Cheese Crackers

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Ingredients

  • 8 ounces of grated cheddar in food processor
  • 1 cup of flour
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 cup of butter
  • 2 tbsp of milk

Directions

  1. Put all ingredients into a food processor and pulse til blended and forms a ball
  2. Dust surface with flour and Roll out dough as thinly as possible
  3. Using a pizza cutter or lattice cutter (the one you’d use for making a lattice pie crust) cut into squares and poke centre of each cracker with a chop stick
  4. Transfer to a parchment lined cookie sheet
  5. Sprinkle with a little salt over each
  6. Bake 325 degrees F for 17 to 20 minutes until golden brown on bottom

Allow to cool and store for a brief time in an airtight container to retain freshness. Since these crackers contain dairy products, you should store them for a longer time in the freezer. If they start to lose some of their crispiness, you can reheat them in the oven for 5-8 minutes.

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Cacio e Pepe (Creamy Cheesy Pasta with Pepper)

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The easiest way to a creamy pasta dish

Ingredients

  • 8 oz. Spaghetti
  • 7 to 8 ounces (1 cup) Pecorino Romano Cheese (grated very fine) divided into two separate bowls
  • Ground black pepper corns to taste

Directions

  1. In a dry pan, toast black pepper corn over low heat to release their aroma (only a few moments required)
  2. Take off heat and finely grind using a pepper grinder or mortar and pestle
  3. Bring a hot of water to a boil and cook pasta according to directions (do not overcook)
  4. Note: do not through out pasta water
  5. In a small heat proof bowl add one half of the cheese and about 2-3 tablespoons of pasta water and stir to make a paste
  6. In a new pan which is off the heat, add the black pepper and add about1 1/2 oz of pasta water to warm the pan. Add the pasta and cheese paste and mix vigorously to develop a creamy sauce
  7. Sprinkle the remaining cheese over top and continue to toss until the cheese melts through
  8. If required add a little bit of reserved pasta water to ensure the sauce is creamy

Serve and enjoy

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Cream of Anything Soup Mix

Make this soup mix and add your favourite fixings such as shredded chicken, diced celery or mushrooms. This can also be used as a starter base to gravies and sauces.

Ingredients

  • 4 cups dry/powdered milk
  • 1 1/2 cups cornstarch
  • 1/2 cup chicken bouillon powder
  • 1 tbsp parsley
  • 1 tbsp minced onion
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp oregano
  • 1/2 tsp thyme
  • 1 tsp pepper

Mix everything together and store in an airtight container.

To make:

  1. 1 cup chicken broth
  2. 1/3 cup soup mix
  3. 1/4-1/2 cup add such as celery, chicken, mushrooms

Combine all ingredients into a sauce pan along with your add-ins and stir over medium heat until thickened.

Additionally you can use as you would any cream-of soup in casseroles, crockpot meals, etc. Note: This recipe is the equivalent of one can of cream soup.

Note: I have also substituted the chicken bouillon powder for beef bouillon powder and then substitute beef broth for the chicken broth. This makes a great source of stock for casseroles, crockpot meals. Add caramelized onions to make a great onion gravy.

Chicken Pot Pie

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Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 1 yellow onion, chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 celery stalks, chopped
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1 tbsp fresh rosemary, chopped (1 tsp dry)
  • 1 tbsp fresh thyme, chopped (1 tsp dry)
  • 1/3 cup flour
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup half and half cream
  • 1 rotisserie chicken, shredded or diced
  • 2 medium potatoes
  • 1 cup frozen peas & carrots or mixed vegetables

Topping

  • Puff pastry or homemade pastry (see below)
  • Grated parmesan cheese for top
  • 1 egg
  • Sea salt or kosher salt for top

