Butternut Squash Soup

Butternut Squash Soup

-1 medium butternut squash, peeled,  chopped and seeds removed

-2 leeks washed well and diced

-2 tablespoons olive oil

-2 ribs of celery chopped

-3 potatoes peeled and diced

-3 medium carrots peeled and sliced

-1 teaspoon herbs de Provence

-1 tablespoon chili powder

-salt and pepper to taste

-1 can of diced herbed tomatoes

-900ml of broth

In a large sauce pot on medium heat add leeks and oil.  When soft add the butternut squash, the potatoes, celery, carrots, broth and spices.  Allow to cook until all ingredients are soft, about 30 minutes.  Then add the can of tomatoes and allow to simmer for 30 minutes.  I topped each bowl with fresh pepper and parmesan cheese.

This soup freezes well.

Vegetable Soup

Friday in Toronto was cold, windy and snowy.  There was a terrible storm and I had a sick relative on my hands for the night.  This simple quick soup was hearty, delicious and was perfect for the cold inter day that it was.  I had basically everything in the house.

Vegetable soup

-2 tablespoons oil (olive, vegeatable, butter)
-2 cups of peeled and cubed sweet potato
-1 cup white onion
-3 ribs of celery chopped
-2 carrots
-1 796ml (28oz) can of tomatoes whole with juice
-1 teaspoon herb de Provence
-900ml of vegetable broth
-1/2 teaspoon chili powder
-1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

-in a large pot on medium heat add the oil, sweet potato, onion, celery and carrots.  Cook until onions are transparent (about 10 minutes depending in your stove).  Add the tomatoes, broth, chili powder, herb de Provence and pepper.  Reduce to simmer on medium-low heat covered for about an hour or longer.  (It was a cold day so I let it cook on low for a while filling the house with the aromas and warming up the apartment).  This recipe is simple. delicious, you can purée if you wish.

Spicy black bean dip

Spicy Black bean dip

-1.5 cups black bean soaked over night (cook according to the directions on package) or 2 cans of     black beans boiled for 10 minutes
-1 tablespoon chili powder
-1 teaspoon cumin
-1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
-salt and pepper
-2 onions
-2 scallions
-2 cloves of garlic
-1/3 cup of red wine
-1 tablespoon tamari (soya sauce)
-2 tablespoon olive oil
-1 cup of water or beef/veggie broth
-juice of 1 lime

-cook black beans (1-2 hours depending on if soaked overnight).  In a frying pan add the spices on medium heat.  Allow the spices to heat up and it enhances the flavour, cook for about 5 minutes.  Spices should be hot and a little steam rising.  Place in a bowl to cool.  Add olive oil to frying pan and add the onions, scallions, garlic and allow them to cook until soft, add the red wine and tamari and allow them to further cook, about 10 minutes on low heat to have fluid to reduce.  Add the beans, spices, water/broth and the juice of the lime.  Allow to simmer together for about 20 minutes.  Add salt and pepper.  Blend or mash and serve.  You can top with salsa, avocados, cheese, sour cream.  Serve with corn chips, pitas or veggies.

(not the best picture, but the dip is tasty)

Hearty Chorizo Sausage Stew

It's been freezing in Canada in the last few weeks.  This recipe is guaranteed to warm you up!

Hearty Chorizo Sausage Stew

-4 Chorizo Sausage casing removed
-2 onions chopped
-2 cloves of garlic
-1 cup of red lentils cooked
-2 carrots peeled and chopped
-1-2 turnips or 1 small rutabaga
-1 small sweet potato chopped
-2 potatoes chopped
-1 cup of cooked grain (quinoa, brown rice etc)
-3-4 cups of broth (veg, beef, or chicken)
-1 teaspoon thyme
-1 teaspoon oregano
-1 teaspoon chili powder
-1 bay leaf
-1/2 teaspoon cumin
-salt and pepper to taste

In a large pot cook sausage meat until almost completely cooked, drain fat and add onions and garlic.  While the sausage is cooking in a small pot cook (washed) 1 cup of red lentils with 2 cups of water on medium heat, takes about 20 minutes, I always remove the froth off the cooking lentils.   Once the onions are cooked, add the broth, lentils, carrots, turnip, sweet potatoes, potatoes, and let simmer.  When the root veggies are cooked all the way through, add the whole grain you have precooked, (I added brown rice as it was left overs) and spices.  Allow to simmer on low for about 30 minutes.  The grain will absorb some fluid making it thick.

