasonings and dust with freshly ground pepper and salt to taste. 

Carmelized Pecans

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Ever wonder how to get those delightfully crunchy tasty pecans served on your favorite restaurant salad?

 

In a non stick fry pan:

1/2 cup pecans

drizzle with honey

freshly ground pepper and salt

small knob of butter

Toss or stir the pecans to coat well, and continue to toss until they get glossy and darken.  Be careful to not let them cook too much – the only tricky part of this is making to sure to watch in the last few minutes so they don’t burn.

Remove from heat and turn out onto a plate.  As they cool they will harden and add some seriously good crunch to your salad.

Feel free to experiment with the sweetening agent – I have had just as good luck with using maple syrup, agave syrup or even brown sugar.  When I am looking for a spicier finish I also sprinkle with cayenne pepper while they are cooking.

Creamy Chocolate Pudding

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Easily as quick and simple as a package, and no preservatives! 

6 tbsp cornstarch

3 cups milk

4 tbsp cocoa powder

1 cup icing sugar

1/2 cup butter

Combine cornstarch, cocoa powder and icing sugar- mix well.  Stir in milk.

Stir dry ingredients together and whisk in milk.  Cook over medium heat until mixture comes to a gentle boil and continue to boil – stirring so it doesn’t stick or boil over.  When it has thickened a bit, remove from heat and stir in the butter until melted. 

Easily adapted to the microwave – combine dry ingredients and whisk in milk – heat on high power stirring every couple of moments until it boils and thickens – remove from microwave and stir in butter.

Chinese 5 spice Chicken

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serve with chinese noodles for a quick dinner

serve with chinese noodles for a quick dinner

3 lbs chicken pieces

1/3 cup dark soy sauce

2 tbsp honey

1 tsp 5 spice powder

3 crushed garlic cloves

1 tbsp minced ginger

2 tbsp sesame oil

Put chicken in ziplock bag or container with a tight seal.  Combine the rest of the ingredients, mix well and pour over chicken.  Refridgerate – the longer the better.  (In a pinch I have just thrown it all together and roasted – still fabulous!)

Arrange in a single layer in a roasting dish and roast at 350 for 30 minutes – turn over and roast for a further 30 minutes, basting.

This recipe is for chicken pieces – with skin, and on the bone.  If you are using boneless/skinless chicken the cooking time will be much less.

Four Star Focaccia

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I would give it 5 stars, but I am well known for being humble ….

hot focaccia with fresh rosemary, carmelized red onions, garlic slices - topped with maldon sea salt and freshly cracked pepper

hot focaccia with fresh rosemary, carmelized red onions, garlic slices – topped with maldon sea salt and freshly cracked pepper

  • 2 tsp rapid rising dry yeast
  • 1 cup warm water
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • 3 1/2 cups flour
  • 1 tbsp coarse salt
  • 1/4 cup olive oil

This recipe is designed for a standing mixer – but you can easily adapt it to do by hand.

Warm the bowl of your standing mixer by letting it sit filled with warm water for a few minutes.  Drain, put in the 1 cup warm water, add 2 tbsp sugar, stir well and add in the yeast.  Give a light stir and let sit for at least 3 minutes, until you see the yeast starting to foam.  Turn on the stand mixer – low setting, and dissolve the salt in a cup with 2 tbsp hot water – when dissolved add to yeast mixture with the olive oil.  Gradually – in a steady but slow stream – add the flour.  Start with 3 1/2 cups of flour, and add a wee bit more if it is too sticky.  Once the dough is holding together, turn the mixer up to medium and allow it to knead for 10 minutes.

Turn onto a lightly floured surface and hand knead it a few times, until you have a smooth, soft, pliable dough.  Grease a bowl lightly, turn the dough to coat and allow to rise in a warm place – covered with a damp tea towel or saran.  When it has doubled in size (aprox 45 minutes) turn onto a clean surface and stretch it lightly to be about 1/2 in thick and an oblong shape.  Allow to rest for a few minutes, and then put that on to an oiled baking sheet (I like clay).  Cover with saran and allow to rest for 15 minutes.

Give the dough a gentle massage with good quality olive oil, and with your fingertips gently press indentations in the surface, then cover with seasonings to complement the rest of your meal:

fresh rosemary

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carmelized red onions

fresh herbs

parmesan cheese

Then sprinkle with freshly ground pepper and large flake salt.

For this batch I doubled the recipe, and stretched it to be about 3/4-1 inch high before allowing it to rest. 

