Raw Beet and Carrot Salad

“This is my invariable advice to people: Learn how to cook- try new recipes, learn from your mistakes, be fearless, and above all have fun!” 
― Julia Child, My Life in France

Enjoyed dinner with a friend...made raw beet and carrot salad, Green Leaf Salad and European Sea Bass, Oyster mushrooms sautéed with Onions, Garlic and Ginger served over quinoa.  This is my recipe that I made up while making the salad.

Raw Beet and Carrot Salad


1 red beet peeled and sliced finely
1 rainbow beet peeled and slice finely
1 yellow carrot peeled and slice finely
1 orange carrot peeled and slice finely
3 tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1/2 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
1/4 cup OJ
1/2 lime squeezed
1/2 lemon squeezed
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1/4 cup cilantro chopped

sliced finely as if grated, mix all ingredients in bowl and allow to marinate for an hour.
garnish with small amount of extra cilantro

 My salad was mixed greens with fresh cranberries and strawberries and topped with peppercorn goat cheese.  I used same mustard dressing.

Lunch

"The only real stumbling block is fear of failure. In cooking you've got to have a what-the-hell attitude." 
— Julia Child

Yesterday, I had lunch with my friend.  This is a left over salad.  Use up all ingredients in fridge, broccoli, cauliflower, strawberries, peppercorn goat cheese. mushrooms.  It doesn't take much to create something fabulous you just have to try!
We also ate the rest of the Onion soup and the Lasagne.  No food wasted.

Mango Salsa

Was talking to my friend this morning about food...Jae this is for you...


This is my mom's recipe and is one of my favourites.  She would have gotten from either Chatelaine or Canadian Living, it may have been modified and possible been changed to suit her and my needs.


Mango Salsa


1 small mango
1/2 fresh lime
1 cup fresh pineapple coarsely chopped 
1/2 small red pepper coarsely
1/ cup finely chopped cilantro
2 green onions thinly sliced
1/4 teaspoon hot chili flakes.  (for less spicy I use chili powder,or for spicier I add fresh red chili peppers) 
pinch of salt


start by peeling and dicing mango, squeeze lime over mango.  Then add all the rest of the ingredients.  I serve this with anything...amazing with lamb, fish, chicken, pork.


This is an old picture, just wanted to show what the salsa looks like.

lasagne

So I just finished another 12 hour shift, I am using Friday's left over dinner of spaghetti sauce to make lasagne tonight.  So cheaters lasagne...which is delicious.  

T's Cheaters Lasagne

Tomato Sauce Recipe from March 2

Mozarella cheese, asiago cheese, parmesan cheese, cheddar cheese grated

Oven ready lasagne noodles

Warm spaghetti sauce up in a pot until heated throughout, place in bottom of a lasagne tray a small portion of sauce, place lasagne noodles on top of sauce top with cheese, and another layer of sauce till tray is full...remember that in the oven the sauce will bubble so leave room at top to account for the bubbling.  Top with the cheese and cook according to directions on oven ready lasagne noodles.  

(I had sauce warmed and lasagne ready for oven in 10 minutes)

Throw together a salad and use salad dressing from Friday night.

Or use rest of baguette from French Onion Soup to make garlic bread.  Either way you have made a healthy delicious dinner that isn't out of a box.  In 10 minutes prep time.  Cooking isn't all that much work, it's just about planning and thinking about what is in the fridge.  Left overs can be made into new meals with a little work.  trying out new things too...and as I always say...if it tastes bad...order food!!!!

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.

Spaghetti Sauce

So Tonight's dinner was delicious.  When I went to the Healthy Butcher on Queen they had no more Hot Italian Sausage, so I used Chorizo Sausage.  Delicious.  I also made a home made salad dressing to be served with spinach salad.

T's Mustard Dressing

3 tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons smoked mustard
2 teaspoons maple syrup
pinch of salt
and pepper to taste

mix and serve.

Dinner