Sunday, December 30, 2018

Homemade Granola

This is what I'm baking for breakfast tomorrow.  The whole house smells delicious right now.


Quantity : 36 servings
Preparation : 10 min Cooking : 35 min Cooking Dish : 30x38 cm
180 calories/serving

Ingredients
vegetable oil spray, for the baking sheet
4 cups rolled oats 400 g
2 cups unsweetened coconut flakes 200 g
2 1/2 cups hazelnuts, shelled, coarsely chopped 260 g
1/4 cup canola oil 65 mL
3 cups pumpkin seeds 400 g
1/3 cup maple syrup 85 mL

Method
Preheat the oven to 190°C/375°F. Lightly oil or butter a large baking sheet (about 30 x 38 cm).
Combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Pour the oil and maple syrup over the dry ingredients then toss well. Spread the mixture onto the prepared baking sheet.
Bake in the middle of the oven for about 30 to 40 min or until golden brown and crispy. Stir every 10 min to brown evenly and avoid burning the mixture.
Let the granola cool down: It will become crispier and dry as it cools. Make sure to break up any large clumps of granola while the mixture is still warm. Once it has completely cooled, transfer it to an airtight container or plastic bag.

Observations
The granola will keep for several weeks in the refrigerator; up to 3 months in the freezer.

https://www.soscuisine.com/recipe/homemade-granola-lchf

Collard Greens with Leeks


Quantity : 2 servings
Preparation : 5 min Cooking : 10 min
50 calories/serving

Ingredients
130 g collard greens, cut into 1 cm thick pieces
1/2 leeks, cut into 1 cm thick rounds 150 g
2 tsp olive oil 10 mL
1 pinch salt [optional] 0.1 g
1 pinch cayenne pepper 0.1 g

Before you start
If collard greens are not available, substitute with another type of leafy green.

Method
Cut thegrenns and leeks into 1 cm thick slices.
In a large saucepan, heat the oil on medium-high heat. Add the leeks and greens. Season with salt and Cayenne pepper. Cover and let cook until softened, about 10 min. Serve.

https://www.soscuisine.com/recipe/collard-greens-leeks

Braised Chicken with Rosemary and Onion

Supper tonight was really tasty.  I served Collard Greens with Leeks on the side.  I'll be sharing that recipe next.



Quantity : 2 servings
Preparation : 10 min Cooking : 25 min
320calories/serving

Ingredients
2 chicken legs, with back, skinless 600 g
1 pinch salt [optional] 0.2 g
ground pepper to taste [optional]
2 tbsp olive oil 30 mL
1/2 onions, chopped 100 g
1/2 tbsp white flour (all purpose) 4 g
1/3 cup chicken broth 85 mL
1 tbsp white vinegar 15 mL
1 tbsp lemon juice, freshly squeezed 1/2 lemon
1 sprig rosemary, fresh 5 g

Before you start
Keep the serving plates in the oven at the lowest setting so they are warm when you serve.

Method
Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a pan over medium heat and sauté the chicken 10-12 min until golden-coloured on all sides. Remove the chicken from the pan and keep the pieces warm in the oven.
Add the chopped onion and flour to the pan, then sauté 2 min with stirring. Pour in the broth, bring to a boil and reduce for about 1-2 min until it reaches half its initial volume. Put the chicken back into the pan, add the vinegar, lemon juice, and rosemary. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, cover and let simmer for about 8-10 min, until the chicken pieces are tender.
Adjust the seasoning and serve on the warmed plates.


https://www.soscuisine.com/recipe/braised-chicken-rosemary-onion

Slow Cooker Meatballs in Tomato Sauce


Quantity : 3 servings
Preparation : 20 min Cooking : 4 h
340calories/serving

Ingredients
1 tbsp olive oil 15 mL
1 onions, chopped 200 g
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 carrots, chopped 100 g
1 stalk celery, chopped 70 g
1/2 tbsp dried oregano 1 g
3/4 dried chili peppers, minced 0.4 g
340 g ground beef, extra-lean
1 slice bread, whole wheat, processed into bread crumbs 35 g
1 eggs size large, beaten
1 1/2 tbsp Parmesan cheese, grated 5 g
1/4 tsp salt 2 g
ground pepper to taste [optional]
2 cups My Mother's Tomato Sauce 500 mL
1/3 cup water 85 mL

Before you start
A slow cooker is needed to make this recipe.
A blender or food processor will be very useful to pure the vegetables.

