Roasted Pepper Guacamole

Some updates for my blog, I recently purchased a new camera and I am learning about higher quality pictures for this blog.

This guacamole was incredible.

Roasted Pepper Guacamole

-3 avocados
-3 peppers (red, yellow, orange) seeded and sliced
-olive oil
-1 large onion chopped
-1 large tomato chopped
-the juice (zest of 1 lime) of 2 limes
-1 tablespoon chili powder
-1/2 teaspoon cumin
-salt and pepper
-cilantro

-Preheat oven to 450F on a large cookie sheet place the peppers, tomatoes and onions and drizzle with olive oil, then coat with chili powder and cumin.  Place in oven turning occasionally.  Cook for about 15-20 minutes until the peppers are roasted, set aside.  In a large bowel mash up the avocados and squeeze in the juice and zest of 1 lime.  Add freshly ground pepper about 1/2 teaspoon and some salt (to taste) mix in the roasted peppers, onions and tomatoes.  Mix together and taste.  Top with cilantro

This was an incredible topping in tacos, or a dip.

Sprout Salad with Peanut Lime sesame dressing

I was clearing out my fridge and made this salad so it was odds and ends.  However incredible taste and a diverse nutritious salad.

Sprout Salad with Peanut Lime Sesame Dressing

-1/2 a container sprouts
-1 avocado cubed
-pea shoots
-kale
-1 large tomato chopped and lightly coated in salad and pepper
-cucumber chopped
-1/2 red pepper chopped
-1/4 cup blanched almonds dry roasted
-sesame seeds roasted

In a frying pan at medium heat add the almonds and start to brown them after about 5 minutes add the sesame seeds, watch well so that they don't burn.  Once nicely brown set aside to cool.  Mix the salad together and add the almonds and sesame seeds.

Peanut Lime Sesame Dressing

-2 tablespoons sesame oil
-juice of 3 limes
-2 tablespoons of natural peanut butter
-1 tablespoon sweet chili sauce
-soy sauce a few dashes
-pepper
-1 tablespoon maple syrup

mix all together.  It makes a thick dressing that is so tasty

Dinner

Good evening,


It was another beautiful day in Toronto.  I went and completed my grocery shopping with my neighbour and friend.  The kids and I went for a bike ride.  When we returned home we ate dinner.  For dinner, I finished up my tuna salad from lunch, with the balsamic vinegar salad dressing.  On a baguette, I added tuna and peppercorn goat cheese.  I also ate some heirloom tomato with salt and pepper.  Heirloom tomatoes have a refreshing taste and there are so many kinds.  I was eating a brandy wine.  You can purchase heirloom tomatoes at local grocery stores, organic stores and farmers markets.  Heirloom means that they have been passed down for generations.  

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

I like to make my spaghetti sauce from scratch.  I started by making a trip to Chinatown and purchasing 4 pounds of plum tomatoes.  I marked them with an x with a knife and placed in boiling water which removed the skin for about 30 seconds each.  I placed in my Dutch oven, with some olive oil, salt, pepper, fresh garlic cloves, and onions.  I cook on a medium heat stirring for about 4 hours, until a beautiful sauce like texture has been created.  (now I realize you can buy tomatoes already canned, however, this sauce tastes amazing).  Tonight I will walk over to the Butcher and purchase 3 hot Italian sausage, that I will remove the casing, chop and fry.  In the tomatoes I will place fresh peppers, grated carrots, mushrooms and grated zucchini.  Then will add the sausage and I will cook for an hour.