Roasted

Ingredients: 2 Moulard duck breasts (500G each) ½ cup balsamic vinegar 2 mangoes 2 tbsp butter 2 tbsp sugar 2 tbsp honey Method: Peel the mangoes and cut them lengthwise. Make Criss-cross lines on the skin of the duck breasts and dry fry on a high flame, in a pan for about 3 minutes on each side, the fatty side first and then turning over to fry the other side. (Overcooking the red meat make

So it turns out we have a slight change of plans for Christmas. We will not be going to Illinois for the holidays this year; we will be spending Christmas here in CoMo. Why you ask? Well, Brett and I don't really "believe" in credit cards (I imagine this hurts my dad since he works for MasterCard), we don't believe in buying things if you do not have the money and both think they are unnecessary t

Check out the unusual (and pretty uncomfortable if you ask us) furnishings Dark Roasted Blend has featured on their post, “Psychedelic Furniture Part 2″. An excellent way to keep couchsurfers to a minimum, The Cactus Couch would fit in nicely with your southwestern decor. Gives a whole new meaning to “hitting the hay” doesn’t it? Check out more [...]

Spicy Lentil & Roasted Butternut Squash Soup Half butternut squash…. And half minded me… Half finished office work… Half hearted-ness for cooking… And half an hour later…. 2 full, big bowls of soup… And two satisfied people… And two big Dagaar’s, ahem, burps… Now all the mathematicians hear me loud and clear… it’s time you come up with a new theorem that proves ½ = 2

I spent a lot of time trying to think up a fancy butternut squash recipe. After much too much thought, I realized, my favorite way to have butternut squash is just simply roasted. It's almost too good to be true, but with little adornment, it's perfect just the way it is.Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F (375 degrees F with convection) and line a sheet pan with aluminum foil. Peel, seed, and slic

Roasting the cauliflower mellows its flavor in this hearty, creamy [but dairy-free] Roasted Cauliflower and Dill Soup. Substitute vegetable broth for the chicken stock and you’ve got a... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

I go through our "stash" of winter squash each week to pull out anything that either needs to be used or catches my eye for use during that week. Late last week when I was going through the squash, I chose the mini hubbard squash. I decided I wanted to make soup out of it (big surprise) but I wanted to do something a little special. I don't cook with fresh herbs a lot, I don't really know why, but

Roasted Butternut Squash Risotto Disclaimer: Author can not be held responsible for any pain in the eyes or fingers caused by reading this lengthy post and scrolling the page and also if you were to get caught sleeping/dozing during office hours. So proceed with caution. Inspiration for this article: Mumbai Meri Jaan (Of course, a Bollywood movie) and 24/7 News channels Do you know the

I know last week's recipe was Butternut Squash-based as well, but I consider this to be, culinarily-speaking, one of the best times of year in large part because of this wonderful, vitamin-packed vegetable...and really, ALL squashes. I don't discriminate. (Wiki says the butternut variety are a good source of fiber, vitamin C, manganese, magnesium, potassium, and vitamin A.)This soup is incredibly

This news can make you all shocked but it is real and you should never eat roasted chicken imported from China or even using it when you come to China. I am shocked too. Early dawn, starts the day by riding around to collect dead chicken Asking around for dead chicken Total of 5 riders are [...]

Last week, i woke up to a non-functioning oven. Tried all my luck and prayers to get it to work. Even gave it a hard kick but to no avail. The specialists came in to take a look at it and announced my oven dead because the oven board isn't available anymore. Sigh!!! Done my rounds at getting a new one but nothing matches my old friend who has seen me through my baking escapades.No more baking for

If you’re planning on carving out a pumpkin to celebrate Halloween, here’s a great way of turning the leftover scoopings into something utterly delicious to warm you up when you get home. It’s best served hot, with chunks of tasty bread for dipping and mopping. Pumpkins will be around for a few weeks more and they’ll [...]

It was a dark and stormy night... Wait. This is a recipe post. Let me start again. Got your cocoa? Are you settled? Chapter 1. The tight blue tiled kitchen glowed in the afternoon sun that slatted through the western facing junipers and spilled acros...

