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Fennel & Pear Soup

2012-11-21T10:40:00.000-08:00

This is my favourite soup to make, I love the taste of fennel. A lot of people don't even know what a fennel is or what to do with it, so here's an idea!

Ingredients:

1 fennel, chopped into large pieces
1 medium onion
1 pear, cored with the skin on
1 cinnamon stick
~ 1 litre of vegetable stock
goat cheese, crumbled
pepper

Method:

Roast fennel, onion and pear at 350 F for about 25 minutes.
Put roasted veggies along with cinnamon stick into large pot over medium heat and put enough stock to cover everything.
Simmer for about 30 minutes.
Take out the cinnamon stick and use an immersion blender to blend ingredients.
Serve with goat cheese and pepper.
Enjoy!

Tofu & Avocado Stack

2012-10-01T09:00:00.002-07:00

This recipe was inspired by the menu at Fresh in Toronto. I love their peanut sauce, and I'm wishing I had taken the time to make it for this and not gotten store bought stuff. Next time!

Ingredients:

1/3 Avocado
4-5 slices of firm tofu
1 tsp sunflower seeds
handful of sunflower seed spouts
2 tbsp peanut sauce
1-2 tbsp olive oil

For the tofu marinade:

2 tbsp soya sauce
2 tbsp red wine vinegar
1 tbsp chilli seed paste
2 tbsp peanut sauce
1 tbsp sesame oil
water

Method:

1. Slice tofu into 1/4 inch pieces. Place in a container.
2. Add soya sauce, vinegar, chillies, peanut sauce, sesame oil, and then add water until it covers the tofu completely. Change the ratio if you want a stronger taste in the tofu.
3. Let the tofu marinate for at least a few hours in the fridge, but a couple of days is best.
4. Once the tofu is marinated, you can cook it. Bring a skillet to medium heat and add olive oil, then the tofu. Medium heat is best, or the tofu will stick! Flip the slices every minute or so for 5-6 minutes.
5. Peel the avocado and slice it to the same thickness as the tofu.
6. Put the peanut sauce on a plate, and arrange the tofu and avocado on top. Place the seeds and sprouts on top of the stack and serve.

Spicy Honey Garlic Beef Ribs

2012-09-23T08:12:00.001-07:00

Every summer, my home town of Burlington, Ontario holds Canada's largest rib fest. Over labour-day weekend the whole city smells of BBQ... very enticing. However, I can't handle the crowds, the lineups, the prices, and trying to guess which stand is going to offer the best quality. Nonetheless it always leaves me with a craving for ribs. So, I decided to make my yesterday.

A few years ago, I read an article in Maclean's magazine about how purple garlic, which is apparently native to Ontario is on the verge of extinction due to genetically modified garlic being more prevalent in groceries. So when I saw it at a veggie stand in Ancaster I was sure to snatch it up! It is so much stronger than the white garlic you usually see - it actually made me tear up while I was cutting it.

I got the ribs at Fenwood Farms, a farm in Ancaster that sells organic, free range, antibiotic free meats.

I just sort of made up a recipe as I went along... adding ingredients to my taste and it turned out well even though I was winging it.

Sauce Recipe:

2 large cloves of garlic, coarsely chopped
1 1/2 tbsp soya sauce
3 tbsp honey
2 tbsp chilli flake paste
1 1/2 tbsp red wine vinegar
splash of whiskey

Cooking Method:

Set oven to 300F.
Wrap ribs in tinfoil with the sauce on top, place in baking pan.
Let cook for 1 1/2 hours, then flip over and cook for another hour.
Broil if desired, or BBQ.

Pasta Primavera

2012-08-20T12:30:00.003-07:00

Cold Barley Salad

2012-07-24T12:22:00.001-07:00

This is one of my favourite recipes that I discovered in Italy last summer (it was a staple at grocery store salad bars). It's really easy to make, filling and healthy.

Ingredients:

3/4 cup dry barley (or Faro if you can find and afford it)
3 medium carrots - diced
1/2 cup green olives - chopped (I like garlic or jalapeños)
100 g greens (like arugula, dandilion)
1/4 cup olive oil
3 tbsp balsamic vinegar
Pepper

Method:

1. Cook the barley, about 45 minutes, rinse with cold water until it's cold and drain.
2. Cook the carrots, about 10 minutes in boiling water. Rinse with cold water.
3. Mix everything together and serve.

Makes 2 servings

Cod with Leeks and Basil

2012-07-16T11:35:00.003-07:00

I went fishing for the first time this weekend! In Þingeyri, Iceland of all places. Way up north in the West Fjords. We caught about 12 cod. So now, the freezer is full of filets. Bring on the fish recipes!

