Hot hamburger sandwiches

Last night my friend came with a bag of organic fruit and vegetables that she has delivered to her house weekly.  She came bearing the gifts of a mango, which was my snack today.  Radish greens, carrot tops, apples, oranges, zucchini, pears.  A feast, not to mention a pesto sauce she had made and a chickpea, mushroom, crab salad with olives.  We ended up going out for Indian...we were out picking up my daughter from school and the weather changed quickly and we were delayed returning to my place. So we stopped at an Indian restaurant where we enjoyed the delights.  It was unfortunate not to be able to inspire each other in the kitchen.  However my children were able to experience the different tastes of India.  Yum.

Today I had yet another visitor, she is one on my longest friends and it started out she was just going too be here between meetings and it turned into a two meal affair.  It started with a late afternoon snack, we ate the chickpea salad made by friend from yesterday and I made a spinach salad with pomegranate.  I was shocked to fine them in my supermarket this morning and bought three to celebrate!!!! Then as my friends second meeting was rescheduled we first worked to rearrange my apartment and she helped me to de clutter a few items.  I then started making hot hamburger sandwiches.  I know people have asked how to save money with meals etc, I think tonight's dinner was low cost, delicious and quick and easy.  Know, I used pre-made prime rib burgers that I got on sale, regular whole wheat bread and sweet potatoes.  I used a can of beef gravy...which came home with my from the grocery store and someone was given my can of coconut milk :( it a few months ago, and we used it to make hot hamburger sandwiches.


We panned friend the hamburgers than placed in the oven at 300 to keep warm.  


Sweet Potato Goodness


-3 medium sweet potatoes, sliced like coins
-1 small onion diced
-1 tablespoon chilipowder
-1/4 teaspoon cumin
-1/4 teaspoon dry mustard
-salt an pepper
-1 teaspoon tamari soya sauce
-1/4 cup white wine
-1 tablespoon brown sugar
-2 tablespoons parmesan cheese


In a large frying pan I sautéed Onions, sweet potatoes cut like coins in a dash olive oil on medium heat, once they had cooked for about five minutes I started to add the dry spices (Chili powder, cumin, mustard, pepper) I continued to cook until the sweet potatoes were beginning to brown, I added tamari, and the spash of white wine and allowed it to cook, at this point I found it spicy and knowing my friend I added some brown sugar and topped with parmesan cheese and served.

Cooking with friends

Tonight I have my friend coming for dinner...we will be cooking together....so stay tuned for our creations.  will head into the world of Kensington market to put out meal together...can't wait...there will also be a trip to the wine store for VQA wine.  I try to drink only VQA and I support the GO LOCAL movement http://www.lcbogolocal.com/

Yesterday (meal ideas)

Yesterday I was working and my friend sent me a message....I need some inspiration for dinner.  I have asparagus and 2 coloured carrots.  I suggested that she roast almonds dry in a frying pan with soya sauce and fresh ginger grated, when browned and removing almonds from heat to drizzle with maple syrup.  The asparagus to be panned fried with ginger soya sauce and maple syrup and top with roasted almonds.  I suggested chicken backed in oven with peppercorn goat cheese covered, he was unable to find peppercorn goat cheese but purchased herbed goat cheese.  The carrots she roasted in the oven with potatoes and spices...an amazing delicious meal with very little work...the roasted almonds covered with maple syrup is a favourite of mine.  Her dinner was delicious and I helped to inspire a home cooked meal to be shared with her and her soon to be hubby

Tonight's soup

So tonight is clean out the crisper soup.

I have added beets, onions, carrots, sweet potatoes, celery, garlic, zuchinni, a can of pineapple, beef broth, curry powder, a can of coconut milk, red curry paste and fresh cilantro.  I am essentially clearing out the fridge to make a soup.  It is a beautiful sunny day here in Toronto however it started out gray and it felt like a soup day.

I sautéed the vegetables, added the beef broth, a can of pineapple and spices to taste.  Allowed it to simmer all day.  It smells amazing.  

A night on the town

Last night I took a night off,.  I went out with a friend for a night on the town.  We started on Baldwin Street, at Cafe la Caffe, where we had bruschetta and wine which was amazing.  We then walked a few doors down to Bodega, which is my favourite restaurant.  i had Scallops on top of a baked apples over wilted spinach in a curry sauce, followed by a steak and frites and for dessert orange creme broule.  It was an amazing meal.

