Grilled Cheese With Shallots

Ingredients :2 large shallots3 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided1/2 teaspoon thyme leavesSalt, pepper2 slices country white bread, sliced 1/2 -inch thick5 ounces Cantal cheese, sliced 1/8-inch thickHow To Prepare:1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.2. Cut the shallots in half lengthwise and peel them. Place the shallots cut-side down. Slice lengthwise into about one-eighth-inch wedges. In a small...

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The Ultimate Paella

 Ingredients :•    Spice Mix for chicken, recipe follows•    1 (3-pound) frying chicken, cut into 10 pieces•    1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil•    2 Spanish chorizo sausages, thickly sliced•    Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper•    1 Spanish onion, diced•    4 garlic cloves, crushed•   ...

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Lobster Egg Stuffed

Ingredients :•    1 whole lobster, about 1 1/2 pounds•    1 dozen eggs, hard boiled•    4 tablespoons mayonnaise•    2 teaspoons white wine vinegar•    1/2 teaspoon ground mustard•    1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh chives•    Pinch celery salt•    Salt and freshly ground black pepper•   ...

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Cucumber Pasta Salad

Ingredients :•    1 (8 ounce) package bow tie pasta•    1 large cucumber, thinly sliced•    1 large onion, thinly sliced•    1 1/2 teaspoons dried dill•    3/4 cup white vinegar•    1 cup white sugar•    1 cup water•    1 tablespoon vegetable oil•    1 tablespoon prepared...

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Fried Rice - Chinese Cuisine

Ingredients :3 eggs4 cups cooked rice1 green onion2 teaspoons salt1/2 teaspoon MSG (optional)1/2 teaspoon white pepper2 teaspoons sesame oil4 tablespoons vegetable oilHow To Cook :1.Beat the eggs well, add 1/2 teaspoon of salt.2.Finely chop the green onions.3.Break up the rice so it is not all stuck together.4.Heat oil to smoking point, add in the eggs.  Stir until all the eggs solidify.5.Break...

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Apple Glazed Braised Cabbage

Like the Maple Glazed Carrots, here is a recipe that entitles you to add anything you like. It is a variation of a recipe I learned from school that is a good recipe for any novice or prefessional to practice. It is cheap, tasty and easy. And it also allows you to practice your braising abilities. Apple Glazed Braised Cabbage 1 Small Red Cabbage, fine jullienne 2 Granny Smith Apples, grated 1 Small...

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Baked Potato Soup

Ingredients : 1 1/2 pounds (2 cups, diced but unpeeled) baking potatoes1/4 pound butter2 cups yellow onion -- diced1/3 cup flour5 cups water1/4 cup low sodium chicken base1 cup instant potato flakes3/4 teaspoon dried basil1/2 teaspoon Tabasco sauce1 cup heavy cream1 cup milksalt -- to tastewhite pepper -- to tasteHow To Prepare : 1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.2. Prick washed potatoes & bake...

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Red Lobster Citrus Glazed

Ingredients : 1 tsp olive oil1 tsp garlic, chopped (1 clove)1/4 cup sweet chili sauce 1/2 cup orange marmalade4 Mahi-Mahi fillets, skinlessSalt and pepper to taste4 orange slices2 cups cooked white rice1/4 cup finely diced cilantro  How To Prepare : 1. In a small saucepan, over medium heat, sauté the olive oil and garlic for 3-5 minutes. 2. Mix in the sweet chili sauce and orange marmalade...

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Sesame Chicken Wings

 Ingredients :36 chicken legs & wings2 teaspoons ground coriander3 tablespoons soy sauce2 cloves garlic3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice1 inch fresh ginger -- peeled2 tablespoons sesame oil1 onion -- quartered2 tablespoons sugar1 teaspoon red pepper flakes1/2 cup sesame seeds (approx.)2 teaspoons saltHow To Prepare :1. Wash the chicken pieces and pat dry. Place in a  bowl. 2.Combine the...

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CHICKEN SOUP FOR A SICK HOUSE

I haven't posted much lately because picky-picky husband and I have had the flu. Not just your every day "better in a week flu", but the old fashioned (don't even get out of your jammies) flu that has plagued us with lethargy and coughs for almost a month. Our meals have been simple and mostly from the crock pot (or frozen food entree aisle) but then we haven't had much of an appetite either. Now...

