Stay Cool

 It's just too hot to do anything. 

I mean I love summer..but this heat is insane.

Sangria  is a great cocktail to beat the heat and takes minutes to make.

It is a Spanish mix of red wine and fruit.

You can vary the fruit you have to what ever you have on hand.
Good choices are oranges, lemons, limes, apples, melons, berries, mangoes , peaches or grapes.

So kick back , take it easy..and stay cool...

Sangria

• 1 bottle of red wine
• 1/2 a bottle of lemon soda water
• 2 cups of fruit juice such as tropical blend
• 1 tbsp of sugar
• 2 oz of brandy or apricot brandy
• 1 cup of cut up fruit of choice 
• ice cubes

In a large pitcher combine in order and stir well.

Chill and serve over ice.

Cheers!

Blame it on the Rain

My herb garden is bigger than I have ever seen it. Guess I can blame all the rain for that. But I don't mind the over abundance of herbs at all , I am just so happy summer is here again.

I've missed being in the garden, barbecuing and dining outside.

Here are two easy recipes that take mere minutes to put together.

The first is a orange infused steak that quietly marinates all afternoon allowing you to tend to the garden.

The other is an easy side dish that throws together easily and cooks without much tending to allowing you to relax on the patio.

You can vary the vegetables and seasoning amounts to suit your taste.

I love easy summer living...lets just hope we stop getting so much rain!

Citrus Pepper Steak

• 1/2 cup of catalina type dressing
• orange juice and zest from 1 orange
• 2 green onions sliced
• 1 tsp cracked peppercorn
• 1 tsp minced garlic
• 2 large beef sirloin steaks

In a bowl mix all ingredients except meat. Reserve half for later.

Place meat in a ziplock bag and pour in half of the dressing.
Seal and rotate and flip bag to mix well.

Place in fridge for at least 2 hours to marinate.

Grill steaks to desired preference.

Slice against the grain and place on platter on arranged  orange slices.

Pour reserved dressing over top.

Roasted Barbecue Vegetable Medley

• 1 pound of small potatoes halved or quartered
• 1/2 pound  baby carrots
• 1/2  red pepper chopped
• 1 cup of radishes sliced
• 1/2 red onion sliced
• 1 cup grape tomatoes
• 1 tbsp each of oregano, basil, chives and parsley (may be dried or fresh)
• 1/2 a cup of olive oil
• 1/4 cup pf balsamic vinegar
• salt and pepper

In a disposable aluminum pan toss everything together until well coated.

Seal with foil and place on top rack of barbecue set medium high until tender. (about half an hour) Mix halfway through.

Cheers!

Spring Fling

Finally after  a really long winter and wet spring Mother Nature made it up to us, by giving us a warm sunny holiday weekend.

Across the  region many people got their patios set up for a season of entertaining.

This dish is a great appetizer for the patio. You can vary the toppings to suit your taste or theme. Such as substituting feta for cheddar for for a Greek twist. You could also add black beans to the topping as well.

Bring it on sun!

Mexican Party Dip

• 1 cup of cream cheese softened
• 1/2 cup of sour cream
• 3/4 cup of salsa
• 1 cup of cheddar grated fine
• 2 green onions sliced
• few black olives and grape tomatoes sliced for garnish

Combine cream cheese and salsa in a bowl. Whip until smooth.

Spread on a small platter.

Top with salsa, cheese and remaining toppings.

Chill until ready to serve.

Serve with tortilla chips or crackers.

Cheers!

One Potato Two Potato...

In case you missed it Tuesday was Pancake Day.

We didn't have time to eat traditional pancakes in the morning so I decided to make a savory variety for dinner.
Potato pancakes are associated with many European countries and are the national dish of Belarus.
I adapted my recipe from one found in my trusty old Betty Crocker cookbook. I added some seasonings to kick them up a bit.
A food processor with the grater attachment is perfect for grating the potatoes quickly.
Make sure you squeeze all the water out of the potatoes after rinsing them.

You can serve these as a side dish with meat or on their own with a dollop of sour cream.
These were a hit in my home and I won't be waiting till next years Pancake Day to make them again.

Savory Potato Pancakes

• 5 medium to large potatoes peeled and shredded
  
• 4 eggs beaten
• 1 small shredded onion
• 1/4 cup of flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp of pepper
• 1 tsp each of thyme and savory (dried leaf type not ground).
  
