Spinach Dip

Had  to use up some spinach while fresh and had enough salad with the  bunch I had.

So put it in my blender added a large garlic clove, sour cream a bit of cream cheese
herbs from the patio and viola!

Surprise Bob even liked it.

Hummus Dip

Ingredients

    1 can  chick peas, rinsed and drained
    3/4 cup  roasted cashews , divided
    1/2 cup Real Mayonnaise
    1 large shallot, coarsely chopped
    1 clove garlic, coarsely chopped
    2 Tbsp. lemon juice
    1 tsp. ground cumin
    1/4 tsp.sea  salt
    1/8 tsp. cayenne
    1 Tbsp. olive oil, (optional)


Directions

   Blend chickpeas, 1/2 cup (125 mL) cashews, Mayonnaise, shallot, garlic, lemon juice, cumin, salt and cayenne in food processor until smooth. Spoon into serving bowl.
  If desired, with olive oil. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup cashews. Serve with your vegetable dippers.

Mango Chuntney

Mango's are ripe and flavorful time to preserve  my chutney.
for my larder. Goes well with chicken, pork or beef.

Pickled beets

One of my favorites, so many combinations you can do.
Add garlic or onions. Or fresh herbs from the garden.
Use white vinegar or cider to get different flavors.

Pickled Beans and Carrots

So easy to do and makes an nice side plate on the table

Strawberries you choose

 Strawberry Trifle

 Strawberry pie

 Strawberry/ rhubarb pie

Strawberry shortcake

Strawberry Jam

What is better than fresh homemade Jam.


B.C. strawberry are ready

DUB'S Omelette

3 eggs left out over night
eggs whisk better when warm
2 tbsp.of milk
whisk hard for lots of air.
Add grated  cheese one white cheese one old cheddar 1/4 cup of each
finely chop 2 slices of corn beef or pastrami
add 1/2 tsp lemon pepper, chives parsley  
Cook on top of stove medium heat till just about done then put into the oven on grill for a few minutes.
If you like a spicy taste you can add hot salsa to mix.

Chicken Burger with Pineapple

Four chicken breast 

Place under wax paper and flatten with mallet
Add a tsp.of thyme, oregano, basil and chives. 
pepper to taste.
Sprinkle over chicken, let sit for awhile in frig.
Cut up lettuce, tomatoes red onion and sliced pineapple.
Cook chicken on barbecue, oven or top of stove till done through.
Prepare heated buns and grill pineapple, mix mayo olive oil and garlic together. Enough to cover four buns. Add red relish ( I preserve my own)
Pineapple adds to the taste for a Hawaiian flavor.
Side dish of green salad, potato salad, or cold slaw.

Wienerschnitzel

4 Veal Cutlets

1 lemon
salt, to taste
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 eggs
2 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup fine dry breadcrumb 

mix herbs into crumbs ( 1tsp oregano 1 tsp thyme)
4 tablespoons olive oil(more might be needed depending on the size of your pan)
Directions:
 
Place veal cutlets, one piece at a time, between two pieces of plastic wrap and pound until thin, about 1/4 inch thick.
Slice lemon in half and squeeze lemon juice over all four pieces of veal.
Allow the veal to sit in lemon juice for 30 minutes.
Allow excess lemon juice to drip off before breading the cutlets.
Sprinkle a pinch of salt over each cutlet.
Place flour in a large shallow plate.
Beat eggs, water, and oil in a large shallow bowl. ~NOTE~ The oil helps to hold the breading on securely and to make the breading crisp.
Place breadcrumbs in a large shallow plate.
one at a time, dip salted cutlet into the flour and lightly cover each side with flour.
Then dip the cutlet into the egg mixture, allowing the excess egg to drip off.
 Then dredge into the breadcrumb mixture to coat.
Place breaded cutlets on a baking sheet and low to stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.
Heat oil and a bit of butter in a large heavy skillet.
There should be enough oil in the pan for the cutlets not to stick
when the oil is hot, place one or two cutlets in the skillet at a time, being careful not to crowd the cutlets.
Fry first side slowly until golden brown, about 4-6 minutes. Turn cutlets over with a spatula, being careful not to splatter hot oil. Fry on second side for about 4-6 minutes,  keep warm in the oven at 250°F while you continue to fry up the rest of the cutlets.

Turkey for Easter

I always use half a pound of bacon in my dressing and the other half over my turkey while it is cooking.
Keeps the bird moist and the family love to eat it crisp when the turkey comes out of the oven.









This recipe is from my Grannie who came from Scotland.


