A Good Day - Saturday

Last night, before I went to bed, I put together a no knead dough recipe (From the Merlin Menu), in hopes that I would be having fresh bread in the morning.

The bread consisted of:
2 1/4 tsp of yeast - whisked into 1 1/2 warm water and rested for 5 minutes or so.
In another bowl I combined 2 c Flour and 1 c Whole wheat flour and a tsp of salt.
I mixed these together till it formed a kind of ball - This took very little effort, and no more flour. I then covered and let it rest.

I woke up this morning, to a big, soft, sticky dough, full of bubbles. I scraped it onto my counter that was full of flour and I folded the dough over on itself 6 times (The dough was quite tender - I wish all my dough felt like that). Then I placed it in a bowl (The same size of my dutch oven) lined in parchment paper and let it rest for another hour or so.

Seeing as I had an hour to kill - I took a trip to the Peterborough farmers market to purchased some goodies. On my buy list was honey crisp apples, some beets for Teegan (because she loves them), a free range chicken (which will be roasted tomorrow) and the prize of the day mushrooms.

One of my favourite stands at the market is the mushroom stand. The gentleman who runs it, grows all of his own mushrooms in a little town north of Peterborough. So far I have been able to purchase, portabello, shitake and oyster mushrooms - but if you don't get there early enough, you won't get any!

So being inspired by all the mushrooms - tonight for supper I made Mushroom Soup

Here's my recipe:

Add some oil or butter to your pot (as much or little as you like)
brown - a bunch of chopped green onion and garlic
Then saute about a pound of chopped mushrooms (till soft)
Add 4 cups of stock (veg or chicken) and simmer for about 20 minutes
Add 1 cup of cream (however thick you like).
Season with salt and pepper and lots of dried thyme

It's quite easy and quite nice.
Perhaps someday when I live somewhere different with better natural light (or for that matter light), I will make this again and take another picture, because this one does not do it justice.

Once home, I turned my attention back to my bread. I preheated my oven and dutch oven to 425. I gently place the dough into the dutch oven (with the paper) and baked with the lid on for 20 minutes before removing the lid and baking for an additional 15 to 20 minutes. The smell in my house was amazing. Once the bread finished, I wanted to launch right into it, but I know it's better to let the bread rest (I only made it 15 minutes, instead of the suggested hour). It was great with a bit of peach jam.

My only issue with the bread, is that I didn't end up eating it till 11 am. If only I could drag myself out of bed at 6 and prep it then, I may have been eating it by 9.

Falafel

Initially, I had a love/hate relationship with Falafels. I didn't much care for their taste, but for some reason whenever I got an opportunity to order them I would. It took me a few pitas, but my love grew and my hatred disappeared.

I attempted to make some about a year ago - and to my disappointment, things didn't work out the way I envisioned. The falafel balls disintegrated to nothing in the oil. Initially I thought that my oil had gone bad, but that wasn't the case. My falafel's were to moist and sticky.

So This go round, I wasn't going to make the same mistake.

1 c dried chick peas - soaked overnight
1 can broad beans
1/2 c cilantro
1 small onion
4 to 6 garlic cloves
2 tsp coriander
2 tsp cumin
1 tsp cayenne
1 tsp salt

Dry off the chick peas and bean - then throw them into a food pro with everything else. Pulse till everything comes together and is a fine chunky, form-able texture. Roll it out into ball, a bit smaller then golf balls (1 good heaping Tablespoon). Deep Fry till a nice golden brown - a few minutes depending on size.

My pics of the final product didn't turn out to well, so they will sadly not be shown.

I made a nice "whole wheat flat-bread - (recipe here) - I used all WW flour" and ate it full of tahini, banana peppers and the falafels. It was quite nice.

What have I done with the Cinnamon Cranberry Dutch Oven Bread?

I toasted it, and had it with beet borscht. 

I also need to point out that, that carrot looking thing is actually a potato!

Oh, look it's a waffle - or is it?!

It's actually french toast - cooked in a waffle maker. It turned out quite nice, and seemed to take no time at all. I stole the idea from a bunch of Mennonite Girls who can Cook.