I didn't write a recipe, but here exact measurements are not important, and I just wanted to give one example of a use for those slow roasted tomatoes. Here, I sauteed some garlic in olive oil, ground pork, shrimp, and the slow roasted tomatoes (chopped) with some angel hair pasta, making a quick and easy dinner.

Hummus is Chickpeas in Arabic.  And as everyone knows there are a lot of variations to the traditional Hummus. I love Middle Eastern food, with all the flavors in it, but when I cook at home I do tweak it to cater to my taste and mood. This is a very spicy hummus with a [...]

Have you carved your pumpkins? Did you save and roast the seeds to snack on this week?Rich in magnesium and zinc they also offer calcium, iron, phosphorus, potassium, copper and manganese as well as a little bit of vitamin A. A healthy snack to be sure!The good thing about roasted pumpkin seeds is that you can add whatever spices you like to personalize them to your own tastes. The basic idea o

Now that tomato season is over, you won't be able to get those wonderful farmer's market tomatoes. You'll need this recipe to deal with the supermarket quality ones, or more like non-quality ones. I make this in large batches because it's work intensive but stores well. I wish I made 4 times this amount.Slow Roasted Tomatoes4 pound 12 ounces plum tomatoes1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt1 teaspoon sugar

With the evenings beginning to get chilly, soups have started to sound good. Neither Brett or I have ever really been "soup people" but I think it is due to bad experiences with canned soups. I've had a few homemade soups and have enjoyed them, but never really anything from a can. With the soup craving taking hold and a stash of butternut squash from our community garden plot hanging out in our c

I may be drinking only a soup, but who says I am not enjoying? If you must know, I am having a feast every night. With the chill breeze steeping in through the windows, I sip my piping hot soup and can literally feel the heat strolling through my windpipe. Oops, its not wind pipe is it, I meant the throat! Well whatever, you get the draft right. Every sip reminds me of those many times in past, I

This is a quick and easy way to prepare Pineapple Roasted Chicken. You can easily alter it, as you can see I did below...Pineapple Roasted ChickenSlice two onions and lay on a sheet tray.Remove the backbone and wing tips from a whole roaster chicken. Season all over with kosher salt and black pepper. Place it skin side up over the onions.Slice a lemon into 4-6 rings, squeeze juice over the chick

When I was still a youngster back in India, we learned everything there was to know about American culture from those American Culture for Dummies books a.k.a Archie Comics. I first learnt of Halloween in Archie Comics as a holiday, which involved costumes, and hitting the neighbours for cheap candy like it was a right. Archie Comics in all their PG-ness never really mentioned two really important

Singleguychef's excellent video of how to cook roasted garlic crabs.

"We have learned to see in bread an instrument of community between men - the flavor of bread shared has no equal. "Antoine de Saint-Exupery& It's time to bake & talk about bread again...& this couldn't be a better bread baking opportunity for me. Zorra @ Kochtopf is hosting the 3rd World Bread Day today, on October 16th. This is for Zorra...The original World Bread Day - an event crea

So what do you do when a fine lady brings you a bunch of apples and a nice looking sweet potato? Well, you go all out and make something super tasty like this! Brett and I actually came up with this idea before we got the apples and sweet potatoes - last week, we had baked sweet potatoes with Earth Balance and cinnamon and sugar. We liked those so much that we spent a good portion of the rest of

Menu highlights is a new feature that I am going to start doing on occasion. Highlighting items off our breakfast, lunch, dinner and small plates menu’s, offering you a bit more of a description that can be placed on our menu or that our server’s can remember. This is an opportunity lost to most chef’s, [...]

Anyone who reads my blog knows of my love for risotto.  Tonight I made oven roasted cherry tomato and basil risotto.  It’s amazing what great flavours you can get from a few ingredients.  As always, I made my risotto in the rice cooker.  I can’t believe the number of people who are amazed you can [...]

This is one of my many favourites. In fact, my kids and friends too. This is like 'char siew' (sweet roasted lean meat). Maybe if you use lean meat, it will look more like 'char siew'. I prefer to use ribs ... because I like to eat with my hands. :P Yeah! Hold the rib by the bone and clean the meat off. It's especially nice with a little fat on the meat. ;)You can leave the garlic if you don't li

Some days I am in no mood to cook for lunch, neither eat a heavy one. Especially when the children are in school and the dear hubby at work and I am racing to get as much done as possible without any  distraction present:-). Does that happen to any of you? These are the days [...]