Directions

  1. If using frozen puff pastry make sure to thaw for at least an hour
  2. Meanwhile boil potatoes for 8-10 minutes until they are tender but not completely cooked.
  3. After they are cooked put into cold water while preparing the pie filling
  4. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
  5. In a large skillet or pot, heat butter and oil over medium heat
  6. Add onion, celery and garlic and cook for about 5 minutes
  7. Add the seasonings and herbs, stirring for about a minute
  8. Sprinkle flour into pan and combine with mixture
  9. Whisk in the chicken broth and half and half cream until smooth
  10. Bring to a boil until it thickens, about 2 minutes
  11. Add the chicken, potatoes and frozen peas and carrots
  12. Pour into an baking dish and top with puff pastry or homemade pastry
  13. Poke some vent holes with a knife
  14. Brush with egg wash and then sprinkle with grated parmesan cheese and sea salt
  15. Bake for 30-45 minutes or until browned and the pastry is cooked through

Homemade pastry

  • 2 cups of all purpose flour
  • 3/4 tsp salt
  • 1 cup pure lard or butter (I prefer lard)
  • 1 egg
  • 2 Tbsp ice cold water
  • 1 Tbsp white vinegar

Directions

  1. Combine flour and salt into a mixing bowl. Cut lard or butter into flour with two knifes or pastry knife until mixture is uniform and resembles coarse crumbs
  2. Beat egg, water and vinegar together to blend. Pour all the liquid over flour mixture. Stir with fork until mixture is moistened
  3. If needed, divide dough in half and shape into a ball. Flatten each into a circle about 4″ and wrap and chill dough in refrigerator about 15 minutes for easier rolling
  4. Roll a portion of dough required (I use both portions together) to cover to of pot pie. Dust rolling pin and work surface lightly with flour. Roll dough to a uniform thickness.
  5. Gently place over pot pie without stretching and trim, flute and bake.

Note: Making dough in a food processor (easy)

  1. Add the flour mixture and small pieces of lard or butter into a food processor
  2. Pulse a few times to make a course mixture. Pour a little at a time the egg, water and vinegar mixture, while pulsing
  3. Remove dough and If needed, divide dough in half and shape into a ball. Flatten each into a circle about 4″ and wrap and chill dough in refrigerator about 15 minutes for easier rolling
  4. Roll a portion of dough required (I use both portions together) to cover to of pot pie. Dust rolling pin and work surface lightly with flour. Roll dough to a uniform thickness.
  5. Gently place over pot pie without stretching and trim, flute and bake.

Enjoy

Recipe Source

Kale Cranberry Salad

Ingredients

  • Bowl of finely chopped kale with a pinch of salt
  • 3 Stalks of celery, quite fine diced
  • 1/2 a red onion, again quite finely diced
  • 1 cup of walnuts, chopped
  • 1 cup of dried cranberries
  • Vinaigrette:
  • 2 tbsp of honey (or maple syrup)
  • 1 1/2 tbsp of Dijon mustard
  • 3 tbsp red wine vinegar (or balsamic vinegar)
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons of minced shallots (or red onion)
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
  • 6 tbsp of olive oil

Directions:

  • Wisk the vinaigrette to emulsify the dressing.
  • Pour onto salad and toss

Enjoy

A Better Box Cake

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Ingredients

  • 1 box of yellow cake mix
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup white sugar
  • 1 box vanilla pudding instant mix (3.4 oz)
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 4 eggs
  • 3/4 cup water
  • 3/4 cup oil

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 C)
  2. Grease and flour a bundt pan to prevent sticking
  3. In a large bowl combine yellow cake mix, brown sugar, white sugar, vanilla pudding mix and cinnamon.
  4. Add eggs, water and oil. Beat on medium speed until the batter is smooth and well blended.
  5. Pour the batter evenly into a prepared bundt pan
  6. Bake in a preheated oven for 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  7. Cool the cake. Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before inverting onto a wire rack to cool completely

Optional glaze

  1. Combine 1/4 cup melted butter, 1/2 cup sugar and 1/4 cup water in a saucepan.
  2. Bring to a boil, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Pour the warm glaze over the cake for a shiny delicious finish.