Cinnamon Cranberry Bread

Once again - HERE - is the site I found this interesting looking bread.

The recipe goes as such:

1 cup warm milk

4 tsp yeast (approx)

1/4 c brown sugar

1/4 c melted butter

1 egg

Mix all of this together and let sit for about 10 minutes.

Meanwhile -in another bowl combine:

3 c flour

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

some ground nutmeg (1/2 tsp)

1 tsp salt

Oh - I guess I forgot to tell you 1/2 c to 3/4 cranberries (Personally I thought 1/2 a cup worked fine) - or any other dried fruit you would prefer.

Once the yeast has sat for 10 minutes or so - add both bowls together and knead till ball is smooth, and tacky but not sticky (you will have to add more flour, do it progressively). If you are lucky enough to have a kitchen aid mixer - mix everything in there, however it is you use that fancy technology - perhaps I will learn that technology someday.

Let the bread rise overnight - or for 6 hours or so. Once that period of time is over, knead it a few times on a floured surface and place into a dutch over lined in parchment paper - for an hour or until it approximately doubles in size. Then bake (covered) in a preheated 450 oven for 25 minutes and then an additional 10 minutes with the lid removed (this will give the bread a nice crusty brown color - but keep an eye on it).

The Results: The bread is Amazing (Soft, chewy and a nice sweetness in the background). I am currently eating a slice and I am reminded of eating a really good piece of raisin bread (My Dad would love it), but better (but that could because it's still warm). There were a few negatives though - the dough didn't rise as much as I would have liked, but it did fill out a bit in the oven. And the bottom of the bread is verging on being burnt (OK, it is burnt). I attribute this to my inconsistent oven, which doesn't like to keep a consistent heat (no fault of my own of course!), next time I may bump it up a rack or perhaps try a lower temp.

You don't need a dutch over to make this bread - but you will need an oven proof pot of some sort.

Left Overs

It was left overs for supper tonight.

Which included:

Chicken Tika Marsala:

Instead of writing the whole recipe out - Here's the link - The recipe is courtesy of Jamie Oliver. I borrowed one of his cookbooks from the neighbor upstairs and this is exactly it - the one on his website isn't quite the same and not as easy to follow.

Curried Yellow Pepper Soup: Place ingredients into a pot in this order - when done puree.

1. Saute till caramelized (5 min).

1 c chopped onion

Oil

2. Saute till hot (5 min).

1 c chopped apple

1 c chopped carrot

3. Time for spice (5 min).

3 yellow, orange or red peppers (you could try roasting them too).

1 T grated ginger

1/2 tsp tumeric

1/2 tsp cardamom

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/8 tsp cayenne (more if you like it spicy)

4. Liquid (cook everything till your content or about 30 minutes on low)

4 c veg or chicken broth

1 can coconut milk

5. Finish

1 T Lime Juice

Salt

This is one of my new favourite soups and though I think it more of a summer soup, it would work to take a chill out of your bones. Our friend Shez made it for us a few months ago, and I couldn't leave that night without writing out the recipe. SO GOOD, even better the second day.

I also made a focaccia:

1 c of lukewarm water
2 tsp yeast
1 tsp honey

2 c flour
1/2 tsp salt

Let the yeast mix sit for 5 minutes. Then mix everything together and begin to knead. You will need to add about another cup of flour, but do it progressively. Knead for about 5 to 8 minutes. Once done let rise for about an hour and bake at 450 till cooked through.

I baked my loaf in my new dutch over. Apparently you can cook some pretty cool looking breads in it. Here's one (click here) I am going to try next week.

New Toy (Dutch Oven)

This morning I found myself wandering around Costco, while waiting for for my new tires to be installed. When I got to the kitchen section (my favourite), I noticed that the Kirkland Dutch Oven was only 45 dollars (As opposed to 65). I walked over to it to investigate a little more closely - I had looked at it in the past, but could always justify not buying it;
1. We would have to haul it back to S'toon in spring (in our small car).
2. I have a soup pot and a baking dish that works as a roaster.
3. We don't really have the money, cause we just bought 4 tires.