Dinner at a friends

Am dining at a friends tonight, on the menu Scallops, salmon, spinach salad....so delicious.

Ham in a Maple Mustard Pineapple glaze

Tonight's dinner I bought a little ham, I scored the ham to allow the glaze to seep into ham.


Glaze


1 oz 1919 rum
3 tablespoons maple syrup
3 tablespoons smoked mustard
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 small pineapple in chunks


I covered in glaze let sit overnight and baked in an oven for 40 minutes.

delicious

Chicken Parmesan

Hello,


Another amazing day in Toronto.  After dinner tonight, I was able to sit on my balcony and enjoy a glass of wine, wearing flip flops and a sun dress.  Amazing weather for March 20th.  I made my chicken parmesan, instead of using mostly mozzarella I used cheese curds and parmesan cheese with a little mozzarella.  I used my spaghetti sauce with the chorizo sausage on top of my breaded chicken.


T's Chicken Parm


I made my break crumbs and added fresh Parmesan cheese, salt pepper and spices
I flattened the chicken , milked and breaded two chicken breasts
in a hot frying pan with a slight covering of olive oil fry chicken until browned and flip over
have oven preheating at 350.
Place the breasts in a casserole dish and cover chicken with tomato sauce, and mozzarella cheese, cheese curds and parmesan.


bake in oven until golden brown, about 40 minutes


I served this with a spinach salad and spaghetti 

Chicken Parmesan

So I have people coming for dinner tonight I am making chicken parmesan.  I have made the tomato sauce from scratch yesterday.  I plan on making a trip to the Butcher to get some fresh Italian sausage to make the pasta.  The sauce is cooking, on the stove, the house smells delicious and I need to make my bread crumbs.   have fresh bread from the bakery in Kensington Market.  I haven't made chicken parm is so long, I can't wait.  


Bread crumbs are easy to make, any time you need them.  I place bread on a cookie sheet, I buttered the bread today and spices and toast the bread in the oven at 350.  I the scrap the bread.  I realize buying bread crumbs is cheap and quick, however I try really hard to stay away from premade things. Also, if you have bread that is starting to go then use that bread instead of spending money.  We waste so much food every week, bread is often thrown out.  We waste so much.  


Last night I brought over some flank steak to my neighbour and he in return gave me some of his homemade lasagne.  My friend who came for dinner last night has offered to bake me a loaf of fresh bread.  Share your food and create community.  Inspire your friends and family.  

Food is for sharing.  Its ingredients, its creation, its flavours, 

and its stories are all their best when experienced with our family, 

friends and community. 

Canadian Chef Michael Smith

Flank steak

So tonight had a few friends over for dinner.  I started marinating the steak at lunch time and it turned out amazing.  I also served asparagus with roasted red peppers and artichoke hearts and made I made rice.  My mango salsa and I made a fresh tomato salsa with avocado.  I also had fresh tomatoes stewing on the stove all day for my chicken parmesan that I am cooking tomorrow night.


Teresa's Flank Steak


-2/3 cup olive oil
-1/3 cup white balsamic vinegar
-salt & pepper
-1 tablespoon chili powder
-1/2 teaspoon thyme
-1 tablespoon tamari soy sauce
-3 tablespoons smoked mustard
-2 tablespoon maple syrup
-1/2 teaspoon cumin
-juice of 1 lemon

I scored meat with 1/2 inch deep cut about an inch apart.  I dry rubbed the spices, mustard and maple and let sit for an hour.  I then added the olive oil, vinegar, tamari and lemon juice and I let sit for several hours.  Broiled on high on top rack for 8 minutes and flipped over for another 8 minutes.  I have an apartment oven so maybe need less time depending on your oven.

Monday List of meals

Hello,

I know I didn't post over the weekend...was busy after work.  I am about to head out with a friend to do my shopping, I am thinking of trying a flank steak, chicken parmigiana.  The weather here in Toronto has been incredible, the flank steak should be BBQ'ed but living in an apartment it is impossible.  I haven't made oven baked flank steak so this is an experiment.

Life is series of moments....

Asparagus with Onions and Portabello mushrooms

So tonight asparagus is not for the onion hater....

