Beer Batter

My mom gave me this recipe to use on fish and onion rings. It is so light,fluffy and crispy.

1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup corn starch
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cayenne
1 tsp ground pepper
2 tsp baking powder
3/4 cup beer  I use indian pale ale

blend all dry ingredients together and mix in beer   I add 1/2 of the beer to start and slowly add more beer until you get a nice loose batter.

I dust my onions in cornstarch and then dip in the batter.

Enjoy

Remember when doing fish make sure your fish pieces are dry. I lay them on a tea towel and cover them with another one.

French Toast Casserole

This is a great recipe for family brunches or taking to a brunch

350 degrees        9x13 pan          25-30 minutes

grease a casserole dish with butter and sprinkle with cinnamon and brown sugar (about 2 tbsp)

I use rye bread but you can use your family's favorite. Day old bread is the best to use.

1 loaf of bread cut into cubes
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tbsp cinnamon
3 eggs
1/2 cup whipping cream
2 tsp vanilla

beat eggs and whipping cream together, add vanilla.
Pour over the bread cubes and mix together
mix together brown sugar and cinnamon and then sprinkle over the bread mixture and toss together
Pour into the casserole dish and bake

warm up maple syrup or a warm fruit compote to serve over the top.

Enjoy

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars

350 degrees          9x13 pan      18-20 minutes          makes 36 bars


1 cup flour
1 cup quick cook rolled oats
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1/3 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup milk
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 6oz bag chocolate chips
1/4 cup powdered sugar
2 tbsp peanut butter
2-3 tablespoon milk

grease the baking pan
combine flour,oats, soda 1/4 tsp salt
In a separate bowl cream butter, add sugar beat until fluffy
Add eggs,1/4 cup milk,peanut butter, vanilla  beat well
Add dry ingredients to butter mixture, beat until combined well
spread into baking pan and bake 18-20 minutes

when it comes out of the oven sprinkle the chocolate chips over the top while hot. spread the melted chocolate on the surface.   COOL
in a bowl combine powdered sugar and peanut butter and the milk slowly until you make a drizzle.
Drizzle over the top of the chocolate and place in the fridge for 1-2 hours. cut into bars

ENJOY.........................

Chocolate chip cookies with ground chai and flax seed

1 cup butter
1 cup sugar  I use half white/half brown
2 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup chocolate chips
2 1/4 cups flour
1/4 cup ground chai/flax seed

Cream butter and sugar together
Add in eggs and mix
Add b.powder,b.soda,vanilla
Mix well
Add flour and ground chai/flax
Mix well
If mixture is a little thick I add 2 tbsp of whipping cream.

Spoon on to cookie sheets

Makes 3 dozen.   350 degrees. 9-11 minutes

Yeast donuts

I made donuts this am. It worked out great. I used a chocolate and a vanilla cream cheese glaze for the top.
I will never buy another donut again.

tell me what you think.........................

Do you try out my recipes?
How are they turning out for you?
Is there anything you changed?
I would love feed back if you do try any of my recipes.

till I cook again.....................

recipe for chicken tortilla soup

I used my pressure cooker for this recipe.................

2 tbsp oil
1 jalapeno diced  seeded
1 pasilla chili diced seeded
1 ancho chili  diced seeded
4 roma tomatoes
1 onion rough chopped
 2 garlic cloves
2 tbsp salt
2 tbsp pepper
1 carrot rough chopped
1 celery stalk rough chopped
3 leg/back pieces of chicken
6 cups water
add oil, peppers, garlic, onion and fry for 5 minutes then add chicken skin side down
fry for about 10 mins and then add tomatoes, salt pepper, carrots, celery
add water

put lid on pressure cooker and cook for 1 hour
strain after 1 hour
put broth back in pot, remove meat from bones and rough chop add to broth
add 2 tbsp chopped cilantro, 2 tbsp fresh lime juice

In a soup bowl you will need: this is for 5 soup bowls
1/4 cup red onion fine chopped
1/4 cup tomato chopped
2 avocado sliced
corn chips
1/2 cup of shredded cheese.
1 lime in wedges

I put a little of each ingredient in the bowl with some of the chicken, I add the broth at the table.
we put fresh mango salsa on the top. recipe is on my blog

My daughters say it is like taco in a bowl.

