Browsing: Entrees

Lemon Blueberry Spelt Pancakes

February20

Even though we do not typically sit down for big weekend breakfasts in the city, the morning after our big family wedding called for special sustenance.  When I am a little bit sleep deprived (read: had too many glasses of wine), extra carbs, sugar and fat, really do boost my energy.  Besides, (my bro in law Michael says that I can rationalize anything), we didn’t imbibe with pancakes on Fat Tuesday.

Spelt has a fascinating origin and I am just learning how to prepare it.  Daughter #2 suggested the inclusion of lemon.  She has had a craving for my lemon blueberry muffins that I have not had a chance to appease as of yet.


4.0 from 1 reviews
Lemon Blueberry Spelt Pancakes
Author: 
 
Ingredients
  • 2 c spelt flour
  • 2 T sugar
  • 1 T baking powder
  • ¾ t salt
  • 1¾ c milk
  • 2 T butter, melted
  • rind of 1 lemon
  • juice of 1 lemon
  • 2 t vanilla
  • wild blueberries
Instructions
  1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the spelt flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.
  2. Combine the milk and melted butter, and the vanilla.
  3. Form a well in the center of the dry ingredients, and pour the wet ingredients into the dry. Stir the batter just until the dry ingredients are thoroughly moistened: it will seem very wet, but will thicken as it sits. Add the lemon rind and juice.
  4. Let the batter sit for 15 minutes before you use it.
  5. Heat a non-stick griddle if you have one, or a heavy skillet, preferably cast iron. If your surface is not non-stick, brush it lightly with canola oil.
  6. When the surface of your pan is hot enough that a drop of water sputters across the surface, give the pan a quick swipe with a paper towel to eliminate excess oil, and spoon the batter onto the hot surface, ¼-cupful at a time. Gently place the desired amount of blueberries in the middle of the cake.
  7. Let the pancakes cook on the first side until bubbles begin to form around the edges of the cakes, about 2 to 3 minutes. You may need to adjust your heat up or down to get the pancakes to cook through without scorching the surface, or being too pale.
  8. When the cakes are just beginning to set, flip them and let them finish cooking on the second side, about 1 minute more, until they’re golden brown on both sides.

I grilled up a pound of bacon, which is another treat that we don’t often indulge in.  We like our pancakes topped with cottage cheese and then in honour of the Frenchman, real maple syrup.  There are no pictures of the finished product because a) I was very hungry and b) was not thinking straight.

Kath’s quote:“’When you wake up in the morning, Pooh,’ said Piglet at last, ‘what’s the first thing you say to yourself?’
‘What’s for breakfast?’ said Pooh. ‘What do you say, Piglet?’
‘I say, I wonder what’s going to happen exciting today?’ said Piglet.
Pooh nodded thoughtfully. ‘It’s the same thing,’ he said.”-
A. A. Milne

Love-that is all.

posted under Entrees, Recipes | 3 Comments »

Black Rice Tropical Salad

February14

Perhaps on Valentine’s Day, you were checking this space for a long dissertation on love.  In my mind, the giving of love, is not about this day.  It is about every other day in a year.  My only other thought, is that I have found joy and happiness in living my life as a love “distributor”.  Love someone new on this day.

I have recently discovered the loveliness of black rice.  Last evening, D and I headed out to an Ash Wednesday service and I wanted us to eat quite light.  So this was perfect! Actually better than perfect.  We were blown away by the flavours-like summertime in your mouth.


Black Rice Tropical Salad
 
Ingredients
  • 2 oranges, cut into bite sized pieces
  • ¼ c (or more) fresh lime juice
  • 2 T canola oil
  • 2 c cooked black rice
  • 2 c mango chunks (I always have frozen on hand)
  • 1 c fresh cilantro leaves
  • ½ large red pepper, sliced and add the seeds
  • 1 c sliced red onion (about ½ large onion)
  • ½ c unsalted, dry-roasted peanuts
Instructions
  1. Whisk together ¼ c lime juice and canola oil. Set dressing aside.
  2. Place mangoes and remaining ingredients in a large bowl.
  3. Toss gently with dressing to combine.
  4. Season lightly with salt and more lime juice, if desired.

Kath’s quote: “Love-that is all.”-Me

Love-that is all.

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Warm Bacon Spinach Salad

February13

I do not believe in completely eliminating a food in one’s diet in order to achieve wellness.  For example our family loves bacon and yet we know that it should be consumed in moderation.  Because the aroma and taste of bacon is synonymous for us with cottage life, we generally only eat it for weekend brunches up at the beach house.  But occasionally in the winter we have it as a “treat” and include it in our evening meal when higher calorie and fat portions are consumed already.  Last night, I wanted a quick dinner before the start of the Jets Game and so  I broiled chicken wings seasoned with “Bone Dust”,  simmered some black rice and the hit of the dinner-an old school warm bacon spinach salad.