Method
Prepare the vegetables: Finely chop the onion, garlic, carrot, and celery.
Heat the oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the chopped vegetables then sauté until softened and translucent, about 3 min. Stir in the oregano and chili pepper, then cook an additional minute, with stirring.
Layer about half of the cooked vegetables in the bottom of the ceramic cooking pot. Transfer the remaining vegetables to the food processor, then pulse a few minutes until the a puree is obtained.
Transfer the pureed vegetables to a bowl. Chill a few minutes to cool slightly.
Add the beef, bread crumbs, beaten egg, grated cheese, and salt to the bowl with the pureed vegetables. Add pepper to taste then mix well. Scooping about 2 tablespoons of the mixture at a time into your hands, make the meatballs (3 per serving).
Pour half of the tomato sauce into the bottom of the ceramic cooking pot, along with the water. Combine well with the vegetables.
Place the meatballs on top in a single layer. Pour on the rest of the tomato sauce. Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on 'low' for 4 h.
Serve.


https://www.soscuisine.com/recipe/meatballs-in-tomato-sauce-slow-cooker



Quantity : 625 ml
Preparation : 10 min Cooking : 20 min

Ingredients
1 2/3 cup canned tomatoes (diced) 400 g
1 clove garlic
1/2 onions, finely chopped 100 g
1/2 carrots, finely chopped 50 g
1/4 stalk celery, finely chopped 18 g
1 tbsp olive oil 15 mL
1 1/2 tbsp butter, unsalted 20 g
1/2 tsp salt 2 g
1/4 tsp ground pepper 1 g

Before you start
A food processor to chop the vegetables and a pressure cooker to reduce the cooking time would make things easier with this recipe.

Method
Finely chop the onion, carrot, celery, and garlic.
Heat the oil and butter in the pressure cooker or in a saucepan over low heat. Add the chopped vegetables. Cook 4-5 min, stirring a few times: the vegetables must soften without burning. Add the diced tomatoes, salt and pepper to taste.
If you are using a pressure cooker, cover, close, and bring to high pressure. Cook 15 min from the time it starts to spatter. (Follow the manufacturer's directions to determine when high pressure has been reached). If you are not using a pressure cooker, simmer, covered, for about 45 min.

Observations
This sauce can be stored up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator. Freeze larger quantities.


https://www.soscuisine.com/recipe/mother-tomato-sauce

Mini Veggie Quiches

We ate like royalty today.  Breakfast was this delicious mini quiches which I made the night before.  




Quantity : 6 servings
Preparation : 20 min Cooking : 30 min Standing : 10 min
310calories/serving

Ingredients
1 onions, finely chopped 200 g
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
16 button (white) mushrooms, finely chopped 220 g
1 green peppers, finely chopped 150 g
1 tbsp olive oil 15 mL
10 eggs size large
2 tbsp mediterranean yogurt, 10% 30 g
1/4 cup whipping cream 35% 65 mL
1/2 tbsp Dijon mustard 8 g
1 tsp herbes de Provence 1 g
1 3/4 cup Cheddar cheese, grated 140 g
1 pinch salt [optional] 0.2 g
ground pepper to taste [optional]

Before you start
This recipe yields 2 mini-quiches per person.