enjoy

picture of my soup is on the blog as well

Tzatziki sauce

1 cucumber seeded and chopped into small pieces

1 tsp salt

1 cup greek yogurt

1 tbsp roasted garlic

4 tsp fresh lemon juice

fresh dill

stir all together and refridgerate

Cilantro Lime Chutney

2 cups cilantro
1 tsp salt
1 fresh piece of ginger peeled. about 1 inche
2-3 serrano peppers   seeded
6 green onions
1/4 cup mint
1/2 tsp cumin seed
1/4 tsp garam masala spice
1/2 tsp sugar
3 tbsp olive oil
1/4 cup fresh lime juice

combine all in the food processor

keep in a jar in the fridge

Chimichurrie Sauce

1 parsley bunch
2 cloves garlic
2 green onions
3 bay leaves
1/2 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp red chili flakes
1/3 cup vinegar
1/3 cup water
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cumin
1/3 cup oil   olive or coconut

put all in the food processor

Making donuts

I have to learn how to make donuts........

One day last week I tried yeast baked donuts and they were okay but not great so I am going to try a yeast deep fried donuts tonight.
I have looked at several recipes and finally decided on using this one.

3-31/2 cup  flour
2 pkg yeast
3/4 cup milk
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup shortening
1 tsp salt
2 eggs

1 1/2 cup flour and yeast in a bowl
In a saucepan heat milk and sugar and 1/4 c shortening. warm until shortening is melted.
add to the flour/ yeast mixture
Stir together
Add the eggs
beat on low speed for 1 minute
beat on high speed for 3 minutes and add left over flour
knead on a flour board for 3 minutes

Place in a greased bowl until double in size.
punch down divide in half
let rest for 10 mins
roll out each halt to 1/2 inch thick

cut with a floured donut cutter
let rise 45-60 mins
cook in hot oil one side and then flip on to raw side. about 2 1/2 minutes each side

Whole salmon on the bbq

So this isn't something I have ever attempted before.
Seeing as its wild salmon season I bought a large head off cleaned salmon to make for supper tonight.
I put sliced lemon, lemon thyme,and olive oil inside and rubbed olive oil,sea salt and pepper on the skin.
Heated the BBQ to 450 and played the salmon on the grill. Left it for 10 mins  on the first side and flipped it and left it for 8 minutes. I laid it on a platter and wrapped it in foil for 10 mins while I got the rest of supper ready.
The spine and bones just peeled out.
My little guy told me supper was licious!!

Mexican chocolate cake

Chocolate cake with a hint of spice and coffee. I served it with whipped cream, shaved chocolate and drizzled with Kahlua.

Chicken tortilla soup!

Lemon souffle

Well it worked and it tastes great!! Learned a lesson too. Never use convection bake. Its a habit for me that I need to break.

Souffles

Today on my learn to do list is souffles and use my pressure cooker!
I am trying to decide between a sweet and a savory souffle or maybe I will do a lemon basil one. Decisions decisions!
Then what am I going to cook in my pressure cooker?!?!
I really love to think up new recipes and new ways to cook the same boring stuff. It gets pretty boring if you do the same thing week in and week out.
Change up your spices or your sauces. Instead of BBQ sauce make a lemon ginger sauce.

Till I cook again......

OMG

http://blog.foodnetwork.com/fn-dish/2014/07/keep-cool-with-watermelon-cocktails/?soc=dishsocial_20140725_28314916

Homemade salad dressing

This is what I used as a kid for mayo as a kid growing up with my grandparents, we never had Miracle Whip or Helmann's in the fridge.
I am pretty sure this is my grandma's recipe but who knows I could be wrong. I say that because I asked my mom and uncle for my grandma's mazola bun oil recipe and got told that was my mom's recipe not grandmas.


5-6 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp dry mustard
1 tbsp flour
1/3 cup vinegar
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1 tbsp butter

mix all dry ingredients together, add vinegar
beat in eggs
add milk and butter
cook over med-low heat
stir until a thick pudding like consistency

place in a mason jar store in the fridge

No fail pastry mix that keeps in an air tight container

So as I have said many times I am not a baker...............................
There are a few things that I make all the time but pie crust wasn't one of them. I have been given lots of recipes but this one works the best for me and it makes enough that I always have some on hand.

10 cups flour
2 tsp salt
2 tbsp sugar
2 cups shortening

mix together with a pastry knife until shortening is incorporated but not over mixed. looks like a damp sand.

You can store this in an air tight container and use as needed.

For a top and bottom crust use:

1 3/4 cups to 2 cups of mix
add 3-5 tbsp cold water
1/4 tsp vinegar

mix together, roll on floured surface


Busy mom's need all the help they can get so most of my recipes are quick and easy or are like this one that makes a big batch for simple uses.

Enjoy............

