31 May 2015 Basil-Packed Marinara Sauce

Basil-Packed Marinara Sauce

May 31, 2015 By

Marinara SauceMy local grocery store had beautiful, organic Roma tomatoes this morning so I was inspired to make a light marinara sauce to complement my Almost Guilt-Free Individual Eggplant Parmesan.

The quick recipe calls for a food processor, but if you don’t have this handy kitchen appliance, use a blender or hand-chop the tomatoes.

Ingredients:

  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • ½ tsp. each salt, pepper, dried basil and sugar
  • 8 Roma tomatoes, pureed in the food processor
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh basil

Directions

  • Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat, add the onion and sauté for about 4 minutes. Add the garlic and continue cooking for another 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the salt, pepper, dried basil and sugar and cook for 1 more minute.
  • While the onion/garlic mixture is cooking, place the tomatoes in a food processor and pulse for about 30 seconds or until mostly liquid with a few small tomato pieces.
  • Add the pureed tomatoes to the onion mixture in the saucepan and simmer over medium-low heat for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Add the fresh basil right before serving.

Make about 3 cups.

Notes: Finished sauce can be cooled, placed in airtight containers and frozen for a month. It can also be refrigerated for 3 days.

Filed Under: American, Italian, Sauce, Vegetables Tagged With: , , , , ,
26 May 2015 Chocolate Lava Cake in a Minute

Chocolate Lava Cake in a Minute

May 26, 2015 By

Chocolate Lava CakesFirst off, there is indeed a reason why I’m sharing a recipe that’s completely not “from scratch” and that’s cooked in the microwave, of all things. Every Memorial Day, friends come up from Florida to celebrate with us and we’ve gotten in the habit of finding the most hands off recipes on the net and reproducing them for one of our dinners to see if our guests notice the difference. Last year, we did the embarrassing 60 Second Mixed Berry Cobbler that our friends LOVED. This year, I picked a chocolate lava cake recipe that uses a brownie mix and is cooked in the microwave. Was I doubtful this would work and would actually be edible – YES!!!

The main reason I picked this recipe is that it could be made way in advance and just cooked (microwaved) at the last minute. The addition of an extra egg over what the brownie mix calls for creates a more cakey brownie, so closer to a true chocolate lava cake. Was this the best version of this popular dessert I’ve had – nope. Was it pretty good considering the 2 minutes it took to make and the 5 minutes it took to cook – yes. I cooked 4 cakes at a time, but each cake would cook for a minute if microwaved as a single serving.

While cooking, each cake puffs up like a soufflé and once it comes out of the microwave, it deflates leaving room for a scoop of ice cream in the jars. Using good quality ice cream does improve these babies.  

PARTY TIP: You can make the cakes up to step 4 below, cover each jar with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Just bring to room temperature before continuing to step 5, the cooking part.

Ingredients:

  • 1 brownie mix (I used Pillsbury Chocolate Fudge in a family size for 9×13 pan) prepared to package directions
  • 1 large egg
  • 16 Dove Milk Chocolate Promise individual chocolates
  • Vanilla ice cream

Directions:

  1. To the brownie batter made to package directions, add the egg and stir to combine.
  2. Coat 8 (6 oz) canning jars (or other microwave-safe small containers) with cooking spray.
  3. Spoon about 1/3 of a cup of batter in each jar – it shouldn’t be more than half full.
  4. Place 2 of the Dove chocolates in the center of the batter in the jars and cover them with batter.
  5. Microwave on full power for 1 minute per cake. I cooked 4 cakes at a time for 2 ½ minutes total.
  6. Serve the cakes, topped with a scoop of ice cream, while still warm.

Makes 8 individual servings.

I used this recipe as inspiration.

Filed Under: American, Chocolate, Desserts Tagged With: , , , , ,
15 May 2015 Basic Crepe Batter Recipe

Basic Crepe Batter Recipe

May 15, 2015 By
Crepe with Maple Syrup and Brown Sugar

Crepe with Maple Syrup and Brown Sugar

This simple batter is best made the day before and refrigerated.  Great stuffed with hazelnut spread and raspberries.

Ingredients:

  • ¾ cup flour
  • ¾ cup milk
  • 2 tbs sugar
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 2 tbs vegetable oil
  • 2 eggs
  • Vegetable oil for frying

Directions:

  1. Stir together flour, sugar and salt in a medium bowl.
  2. Add milk, oil and eggs.  Mix well until the batter is smooth.  Let rest in refrigerator for at least an hour or ideally overnight.
  3. Heat large frying pan on medium-high heat.  Add 1 tsp vegetable oil.  Add ¼ of the crepe batter and swirl plan to create a thin crepe. Cook 1 minute on each side and serve with favorite topping.

