Author Archives: wrks4me

Cannoli Filling

27 Sunday Jan 2019

Posted by in Dessert

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The trick is to balance the right sweetness to the richness of the Ricotta cheese Cheese. The ratio is 3 parts of Ricotta cheese to 1 part of sugar.

cannoli

Ingredientswrks4me_terry_tested-11

  • 475 Grams (2 1/3 cups) of Smooth Ricotta Cheese
  • 160 grams (3/4 cup) of regular sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon of Vanilla
  • 4 oz of Mini Chocolate Chips

Directions

  1. Cream the Ricotta cheese
  2. Blend in sugar and vanilla til smooth
  3. Fold in the Mini Chocolate Chips
  4. Put into a piping bag and pipe into prepare Cannoli Shells

Enjoy

 

 

Cheeseburger and Cauliflower Hash

14 Monday Jan 2019

Posted by in Low Carb, Main Dishes, wrks4me - Recipes

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cheeseburg and cauliflower hash

Ingredientswrks4me_terry_tested-11

  • 2 lbs of ground meat (chicken or beef)
  • 1-4 teaspoons of your favourite steak seasoning (note some steak seasoning are extremely high in salt. Please add a little at a time and taste. A little goes a long way.) I use Paul Prudhomme Blackened Steak Magic Seasoning.
  • 4 cups steamed and chopped cauliflower
  • 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar cheese
  • 8 oz of cream cheese (broken into pieces)
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 cup heavy cream (whipping cream) or substitute a can of mushroom soup
  • 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese

Directions

  1. Put cauliflower into a microwavable dish with a cover and microwave on high for 5 minutes
  2. While cauliflower is cooking, brown your meat until it’s cooked
  3. Drain the fat off the meat and mix in seasoning
  4. Add the cooked cauliflower and 1/2 cup of cheddar cheese and the cream cheese
  5. In a separate bowl whisk together the egg and cream mixture (or mushroom soup)
  6. Pour egg mixture in with the meat and cauliflower
  7. Spread into a baking dish (approx 8″ x 11.5″)
  8. Top with 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese
  9. Bake in a 400 degree F. oven for 30 minutes (uncovered)

Enjoy

Adapted from the original recipe: https://mylifecookbook.com/low-carb-cheeseburger-cauliflower-casserole/

 

 

 

Instapot (Slow Cooker) Split Pea Soup

03 Thursday Jan 2019

Posted by in Home, Soups

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You can either use your Instapot (Pressure Cooker) or you can use a slow cooker to make this flavourful soup. It’s so easy and so tasty

slit pea soup

Ingredientswrks4me_terry_tested-11

  • 1 cup diced smoked ham
  • 1 Tablespoon of butter or oil
  • 1 Large carrot – diced
  • 1 Large onion – diced
  • 2 Large stalks of celery
  • 1 pound (454g) dry split pea (yellow or green) – not pre-soaked
  • 6 cups of low sodium chicken stock
  • 1/8-1/4 tsp of dried thyme
  • 6 cloves of garlic (minced)
  • 2 Bay leaves

Directions if using Instapot

  1. Use the Sauté function and add the butter or oil along with the diced onions
  2. Sauté onions til transparent, turn off pot
  3. Add the garlic, ham, thyme, carrots, celery and bay leaves
  4. Pour in a little of the chicken stock to deglaze the pot
  5. Once the pot has been deglazed add the dry split peas
  6. Add the remainder of the chicken stock
  7. Set Instapot to manual and cook at high pressure for 15 minutes (or use the soup feature)
  8. Once the 15 minutes let the pressure release naturally for an additional 10 minutes or until the silver button (float valve) drops down
  9. Open the pot and remove the bay leaves
  10. Stirring will thicken the soup

Serve and enjoy

If using a Slow Cooker

Use can use the same recipe in a slow cooker. Instead of using an Instapot, sauté the onions in a pan and add them to the slow cooker along with all the other ingredients. Then set slow cooker for 5-6 hours on high or 8-10 hours on low

Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

09 Sunday Dec 2018

Posted by in Baking, Dessert, wrks4me - Recipes

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Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredientswrks4me_terry_tested-11

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt (use only half if you use salted butter)
  • 4 ounces milk chocolate squares (chopped)
  • 4 ounces of chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup or (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

DirectionsDouble Chocolate Chip Cookies 2

  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
  2. Whisk together flour, baking soda, cocoa powder, and salt (if using unsalted butter) into a bowl (put aside)
  3. Over medium melt butter and add chopped chocolate into a pan. Cook until all is melted
  4. Put melted chocolate mixture into a mixing bowl and add sugar, eggs, and vanilla; mix on medium speed until combined.
  5. Reduce speed to low and gradually mix in flour/cocoa mixture.
  6. After all is mixed fold in chocolate chips.
  7. With a cookie scoop (1 1/2 inch) scoop batter onto a lined baking sheet (I prefer a silicon pad)
  8. Bake approximately 15 minutes or until cookies are flat and surfaces begin to crack.
  9. Let cool on wire racks.