Method
Preheat the oven to 175°C/350°F.
Prepare the vegetables: Finely chop the onion, garlic, green pepper and mushrooms.
Heat the oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté for about 3 min, until tender. Add the garlic and green pepper. Sauté 1 min, then add the mushrooms, herbes de Provence, salt and pepper. Cook, with stirring, until most of the liquid from the vegetables has evaporated.
Meanwhile, mix the eggs, yogurt, cream and mustard in a bowl.
Spoon the cooked vegetables into the cups of one or two silicon muffin pans (depending on the quantities prepared). Add the cheese to each cup. Fill the muffin cups with the egg mixture.
Bake in the middle of the oven for about 25-30 min, until a tooth-pick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean. Take the pan out of the oven, leave to cool for a few minutes. Serve 2 mini-quiches per person.

Observations
The mini-quiches keep well in the fridge for a couple of days.

Marinated Cornish Game Hens

Image result for marinated cornish game hens

For 4 servings you will need:
4 Cornish game hens, about 1 lb. each
1 tbsp oil

Marinade:
3 tbsp soy sauce
3 tbsp teriyaki sauce
2 tbsp honey
1 tbsp lemon juice
dash ground ginger
dash black pepper
2 cloves garlic, sliced.

Remove bags with liver and neck from hens.  Wash hens well.  Pat dry.

Rub hens with oil.

Prepare marinade.  Place hens either in a glass bowl or in 2 plastic bags.  Pour marinade over hens.

Let hens marinate overnight in refrigerator, turning hens or bas over occasionally.

Remove hens from marinade.

Place on rack in roasting pan.

Roast hens at 400F for 50-60 minutes, turning once during cooking time and bastin with marinade occasionally.

Check for doneness by piercing with a fork.  Hens should be fork tender and juices should run clear.

Cut hens in half lengthwise to serve.

Saturday, December 29, 2018

Baked Chinese Chicken

Image result for baked chinese whole chicken

1 whole broiler-fryer chicken, about 3 lbs
1/3 cup soy sauce
2 tbsp granulated sugar
1 clove garlic, minced or pressed
1/2 tsp freshly grated ginger
2 tbsp sesame seeds

Rise chicken.  Pat dry.  Tie legs together.  Place on rack in roasting pan.

Combine soy sauce, sugar, garlic, ginger and sesame seeds in a saucepan.  Bring to a boil.  Stir until sugar dissolves.  Brush chicken all over with the soy miture.

Roast for 1 hour at 350F, brushing at least once with the soy sauce mixture.  Cook until the leg of the chicken moves easily and liquids run clear.  Remove from oven. 

Serve hot or at room temperature.

Sunday, December 23, 2018

Cherry-Cheese Parfaits


1 package cheesecake mix
2-1/2 cups cherry pie filling
2 tsp grated lemon rind
6 tsp slivered almonds

In small bowl, prepare graham cracker crumbs from mix according to package directions. Set aside. In medium bowl, prepare filling according to package directions; add lemon rind. Spoon half the crumbs into 6 parfait glasses. Then layer some cheesecake filling, some cherry pie filling, more crumbs, remaining cheesecake filling and remaining cherry pie filling in each glass. Sprinkle 1 tsp slivered almonds on each parfait and chill until serving time. Makes 6 servings.

Parmesan Broccoli

Virgin Caesar Cocktails, Lime-Broiled Chicken Breasts, Deviled Potatoes, Parmesan Broccoli

1 bunch broccoli (about 1 lb.)
4 tbsp butter
3-4 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese

Cut off broccoli stem and leaves, and break the rest into florets. Wash well, drop into boiling salted water, cover and boil until tender-crisp, 8-10 minutes. Drain and return broccoli to saucepan. Melt butter in small saucepan and pour evenly over broccoli. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Turn into serving bowl, being sure to drain all the butter from the saucepan onto broccoli, and sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese.

The only thing I did different with this recipe is to use my rice/veggie steamer instead of boiling the broccoli. I prefer my veggies plain, but this recipe was a nice change of pace.