Ingredients:

1 tbsp butter
1 handful of basil, chopped
2 cloves garlic
1 leek
a few splashes of chardonnay
Cod (or other white fish)
salt and pepper

Method:

1. Lightly sauté the leeks, garlic and basil, maybe 2-3 minutes.
2. Add the wine and the chopped up fish.
3. Cook until the fish is opaque. Drain if it's too watery.
3. Drizzle with olive oil, salt and pepper before serving.

Spelt Rotini with Peas

2012-06-29T03:59:00.001-07:00

So easy this literally took me 10 minutes flat.

Ingredients:

250g Spelt rotini
200g frozen peas
2 tbsp pesto
1 tbsp light mayo
2 tbsp parmesan
1 tbsp chives
Pepper!

Method:

1. Cook the pasta for about 4 minutes then add the peas for the last 3 minutes.
2. Grate the cheese and cut the chives.
3. Drain the pasta and peas and run cold water over them until they are cold.
4. Combine all ingredients and top with pepper.

Squid Ink Linguine with Broccoli, Tomato and Shrimp Crème Sauce

2012-06-25T07:31:00.004-07:00

I had a surprise day off - it reminded me of having unexpected snow days in the spring when I was in elementary school! So I decided to cook something to satisfy my never ending craving for Italian food since last summer. Also, I really wanted to try squid ink noodles since I really liked squid ink dressing when I tried in Italy... but I was really disappointed because the noodles just tasted normal.

Recipe >>>

Ingredients:

Squid ink linguine

1 cup broccoli, chopped

3/4 cup shrimps

1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

1 onion, diced

1 bunch of chives

3 large cloves of garlic

1/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated

2 tbsp butter

2 tbsp flour

500 ml of cream, I used 5% but you can use homo milk or 1% then add heavy cream. Depends how thick you want the sauce and how long it will take to thicken.

2-3 tbsp olive oil

Don't forget the Salt & Pepper!

Method:

1. Chop everything up and defrost if needed.

2. Melt to butter in a small sauce pan over really low heat. Throw in the garlic and onion too. When the butter is liquid, add the flour and mix it into a paste.

3. Add the cream, cheese and chives then stir well. Raise the heat and simmer lightly. Stir often to prevent it from burning.

4. Heat olive oil in a sauté pan, add the broccoli, tomatoes and shrimp with medium heat. In the meantime cook your pasta al dente.

5. When your sauce has thickened, pour in into the sauté pan with the rest of the ingredients and continue to simmer until desired thickness is reached. Add salt and pepper after its condensed.

6. Coat your linguine with olive oil and put on your plate, then add the sauce. Enjoy!

Gin & Tonic

2012-06-17T12:20:00.001-07:00

G&T with Grapefruit, Lime & Mint, and Lemon with muddled Blueberries.

Thanks to my roommate for picking up the Gin at the duty free, liquor is pricey here in Iceland :)

When it comes to mixed drinks, gin is defiantly my weapon of choice. Gin has so many different notes that it seems to go with just about anything to me - especially citrus fruits. This time I used tonique, but I usually just go for sparkling water or half and half. That way, you can appreciate the flavours in the gin better. For these cocktails I used Bombay Sapphire, but I really love Hendrick's or Victoria.

Chickpea Salad

2012-05-20T06:37:00.002-07:00

Here's my first post since I've been in Iceland. Haven't had much of a chance to cook, since they feed us lunch and dinner at work. But it's the weekend! I've been feeling kind of down this week... so I decided to make my ultimate comfort food.

Recipe >>>

1 can Chickpeas
5 small tomatoes
1 cucumber
3/4 cup cut up feta (and save some brine)
3 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp balsamic vinegar
pepper

Combine ingredients. Also good with basil and/or avocado

Green Pea and Edamame Soup

2012-04-02T14:48:00.001-07:00

Another creation of leftover random freezer food! Here's Pea and Edamame soup. I thought it would be really weird, but with the lemon and mint it's really nice and fresh. I had it with some sun-dried tomato bread.

Recipe >>>

http://gourmandeinthekitchen.com/2011/pea-edamame-and-mint-soup-recipe/

I didn't make the recipe my self, but I substituted barley for rice and added more lemon pepper and mint.

Homemade Nutella Almond Milk

2012-04-02T12:11:00.000-07:00

So, it's my last week living in my apartment in Ottawa. Which means, I have to use up all my food before I go! While packing up my kitchen I found a giant bag of almonds that I sure don't have time to eat so I though I'd try my hand at making almond milk. Usually I buy almond milk since I stopped drinking milk, and I enjoy it a lot more. However, now since I made it myself, I probably won't go back to the store bought brand. Although it may be a bit time consuming, this tastes much much better and doesn't have any preservatives.

