Zucchini-Spice muffins

350 degrees     18-20 mins


With a new gardening season before us, here is a great and tasty way to use up zucchini that you might have in the freezer.

3 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp cloves
1 tbsp vanilla
1 tsp fresh lemon zest
1 cup oil (vegetable) coconut if you like but it will change the taste a bit.
2 large eggs
3 cups grated zucchini
1 cup chopped nuts if desired
2 cups lightly packed brown sugar or 1 cup honey

In a large bowl whisk together flour,spices,sugar,baking powder,soda
In a separate bowl whisk together oil,eggs,vanilla, zest Add to dry ingredients

mix together,  add the cupcake liners 3/4 full

bake and enjoy

A new adventure means trying out new recipes

Arugula,Fennel,& Mandarin Salad

1/4 cup toasted pine nuts. If you have walnuts or pecans they would be great too
8 cups of arugula or any baby greens you happen to like
1/2 a fennel bulb thinly sliced
8 slices of prosciutto or you could use some chicken breast (slice strips in half)
2 cans of mandarin segments  drain off syrup
1/4 cup of dried cranberries or cherries
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp red wine vinegar
1 tsp honey
1 tsp Dijon mustard
pinch salt and pepper

Toast pine nuts in a dry skillet 2-3 mins  watch they don't get too dark.
Use a large platter for family style or 6-8 small plates. We do a lot of family style at our house.

Lay out your greens,fennel (I toss together first) on the platter, arrange the prosciutto,mandarins around the greens, sprinkle on the pine nuts and cranberries.
in a small vessel mix together your olive oil,honey,red wine vinegar,salt and pepper.
drizzle on salad just before serving,

So good,so easy

Bow tie pasta with pesto and cherry tomatoes, feta cheese

So with summer right around the corner and sports are taking up all my free time here is a salad I can keep in th fridge for a day or 2. Add a nice sub sandwich to it and supper or lunch is complete.


I make my own pesto and you can find my recipe on the blog. If you don't have time to do that it's okay! There are a lot of store made pesto that is great.

1 box of bow tie pasta cooked and drained. Don't over cool the pasta!
8-12 cherry tomatoes cut in half
1/2  cup crumbled feta
1/2 cup of pesto
2 leaves of basil chopped fine
Pinch of salt and pepper

In a large bowl toss warm pasta with pesto, salt and pepper
Add tomatoes, feta and basil gently toss
You can serve this warm or place in fridge

This lasts about 3 days in the fridge but at our house I am lucky if it makes it to supper time.
Great to send in the kids lunch too

Angry shrimp with spinach salad/citrus dreasing

An easy recipe when you are in a hurry to get something healthy and amazing on the table.


4 servings

1 bag or frozen 16-20 shrimp.  Leave the tail on

1 blood orange
1 pink grapefruit
1 tangelo
1 mandarin (segments)
2 tbsp olive oil
2 cloves garlic minced
1/2 fresh jalapeño sliced thin. Seeds removed
5 basil leaves thin sliced
1 tbsp orange zest
4 cups or 1 large bag fresh spinach
1/2 cup toasted pecans or walnuts

Flour mixture for shrimp

1 cup flour
1 tsp cayenne pepper or you can use your favourite ground chile pepper
1 tbsp sal
1 tsp fresh ground pepper

Mix together well in a bowl

Salad

1/4 of each citrus fruit into segments remove the thin skin. Cut large segments in 1/2
Sprinkle with sea salt and pepper
With other half of citrus juice into a bowl, add olive oil, jalapeño, basil a pinch of salt and pepper

Dredge shrimp in flour mixture

Fry in skillet with 1tbsp butter, 1 tbsp olive oil!
Don't over cool.

Dress spinach just before serving, add citrus segments and arrange shrimp.


This takes about 20 minutes total prep and cooking time.
Enjoy on the deck with a nice glass of wine.

Spicy pumpkin muffins

These are a hit in my house to the point I have to make a double batch now. 375 degrees 20-25 mins

3 eggs 

1 cup brown sugar

3/4 cup oil

1 small can pure pumpkin

2 cups flour

2 1/2 tsp baking powder

2 tsp cinnamon

1 1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/2 tsp clove

1 tsp ginger

1/2 tsp salt

In a mixing bowl cream together eggs,sugar,oil once combined add pumpkin

cream together

add spices mix then add baking powder and flour slowly.