Carrot cake with cream cheese frosting

9 x 13 pan    bake at 325    40-45 minutes


1 1/2 cup sugar ( I use 1/2 white, 1 brown)
2 cup flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 tbsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp nutmeg
4 eggs  ( beaten)
1 cup oil
2 tsp vanilla
2 cups grated carrot
1 apple grated
1/2 cup walnuts or nut mix (pieces not crushed)

I also sometimes put 1 cup grated zucchini

mix all dry ingredients together, then add wet ingredients in. make sure it is mixed well
pour into a greased cake pan.
cooked when you use a toothpick into the centre and it comes out clean.

Cream cheese frosting

2 cup icing sugar
1/4 cup of butter
8 oz pkg cream cheese
1 tsp vanilla

mix together and ice cool cake

enjoy....................

Cooking is a healthy addiction.............

So a friend made a comment about a week ago that she has never seen anyone so happy as I am when I am cooking in the kitchen.
It is very true, I love to cook for my friends and family! Cooking is a release for me and I have to say that I am addicted to trying new recipes and cooking is a healthy addiction.................

I love lemon pie and always used the powder to make my filling until I found this recipe. I tweeked it a little to suit my taste.

Lemon Filling

1 cup sugar
1/4 tsp salt
2 tbsp flour
4 egg yolks
1/4 cup cold water
zest from 1 1/2 lemons
juice from 1 lemon
1 tbsp butter

Use a double boiler or a large boil on the top of a pot of boiling water. ( water should not be touching the bowl)
mix sugar,salt, flour together in bowl
beat eggs and add to sugar mixture
whisk together
add cold water, zest, juice
whisk until it is thick ( like a pudding)
remove from heat
stir in butter

Use in a pre-baked pie or tart shells or the filling for an angel food cake.

Happy hour!

Well some of my friends came for supper tonight which was supposed to be drinks and appies!

So I made a spicy sausage stuffed grilled calamari.
I cleaned the squid and then filled the tubes with a precooked sausage filling that I made.
Sausage meat, onions, red wine,kale spinach,lemon zest and garlic.
I soaked the tubes in milk,salt and pepper for 3 hours and then stuffed them with the cold sausage filling.
Drizzled with olive oil and grilled on the BBQ.
I served it with a mango salsa but wish I had grilled some tomatoes as well.

Main course was grilled veggies and a small steak served a seafood creamy gravy over top.

Dessert was a vanilla ginger creme brulé.

Everything was really good.

Pestos

Creamy pesto
Cream cheese 8 oz
1/4 c cream
3 tbsp pesto.

Serve with pita chips

Pesto

1 bunch of basil
1/4 cup toasted pine nuts
1 tbsp roasted garlic
1 tbsp lemon juice
Drizzle in olive oil as pulsing in food processor.

Make pasta salad sauce with pesto
Whisk 1/4 c fresh lemon juice, 3 tbsp pesto, 1 tbsp mayo, mix until blended.

Shrimp Taco Salad

2 ears of roasted corn
2 med. Zucchini sliced on an angle grilled
20 shelled deveined shrimp grilled
Marinate the shrimp in 2 tbsp lime juice and 1/2 tsp Cayenne, 1/2 tbsp finely minced jalapeño.
2 cup watermelon small chunks
1/2 cup cilantro leaves
1 avocado slice thin
Dressing:
1/4 oil olive
1/4 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp coriander
3 tbsp lime juice.

Plate in layers, toss with dressing, sprinkle with salted corn chips or tortilla strips

Perfect buns

So I am not a baker by any means but today everything must have been aligned just perfectly.
I started out with traditional and rapid yeast so I mixed the 2 together because there just wasn't enough of one kind.
My whole wheat buns never turn out well so I did 2/1. meaning 2 parts white and 1 part whole wheat.
The buns are fluffy and tasty, my husband said the best he has ever had!
Wondering if the coconut oil made a difference?

After forming a dozen buns, I had enough to make a loaf of bread too.I thought I would add some flavour to it, fresh basil and lemon zest!. It turned out fabulous

Last night I made grilled pizzas on the BBQ, 3 large pizzas and not a single leftover piece. Either it was that good or my family was starving!!
I always try and get veggies into everything I make so while frying up the bacon and mushrooms I added 2 good handfuls of spinach, mushrooms, peppers ans 1/3 hemp heart seed and 1/4 flax seed (ground). Nobody knew!!!

So, I will add some more recipes tomorrow when I have 10 minutes but you all know how it is when you are a busy mom!!

till we chat again.........................