Here we have some more lovely courgettes. If, like me, you are always on the lookout for different ways to cook a glut of courgettes, then this is a nice easy one.Take the courgettes and slice them thinly long ways. Place in a baking tray.Coat with a little olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, garlic and thyme.Roast in a hot (200 C) oven for about 20 minutes, turning half way through.Have a

Sardines are great. It doesn't matter whether they're from a tin or fresh, they're always good. I picked up some Cornish ones the other day, and they were really fresh, smelling of the sea. Their plump silvery bodies looked so inviting. Although sardines can be eaten whole I prefer not having to deal with any bones whilst eating them, so I set about filleting them. It was very easy as they were

Do you all remember the first time you tasted something and know how much it changed your life after that? Atleast I remember one thing that changed mine for ever. It was my first taste of Paneer. Oh I know what you must think. I am so crazy of Paneer that atleast one dish gets featured on Paneer. Yes, I am very fond and so is my daughter. Anyway back to the story. It was almost more than a decade

Guy at work: What's in that jar?Me: Onion Jam.Guy at work: Onion jam??Me: Yes, Onion Jam!I would have reacted the same way,if I was told to try some onion jam a week ago. But when I had this lovely smoked turkey and gouda melt sandwich with some amazing multigrain bread, I was completely bowled over by the onion jam in it.Have you ever had some delicious Indian biryani? Well you'll often find thes

There's nothing like a bowl of crunchy honey-roasted peanuts and a pack of beer on Game Night! unfortunately, these nuts do not come free, and if you invite people over, you can end up spending quite a bit of money on the Planter's Peanuts! On the... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

This is 7 edible insects from Thailand. Good appetite.

I’m cooking for one this week and found my weekly delivery of vegetables a bid intimidating. Being home alone, I feared that I wouldn’t be able to use up all of the wonderful produce. I contemplated how to use the…

salad: roasted beet, sherry vinegar, goat cheese, walnuts, smoked paprika.

This dinner was all about simplicity. Every preparation was easy and the highlight is the ingredients. When you're using really good meat, ultra fresh vegetables, and super vinegars, oils, etc. you don't need to get fancy. Let the ingredients do all the work.Ready for the easiest recipe ever?Mustard Thick-Cut Chops2 thick-cut (1 1/2" thick) boneless chops5 tablespoons whole grain mustardsalt and p

Cutting down on fat in food does not mean cutting down on the flavour right? Definitely a no-no for me....What I present here is a traditional favourite of mine..but a low-fat adaptation...Although being low fat, I have not compromised on the flavour.Personally for me, a vegetable makes food lovely to look at..No way am I turning a vegetarian because I just love seafood:)Once in a while I plan an

How To Make Lamb Chops With Roasted Vegetables Lamb Chops with Roasted Vegetables Recipe. Juicy Lamb Chops served with roasted vegetables perfect for a family meal or as a traditional Sunday Roast!... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

This picture - before cookingBoy did I get a wild hair this week! When preparing to make 2 whole roasted chickens I decided to use the onion/orange inside the birds as I've blogged about before. This always makes for good flavor and an incredibly moist bird but I wanted to go a step farther this time. With puree'd mangoes (for smoothies) in the refrigerator I grabbed the mix and poured some all

Here is a quick, easy and delicious summer Italian pasta recipe that you just have to make for dinner tonight. Anyone can make this. Your family will feel like they are eating at an authentic Italian restaurant after eating this dish. But before we get to this recipe, I would like to provide you with a [...]

