Homemade Peanut Butter Cups

Do I even have to say anything??  Good, cuz I cant.  My mouth is full.
 

1.  Melt milk chocolate chips.  Coat wrapper.  I used a baby spoon.  Let set.

2.  Mix natural smooth peanut butter, a quarter of the amount of peanut butter of cream cheese, and a bit of icing sugar.  Just enough to make it dough like and not sticky.  Place in chocolate shells.

3.  Cover with chocolate.  Dont rush, or they'll look ugly.  Spread with back of spoon so the chocolate seals to the wrapper.  Let set.

Potato and Pea Soup

Its minus 19 where I live today and the snow is deep. This soup is cheap, healthy and hot.

1/2 Ham
6 Cups Water
1 Large Potato
1/2 Onion
1/2 tomato
1 Stalk Celery
2 Cloves of Garlic
1-2 T. Salt or To Taste
Pepper to taste
2 Cups Dried Peas

Put ham in pot. Cover with water. Bring to a boil and simmer for 1 to 2 hours. Remove Ham. Dice ham. The smaller the better. Reserve.
Add Peas, Potato, Onion, Celery, Garlic, Tomato, Garlic. Bring to a boil. Simmer until potato and peas tender. Add ham. Garnish with green onion.

Almond Roca

If you could see me right now, you'd see that I have my proud look on.
Look at this.
Almond Roca.
I made it.

From My Kitchen Cafe. I didnt change a thing, made it exactly like she said. Recipe Here.

Spicy Hot Chocolate

My friends dad is a detective. He once said to me "If you can think of it, it's been done". I pretend in my head like he was talking about recipes. Which brings me to this spicy hot chocolate. Ive had spicy hot chocolate before, Im just not sure if its been done this way. So this is the way I did it and you could sell it. Heat 1 cup milk in a sauce pan. Add 1 1/2 T. Cocoa Powder, 2 t. brown sugar, 1 t. Vanilla, 1/8 t. allspice (or to taste) and a couple shakes of cayenne pepper. Top with whipped cream and and you have chocolate hot.  Really good, tastes professional.

Mushroom, Onion and Garlic Baked Brie

Saute 1/2 onion and 1 1/2 Cup sliced mushroom in olive oil, salt and pepper. Add 2 cloves of garlic. I prefer to cut the rind off the brie so its not tough when youre digging in. Place cheese in center of puff pastry. Top with mushroom mixture. Wrap pastry around to make bundle cutting off excess. Bake at 400 for 20 mins. Broil to brown. Quite the crowd pleaser.

Chocolate Eclair

When I first moved to Vancouver I lived in an apartment on Main Street above a second hand store, a way too hip coffee shop, and a kinda dirty little bakery.  The bakery made eclairs that were like nothing I had ever tasted.   They only made a few a day and they'd usually be sold out by 9 in the morning.   The unspoken competition between me, my friendly cross-dressing neighbor, and a few other weirdos in the building to buy one and eat it was fierce.  Until the day the bakery shut down.  Since that day I've been searching for those eclairs.  It's been 10 years and never has anything come close.  Until now. 

The cream-puff pastry is from "Mad Hungry" by Lucinda Scala Quinn.  Recipe below.  But the filling is just real whipped cream.  And the chocolate is just melted chocolate chips.  I tried Lucindas pastry cream recipe but it was difficult and really wasn't the taste or consistency I've been searching for.  


Cream-Puff Pastry

1 Cup Flour
1/4 t. salt
1 Cup Water
8 T. Unsalted Butter Cut Into Small Pieces
5 Large eggs-Room Temperature

1. Preheat to 400.  Prepare a pastry bag with 1/2 inch tip.
2. In small bowl, whisk together flour and salt.  Place water and butter in a medium sauce pan and bring to a boil.  Add the flour mixture and beat vigorously with a wooden spoon for several seconds, until the dough is smooth, pulls away from the sides of pan, and begins to form a ball.  Remove from heat.  Cool the dough for a couple mins.  Beat in eggs one at a time, until smooth and glossy.
3. Place dough in pastry bag.  grease baking sheet.  Pipe desired shape. 3 to 4 inch oblong shapes.  Bake for 10 minutes then turn heat up to 425 and bake for 15 mins total or until puffed up, golden brown, and firm to touch.  Cool on wire rack.