Makes 4 crepes.

Filed Under: American, Breakfast, Canadian, French Tagged With: ,
8 May 2015 5 Easy Mother’s Day Breakfast Recipes

5 Easy Mother’s Day Breakfast Recipes

May 8, 2015 By

Mothers-Day-Flower-Art-1For those who prefer to stay home and treat mom to breakfast on Mother’s Day, here are five easy recipes to treat her to that don’t require advanced cooking skills to prepare.

World’s Easiest Pancake Recipe

Cremini and Spinach Crustless Mini Quiches

Waffles with Raspberries and Nutella

World’s Best Hollandaise Sauce for Eggs Benedict

Breakfast Portobello Mushrooms with Shiitakes

Cheers,

Veronique

Filed Under: American, Breakfast Tagged With: , ,
16 April 2015 Tomato Basil Soup

Tomato Basil Soup

April 16, 2015 By

Tomato SoupThis great soup is adapted from my popular Tomato Basil Bisque which uses lots of cream and butter. This lightened version is satisfying and totally comforting (and easier on the figure just ahead of bathing suit season).

Ingredients:

  • 2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
  • 6 celery ribs, diced
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 1 medium red bell pepper, diced
  • 3 cans (14-1/2 ounces each) diced tomatoes, with their juices
  • 1 Tbsp. tomato paste
  • 1 cup coarsely chopped, loosely packed basil leaves
  • 2 tsp. granulated sugar
  • 2 tsp. salt
  • ½ tsp. pepper
  • 2/3 cup reduced-fat milk

Vegetable SauteeingDirections:

  1. Add the oil to a large saucepan over medium-high heat and sauté the celery, onion and red pepper for 5-6 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. Add the tomatoes and the tomato paste and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 40 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  2. Remove from the heat. Stir in the basil, sugar, salt, pepper and milk. Cool for about 5 minutes.
  3. Transfer half of the soup to a blender. Process for about 2 minutes, until smooth. Return to the pan and process the rest of the soup. Serve right away by reheating for 2 minutes over medium-high heat or store in the refrigerator in air-tight containers until ready to use. Can be made up to 3 days ahead of serving.

Yield: 6 servings.

Filed Under: American, Soups, Vegetables, Vegetarian Tagged With: , , ,
11 April 2015 Short Cut Slow Cooker Oatmeal

Short Cut Slow Cooker Oatmeal

April 11, 2015 By

OatmealI’ve been very successfully using my Slow Cooker Oatmeal technique for years and think it produces the best results for creamy steel cut oats that still have a bit of texture.

Having said that, last week, I was in a hurry with just 3-4 hours on my hands and decided to throw all the ingredients directly to the slow cooker and see what happens. What happened are great oats! I must admit that the overnight technique in a separate bowl does produce the best results, but in a rush, this is pretty great too.

Ingredients:

  • 4 cups water
  • 1 cup steel cut oats ( I use McCann’s Steel Cut Irish Oatmeal)
  • ½ tsp. Kosher salt

Directions:

  1. Add the water, oats and salt in a slow cooker (crockpot) and stir to combine.
  2. Turn the Crockpot on low and cook for 3 hours.
  3. Serve with a generous splash of Quebec maple syrup.

Makes 6 servings.

Filed Under: American, Breakfast Tagged With: , , , ,
23 March 2015 Spiced Roasted Cauliflower

Spiced Roasted Cauliflower

March 23, 2015 By

Cauliflower HeadI’ve been roasting vegetables every Sunday this winter to use for various meals during the week. While I have favorites, Brussels sprouts, butternut squash and beets, cauliflower is also delicious roasted, as I’ve come to find out recently.

The wet ‘rub’ below can be altered to suit your own personal tastes.

Ingredients:

  • 1 medium head of cauliflower, about 2 pounds
  • ½ cup olive oil
  • 1 tsp. smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp. ground cumin
  • ½ tsp. each salt and pepper
Cauliflower Florets & Rub

Cauliflower Florets & Rub

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
  2. Cut cauliflower into florets, removing thicker stems. Place the florets in the lined baking sheet.
  3. In a small bowl, whisk together the oil, smoked paprika, ground cumin, salt and pepper.
  4. Pour the wet rub over the cauliflower and toss to coat using your hands.
  5. Roast the cauliflower, turning occasionally, until it is browned and tender, about 20 minutes.