Roasted Chicken Recipe Estimated cooking time: 1 1/2 to 2 hours Roasted Chicken Ingredients: 2 kilo dressed chicken (broiler) 2 cups of lemon grass (tanlad) 3 tablespoons of cooking oil 2 tablespoons of salt Cooking Instructions: Make sure the chicken is clean with no remaining small feathers and no insides. Wash thoro

This is one of our favorite meals, and perhaps the one I am most proud of. I first made this meal last summer when I began my crusade to learn how to make authentic Mexican food at home. This was inspired by my Mexican neighbors - they would cook amazing smelling food and I could smell it every time I was in our hallway. It got to the point where Brett and I decided that we either had to learn Spa

Have you tried my Roast Chicken with Garlic and Lemon? I got a new fan (for this recipe). My sister! She likes it so much that she even recommends it to her demonstrator (for Sharp Water Oven) to try it. Not too long ago, the lady, Irene, if I remembered correctly, just called me to clarify the recipe.I'm going to tell my sister, she should really ask her demonstrator to try this instead. It's sim

Rating: 92 Producer: Producer: Andrew Murray Vineyards Region: Santa Ynez Valley Price: $30 Purchase: FinestWine.com Blend Report: Report 12: California Syrah II Andrew Murray is recognized as a top producer of California Rhone varieties. This Syrah is sourced from the ‘Roasted Slope’ Vineyard block a low-yielding (1-2 tons per acre) site of Syrah and Viognier. This

Bought it from new supermarket, Cold Storage at Green Height. Roasted chicken...yummy. Kiwi flav ice cream

This is another one of those really good meals that is a little more suitable to a cooler time of year. However, nature doesn't always work in the way you would like her to, and thus, we get potatoes in the heat of summer. And aside from roasting, frying, sautéing, boiling, and grilling, I can't think of any other way to prepare them. The first four methods entail getting the apartment hot; the l

This meal was simple and really tasty. However, my preferred method for cooking potatoes is to roast them. Let's just say, the fact that it's summer, and that we are partaking in Crunchy Chicken's Keep Yer Cool Challenge, that it got a little warm in the apartment. Luckily, Brett is the master of "air flow", and was able to use fans to suck that hot air right out of the apartment. I love you Brett

Cuy: An Acquired TasteJust when you are trying to decide whether to vacation in Waikiki or Peru, the news comes in that the national dish of Peru is the Guinea Pig, or cuy in Peruvian. This tie-breaker is a necessary bit of info for the intrepid traveler, as the Peruvians actually expect you to eat these cute, over-sized rats."Eat me? You kidding? I'm bony--and cute. Very cute! Look in My eyes! Cu

I actually made this pesto last weekend when I got fresh sweet basil from the farmer's market. I guess I got lazy, then went off on tangents, posting about other things. I remembered as we had these sandwiches again over the weekend to use up the remaining pesto that I had never posted about it!This is a very basic pesto recipe, nothing special. This was my first time ever making pesto at home and

I love this potatoe recipe, it is loaded with flavor and easy to make, enjoy!Yield:6-8 servings6 to 8 large Yukon gold potatoes, cut into large chunks 4 sprigs fresh rosemary Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper Extra-virgin olive oil6 strips bacon, fried and crumbled 1/4 cup grated Parmesan or Romano Cheese1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted (optional)Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.Put the potat

1 large Red Bell Pepper 1 1/2 lbs shrimp (13 to 15 per pound) 3 tablespoon extra virgin Olive oil plus more for brushing the pan 8 clove garlic — finely chopped 1 1/2 tablespoon Smoked Paprika 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (recipe calls for 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon) salt and pepper 1 tablespoon oregano — chopped fresh 1/4 cup dry sherry or white [...]

Ingredients4 12-to 14-ounce boneless Muscovy duck breast halves trimmed of excess fat4 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme, divided2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper, divided1 1/2 teaspoons salt, divided6 firm but ripe Santa Rosa plums or other purple plums, halved, pitted1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil1/2 teaspoon sugar PreparationUsing sharp knife, score skin of duck breasts in crisscross pat

KFC Thailand, a division of Yum Restaurants International Thailand, has introduced a new roasted chicken burger item to its menu since 4th July, 2008.The roasted chicken burger with soft bread is topped with cheese sauce, mayonnaise, and fresh vegetables. The burger's Thai price is 55 Baht. Looks pretty yummy! I think I better grab the phone now and dial KFC 1150 to try out this new burger item. K

Asthma is a chronic condition marked by periodic attacks of wheezing and difficulty in breathing. The cause of asthma attacks is partial obstruction of the bronchi and bronchioles due to contraction of the muscles in the bronchial walls. Whereas with bronchitis, you have constant wheeziness until you recover from the disease, with asthma, attacks come and go and there are [...]