Warm Bacon Spinach Salad
Author: 
Recipe type: Entree
Prep time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 6
 
Ingredients
  • 4 cups of loosely packed spinach leaves, prepared for safe consumption
  • 2 large eggs, hard boiled and chopped
  • 1 small red onion, sliced
  • ⅓ c dried cranberries
  • 8 strips of bacon, chopped
  • 4 T bacon fat
  • 4 T red wine vinegar
  • 1 T maple syrup
  • 1 T Dijon mustard
Instructions
  1. Prepare and place spinach, eggs, onions and cranberries in salad bowl.
  2. Cook bacon until crispy (fried or baked).
  3. Retain 4 T of bacon drippings as your remove the bacon from the pan.
  4. Blot with paper towel, after a quick spray at the sink with very hot water.
  5. Place bacon in salad bowl.
  6. Whisk together the dressing ingredients.
  7. Adjust with pepper (salt is likely redundant)
  8. Pour over top of salad just before serving.
  9. If time has passed and the dressing starts to solidify, simply place in the mic for a minute.
  10. The hot bacon fat with make the spinach wilt a wee bit-that is what you are going for.

Another trick to reduce fat from a dinner like ours on this evening, is to season the chicken drummettes under the skin and then completely remove the skin before eating.  This way you enjoy all the flavour provided by the skin without consuming the extra fat in the skin.

And if you have not tasted the treat of black rice yet-you must.   The taste is nutty and creamy at the same time and the health benefits will make it a new staple in our house.  Black rice is a soluble fibre that is packed with anti-oxidants, making it a super food on par with blueberries!

Kath’s quote:“Life expectancy would grow by leaps and bounds if green vegetables smelled as good as bacon.”-Doug Larson

Love-that is all.

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Fit Fiesta Soup-Working with Liz Pearson

February7

When you meet Liz Pearson you want to be just like her: petite and fit, with beautiful skin and twinkly blues eyes.  You might even say to yourself, how could I look like that?  Well here’s how: Liz is a leading Canadian dietician who contends that belly fat, (not the scale) is the best measure of health.  She co-authored Ultimate Foods for Ultimate Health and has another book due out this year entitled Broccoli, Love and Dark Chocolate.  We were destined to meet, she is a soul (aka heart) sister.

If you know me, you know that I carry my excess baggage in an area other than my waistline, but I heartily support having a good health barometer other than the bathroom scale, so I got out my tape measure.  According to Heath Canada a red flag should be raised when women have a waist circumference of 35 inches or more, so I guess that it is time for me to be less concerned about my trunk and more about my engine.

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of working alongside Liz, taking care of the food styling for the Winnipeg leg of a promotional tour.  I learned first hand, what foods to focus and consume more of for my intended long life (I am newly motivated by the just announced summer arrival of our first Grandchild!).  The soup that I prepped for her appearances contain each of these five fat burning foods:

100% whole grains,

high fibre,

healthy fats,

flavonoids

and pepper-based plant compounds.  But most important (for me at least), it tastes like Mexico (17 sleeps until my upcoming departure)!

5.0 from 1 reviews
Fit Fiesta Soup
Author: 
Recipe type: Entree
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 8
 
This delicious soup, is a one pot meal containing ingredients that are linked to reducing belly-fat, including whole-grains, fibre, healthy fats, peppers and favonoid-rich fruits and vegetables. What's more, it's easy to make, taking only 25 minutes from stove-top to table.
Ingredients
  • 2 c (500 ml) Whole grain bows, such as Catelli Healthy Harvest brand
  • 2 t (10 ml) extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 small red onion, chopped
  • 1 red pepper, chopped
  • ¼ c (50 ml) dried cranberries
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 T (15 ml) mild chili powder
  • 1 t (15 ml) cumin
  • ¾ t (4 ml) each salt and pepper
  • 8 c (2 l) low sodium vegetable broth
  • 1 can (14 ox./398 ml) no salt added diced tomatoes
  • 2 cans (14 oz./398 ml) no salt added black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 c corn, if using frozen, does not have to be defrosted
  • 4 c (1 l) lightly packed baby spinach
  • 2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and chopped
  • 1 lime, zested and juiced
  • chopped fresh cilantro
Instructions
  1. Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven set over medium-high heat.
  2. Add the onion and red pepper; saute for 2 to 3 minutes or until softened.
  3. Add the cranberries, garlic, chili powder, cumin, salt and pepper; cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
  4. Stir in 6 c broth and the tomatoes; bring to a boil.
  5. Stir in the beans, bows and corn.
  6. Boil gently, partially covered and stirring occasionally, for 12 minutes or until pasta is tender.
  7. Stir in the remaining broth, the spinach, jalapeno peppers, lime zest and juice; remove from the heat.
  8. Add extra lime and broth to adjust consistency and acidity to taste if desired.
  9. Garnish with fresh coriander.

