Ingredients 

• 2 eggs
• 2 tbsp milk
• 1/2 small sweet green pepper, seeded and diced
• Pinch each salt and pepper
• 2 tbsp shredded Cheddar cheese
• 1 small flour tortilla
• 2 tbsp medium or hot salsa

Instructions

1. Whisk eggs, milk, green pepper, salt and pepper in small bowl.
2. Spray skillet with cooking spray. Heat skillet over medium-high heat until hot enough to sizzle a drop of water.
3. Pour in egg mixture and immediately reduce heat to medium-low. As eggs begin to set, gently move spatula across bottom and side of skillet to form large, soft curds. Cook until eggs are thickened and no visible liquid egg remains, but the eggs are not dry.
4. Sprinkle with cheese.
5. Spoon the eggs in the centre of the tortilla and top with salsa. Fold up the bottom and then the sides to enclose filling.

Ingredients

• 3/4 lb Lean Ground Pork
• 3/4 ts Italian Seasoning
• 1/4 ts Fennel Seeds Crushed
• 2 cl Garlic Minced
• 2 (8 Oz.) Cartons Frozen Egg Substitute Thawed
• 1 c Skim Milk
• 1/4 c (1 Oz.) Shredded Cheddar
• 3 Green Onions Chopped
• 3/4 ts Dry Mustard, 
• 1/4 t. Salt
• 1/4 ts Ground Red Pepper
• 6 Slices White Bread Cut Into 1/2 in. Cubes. 
• Cherry Tomatoes

Directions

1. Coat a skillet with cooking spray; place over medium high heat until hot. 
2. Add pork, italian seasoning, fennel seeds & garlic; cook until meat is browned, stirring to crumble meat. drain in a colander; pat dry with paper towels & set aside. 
3. Combine milk, cheddar, green onions, dry mustard, salt & pepper in a large bowl; stir well. Add pork mixture & bread, stirring until just blended. 
4. Pour into an 11 X 7 X 2 inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. 
5. Cover & chill 8 To 12 hours. 
6. Bake uncovered at 350 F. For 50 Min. or until set & lightly browned.
7. Garnish with tomatoes & green onion tops if desired.

Ingredients

• 1 Can Crescent Rolls
• 1 Pound Sausage -- cooked and drained
• Fresh Mushrooms -- sliced
• 3/4 Pound Monterey Jack Cheese -- grated
• 6 Eggs -- beaten
• 1 Can Cream Of Onion Soup

1. Line a 13x9 inch Pyrex dish with rolls, sealing perforations. Cover with sausage, mushrooms and half the cheese. Mix eggs with soup and pour over casserole. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top. 
2. Chill overnight. Bake at 350 for 1 hour. Note: For variation, you can use cooked, crumbled bacon or bite-sized pieces of ham instead of sausage.

Click here to read more.

Ingredients

• 1 lb imitation crabmeat; flaked
• 8 oz cream cheese; softened
• 1/2 c mayonnaise
• 1 sm onion; finely chopped
• 1 celery; finely chopped
• 1 1/2 ts dill weed

Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients. Garnish with a sprig of dill or parsley. 
2. Serve on crackers.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups lowfat cottage cheese
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons shredded carrot
• 1 tablespoon sliced green onions
• 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
• 1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh dill OR 1/2 teaspoon dill weed
• 1 dashes pepper
• assorted fresh vegetables

Instructions

1. In blender container, combine cottage cheese and lemon juice. Cover; blend 3 to 5 minutes at medium speed or until smooth.
2. Stir in carrot, onions, parsley, dill and pepper. Garnish as desired. Serve with cut-up fresh vegetables for dipping.
3. Makes 1 1/2 cups.

TIP: Mixture can also be used as a topping for baked potatoes.

Ingredients

• 16 oz. Velveeta Cheese
• 1 half and half cream/milk
• ½ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
• 2 teaspoons paprika
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 15-oz can no-bean chili
• 3 teaspoons chili powder
• 2 teaspoons cumin
• juice of 1 lime juice (about 1 tablespoon)
• tortilla chips, for serving

Instructions

1. Cut velveeta cheese into cubes. Add all ingredients (except for tortilla chips) to slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 2 hours or on high for 1 hour.
2. Stir until everything comes together. Cook on low for 30 minutes - 1 hour
3. Serve with tortilla chips.

I've searched the archives and found a bunch of Thanksgiving related links for you as you prepare for a house of in-laws that you didn't really want coming over anyways but now you have to cook for. While I can't take your in-laws off of your hands, I can make it a little easier for you with some recipes and tips posted here. Hope this helps!

Tips

• How to make gravy without the lumps

• How to Choose a Turkey

• How to Deep Fry a Turkey

• How to Roast a Turkey

• How to Stuff a Turkey

• Thanksgiving on a Budget

• How to Cook a Thanksgiving Dinner

• Three alternative Thanksgiving dishes

• Sleep in on Black Friday and do your shopping online.  You can check out my gift guide for cooks and foodies or head over to see some other Christmas Gift Guides and shop from the comfort of your own home.

Recipes

• 101 Cookbooks has a wide section of unique Thanksgiving recipes

• Two Layer Pumpkin Cheesecake Recipe

• Creamed Turnip Recipe

• Sautéed Green Beans Recipe

• Holiday Mashed Potato Recipe

• Herb Roasted Turkey Recipe

• Traditional Stuffing Recipe

• Turkey Gravy Recipe

• Cranberry Salsa Recipe

• Turkey Chili Recipe

• Pumpkin Pie Recipe

• Pumpkin Pie Dip Recipe

• Green Bean Casserole Recipe

You can also explore The Cooking Blog deeper by browsing the turkey, and holiday tags.

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh garlic
• 2 teaspoons chopped fresh basil
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon fennel seeds
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 (28-ounce) can plum tomatoes, coarsely crushed
• 1 tablespoon dry red wine
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 pound mozzarella cheese, sliced
• 8 ounces pepperoni, thinly sliced
• 8 ounces mushrooms, wiped clean and thinly sliced
• 1 green bell pepper, cored and cut into thin rings
• 1 yellow onion, cut into thin rings
• 1 cup thinly sliced black olives
• 1 pound crumbled hot Italian sausage
• 1 cup grated Parmesan

• 11/2 cups warm water (about 110 degrees F)
• 1 (1/4-ounce) packages active dry yeast
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup semolina flour
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil, plus 2 teaspoons to grease bowl
• 1 teaspoon salt

1. While the dough is rising, make the tomato sauce. In a medium saucepan, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds. Add the herbs, seeds, salt, and black and red peppers, and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds. Add the tomatoes, wine and sugar, and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until thickened, 20 to 30 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool completely before using.
2. Preheat the oven to 475 degrees F.
3. Oil 2 seasoned 12-inch round deep-dish pizza pans with the extra-virgin olive oil. Press 1 piece of dough into each pan, pressing to the edge and stretching about 1 1/2 inches up the sides. Let rest for 5 minutes.
4. Layer the mozzarella cheese all over the bottom of the pies. Top each with half of the pepperoni, mushrooms, bell pepper rings, onions, black olives and sausage. Ladle the sauce evenly over each pizza and top with Parmesan.
5. Bake until the top is golden and the cheese is bubbly and the crust is golden brown, about 30 minutes. Remove from the oven, slice and serve hot.