Options: Add your favourite chopped nuts (ie. Walnuts or Pecan) along with the Chocolate Chips

Enjoy

Chicken Breasts Stuffed with Spinach

06 Thursday Dec 2018

Posted by in Main Dishes, wrks4me - Recipes

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Chicken stuffed with spinach Cropped

wrks4me_terry_tested-11

Ingredients

For Rub

  • 4 Boneless Chicken Breasts
  • Olive oil to rub onto breasts
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon paprika

For Stuffings

  • 4 ounces (114 grams) plain cream cheese
  • 1 1/2 cups of chopped baby spinach
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan Cheese
  • 2 tablespoons of Mayonnaise

Directions:

  1. Drizzle olive oil over both sides of chicken breasts
  2. Add all the “rub” ingredients into a bowl and sprinkle over both sides of chicken breasts
  3. Using a sharp knife, cut a pocket into the side of the chicken breasts
  4. Combine all the “Stuffing” ingredients into a bowl
  5. Spoon mixture into each chicken pocket
  6. Place breasts onto a baking sheet and bake 30 minutes at 375 degrees F. uncovered or until thoroughly cooked

Enjoy

 

 

 

Meaty Meatballs

23 Friday Nov 2018

Posted by in International Dishes, Main Dishes

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Meatballs in sauce

Ingredientswrks4me_terry_tested-11

  • 1/2 cup of bread crumbs
  • 1/2 cup beef broth or milk
  • 2 onions diced
  • 2-3 pounds of ground beef or 2 pounds ground beef + 1 pound of ground pork
  • 3 eggs
  • 1/4 cup of dry parsley or 1/4 bunch of fresh parsley (chopped)
  • 3-5 cloves of crushed garlic (your preference)
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons of salt
  • 1  1/2 teaspoons of ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes
  • 2 teaspoons of dry Italian herb seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon dry basil
  • 6 tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil (or cooking oil)

Directions

  1. Soak bread crumbs in beef broth or milk and set aside for 15-20 minutes
  2. Heat olive oil  and cook onions til lightly caramelised (set aside to cool)
  3. Put all ingredients into a bowl and combine well
  4. Cover with plastic wrap and put into the refrigerator for an hour to blend flavours
  5. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
  6. Put a little vegetable oil on your hand and with an ice cream scoop (for large meatballs) or cook scoop (for small meatballs) for your meatballs by rolling between hands. (I use latex cloves)
  7. Arrange meatballs on a prepared baking sheet lined with foil and lightly oiled
  8. Bake in oven for 30-40 minutes or until done or lightly brown
  9. Either serve them with your favourite Italian sauce or just plain with a little Parmesan cheese sprinkled over them. I put them into a pot Italian sauce and let them simmer for an hour or so.

Enjoy

Chicken and Dumplings

06 Thursday Sep 2018

Posted by in Home, Main Dishes, wrks4me - Recipes

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Chicken and Dumplings

Ingredientswrks4me_terry_tested-11

  • 1 Whole Chicken
  • 1 Large onion, cubed
  • 3 large celery stalks (diced)
  • 2 large carrot, diced
  • 3 large potatoes diced
  • 1 cups of frozen peas
  • 1/2 tsp poultry seasoning
  • 3 cups of cold water
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 2-3 tbsp of flour and equal amounts of chicken broth as thickening mixture

For dumplings:

  • 1/2 cup crème fraiche or yogurt
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 tsp fresh chopped thyme leaves or 1/2 tsp of dry thyme
  • 2 cups self-rising flour (or 2 cups of regular flour plus 3 teaspoons of baking powder and 1 teaspoon of fine table salt)

Directions

  1. Place whole chicken and 1/2 tsp poultry seasoning to a Dutch oven along with onions, carrots and celery and 3 cups of water
  2. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to simmer for 1 hour
  3. Once chicken is cooked remove and cool. Then separate meat from carcass
  4. Add meat and potatoes to broth mixture
  5. Combine the 2-3 tbsp of flour with equal amounts of chicken broth and add to the liquid
  6. Season stock with salt and paper to taste.
  7. Add frozen peas
  8. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 15-20 minutes with dumplings

To Make dumplings

  1. Add 1/2 cups of crème fraiche or yogurt (I use plain Greek yogurt)
  2. Whisk 1/2 cups of milk with 2 eggs along with 2 tsp of thyme leaves or 1/2 tsp of dry thyme.
  3. Add 2 cups of self-rising flour (or 2 cups of regular flour plus 3 teaspoons of baking powder and 1 teaspoon of fine table salt). Do not overmix.
  4. drop 1 tablespoon at a time of the mixture into the chicken broth mixture and cook for 15 minutes or until dumplings appear light and fluffy, and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Enjoy