Deviled Potatoes

Virgin Caesar Cocktails, Lime-Broiled Chicken, Deviled Potatoes, Parmesan Broccoli

1 package (4 servings) instant mashed potatoes
1/2 cup dairy sour cream
2 tsp prepared mustard
2 tbsp chopped green onion
In saucepan, prepare potatoes according to package directions. In another saucepan, heat sour cream over low heat (do not boil). Add mustard and 1/2 tsp salt; stir to blend. Mix into hot potatoes with onion. Immediately turn into a 4-cup casserole and heat in preheated 350 F oven for about 10 minutes.

Okay, these potatoes were delicious. I say "were" because I had one helping and Hal ate all the rest . . . lol . . . I think that means he liked them. They had a really nice texture and turned a box of instant potatoes into a lovely side dish. I did not heat the sour cream in advance.


Lime-Broiled Chicken Breasts

Virgin Caesar Cocktails, Lime-Broiled Chicken Breasts, Deviled Potatoes, Parmesan Broccoli


4 whole chicken breasts, halved
1/4 cup olive or vegetable oil
4 tbsp Italian salad dressing mix
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
Place chicken breasts, skin side up, in large baking dish. Combine oil, salad dressing mix and lime juice in a small bowl. Pour evenly over chicken. Cover and marinate in refrigerator for at least 1 hour. Put baking dish under broiler 3 inches from heat and broil, basting with marinade and turning several times, for 30 minutes, or until chicken is fork tender and glazed.

I substituted 1/4 cup of Italian salad dressing for the oil and dressing mix and I used boneless, skinless chicken breasts. I was nervous about the whole 3 inches from the broiler instruction so I lowered the rack a little more. When I put the potato casserole in the oven during the last 10 minutes, I had to turn the heat down to 350 F. It didn't seem to be a problem.

Hal gave the chicken 2 thumbs up. I found it very light and refreshing thanks to the citrus.

Thursday, December 20, 2018

Virgin Caesar Cocktails

Virgin Caesar Cocktails, Lime-Broiled Chicken Breasts, Deviled Potatoes, Parmesan Broccoli


4 cups regular or spicy Clamato juice
Celery salt
4 celery stalks
4 lime slices

Wet rims of four 8-oz glasses with water and spin in celery salt. Put ice cubes in glasses and fill with Clamato juice. Add salt and pepper to taste, and stir. Garnish with celery stalks and thin slices of lime.

I don't really like celery salt on the rims so I skipped this step. And of course my Caesar was "experienced" with 1 ounce of Silent Sam vodka . . . lol . . .

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Pineapple Perfect




1 cup dairy sour cream
1/4 cup honey
2 tbsp. finely copped candied ginger
2 cups pineapple chunks, drained

In bowl, combine sour cream, honey and candied ginger. Spoon chilled pineapple chunks into 4 individual dessert dishes and top with sauce.

Tuesday, December 18, 2018

Potatoes Hannah

Curried Orange Chicken, Parmesan Onions, Potatoes Hannah 

6 medium potatoes
1/2 cup melted butter

Peel and slice potatoes very thin.  Immediately toss slices in melted butter, coating all over so they won't turn brown.  Arrange buttered slices in layers of overlapping circles in generously greased shallow casserole, salting and peppering each layer.  Bake in 350F oven for 45 mintues.

Serves 4.

Parmesan Onions

Curried Orange Chicken, Parmesan Onions, Potatoes Hannah
2 large sweet Spanish onions
3 tbsp butter
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Peel and chop onions.  In saucepan, cook onions in butter over low heat until onions are tender but not brown.  Turn onions into small shallow casserole and sprinkle with cheese.  Put under broiler only long enough to melt cheese or put casserole in 350F oven just until cheese melts, about 5 minutes.

Serves 4.