1. In a large bowl, combine the water, yeast, and sugar and stir to combine. Let sit until the mixture is foamy, about 5 minutes.
2. Add 1 1/2 cups of the flour, the semolina, 1/2 cup of the oil, and the salt, mixing by hand until it is all incorporated and the mixture is smooth. Continue adding the flour, 1/4 cup at a time, working the dough after each addition, until all the flour is incorporated but the dough is still slightly sticky.
3. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth but still slightly tacky, 3 to 5 minutes. Oil a large mixing bowl with the remaining 2 teaspoons oil.
4. Place the dough in the bowl and turn to oil all sides. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and set in a warm, draft-free place until nearly doubled in size, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
5. Divide into 2 equal portions and use as directed.

Here are some tips from Serious Eats on how to care for your cast iron pan

These are the only rules you need to know to have a successful lifelong relationship with your cast iron.

Season it when you get it.

Even pre-seasoned cast iron can do with some extra protection.To season your pan, heat it up on the stovetop until its smoking hot, then rub a little oil into it and let it cool. Repeat this process a few times and you're good to go.

Clean it after each use.

Clean your pan thoroughly after each use by washing it with soap and water and scrubbing out any gunk or debris from the bottom. I use the scrubby side of a sponge for this.

Re-season it.

Rinse out any excess soap with water, then place the skillet over a burner set to high heat. When most of the water inside the skillet has dried out, add a half teaspoon of a neutral oil like vegetable, canola, flaxseed, or shortening. Rub it around with a paper towel. Continue heating the pan until it just starts to smoke then give it one more good rub. Let it cool and you're done.

Fry and Sear in it.

The best way to keep your seasoning maintained? Just use your pan a lot! The more you fry, sear, or bake in it, the better that seasoning will become.

Don't let it stay wet.

Water is the natural enemy of iron and letting even a drop of water sit in your pan when you put it away can lead to a rust spot. Not the end of the world, but rust will require a little scrubbing and reseasoning. I always dry out my pan with a paper towel and coat it with a tiny amount of oil before storage.

Ingredients

• 1 cup coarse chopped yellow onion
• 2 medium garlic cloves - peeled and minced
• 1 cup chopped sweet green pepper
• 3/4 cup Finely diced celery
• 4 tablespoon bacon drippings
• 3 tablespoon minced parsley
• 6 oz smoked ham - cut in 3/8-in cubes
• 1 lg bay leaf; crumbled
• 1/2 teaspoon crumbled leaf thyme
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 1/2 teaspoon Salt (or to taste)
• 1 can Tomatoes (1 lb, 14-oz)
• 1 can Tomato sauce (8 oz)
• 1 3/4 cup Cold water
• 1 3/4 cup uncooked converted rice
• 1 1/2 pound medium shrimp, raw - shelled, deveined

Directions

1. Set a large kettle (not made of iron) over moderate heat. Saute the onion, garlic, green pepper and celery in the bacon drippings for 8 to 10 minutes until they are limp and golden. Add the parsley, ham cubes, bay leaf, thyme and cayenne pepper. Saute, stirring often, for 5 to 6 minutes. Add the salt, tomatoes and their juice, tomato sauce and water. Simmer the kettle, uncovered, for 5 minutes, breaking up any large clumps of tomatoes. Adjust the burner heat so that the mixture simmers gently. Stir in the rice, cover the kettle, and boil the rice for 40 minutes. Add the shrimp, tossing the mixture lightly to distribute them evenly.
2. Cover the kettle and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes longer, until the shrimp are cooked through, the rice is done, and almost all of the liquid has been absorbed. Taste the jambalaya and add the cayenne pepper and salt, if needed.

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour, or more if needed
• 1 envelope Fleischmann’s RapidRise Yeast
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/4 cup water
• 2 tablespoons butter OR margarine

Directions

1. Combine 3/4 cup flour, undissolved yeast, sugar and salt in a large bowl. Heat milk, water and butter until very warm (120 degrees to 130 degrees F). Add to flour mixture. Beat 2 minutes at medium speed of electric mixer, scraping bowl occasionally. Add 1/4 cup flour; beat 2 minutes at high speed. Stir in enough remaining flour to make soft dough. Knead on lightly floured surface until smooth and elastic, about 8 to 10 minutes. Cover; let rest 10 minutes.
2. Divide dough into 12 equal pieces; shape into balls. Place in greased 8-inch round pan. Cover; let rise in warm, draft-free place until doubled in size, about 30 minutes.
3. Bake in preheated 375 degrees F oven for 20 minutes or until done. Remove from pan; brush with additional melted butter, if desired. Serve warm.

The problem is climate change but the solution in part is stop eating so much dark chocolate

There's no easy way to say this: You're eating too much chocolate, all of you. And it's getting so out of hand that the world could be headed towards a potentially disastrous (if you love chocolate) scenario if it doesn't stop.

Those are, roughly speaking, the words of two huge chocolate makers, Mars, Inc. and Barry Callebaut. And there's some data to back them up.

Chocolate deficits, whereby farmers produce less cocoa than the world eats, are becoming the norm. Already, we are in the midst of what could be the longest streak of consecutive chocolate deficits in more than 50 years. It also looks like deficits aren't just carrying over from year-to-year—the industry expects them to grow. Last year, the world ate roughly 70,000 metric tons more cocoa than it produced. By 2020, the two chocolate-makers warn that that number could swell to 1 million metric tons, a more than 14-fold increase; by 2030, they think the deficit could reach 2 million metric tons.

The problem is, for one, a supply issue. Dry weather in West Africa (specifically in the Ivory Coast and Ghana, where more than 70 percent of the world's cocoa is produced) has greatly decreased production in the region. A nasty fungal disease known as frosty pod hasn't helped either. The International Cocoa Organization estimates it has wiped out between 30 percent and 40 percent of global coca production. Because of all this, cocoa farming has proven a particularly tough business, and many farmers have shifted to more profitable crops, like corn, as a result.

Then there's the world's insatiable appetite for chocolate. China's growing love for the stuff is of particular concern. The Chinese are buying more and more chocolate each year. Still, they only consume per capita about 5 percent of what the average Western European eats. There's also the rising popularity of dark chocolate, which contains a good deal more cocoa by volume than traditional chocolate bars (the average chocolate bar contains about 10 percent, while dark chocolate often contains upwards of 70 percent).

