Tis 1am and Im doing a blog.. this is new! haha.
Tomorrow I have a Halloween party to go to and Im sooo excited Plus I get to teach my friend ashley how to make this spinach dip =D. So since I am doing that I thought I would also share the recipe with everyone else!.
Ooookay! here we go!.
you will need:
2pkgs fresh spinach chopped
2 cloves of garlic minced
3 green onions sliced thinly
1 pkg softened cream cheese
1 red pepper finely diced.
1 small block of cheddar cheese grated
2 dashes of hot sauce
1 dash of Worcestershire sauce
a small tbsp of Italian seasoning.
tbsp of butter
Heat your oven to 400
Saute the spinach, garlic,onion, and peppers until softened in the butter. Mix cream cheese, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and Italian seasoning until creamy and well combined then add your veggie mix. Put mixture in an oven safe dish and top with the shredded cheese. Cook 10-15 mins or until bubbly and golden & Serve with your favorite veggies crackers or chips!.
Friday, 28 October 2011
Tuesday, 25 October 2011
Turkey & rice soup.
Well were after thanks-giving, & some of us might have some left over frozen turkey and some carrots, onion & celery in our pantries and fridges. So what better to have on a chilly night then soup?? This is what Im having for dinner tonight. Turkey & rice soup.
What you will need:
Turkey left overs (white or dark, or both, which ever you prefer!) use as much or as little turkey u would like.
1 1/2 boxes of chicken or turkey stock. (ill be using homemade turkey stock)
1 clove of minced garlic
1 onion chopped medium dice
2 celery stalks chopped medium dice
2 small or 1 large carrot cubed.
salt & pepper to taste
2 bay leafs
1 cup pre-cooked rice.
Satee the garlic,onion,celery, and carrot until they have a fragrance and then add your turkey, stock, bay leafs, rice, and seasoning. Cook until carrots are fork tender & serve!
What you will need:
Turkey left overs (white or dark, or both, which ever you prefer!) use as much or as little turkey u would like.
1 1/2 boxes of chicken or turkey stock. (ill be using homemade turkey stock)
1 clove of minced garlic
1 onion chopped medium dice
2 celery stalks chopped medium dice
2 small or 1 large carrot cubed.
salt & pepper to taste
2 bay leafs
1 cup pre-cooked rice.
Satee the garlic,onion,celery, and carrot until they have a fragrance and then add your turkey, stock, bay leafs, rice, and seasoning. Cook until carrots are fork tender & serve!
Saturday, 22 October 2011
Mini short cakes!
Happy weekend everyone!!! Hope everybody is getting into the Halloween spirit :), I love love love this time of year, light rain showers, thanksgiving, leaves are changing, an we get to pick out a costume!!! soo exciting!
I know this doesnt apply to my title but i was super excited and wanted to share my excited-ness with you all!.
So tomorrow my family and I are doing our own little turkey dinner. Homemade stuffing, turkey, veggies, gravy & certainly the desert! which I am making Strawberry shortcakes for =) Yummmm. Its like the taste of summer in a different season =P.
So to me a strawberry shortcake isnt a short cake without it being biscuit like. Dense, but sweet and airy with that sweet ruby red strawberry sauce dripping over the edges & a nice tall dollop of sweet whiped cream.. *homer drools* =O*** haha.
Here we go!
2 Cups flour
1 tbsp baking powder
3 tbsp sugar
1 stick of cold butter
2/3 to 3/4 cups of milk
Add the liquid until the dough its moist and holds together.
Gently roll out and cut your desired shapes. If you want to be creative for your sweet hearts<3 You can use a cookie cutter in the shape of their favorite things!
Bake at 425 for 10-15 mins. Let cool, split, and top with your favorite whiped cream & strawberry sauce!.
Strawberry sauce.
1-2 pints of fresh strawberries cut
2 tbsp of sugar
let sit in the fridge for a couple of hours to allow the strawberries to soften
Whiped cream.
1 small cont. heavy cream
splash of vanilla ext.
3 tbsp sugar.
whip until it forms soft or stiff peaks (when you pull the whisk up and it holds its shape)
I know this doesnt apply to my title but i was super excited and wanted to share my excited-ness with you all!.
So tomorrow my family and I are doing our own little turkey dinner. Homemade stuffing, turkey, veggies, gravy & certainly the desert! which I am making Strawberry shortcakes for =) Yummmm. Its like the taste of summer in a different season =P.
So to me a strawberry shortcake isnt a short cake without it being biscuit like. Dense, but sweet and airy with that sweet ruby red strawberry sauce dripping over the edges & a nice tall dollop of sweet whiped cream.. *homer drools* =O*** haha.
Here we go!
