One of Madisen's favorite dishes

Curried chick peas


2 tbsp butter
1 small onion finely chopped
1 clove garlic finely chopped
1 tbsp fresh grated ginger
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp corriander
1/2 tsp tumeric
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1 large can of chick peas
2 tbsp chopped parsley


in a skillet pan melt butter add onions
saute for 8 mins, add garlic,ginger and all spices
mix well let cook 1 minute
Add chick peas and liquid from the can into the skillet
stir and let cook another few minutes or until liquid reduces by half.

This is great cold or hot and the flavor improves after 24 hours.

Tempura battered deep fried butternut squash chips

I had a butternut squash that had a very long neck on it so I peeled it and sliced it into thin chips.
I thought what can I do with this and I thought of the zucchini chips I made in the summer that the kids gobbled up so I gave these a try.


Using my onion ring/fish batter listed on my blog
I lightly salted the slices battered them and then fried them.
OMG so good and a good alternative to fries or onion rings

vanilla,oatmeal,banana cupcakes Another mommy cheat

Sometimes time gets away from me and I have to put a snack out for after school so I throw together these cupcakes and the kids love them.


1 white cake mix
1 banana mashed
1/4 cup oats

In a large mixing bowl put cake mix,1/4 cup oil,2 eggs,mashed banana, 1/4 cup oats and 2 eggs
mix together add 1/2 cup of water and mix together.
I add the water slowly because I don't want the batter too loose.
spoon into lined muffin tins and top with a few chocolate chips.

Easy and delicious

Quick Easy and a few more mommy cheats

Chicken and Tortellini Soup

3 chicken breasts chopped up 1/2 inch cubes
1 small onion chopped small
2 carrots sliced thin
1 small zucchini sliced thin
2 cups of fresh spinach or 3 cubes of frozen ( they come in a bag of cubes about the size of ice cubes,perfect for soup and cheap)
1 package of chicken/bacon filled tortellini or cheese filled
1 1 litre of chicken stock
1 cup of water
2 tbsp oil
1 tsp basil
1 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp garlic


in pot put oil,onion,chicken,garlic,salt,pepper
cook for 10 mins on medium heat
add veggies cook for 8 mins and then add stock and water
add basil,oregano,
cook until veggies are soft
Add tortellini 5 mins before serving.

Super Easy, Super good

Honey crusted chicken another kid favorite

18-20 mins  350 degrees  makes 6 servings

4 chicken breasts cut in half or 8 boneless skinless chicken thighs
1 tbsp of honey
2 tbsp orange juice
1/4 tsp fresh grated ginger
pinch pepper,salt
pinch cayenne
3/4 cup crusted cornflakes  (turns into about 1/3-1/2 cup)

mix together honey,salt,pepper,cayenne,ginger,orange juice
dredge the chicken in the mixture and then into the crushed cornflakes.
Bake for 18-20 minutes

Wheelie pasta with cheddar cheese and ham hidden veggies too

So some of my recipes have certain little cheats because I am a busy mom.
This recipe has a cheat or two...............


2 1/2 cups of pasta  (to make it fun I use the kind that looks like a wheel)
1 can of campbell's cheddar cheese soup
1 can of milk (use the cheddar cheese soup can)
1 carrot grated
1 small zucchini peeled and grated
1 rib celery chopped small
1 ham steak cut into small cubes
1 cup shredded cheese

cook off pasta ( leave a slight bite to it because it will be baked for 20 mins)
drain pasta and place back in pot
stir in grated veggies and celery, ham
In your pasta pot add can of soup,milk and 1/2 the shredded cheese
mix together well
Pour into a greased casserole dish
sprinkle with remaining cheese and cake for 20 mins at 350

What a crazy Monday morning........................

A super easy kid friendly meal
Every kid likes chicken fingers, these look the same but are healthy and delicious


Sole fingers

Instead of horrible pre package fish fingers give these simple fish fingers a try!

1 cup bread crumbs (I use seasoned panko crumbs) presidents choice black label to be exact
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
4 thawed sole fillets   ( frozen fish section at super store $6) CUT INTO STRIPS
3 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp butter

combine bread crumbs and parmesan cheese together mix well
dry off sole and then coat with bread crumb cheese mix
heat up a skillet pan and place half the oil and butter in the pan  medium heat
You need the other half of butter and oil for second batch of fingers

Fry on side 1 for 5 mins and flip and fry for another 3 minutes. both sides should be light brown and crispy.

Serve with oven baked sweet potato fries.

cut 2 sweet potatoes into small strips 1/4 inch thick and toss in a bowl with olive oil,salt,pepper and a dash of Italian seasoning. bake at 375 for 15 mins and then turn over for another 10-12 mins.
I always line my cookie sheet with parchment paper.