• butter
  

Shred potatoes and rinse well in a strainer.
Dry well with a clean tea towel.
Squeeze tight to get all the water out.
In a large bowl mix the potatoes, onion, eggs, flour and seasonings.
In a large frying pan melt some butter over medium heat.
Drop large spoonfuls of batter in the pan and flatten with a spatula into a pancake.
Cook until golden on each side.
Keep cooked pancakes warm while cooking the rest.

Cheers!

Escape

I don't know about you but I am ready...
Ready for warm weather, ready to get away from all this snow.
But unfortunately exotic cuisine is about as close as it gets to going somewhere warm this year.

This dish brings us the sunny flavors of Greece. A place I wish I could escape to right now.
Chock full of vegetables this is a nutritional powerhouse. Spinach, tomatoes, olives and garlic are among healthiest foods to eat.
This can be served as a vegetarian entree or as a side dish along side lamb, chicken or fish.

So here's to hoping to add a little Mediterranean sunshine to your winter day!

Greek Pilaf

• ~olive oil
• 1 cup of white rice
• 2 1/2 cups of vegetable broth (chicken may also be used)
  
• 1 tbsp garlic minced
• 1/2 cup of chopped spinach (frozen or fresh)
• 1/4 cup of sliced black olives
• 1/2 cup of halved grape tomatoes
• 1 tbsp oregano
• 1/2 cup of feta cheese
  
• squeeze of lemon

In a pot heat the olive oil.
Add the garlic and saute until soft.
Add the rice and oregano mix well .
Add the broth and bring to a boil .
Reduce heat and add the spinach, tomatoes and olives.
Simmer until rice is tender. (about 20 minutes).
Add the feta and mix through.
Serve with a dash of lemon juice.

Wine Suggestion: Pinto Grigio

Cheers!

Soul Food

Everyone loves the creamy dish Risotto. It is one of the most popular rice dishes.

This is a twist of that dish using barley instead of rice.
The result is a comforting satisfying dish unlike any other I've had.
Perfect after being out on a freezing cold winter day.

Just be sure not to rush the process of adding the broth to the barley. It takes time for the grains to release the starch which makes for the creamy texture.
This risotto can be served as a main course or as a side dish.

Once you tuck into this you will have to agree this is the ultimate comfort food.

Smokey Barley Risotto

• 8 cups of chicken or vegetable broth
  
• 4 slices of bacon diced
• 1/4 cup diced pancetta
• 1 onion diced
• 2 tsp minced garlic
• 1 cup of pearl barley
• 1 tbsp thyme
• 1/2 cup of white wine
• salt and pepper
• fresh parsley
  
• 1 cup of grated Parmesan cheese

Heat the chicken broth over medium heat in a pot.
In a wide sauce pan fry the bacon and pancetta until lightly crisp. Pour off most of the fat.
Add the onion and garlic and cook until soft.
Pour in the barley and stir well for a few minutes to coat every grain until they are lightly toasted.
Pour in the wine and stir quickly as the barley absorbs the wine.
Now begin to add the warm stock 1 cup at a time. Stirring well to make sure all the broth is absorbed by the barley before adding the next cup.
Repeat this process until the barley is tender and creamy. This process takes about 45 minutes.
Taste often to determine the tenderness of the barley.
Add the cheese and herbs and season with salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with the fresh parsley.
Serve immediately.

Wine Suggestion: Chardonnay

Cheers!

Hot Pot

Nothing beats the chill better than a hot bowl of soup.

Soup is economical, easy and very nutritious. It is also a great way to use up leftover meat and vegetables.
Keep your pantry stocked with cans of different types of beans, rice and canned tomatoes, typical staples of soup.
Homemade stock tastes better then canned and has a lot less sodium. Here is my homemade turkey stock recipe.

I gave the traditional turkey soup an ethnic flair by adding the fragrant spices of India.
Like all soups, this tastes even better the next day.

Serve with warm Naan bread.

Curried Indian Style Turkey Soup

• olive oil
• 1 onion diced
• 1 celery rib diced
• 1/2 each red and yellow pepper diced
  
• 2 carrots peeled and sliced
• 1 tbsp garlic minced
• 1 can of lentils
• 1 cup of white rice
• 1 tbsp curry powder
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tbsp garam masala
• 1 tsp coriander
• 8 cups of turkey stock
• 1/2 cup of frozen peas
• 1 to 2 cups of diced turkey meat
• salt and pepper to taste

In a large deep soup pot add some olive oil.
Over medium heat add the onion, garlic, celery, peppers and carrots.
Cook until softened and translucent.
Add the lentils, rice and spices.
Stir until well coated and mixed.
Add the turkey stock and rice.
Bring to a low boil, reduce heat and simmer for 1 to 2 hours until rice is tender and soup is reduced slightly.
Add the peas and turkey during the last half hour of cooking. Season to taste with salt and pepper or more spices.

