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!

Baking Powder Biscuits

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Okay, here they are – by popular demand … my fantastic baking powder biscuits.  

Once you get this down pat you will rely on these biscuits for anything from a summer morning with fresh peach jam or a winter evening served with a family favourite – chili, soup, stew … every household has their own comfort dinner!

2 cups flour

1 tsp salt

1 tbsp sugar

4 tsp baking powder

Stir to blend and then with pastry blender, or 2 forks, blend in 1/2 cup cold butter (my tip: freeze the butter for 15 min ahead of time, and use the large holes on a box grater to grate the butter – instant flakes of butter)

Lightly beat 1 egg in a 1 cup measure, then stir in enough milk to reach the 1 cup mark.

With a fork, stir the egg/milk mixture into the dry ingredients – only enough to have it start to hold together.  Turn onto floured surface and … oh so gently … without overmixing … pat it together, and then into a solid shape, about 1 inch or so in height.  Using floured biscuit cutter (or your favorite glass) cut out shapes and place on floured baking sheet.

These are so flexible – if you want to add any herbs, or cheese – do so at the dry ingredient stage.  Go ahead and experiment – makes these your own family favorite!

To guarantee extra tall, fluffy biscuits, pop them into the fridge or freezer for a few minutes.  The combination of hot oven and cold butter creates magic!

Bake at 400 for 15 – 20 minutes (depending on your oven – check it at 15) until lightly golden and very fluffy!  Image

Citrus Marinated Chicken

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Chicken thighs that have been marinated for at least 24 hours are perfect for grilling

6-8 chicken thighs

1 generous tbsp dijon mustard

2 garlic cloves, minced

1/2 lemon, sliced

1/2 lime, sliced

1 tbsp freshly chopped herbs, i.e, basil, rosemary, parsley – experiment…

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

2 tbsp olive oil

Put all marinade ingredients in ziplock bag and give it a good squish.  Once all ingredients are smooth, add the chicken and marinate – the longer the better.

Grill and enjoy!  Serve with freshly sliced lemon/lime and chives.

Perfect with Orzo Greek Pasta

Orzo Greek Pasta

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I think all pasta recipes are really just a starting point …. I felt like a greek inspired pasta dish tonight so it was off to my favorite deli.

good quality olive oil (I prefer unfiltered)

2 cups raw dried orzo pasta

1/2 cup diced fire roasted tomatoes (canned is fine if they are really good quality)

1/2 cup crumbled feta

1/2 cup sliced kalamata olives

1/2 cup diced canned artichokes

While the pasta is cooking, prepare the tomatoes, feta, olives, and artichokes.  Drain the pasta, (reserving a bit of the cooking liquid in case the pasta needs it later).

Once pasta is cooked, toss with remaining ingredients and finish with:

freshly chopped chives, freshly minced basil leaves, a generous splash of olive oil, and salt and pepper  (if you like lemon give it a generous squeeze now also)

Serve with citrus marinated chicken, grilled eggplant and maybe even some roasted fennel for a mouth watering, but quick and easy dinner.

Toss well, taste and adjust seasonings.Image

Marvelous Muffins

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These muffins are so moist and delicious – Jean gave me this recipe years ago and I have used it in so many variations … try it yourself!

Yield: 24 regular size muffins

Preheat oven to 400

  • 3 cups flour
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1 cup margarine
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 cups mashed fruit
  • 2 tsp soda in 2 tbsp very hot water
  • 1 tsp vanilla

Combine flour and sugar, then using pastry blender cut margarine into dry ingredients.

Add beaten eggs to mashed fruit, soda/water mixture and vanilla.  Stir until well combined.

Gently toss wet with dry ingredients, taking care not to over mix.

Bake in greased muffin tins for 15-20 minutes, just until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

You can use any combination and variety of fruits here and they always turn out well.  Use your imagination with toppings also – sprinkle sugar/cinnamon over top before baking or give them a streusel topping!

Mexico Jan Feb 2012

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We had a fantastic time with Hayley, Mike and Baby Sloan in Mexico!  Such good travel buddies …  A couple of days in Mexico city, then down to the beach at San Augustinillo for almost a week – then it was 1200 km in a little car … inland to many amazing sites – we loved it and made so many amazing memories.  

Spicy Sticky Back Ribs

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These ribs might take a little extra time but I guarantee that you won’t find tastier ribs anywhere – and they are certainly worth the effort. 

Make sure to serve with plenty of napkins and additional barbecue sauce for dipping.