Vanilla fridge sugar cookies

350 degrees  5 dozen round cookies  10-12 mins


21/2 cup flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup butter (room temp)
3/4 sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 tsp vanilla


decorate with coloured sugar,crushed candied canes,chocolate chips. a great snow day baking idea

stir flour.baking powder,salt together

in a large bowl  cream butter,sugar together
add egg and vanilla and cream together
gradually add flour mixture.

make into a ball and cut in half
2 large sheets of plastic wrap and roll up the dough into logs
refrigerate for 2 hours

remove plastic wrap and cut into 1/4 inch rounds.
place on a lined cookie sheet, decorate with coloured sugar or candies ( if icing or using c.chips) wait until baked.

bake for 12 mins or lightly golden brown.

You can also colour the dough with gel food colour and make swirled coloured dough.
(which is what we are doing on Friday at daycare)

Chocolate pecan shortbread bars

36 bars     350 degrees  9x13 pan  45 mins baking time


2 cups flour plus 1/2 cup
1/2 cup icing sugar
1 cup cubed unsalted butter (cold)
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
4 eggs
2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cup chopped pecan pieces  36 whole pecans
1 cup shredded fine coconut
1 bag semi sweet chocolate chips

grease 9x13 pan pre heat oven

stir together 2 cup flour and icing sugar with mixer
Add cold butter blend until a sand like texture
press into the greased pan and bake for 20-25 mins until just golden brown around edges

stir together 1/2 cup flour,baking powder, and salt
whisk eggs, brown sugar and vanilla together and combine with flour mix
stir until just combined
add in coconut, 3/4 of bag chocolate chips and pecan pieces
stir until all combined

pour over baked crust and bake for 20 mins  place 1 whole pecan piece in rows so that each bar gets 1
melt remaining chocolate chips in microwave and drizzle over cooked bars.
cool for 3 hours and slice into 36 bars

Christmas baking and party recipes

I am going to start putting great easy Christmas goodies and party treats on my blog this week.

I was away from my blog for 3 weeks and it seems like forever.
I would like to thank everyone who visits my site and checks out my recipes. :)

Until we cook together again.................

Greek inspired burgers or sliders

1 lb of ground beef
1 lb of ground lamb or pork
2 tsp greek seasoning
1 tsp salt
1 tsp ground pepper

mix together well, form into 6 oz burgers or 4 oz burgers for a appetiser party
grill for 5 mins each side for 4 oz size
grill for 7 mins each side for 6 oz size

garnish with 1 tbsp of tzatziki sauce, thin slice red onion and fresh spinach on a bun.

Tzatziki sauce recipe located in my blog.

Just a little different from the average burger

Double Chocolate Cupcakes

12 servings   350 degrees    25-30 mins   cool time 8 hours

1 egg
1/2 cup plus 3 tbsp cocoa
3 tbsp flour
2 tsp instant espresso
1/2 tsp salt
a pinch ground black pepper
3/4 cup plus 3 tbsp cream
2 tsp vanilla
4 oz dark chocolate chips
3 large egg whites
1/4 tsp cream of tarter
1/3 cup sugar
1 cup icing sugar
3 tsp butter  room temp

12 muffin tins  greased well

beat 1 egg in small bowl    set aside
In a sauce pan combine brown sugar 1/2 cup cocoa,flour, espresso, salt,pepper,
gradually whisk in 3/4 cup of cream and vanilla   cook over low heat until espresso and sugar are completely dissolved.
remove from heat and stir in chocolate chips stir until melted
stir 1/2 of the chocolate mixture into the beaten egg and then add back into the rest of the chocolate mixture.
beat 3 egg whites and cream of tarter in a large bowl until soft peaks form
gradually mix in white sugar while still beating with mixer.
stir in 1/3 of the egg white mixture into the cooled chocolate mixture and gently fold together.
add chocolate mixture into the remaining egg white fixture and fold together.

Divide mixture into the 12 muffin tins place muffin tin in a warm water bath and place in the oven
bake 25-30 or until the tops are firm. DO NOT POKE WITH TOOTHPICK. the centers will still be soft. you want them to be.
leave in the tins for up to 8 hours in the refrigerator.

stir icing sugar,margarine,remaining cocoa,and cream and blend until spreadable.
loosen cupcakes from the tin, place on plate and frost cupcakes.
Its alot of work but they are so worth it.  great after any dinner.

Chocolate peanut butter fudge

8x8 pan

2 tsp coconut oil     grease 8x8 pan
8 ounces unsweetend chocolate
1 cup natural peanut butter
4 ounces cream cheese  room temperature
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup chopped unsalted peanuts

melt chocolate over a pot of boiling water
combine peanut butter,cream cheese sugar,vanilla,salt  cream together
add peanut butter mixture into warm melted chocolate, stir in chopped peanuts

pour mixture into 8x8 pan and place into fridge.
let set for 3 hours and cut into bite size squares

great for christmas trays

Banana Oatmeal Choc.chip Cookies

350 degrees  18 mins


2 mashed ripe bananas
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup butter
1 tsp vanilla
1 large egg
1 1/4 cup flour
2 cup oats
1 tsp b.soda
1/2 cup chocolate chips


combine bananas,b.sugar,butter,vanilla,egg together   Mix well
add flour,oats stir well  add chocolate chips

Drop heaping tbsp of batter onto greased cookie sheet  leave 1 inch between the batter

bake 18 mins

great heathy cookie