Lentil Dip

Lentil Dip

-1 1/2 cups of red lentils rinsed
-1/2 cup brown rice or quinoa
-3 cups of broth (veggie, chicken or beef)
-1 large purple onion chopped
-2 cloves of garlic chopped
-3 teaspoons red curry paste
-1 teaspoon tamari (soya sauce)
-1 teaspoon curry powder
-1/2 teaspoon cumin
-1 teaspoon chili powder
-juice of 1 lime
-1 can coconut cream
-pepper to taste

In a sauce pan bring lentils, rice, broth, onion, garlic to a boil.  Reduce to a simmer and allow to cook for about 30-35 minutes.  If the mixture dries out add more broth.   Add the curry paste, tamari, curry powder, cumin, chili powder, lime and coconut cream.  Allow this mixture to simmer for another 20 minutes on low to allow the flavours to blend.  Use a hand blender or blender to create a smooth texture and serve with veggies, pita or tortilla chips.

BBQ Sweet Potato Bake

BBQ Sweet  Potato Bake

-2 large sweet potato chopped
-1 red pepper chopped
-2 onions chopped
-2 cloves of garlic chopped
-3 ribs of celery chopped
-1 tablespoon chili powder
-juice of 1/2 an orange
-1 cup beer
-1 cup of broth
-1 teaspoon of thyme (fresh)
-1 cup of BBQ sauce. (I used a chipotle)
-salt and pepper

Chop all vegetables and place in a casserole dish.  Preheat oven to 400.  Mix all ingredients together. and cover with a lid.  Allow to cook for 45 minutes.

This had incredible flavour.

Mussels in a Yellow Thai Curry Coconut Soup

Mussels in a Yellow Thai Curry Coconut Soup

-1 tablespoon butter
-2 onions chopped
-1 tablespoon lemon grass
-1 teaspooon finely grated ginger
-2 cloves of garlic
-1 cup white wine
-1 can of coconut milk
-1 cup broth (veggie or chicken)
-2 tablespoons yellow thai curry paste
-1 tablespoon soya sauce
-4-5 pounds of fresh mussels, washed well.
-jest and juice of 2 limes
-2 green onions chopped
-fresh cilantro

-in a large pot with a lid, melt butter on medium heat and add onions chopped.  Once the onion is cooked, add lemon grass, ginger, broth, wine, curry paste, coconut milk, lime juice and zest, and soya sauce.  Allow the flavours to blend and stir often.  Once all the spices are mixed together, bring to a boil and add mussels, cover.  Cook for about 10 minutes.  Only eat the mussels that are completely open.  Serve soup and top with green onions and cilantro.

Beer Chicken

Beer Chicken

-chicken breasts
-beer (1/2 cup)
-salt and pepper
-herb de Provence
-1/4 cup broth

In a casserole dish place chicken, beer and broth.  Top the chicken with the herb de Provence and salt ans pepper.  bake at 350 for about 30 minutes, depending on your oven.

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!

French Onion Soup

Just finished a 12 hour shift.  However made French onion soup from scratch...with some help.

T's quick French Onion Soup

Chop 5 large onion
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoon butter
2 cup red wine
3 cups beef broth
baguette, sliced and toasted
Mozarella cheese grated
Parmesan Cheese
pepper

In a large pot add 3 tablespoon of olive oil and 2 tablespoon at medium heat...add chopped onion and sautee.  Once onions are transparent add red wine and bring to a boil.  Add beef broth.  Allow to simmer for 30 minutes.  Slice baguette thinly and toast in oven.  If you have French onion soup bowls place in oven at 350, empty to warm for 10 minutes.  Add soup to bowls, place toasted bread on top of soup and garnish with grated cheese.  Place in oven until cheese is melted, then broil until cheese is golden brown.  Allow to cool.