Recipe >>>

Ingredients:

1 cup raw, unsalted almonds
4 cups of water
1-2 tbsp Nutella

Instructions:

1. Let the almonds soak overnight, or at least 8 hours.
2. Drain the water that the almonds soaked in and set aside. You'll use that water later.
3. Slide the dark brown skin off the soaked almost and discard. It should come off really easily, if it doesn't then you didn't soak them long enough.
4. Put the skinned almonds and water in the blender. You should have 4 cups of water in total, including the water that the almonds soaked in. Add in the Nutella as well (or you can add cocoa powder instead. Or just sugar/honey/agave if you want plain almond milk).
5. Blend until smooth, about 2-3 minutes.
6. Strain the mixture with a fine mesh filter, cheese cloth, or a nut milk bag (you can get them at Arbour Environmental Shoppe in the Glebe).
7. Refrigerate and serve. Keeps for about 5 days.

I know there are a lot of steps... but it's worth it if you like almond milk and find you suddenly have 100's of extra almonds!

Whole Wheat Orange Muffins

2012-03-23T11:42:00.001-07:00

Thanks to Faye for this recipe! These muffins have so much flavour, I really like them for breakfast. The recipe calls for orange peel which I was a bit hesitant about, but it certainly makes for a unique tasting treat.

Here's the recipe >>>

Ingredients:

2 oranges
2 eggs
1/2 cup orange juice
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1/4 cup oat bran
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp baking powder
3/4 cup craisins
1/2 cup raw sunflower seeds
1/2 cup crunchy flax seeds
1/2 cup raw slivered almonds
1/2 cup raw pumpkin seeds

Method:

1. Use a grater and shave off some of one of the orange peels, and save it for later to sprinkle on top before baking.
2. Place orange juice, eggs, vanilla, oil and oranges in a blender. Peel one orange and leave one with the peel one. I tried it with both oranges having the peel, but it was a bit too bitter for me!
3. In a large bowl, combine the wet and dry ingredients. Mix well, and fold in the nuts, seeds, etc.
4. Bake in the oven at 375 for 12-15 minutes for medium muffins.

Makes 12 muffins.
Tip: take the paper off the muffins as soon as they are slightly cooled, or else the paper might stick. This seems to happen with whole wheat/low oil muffins.

Turtle Bean Salad Wrap

2012-03-17T09:40:00.003-07:00

I love making this, it's so colourful and I usually make a big batch of it and use it in different recipes.

Here's the recipe >>>

It's really versatile, you can use it as a dip, on salads or in wraps. It has a lot of flavour so you don't need that much dressing.

There's a visual ingredient list ^-^

Salad Ingredients:

1 can black beans
1/2 avocado
1/2 cup cherry tomatoes
1/3 red onion
1-2 green onions
1/2 orange pepper

Dressing:

1 lime
2 tbsp olive oil
Salt
Paprika

Sandwich:

Whole wheat wrap
Etra avocado

Method:

1. Dice all the veggies into tiny pieces. Mix together with the black beans.
2. Mix about 4 tbsp of lime with 2 tbsp of olive oil. Sprinkle some salt and paprika to your taste.
3.Drizzle over the veggies and beans and mix it all up.
4. Arrange the mix with arugula and extra avocado on a wrap, or just onto of arugula for salad or with tortilla scoops/chips as dip.

Smørrebrød - Herring with Mustard (Sennep Sild)

2012-03-08T15:21:00.000-08:00

Picked herring is a seriously acquired taste, but if you're feeling adventurous and you like seafood you should give it a try! It's acclaimed to be very good for your health.

Recipe >>>

Ingredients:

1 Slice rye bread
Tomato, sliced
Red onion, sliced
Pickled herring with mustard sauce (or just plain)
Chives
Pepper

1. Get your bread, and add the toppings!

Smørrebrød - Shrimps

2012-03-07T13:41:00.001-08:00

I bet you've never had peas on a sandwich. This is so easy to make, one of my favourites!

Recipe >>>

Ingredients:

1 Slice Bavarian Rye
1/3 cup mini shelled, cooked shrimp (frozen)
1/4 cup peas (frozen)
Dill
Mayo
Lemon
Pepper

1. Let the shrimp and peas defrost. Drain.
2. Spread some mayo on the bread.
3. Put the shrimp and peas on the bread.
4. Top with lemon, pepper, and dill.

Smørrebrød - Vegetarian

2012-03-06T07:52:00.003-08:00

Here is a veggie option!

Recipe>>>

1 Slice whole grain rye bread
1/4 tomato, sliced
Red onion, sliced
Chives
Cucumbers from agurksalat
Remoulade

1. Put the veggies on the bread.
2. Top with remoulade and chives.

Agurksalat

2012-03-05T08:03:00.000-08:00

This recipe is good as a small side or on a sandwich. The result is not quite a cucumber, not yet a pickle.