Homemade biscuit recipe

This mix keeps in an air tight container for up to 6 weeks!

10 cups flour
1/3 cup baking powder
1/4 cup white sugar
4 tsp salt
2 cups of shortening ( non refrigerated)

For long storage life keep in the freezer

Sift together all dry ingredients
Use pastry knife and cut in shortening until looks like coarse crumbs.

To use take 2 cups of mix and add 1/2 of milk. Use fork to mix together.  Turn out on floured surface and knead 10-12 times.
Roll or pat out and cut into circles or squares.
Bake 425 for 10-12 mins.

You can add cheese, fruit, raisin to this mix as well.

Homemade pancake batter

1 cup flour
1 cup milk
1 egg
3 tbsp sugar
1 1/2 tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla
2 tbsp oil (I use coconut oil)
Mix all together

Add fresh blueberries,chocolate chips, to the batter if you wish.

I serve with fresh fruit and whip cream

Beef is marinating....

I have a very busy day today so I took a roast beef out of the freezer and poured my jerk seasoning over it. Back in the fridge it goes until tomorrow. Crock pot day! Going to serve it on a bun with mango slaw and pasta salad. Pics to follow

Arugula dressing

1/2 cup of olive oil
3 handfuls of arugula
1 lemon juice
Zest 1/2 lemon
Leaves from 3 sprigs lemon thyme
2 tbsp grated ginger

Put together in blender and make into a dressing.

Enjoy in a salad or rice noodle salad

Citrus salsa

2 oranges  segmented cut in half
12 cherry tomatoes cut in half
1 green onion minced
1/2 a jalapeño minced
1/2 lemon juiced
Salt
Pepper

Mixed together, let flavors marry for a few hours.
So good in a bed if greens,fish,chicken burgers

Jerk Chicken

Jerk seasoning!
2 jalepeno minced, removed the seeds
1 med onion minced
1/4 lime juice
3 tbsp fresh thyme
2 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp fresh ginger. Grated
1 tbsp allspice
1 tsp cinnamon
1tsp salt
2 tbsp oil. I used coconut
1/2 ginger ale or ginger beer I buy it at superstore.

Put in a large zip lock bag with either chicken or pork. Massage the meat with the mixture.
I let it marinate for about 6 hours.

Cook on the grill or in the oven. Slow cooker works great too. Serve in a bun with my pineapple/mango salsa or over rice.

Enjoy

Cream puffs!!

Super easy! Not sure why I didn't try these before.
1/2 butter
1 cup hot water
1 cup flour
1/4 tsp salt
4 eggs
Whipped cream
Chocolate

Practice makes perfect.....

So until I know if I made the cut for Master chef Canada,I need to practice things I haven't made in a long time.
Cream puffs, Hollandaise sauce, creme brulé!

Well I have to start practicing

Starting to re learn some of the basics. Practice makes perfect. Sunday is going to be brunch day! Eggs Benedict, souffles, quiche and donuts.

After a 4 day trip to Vegas

I experienced a lot of fantastic food while I was in Las Vegas.
I will start posting recipes etc again tomorrow. Today is family day :)

Why.......

Busy mom's cookbook is all the recipes I feed my family everyday. I am always attempting to add more fruit and veggies into my dishes. Cut out all the processed garbage and replace it with whole foods.

Picture below is of my "no fail banana muffins, topped with nutmeg cream cheese frosting and a banana chip.

Spicy Lentil soup

2 cup red lentils
3 tbsp coconut oil
1 large onion peeled and chopped
1 clove garlic peeled and minced
1 carrot peeled and grated
1 celery rib chopped small
1 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp fresh ginger grated
1/2 tsp tumeric
1 tsp coriander
good grind of fresh pepper
3 1/2 cups of ham or vegetable stock

rinse the lentil and drain well
In a soup pot add coconut oil, onions, carrot,celery
cook for about 5 mins add garlic and spices, lentils
cook for 5 mins and add stock

Simmer for about 25 mins uncovered.

I add a cubed ham to the soup before serving.
Another great topping is my corn salsa.

Enjoy.....

OMG...........Bacon Jam

BACON JAM !!!!!! Its my family's new ketchup

So one of my friends gave me her Bacon Jam recipe and then I played with it until I got this.....