You should end up with a wonderful fluffy mixture.

I use the tall parchment liners and add a little crunchy granola to the top of the batter.

So darn good!

Chickpea and quinoa salad

My daughter Madi has become a vegetarian so I have been trying out alot of new things for her lately and this was a home run.

1 small onion or shallot minced
5 mushrooms diced
1/2 orange or red pepper chopped
1 tomato chopped
1 can of chickpeas drained
1/4 cup of quinoa
2/3 cup of stock
1 tbsp olive oil


In a skillet add oil,onions and mushrooms cook about 5 minutes
add peppers,tomatoes and chick peas cook 5 minutes
add stock and bring to a boil add quinoa lower heat to low/med and cover for 8 minutes
At the end of 5 minutes give a good stir, turn heat off and leave covered for 15 minutes.

She has been eating it hot and cold
When she took it for lunch today she added chopped up tomato,cucumber and feta cheese and added a splash of her favorite roasted red pepper salad dressing.

Another great summer salad

Another chickpea salad

1 can chickpeas rinsed and drained
1/2 chopped red onion
12 grape tomatoes slices in half
4 leaves basil finely chopped
1 jalapeño seeds removed diced
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
A pinch of coarse sea salt and cracked pepper
Toss all together
Let sit 2 hours serve chilled

Watermelon,cucumber,basil chickpea salad

1 large slice of watermelon small cubes
About 2 cups
1 can chick peas drained rinsed
1 English cucumber diced
8 leaves of basil thinly chopped
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
A pinch of course sea salt
A pinch of cracked pepper

Toss together and enjoy

So good,refreshing on a hot summer day.

My mom cheat of the day

350 degrees 12 mins 12 muffin tin

1/2 a bag of president choice cookie mix
1/2 cup coconut oil
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup cold water
6 large marshmallows cut in half

Mix together in a bowl (not marshmallows)
Put a heaping tbsp in greased muffin tin
Bake for 10 minutes
Place 1/2 a marshmallow in the middle of each muffin
Place under broil until lightly golden brown.
Smores  without a campfire or the mess.

Busy prepping for my

Busing prepping and practicing for my Master chef Canada audition on Thursday.
Jicama kale apple slaw
Pulled pork
Spicy stewed oxtail
Saskatoon BBQ sauce.

Can't wait for my friends to try it all tonight.

Tandoori BBQ crock pot chicken

10 chicken thighs
2 ribs celery
2 carrots
1 onion
1 garlic clove
Juice of 1 lemon
2 tbsp tandoori masala spice (I buy mine at superstore)
2 cup chicken stock

Put onion,celery,carrot,garlic in bottom of crock pot.
Put chicken in, pour lemon juice over chicken, sprinkle with seasoning
Add chicken stock
Set in high for 4 hours or medium for 6.
When cooked stir in 1/2 cup of yogurt or sour cream.
Sever with rice and chick peas

Lemon muffins/vodka lemon glaze

350  14 mins

1/2 cup butter or coconut oil
1/2 cup white sugar
1 egg
Lemon juice from 1 lemon
Zest from 1/2 lemon
1 tbsp b.powder
1 3/4 cup flour

Cream butter and sugar together
Add egg mix well
Add lemon juice,zest
Add b.powder
Add flour mix
If batter is too dry, I add yogurt (a tbsp at a time)

Bake

In a sauce pan

1 tsp of butter
Juice of 1 lemon
1/2 cup white sugar
2 tbsp vodka

On low heat put butter,sugar,lemon juice
Stir until sugar is dissolved, add vodka
Stir occasionally until mixture thickens

Add the hot muffins right out of oven,
If glaze becomes too thick put back on low heat and add a splash of water

Jicama,apple,kale slaw

So good and crunchy

1 jicama peeled and julienned (matchsticks)
2 carrots grated
1 cup kale chopped finely
2 granny smith apples chopped small (leave peel on)
3 tbsp apple cider vinegar
3 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp celery seed (not salt)
Pinch course sea salt
Pinch of pepper

bacon corn chowder

15 mins  prep  20 mins cook time or throw it in the crock pot

1/2 lb bacon chopped into 1/2 pieces
1 leek finely sliced  (don't use the green part)
2 potatoes peeled and chopped small
1 can creamed corn
1 cup frozen corn
1 1/2 cup chicken stock
1 1/2 cup milk or cream  (your choice)
A pinch of fresh ground pepper
1 sprig of fresh thyme
Salt to taste

Brown bacon until crispy remove from pan
Remove half the bacon grease from the pan and then add the leeks
Cook down for 4-6 mins
On medium heat
Add potatoes,corn,creamed corn
Stir well
Add chicken stock, bring to a slow boil
Add thyme,pepper
When potatoes are soft, turn heat to low and add milk.
Let simmer but not boil!!!!
Stir in bacon before serving

Enjoy with a nice hot quick biscuit.
Recipe for biscuits are found on this blog.