I very seldom measure just know by the feel and smell.
Approximate

3 cups of breadcrumbs
1/2 cup of butter
1 large egg or 2 small
1 onion
3 carrots
3 celery sticks
1/2 lb. bacon
Grind in a blender
1 tbsp of sage, poultry dressing, and thyme and parsley
salt and pepper to taste
Should be moist and easy to stuff inside turkey if not add some water.
Fresh cranberries
Potatoes, veggies and gravy to serve on the side. 

Lemon Pie

What could be better than a light lemon pie for desert for Easter

Strawberry Pie

         Kevin Lynch recipe

 

Lemon Ricotta Strawberry Pie  Shortbread Crust

½-cup soft butter ¼ cup powdered sugar 1 tbsp/ lemon zest ¼ tsp. salt 1-cup flour Filling 1-cup ricotta 4 ounces soft cream cheese 3 tbs. honey 1 tbsp. lemon zest 1 tbsp. lemon juice 2pounds of strawberries sliced Directions Cream the butter, mix in the sugar, lemon zest, poppy seeds and salt followed by the flour and mix until it forms crumbs. Press the mixture unto a pie/tart plate and bake in a preheated 400F oven until lightly golden brown, about 15 minutes before letting it cool. Mix the ricotta, cream cheese, honey and lemon juice and zest until smooth. Spread the ricotta mixture across the bottom of the baked and cooled crust, arrange the strawberry slices on top and enjoy.

I have to try this!

Wicked Potatoes

11/2 lbs potatoes boil

Pulse the next 4 together

1 onion
1/2 lb. cream cheese
3 tbsp. butter
2 eggs 

Salt and pepper
Add mashed  boiled  potatoes 

Mix and put in a covered  bowl and put in oven @325 for 1 hour.
I always add more butter and some paprika  before putting into oven.

Beef Bourguignon

I always buy one package of beef with no fat and one with some to balance out my stew

Brown meat in olive oil, after cutting into bite size pieces that has been floured, with some herbs. (What ever you enjoy)  Rosemary, Sage, Thyme.

After browning meat remove to a dish, and then add to pan:

I – Onion

2- Carrots

2- Celery

1-sweet potato or 1 dry belt potato

6 Mushrooms sliced

1/2 red pepper
1/2 green pepper
Cut all approximately the same size

Brown all

Then put in a large pot adding meat

2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

¼-cup tomato paste or 1 tomato

2-  Garlic cloves crushed

1 tbsp. Parsley,

½ tsp. salt,

½ tsp. pepper,

½ tsp thyme, oregano 
1 tbsp of brown sugar

Add 2 cups of broth

½ bottle of red wine. (robust)

¼-cup flour to ¼ cup of broth

mix  to thicken

I always mix these two together in a jar as not to have lumps.

Bring to a light boil, then cover and put into the oven at 325 for 2 to 3  hours.
I turn my oven to 200 for the last 2 hours

When meat is tender and the gravy is thick, add a cup of frozen corn and peas.

Serve over rice or noodles or mashed potatoes
with baking powder biscuits or garlic bread.

Stews are always better the second day. 

Left overs make beef pot pies for the freezer.

Date Loaf

Ingredients 

Aj's date loaf

1 3/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 cup chopped dates
2 tablespoons butter
1 cup nuts (walnuts,

1 cup boiling water
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 tsp nutmeg

Directions:

Heat oven to 350F, lightly grease a loaf pan.
Mix the dates, butter& boiling water, set aside& cool.
When cooled mix in the beaten egg& sugar.
Mix the flour, baking soda& salt together.
Add dry ingredients to the batter.
Add nuts and vanilla, blend well.
Pour into the prepared loaf pan.

Bake in 350F oven for 50 minutes or until a wooden skewer comes out clean when inserted in the center.

Starting 2014

Salads

So many different salads to choose to make.
It just makes you want to look forward to dinner.
Add a few pieces of chicken, cheese or eggs. Or a little roast
beef if your taste buds crave that beef, like mine do. I like to add nuts
raisins, cranberries, even dates. Add variety to make it fun. Just watch
the dressings they can add so many calories to a simple salad.

Greek salad	Layer salad
Turkey salad	Oranges, chicken and  greens

Finishing off 2013

 Turkey Pot Pies


Turkey dinners made for the  freezer, soup simmering on the back of the stove. Once cooked and cooled will fill serving containers for two to add to the freezer  Already for 2014 to begin.

 I could not resist making a strawberry/ cranberry pie for later.

Happy New Year all.