Category Archives: Recipes

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

sliced garlicP1100268

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???

Honey Mustard Chicken

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I love using chicken thighs (either boneless, skinless or bone in, skin on!!)  for this – they are so full of flavour – and don’t take very long to cook!

Garnish with thinly sliced spring onions for a bit of color

12-14 small chicken thighs (bone in tastes great, but boneless if you prefer)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

  • 3 tbsp melted butter
  • 3 tbsp honey
  • 2 tbsp each:  dijon mustard and grainy mustard
  • 1 tbsp yellow deli mustard
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • zest and juice of 1/2 lemon
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Place chicken in baking dish, and combine the rest of the ingredients in small bowl.  Stir well and drizzle over chicken – rubbing and turning the chicken to coat well.  Finish with bone (or under side) up.  Roast for 20 minutes, turn chicken and roast for a further 20 minutes, basting with the honey mustard mixture again for the last 10 minutes.  Depending on the size of the chicken thighs, they might take longer to cook.  It is important for them to cook long enough to get this delicious bit of carmelization on the chicken – yum yum yum.

If you have used skinless, the chicken will still get a nice roasted, browned finish to it, but if you have kept the skin on, it will be irresistible!!

Hand made Gnocchi

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These delightful little mini pillows of deliciousness are so fluffy and simple to make – easily ready to become your new favorite recipe!!

Bake 3 russet potatoes until tender all the way through and allow to rest until cool enough to handle.

When cool enough either put them through a potato ricer, or grate them into a large bowl.  Add 1/2 tsp sea salt and 1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper and toss lightly with 1 3/4 cups flour and a grating of fresh nutmeg. (don’t worry if you don’t have fresh nutmeg – use 1/8 tsp of ground)

Lightly beat 2 eggs with 2 tbsp olive oil, and then stir into flour/potato mixture.  Mix gently until all is blended, and knead in another 1/2 cup flour.  Your dough should be soft and supple, easy to work with and not too sticky.

If you have trouble either way – just add either a bit more flour if it is too sticky, or a bit of oil if it is too dry.

Divide this mixture into 4 balls.  Roll each ball into a long skinny rope (snake if kids are helping!). Cut along length into pieces about 3/4 in each.  Dust lightly with flour.

Keep a bit of flour handy – continue dusting your hand with it so the gnocchi doesn’t stick.  Take a fork, and dust it with flour.  Turn it upside down in your hand and roll the gnocchi down the tines of the fork.  Set aside until ready to cook.

When you have all the gnocchi rolled out – and remember that they don’t need to look perfect – you are ready to cook them.

Hand made gnocchi – they don’t have to be perfect – just delicious any shape you get – neither Joe Bastianich or Mario Batali are going to criticize your form!!

Boil a HUGE pot of water – when it comes to a boil toss in a generous amount of salt.

At this point drop the gnocchi in the boiling water – it will return to the top when it is ready – let it bounce around for a moment and you are ready.

Really the gnocchi is great to eat just as is – toss it with melted butter, sprinkle with salt and pepper – delish.

HOWEVER …. if you really want to kick it up a level:

In a heavy bottom pan (like cast iron) heat 1 tbsp each butter and olive oil – stir the white parts of 2 leeks, and 2 garlic cloves until just tender.  When the pot is really hot, push the leek mixture to one side, and drop the just boiled gnocchi onto the hot pan in small batches.  As they crisp up push them over into the leek mixture and toss in the pan – using your hot spot to continue crisping up small batches of the gnocchi.  Sprinkle with fresh herbs, salt and pepper and I guarantee you will love it!