Relish

In this new town I live in of London Ontario their is a village. In this village called Wortley Village is a restaurant called Relish.  Food Network Canada was in this restaurant featuring the crazy burgers that are served.  Of course I had to go.  I had "The Grazing Hippy".  It had goat cheese, pesto mayo, sauteed spinach, roasted red peppers, and sprouts.  And then Lainey and I made out.

LAINEY AND I IN RELISH



THE GRAZING HIPPY-REALLY GOOD








Whole Wheat Morning Glory Muffin

Ok.  So.  This is basically a chocolate chip muffin with apple, carrot, oatmeal and yogurt.  If you want it to be. 
Or be perfect and dont add chocolate, then it will be an apple carrot oatmeal and yogurt muffin.

1 cup quick-cooking rolled oats
1-3/4cups cups plain yogurt
2 egg
1 cup shredded peeled apple
1/2 cup shredded carrot
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup whole wheat flour or Buckwheat flour
1 cup all purpose flour
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
3 t. baking powder
2 t. cinnamon
1 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
1/2 cup chocolate chips(Optional)

In bowl, combine oats and yogurt; let stand for 10 minutes. Whisk in eggs, apple, carrot, oil and vanilla. Then Chocolate chips
In large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda and salt. Pour yogurt mixture over dry ingredients.
Spoon into greased or paper-lined muffin cups or silicone tray.
Bake in centre of 375°F oven for 32 minutes or until golden brown and tops are firm to touch.

Chicken Enchiladas

Dear Ash,

Thank you for making such a delicious dinner last night. I really appreciate it. You are such a good cook.

You made a green chicken enchilada. Kind of like this one that you made back in May. It's a good thing you're pregnant right now or you wouldnt have been craving these extra ingredients. I've capitalized the important parts, the parts you wouldn't automatically add if you were just winging a green enchilada. Dont forget or overlook these ingredients.

Love you girlfriend. You're doing a fantastic job. Keep up the good work. You can do this. Have two babies. And not get crabby. Love Ash

Saute 1/2 onion, 3 CLOVES OF GARLIC, 1/2 chopped green pepper, a good pinch of coarse salt and pepper in olive oil. After a few minutes add 1/2 t. BROWN SUGAR, 1 small diced TOMATO and THICK pieces of shredded chicken cook for another 2 minutes. Turn off heat and add 2 T of diced PICKLED pepperoncini peppers, chopped green onion and fresh cilantro. Roll this mixture up into tortillas, lay in casserole dish. Mix sour cream with green salsa, about half and half. pour it on top. And then sprinkle on QUITE A BIT of jack cheese. I think you used 3/4 of a small block. Bake at 350 for about 20 minutes. Broil to brown top.

Chocolate Drop Cookie

Imagine the flavour of chocolate milk and the melt in your mouth consistency of shortbread. The dough looks and feels exactly like chocolate mousse. Bake for only 10 minutes these cookies are quick, easy, and satisfying. Still soft the next day and pairs deliciously with a glass of ice cold Almond Milk.
Yummo...kidding.

1 1/2 Cups Flour
3/4 t. Baking Powder
1/2 t. Coarse Salt
1 Cup Unsalted Butter
3/4 Cup Sugar
1 Large Egg, Lightly Beaten
1 t. Vanilla Extract
6 Ounces Bittersweet or Semisweet Chocolate, Melted
1/3 Cup Milk

Preheat 350. Butter baking sheet. In a small bowl whisk together flour baking powder and salt.

In a large bowl cream butter and sugar. beat in egg and vanilla. Blend in melted chocolate. Alternatly blend in flour mixture and milk ending with flour. Drop dough by teaspoonfuls onto baking sheet 1 inch apart. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until edges are set and centers are still soft. Remove to cooling racks.