Ingredients

• 2 cups All Purpose Flour -- sifted
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 1/4 teaspoons soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon Ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon Nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon Cloves
• 1 cup suet -- ground or grated
• 1 cup buttermilk or sour milk
• 1 cup raisins
• 1/3 cup molasses
• Butterscotch, Nutmeg or Hard Sauce

Directions

1. Sift together the flour, sugar, soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cloves. Stir in suet, buttermilk or sour milk, raisins, and molasses. Mix until dry ingredients are moistened. Turn into well-greased 2-quart mold or casserole. Cover with tight cover or aluminum foil. Place on rack in large steamer or kettle. Add boiling water to height of 2 inches in steamer,
2. cover. Steam 2 to 2 1/2 hours or until pudding springs back when touched lightly in center.** Serve hot, cut into slices with Butterscotch, Nutmeg,
3. or Hard Sauce. 
4. If desired, Christmas Pudding may be baked in a 300 degree oven. Place a pan of water in oven. Cover pudding and bake 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 hours.

Butterscotch Sauce: Combine 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar, 2 tablespoons flour and 1/8 teaspoons salt. Stir in 1 cup cream and 1 cup milk. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until slightly thickened.

Hard Sauce: Cream 1/2 cup butter. Add gradually 2 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar, creaming until light and fluffy. Blend in 1/8 teaspoon salt, 1 tablespoon boiling water, 1 teaspoon vanilla and 2 teaspoons Rum or Brandy Flavoring, if desired. Chill until serving time.

Nutmeg Sauce: Cream 1/4 cup butter. Gradually add 1/2 cup sugar, creaming until light and fluffy. Blend in 1 egg yolk, 1 1/2 tablespoons flour and 1 teaspoon French’s Vanilla. Gradually add 1 1/4 cups boiling water. Cook in top of double boiler over boiling water, stirring constantly until slightly thickened. Stir in 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg.

Shopping for teens is almost as hard as coming up with good recipes.  Now you could take the easy way out and give them a gift card for the mall or you could read my husband’s 2014 Christmas Gift Guide for Your Teens and give them something they will love for years.  Your call.

If you are shopping for a foodie this Christmas (or even if you are not) here is my broad guide to great Christmas gifts for the kitchen.  It’s a series of things that I love that make life in the kitchen better.  If you have any comments on things that I have listed or have things that I have missed, leave them in the comments.

Inexpensive Christmas Gifts & Stocking Stuffers: Under $25 

Wine Aerator

Adding air and slowing down the pour of your wine enhances flavor and bouquet. This unique aerator by slows the flow and gently adds oxygen into the wine by funnelling it through a series of channels inside.

Wondering if a wine aerator is worth the money and hassle?  It depends on the kind of wines that you drink.

Red wines intended to have earthy flavors or age for years in a cellar (and often cost more than $10 or $15) can get to their optimal flavor faster with aeration. Inexpensive and fruity red wines are often fruitiest and most enjoyable directly from the bottle and either don’t improve or taste worse with aeration. White wines (especially fruity white wines) generally don’t improve with aeration.

• Available from Amazon | $6

Soapstone Whisky Chilling Stones

Don’t let melting ice water down your drinks.  Instead use cold frozen soapstones to keep your whiskey cold and preserve it’s rich taste.

• Get it from Amazon | $3

Silicon Pastry Mat

Silicone's is both flexible and things won't stick to it.  It's ideal for rolling pastry and cookies.  It not only makes things easier on you but it means you can use less flour, resulting in a more delicate and tender product which means everyone wins.

• Purchase from Amazon | $10

Thoughtful yet Inexpensive Christmas Presents:  $25 to $50 

CucinaPro Pasta Fresh machine

Nothing beats a plate of truly fresh pasta. And now it's easy to roll out your own at home. Whether the craving is for spaghetti or fettuccine, this sturdy machine handles the job with efficiency and style. CuninaPro pasta maker looks great on the counter and is easy to use--there's nothing to plug in as this is the tried-and-true hand-crank variety.

The easy-lock adjustable dough-dialer rolls thick or thin pasta, and it comes with spaghetti and fettuccine cutters. Cutters for tagliatelle, ravioli and angel hair pasta are available separately

• Purchase from Amazon.com | $29

Aeropress Coffee Press

It makes one of the best cups of coffee you'll ever taste. This innovative uses the ideal water temperature and gentle air pressure brewing to produce coffee and espresso that has rich flavour with lower acidity and without bitterness. It makes 1 to 4 cups of coffee or espresso (enough for 1 or 2 mugs), features a micro filtered for grit free coffee, and takes just 1 minute to make coffee (actual press time takes only 20 seconds).

 Here is how it works

• Purchase from Amazon | $25

• Find it online at Amazon.com for $23

Belgium Waffle Iron

Enjoy delicious fluffy Belgian waffles with the Hamilton Beach Belgian Style Flip Waffle Maker. Made with easy to clean non-stick grids to bake the perfect waffle with deep pockets to hold butter and syrup. The indicator lights let you know just when to add the batter and the removable tray and grids make for easy clean-up.

• Purchase from Amazon | $35

Oxo Kitchen Scale

A scale is really necessary if you're going to do serious cooking because wherever possible, you should measure your ingredients by weight, not by volume. 

A given mass of flour can vary a lot in volume, depending on things like humidity, temperature, and how long it's been sitting.  A weight indicator shows the capacity left on the Scale before maximum capacity is reached. Press the zero button to offset the weight of a container or to set the weight back to zero to add additional ingredients. The display features large, easy-to-read numbers which measure in 1/8-ounce and 1-gram increments and the platform can be removed for cleaning. The Scale has a 5-pound capacity and two AAA batteries are included.

• Purchase from Amazon | $25

Cusinart Immersion Blender

Don't buy a cheap one--stick with Braun, Cuisinart, or KitchenAid.  They aren’t cutting edge but if you don’t have one, you don’t know what you are missing.  I use mine for my making Caesar Salad Dressing, mixing up packets of mix and pureeing soups

• Find it at Amazon | $35

With a stylish design and durable stainless steel carafe, this 8-cup coffeemaker is perfect for home, office or practically anywhere you want hot, fresh coffee at the touch of a button. All this, plus an easy-clean control panel and dishwasher-safe removable parts for effortless cleanup.  The advantage of the carafe is that you won’t be stuck with hot burnt coffee in case you don’t get it off the maker in time.  The coffee will be as hot and fresh later as it is right now.

• Purchase from Amazon | $48

• Available from Amazon for $57

The New Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day: The Discovery That Revolutionizes Home Baking

 

With more than half a million copies of their books in print, Jeff Hertzberg and Zoë François have proven that people want to bake their own bread, so long as they can do it easily and quickly. Based on fan feedback, Jeff and Zoë have completely revamped their first, most popular, and now-classic book, Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day.

