Grilled Vegetable Salad

This is such a great salad to transition from summer to fall with. Its very fresh, but feels rustic at the same time. This recipe makes a huge quantity and so you can feel free to 1/2 the recipe, or you can make it as is and enjoy it for days! It lasts nicely in the fridge.

1/2 lb. leeks

1/2 lb. carrots

1/2 lb. zucchini

1/2 lb. japanese eggplant

2 sweet bell peppers

1/2 lb. fennel

4 large tomatoes

1 cup olive oil

1 tbsp garlic

1 tsp ground cumin

1/2 cup balsamic vinegar

1/2 cup coarsely chopped fresh herbs (basil, oregano, parsley, thyme)

1) Cut leeks, carrots, zucchini and eggplant in half lengthwise.

2) Cut bell pepper in half and remove seeds

3) Mix all vegetables with salt, pepper and 1/2 cup of olive oil.

4) Place on hot barbecue and grill until tender and brown (some vegetables will take longer than others)

5) Remove from grill, cool, and cut into 1-inch pieces.

6) Cut tomatoes in 1/2 inch cubes and add to vegetables

7) Mix vegetables with garlic, freshly chopped herbs, cumin, remaining olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

VOILA!

I like serving this in a glass dish - all of the vegetables look so pretty mixed together.

Jennifer's Scones

These scones are so so so moist and delicious you will never try another recipe after you have tried this one. It's is my mum's recipe, hence "Jennifer's Scones," and yet again, she does not disappoint. When I was little I would lather these up with butter and her homemade jam... and then eat about 20.

3/4 cup buttermilk or plain yogurt

1 egg

2 3/4 cups flour

4 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup sugar

Rind or zest of orange/lime/lemon (I personally like orange best - not too tart, yet very flavourful)

1 tbsp butter

1/4 cup icing sugar

1) Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2) Beat buttermilk and egg in small bowl and set aside.

3) In a large bowl measure flour, baking powder and soda and salt. Cut in butter and mix until it resembles small peas (do not over-mix).

4) Add sugar and zest.

5) OPTIONAL: At this point you can add frozen or fresh cranberries or blueberries.

6) Add milk mixture, and mix gently until soft dough forms.

7) Form into large ball and place on floured surface.

8) Pat out to 1" thickness, cut into 4" rounds and place on cookie sheet 15-20 minutes.

9) While still warm brush with butter and sprinkle with icing sugar.

I hope you enjoy these as much as everyone in my family does!

PS. Apologies for the lack of blogging recently - I was off marrying the man of my dreams!! Rosebud is now back in the kitchen and ready for some more cooking :)

Miso Glazed Black Cod

This recipe is fantastic if you want to impress guests at a dinner party. It is very easy and will leave everyone in awe of your culinary skills! The recipe is based on the black cod from "Nobu" an american japanese restaurant. It is awesome.

2-3 black cod fillets (about 1 lb) – black cod is also called “sable fish”

Marinate:

1/5 cup sake


1/5 cup mirin

4 tablespoons white miso paste


2 tablespoons sugar

1) Mix marinade ingredients together.

2) Pat the fish fillets dry with paper towels and put them into a Ziploc with marinade.

3) Marinate overnight in refrigerator (up to 2 days).

4) Preheat oven to 400 degree F.

5) Transfer the fish fillets to the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes. Or until cooked through and flakey

6) Add a few extra drops of the marinate on the plate and serve hot.

I served it with garlic mashed potatoes and asparagus!

Cookie Monster Cupcakes

I love birthdays! Its my little friend Rowan's 1st birthday party today and so I thought that some little boy cupcakes were in order.

These cupcakes were inspired by a google search and so I cannot take credit for the cookie monster idea.. but they are pretty cute, so I thought I would share them with you.

I used the Swiss Meringue Buttercream recipe from an earlier post, two original Mentos (my favorite childhood candy) and Chips Ahoy! chocolate chip cookies.

All I did was add some blue food colouring to the frosting and piped it onto the cupcakes, then drew eyes onto the Mentos with a black pen (i figure a little pen ink never hurt anyone - I'm really hoping this is true), and cut the Chips Ahoy! cookies into 1/3's using the two round end bits and eating the middle!

Its so easy!

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!

Toblerone Shortbread

Ruthann, my beautiful sister-in-law, sent me this recipe. She manages to be a great mum, squat more that most athletic men, and bake all at the same time!! She's very cool.

This is a wonderful and decadent Christmas (or New Years) treat! Thanks ru!

1 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 cup cornstarch

2 -3 Toblerone chocolate bars

Cream butter and sugar in a medium bowl. Beat until light and fluffy.

Add flour and cornstarch gradually while beating continuously. Beat until light.

Take one teaspoon of shortbread mixture and slightly flatten between palm of your hands.

Place one triangle of Toblerone in the center of the shortbread and top with another slightly flattened teaspoon of shortbread mixture. Seal edges of cookie perimeter with fingers. 


Bake in oven at 375 degrees F for 12-14 minutes.

Enjoy!

Imperial Cheese Crunch Cookies

I did not bake these cookies... But I did enjoy eating them.. Does that count?

My mum said these cookies were a traditional Christmas treat of my grandmothers "Kate-the-Great".. She used to tell me how my grandmother was way ahead of her time, using ingenious and creative ingredients to make delicious culinary treats. My mum brought these back to life this christmas and they were awesome.. One of my best friends Ingrid said, "Charlie, you have to put those on your blog!" So, here they are!

1 cup of butter
1 small size package of Imperial Cheese
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp worcestershire sauce

1) Cream all ingredients together

2) Add 4 cups of Rice Krispies

3) Mix and make into small balls and flatten with fingers

Bake at 300 for 20-25 minutes on parchment lined baking sheet

Enjoy with a nice glass of chardonnay!