Curried Orange Chicken

Curried Orange Chicken, Parmesan Onions, Potatoes Hannah




1 cup orange marmalade
1 tbsp curry powder
1 chicken, cut up

In medium bowl, combine marmalade, curry powder, 1 tsp salt and 1/2 cup water.  Place chicken pieces, skin side up, in buttered baking dish.  Spoon marmalade mixture over chicken.  Bake uncovered in 350F oven for 45-60 minutes, spooning sauce over chicken several times during baking.  If sauce begins to stick to bottom of pan, add an additional 1/4 cup water.  When tender, remove chicken from sauce.  Skim fat from sauce and serve sauce over chicken.

Serves 4.


Strawberries Lola


4 cups fresh strawberries
4 tbsp dairy sour cream
4 tsp brown sugar

Wash, hull and drain strawberries and place in 4 dessert dishes.  Top each with 1 tbsp of sour cream and sprinkle with 1 tsp of brown sugar.

Serves 4.

Thursday, December 13, 2018

Lovely Limas

Image result for lima beans and cream

1 package frozen lima beans (I used canned lima beans, rinsed)
2 tbsp chopped pimiento
2 tbsp butter
1/2 cup dairy sour cream

In saucepan, cook lima beans according to package directions and drain well.  Combine with remaining ingredients and mix lightly but well.

Serves 4.


Tomatoes and Brie

Image result for tomatoes and brie

2 ripe tomatoes
4 thin slices Brie cheese
1 tbsp chopped fresh basil or 1 tsp dried basil
2 tbsp red wine vinegar

On a small serving plate overlap sliced tomatoes and slices of Brie.  Sprinkle with basil and vinegar.  Add salt and pepper if desired.

Serves 4.

Chutney Peaches

Image result for peaches with chutney

4 canned peach halves
4 tbsp melted butter
4 tbsp chutney

Place peach halves cut side up in a buttered baking dish.  Brush each with 1 tbsp melted butter and fill cavity with 1 tbsp of chutney.  Bake in preheated 350F oven for 10-15 minutes, or until hot.

Serves 4

Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Chicken and Peppers

Image result for chicken and peppers

1 green or red sweet pepper
2 tbsp butter
4 whole chicken breasts, halved
ground cumin

Cut pepper in half.  Core and remove seeds and slice into thin strips.  Heat butter in large skillet over medium-high heat.  Sprinkle each breast half with a pinch of cumin.  Saute breasts for about 3 minutes on each side, or until lightly browned.  Turn breasts, add pepper strips and reduce heat to medium-low.  Cook, stirring often, until breasts are tender, about 5 minutes on each side.  Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Serves 4

Orange Blossom Special

Image result for orange blossom drink

3 cups orange juice
1 cup white wine
2 thin orange slices
4 mint sprigs

Put ice cubes in 4 tall glasses.  In pitcher, mix orange juice and white wine.  Fill glasses.  Garnish with half an orange slice and a mint sprig.

Beet Relish

I have two favourite beet relish recipes.  This is my second favourite . . . LOL.  I hope I can find my first favourite to post soon.  Perfect as a side especially with roast beef.

Image result for beet relish

1 quart raw cabbage, finely chopped
1 quart finely chopped cooked beets
2 cups white sugar
1 tbsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 cup grated horseradish

Mis all ingredients except vinegar.  Cover with scalded vinegar.  Pour into sterilized jars and seal.

Eccles Cakes

I just found this old recipe which I used to make many, many years ago.  In fact, this recipe is the reason I am generally disappointed when I buy an eccles cake in a bakery.  They can also be made with currents and other fruits but I love dates.

Image result for eccles cake

1-3/4 cups all purpose flour
2-1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tbsp granulated sugar
1/4 tsp salt
3/8 cup cold butter
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1/3 cup milk
1/2 cup chopped dates
3 tbsp additional butter
sugar to sprinkle over tops

In a bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt together.  Cut in the butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

Reserve 2 tbsp of the beaten egg to brush tops of cakes.  Stire the remaining egg with the milk into the dry ingredients.  Blend until dough holds together in a ball.