Responding to their thousands of ardent fans, Jeff and Zoë returned to their test kitchens to whip up more delicious baking recipes. They’ve also included a gluten-free chapter, forty all-new gorgeous color photos, and one hundred informative black-and-white how-to photos. They’ve made the “Tips and Techniques” and “Ingredients” chapters bigger and better than ever before, and included readers’ Frequently Asked Questions.

This revised edition also includes more than thirty brand-new recipes for Beer-Cheese Bread, Crock-Pot Bread, Panini, Pretzel Buns, Apple-Stuffed French Toast, and many more. There’s nothing like the smell of freshly baked bread to fill a kitchen with warmth, eager appetites, and endless praise. Now, using Jeff and Zoë’s innovative technique, you can create bread that rivals those of the finest bakers in the world in just five minutes of active preparation time.

• You can get it for $19 from Amazon

 Alcohol Dispenser for Vodka, Whiskey, etc

For centuries, whiskies have been aged in wooden kegs. The charring on the inside of the keg helps to filter the beverage from impurities while also giving whiskey its unique, brown color. 
To celebrate the advent of the slow, smoothing, and character building process of aging liquors, here is a handsome glass keg decanter complete with a wooden resting cradle. 

• Find it at Amazon | $60 

Lodge Pre-Seasoned Sportsman's Charcoal Grill

If you are a griller who loves to cook on charcoal, you will want to check out this cast iron hibachi grill.

• Measures 19 by 10-1/4 by 8-1/4-inch; limited lifetime warranty.
• 2 Adjustable heights temper cooking speed; wash by hand
• Draft door regulates heat; coals accessible behind flip-down door
• Cooking grate measures 17-1/4 by 9-inch; seasoned and ready to use
• Rugged, charcoal, hibachi-style grill made of durable cast iron

• Purchase at Amazon.com | $95

Bodum Tea Press

A lovely way to brew tea to your exact preference, the Bodum Shin Cha tea press combines elegant shaping with crafty functionality. The spherical glass pot features a stainless-steel plunge infuser inside and a stainless-steel lid. Fill the infuser with loose leaf or tea bags, add hot water, wait the desired amount of steeping time, then plunge. The plunger pushes the tea below the infuser holes, so brewing stops on a dime and tea does not over steep to the point of bitterness. To clean up, the unit goes safely in the dishwasher. With its glass spout, body, and handle, the Shin Cha showcases tea colors beautifully but does require somewhat careful handling. 

• Purchase at Amazon.com | $67

Burr coffee grinder

For grinding larger quantities of coffee beans for a coffee-drinking crowd, Capresso's commercial-grade Infinity grinder handles 8-1/2 ounces of beans at a time. Sixteen different settings--four each in the four categories of extra fine, fine, regular, and coarse--let you adjust the grind to the specific blend of coffee and method of brewing. The finest setting is ideal for preparing Turkish coffee, which is a rare feature to find in a grinder.

A built-in timer sets the grind for anywhere between 5 and 60 seconds so you can walk away without having to constantly press a button to continue the grinding process. The Infinity has an advanced conical burr design made of steel that is usually only found on commercial grinders. This burr design slows down the gears and reduces the amount of friction and heat to preserve coffee's flavour and aroma. The coffee container holds up to 4 ounces of grounds and remains sealed during grinding. For safety, the bean container also needs to be locked into place for the Infinity to operate. For easy cleaning, the bean container and upper burr lift off so you can clean the grinding chamber with the included brush and wipe down the exterior housing.

• Purchase from Amazon | $100

Cuisinart 5-in-1 Griddler

Yes you have a George Forman grill but this is so much more than that.  The Cuisinart Griddler is actually five appliances in one. A hinged, floating cover and one set of removable and reversible cooking plates turn the Griddler into a contact grill, panini press, full grill, full griddle, or half grill/half griddle. Dual temperature controls and indicator lights make this product easy to use.

Kitchenaid Convection Oven

It’s a great replacement for the stove in the summer and a supplement to the oven when you are making a big meal or for parties.  I am surprised how much cooking and baking I can do with it.

• Purchase at Amazon | $130

Kitchenaid Stand Mixer

The Professional 600 TM has a powerful motor that is crafted for commercial-style performance, the direct drive, all-steel gear transmission delivers unyielding power for professional results. The mixer can effectively mix up to 14 cups of all-purpose flour per recipe and produce up to 8 pounds of mashed potatoes. The Soft Start mixing feature helps minimize ingredient splatter and flour puff with gentle acceleration to selected speed after start-up. Electronic Speed Sensor monitors operation to maintain precise mixer speed. Commercial-style motor protection automatically shuts off the mixer when overload is sensed to protect the motor. Durable all-steel gears provide reliable service. The mixer includes a 6-quart-capacity stainless-steel mixing bowl with a contoured handle, as well as a professional wire whip, a burnished flat beater, a spiral dough hook, and a one piece pouring shield. Its multipurpose attachment hub with a hinged hub cover flips open to allow for easy installation of attachments. The Professional 600 Series bowl-lift design raises the bowl into the mixing position, and its solid, truly seamless one-piece motor head design is easy to clean and comes in a variety of fashionable colors.

• Purchase from Amazon.com | $329

• Full tang extends the length of the knife, adding balance and strength
• Triple-riveted, ergonomic handle ensures comfort and control
• Satin-finish, stainless steel blade provides precise cutting, peeling and slicing
• 18 Pieces Forged Premio Knife Block. Set Includes 3 inches paring knife, 5 inches serrated utility knife, 6 inches utility knife, 7 inches santoku hollow edge, 8 inches chef's knife, 9 inches sharpening steel, 8 inches bread knife, 5 inches boning knife, kitchen shears.Stamped Steak Knives (8 Pieces) Hardwood Block

• Find it at Amazon | $200

If you are looking for a set of knives a step up in quality, check out the Zwilling J.A. Henckels Twin Signature 19-Piece Knife Set with Block for $330.  If you want to go nuts on a knife set, you will want to look at the Zwilling J.A. Henckels Twin Pro-S 18-Piece Knife Set with Block

The J.A. Henckels Twin Professional S (or Pro S) knife series features trustworthy quality and classic three-rivet styling--it’s a line of knives admired by both professional chefs and home cooks of all skill levels. The Twin Pro S line contains knives for all tasks, including the following open stock knife types: parer, bread, peeling, sandwich, utility, carving, steak, chef’s, Granton edge slicer, santoku, and others. Twin Pro S knives are also available in a range of block sets and gift sets, to be sure that your cutlery needs are covered.

 

Out of Old Saskatchewan Kitchens

• Get it locally at McNally Robinson or from Chapters/Indigo for $25.