 I cut up 1 white onion and pan fried until clear I added to large Portabello mushrooms chopped, when cooked I caramelized mixture by adding red wine, tamari soya sauce and allowed to cook for a while.  I placed asparagus in oven at 350 for 10 minutes with a little olive oil, and stirred it a few times.  After cooking I removed from oven and placed onion mixture over the asparagus

Baked Brie

Last night I made an amazing baked Brie...


I use a French onion soup bowl to bake the Brie.  


T's Baked Brie


-2 ripe pears
-brown sugar
-cinnamon
-fresh grated ginger
-splash of white wine

in a frying pan on medium heat add pears, brown sugar, cinnamon, and grated ginger cook until soft and add a splash of white wine, let liquid thicken.  I cut my Brie in half, placing in soup bowl I put a layer of the pears and place top portion on top.  I top Brie with more pears and cover with foil.  I bake at 350 for about 20 minutes until rind is melted

Salad dressing

Just walked over to the healthy butcher, where I bought several types of mustard to make a salad dressing for dinner tonight...they sell a Canadian Mustard called Kozlik's.  I love to eat the mustard just on pretzels.


My salad dressing for tonight 


2 part olive oil
1 part white balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon maple mustard
1 teaspoon smoked mustard
1 scallion grated
half a lemon juice
lemon zest
salt and pepper
and a splash of real maple syrup


mix together and keep refrigerated 

Black Cod Recipe

My Black Cod Recipe

-Fresh ginger grated
-1 small scallion grated
-1 tablespoon red miso paste
-1 oz of 1919 8 year old rum
-2 tablespoons brown sugar
-lemon zest
-lime zest
-2 splashes of tamari sauce
-olive oil

-zest lemon and lime right on fish.  Mix rest of ingredients and pout over fish.  Can squeeze lemon an lime over right before baking.

Black Cod

All four elements were happening in equal measure - the cuisine, the wine, the service, and the overall ambience. It taught me that dining could happen at a spiritual level. 

Charlie Trotter 

Tonight on the menu is black cod.  I am cooking at a friends for dinner.  

Looking forward to making a miso rum glazed black cod.

With asparagus topped with pan fried mushrooms

Spinach Salad.

chicken wings

Tonight I made chicken wings...I went to European Meats in Kensington Market where I bought 3.5 pounds of chicken wings.  In a large bowl, mix 

Teresa's delicious Chicken Wings


4 tablespoons whole wheat flour
4 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon mustard powder
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon herb de province
salt and pepper to taste


in a large bowl mix all ingredients together, coat chicken wings.  Preheat oven to 450oF.  Cook for 15-20 minutes.

 salsa with avocado with fresh  lemon and salt and pepper mixed with salsa

Chicken being seasoned

Right out of Oven

Fresh Veggies

Quinoa Tabbouleh Salad

Tabbouleh Salad with quinoa

So tonight I so far have decided to use up quinoa from the other night.  

Tabbouleh Salad


1 cup of cooked quinoa
2 roma tomatoes chopped
juice of 1 lemon
1 green onion minced
1/4 cup of high quality olive oil
1/2 cup fresh parsley
1/4 cup finely chopped mint leaves
salt and pepper

Mix all ingredients together, salt and pepper to taste....and serve

Another beautiful day

It is another beautiful day and I am on my way out on an adventure with my girls, now to decide what to cook for dinner...Kensington Market here I come.  Salmon?  Black Cod?  Chicken?  Beef?  Maybe some chicken wings?  We will see what the day holds...

Cambazola cheese dinner

Hello, I worked another 12 hour shift and am exhausted with the time change and it being March break.  Tonight I grabbed a baguette on my way home, I topped it with cambozola cheese, spicy olives, a glass of wine, and am relaxing with my kids.  Hope everyone in Toronto is enjoying this fantastic weather...tomorrow I am off and will be cooking something delicious. 

Quick Wrap

Had a busy day at work, so tonight's dinner is a quick and healthy wrap.  Using left over Yellow Thai Curried Chicken, rice, spinach and fresh cilantro.