The emphasis of focusing on foods that promote good health are reinforced for me, since they were first introduced by my friend Mairlyn Smith.  Coincidence?  No, Mairlyn is co-author of Liz’s books.  I love my circle of life.

Kath’s quote: “Some people have a foolish way of not minding, or pretending not to mind, what they eat. For my part, I mind my belly very studiously, and very carefully; for I look upon it, that he who does not mind his belly will hardly mind anything else.”-Samuel Johnson

Love-that is all.

Plethora of Pasta

January29

I have been reading non-fiction about Italy (A Vineyard in Tuscany, Halfway to Each Other and Mediterranean Summer), for the last couple of weeks and I cannot get enough pasta. This past “Mandatory Sunday Supper”, I just could not stop myself and made a bazillion varieties.

I was originally inspired by dropping in at 21st Century Pizza to pick up a couple of pies before a Jets game on TV.  Owner Vlado also makes fresh pasta that he keeps in the fridge and freezer in the front of the shop.  In addition, whenever I am zipping through “the outer” ring of the grocery store (where all the whole foods that inspire my cooking are located), I pick up whatever fresh items are marked with a fluorescent sticker and then throw them in the freezer as soon as I get home.  This way I always have a variety of dips to serve while watching a movie or a game and lots of sauces for pizzas and flatbreads.  But sometimes my freezer needs a purging and this is a great opportunity for a Italian Feast.

I started with a spaghetti alla puttanesca which was a snap to assemble as both the fresh pasta and the authentic sauce of anchovies, capers and olives were prepared by Vlado.  I put together a Jamie Oliver recipe of Mushroom & Cream sauce  to toss with Vlado’s hand-made gnocchi.  I tried to cut the fat back a bit by using a thickened milk rather than cream and I was a bit disappointed with the results.  Next time, cream it is…..  Vlado also has a noodle made from beets which I simply tossed  with a browned butter and topped with mizithra cheese.  This proved to be Daughter #1’s favourite.

A clear box of discounted fresh spinach was sauteed with pancetta (Italian bacon), pine nuts and combined with spinach ravioli.

I tossed another of Vlado’s fresh pastas, this time beet ravioli with Alfredo sauce.  I rolled asparagus spears with a Rosemary Tuscan roasted ham (also being cleared). And just in case there were not enough carbs on the table, I toasted crostini to mop up olive oil from this fall’s harvest and pressing, from our Sicilian friends.

As  a special indulgence for three (me, myself and I) I  made a crispy, low fat eggplant parmigiana.  Before I left for church in the morning, I sliced the eggplant and placed it on a tray with course salt, adding another sprinkle of salt over top.  By the time I arrived home, the salt had pulled the excess moisture and any bitterness out of the veggie.

Before dusting the eggplant discs in flour, egg-wash and homemade breadcrumbs (which I always have on hand in the freezer), I blotted the flesh of the veggie with paper towels.  In hindsight, I should have rinsed them first as they were a tad on the salty side but oh so good.  In order to reduce the fat, instead of frying them before baking them, I prepared a heavy cookie sheet with a generous drizzle of canola oil and placed the discs over top in a single layer.  Have way through the baking time at 10 minutes or so (in a 375 degree oven), I turned them an added a bit more canola oil.

Just before serving,  I prepared a casserole dish with a layer of marinara sauce and placed the crispy eggplant on top, and then a layer of shredded mozzarella over all.  I intended to add a second layer of Parmesan when they came out of the oven but was glad that I did not, as the dish was salty enough.

So why did I spend an afternoon in the kitchen, preparing a half dozen dishes when one would certainly have sufficed?  What can I say?  I did it for love.

Kath’s quote (from Mediterranean Summer): “David, I didn’t invite you here to chop vegetables and season lamb.  Cooking, you know is not about recipes.  It comes from my heart.  You have never asked me why-why I do things, why I want it done this way and not that.  What’s in your heart David?”-David Shalleck

Love-that is all.

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