Canon Powershot S120

 

For the Foodie and food reviewer on your list, check out the Canon Powershot S120 camera.  Why do you want it?  It’s compact and great in low light which means that your food shots in a restaurant or even in your own home won’t need a flash.  No more washed out looking meals or annoying waiters and those around you.  Great photos also mean better reviews and more traffic to your blog.

If you are looking for more or past Christmas Gift Guides, check out my husbands excellent series of Christmas gift and idea guides that he posts each year on his website.  If you think I am missing something, let me know in the comments below.

Ingredients

• 1 can (10 3/4 oz) condensed cream of mushroom soup
• 1 cup shredded American-Cheddar cheese blend (4 oz)
• 1 teaspoon soy sauce
• 1 bag (12 oz) frozen cut green beans, thawed, drained
• 1 small red bell pepper, chopped (1/2 cup)
• 1 1/2 cups Cheddar French-fried onions (from 6-oz can)

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350°F. In 1 1/2-quart casserole, stir together soup, cheese blend and soy sauce. Stir in green beans, bell pepper and 1 cup of the onions.
2. Cover; bake about 30 minutes or until beans are tender and mixture is heated through. Stir; top with remaining 1/2 cup onions.
3. Bake uncovered about 5 minutes longer or until onions are brown and crisp.

Amazing casserole and a family favourite.

Ingredients

• 1 turkey (12-20 lbs or )
• 1 kg salt
• 2 cups brown sugar
• 1 lemon (optional)
• herb sprigs (optional)
• carrots (optional)
• celery (optional)
• butter
• salt and pepper

1. If your turkey is frozen, thaw it out. Leave it in your fridge, in its plastic wrapper, for five hours per pound. If you’re using a 15-pound turkey, that means it’s going to take about three days to thaw — be sure to plan accordingly!
2. Make sure your turkey is pretty close to being thawed before brining, otherwise the turkey will not absorb the solution. First, remove the giblets bag from the turkey and reserve in the refrigerator (I use them to make stock, which I add to the gravy). Find a clean plastic container that is big enough to completely submerge the turkey — a large picnic cooler or industrial-sized bucket should work. Place the turkey in the container along with the salt and brown sugar. Fill the bucket with cold water, cover, and let sit for four hours for a turkey under 12 pounds or six hours for a larger turkey. If you can fit the container in the refrigerator, put it in, if not, put in the coolest area possible and replenish with cold water if the water temperature starts to warm. Remove the turkey from the brine, rinse under cold water to remove the salt solution, and pat dry. Put the turkey in a roasting pan uncovered and refrigerate overnight so that it can dry out.
3. Preheat oven to 325 degrees C. Prepare your turkey for roasting. If you like your stuffing in the bird, stuff it now. If you prefer to do stuffing in a casserole dish, stuff the cavity with aromatics such as a lemon cut in halves, carrots, celery, and fresh herb sprigs and skewer the opening of the cavity shut. With the turkey breast side up, brush it with melted butter and season with salt and pepper.
4. Roast turkey for about 20 minutes per pound, until a meat thermometer reads 170 degrees F when inserted in the thickest part of the thigh (be careful not to touch the bone with the end of the thermometer). Baste with juices at the bottom of the pan at regular intervals throughout roasting. If you find the turkey skin is getting too browned before it’s done cooking, cover the breasts with foil.
5. Take the turkey out of the oven, tent it with foil, and let it rest for about 30 minutes (it can sit longer if the rest of the meal isn’t finished yet or if the turkey cooked more quickly than you anticipated). Carve and serve.

Here is how Butterball suggests brining.

Safeway has some great tips

I am a lover of charcuterie boards, or as the less cosmopolitan among us call it, a good old fashioned meat and cheese platter. Charcuterie platters are a great way to put together an appetizer (or a meal) of delicious tasty food, without too much preparation on your part. While you can always just slam some of your favourite meats and nibbles onto a board and call it a charcuterie plate, putting together a truly spectacular board is worth the effort. Here are the elements to make your next charcuterie offering a show-stopper:

1. Meat

The meat needs to be the star of the show — the word “charcuterie” refers to the preparation of the meats. Don’t skimp out on quality here, look for specially prepared sausage and deli-meat and go for a variety of interesting flavours. Choose at least one fairly spicy meat, something milder, and a couple of things in between. Aim for traditional charcuterie varieties like dry-cured salami, prosciutto, or chorizo. You don’t have to go crazy, but make sure you have enough meat for all of your guests (about 55 to 85 g per person) and enough variety to keep everyone happy. If you’re feeling adventurous, add in a nice terrine or jellied meat.

2. Cheese

Again, the keys here are quality and variety. Choose both cheeses that are mild enough to complement the meat and those that are strong enough to be eaten on their own. Have at least one soft cheese and one harder cheese and make sure you include something blue.

3. Breads

This is the last absolute must-have: you need a vehicle for the meats and cheese to find their way to your mouth. Fresh sliced baguette is a good choice, as are artisanal crackers with fruit or nuts baked in — though make sure the flavour of the crackers won’t overpower the other ingredients.

4. Condiments

Here’s where we get fancy! A little smear of mustard or a dollop of fig or berry jam will elevate the flavours of the meat and cheese. Put a couple little pots of condiments on your platter, or if it’s a thick mustard, smear it directly onto the board.

5. Olives and pickles

A little bit salty, a little bit sour, olives and pickles make a great addition to a charcuterie board. Choose plain green or black olives, olives stuffed with garlic or peppers for some extra zip, or an olive tapenade to spread on the crackers. When it comes to pickles, super high quality cornichons are my favourite.

6. Go wild!

From there, feel free to put anything sweet or savory on your platter that will draw out flavours in the meat and cheese. I’ve seen charcuterie boards with pieces of honeycomb, pistachios, roasted almonds, figs, slices of pear and apple, prosciutto-wrapped melon, and even chunks of chocolate.

This isn’t playing well in Scotland

Whisky expert Jim Murray described the Yamazaki Single Malt Sherry Cask 2013 as a drink of “near incredible genius”, awarding it 97.5 marks out of 100 in the 2015 World Whisky Bible.

To add insult to injury it is the first time in the Whisky Bible’s 12-year history that a Scottish malt has failed to make the top five drams. It is also the first year that a Japanese whisky claimed the highest accolade.

Mr Murray, who oversees the review that samples over 4,500 different whiskies, labelled the results a “wake up call” for Scottish distilleries, claiming the winner was “a single malt which no Scotch can at the moment get anywhere near”.

Ingredients:

• 8 oz boneless chicken breasts
• 1/4 cup lime juice
• 2 tbsp water
• 1 clove garlic
• Jalapeño flavor
• shredded cheese lettuce, chopped
• green onions , chopped
• tomatoes, chopped
• olives , chopped
• flour tortillas 

Directions

1. Marinate chicken breasts in lime juice, water and garlic. Broil or grill chicken; slice thinly and serve in flour tortillas with other ingredients.