But this time I bought it - what had changed?

My soup pot that I bought 6 months ago chipped on the inside in 2 places. It was A Pastel Coloured Tivoli bought from winners (and still to this day they can be found at every winners in a variety of shapes and colours). Upon a little investigation, I found out that this is not a rare occurrence. So don't buy them! The really unfortunate thing is, I only needed the pots to last me a year!

Oh well - now I have a new toy, which I am quite fond of (soup pot and roaster).

I bought a nice big chicken this afternoon, and after cleaning it up and freezing parts for another day, I decided to make some stock for a soup tomorrow.

Today's Chicken Stock:

1 chicken carcass
3 carrots chopped
celery seed
thyme
half an Onion
a few bay leaves
Top off with water and simmer for a few hours.

Avocado Growth

It's been about 2 Weeks - and my Avocado has grown close to 6 inches. There are a few leaves forming on the top, which excites me. 

Here's the best picture I have of it.

Chocolate and Beets

I was perusing this WEBSITE the other day and I came across a recipe for a chocolate beet loaf. The idea was so new to me, that I had to make it. I made just the basic version that the author posted, but after making it (and loving it), I will be back to visit the other variations.

Here's the recipe

Mix together:
1 c flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 c cocoa powder

Mix together:
2 eggs
1/2 each brown and white sugar
vanilla
1/2 c butter
1 1/2 c grated beets

Combine both bowls - mix until you can't see anymore flour - then pour into a 8.5x4.5 and bake at 350 for 40 minutes or so.

An Apple Pie a Day Makes Me Fat!

I bought another bag of Honey Crisp Apples yesterday at the farmers market. Teegan was a little concerned because I still had a few left (6) from the week before. I informed her that she had nothing to worry about because I was going to make a apple pie and perhaps some applesauce.

So here we are.

I used the same dough and filling recipe as my peach pie made a while back. If interested click here to see the recipe.

I ended up using 6 monster apples and had some left over which with my left over dough, I created a little apple tart/box which was consumed, pretty soon after it came out of the oven - probably a little to soon - my tongue is a little worse for ware.

I am looking forward to breakfast tomorrow! Yes, I eat pie for breakfast!

Rollkuchen

I have to confess, that I have never made Rollkuchen before (Please don't think less of me), I haven't needed to. My parents on average make it once a month during the summer. Sure I have helped here and there with the process - but I never have stamped my name on the product.

This being said - today was the day. I know it's a bit late in the season, but better late then never.

The recipe my family has used for years goes as such:

4 c flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 c sour cream
1 c milk
4 eggs

I was lucky enough on my first attempt to nail the right consistency - a perfect crisp outer shell, with a just perfectly cooked chewy dough on the inside. This is my preference, a middle ground between fluffy and flaky.

Pumpkin Bread

Last week my Sister in Law (Jen) pointed out that my blog was lacking a pumpkin recipe. So not to disappoint - here is a pumpkin bread recipe I came up with after pulling together some ideas from a few other recipes.

2 c pumpkin puree (preferably from a nice roasted pumpkin, instead of from the can)
1 c vegetable oil or butter
2 c white sugar
3 eggs
2 c flour
1 c whole wheat flour
1 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 of a whole nutmeg grated
1 teaspoon allspice
1/4 ground ginger

Split the batter between 2 - 4.5 x 8.5 loaf pans. Bake at 350 for 50 minutes to 1 hour until a toothpick comes out clean.

Thanksgiving Weekend

This past weekend Teegan and I made a trip down south (To Kitchener) to visit our friends and have a make shift Thanksgiving dinner. Little did I know that the chicken I was planning on cooking (That David was going to buy) turned into a full fledged turkey (7 Pounds anyways). I was initially skeptical (mostly due to the fear of never having cooked a turkey before), but after a little thought and perusing of "The Joy of Cooking", David and I launched in with full force.