RUB

  • 1 cup dark brown sugar
  • 3 tbsp kosher salt
  • 1 tbsp dry mustard
  • 1 tbsp ground fennel
  • 1 tbsp freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 tbsp cayenne pepper
  • 1 tbsp sweet smoked paprika

BBQ SAUCE

  • 1 tbsp butter
  • 1 small onion, minced
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 1/2 tsp dried thyme
  • 1 cup ketchup
  • 1/2 cup – 3/4 cup cider vinegar
  • 2 tbsp molasses
  • 1 can or bottle beer
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 1/4 cup hot sauce
  • zest of lemon or lime
  • 4 tbsp maple syrup
  • 4 tbsp soya sauce
4 racks pork baby back ribs, membrane removed

In small bowl combine dry ingredents.  On large baking sheet place rub both sides of ribs with dry rub, pressing and patting it in.  Cover with foil and refridgerate overnight.

Preheat the oven to 250 – pour off any liquid on baking sheets, cover ribs tightly with foil and roast for 3 hours, until the meat is tender but not falling off the bone.  Pour off any liquid on baking sheet.

For the bbq sauce:

Melt butter, add onion, garlic and thyme.  Cook over moderate heat until onion has softened.  Add the rest of the ingredients and bring to boil.  Stir well and continue to cook at a moderate heat until sauce has thickened. This does take some time, and will taste better if you allow it to slowly reduce.   Taste and season with salt and pepper.

Broil or grill ribs, continuing to brush barbecue sauce over.

To serve, slice between each rib – mound on serving platter and scatter sliced green onions, lemon and lime wedges.

If you love Mexican cuisine, as we do, then make a few substitutions/additions ….

To the rub:  1 tsp smoked sweet paprika, 1 tsp ancho chile powder & 1 tsp chipotle chili powder

To the BBQ sauce:  2 tbsp of the leftover rub, replace the beer with 1/2 cup of smoky mezcal, and add 2 minced chipotle chiles in adobo sauce (if you can get it add 1 tbsp sour lemon)

Flank Steak

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This has been a family favorite for years!  While it is pretty good with any cut of steak, flank is definitely the best.  Also – if you can’t access a grill ….

you can use the broiler, but – well it just won’t be as fantastic!

  • 1 flank steak
  • 1/2 cup soya sauce
  • 1/4-1/2 cup olive oil (I usually stay with 1/4 cup)
  • 4 1/2 tbsp honey
  • 6 cloves garlic – minced
  • 2 tbsp fresh rosemary (and only fresh will do)
  • 1 1/2 tbsp pepper
  • 1 1/2 tsp salt

Prepare marinade and put in ziplock bag along with the steak.  Seal for a minimum of 2 hours, but really …. overnight is best.  I have also put it in the freezer at this point, and then you always have one ready!

Grill for 5-7 min per side (depending on thickness) for medium rare, and then slice thinly on the diagonal.

Garnish with slivered green onions

Yam Chipotle Chowder

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  • 5 medium yams, peeled and cubed
  • 8 cups chicken or vegetable stock
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 onion, finely diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 1 tbsp chipotle pepper, finely minced
  • 1/2 cup red pepper, finely chopped
  • 1 cup frozen corn kernels
  • 1 tsp adobo sauce (from the chipotle peppers)
  • 1/2 – 1 lime, juice and zest of
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • GARNISH – crispy bacon bits and thinly sliced green onion

Put yams and enough stock to cover in saucepan.  Boil until yams are soft, about 1/2 an hour.

Heat oil in sauce pan, saute onion, garlic, chipotle and red pepper until tender – set aside.

Remove 1 cup of chopped yams and set aside.

Puree the rest of the yams and stock together until smooth  – either with an immersion blender or in a traditional blender – (remembering to leave the lid ajar to let steam escape!).

Return to saucepan, add onion/red pepper mixture, the corn and the cubed yams.

Add juice and zest of lime – start with 1/2 the juice, and season with salt and pepper.

If it is too thick, add a bit more stock.

Nationalist Guacamole

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Named for the colors of the Mexican flag – white, red and green!

  • 2 large onions, peeled & finely chopped
  • 15 oz FRESH lemon juice
  • 4 large avocados
  • 4 oz fresh cilantro
  • 3 oz serrano chilies, deseeded, deveined & chopped
  • salt & freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 oz fresh pomegranate seeds
  • 2 oz ricotta or feta cheese, crumbled

Marinate the onion in the lemon juice for 30 minutes, then drain and set aside.  (I usually use the lemon/onion juice for something else….) Mash the avocado, add cilantro, marinated onion, 1/2 the pomegranate seeds and serrano chilies. Season with salt and pepper.

Arrange in bowl with scattered pomegranate seeds and crumbled cheese on top.