Source: "Mad Hungry" Lucinda Scala Quinn

Lentil Vegetable Soup W/ Homemade Croutons

Their are so many recipes for Lentil Soup but Lucinda Scala Quinn is a genius and this lentil soup... is the best. Thats just my opinion and im allowed to have it cuz this is my blog. You have to make it exactly like she does though or it's not going to be as magical. I know, weird right? But she really has got it down to a science.

She cooks her croutons on the stove and I cook mine in the oven. If you're putting them on soup I think they should start out really crispy. Also she doesnt suggest this, but I think you could garnish it nicely with a bit of cheese, or sour cream, or green onion. Mmmm. Mmmm. Mmmm. So damn good. Especially on a rainy day like today.

2 1/2 T Extra Virgin Olive Oil
3/4 Cup Onion
3/4 Cup Carrot
2/3 Cup Celery
3 Garlic Cloves
1 T. Coarse Salt
1 Small Tomato
2 Cup Brown or Green Lentils (I used mixed)
1/2 t. Thyme
1 Small Bay Leaf
1/4 t. Pepper
6 Cups Chicken Broth
4 Cups Water
2 t. Red Wine Vinegar


1. Heat large soup pot over high heat and swirl in olive oil. Add onion, carrots, celery, garlic, and 1 t. of the salt. Reduce heat to low and saute until veggies are lightly carmelized. About 5 mins. Add tomato and cook for 2 mins. Stir in tomato paste and cook for another 2 mins.

2. Add lentils, thyme, bay leaf, pepper, and the remaining 2 t. of salt. Add broth and water bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer until lentils are tender. About 20 mins. Stir in vinegar. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

CROUTONS (MY VERSION)
1/2 Loaf Day Old Bread
3 T. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 Garlic Cloves
1/4 t. Coarse Salt

Dice bread. Spread onto baking sheet. Mix olive oil, garlic and salt. Drizzle onto bread. Mix to coat. Cook at 350. Flipping every once in a while until browned and crispy.

Source: Lucinda Scala Quinn "Mad Hungry"

Photos:Shawn Campbell

I'm Back!!! I think. I'll try.

OK. So I haven't been around for a while. I have been busy moving accross Canada. We moved from Vancouver, B.C. to London, Ontario!!

These are Earl Grey Cupcakes and they actually taste like earl grey. Quite nice.





EARL GREY CUPCAKES

1 1/2 Cup Flour
3/4 t. Baking Powder
1/2 t. Baking Soda
1/4 t. salt
2 Earl Grey Tea Bags
1 1/4 cup Sugar
6 T. Unsalted Butter (Or use salted butter and omit the salt above--if you're in a bind)
3 Egg Whites
1 t. Orange Zest
1 cup Buttermilk

1. Preheat 350. In small bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

2. In a coffe grinder grind contents of tea bag. Add to flour mixture.

3.In a large bowl, using electric mixer, beat together sugar and butter until well combined. Add egg whites, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add orange zest. Alternately beat in flour and buttermilk. Beat until smooth.

4. Scoop batter into liners in muffin tin. Bake for 20-25 minute or until light golden brown. Or until tops of cakes spring back at you when lightly touched. Let cool on rack for 10 minutes. Frost cooled cupcakes.

CREAM CHEESE ICING

4 oz. Cream Cheese
1/2 Cup Butter
Pinch of Salt
2 1/4 Icing sugar

Photos:Shawn Campbell

Hummus

Why does this hummus look so creamy? So smooth? Because I found the secret ingredient. Ricotta. It's what I've been searching for my whole hummus making life. It tones down the chickpeas but brings out the tahini, lemon and garlic. Absolutley scrumptious. Could eat it with a spoon.

1 Can chickpeas
3/4 cup ricotta
2 large garlic cloves
Juice of 1/2 Lemon
1/4 cup olive oil
1 T. Tahini
1 t. salt

Salt and Pepper Pork Chops with Steamed Beet Greens

Oh Pork. Chops. You're so nice and easy. So quick and cheap. So beautiful and delicious. Beautiful with steamed beet greens and the beets they came with. Creamy new potatoes boiled with carrots. Buttered. Salted. Peppered...
In all seriousness though, Mary's recipe for salt and pepper pork chops is amazing. One of my favorites for sure.
And all the produce you see in this picture is from the sample bag of my future CSA packages. How exciting. And delicious.