Stuffed peppers

Stir frying the veggies

This is the meat with the qunioa added

Bake in oven at 350 for 30 minutes than top with cheese and cook for 10 more minutes

So tonight I am making stuffed peppers with the left over taco meat from Friday night.  I made quinoa  in beef broth.  I stir fried the ingredients, with onions, chopped up peppers, my home made salsa and mixed in grated cheddar cheese, some cumin, chili powder, some tamari and half an avocado. Then I stuffed two red peppers and cooked with the rest of my home made salsa in the oven.  I blanched the peppers in boiling water for 2 minutes before stuffing.  Bake in oven for 30 minutes, top with some cheddar cheese cook for another 10 minutes and serve.

my red curried sweet potato soup with coconut milk and pineapple

Good morning, It is a beautiful day here in Toronto.  I am on my way out to a park to spend time with my kids.  Before I go I was asked to post my red curried sweet potato soup with fresh pineapple and coconut milk.


I love my Dutch oven, as I have never burnt anything in it.  It is an essential thing in my kitchen...you can leave things simmering all day without worrying to have to stir all the time.


T's Red Curried Sweet Potato Soup 


-3 sweet potatoes peeled and chopped into your desired thickness, I like mine to fit on a spoon
-2 tablespoons olive oil
-2 yellow carrots sliced like coins
-2 small onions sliced
-2 cloves of garlic minced
-1 shallot chopped
-4 tablespoons of red curry paste (depends on your level of spiciness)
-1 tablespoon lemongrass chopped
-1 tablespoon cumin
-1 teaspoon grated ginger
-3 or 4 fresh basil leaves
-2 or 3 kaffir lime leaves
-chilli oil if you have
-1 lime squeezed
-2 cups of fresh pineapple in chunks
-500ml of veggie or chicken broth
-1 can of coconut milk
-fresh cilantro chopped to garnish


-in a large pot over medium, add olive oil, sweet potato, onions, carrots, cook until onions are clear, add shallots and garlic and cook for a few minutes add the red curry paste and mix with veggies, add the lemon grass, ginger, cumin, basil, kaffir lime leaves, pineapple, broth and coconut milk.  Reduce to simmer for an hour to allow all flavours to infuse.  You can add chunks of chicken as well.  


Also if you have the ability to purchase a can of AROY-D Red Curry then you can add this can and omit from curry paste down to chili oil.  (this is what I do when rushing)  The prep time is about 10 minutes, cooking about 1 hour and a half.  


The pineapple sweetness with the heat of this dish is just incredible.  One of my favourite soups.  Sometimes I also throw in chopped waterchestnuts or bamboo shoots.

The final product, yellow thai curry

One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.

Virginia Woolf (1882-1941) British novelist and essayist.

Yellow Thai Curried Chicken with coconut milk

So tonight, I am not actually doing the cooking, I have a friend who is cooking with me.  I helped with some prep work.  It is nice to have a break from the kitchen


Yellow Thai Curried Chicken with Coconut Milk


1 bay leave
1 cinnamon stick
2 tablespoons yellow curry
1 chili pepper chopped
3 shallots
3 cloves of garlic
2 tablespoons of minced ginger
1/2 cup chicken broth
3 chicken breasts chopped (you can use thighs or drumsticks)
1 can of coconut milk
4 potatoes
2 medium sized tomatoes
1/4 cup of cilantro
2 tablespoon fish sauce or tamari


In a frying pan dry fry the spices on medium-high heat.  Add the chili pepper, shallots, garlic, and ginger, for 1 minute stirring constantly then add chicken and potatoes.  Stir for a few minutes.  Add the chicken broth and the can of coconut milk.  Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer until potatoes and chicken cooked.  Add the tomatoes about 10 minutes before cooked.  serve over rice or noodles and top with fresh chopped cilantro.

 Bring to a boil

Add tomatoes at end, and cook for about 10 minutes

Fresh Cilantro

Cheese

Just getting back from Kensington Market, which was an adventure for my taste buds.  In particular I popped into Global Cheese to buy there spicy olives and was given a piece of Cambozola Cheese.  Fantastic!!!  Currently enjoying with my friend on top of bread, freshly baked at a local bakery.

Baquette with Cambozola cheese and roasted red pepper

My children are enjoying some of the treats from Cora's.

Yellow Thai Curry Chicken for dinner tonight

I am off to Kensington Market to get the ingredients for dinner

-coconut milk
-chicken
-ginger
-garlic
-yellow thai curry
-red chili flakes
-potatoes
-cilantro
-cinnamon sticks
-shallots
-chicken broth
-fish sauce
-tomatoes

Looking forward to tonight dinner.