Roll out to 3/4" thickness.  Cut into 2-1/2" rounds.  Place rounds on a lightly greased baking sheet.

Poke a hole in the centre of each round.  Fill with chopped dates.  Dot with butter.  Fold over to make turnovers, sealing in the filling.

Brush tops with reserved egg.  Sprinkle with sugar.

Bake at 450F for 10-12 minutes.  Serve hot.

Makes 12 cakes.

Tuesday, December 11, 2018

Apple Pan Dowdy

Please don't ask me where I found this recipe or why it is called what it is.  I just don't remember.  This was a family favourite when the boys were young.  Yes, back in the days when I used to bake.

Image result for apple pan dowdy

2 cups sliced apples
1/4 cup molasses or brown sugar
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1/2 cup sugar
1 well beaten egg
1-1/2 cups sifted enriched flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup milk

Pour apples in greased baking dish.  Sprinkle with molasses or brown sugar, spices, and 1/4 tsp salt.  Bake in a moderate oven 350F until apples are soft.

Meanwhile prepare batter.  Cream butter.  Add sugar gradually, add egg.  Mix and sift flour, baking powder and 1/2 tsp salt.  Add, alternating with milk, to creamed butter mixture.  Pour over apples and continue baking.  Total baking time is about 35 minutes.

Serve from baking dish or turn out with apples on top.  Serve with hard sauce or cream.

Serves 6.

Honey-Mustard Slow Cooker Chicken


Quantity : 4 servings
Preparation : 15 min Cooking : 7 h
250calories/serving

Ingredients
vegetable oil spray
1 onions, sliced 200 g
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp olive oil 30 mL
2 tbsp honey 45 g
1/4 cup Dijon mustard 70 g
1 tbsp whole-grain mustard 16 g
1 tbsp tomato paste 18 g
1 tbsp white vinegar 15 mL
1/2 cup water 125 mL
1 sprig rosemary, fresh, chopped 5 g
1 pinch cayenne pepper 0.1 g
1 1/2 chicken breasts, boneless, skinless, cut into 2 cm pieces 460 g
1 pinch salt [optional] 0.2 g
ground pepper to taste [optional]


Before you start

A slow cooker is needed to make this recipe.


Method

Coat the ceramic cooking pot with cooking spray. Prepare the vegetables: Thinly slice the onion and mince the garlic.
Heat half of the oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic then sauté until softened and translucent, about 3 min. Transfer to the ceramic cooking pot. Add the remaining oil, honey, mustards, tomato paste, vinegar, water, rosemary, and a pinch of Cayenne pepper. Mix well to combine.
Add the chicken pieces and stir to coat it with the mixture. Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on 'low' for 7 h.

Monday, December 10, 2018

Nicoise Salad


Quantity : 4 servings
Preparation : 20 min Cooking : 15 min
400calories/serving

Ingredients

2 potatoes 400 g
1 1/3 cup green/snap beans 130 g
2 tomatoes 240 g
1/3 curly leaf lettuce 120 g
2 eggs size large
4 anchovy fillets 16 g
200 g tuna, canned
12 black olives 5 tbsp
1/3 cup Classic Vinaigrette
(https://www.soscuisine.com/recipe/classic-vinaigrette?gpr=707) 85 mL
1 pinch salt [optional] 0.2 g
ground pepper to taste [optional]

Method

Boil or steam the potato(es)(about 15 min), then peel them, and cut into approx. 7 mm slices. Prepare the green beans and boil or steam (about 7-8 min). Let cool down for about 15 min.
Boil the egg(s) (10 min), cool down immediately in cold water, and cut into quarters.
Slice the tomato(es). Wash the salad leaves.
Put all the vegetables in a salad bowl or serving plate. Pour on the classic vinaigrette. Add salt and pepper to taste. Toss.
Arrange the anchovy fillets, tuna, olives, salad leaves, and quartered egg(s) on top of the salad. Serve.