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Red Lobster Broiled Dill Salmon

Ingredients : 1/2 cup melted butter or olive oil2 tsp. lemon juice1 tsp. salt1 tbsp. fresh dill chopped1/8 tsp. red pepper4 salmon steaks, cut 1 inch thick (about 2 pounds) How To Prepare : 1.Place melted butter, lemon juice, salt, fresh chopped dill and red pepper in small bowl and stir to combine.    2.Preheat broiler.    3.Place salmon steaks on lightly greased pan...

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Homemade Chicken Nuggets

Ingredients: 450g/1lb Chicken breast fillets 30g/1oz plain flour ¼ teaspoon Chicken spice mix (optional or substitute your favourite spice) ¼ teaspoon salt 1 egg 3-4 handfuls of breadcrumbs   Direction: Cut the chicken into bite sized pieces. Get four bowls or plates. The first for the sieved flour with mixed in a pinch of chicken spice, salt and pepper....

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BREAKFAST SAUSAGE

We enjoyed the Italian sausage recipe (that I recently posted) so much, that I went searching for a breakfast sausage recipe and I found an EXCELLENT one. It tastes a little like Jimmy Dean breakfast sausage, although we think it is much better. This new recipe received an enthusiastic thumbs up from my "picky-picky husband" and recent breakfast guests. It is super...

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Secret Wonders of Rice Bran Oil

I have been using sunflower oil,mustard oil and olive oil for all my cooking but recently I have included rice bran oil too. I found  this oil in the reliance fresh store and did a little bit of research. I am amazed by its nutritional benefits and find it hard to ignore. I wanted to share my research on this oil as I am sure we are all too biased by advertising and need to realize...

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SALAD DRESSING CLONE RECIPES

It is BBQ season, that is for sure and what goes better with grilled "anything", than a fresh green salad?!?  I've posted these salad dressings before, however, I've tweaked them again and this time I think they are perfect, well at least that is what picky-picky husband says. Not only are they delicious, but they certainly save a lot of money and I  feel good knowing exactly what is...

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Cinnamon Apple Coffee Cake

Ingredients :1/2 cup packed brown sugar 1/4 cup margarine, softened 2 large egg whites 1/2 cup low-fat (1 percent fat) buttermilk 2 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoons baking soda 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 medium apple, unpeeled, cored and finely chopped How To Prepare : 1.Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. 2.Prepare a 9-inch square baking pan with...

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Creole Sauce

Ingredients :1 tablespoon olive oil1 cup chopped celery1 cup chopped onion1 cup chopped green bell pepper1 cup chopped carrot3 cloves garlic, chopped2 (14.5 ounce) cans whole peeled tomatoes with liquid, chopped2 cups water1 tablespoon chicken bouillon granules1 bay leaves1-1/2 teaspoons red pepper flakes 1-1/2 teaspoons smoked paprika1/2 pinch saffron (optional)1/2 pinch dried oregano, or to taste...

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Beef Rice Italiano

Ingredients:  1 lb ground chuck 1 small onion, chopped 1/2 green pepper, chopped 1 clove garlic, minced 1 (10 3/4 oz) can beef broth, undiluted 1 (14 1/2 oz) can whole tomatoes, undrained and chopped 1 /34 cups instant rice, uncooked How To Cook :Cook first 4 ingredients in a large skillet over medium high heat, stirring constantly, until meat is browned and vegetables are tender; drain. Return...

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A Personal Favourite

Soup is easy. For a restaurant, it's usually leftovers thrown together with a few added ingredients or can be a puree and nobody will know the difference. I take pride in some of my soups because I once had a job where that is what I did for close to a year. This is a specialty of mine that is always a hit and is extremely easy to make. I like to make a vegetable stock and use that as a base. If...

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EASIEST BREAD STICKS EVER !!