Salt and Pepper Pork Chops
3 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon fresh cracked pepper
1 tablespoon granulated sugar (I used light borwn sugar cuz it was easier to get to at the time)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1-1/4 pounds boneless thin-cut pork loin chops
2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Mix ingredients together. Marinate for 5 minutes or overnight. Cook for 10-16 minutes depending on thickness.

Steamed Beet Greens
Cut the stems off of beets, steam until wilted, toss with one minced garlic clove, butter, salt and pepper. Make a nice bed for any vegetable to lay on top of.

Calling all Locavores

Locavore. I love this word. I've already slipped it into 4 conversations today. As long as you avert your gaze when you say it, and then quickly make eye contact, the person your talking to pretends they know what you said. Intense.



What is a locavore you ask. A locavore is a person who prefers to eat locally grown/produced food. Which brings me to the community share agriculture co-op I've joined through The Home Grow-In Grocer LTD.

GET THIS: Starting at the end of June, I will recieve a basket of fresh produce every week. By fresh I mean picked from the earth within 24 hours of reaching my kitchen. Today I was given a sample package of the produce that I have invested in. It is incredibly satisfying to pull carrots, beets and radishes out from the bag, shake the dirt off, and imagine all the wholesome meals these ingredients could possibley contribute to.

In order to help others support their local economy and local farms I would like to direct my American readers to this great website http://www.localharvest.org/ for a list of farmers markets and grocery co-ops near you. And if you are Canadian, you can find your directory of sustainable agriculture at http://www.planetfriendly.net/.

Stay tuned for the locavorious dinner I have planned. (yes, I just made that word up)

For more information on The Home Grow-In Grocer LTD please visit http://www.home-growin.com/
 Print

Roasted Garlic Burgers With Peppercorn Chevre

This is definitely one of my favorites. These burgers ooze with flavour. Ooze? Really? But they do.

Roast the garlic. Mix with extra lean ground beef(No need to mash roasted garlic. It comes apart in the mixing process. And leaves pockets of warm sweet roasted goodness in the burger) Coat patties with salt and pepper. Cook on BBQ or however you like. Add a tablespoon or so of peppercorn goat cheese in the last few minutes. (Peppercorn goatcheese can be bought at the grocery store or you can make your own by rolling the goat cheese in coarse ground pepper.)



Source:Photos:Shawn Campbell

Roasted Garlic

Pre-heat oven to 400.
Cut the top off the garlic head.
Place in muffin tin.
Drizzle with oil.

Cover with tin foil.
Place in oven for 30-40 minutes depending on size of head.

Garlic is done when cloves are soft.
Let cool.
Squeeze the base and the garlic pieces should slide out easily.
Use with pastas, pizzas, dips, sauces, meats ect.

Source:Photos:Shawn Campbell

New Name and a Long Story Short

Once upon a time I was given a beautiful book to write in. It was bounded with metal and perfect for recipes. Then I found blogspot and started experimenting. I called my collection "Pregnant" and stopped using the book all together. Then I had this beautiful baby.


And coudn't quite call myself pregnant anymore.
Find more beautiful photos by Ewa Chang at Mamique Phtography HERE.

Stuffed Miniature Potatoes

Can't say enough about these adorable little buggers. Creamy on the inside and crispy on the outside. Bite sized and incredibly delicious. Serve with steak as a side dish or can also be an easy to prepare appetizer. Maybe try a bacon version next time.




Boil Yukon Gold potatoes. However many you like. Boil until fork tender. Cut in half. Scoop out one side to stuff. Collect insides in a bowl with cut off tops. Add a tablespoon or so of cream cheese and fresh garlic (butter is optional but recommended). Mash. Mix in green onion and cheddar, salt and pepper to taste. Fill potatoes. Top with more cheese. Bake at 350 for 20-30 minutes or until desired crispiness.