1 pound of bacon cut into 1 inch pieces
1 med.size sweet onion   chopped small
1/2 a small Thai chili   minced small
2 cups of chicken stock
2 tbsp honey
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar

in a large skillet pan fry up the bacon
when bacon starts rendering down add onion, cook until onions are turning brown.
don't drain the fat, add the balsamic vinegar, 3/4 c of chicken stock bring to a boil and cook down. When
the stock has reduced to almost nothing add the honey and 3/4 c of chicken stock. boil again until it reduces to a sticky jam consistency.
let cool for 5 mins then  put into the blender with remaining stock. I add the peppers now.
Put into a small pot and serve warm. I boil for about a minute.

Enjoy

After taking a day or two off.....

I am going to add a few more recipes to try and get caught up on my list of recipes.



SWEET AND SPICY CHICKEN DRUMSTICKS

10 drumsticks
olive oil
salt
pepper
1/2 cayenne

Toss the drumsticks in olive oil and then sprinkle salt pepper and cayenne on them.

GLAZE

5 tbsp honey
2 tbsp fish sauce
4 tsp dark soy sauce
juice from 1 lemon
juice from 1/2 lime
3 tbsp rice wine vinegar
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp sesame oil

Mix all together

HEAT the oven for 400 degrees and lay drumsticks in a baking dish and bake for 18 mins
after 18 mins, take chicken out and brush the drumsticks with the glaze.
cook for another 20 mins and remember to turn the drumsticks during that time.

My family enjoys these drumsticks with pasta or potato salad.

YUM YUM

MANGO, AVOCADO SALAD 

serves 4

2 ripe mangoes slice

2 ripe avocados  slice

juice from 1/2 lemon ( use to keep avocado from browning) remember you need some for dressing

2 cups of baby greens

2 tbsp sweet/spicy toasted pine nuts

I layer the mango and avocado on the bottom then put the greens and pine nuts, drizzle with dressing.

I have also just tossed it all in a bowl and lightly dressed and sprinkled pine nuts on the top.

DRESSING

2 tbsp of orange juice

2 tbsp lemon juice\

1 tbsp whole grain mustard

2 tbsp olive oil

2 tbsp avocado oil

sea salt 

ground pepper

sweet/spicy pine nuts

1/2 cup of pine nuts in a non stick pan ( toast for a minute)

add 1 tsp of butter, mix around till melted,

1/2 tsp of cayenne and 1 tbsp of brown sugar to the mix

I mix until sugar is forming bubble and then pour on to a piece of parchment paper.

Let cool.

My daughter and I have to make a double batch because we eat these like chips.

Enjoy

A few salsa recipes

FRESH CORN SALSA

2 cobs of corn  (roasted on the bbq) take off the cob

1 red pepper (roasted on the bbq) remove skin dice

1 mango (chopped small)

1 avocado small pieces

2 green onions ( minced)

1 lime (juice)

1/2 red chili or jalapeno (finely chopped)

fresh cilantro finely chopped 

sea salt

fresh ground pepper

add all fruit and veg to a bowl, add lime juice,salt,pepper  mix together and refrigerate. I like to let it sit for 4 or 5 hours.

This is the salsa that we put on my butternut squash soup.

PINEAPPLE SALSA

2 pineapples peeled and cored (chopped bite size pieces)

1/4 of a large red onion finely chopped

1 red thai bird chili  finely chopped

1/2 bag of frozen mango (I chop the pieces up )

4 stems of cilantro (just the leaves) chopped finely

1/4 tsp cayenne

mix together and allow to sit for a few hours

we use this like a slaw or condiment

Dressings

Saskatoon dressing

1 1/2 cups of saskatoons
1 tbsp of honey
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tbsp of red wine vinegar
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
zest from 1/2 lemon
juice from 1/2 a lemon
1/2 a shallot minced

sweat down shallots in a bit of oil, add in saskatoons, simmer for a 5-8 minutes (until starting to break down)
add honey, vinegars, lemon zest
cook down for 5 minutes
put mixture in the blender (I use pulse setting)
slowly add in the olive oil and lemon juice.
salt/pepper to taste.

I use this like a sandwich spread, you can use a little more oil if adding to a salad

Rhubarb Dressing

1 cup of rhubarb cooked down
1/4 olive oil
2 tbsp cider vinegar
2 tbsp honey grain mustard
2 tbsp of honey

blend in blender for a smoother texture

great on summer greens

Well I did it!!!

So I just got home from my Master chef audition and I got as far as I could today.....Now we wait and see. I will be posting 2-3 recipes a day to get caught up.

24 hours to go.........

So I leave for Winnipeg today and 24 hours from now I will be waiting for my turn to impress the judges. Masterchef Canada here I come. With all my attitude, and an amazing dish!
I want to make my little home town of Rivers Manitoba proud.