Makes 8 fajitas.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces of cheese per person.  Many suggest English Cheddar but feel free to experiment.
• Jar of Chutney
• Baked Virginia Ham, thickly sliced  Other deli meats work as well.
• Crisp apples, cut up
• Celery stalks, cut in half lengthwise
• Soft Hard-Boiled Eggs (see below)
• Baby carrots
• Loaf of crusty bread, thickly sliced (or your favourite cracker)
• Unsalted butter, softened

Soft Hard-Boiled Eggs:

• 6 extra large eggs
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

1. Carefully place the ingredients on a serving plate and serve.

Soft Hard-Boiled Eggs:

1. Place the eggs a large saucepan and cover them with cool tap water. Bring the water to a boil, lower the heat and simmer for 3 minutes.
2. Remove the eggs from the saucepan and immediately place them in a bowl of cold water until they are completely cool.
3. Remove the shells, slice each egg in half lengthwise, sprinkle with salt and pepper and serve.

Choose a variety of cheeses.  Choose an older, firmer cheese (such as sharp cheddar), a soft, fresher cheese (such as brie), a goat’s milk cheese, and a blue cheese.  Jordon loves a marble and a swiss.

Serve with plain crackers or bread. Don’t use breads or crackers that have spices in them...it will interfere with the flavoring of the cheese.  Add foods like apples, grapes, pears, olives, and nuts.   Chutneys, jams, and honey are also good.

A good rule of thumb is two ounces of each cheese per person. Arrange the cheese on a plate from mildest to strongest. If you’re not sure which is strongest, smell it. Stinkier cheeses are usually stronger tasting. Serve at room temperature for fullest flavour.

Ingredients

• 2 Large yellow onions, peeled and thinly sliced
• 1/2 tsp Garlic powder
• 1 tbs sugar substitute of choice
• 8 cups (2-32oz containers) beef broth
• 4 tbs Grated parmesan cheese
• 8 Slices ultra thin swiss cheese
• 1/2 tsp Dried thyme
• 2 tbs Worcestershire Sauce
• Pinch Salt and Pepper

Directions

• Spray a large pan with nonstick cooking spray. Add onions and 1 cup beef broth and garlic powder. Sautee onions until broth is completely evaporated, and onions begin to caramelize. 
• Add the rest of the ingredients (except for the parmesan and swiss cheese) to the crockpot and add onions. Turn crockpot on high for 4 hours, or on low for 8 hours, or overnight. 
• When ready to serve, sprinkle parmesan cheese in the soup, and ladle soup into an oven (or microwave safe) bowl, and add a piece of swiss cheese on top. Place in oven preheated to low broil and place soup in oven to melt the cheese. Leave in oven for 1-3 minutes, or until cheese is lightly golden brown. Alternatively, you could microwave the soup for 1-3 minutes, or until the cheese is melty! Enjoy!

A great way to make beef pho in a slow cooker.

Ingredients

• 2 cups pinto beans *
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise or salad dressing
• clove garlic, finely chopped
• 1/2 tsp red chiles, ground
• 1/4 tsp salt and pepper 

Directions

1. Mix all ingredients. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour. Serve with tortilla chips.
2. Makes 2 cups of dip.

* Pinto beans can be home cooked or canned.

Ingredients

• 1 Cauliflower; medium, florets cut in
• Salt & pepper
• Nutmeg, ground
• 2 tb Butter
• 4 Eggs; separated
• 2 tb Flour;all purpose
• 1 c Cheddar cheese;strong,grated
• 1 c Milk 

Directions

1. Cook cauliflower in boiling, salted water until tender, drain well and mash. Melt butter in medium saucepan, blend in flour and cook, stirring over medium heat until bubbly; do not let mixture brown.
2. Meanwhile, bring milk to a boil in another saucepan. Add hot milk to butter-flour mixture and cook, stirring over medium heat until sauce thickens and is smooth. Season to taste with salt, pepper and nutmeg.
3. Remove from heat.
4. Lightly beat egg yolks and stir into sauce. Then stir in cheese and cauliflower until smooth. In a large bowl, beat egg whites until stiff but not dry. Fold cauliflower mixture gently but thoroughly into beaten egg whites. Pour into a buttered 2 quart (2 L) souffle dish. Bake in preheated 350F oven for 30 to 40 minutes, or till puffed, firm and lightly browned.
5. Serve at once.

Ingredients

• 16 oz Cream Cheese; 2 Pks
• 13 oz Crab;
• 1/2 c Ginger Ale
• 6 ea English Muffins
• 2 tb Onion; Grated
• 24 oz Cheddar; Md. Sliced, *
• 2 tb Worcestershire Sauce
• 12 ea Tomato Slices

* Slice the cheese into 12 2-oz slices.

Directions

1. Soften the cream cheese with the ginger ale. Mix in the onion, Worcestershire sauce and crab. 
2. Split the muffins in half and place 2 heaping Tbls of the crab mixture on each half. Top with a slice of tomato and cheddar cheese. 
3. Bake at 350 degrees F. for 10 minutes or until heated through and cheddar is melted. Serve hot.

From the New Yorker

There are more than forty thousand Chinese restaurants across the country—nearly three times the number of McDonald’s outlets. There is one in Pinedale, Wyoming (population 2,043), and one in Old Forge, New York (population 756); Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania (population 1,085), has three. Most are family operations, staffed by immigrants who pass through for a few months at a time, living in houses and apartments that have been converted into makeshift dormitories. The restaurants, connected by Chinese-run bus companies to New York, Chicago, and San Francisco, make up an underground network—supported by employment agencies, immigrant hostels, and expensive asylum lawyers—that reaches back to villages and cities in China, which are being abandoned for an ideal of American life that is not quite real.

Rain, who asked that I use his adopted English name to protect his identity, is reedy and slight, with a wide face and sloping cheekbones. He is observant, in no hurry to speak, but he is more cagey than timid. Like his boss, and like everyone else who works at the restaurant, he is primarily concerned with saving as much money as possible. He needs to pay the snakehead that got him to the U.S. and send money to his family in China. He harbors the vague suspicion that everyone around him is angling for more money, less work, or some other benefit at his expense. So, instead of conversation, Rain occupies himself with the math of a transient cook: the time it takes to clean the shrimp, the days before he can visit his girlfriend in New York, and the balance of his debts. At night, he lies on a cot in his boss’s otherwise empty living room, mulling the slow processing of his green card. During the day, if he’s feeling bold, he walks across the strip-mall parking lot to order lunch at Subway, pointing at the menu when he doesn’t know the English word for something.