It feels really weird to do two posts in one day, but I am getting behind and don't want to get "backlogged". I wouldn't get used to as many food posts as you will see this week on a regular basis. I've had a long weekend and naturally I have done more in the kitchen.I wish I could describe how good this meal was, so simple, nothing special, but a real treat nonetheless. It probably looks like I s

I'm not sure when I talked myself out of worrying about it, but I did. After a handful of failed attempts at Tastespotting, I realized that I'm just not one to individually wrap my cookies and brownies in ribbons... maybe someday (because it certainly makes for a pretty picture.) This is not to say that I'm not still a big fan of Tastespotting - because I am. It is a visually stunning way to meet

With fish coated in fresh herbs, and asparagus on the side, this quick-and-easy dish is rich in nutrients and omega-3.Preparation Time 20 minutesCooking Time 15 minutesIngredients * 1/2 cup chopped mixed fresh herbs (such as parsley, mint, basil and chives) * 2 tsp finely grated lemon rind * 6 (about 150g each) firm white fish fillets (such as ling or perch) * 3 bunches asparagus, woo

Sunday is the perfect day for a roast chicken and with winter fast approaching, this slow-cooked version will make your mouth water.Ingredients * 1 tbs olive oil * 4 (about 800g) chicken marylands * 2 Spanish onions, cut into thick wedges * 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced * 1 lemon, cut into wedges * 1 cup (175g) kalamata olives * 1 cup (250ml) dry white wine * 2 cups (500m

Weight Watchers Bruschetta with Roasted Garlic and Cherry Tomatoes recipeMakes 6 servingsIngredients1 loaf Italian bread, sliced1 garlic clove For the topping2 cups cherry tomatoes, cut into quarters1 large tomato, diced1 roasted garlic clove, mashed3 basil leaves, chopped1 1/2 tablespoons carrots, finely minced1 jalapeno, minced1/4 cup red onion, minced1/2 tablespoon caper, rinsed1-2 tablespoon e

Taste & Create was one event that got me hooked on to its concept. This event hosted by Nicole of For the love of food, partners with another blogger and we got to pick a recipe from our partner's blog and prepare. Last month, though I was having a note on the time and all, I completely forgot to send the mail. This time round, I had reminders to give my name on time. And on top, my dear frien

Serving size: 6 Garlic Mayonnaise 3 slices red onion (1/2-inch slices), roasted1 head garlic, roasted 2 tablespoons olive oil Sandwich 1 loaf focaccia bread, sliced1/2 cup olive oil, for marinade 2 boneless chicken breast halves, grilled and sliced 5 portobello mushrooms, grilled and sliced1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil, for saut้ing2 tablespoons garlic, finely minced6 cups fresh spi

Ok, so this is just a quick entry for a nice, summer Friday (where I’d rather be outside than blogging!) for a quick, nice summer meal. It was one of those ‘fridge meals’ where we had to use up some veggies and is not super different from some of the other ‘fridge meals’ (often [...]

This is one of my very favorite vegetables to prepare. First, I got my kids hooked on canned Asparagus, which while probably not providing the proper amount of nutrients that it could have been providing, worked to let them enjoy the taste. Then we tried this recipe. And oh yum. Yum, yum, yum. This makes [...]

Obligatory kitten news: we still have two girls, they seem fairly strong and they eat well when we feed them. So, I'm pretty hopeful, but as they're still so incredibly tiny, there's no knowing for sure if they'll pull through yet.Now, for some food. This is a simple side dish that's incredible with some smokey grilled meat. Serve it with a cheese of some sort - goat's cheese or feta crumbled on t

Ingredients (serves 4) * 1/2 butternut pumpkin, peeled, cut into 1.5cm cubes * 1 red and 1 yellow capsicum, cut into 1.5cm pieces * 1 red onion, sliced * 3 small zucchini, sliced * 2 tbs olive oil * 2 large fat-free pizza bases * 100ml tomato passata (sieved tomatoes) * 120g low-fat feta, crumbled * 2 tsp balsamic vinegar * 1/3 cup basil leavesMethod 1. Preheat oven