French Almond Cake

02 Sunday Sep 2018

Posted by in Baking, wrks4me - Recipes

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French Almond Cake - update

Ingredientswrks4me_terry_tested-11

For Cake Batter

  • 3/4 cup of plain yogurt or Greek yogurt
  • 1 1/2 cups of sugar
  • 4 large eggs (room temperature)
  • 3/4 cup of almond flour
  • 1 1/2 cups of  all-purpose flour (preferably unbleached)
  • 3 teaspoons of baking powder
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon almond extract
  • 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
  • 3/4 cup vegetable or canola oil

For Glaze

  • 1 teaspoon grated orange zest
  • 3 tablespoons of orange juice
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
  • 3/4 cup of powdered sugar (icing sugar) (plus additional for decoration)
  • 1/2 cups sliced toasted almonds (store bought or make them yourself, recipe to follow)

Directions

To make toasted almonds

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Place parchment paper onto a cookie sheet. Spray parchment paper with vegetable oil
  3. Spread slivered almonds in a single layer and bake 10-15 minutes until almonds just begin to turn golden brown. Stir every 5 minutes to prevent burning. When toasted remove from sheet and keep aside for decoration

For Glaze

  1. Mix together orange zest, orange juice, powdered (icing) sugar, vanilla and almond extracts. Whisk and set aside

For Cake Batter

  1. Spray sides of a 9-inch round cake pan and line bottom with parchment paper
  2. Stir until well blended the yogurt, sugar and eggs.
  3. Add all-purpose and almond flours along with baking powder, salt and almond and vanilla extracts
  4. Add oil and mix for about 2 or 3 minutes
  5. Pour batter into pan and bake for 30-45 minutes. If top is getting too brown, cover with foil sprayed with vegetable oil to prevent sticking. Bake until cake feels springy to the touch and toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Do not over bake. Cool cake on wire rack.
  6. While cake is still warm use a pastry brush to gently pat glaze all over the top and sides. Continue to patting on glaze til all used up, it will be soaked up by the cake.
  7. Sprinkle almonds over top of cake while glaze is still wet and pat gently.
  8. Cool cake completely and then sprinkle with powdered (icing) sugar and serve

Enjoy

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fresh Fattoush Salad

02 Thursday Aug 2018

Posted by in International Dishes, Salads, wrks4me - Recipes

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Fattoush Salad.jpg

Ingredients

Vegetables for the Saladwrks4me_terry_tested-11

  • 1/2 to 1 head of romaine lettuce
  • 1 Large piece of Pita Bread (Toasted in the oven for 10 minutes
    at 275 degrees F)
    Break into bite size pieces
  • 1-2 medium tomatoes (seeded and diced)
  • 1-2 English cucumbers (diced)
  • 2-3 Radishes (sliced thin) Optional
  • 1/2 to 1 bunch of fresh mint (chopped)
  • 1/2 to 1 bunch of parsley (chopped)
  • 1/2 to 1 red bell pepper (diced)
  • 1/2 to 1 green bell pepper (diced)
  • 4 baby green onion (sliced)

Salad Dressing Vinaigrette

  • 2 garlic cloves (Finely minced)
  • 1-2 lemons juiced (I use 1 lemon)
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 2 Tbsp pomegranate (grenadine) molasses
  • 1 Tbsp sumac spice
  • 1/2 tsp of dry mint
  • 1/4 tsp salt and pepper each

Directions

  1. Mix all the vegetables together in a bowl
  2. Mix all the Salad Dressing Vinaigrette ingredients into a mixing jar and shake together to mix
  3. Add dressing to salad to taste

Enjoy

 

 

 

Dog Food Meat Loaf

24 Tuesday Jul 2018

Posted by in wrks4me - Pets

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Dog Food Meatloaf

Had been looking for a good dog food and decided to make my own, so I looked on the web and put together a dog food that has balance and is appetizing to my dog (I tasted it myself and it tastes good).wrks4me_terry_tested-11

Ingredients

  • 4  lbs (1.8 kg) of ground chicken
  • 2 cups of frozen peas with carrots
  • 2 cups of combined frozen broccoli, snap peas (lightly steamed and chopped)
  • 2 cups of cooked brown rice with pearl barley (cook 1 cup of brown rice, 1 cup of pearl barley with 4 cups of water)
  • 1 large sweet potato (diced into small pieces) uncooked
  • 3 eggsDog Food Muffins

Directions

  1. Mix all ingredients together and spoon into muffin tins lined with silicon muffin liners or put into a meatloaf pan or into a roasting pan
  2. Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees F. or until  done
  3. Cool and then cut into pieces depending of the size of dog if using meatloaf or roasting pan.
  4. Put into the fridge or wrap and put them in the freezer until needed.