Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Crunchy Fish Strips


This recipe makes 4 servings


1 pkg frozen fish, thawed
2-1/4 cups (550 mL) cornflakes
2 tbsp (25 mL) minced fresh parsley
1/4 tsp (1 mL) each salt and pepper
1 eggs
1 tbsp (15 mL) vegetable oil

Tartar Sauce
This recipe makes 8 1 tbsp (15 mL) servings

1/3 cup (75 mL) light mayonnaise
2 tbsp (25 mL) chopped cornichons or sweet green relish
1 tbsp (15 mL) chopped rinsed drained capers, (optional)
1 tsp (5 mL) lemon juice
1 pinch salt
1 pinch pepper


Cut fish into 1-inch (2.5 cm) wide strips. In plastic bag crush cornflakes to make 1 cup (250 mL) crumbs. Add parsley, salt and pepper.

In large, shallow bowl, beat egg. Dip in fish, turning to coat. Add to cornflake mixture, shaking bag to coat.

Brush vegetable oil onto rimmed baking sheet. Heat sheet in 450°F (230°C) oven for 5 minutes. Arrange fish on hot sheet. Bake, turning once, until golden and fish flakes easily when tested, about 8 minutes.

Tartar Sauce
In small bowl, mix together mayonnaise, cornichons, capers (if using), lemon juice, salt and pepper.

http://www.cbc.ca/bestrecipes/2010/10/crunch-fish-strips.html

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Basic Sugar Cookies

Basic Sugar Cookie Dough

  • Hard margarine (or butter), softened 1 cup/250 mL
  • Granulated sugar 1 cup/250 mL
  • Egg yolks (large) 2
  • Vanilla1 /2 tsp./2 mL
  • All-purpose flour 2 1/2 cups/625 mL
  • Baking powder 1/2 tsp./2 mL
  • Salt 1/2 tsp. /2 mL

Basic Cookie Glaze

  • Icing (confectioner's) sugar 3/4 cup/175 mL
  • Milk 1 tbsp./15 mL
  • Hard margarine (or butter), softened 2 tsp./10 mL
  • Vanilla1/4 tsp./1 mL
  • Liquid (or paste) food colouring (see Note)

Directions

Basic Sugar Cookie Dough

Cream margarine and sugar in large bowl. Add egg yolks 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla. Beat until smooth.

Combine flour, baking powder and salt in small bowl. Add to margarine mixture in 2 additions, mixing well after each addition until no dry flour remains. Divide dough in half. Shape each half into ball. Flatten each ball into disc and wrap with plastic wrap. Chill for 1 hour.
Discard plastic wrap from 1 disc. Roll out dough between 2 sheets of waxed paper to about 1/8 inch (3 mm) thickness. Discard top sheet of waxed paper. Cut out shapes with lightly floured 2 1/2 inch (6.4 cm) cookie cutters. Roll out scraps to cut more shapes.
Arrange about 1 inch (2.5 cm) apart on greased cookie sheets. Bake in 350ºF (175ºC) oven for 6 to 8 minutes until edges are golden. Let stand on cookie sheets for 5 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely. Cool cookie sheets between batches. Repeat with remaining disc.

Basic Cookie Glaze

Beat first 4 ingredients in small bowl, adding more icing sugar or milk if necessary until barely pourable consistency.

Add food colouring 1 drop at a time, stirring well after each addition until desired colour is reached. Makes about 3/4 cup (175 mL) glaze. Spoon into paper cone (page 27), or into small resealable plastic bag with tiny piece snipped off corner. Drizzle glaze over each cookie. Makes 3 dozen (36) cookies.