If using a crock pot, cook bacon and leeks and add them with all the other ingredients and cook on low for 3-4 hours.

Apple cinnamon loaf with streusel crunch

350. Loaf pan (greased) 25 mins

1 egg
1 cup apple puree or jar applesauce
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
2 cups flour
1 tbsp b.powder
1/2 tsp b.soda

In large bowl cream butter and sugar
Add apple sauce mix
Add egg mix
Add cinnamon,b.powder,b.soda
Mix well
Stir in flour ( I add about 1/2 cup at a time) you don't want your batter too dry. If it is add 1/4 cup more apple puree.

Topping
3 tbsp butter
3 tbsp b.sugar
1 tbsp corn syrup
Mix together
Add 1/8 cup oats,rice crispies, 2 tbsp bran
You can add chopped nuts if you like
Mix together add to the top of batter once its in your loaf pan.

I turn the oven off once loaf is baked and set a timer for 5 mins leave load in oven for the 5 mins.

Made an awesome BBQ sauce last night

So easy and only a few ingredients needed

1 355 ml bottle of Stir stik stout by half pints
1 heaping tbsp of brown sugar
1/8 cup apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup ketchup
a pinch of chili flakes
a pinch of sea salt and pepper

pour beer into a sauce pan bring to a boil and reduce heat
add ketchup,brown sugar and stir until sugar dissolves
add vinegar,salt,pepper,chili flakes
stir and let simmer until it reduces by 1/4

I served it with pulled pork on a bun

SO freaking good

I think it is time to put my cookbook together.......

I have about 225 recipes in my scribbler and on my blog and I think its time to use a program I found and transfer all of them to my own web-cookbook.
I have healthy,kid friendly,family recipes as well as recipes good for a crowd so I think I will slowly start transferring them over and organizing them.
What do you think? good idea? Are my recipes cookbook worthy?

Summer salads

This recipe is awesome and keeps well in the fridge for a few days

3 cups grated carrot
1 cup thinly sliced nappa cabbage
1 can of black beans drained and rinsed
1/2 cup of raisins
1/2 jicama peeled and thinly sliced (match sticks)
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp corriander
2 tbsp lime juice
1/2 lime zested
3 tbsp olive oil
1/2 red onion diced

in a large bowl add all of your veggies, beans
in a small bowl put your lime juice,lime zest,olive oil, corriander,cumin mix together well
pour over veggies/beans mix well
add raisins
cover and place in the fridge for 2 hours before serving

I like to add 1/2 a jalapeno finely chopped

SUMMER SALADS

Shrimp,cucumber and mango salad

1 lb of shell on cleaned shrimp  uncooked  24-30 shrimp
1/2 cup fresh lime juice
1 english cucumber  sliced and cut in half  (not too thin,you want the crunch)
3/4 cup chopped fresh mango
1/2 cup finely chopped red onion
1 jalapeno ( take seeds out) finely chopped
1/4 cup finely chopped cilantro
pinch course sea salt and pepper
2 tbsp olive oil

poach shrimp in pot of boiling water (I put 1/2 lemon in the water)
takes about 2 mins  drain and place shrimp in an ice bath
when cool remove shell and tail

In a glass bowl place cool drained shrimp and cover with lime juice (keep about 3 tbsp of juice)
place in fridge for about 2 hours
in a separate bowl add mango,cucumber,jalapeno,red onion, salt,pepper and 3 tbsp olive oil.
drain off shrimp and add to other mixture, mix well
add remainder of lime juice just before serving
serve cold by itself or on a bed of crisp iceberg lettuce

Masterchef audition invitation

So I am trying again. My official invitation came via email in Monday.
I will be posting all the recipes that I trying over the next few weeks.
I have to have the perfect bite of food and attitude ready for July 2.

Fingers crossed :)