2 Cups flour
1 tbsp baking powder
3 tbsp sugar
1 stick of cold butter
2/3 to 3/4 cups of milk
Add the liquid until the dough its moist and holds together.
Gently roll out and cut your desired shapes. If you want to be creative for your sweet hearts<3 You can use a cookie cutter in the shape of their favorite things!
Bake at 425 for 10-15 mins. Let cool, split, and top with your favorite whiped cream & strawberry sauce!.
Strawberry sauce.
1-2 pints of fresh strawberries cut
2 tbsp of sugar
let sit in the fridge for a couple of hours to allow the strawberries to soften
Whiped cream.
1 small cont. heavy cream
splash of vanilla ext.
3 tbsp sugar.
whip until it forms soft or stiff peaks (when you pull the whisk up and it holds its shape)
Sunday, 16 October 2011
Scalloped potatoes.
These are a family favorite and my mom use to make them all the time when my brother and I were growing up.
This recipe is a short version of the long way to make it which is sauteing onions in butter until translucent then making a roux and them making a bechamel out of that. This is easy and can be made any night of the week.
3/4 bag of starchy potatoes peeled and thinly sliced.
sprinkling of chives
1/4 cup of melted butter
1 large white onion sliced
Sprinkling of corn starch
Enough milk to fill an inch way up of the pan you use.
S&P to taste
Cook at 400 for 1 hour.
This recipe is a short version of the long way to make it which is sauteing onions in butter until translucent then making a roux and them making a bechamel out of that. This is easy and can be made any night of the week.
3/4 bag of starchy potatoes peeled and thinly sliced.
sprinkling of chives
1/4 cup of melted butter
1 large white onion sliced
Sprinkling of corn starch
Enough milk to fill an inch way up of the pan you use.
S&P to taste
Cook at 400 for 1 hour.
Chicken Cordon Bleu.
So I know chicken cordon bleu is chicken breasts stuffed with ham and swiss cheese & you bread it .Well instead of chicken breasts I used boneless skinless chicken thighs, and some people like to make a white sauce to drizzle over top, well I used tomato sauce and with the remaining swiss I placed it on top to brown.
8 boneless skinless chicken thighs (pounded)
8 slices of ham
16 slices of swiss cheese
8 tbsp of your fav. tomato sauce
tooth picks to hold them together.
Pre-heat your oven to 375. Pound out your chicken carefully remembering it has to stay in tact. Place your cheese and your ham in the center and roll. Secure with a tooth pick. Top with tomato sauce and bake for 1 hr, and add 1/2 cup of water to the bottom of the pan so it doesn't scorch the bottom of the chicken & cover with tin foil. When there is 15 mins remaining add the remainder of the cheese and cook until it is browned.
Serve with what you would like =)
Apple pie with cranberry.
Here we are again! another pie recipe :).
My family and I went to the cranberry marsh last weekend and we got some fresh cranberries and when we got home my dad froze them so I can use them all year round now =D, or for as long as they want to last haha.
So as a neat sweet n sour spin I added some of the frozen cranberries to the pie filling.
ENJOY!
2 heaping tablespoons of Corn starch (so it tightens the liquids)
Roll out your bottom crust and place it in the pan. (do not cut excess dough off ). Place your filling into the crust, then roll out your top crust & place it on the filling. Once the top crust is on cut the bottom crust so it is even all around but not right to the rim of the pie plate. Start folding or rolling the crust around the pie connecting the top and bottom together so it looks like a frame around your pie!. Make slits on the top of your pie for steam to escape. Brush with egg wash (1 egg and a splash of water) and sprinkle with sugar before placing in the oven.
Bake at 350 for 50 mins.
My family and I went to the cranberry marsh last weekend and we got some fresh cranberries and when we got home my dad froze them so I can use them all year round now =D, or for as long as they want to last haha.
So as a neat sweet n sour spin I added some of the frozen cranberries to the pie filling.
ENJOY!
Pie crust recipe:
2 cups all purpose flour
Pinch of salt
Splash of vinegar
1 tbsp sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 cup cold butter, lard, or shortening.
enough ice water to make the dough come together. (eye ball it. not so much to make it sticky, and not so little to make it dry.)
Apple Pie filling:
6-8 apples pealed, cored, and wedged.
1tbsp cinnamon
1 pinch of nut meg
1 cup of frozen or thawed cranberries
1 1/2 cups dark brown sugar.
Roll out your bottom crust and place it in the pan. (do not cut excess dough off ). Place your filling into the crust, then roll out your top crust & place it on the filling. Once the top crust is on cut the bottom crust so it is even all around but not right to the rim of the pie plate. Start folding or rolling the crust around the pie connecting the top and bottom together so it looks like a frame around your pie!. Make slits on the top of your pie for steam to escape. Brush with egg wash (1 egg and a splash of water) and sprinkle with sugar before placing in the oven.