Recipe Source

Beef and Broccoli

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Marinade

  • 1 lb steak
  • 2 TBS Hoisin Sauce
  • 1 1/2 TBS Soya Sauce (preferably low sodium)
  • 1/2 tsp white pepper

Sauce

  • 3/4 cup Chicken Stock
  • 2 TBS Hoisin Sauce
  • 2 TBS Light Soy Sauce
  • 1 1/2 TBS White Sugar
  • 1/2 tsp White Pepper
  • 1 TBS Corn Starch

Vegetables

Choose 10 oz of broccoli or your favourite veggies

Directions:

  1. Marinate the beef with at least 30 minutes in the refrigerator
  2. After Marinating fry beef with some oil until cooked
  3. In a pan or in the microwave, steam broccoli (or vegetable of choice) until cooked
  4. Add steamed vegetables to beef mixture and serve over rice or noodles.

Recipe source

Banana, Applesauce, Oatmeal Muffins

Ingredients:

  • 1 egg
  • 3 bananas, mashed
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1 Cup oatmeal (I used old fashioned for this recipe, not quick cooking oats)
  • 1 1/2 cups flour
  • 1 tsp. baking soda
  • 1 tsp. baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1 tsp. cinnamon

Directions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
  2. Combine wet ingredients together, the vanilla, applesauce, egg, bananas and brown sugar.
  3. Combine the dry ingredients together, salt, cinnamon, flour, baking soda, baking powder and oatmeal.
  4. Mix both wet and dry ingredients together
  5. Spoon batter into a 12 muffin non-stick muffin tin oiled with cooking spray or use muffin liners.
  6. Bake 18-20 minutes. Insert a toothpick into the muffin to check for doneness. If it comes out clean, they are done.

Enjoy

Original Recipe

Stir It Up…Stir Fry

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Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups chicken stock (preferably low sodium)
  • 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar or (Asian black vinegar ie. Chinkiang Asian vinegar)
  • 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1 tablespoon light soya sauce (light sodium preferred)
  • 2 tablespoons oyster sauce (or vegan oyster sauce)
  • 1/8 – 1/4 teaspoon white pepper
  • 1 tablespoon corn starch (flower)
  • 1 tablespoon (3 cloves) mined garlic
  • 1 tablespoon grated ginger
  • 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • Choice of protein if desired (sliced beef, sliced chicken or shrimp)
  • Choice of sliced vegetables (carrots, broccoli, onions, snow peas, celery, cauliflower, bok choy)
  • Cooking oil

Directions for Stir Fry Sauce

In a bowl or a container with a lid add: broth, vinegar, brown sugar, soy sauce, oyster sauce, corn starch, white pepper (do not add ginger or garlic at this stage). Mix together ingredients.

Directions for Stir Fry

  1. Over high heat, add a tablespoon of cooking oil to a fry pan or wok
  2. Add your protein, and stir fry it. Adding a little water and cover the pan will add some steam to the help cooking
  3. When almost cooked remove protein and add some more cooking oil
  4. Stir fry the onions then add your prepared vegetable and if necessary add a little water and cover to steam them
  5. Add your minced ginger and garlic (adding these aromatics at this stage will prevent them from burning
  6. When almost cooked add back your protein and stir together
  7. Make a “well” on the side or middle and add your sauce mixture
  8. The sauce will thicken and mix it into the vegetable/protein mixture (if necessary add a little more corn starch to thicken)

Serve over rice or by itself and enjoy

Bravo Beef Stroganoff

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Ingredients

  • 1 pound cooked roast beef or steak
  • 1 medium onion sliced or diced
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 8 ounces of button mushrooms, quartered
  • 1/2 to 1 tablespoon of fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon dry thyme
  • 2 tablespoons of all purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup sour cream
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
  • 1 1/2 cups of beef broth
  • 1/4 cup dry parsley leaves or 1/2 cup fresh
  • 5 tablespoons of butter
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 10 oz of broad or wide egg noodles

Directions

  1. Add 1 tablespoon of butter to a skillet and add onion
  2. Cook onions until soft
  3. Add garlic and cook for about a minute or until fragrant
  4. Add 2 tablespoons of butter and cook mushrooms
  5. Add thyme and beef broth and whisk the sauce till smooth
  6. Fold in sour cream and continue to whisk
  7. Add the beef and parsley and cover
  8. Meanwhile cook the egg noodles for about 11-13 minutes
  9. Drain and add remaining butter
  10. Fold noodles into sauce
  11. Add salt and pepper if needed and serve with a dollop of sour cream on top

Enjoy