Photos:Shawn Campbell

Sweet and Spicy Slow Cooker Chicken!!

Just 4 ingredients! In a slow cooker! Of course you could get all fancy on this dish and add a bunch of fancy beans and such, but that would take all the four ingredient fun out of it. Sometimes dinner tastes better when you know how simple it is to make.



3 chicken breasts
1 can of diced tomatoes(Drained)
1 third cup brown sugar
1 T. crushed red pepper flakes

Cook in crock pot until chicken is easily shred. Serve in tortilla with any taco topping you like.

Source: My Kitchen cafe

Honey Lime Enchiladas

Cooking is a little different with a newborn running around. Some things burn and others are under cooked. Then these cute and easy enchiladas came along. Super quick with a really neat balance of sweet and spicy. I used one of those BBQ chickens you buy at the grocery store and shredded it and soaked it in the marinade. This is a twisted version of My Kitchen Cafe's recipe here. I added veggies and beans and a few extra spices. De-lish.

4 Large Tortillas
1/2 cup Sour cream
1/2 cup Salsa Verde

1 Cup Montery Jack

2 Cups shredded chicken

MARINADE:
6 T. Honey
Juice of 2 limes
1 t. Dry corriander
1 t. cumin
2 T. Chilli powder
2 Chopped garlic cloves (Or Mel uses garlic powder)

1 Sliced green pepper
1/2 Sliced onion
1 Can white beans
1 t. Salt
1 t. pepper

Marinate chicken in above ingredients(Or dont and just coat it). Saute peppers, onions in oil with salt and pepper. Add beans. Wrap inside tortillas. Lay in casserole dish. Mix Salsa Verde with Sour Cream(Use more sour cream if your wimpy with spice) Pour on top. Layer with Cheese. Bake for 1/2 an hour at 350. Makes 4-6 servings.

Photos:Shawn Campbell

Will I ever cook again???

Oh. My. God.
The only signature dish I've been serving is gallons and gallons of breast milk. I was going to get him to take some beautiful shots of my pump and a nice frosty glass next to some freshly baked goods. But... I haven't had time to bake.

Here is my huge baby. Born on April 6, 2010. Her name is Lainey. She`s still huge. I Blame it on the spinach.

Photos:Shawn Campbell

Coconut Puffs

I wasn't going to post these because it's so super cheating easy but everybody thought I should because they were so simply delicious. Everybody being him and my brother.


1 box of coconut pudding
Puff pasrty
Icing sugar

Roll out puff pastry. Cut daimond shapes out about as big as your hand. Fill with a teaspoon of coconut pudding. Fold over to shape a triangle. Seal edges with fork. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes. Sprinkle with icing sugar.


Photos:Shawn Campbell

Spinach, Asparagus and Feta Quiche

Maybe this magnificant spring quiche will lure her out...

Lucinda's Cream Cheese Pie Crust or a pre-made shell

Spinach
Asparagus
Green Onion
Feta
4 large eggs
1/4 cup milk
2 T. Sour cream

Salt and pepper

Steam asparagus, steam chopped spinach and drain. Put them + onion and feta in pie crust. In a separate bowl mix egg, milk, salt and pepper and sour cream. Pour over ingredients. Bake at 350 for 35 minutes or until knife comes out clean.
Photos:Shawn Campbell

White Bean Asparagus Tart

I woke up this morning craving my Ashparagus N' Leek Phyllo Pizza Pie. I didn't have phyllo or leeks but I had puff pastry. And so the following was created.




Puff Pastry
White bean dip
Asparagus
Sundried tomato
Cheese(I used parmesan but any pecorino would work-or feta or goat)
Olive oil
Salt an pepper

Slice asparagus spears in half length wise. Roll out puff pastry. Spread with dip like pizza sauce. Top with sun dried tomato and asparagus. Then salt and pepper. Then drizzle olive oil and top with cheese. Bake at 400 for 25 minutes.

Photos:Shawn Campbell