This meal could have also been called 'Really Simple Food That Speaks For Itself'. I am always amazed at how good veggies are when roasted. They don't need anything, just a bit of salt. They have enough of their own flavor. I was looking for a simple, yet tasty and healthy dinner the other night, and I think I found the perfect meal! Brett and I raved about this and were also happy with how good s

I was initially very wary of using veggies like asparagus in Mexican food as it didn't seem very 'authentic'. Well, I've quickly gotten over that because many ingredients, whether authentic or not, can be turned into yummy Mexican-inspired meals with the right flavor combination.Wanting to enjoy the abundance of fresh, local, organic asparagus we've been getting from our CSA, I came up with these

Well I guess I should call this Guest Posting by Debbra S. Week, because she sent me another fabulous recipe - Roasted Corn and Grilled Shrimp. Not only does she give the Weight Watcher POINTS info, but it's a perfect...

Just when you thought Has-Lo has to be thee worst contributor in WYDU's sordid and marvelous history...I'm back. You guys will just have to trust me on this. My only mission here is to give it to you straight, No chaser. To give it to you raw, Buttnekkid. For instance: we've all seen the infamous Eli Porter video right? I thought so. (If you haven't, here's your late pass Herby...Hancock) Pop

Dark Roasted Blend is probably the most addictive blog I have ever had the pleasure to read. Featuring "weird and wonderful things to complement your daily coffee ritual", this amazing blog is ranked among the top 400 blogs according to Technorati and at number 8 in the most popular Blogger powered blogs.I've had the pleasure of an email interview with Avi Abrams, the founder and writer of Dark R

This meal was really good. I modified the recipe from one of Chandelle's that can be found here. I basically changed the spice combination to suit our tastes and changed up the ingredients based on what we had on hand.'Burgers' are a great summer meal as you can make up a large batch, freeze what you don't use, and have yummy dinners that require the stove to be on for just long enough to cook the

Mmmm....duck, another meal I should not have made right before the wedding. It's just so delicious though. I also find that whole duck is often over-cooked, or I just prefer under-cooked, whichever way you want to look at it but I don't like dry meat. This preparation yields a very moist little duck, and it's relatively easy for such an impressive looking dinner. It's perfect for a romantic dinner

"I am not a glutton, I am an explorer of food"Erma Bombeck Coffee & Roasted Almonds...a handsome combination I have my biscotti moments...at times, I will suddenly alight & set off to make a biscotti with a 'flavour of the moment' off the top of my head. This particular moments' flavour turned out to be coffee & roasted almonds. A delicious, crisp biscotti! I made these some time ago,

Garlic and herb roasted potatoesServes: 4Calories/serving: 89 WWpoints per serving:2 Preparation time: 1 5 minutesCooking times: 45 minutes450g (1 lb) potatoes 8 garlic cloves with skin intact 2-3 sprigs fresh rosemary 2-3 sprigs fresh thyme2 tablespoons light soy saucechopped fresh flat-leaf parsley to garnish salt1. Preheat the oven to 200C, 400F, Gas Mark.2. Cook the potatoes in lightly sal

I don't like onions, but I got a request for a sweet onion recipe, so here's a very rich French soup for you!Weight Watchers Roasted Vidalia Onion and Garlic Soup recipeMakes 12 servingsIngredients6 medium sweet Vidalia onions1 head garlic, bulb cut in 1/22 quarts low sodium chicken stock2 celery ribs, chopped2 leeks (white part only), soaked and chopped1 tablespoon canola oil1 cup cream1/2 cup sw

I've been meaning to cook with quinoa for quite some time. I bought a small amount of it in the bulk bin at Whole Foods a few weeks ago and hadn't gotten around to trying it out. With my recent focus on eating healthier, I figured it would make for a nice light supper along with some roasted veggies. It's as though quinoa is becoming more popular as I'm seeing it popping up on more blogs. I

I've been meaning to cook with quinoa for quite some time. I bought a small amount of it in the bulk bin at Whole Foods a few weeks ago and hadn't gotten around to trying it out. With my recent focus on eating healthier, I figured it would make for a nice light supper along with some roasted veggies.It's as though quinoa is becoming more popular as I'm seeing it popping up on more blogs. I didn

I have been quiet this week because I have been busy preparing for Dan’s baptism party. We are having my huge family over to celebrate the occasion. Dan’s separation anxiety has held me hostage and so I was playing catch up all week trying to get ready! Dan will literally [...]