Ladle into bowls and serve or refrigerate and reheat and serve the next day.

Wine Suggestion: Gewurztraminer

Cheers!

Wrap Up

Well here we are, about to wrap up another year.
I love this season with all the parties and special dinners and I always like to prepare a special meal on New Years Eve and New Years Day.

This is an elegant dish that is perfect for entertaining.
There is a bit of preparation involved but the effort is worth it. This recipe is based on one by Gordon Ramsey which is often prepared on Hell's Kitchen.
Serve with roasted or mashed potatoes and a green vegetable such as baby Brussels sprouts. This dish is sure to impress.

Happy New Year!

Beef Wellington

• 1 1/2 pound beef tenderloin
• 2 cups of cremini mushrooms diced fine
• 4 slices smoked or plain prosciutto (I used both)
• 1 sheet of butter puff pastry rolled out
• 2 beaten egg yolks
• olive oil
  
• Preheat the oven to 400F.
• Heat olive oil in a large pan and quickly sear beef all over until it’s just brown. Remove and allow to cool.
• Roughly chop the mushrooms and blend in a food processor to a puree. Scrape the mixture into the pan you seared the meat in. Cook until all the moisture is out of the mushrooms.
• Roll out a generous length of plastic wrap, lay out the four slices of prosciutto, each one slightly overlapping the last.
• Spread the mushroom mixture evenly over the prosciutto.
• Place the beef fillet in the middle and keeping a tight hold of the cling film from the outside edge, neatly roll the prosciutto and mushrooms over the beef into a tight roll. Twist the ends to secure the wrap. Refrigerate for 20 to 30 minutes, to let the beef set.
• On a floured surface roll out the pastry to a rectangle about 1/8 of an inch thick. Unwrap the meat from the plastic wrap.
• Egg wash the edge of the pastry and place the beef in the middle. Roll up the pastry cut off the excess and turn over so the seams are on the bottom.
• Egg wash all over top and sides
• Chill again to let the pastry cool for 15 minutes. Egg wash again before baking at 400F for 20 minutes then lower heat to 350F and cook for a further 15 minutes. Rest 10 minutes before slicing.
• The beef should be pink in the middle when sliced.

Wine Suggestion: Cabernet / Shiraz


Cheers!

Be Merry

At this time of year with so many family gatherings and holiday parties it can be challenging to find new and different appetizer ideas.

This one is unique as it combines the sweetness of honey with the subtle taste of fresh thyme. Keep an eye on it in the oven as it can become too soft very quickly. You can substitute any soft or semi soft cheese in place of the Camembert such as Brie.

Serve with assorted crackers and sliced ripe pears.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Everyone!

Thyme and Honey Baked Cheese

• 1 wheel of Camembert
• 1 tbsp of honey
• fresh thyme leaves
• pepper

Preheat oven to 350F
Cut a thin layer of the rind top off of the cheese.
Place cut side up in a small baking dish with a lid
Scatter thyme leaves over the top and sprinkle with fresh ground pepper.
Drizzle with honey and cover with lid.
Place in the oven for about 5 minutes or until just soft and lightly bubbled on top.

Serve with crackers and pears.

Wine Suggestion: Riesling

Cheers!

Snow Day

In our city today we had a rare snow day.

The kids had no school and most adults were sent home from work if they even went into work.
Its nice when you are cosy at home and don't have to drive in it.
After all the shoveling its nice to come inside to a hearty meal.

This dish is a different twist on spaghetti sauce. The use of Moroccan spices impart a sweet and spicy flavour to this sauce.
You can use ground chicken or turkey in place of the beef if you wish.
Top with crumbled feta instead of or along with the usual Parmesan.

Let it Snow!

Moroccan Style Spaghetti

• ~olive oil
• 1 pkg of spaghetti
• 1 pound of ground beef, turkey or chicken
• 1 diced onion
• 1 tbsp each cumin and cinnamon
• 1 tsp of paprika, salt and basil
• 1 tsp of minced ginger
• 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 798 ml can of diced tomatoes
• 1/2 cup of crumbled feta cheese

Cook pasta according to package directions.

Meanwhile in a large deep saucepan heat the olive oil over medium heat and add the onion. Cook until softened.
Add the meat and cook until no longer pink and crumbly.
Add the spices and tomatoes and mix well.
Reduce heat and simmer for 30 to 45 minutes.

Serve over hot spaghetti and top with crumbled feta.

Wine Suggestion: Malbec

Cheers!