Bake at 400 for around 15-20 minutes.

This makes the best focaccia I have ever had – the dough is a fantastic texture, and gets so nice and crispy on the outside with the olive oil coating.  Use your imagination with toppings, and it will soon be a hit in your house too.  So easy to make!

Ready for the oven – this one is to go with Cacio el Pepe pasta tonight …. it is studded throughout with green onions and fresh Kampot pepper, then dusted with more green onions, feta, tomatoes and fresh cracked Kampot pepper.

Mac N Cheese

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I have been making lasagne without pre boiling my pasta noodles for years now, so why did it take so long to try it with elbow macaroni?  Not sure, but I will always do it that way now!  Give this a try and let me know what you think.  

Mac n Cheese

1/2 cup unsalted butter, divided

1/4 cup flour

3 cups milk

1 tbsp kosher salt

1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

1 tbsp dijon mustard

1 lb (450 gms) elbow macaroni

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided

2 garlic cloves, chopped

1 cup panko or home made bread crumbs

2 tbsp chopped flat leaf parsley

Preheat oven to 400.  Melt 1/4 cup butter in large saucepan over medium high heat.  Add flour, and mustard,  cook, whisking constantly for 1 minute to allow the flour and butter to brown slightly.  Slowly whisk in milk until you have a smooth consistency.  Add 3 cups water and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat to a simmer and cook, whisking often until you have a thin but glossy sauce. (around 10 min)  Stir in 1 tbsp kosher salt and 1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper.

Toss dry, uncooked pasta with 1 1/2 cups grated cheese and put in 13 x 9 x 2″ baking dish.  Pour sauce over – do not stir – and cover with foil.  Bake for at least 20 minutes – check to see if the pasta is almost cooked through.

Melt 1/4 cup butter in fry pan, stir in garlic – saute lightly and toss with bread crumbs and panko until lightly browned.

Sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup of cheese over pasta, then top with bread crumb/garlic mixture.  Return to the oven for another 10 minutes or so until top is bubbling and golden brown.

This is the basic recipe – I’m pretty sure you won’t be pre-cooking your pasta before baking your own mac and cheese again!

Tonight’s version of this included:

aged white cheddar cheese and smoked gouda cheese

cubed cooked chicken

diced roasted red pepper

capers

whole grape tomatoes

The whole family loved it, and you can adapt this very easily to any leftovers or cravings in your household.  

Fancy Fudge Sauce

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We have been using this same recipe for our warm fudge sauce for years, and the girls (all 5 of them) call it fancy … they love it, and we have used it on everything!  I am sure it will also become a favourite in your house too!

2/3 cup white sugar

1/2 cup cocoa powder

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup butter

1 tsp vanilla

Whisk sugar and cocoa, gradually adding in water.  Stir over medium high heat until mixture comes to a full boil, then gently boil for a few minutes until slightly thickened.  Remove from heat and stir in butter and vanilla.

For microwave:  Heat sugar, cocoa and water in microwave safe bowl on high until mixture comes to a boil.  Stir well and microwave on medium for 4-5 minutes, stirring every 2 minutes.  Remove from heat and stir in butter and vanilla.

This sauce stays soft when poured over ice cream – to have it hot just gently warm it up before using.  Keeps well in the fridge (if you can make it last!).

Best Brownies

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It seems hard to believe, but my oldest daughter is 33 years old now, and this brownie recipe is from the girl’s elementary school cookbook … still our favourite!

a pint sized helper is only going to make these brownies taste better

1/2 cup plus 2 tbsp butter

1 cup white sugar

6 tbsp cocoa powder

3/4 cup flour

1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In medium saucepan, melt the butter and cocoa.  Remove from heat, stir in sugar.  Blend in eggs, one at a time, mixing well after eat.  Add vanilla, flour and nuts.  Stir well.  Spread into a greased 8 x 8 x 2 pan.

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.  Be careful not to overbake. Remove from heat as soon as a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean and the brownies are starting to pull away from the edges of the baking pan.

If you want an extra hit of chocolatey goodness, as soon as it comes out of the oven sprinkle a generous layer of chocolate chips over and allow to sit long enough for the chips to melt …. spread and smooth with a knife or offset spatula.  Allow to cool slightly and cut up – they won’t last long!  In order to turn this into dessert, serve warm with ice cream, and my Fancy Fudge Sauce drizzled over top.

p.s.  did I mention how easy clean up is with only the one pot to wash???