“I understand why he acts like this,” Rain told me, about his boss. “He’s been working in that restaurant for almost twenty years. He goes back and forth between the restaurant and the dorm where we live. Back and forth, back and forth, every day for years.” The boss’s wife and kids are in China. “You do this kind of work for that long, and you start to lose perspective.” Rain pinched his fingers together. “Your world is this small.”

It can get kind of better

Six mornings a week, the boss picks up Rain and the other workers from their dorm and takes them to the restaurant. Their preparations have a catechistic order: first the rice cooker, then dishes for the buffet, then those for the lunch rush. Twice a week, a Chinese-run company brings supplies, and everyone gathers to butcher meat, hacking it into small pieces for quick cooking. They put on rubber gloves and pour salt and cornstarch over the meat, mix it by hand, then seal it and put it into the freezer. Chinese kitchens in the U.S. have none of the badinage that makes for good reality TV. In Rain’s kitchen, the only person who talks is the boss, complaining. When a buffet tray gets low, a waiter calls through an intercom, set at a startling volume: “We need more pineapple chicken up front!”

When Rain arrived in the U.S., he assumed that he had a fair proficiency with Chinese food. His father had prided himself on his culinary skill, and his mother was a capable cook, too. She taught him when to add spice to a dish, when to temper it with Chinese celery. Rain worked briefly as a fry cook in his village, and found that he had absorbed some of his parents’ knowledge. “Even if I’ve never cooked a dish before, I can think about it and draw from my experience,” he said. Having grown up on his father’s subtly flavored fish soups, he was surprised by American Chinese food. Americans seemed to eat like kids: they love starches and sweet things, and are frightened of meat and fish with bones in it. “Americans eat all that fried stuff,” he told me. “It’s not healthy.” Real Chinese food is more refined: “You have to spend a lot of time studying and really understanding it.”

In Maryland, most of the patrons seem to come for the buffet and eat as much as they can. Still, Rain loves watching people in the dining room. “I like seeing a clean plate,” he said. “I like it when people take the first bite of my food and they start nodding their head.” He spends hours trying to create a perfectly round Chinese omelette. “There’s a lot of kung fu in making egg foo young,” he told me. “If you have time, you’ll make it really perfect. You’ll make it bigger, better-looking, rounder. They’ll think, I spent so little money and I got such good food, and on top of that it’s good-looking. And then maybe they’ll come back.”

Rain viewed the job in Maryland as an opportunity to expand his repertoire. “In a takeout restaurant, people order the same dishes over and over,” he said. At a bigger restaurant, he could learn new dishes. And his salary—twenty-eight hundred dollars a month—was good, but not good enough to arouse concern. “If you come across a job paying three thousand, you think there must be something wrong with that restaurant,” he told me.

Rain lives with five co-workers in a red brick town house that his boss owns, part of a woodsy development near the restaurant. The house is tidy; there are three floors covered with white carpeting, and each worker has been supplied with an identical cot, a desk, a chair, and a lamp. “Some bosses don’t take care of the houses,” Rain said. “If they’re renting the house, especially, they don’t care. The rooms will actually smell.” Every restaurant worker has a story of sleeping in a dank basement or being packed in a room with five other people. Many complain of living in a house that has no washing machine, and being forced to spend their day off scrubbing their grease-spattered T-shirts in a sink.

So this is why he stays

For many restaurant workers, the decision to come to the U.S. is irrevocable. But, as the disappointments of immigrant life accrue, it can be hard not to imagine that things might be better elsewhere. Chinese-Americans, despite a good public image, suffer higher rates of poverty than the general public. Mental-health problems are an increasing concern in New York’s immigrant communities. In parts of China where the growing economy has given people more options, the allure of working in the U.S. has faded. This February, in a hostel in Queens, I met a woman who had just returned from a difficult day of job hunting. “I thought America would be heaven, and all it is is cold!” she complained. She returned to Beijing after four months. In Fuzhou, a taxi-driver told me that he was glad his attempts to emigrate had failed. “My father says that having a son in the United States is like having no son at all,” he said.

Rain tried not to dwell on returning to Maryland, where he was due in a few days. Everyone else who had worked at the restaurant when he started had been driven off by the boss’s temper. “And it’s so far away,” Rain said. If he could find a job somewhere closer, he could see Annie every weekend. As his family’s only son, Rain feels increasing pressure to send money home to his mother. But, he reasoned, everyone who comes to the U.S. should be prepared for hardship. “Everything we do, we do for the next generation,” he said, and added, “No matter what, it beats sitting around in the village.”

As is tradition around here, I wrote a short holiday and Christmas gift guide for the men in your life and posted it over on Jordon’s blog.  Take a look and let me know what you think.

Ingredients

• Water
• Vinegar
• 8 eggs
• 4 whole wheat English muffins, split and toasted
• 8 slices lean back bacon

Ingredients (Hollandaise Sauce)

• 1/2 cup )butter, melted
• 3 egg yolks
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• Pinch cayenne pepper or dry mustard

Instructions

1. Prepare Hollandaise sauce according to directions below. Set aside while poaching eggs.
2. Fill saucepan with about 3 inches (8 cm) of water. Add a splash of vinegar. Heat until water simmers gently. Break cold egg into small dish or saucer. Holding dish just above simmering water, gently slip egg into water. Repeat for remaining eggs. Cook in barely simmering water until whites are set and yolks are cooked as desired, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove eggs with slotted spoon and drain well on paper towel.
3. Top each English muffin half with slice of back bacon, a poached egg and 2 tbsp (30 mL) Hollandaise sauce.

Instructions (Hollandaise Sauce)

1. In top of double boiler, whisk together butter, egg yolks, lemon juice and cayenne pepper. Cook over simmering water, stirring constantly until thickened, 10 to 12 minutes.

Note:

• Instead of back bacon, use ham.
• Hollandaise sauce may be frozen. To use, thaw in refrigerator. Warm in double boiler over hot (not boiling) water, stirring constantly. If sauce should separate, use procedure described above.

• 3 Haas avocados, halved, seeded and peeled
• 1 lime, juiced
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne
• 1/2 medium onion, diced
• 1/2 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced
• 2 Roma tomatoes, seeded and diced
• 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
• 1 clove garlic, minced

1. In a large bowl place the scooped avocado pulp and lime juice, toss to coat. Drain, and reserve the lime juice, after all of the avocados have been coated. Using a potato masher add the salt, cumin, and cayenne and mash. Then, fold in the onions, jalapeno, tomatoes, cilantro, and garlic. Add 1 tablespoon of the reserved lime juice. Let sit at room temperature for 1 hour and then serve.