Thank you to everyone for your recent kind words of support! I've been a mopey and grumpy person since learning of my high cholesterol and am starting to snap out of it. Today's weekly produce delivery gave me much needed inspiration and I crafted this wonderfully simple dinner tonight. Tonight's star ingredient is the golden beet, sweet and earthy. My produce shipment also contained fennel,

Thank you to everyone for your recent kind words of support! I've been a mopey and grumpy person since learning of my high cholesterol and am starting to snap out of it. Today's weekly produce delivery gave me much needed inspiration and I crafted this wonderfully simple dinner tonight.Tonight's star ingredient is the golden beet, sweet and earthy. My produce shipment also contained fennel, str

I crave these Latin-style beans every once in a while. The flavors come together so nicely and its pretty healthy too. I usually make these beans with bacon but I have chorizo in my fridge so why not.Roasted Poblano Black Beans1 teaspoon canola oil1/2 cup chopped onion2 cloves garlic, minced1 large roasted poblano, cleaned and chopped1/4 cup finely chopped chorizo1 can (15.5 oz) black beans, rinsed and drained2 tablespoons chopped cilantro1. Heat oil in a small saucepan and add onions. Saute for 2 minutes.2. Add garlic and roasted poblanos. Saute for another 2 minutes.3. Add Chorizo and stir for another 2 minutes.4. Add beans and 1/2 cup of water. Bring to a boil.3. Turn down to a simmer and cook until the liquid is absorbed, stirring occasionally. This will take about 45 minutes.4. Stir i

A quick and easy dinner is just what a Monday night calls for. My favorite way to cook pork tenderloin is in an obscenely hot oven (500°) for about 10 minutes or until the internal temp in the thickest part is 140°. But that requires either a clean oven or the doors and windows wide [...]

Sinful! Fresh sugar snap peas roasted to perfection.What else is there to say?ROASTED SUGAR SNAP PEAS1 lb sugar snap pea1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oilcoarse saltfresh ground pepperDirectionsPreheat broiler to hiLine a large baking sheet with aluminum foil.Toss peas with olive oil on prepared baking sheet.Spread peas in a single layer.Broil approximately 2 minutes, or just until crisp-tender and they are beginning to brown in spots, stirring once.Remove from oven and transfer to a serving bowl.Sprinkle with coarse salt and pepper.

Purina have a new cat food from their Felix range, Roasted, which is a succulent, meaty meal for your cat wrapped in mouth watering gravy. Is it just me or does this sound like we should be eating it instead of the cat? :)  It may explain why Purina believe Cat’s Love Felix. A great 100g [...]

"Garlic is a habit and a passion."Kim Upton, Chicago Sun-Times Of Spaghetti & Vegetables... this one's a combination full-of-flavour! Bursting with flavour...an incredibly delicious focaccia! Ever since I read that Casa Bencomo has a huge jar of organic garlic waiting to be used up, my minds hit the garlic trail. Am sure the jar at Amy's end is history, but my pursuit in never ending...garlic is one of my favourite ingredients. I was at a loose end for a meal one day...rummaged in the fridge & found bell peppers. Had a couple of heads of garlic & spaghetti. The Pasta Bible has place of honour on my bedside these days...a recipe I had read a couple of nights back came to my mind...Spaghettini all'Aglio Arrostio (Spaghettini with Roasted Garlic). The garlic was duly put to roast,

Ingredients you will need for this dish: 1 6 to 8 Ounce Hanger Steak 3 Each whole shallots 2 Ounces of Port wine 2 Ounces of butter 6 ounces of Demi Glace you can find it at Whole Foods or Central Market 1/2 Ounce of Canola Oil To Taste Salt and Black Pepper 2 Ounces of sugar 2 Cups of water First you will [...]