Four Layer Black Bean Dip

Four layer black bean dip

So tonight my kids want tacos.  Which is one of my favourite memories as a child.  Now every family makes tacos differently, my family had a few traditions and people are surprised that we eat our tacos with olives.  I also grew up with this notion that tacos can only be served with coca-cola.  As a child my family (there are four kids) would all have a responsibility.  When I reflect back on the making of the tacos, it was when we worked efficiently together.  Tonight I am planning on making a refried black bean four layered dip.  


I have been soaking the black beans since last night...I will boil them....and fry them, add ingredients, and place on the bottom of a tray.  I will top with a layer of sour cream, the next layer will be home made salsa, and then cheddar cheese.  Which I will serve with tortilla chips


I have also made my salsa...I have never made fresh salsa before.  I walked over to Chinatown with my daughter and bought some roma tomatoes.  Her and I chopped the tomatoes, added salt and pepper, added red onions.  garlic, red pepper, vinegar, fresh cilantro and parsley, and a dash of chili powder


I will continue to update about dinner as the day does on

my home made salsa

If you really want to make a friend, 

go to someone's house and eat with him... the people who give 

you their food give you their heart. 
Cesar Chavez 

Essentials in my kitchen

What items I almost always have in my kitchen

lemons and limes
onions and garlic
olive oil
butter
tamari soy sauce
ginger
rice
quinoa
pasta
peppers (red, yellow, green)
real parmesan cheese, goat cheese (Peppercorn goat cheese my favourite)
red and white wine
sweet potato
carrots
miso
BACON
beef broth, chicken broth and vegetable broth
cilantro
peppercorns
mustards, sweet and smokey, dijon, honey mustard


When I make my dishes, I try to freeze or take for lunch so that I do not waste.  
Try to experiment and enjoy!

Fried Radicchio

Tonight's dinner is a 'use' up in the fridge kind of dinner.  So tonight I was inspired by colour and taste.  I knew that I wanted bacon.  Bacon makes everything taste good.  I bought radicchio which is a bitter lettuce.  Beautiful but bitter.  so tonight is a colourful dinner made better by bacon.


Teresa;s Radicchio Salad.


Fry 4 pieces of bacon until your desired bacon texture.  ( I like mine crispy)
half a head of radicchio chopped
1/2 cup chipped pineapple
2 mushrooms diced 
1/4 red pepper chopped
2 small scallions chopped
1/4 cup red wine
2 tablespoons honey
1/4 small red chili pepper
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
lime zest and lime juice (fresh)
cilantro


Fry bacon.  Remove from pan, add mushrooms and cook till golden brown.  Add pineapple, red pepper, scallions, chili pepper and ginger.  Cook until warm.  Add radicchio.  Cook for a few more minutes than add, honey, tamari, wine and stir together.  Let cook for another few minutes on medium heat.  Hit with some lime zest, i/2 lime juices squeezed and fresh cilantro.  Crumble bacon on top.


Every bite is a little bit of a discovery, there is heat, sweetness, bitterness and the freshness of lime.

Bacon also makes everything better....

Miso Ginger Rum Salmon

Good evening everyone, I just finished another busy 12 hour day at work.   I have made a colourful dinner tonight.  In fact I think I have covered all the colour in the rainbow.  Tonight I have started with a mixed lettuce salad with cranberries, purple carrots, peppercorn goat cheese and red pepper.

Then I pan fried king oyster mushrooms with onions, purple and orange carrots, in a frying pan in a small amount of butter until mushrooms golden brown.  Then I added red wine.  (I always keep wine that has outlived it's drinking days for recipes like this) I also added chopped garlic, ginger and scallions.

I also added quinoa from dinner last night at the end to warm up.

I made a delicious Miso Ginger Rum Salmon.


T's Miso Ginger Rum Marinate


Red miso past 2 tablespoons
1 shot of 1919 Rum (expensive but delicious) 
squeeze the juice of half a lemon
squeeze the juice of half a lime 
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons tamari soy sauce
1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
2 teaspoons olive oil


Marinate fish
Cook at 350 covered for 10-15 minutes

I also made my mango salsa...  Here is the dinner all together

Cooking is at once child's play and adult joy. 

And cooking done with care is an act of love.”

Craig Claiborne, ‘Craig Claiborne's Kitchen Primer’