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup olive oil, plus more as needed
• 1 1/2 cups small diced yellow onion
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 2 cups medium diced eggplant, skin on
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
• 1 cup diced green bell peppers
• 1 cup diced red bell peppers
• 1 cup diced zucchini squash
• 1 cup diced yellow squash
• 1 1/2 cups peeled, seeded and chopped tomatoes
• 1 tablespoon thinly sliced fresh basil leaves
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley leaves
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

1. Set a large 12-inch saute pan over medium heat and add the olive oil. Once hot, add the onions and garlic to the pan. Cook the onions, stirring occasionally, until they are wilted and lightly caramelized, about 5 to 7 minutes. Add the eggplant and thyme to the pan and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the eggplant is partially cooked, about 5 minutes. Add the green and red peppers, zucchini, and squash and continue to cook for an additional 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes, basil, parsley, and salt and pepper, to taste, and cook for a final 5 minutes. Stir well to blend and serve either hot or at room temperature.

Ingredients

• 4 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
• 2 large organic red bell peppers, diced
• 2 pounds asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
• 2 teaspoons freshly grated lemon zest
• 1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
• 5 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 pound raw shrimp (26—30 shrimp per pound), peeled and deveined
• 1 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons parsley, chopped

Directions

1. Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add bell peppers, asparagus, lemon zest, and 1/4 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are just beginning to soften, about 6 minutes. Transfer the vegetables to a bowl; cover to keep warm.
2. Add the remaining 2 teaspoons of oil and garlic to the skillet and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add shrimp and cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
3. Whisk broth and cornstarch in a small bowl until smooth, and add to the skillet along with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring, until the sauce has thickened slightly and the shrimp are pink and just cooked through, about 2 minutes more. Remove from the heat.
4. Stir in lemon juice and parsley. Serve the shrimp and sauce over the vegetables.

Makes 4 servings.

• 1 ½ cups of your favorite prepared Mac and Cheese (homemade or from a box)
• 2 lbs. ground beef
• 1/3 cup Beef Marinade
• 6 cheese slices of your choice (Cheddar recommended)
• 1/3 cup of your favourite Bar-B-Q Sauce
• 1 red onion, sliced
• Pickles

1. Prepare the Mac & Cheese according to recipe (or the directions on the box).
2. In a large bowl, mix the ground beef and marinade. With your hands, make 6 large hamburger patties.
3. Prepare the grill for direct cooking. Over medium heat, cook the burger until done, about 10-12 minutes, flipping once during cooking. Add the cheese during the last minute of cooking to melt.
4. Assemble the burgers from the bottom up: bottom bun, pickles, onion, cheese burger, ¼ cup of mac & cheese. Drizzle 1 tablespoon barbecue sauce over the mac & cheese and then top with the bun.

• 8 perogies 
• ¼ cup cheese curds
• 3 – 4 oz gravy
• 2 sprigs of parsley

1. Brown perogies (approximately 3 -4 minutes per side). Plate perogies, top with cheese curds, poutine sauce, garnish with parsley.

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup olive oil, plus more as needed
• 1 1/2 cups small diced yellow onion
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 2 cups medium diced eggplant, skin on
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
• 1 cup diced green bell peppers
• 1 cup diced red bell peppers
• 1 cup diced zucchini squash
• 1 cup diced yellow squash
• 1 1/2 cups peeled, seeded and chopped tomatoes
• 1 tablespoon thinly sliced fresh basil leaves
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley leaves
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

1. Set a large 12-inch sauté pan over medium heat and add the olive oil. 
2. Once hot, add the onions and garlic to the pan. 
3. Cook the onions, stirring occasionally, until they are wilted and lightly caramelized, about 5 to 7 minutes. 
4. Add the eggplant and thyme to the pan and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the eggplant is partially cooked, about 5 minutes. 
5. Add the green and red peppers, zucchini, and squash and continue to cook for an additional 5 minutes. 
6. Add the tomatoes, basil, parsley, and salt and pepper, to taste, and cook for a final 5 minutes. 
7. Stir well to blend and serve hot.

Cut fruits or berries onto your ice trays and fill the rest with water. It will make your drinks taste so much better plus add a splash of color.

Here is an easy way to cook corn on the cob if you don’t have easy access to a large pot (like when you are camping) All you have to do is find a decent sized cooler, clean the inside. Get a large pot of water to boil and pour it into the cooler, throw the corn in, and close the lid for about 30 minutes, and your done.

Ingredients

• 1/3 pound ground beef
• salt and pepper
• 24 wonton wrappers
• 1 3/4 cups grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 3/4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 3/4 cup ricotta cheese
• 1 cup pasta sauce
• garnish
• basil for (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray muffin tin with cooking spray.

2. Brown beef, and season with salt and pepper. Drain.

3. Cut wonton wrappers into circle shapes (about 2 1/4- inches) using a biscuit cutter or using the top of a drinking glass. You can cut several at a time. Note: For a more rustic look, no cutting necessary!

4. Reserve 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese and 3/4 cup mozzarella cheese for the top of your cupcakes. Start layering your lasagna cupcakes. Begin with a wonton wrapper and press it into the bottom of each muffin tin. Sprinkle a little Parmesan cheese, ricotta cheese, and mozzarella cheese in each. Top with a little meat and pasta sauce.

5. Repeat layers again (i.e. wonton, Parmesan, ricotta, mozzarella, and pasta sauce). Top with reserved Parmesan and mozzarella cheeses.

6. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until edges are brown. Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes. To remove, use a knife to loosen the edges then pop each lasagna out.

7. Garnish with basil and serve.

An inside look at how Raman noodles are made for some of New York City’s top restaurants.

Ingredients

• 1/2 - 3/4 cup well-shaken buttermilk
• 2-3 tablespoons sour cream
• 1-2 tablespoons mayonnaise
• 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh tarragon, dill, parsley, chives or celery leaves (or a combination)
• 1 clove garlic, finely minced with a microplane grater
• 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• few dashes Tabasco sauce (or hot sauce of your choice, but a little vinegar is what you're looking for)

Directions

1. Combine all ingredients into a mason jar.
2. Blend using a hand blender.
3. Open, taste, season to taste with salt and plenty of fresh black pepper.
4. Blend again using your hand blender.  Then seal the lid.

Ingredients

• 1 pkg.  (6 oz.) baby spinach leaves
• 6 cups  cut-up watermelon (1-inch balls)
• 10 slices  bacon, crumbled
• 1/2 cup  slivered red onions
• 1/2 cup  Buttermilk Ranch Dressing

Directions

1. Combine all ingredients except dressing

2. Spoon onto platter.

3. Drizzle with dressing just before serving.

Ingredients

• 10 cups  tightly packed torn romaine lettuce
• 2 cups  halved cherry tomatoes
• 2 cups  croutons
• 8 slices  cooked bacon, crumbled
• 1 cup  Shredded Colby & Monterey Jack Cheeses
• 8 oz. Caesar Dressing

Directions

1. Layer all ingredients except dressing in large bowl.
2. Add dressing just before serving; toss lightly.

Serves 8