1 cookie: 120 Calories; 6 g Total Fat (3.8 g Mono, 0.6 g Poly, 1.3 g Sat); 12 mg Cholesterol; 16 g Carbohydrate; trace Fibre; 1 g Protein; 104 mg Sodium
Note: For best results, use paste food colouring to make bolder colours. Use only a few drops of liquid food colouring to make softer colours.
 I recommend using natural food colours (like strawberry juice, orange juice, etc...instead of artificial colours)

Monday, December 6, 2010

Rockwell Bake

This is from Canadian Parents website
http://www.canadianparents.com/recipe/rockwell-bake?utm_source=_BM$RQ6B8WGq6jV&utm_content=dbnl6&utm_medium=email


Photobucket

You'll Need:
  • 2 Tbsp olive oil 30 mL
  • 1 cup finely diced onion 250 mL
  • 1 cup finely diced celery (including leaves) 250 mL
  • ½ cup finely diced carrot 125 mL
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 Tbsp finely chopped fresh sage 15 mL
  • 2 tsp finely chopped fresh thyme 10 mL
  • 1 cup dried cranberries 250 mL
  • ¼ cup dry vermouth or water 60 mL
  • 5 large eggs
  • 3 cups 2% milk 750 mL (you can switch for 1% or skim)
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard 5 mL
  • 1½ tsp fine salt 7.5 mL
  • ¼ tsp ground black pepper 1 mL
  • 8 cups diced day-old bread (white, whole wheat or mix) (1-inch/2.5 cm cubes) 2 L
  • 3 cups diced cooked turkey meat (½-inch/1 cm cubes) 750 mL
  • 2½ cups grated Swiss cheese 625 mL (to lower fat and calories try fat free cheese)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Grease a 9-inch (2.5 L) springform pan and place on a baking sheet.

In a sauté pan over medium heat, add the oil and heat for a minute, then add the onion, celery and carrot. Sauté until the onions are translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and herbs, and sauté 1 minute more. Add the cranberries and vermouth or water, then simmer until almost all liquid has evaporated. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature.

While the vegetables are cooling, whisk the eggs to blend in a large bowl, then whisk in milk, mustard, salt and pepper. Add bread cubes, toss to coat and let soak for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Stir the cooled vegetables and diced turkey into the bread mixture, then stir in 2 cups (500 mL) of Swiss cheese. Spoon mixture into the prepared springform pan and sprinkle with remaining ½ cup (125 mL) Swiss cheese. Bake for 60 minutes, or until the top is a rich golden brown and the center springs back when pressed. Let rest for 15 minutes before unmolding and serving.

Serves 6 to 8

Monday, November 29, 2010

Roasted Chicken with Lemons and Thyme

I found this in the Melaleuca magazine November 2010 p.49

"Paprika, lemon and thyme lend this simple roast chicken traditional Sephardic flavor. Substitute oregano for thyme, if desired. Garnish with fresh lemon slices or roasted lemon wedges. To roast, add lemons to the roasting rack during the last 20 minutes of cooking time.

You'll need:
6 pound roasting chicken
2 tsp Hungarian paprika
2 tbsp chopped fresh thyme
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
2 lemons
cooking spray
1 tsp olive oil
2 tbsp all purpose flour
1/2 cup dry white wine (such as sauvignon blanc)
1 cup fat free, less-sodium chicken broth
1 tsbp fresh lemon juice
2 tsp sugar
lemon slices (optional)
Thyme sprigs (optional)

Preheat oven to 425
Remove and discard giblets and neck from chicken. Trim excess fat. Starting at the neck loosen skin from breast and drumsticks by inserting fingers, gently pushing between skin and meat.

Combine paprika, 1 tablespoon thyme, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp pepper, rub under loosened skin
Thinly slice 1 lemon, arrange slices under skin. Cut remaining lemon into quarters, place lemon quarters inside chicken cavity. Add remaining thyme to chicken cavity.

Place chicken on the rack of a broiler pan or roasting pan coated with cooking spray. Brush oil over skin. cover with aluminum foil. Back 425 for 30 minutes.

uncover and bake 50 minutes or until thermometer read 165


Transfer chicken to cutting board. Cover with foil and let stand 15 minutes before carving.

GRAVY
Place a plastic bag in a 2 cup glass measure. Pour drippings into bag let stand 10 minutes. Fat will rise to the top.  Seal bag, snip off corner of bag. Drain drippings into measuring cup stopping before fat layer reaches opening. Discard fat.