We ended up just stuffing the turkey with lemon, garlic and rosemary. Once our bird reached a perfect 180 degrees - we pulled it out of the oven and it was a perfect crisp golden brown.

I realize now, that a turkey is nothing to be feared. It's quite simple to roast, and quite fun to baste!

Alexis also pitched in and made some cranberry sauce, which turned out quite nice.


With Kitchener being so close to our former stomping grounds of Stratford, Milverton and St. Jacob's, we decided to take a drive/trip down memory lane. To be honest, Teegan just wanted an excuse to visit the yarn outlet store in Listowell. This in turn gave me an excuse (not that I should need one) to visit my favourite Amish restaurant (Anna May's in Millbank). The food is great, but what's better are the PIES and DOUGHNUTS - which are among some of the best things I have ever eaten in my life.

On our way back to Kitchener, we came across a local apple orchard (just outside of St.Jacobs) that had some of my favourite apples "Honey Crisp". I tried this apple 3 years ago in Halifax for the first time, and became quite smitten. I was overjoyed to find them at the local farmers market a few weeks ago, and was even more overjoyed to find an orchard that grows them in Ontario. So perhaps I will make a pie this week.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Pasta

I have never attempted to make pasta before, I think partly because it's quite easy just buy the boxed variety and toss in water. Especially now that there is whole wheat pasta readily available, not to mention, spelt, kamut, brown rice and so forth and so on.

The pasta wasn't to hard - It was pretty easy actually.

1 c flour
1 tsp salt
3 eggs

Mix, knead (dusting with more flour as you go - I used close to 2 cups when all was said and done), rest, roll then cut the size you would like. Boil for about 3 minutes or so.

My Sauce:

1 Can whole tomato's (blended)
4 Garlic cloves
1/2 Onion
1 tsp Oregano
A handful of fresh basil
3 Portabello Mushrooms (chopped)

Caramelize the onions then add the garlic till it smells then saute the mushrooms till they are soft then add the rest.

Avocado UPDATE

A few weeks ago, I planted my avocado seed in a soil filled pot. I would have left it dangling above the water, in its cup a little longer but I was afraid the seed would split and leave me with nothing (I wasn't having any of that after so much patience and tending). Once in the pot, the shoot popped through the top and is now growing at turtle speed (Slow and steady).

You can also see one of my lemon tree's in the background. They also grow quite slowly. The tree that isn't seen has developed another set of leaves and is a bit bigger.

Cardamom Coffee Shortbread

I was in the mood for some shortbread cookies today - this is funny cause I am not to big of a fan of shortbread. While perusing recipes, I came across a recipe for coffee flavoured shortbread and I jumped on board. I ended up using a basic shortbread recipe and adding my own ideas (being Cardamom - because it's Coffee's best friends).

2 1/2 c Flour
1/2 c Brown Sugar
1/4 c Sugar
1 c Butter
1/2 tsp ground coffee
2 T liquid coffee
(Most recipes call for 2 T of instant espresso powder - instead of what I added).
1/4 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp ground cardamom

The topping is just an icing sugar glaze and melted chocolate.

Bake 300 for 20 min.

They turned out really good. I could of baked them longer for a more original shortbread dissolve in the mouth texture, but I am liking them a little softer. I would make these again in a heartbeat.

Chili Cheese Fries

Chili:

6 slices of bacon - chopped and fried
1/2 onion julienned
3 cloves garlic
1 pound ground beef
1 red/orange/yellow pepper
mushrooms
1 can chickpeas
1 can kidney beans (today I used pinto beans)
1 can of whole tomato's
3 heaping Tb of Chili Powder
1 Tb of cumin
S & P

Simmer for a few hours and it should be ready to go.

Fries:
I have struggled in the past with not being able to make a crispy fry from a potato - but lately I have figured out a system that works for me - perhaps it would work for you too.
First - I bake the potato - till soft.
Second - I cut wedge fries (I like mine a little on the thinner)
Third - I bake them (after coating with oil) at 400 till they come out crispy and brown. I don't know an exact time but be patient (about 30 minutes give or take).