Bake at 350 for 50 mins.
Thursday, 13 October 2011
Funky colored vanilla cupcakes with Chocolate frosting.
Heyy there everyone!! So ive got a sweet tooth and i bought a bunch of baking things this week. and thought I would make some Crazy colored vanilla cupcakes with chocolate frosting :)
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup butter
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 3/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 cup milk
In a medium bowl, cream together the sugar and butter. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Combine flour and baking powder, add to the creamed mixture and mix well. Finally stir in the milk until batter is smooth & add your desired coloring :). Pour or spoon batter into the prepared pan & bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Or until a tooth pick comes out of the center clean.
pre-heat your oven to 350 & line your muffin pans with your cupcake liners!
Chocolate frosting:
1/2 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
3 cups powdered sugar
3 tablespoons cocoa powder
4 tablespoons heavy cream
1 teaspoon vanilla
Have fun with these !! :D
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup butter
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 3/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 cup milk
In a medium bowl, cream together the sugar and butter. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Combine flour and baking powder, add to the creamed mixture and mix well. Finally stir in the milk until batter is smooth & add your desired coloring :). Pour or spoon batter into the prepared pan & bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Or until a tooth pick comes out of the center clean.
pre-heat your oven to 350 & line your muffin pans with your cupcake liners!
Chocolate frosting:
1/2 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
3 cups powdered sugar
3 tablespoons cocoa powder
4 tablespoons heavy cream
1 teaspoon vanilla
Have fun with these !! :D
Tuesday, 11 October 2011
Happy belated turkey day everyone!! && Pumpkin Pie bread
So I neglected my blog for a few days due to the fact that I was quite busy making Pumpkin Pie bread! but I'm back and ready to give you guys the recipe :).
Thursday, 6 October 2011
EXCITING NEWS!!!!
Well a couple days ago I was informed that I will be doing a wedding cake & late night feast for my friend Stephanie's wedding!! Soo unbelievably excited! Details need to be worked out but I am honored to do this for her!! Its going to be AMMAAAZZZINNNGGGG!!!
The rest of the dets will come later.
The rest of the dets will come later.
Wednesday, 5 October 2011
Spaghetti & Meat balls!
This has got to be my All time favorite food! home made meat balls.. homemade sauce...& if i had the attachment for my kitchen aid.. homemade pasta!! *homer drools....* haha..
My ultimate comfort food and the first thing I learned how to make.
I use to come home from elementary school and ask what was for dinner & hope my mom would say Spaghetti!. I swear I could have this meal everyday for the rest of my life even when were out to dinner if they have spaghetti on the menu.. thats my dinner of choice.. It's interesting to see how everyone makes it because everyone has a different version..
Heres mine =D.
Spaghetti Sauce.
2 cans of tomatoes (+1/2 can rinced with water)
1 diced green bell pepper
1 small can of tomato paste
1 lb ground beef (can omit for vegetarian)
1 container of fresh sliced mushrooms
2 small onions
3 cloves garlic minced.
2 stalks of celery diced
2 bay leaves
dash of sugar (helps with acidity)
Salt & pepper to taste.
Saute everything until tender & cooked. and then add the liquids, herbs and spices.
Simmer for an hour.
Meat balls
1 lb hamburger
1 small onion minced
1 egg
enough bred crumbs to bind
dash of salt and pepper.
Roll & Cook in the oven at 375 for 30 mins
Monday, 3 October 2011
braised tomato chicken
So since my last two posts were baked goods I thought Id mix it up and do "whats for dinner tonight".
Its a rainy day a bit chilly, very gloomy but I don't mind! just means time to break out the comfort food. WOOP!.
For dinner tonight I thought I would make something with chicken.. and I saw in my cupboard that i had a can of stewed tomatoes, onions, and some garlic..so what better then those 4 ingredients?? My take on a lighter Chicken Parmesan but not cheese, heavy breading and the thick tomato sauce... Though don't get me wrong... chicken Parmesan is friggin AMAZING but sometimes the littlest things can make a BIG impact!.
This is a great meal for the slow cooker also.prepare it the night before and throw it on before work or a hectic day and by the time dinner rolls around all you have to do is figure out with you want to have with it!.
I have some left over carrots and sweet potatoes from last nights dinner so that's what im serving with mine.