Recipe >>>

Ingredients:

1/2 cucumber
1 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
Dill
Vinegar

1. Put the slices of cucumber in a bowl with coarse salt and something heavy onto (like a jar of something). After about an hour the bowl will be filled with salty water. Drain it out.
2. Put the salt and sugar in the jar with a few tablespoons of vinegar. Let it all dissolve.
3. Now put the dill and cucumbers in, and fill with vinegar.
4. The longer you let this sit in the fridge, the stronger it will taste.

Smørrebrød - Leverpostej

2012-03-05T07:24:00.001-08:00

Next up, we have a liver paté sandwich with some trimmings. If liver paté grosses you out, get over it and try some! :)

Recipe >>>

Ingredients:

Liver Paté (I like the kind with lots of pepper corns)
Chives
Sliced, cooked beets (or, you can use canned/pickled)
Fried onions
Whole grain rye bread

1. Spread the paté on the the bread.
2. Arrange the beets, chives and onions how you like.
3. (if you can't find fried onions at your scandinavian or german grocery store, they're not that hard to make. Thinly slice onions, cover them in any kind of flour, and fry for about 5 minutes in canola oil)
4. Enjoy!

Smørrebrød - Smoked Salmon

2012-03-04T11:39:00.002-08:00

For those of you not familiar with open faced sandwiches (smørrebrød), you are missing out. The next several posts will be Danish food. There will likely be some things that you've never had before, so I dare you to try them! (Did you know that capers are pickled flower buds?)

This is my number one favourite sandwich in the history of sandwiches.
Recipe after the jump

1 slice of whole grain rye bread (rugbrød)
2 slices of smokes salmon
A few capers
Red onion slices
Fresh Dill
Pepper
Lemon
Mayonaise

1. Spread a thin layer of mayonnaise on the bread.
2. Arrange the salmon, onions, capers, and dill.
3. A twist of pepper and a spritz of lemon will finish it off.
4. Best eaten with a fork and knife. Yum!

Buckwheat Noodle Salad with Tahini Dressing

2012-02-11T13:07:00.000-08:00

This is one of my favourite things to have for lunch. It's basically an open face sandwich... but on noodles! Much more fun to eat.

Inspired by the bowls at http://www.freshrestaurants.ca/main.asp

Recipe after the jump

Here's what you need...

100 grams of buckwheat soba noodles (they usually come in little bundles)
1/3 avocado, thinly sliced
1 small handful of cilantro
1 small handful of alfalfa sprouts
10 grape tomatoes, halved
10 thin slices of cucumber

1. Boil the noodles for about 3 minutes. Rinse with lots of cold water in a sieve, and put it in your bowl.

2. Arrange the toppings however you like.

3. Drizzle with dressing.

Tahini Dressing

1/4 cup of tahini (make sure to shake it really well!)
Juice from 1 small lemon
4 tbsp of soya sauce
1 garlic clove
A few sprigs of cilantro

1. Puree all ingredients in a food processor. Add water if you prefer a thinner dressing.

Beet & Arugula Salad

2012-02-03T10:03:00.001-08:00

I had a similar salad in a restaurant a few days ago, but I decided I had to make my own version.

The restaurant had used pickled beets and feta cheese, and the whole salad was just so salty and vinegary. This is much more toned down. And it's very filling!

1 large beet

1 tbsp goat cheese

1 tbsp raw sunflower seeds

1 bunch of arugula

1 tbsp oil and vinegar dressing

1. Place the beet in boiling water for about 25 mins. Let it cool off and peel the skin off (or you can use a peeler).

2. Slice the beet into 1 cm rounds, then cut in half again.

3. Put a handful of arugula onto a plate, followed by some crumbled goat cheese, sunflower seeds and dressing (I just used oil and vinegar dressing from the grocery).

BB Cereal

2012-01-22T07:25:00.000-08:00

You can even make your cereal at the bulk barn!

I like to add raisins, walnuts and flax seed to my millet rice cereal, plus what ever fruits I have around. There are so many things to choose from, it's fun to play around with different combinations.

Quinoa Crab Cakes

2012-01-21T23:00:00.000-08:00

Recipe after the jump >
Quinoa Crab Cakes

1 can crab meat
1/2 cup quinoa (cooked)
1/3 cup finely chopped celery
1/3 cup shredded carrots
1 tbsp shredded ginger
1 egg
Paprika (as much as you like)
1/2 cup flour
2 tbsp olive oil
Lime

1. Mix the ingredients in a bowl. Be sure to drain the crab meat and dry the celery!
2. If the mixture seems too wet, add more flour until the consistancy is a bit sticky.
3. Heat the oil in a skillet on medium heat.
4. Roll the mixture into little balls and place them in the skillet.
5. Cook the crab cakes until they are crispy all around.
6. Garnish with a spritz of lime!

Makes 5-6

Canvas Wine Tote

2012-01-21T18:01:00.000-08:00

One of my first sewing projects. I plan on making a beer tote as well!