If you have a stand mixer, these bread sticks practically make themselves!! Just throw everything in the stand mixer at once, and let it mix for 3 minutes, let it raise for an hour, shape them then let them raise again and bake... that's it!! In the bowl of a stand mixer, put 2/3 cup warm milk 2 tablespoons sugar 2 teaspoons of yeast Stir it up just a little (with a spoon), then add 1 tablespoon...

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Thick and Savory Barbecue Sauce

We have been making barbecue marinades the simple way for as long as I can remember. My grandma, for instance, would not cook barbecue without blending in a lot of Sprite in the mixture,. My sister likes a lot of ketchup and tons of sugar in her version, and I like putting in hot sauce in mine. Whichever we prefer, it always results into something different, as we live a life of approximation This...

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Low Fat Light Spaghetti Salad

Ingredients :•    2 (12 ounce) packages spaghetti•    1 small red onion, finely chopped•    1 red bell pepper, seeded and finely chopped•    1 cucumber, chopped•    1 tomato, chopped•    1 (16 ounce) bottle fat-free Italian salad dressing•    1 (.7 ounce) package dry Italian salad dressing •  ...

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Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups

Ingredients :1 cup semisweet chocolate chips1/4 cup butter1 tablespoon vegetable oil1/4 cup peanut butterHow To Prepare : 1.Coat a small cup muffin tin with cooking spray. In a microwave-safe bowl, microwave chocolate with butter and oil, stirring often,until melted, 1 to 2 minutes. Pour about a tablespoon of the chocolate mixture into each muffin cup.2.Melt peanut butter in microwave, 30 to 40 seconds....

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When You Are In A Curry, Paste Yourself

I am no expert on using curry spices. I did not get formally trained with them nor did I ever work for an Indian or south Asian restaurant. I do know some basics having worked with the many Sri Lankans in Toronto. And so, I often experiment for myself and keep to what I know when serving. Curry refers to a mixture of spices. We here in Canada have our own standard of what we think is curry; typically...

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Give Me A Minute to Abzorba the Greek

Sometimes to make something new, all you need to do is change a known thing ever so slightly. This is the foundation of sauce cookery: taking a mother sauce, changing it up by adding something new and ending up with your own creation. I am a big fan of adding a little protein to a salad. I like the change of textures, contrasting flavours and combining hot and cold. This is nothing new. In fact,...

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SLOW COOKER VEGGIES AU GRATIN

Whether it's too hot too cook indoors, or I'm just having a lazy day, I'm always on the look out for easy side dishes that I can throw into the slow cooker in the morning and enjoy when we grill in the evening or afternoon.  This recipe is one of those versatile ones that you can really put just about any veggies in it your family likes.  Today, I went with small cubed potatoes,...

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The Iconic Black Forest Gateau

Do you want to make someone special to really enjoy a delicious cake.A cake filled with whipped cream and luscious red cherries for that perfect celebration ? Yesterday was my hubbys birthday and I made this cake for him.It was a moment to cherish ... here is a recipe that can make any girl win her man's heart ... Ingredients for the cake 125 gms all purpose flour 150 gms powder...

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EASY BUTTERSCOTCH CANDY BARS

This delicious recipe (posted by Ellen b. over at MGCC) was originally a cookie bar; but you know me, I can't leave a recipe alone, so I doubled the topping ingredients and the end result was almost like a candy bar. I served them at a BBQ, recently, and they were inhaled by kids and adults alike. They are SO easy to make, but a warning here... they are totally addicting!! COOKIE...

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SWEET & STICKY WINGS

This is one of Hubbies all time favorite things to eat. Baked with a soy sauce, brown sugar and pineapple, these are  super simple and always a hit at parties. 2 pounds of chicken wings ½ cup soy sauce ½ cup brown sugar ½ teaspoon black pepper 20 ounce can of pineapple chunks (drained well) Cut the wings into sections, discarding the wing tip (or buy already cut up party wings) and place...

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Me Poppy`s Favorite Salad

This post is a direct result of a request made by the teachers at my children's school. I had prepared for them a small luncheon as their end-of-year gift. Fairly simple really, two salads, a tureen of Vichyssoise and some Nutella Brownies (click on chocolate in my tabs and give it a shot). My salads pretty much change every time I make them because I use whatever I got in arm's reach. I even...

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