Anyways... enough of me blabbering haha heres the recipe
(Feeds 4)
4 large bone in skinless chicken breasts (bone in adds flavor, keeps the meat moist)
1 can of stewed tomatoes
1 small onion chopped and sauteed
1 garlic clove minced and sauteed with the onion
1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp sugar (takes away the harsh acidity of the tomatoes)
salt & pepper to taste.
if you have white wine add a splash ! you can still feed this to your children, the alcohol evaporates and just leaves the taste.
cook at 350 for 1.5 hrs & serve with your choice of side dish
Sunday, 2 October 2011
Cherry Pie
So for my first post I thought I would spice up a cherry pie.
I didn't have enough money to buy the ingredients for homemade cherry filling but i have a couple things around the house that I am going to use to spice up the store bought mix and make it my own :).
First things first. PIE CRUST.
Making this use to intimidate me so much that I wouldn't even attempt it so I would have to wait until the holidays to have homemade pie. But since school and numerous attempts at failed crusts I believe I have came up with a great recipe!
When i make dough I use a kitchen aid mixer, I find its easier to use and quicker. some people use a food processor with the blade, and others still use the "old-school" way and mix by hand. every way works well. But I have one thing I can't stress enough when it comes to making it by hand.. Do not mix the dough like your needing it, just mix it enough to incorporate everything until it becomes a loose ball. Once it has done that then flip it out on a clean counter or cutting board and form it into a ball, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for an hour or until firm.
Pie crust recipe:
2 cups all purpose flour
Pinch of salt
Splash of vinegar
1 tbsp sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 cup cold butter, lard, or shortening.
enough ice water to make the dough come together. (eye ball it. not so much to make it sticky, and not so little to make it dry.)
Pie Filling:
1 can of cherry pie filling
1 tsp of cinnamon
1/2 tsp zest of a lemon.
Once you dough is chilled, separate it into two (one for top, one for bottom) Make the bottom half slightly bigger & pound it out with your rolling pin in a perfect circle, this will help you keep the round shape. Roll until your desired crust thickness & place into your pie dish. Add your pie filling and then roll your top out, or get creative with the top!, remember people first eat with their eyes then their mouths. Brush the top of your pie with a bit of egg wash (1 egg and a splash of water) and sprinkle with a bit of white sugar.
Pre-heat your oven to 375. & bake for 50-60 mins or until golden and the bottom crust looks golden on the bottom.
I didn't have enough money to buy the ingredients for homemade cherry filling but i have a couple things around the house that I am going to use to spice up the store bought mix and make it my own :).
First things first. PIE CRUST.
Making this use to intimidate me so much that I wouldn't even attempt it so I would have to wait until the holidays to have homemade pie. But since school and numerous attempts at failed crusts I believe I have came up with a great recipe!
When i make dough I use a kitchen aid mixer, I find its easier to use and quicker. some people use a food processor with the blade, and others still use the "old-school" way and mix by hand. every way works well. But I have one thing I can't stress enough when it comes to making it by hand.. Do not mix the dough like your needing it, just mix it enough to incorporate everything until it becomes a loose ball. Once it has done that then flip it out on a clean counter or cutting board and form it into a ball, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for an hour or until firm.
Pie crust recipe:
2 cups all purpose flour
Pinch of salt
Splash of vinegar
1 tbsp sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 cup cold butter, lard, or shortening.
enough ice water to make the dough come together. (eye ball it. not so much to make it sticky, and not so little to make it dry.)
Pie Filling:
1 can of cherry pie filling
1 tsp of cinnamon
1/2 tsp zest of a lemon.
Once you dough is chilled, separate it into two (one for top, one for bottom) Make the bottom half slightly bigger & pound it out with your rolling pin in a perfect circle, this will help you keep the round shape. Roll until your desired crust thickness & place into your pie dish. Add your pie filling and then roll your top out, or get creative with the top!, remember people first eat with their eyes then their mouths. Brush the top of your pie with a bit of egg wash (1 egg and a splash of water) and sprinkle with a bit of white sugar.
Pre-heat your oven to 375. & bake for 50-60 mins or until golden and the bottom crust looks golden on the bottom.
Introduction!!
Well let me just start off with saying “hello” =). This is my first blog and I’ve decided to make it about food. Im an apprentice cook for now, working towards my Redseal. It seems to be alot harder then I thought, but honestly I wouldnt trade anything for the world! the people I’ve met (teachers, fellow classmates, former bosses, & employees), the events I’ve been involved in, the mistakes that have happened (some good, some bad) have all been a part of my life for a reason and will better my career along the way. I still have alot to learn but right now I have a lot of ideas, alot of thoughts, and alot of passion for this subject that I hope will inspire you to unleash your inner Chef. Some of you may be a “Gordon ramsey” or a “Julia Child”. I feel like I am a Julia shes serious when needed but fun and experimental.
My personal motto i go by is “its better to be a child in the kitchen and make a few mistakes, then to be an ass and make a fool of yourself.”
This is all I have to say for now, but stay tuned!
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