Place drippings on stove top over medium heat. Sprinkle flour into pan.  Add wine bring to boil.  Stir constantly with whisk.  Add drippings, broth juice, sugar, pepper, salt to pan. stir constantly with whisk until thickened. remove from heat.

Remove skin and lemon slices from chicken. remove lemon wedges from cavity - discard.  Carve chicken, arrange on serving platter. Serve with gravy.

Friday, November 26, 2010

Roasted Butternut Squash and Shallot Soup

I found this recipe in the Melaleuca Leadership in Action magazine November 2010


"Spicy fresh ginger complements the sweet roasted winter squash and shallots in this easy recipe. Serve with a grilled cheese sandwich for a simple supper."

Makes 6 servings

You'll need:
4 cups cubed peeled butternut squash
1 tbsp olive oil
1/4 tsp salt
4 large shallots, peeled and halved
1 piece peeled fresh ginger, thinly sliced
2 1/2 cups fat free low-sodium broth
2 tbsp fresh chives


Preheat oven to 375

Combine first 5 ingredients in a roasting pan, toss well. Bake for 50 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cool for 10 minutes.

Place half of squash mixture and half of broth in a blender. Remove center piece of blender lid (to allow steam to escape) secure blender lid. Place a clean towel over opening in blender lid (to avoid splatters). Blend until smooth. Pour into saucepan.

OR

I just put in a pot with the broth, on medium heat and start squishing it with a potato masher - that's if you don't mind a few lumps.

Cook on medium heat for 5 minutes or until heated. Top with chives, if desired.

This would also be tasty topped with sour cream - a tip I got from Carrie Nowlin fellow Motivated Mom.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Vegetarian Penne

I found this one on All Recipes

 I added extra firm tofu to mine...no squash or mushrooms (didn't have any)

I also used fresh parsley instead of dried and used that as a garnish as well.

Photobucket

Ingredients

  • 2 cups uncooked penne or medium tube pasta
  • 1/3 cup finely chopped onion
  • 1 small yellow summer squash, sliced
  • 1 small zucchini, sliced
  • 1/2 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream

Directions

  1. Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, saute the onion, summer squash, zucchini, mushrooms and garlic in butter until tender.
  2. In a bowl, whisk the flour, seasonings and cream until smooth; add to the skillet. Cook for 2-3 minutes or until thickened. Drain pasta and add to vegetable mixture. Cook for 2-3 minutes or until heated through.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Chunky Chicken Chili

I made this dish on Sunday and it was delicious.  It was pretty quick for a chili as well, only took about 30 minutes.  You can however let it simmer and even sit in the fridge overnight in order to get the full flavour of the spices.

You'll need:
Oil
1 onion - Chopped
2 sweet peppers, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 lb skinless, boneless chicken cut into 1" chunks (or you can use leftover chicken)
Can diced tomatoes (I used fresh tomatoes chopped up)
1 can black kidney beans - drained & rinsed well (I didn't have any so didn't use this)
1 tbsp chili powder (I like more so I put 2 Tbsp)
2 tsp dried oregano (again I like more so I put 3 tsp)
1 tsp ground cumin (you get the idea I put 2 tsp)
1/2 tsp salt (I left this out)
pinch cayenne pepper (again I added 2 pinches)
2 bay leaves (I forgot to get these so I didn't use them but VERY good idea)
1/3 cup chopped cilantro (I didn't use this either)


I added some potatoes to mine. boiled and cut into chunks.

1. Heat oil in a pot - add onions, peppers and garlic.  Cook for about 5 minutes.  Add chicken, cook until no longer pink.


2. Add tomatoes, beans, seasonings and potato. Stir and bring to boil then reduce heat and simmer COVERED (cover is important it keeps the juices and flavours in). Simmer for at least 15 minutes.  UNCOVER and keep simmering for 10 minutes (this will thicken it)

3. Stir in cilantro and serve.


I found this recipe in Today's Parent magazine November 2010