Sweet potatoes

Last night I made an incredible dinner, I went to the brickworks farmer's market this weekend where they have organic foods available.  There will be three separate posts for the meal.  I made sweet potato fried, they were sweet and spicy and delicious.

Teresa's Sweet Potatoes

-2 sweet potatoes peeled and sliced like coins
-2 tablespoons olive oil
-salt and pepper to taste
-1 tablespoon brown sugar
-1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
-1 tablespoon chili powder
-1/4 cup wine, broth, water

Heat olive oil in a large frying pan on medium heat, add the sweet potatoes.  Stir occasionally, flip the sweet potatoes when browned.  Once browned on both sides, sprinkle with the spices and continue to fry for a bit.  Then add the brown sugar and liquid and allow to cook down.  It took about 20 minutes prep and cook.

Mussels for dinner

So....tonight was a learning experience indeed....I have never ever tastes or cooked mussels before.  I read about mussels, I talked to my brother in law the chef and I came up with a recipe.  It was a learning experience.  Thank you to my east coast friend who helped guide me in terms of whether they were cooked or not.  My kids both tasted the mussels and were not fans, interesting textures.  I read on the internet about how to store, how to cook, I looked at different recipes too.  I created a recipe that was fantastic using the inspiration of others.  It took a few times before actually having the mussels cooked properly, my friend who is always very critical of my cooking was dining with me and is also a seafood lover.  Which means I will know if the recipe is good and if I cooked it well.  


Teresa's Mussel Marathon in a curried coconut lime ginger soup


-6 pounds of mussels, washed, and scrubbed
-1 onion minced
-3 cloves of garlic chopped
-3 tablespoons ginger grated
-5 lime leaves
-3 tablespoons thai curry (yellow)
-1 tablespoon chili powder
-1 cup white wine
-juice and zest of of 2-3 key limes
-pepper
-2 tablespoons soya sauce 
-pepper to taste
-cilantro and green onions to garnish


I started by a little butter in my Dutch oven, I sautéed an onion in the butter until soft, I added garlic and grated ginger.  I added a can of coconut milk, lime leaves and the juice and zest of 3 key limes.  Soy sauce was added about 3 tablespoons of Thai yellow curry, chili powder and wine and I allowed to simmer on low for an hour.  In the sink I washed and scrubbed my mussels.  I let the soak for 20 minutes before scrubbing. I turned the mixture up high and allowed to boil, I added the mussels.  (I cooked for 10 minutes and realized that medium heat was not high enough and that is why I recommended high heat)  You need to make sure that you discard any shells that did not open up and also when cleaning get rid of broken or damaged shells.  The mussels also added a great deal of broth.  I also realize that I should have cooked the mussels in smaller batches.  The meal was amazing, we had our fill and were satisfied


Life is about these moments, where we overcome our fear of new experiences and realize that we are better for the experience.  I want to say thank you to my friend for his patience and criticism as he has helped me to develop my cooking, encouraging me to take risks and to have new experiences with me and to help foster my love of cooking...not to mention the conversation and wine.

Berry Baked Brie

Tonight for dinner I am on my way to visit my parents.  My Aunt who has multiple allergies is going to be there.  I am making a baked Brie.  My favourite baked Brie has pears, which I cannot make today.  So off to the store to discover a fruit choice to make my baked Brie.  

Teresa's Berry Baked Brie

1 Brie (I love the goat Brie)

4 large strawberries chopped up small

1 handful of blueberries

1 handful of raspberries

the juice and zest of 1 lime

1/2 cup white wine

3 tablespoons brown sugar

the juice of half a lemon and zest

In a large frying pan add fruit, wine, brown sugar.  Simmer.

Allow the fruit to reduce and add the lime and lemon juice and the zest

of both lime and lemon.

In a Brie baker or a French Onion Soup bowl

Cut Brie in half top with fruit add top portion of Brie, top with fruit.

Cover and bake at 350 for 20 minutes or until rind

s soft.  Serve with bread, pitas, or crackers.

Today it is being served with a baguette.

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/

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 

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.