Roasted Garlic and Rosemary Chicken

I find sauces to be a little intimidating, but I figured that there was no time like the present to start experimenting. This worked out quite well, but I will have to keep on practicing. This sauce has wonderful flavour, but it will be up to you to get the perfect consistency! Take it off the heat before it is perfectly thickened, as it will thicken slightly as it cools.

Chicken breasts (skin on)

Heat a heavy frying pan (high heat). Add 2 tbsp of butter and heat until almost smoking. Place chicken, skin down and fry for three minutes per side. Remove from pan and place in a 350-degree oven until cooked through (20-30 minutes). Let rest for 10 minutes.

Roasted Garlic and Rosemary Cream Sauce

8 cloves of garlic

Place peeled garlic in tin-foil with salt, and olive oil and bake for 45 minutes (350 degree oven)

2 cups of dry sherry

2 cups chicken stock

3 sprigs of rosemary

1 cup heavy cream

salt and pepper

Bring sherry to a boil and add chicken stock. Reduce by ½ and then add rosemary and roasted garlic. Let the liquid mixture cool. Remove half of the rosemary and throw the liquid into a blender. Blend until smooth and then pour mixture back into a sauce pan.

Bring to a boil again and add heavy cream and season with salt and pepper.

Let mixture reduce to syrupy consistency, remove from heat and pour over warm chicken.

I served this with baked portobello mushrooms, asparagus and crisp potatoes.

Moist Chocolate Banana Loaf

It was a snowy Sunday in the city, so it felt like the time was right for another try at a great gluten free banana loaf. I tried one last weekend, but this one turned out much better. I cut back on the rice flour, as I find it a bit grainy, and added more ground almonds which added awesome flavour. The loaf made it just in time for some Oscars red carpet viewing!

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.

Lightly oil the bottom of a standard bread loaf pan.

Combine in a large bowl:

3 ripe bananas, mashed (about 1 cup puree)

1/3 cup coconut oil

1 cup light brown sugar

1 tbsp vanilla extract

Whisk together in a separate bowl:

¾ cup ground almonds (or almond flour)

1/3 cup rice flour

1/3 cup ground oats

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

1 teaspoon potato starch

1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum

1 rounded teaspoon cinnamon

Add the dry ingredients into the banana mixture and stir until smooth.

Add in:

1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake for 45 minutes to an hour, until the loaf is firm, a bit crusty, and a wooden pick inserted into the center emerges clean.

Banana Blueberry Muffins

These little muffins are very tasty. Moist, flavourful and gluten-free!! I am still working on refining this recipe, but this is a pretty good start. I substituted chocolate for blueberries on half of these. I ate the chocolate ones and Bill ate the blueberry ones.

1 cup mashed bananas (ripe to over-ripe)

¼ cup coconut oil

1 cup brown sugar

2 tsp vanilla extract

2 eggs

¼ tsp rice vinegar

Mix all wet ingredients together.

Whisk together in a separate bowl:

½ cup rice flour

¼ cup almond meal

¼ cup ground oats (fine meal)

½ cup potato starch

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

¼ tsp salt

1 ½ tsp xantham gum

1 tsp cinnamon

fresh blueberries (or chocolate chips)

Combine wet and dry ingredients and bake!

375 degrees for 20-25 minutes!

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

I've been looking for a great Oatmeal Cookie recipe for a while - This is it!! It has been passed down and refined and will take center stage as my go-to oatmeal raisin cookie recipe from now on.

¼ cup butter

¼ cup shortening

½ cup brown sugar

¼ cup white sugar

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

¾ cup flour (or flour substitute - ground oats, rice flour, etc)

1 tsp baking soda

pinch of cinnamon

pinch of salt

1 ½ cups oats

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl, cream together the butter, butter flavored shortening, brown sugar, white sugar, eggs, and vanilla until smooth. Combine the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and salt; stir into the sugar mixture. Stir in the oats and raisins. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.

Bake 10 to 12 minutes until light and golden. Do not overbake. Let them cool for 2 minutes before removing from cookie sheets to cool completely.

Ultimate Granola

I am always a little unsure when I eat store-bought granola. I think that commercial brands have loads of sugar and fat and it takes away from the wholesome goodness of the cereal.

I don't know about you but I could eat granola for every meal - one day I actually did! It was a cold winter day and I remember my dad and brother heading off to a hockey tournament. My mum and I took this as our opportunity to drink tea, eat granola and read books all day long... The best type of pajama party.

5 cups organic rolled oatmeal
1 cup slivered almonds
1 cup pecans (already chopped is fine)
1 cup toasted sesame seeds
1 cup cashews
2 cups shredded coconut
1 cup salted sunflower seeds

1 cup salted toasted pumpkin seeds
1 cup whole almonds chopped

1 cup peanuts

1) Stir all these ingredients together in a large mixing bowl.

2) In a glass pirex large measuring cup add 1/2 cup canola oil and 3/4 cup of liquid honey

3) Put in microwave for 2 minutes (it will be boiling when it comes out - be careful!)

4) Pour over the dry ingredients and mix well.

5) Spread on large baking sheets (2-3) lined with parchment paper

6) Bake in a 325 degree oven for 10 minutes then rotate mixture on pans so they don't get too brown, then bake for another 10 minutes.

7) Place warm granola in large mixing bowl and add dried cranberries/dried cherries/blueberries/apricots-really any fruit you like.

ENJOY.. I love this on vanilla greek yoghurt!