Gremolata (a classic Italian garnish made from lemon peel, parsley, and garlic) gets a new twist here with the addition of tarragon. Servings: Makes 8 servingsIngredients5 pounds asparagus, trimmed, cut into 2-inch pieces (14 to 15 cups)4 cups chopped leeks (white and pale green parts only; about 4 large)1/4 cup olive oil6 cups (or more) low-salt chicken broth2 tablespoons minced fresh Italian parsley4 teaspoons finely grated lemon peel1 tablespoon minced fresh tarragon1 small garlic clove, mincedPreparationPreheat oven to 425°F. Combine asparagus, leeks, and oil in very large bowl; toss to blend. Divide between 2 large rimmed baking sheets. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast vegetables until asparagus pieces are s

"It's 8pm and I fancy something to nibble on.... Mmmmmm, what shall I have?"How many times do you have that munchie feeling during the evening? For me, it is almost every evening...lol! Tonight being no exception. One of my favourite snacks is Roasted Pumpkin Seeds.The recipe for this is quite simple, so I will not send you to sleep with countless photographs. All you need is some Olive Oil, salt and a bag of Pumpkin Seeds. I like a bit of a kick to pumpkin seeds, so I have substituted Olive Oil with Chilli Oil and I also use some chilli flakes. Both of these items are optional.The first step it to cover a baking tray with foil. Then spread the pumpkin seeds over the foil base. Lightly drizzle some olive oil (chilli oil) over the seeds, then season with salt (and chilli flakes if desired).

The other day, I did BBQ Ribs for dinner and I made potatoes to go with it. The ribs were flavourful and it goes really well with these potatoes.Seriously, I could eat the potatoes alone. It's really nice and quite filling too.Ingredients:4 fist-sized Potatoes, scrubbed cleaned and cut in chunks.5 glove Garlic, lightly crushed2 tablespoon Olive Oil2 teaspoon Dried Rosemary1/2 teaspoon Garlic Powder (optional)A pinch of SaltA dash of Ground Black PepperHow to do it:Mix everything well in a oven proof dish or alternatively, put everything in a ziploc bag and shake to mix well before pouring out to the dish.Roast in 200C oven for 1 hour or till potatoes are tender.Remove every15 minutes to give it a stir so potatoes at the bottom of the dish are roasted too.Sprinkle additional salt and pepper

Do you enjoy drinking fresh roasted coffee in the morning? Then if you do like it you can order online at sanmarcocoffee.com. You even choose up to 270+ coffee flavors!! Whew!!! That's Awesome!! They are specializing in American & Espresso Coffee & Cappuccino machines. So try it now and im sure you will love the taste of their coffees!!

An interesting pasta sauce served with sauteed shrimp: Pureed roasted bell peppers blended with Tequila, garlic, cilantro and a hint of chili powder and cayenne.  Read more »

This is known as chilpachol in Mexico. Don't forget to add a squeeze of fresh lime juice to each bowl.Servings: Makes 4 main-course servings.IngredientsAromatic soup base2 pounds large plum tomatoes (about 10)2 medium onions (about 14 ounces), peeled, halved1 1/2x3-inch strip from Mexican cinnamon stick or 1 1/2-inch piece regular cinnamon stick6 whole black peppercorns4 large garlic cloves, unpeeled1 large jalapeño chili2 5 1/2-inch corn tortillas, cut in half2 teaspoons chopped canned chipotle chilies *To finish soup3 tablespoons olive oil1 1/4 teaspoons dried oregano1 teaspoon ground cumin5 cups water1 1 1/2-pound butternut squash, peeled, halved, seeded, cut into 1/2- to 3/4-inch cubes3/4 pound red-skinned potatoes, peeled, cut into 1/2- to 3/4-inch cubes1 teaspoon (or more) salt1 15-

Today was a walnut day.Now, just so we're clear: I ALWAYS soak my walnuts. Always. They have a bitter quality that is very off-putting for me unless I soak them. Soaking nuts in water removes enzyme inhibitors - which are aptly named - and also wakes up the nuts, allowing them to germinate. This leads to better digestibility and higher nutrient content. Walnuts, because they break in the shelling process, can't fully germinate. However, all the bitterness does leach out, leaving a soft, mild, almost sweet nut. Next time I soak my nuts, I'll take a picture to show you the dark, ruddy-brown colored water that's left.I had a great big bowl left over from a prior experiment, and it was about time for them to be eaten. I didn't want to do a raw dish necessarily (read: "yeah, you really should C