Yields 2 side dishes.

Filed Under: American, Sides, Vegetables Tagged With: ,
21 March 2015 Souper Easy Clam Chowder

Souper Easy Clam Chowder

March 21, 2015 By

Clam ChowderThere’s the constant debate of white or red clam chowder. For me, there’s no contest that white, thick, velvety New England-style chowder is where it’s at.

Ingredients:

  • 6 bacon slices, chopped
  • 1 1/2 large onions, chopped
  • 1 1/2 pounds russet potatoes(2 large), peeled, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
  • 1 large red bell pepper, chopped
  • 3 10-ounce cans baby clams, drained, liquid reserved
  • 2 cups milk
  • 1/2 cup bottled clam juice
  • 2 15-ounce cans cream-style corn
  • 1 Tbs. Thyme

Directions:

Cook chopped bacon in heavy saucepan over medium heat until fat is rendered and bacon begins to brown.  Add onions and sauté 10 minutes.  Add potatoes and red pepper and sauté 1 minute.  Add reserved liquid, milk, and bottled clam juice.  Simmer chowder uncovered until vegetables are tender, 15 minutes.

Add corn and clams to chowder; simmer 5 minutes.  Mix in thyme and salt and pepper.

4 Serving

Filed Under: American, Potatoes, Seafood, Soups Tagged With: , ,
12 March 2015 Meyer Lemon Madelaines

Meyer Lemon Madelaines

March 12, 2015 By

Meyer LemonsI just can’t help myself when I see Meyer lemons in the grocery store – I need to get them! Does it matter I had no plans to bake last weekend? No! I went ahead and bought a big bag of the bright yellow, juicy and sweet lemons.

While I would typically go for my standard Meyer Lemon Tart, I was in the mood for cookies, so when I saw this recipe by The Little Kitchen, I jumped at the chance to try my antique madeleine pan.

One tip, you might be tempted to overfill the madeleine pan with batter – don’t! You want a somewhat thin cookie that’ll be crisp on the outside (see photo below). Also, if you have two madeleine pans, you can bake all the cookies at once. I only have one pan, so I need to bake one batch, wait for the pan to cool then rebutter and flour for the second batch.

Right amount of batter

Right amount of batter

Madelaines Ingredients:

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ tsp. baking soda
  • 1 tsp. baking powder
  • ¼ tsp. salt
  • 1 ¼ cups granulated sugar
  • 1 ½ Tbsp. zest of two Meyer lemons
  • 2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
  • 2 Tbsp. Meyer lemon juice
  • ½ cup fat free plain Greek yogurt

Meyer Lemon Glaze Ingredients:

  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 Tbsp. Meyer lemon juice
  • 2 Tbsp. milk
Glazed Meyer Lemon Madelaines

Glazed Meyer Lemon Madelaines

Madelaines Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour a madeleine pan.
  2. In a medium bowl, mix the dry ingredients: flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt). Set aside.
  3. In another medium bowl, add sugar, lemon zest and vanilla extract and mix together with a rubber spatula. Using a whisk, add the eggs, one at a time, to the sugar mixture. Whisk in melted butter, lemon juice and the Greek yogurt. In two batches, fold in flour mixture being careful not to over combine. Chill the batter for 5 to 10 minutes in the refrigerator.
  4. Using a teaspoon as a measure, spoon batter into Madeleine pan cavities. Bake for 9 to 12 minutes.
  5. Cool for 1 minute then flip over onto a baking rack and allow to cool for two minutes. Once cool enough to handle, wash you pan, butter and flour it and bake the second dozen cookies.  

Meyer Lemon Glaze Directions (While the cookies cool, make the glaze):

  1. In a small bowl, combine the powdered sugar, lemon juice and milk and whisk until a smooth glaze has formed, about 1 minute.
  2. Drip the glaze over the cookies with a spoon and serve immediately. If storing cookies, don’t add glaze until ready to serve. Cookies are best when served right after baking.

Makes 2 dozen madelaines.

Filed Under: American, Desserts, Eggs, French, Fruits Tagged With: , , ,
9 March 2015 Blackberry Overnight Oatmeal in a Jar

Blackberry Overnight Oatmeal in a Jar

March 9, 2015 By

Blackberry Oatmeal in a JarYes, I admit, I’m slightly addicted to overnight oatmeal…..any oatmeal actually. It’s just such a comforting little number to start one day’s with.

While I’ve shared the recipe for overnight cold oatmeal in a previous post, I wanted to show how it looks when you make it with blackberries – YUM!!

Please let me know via Facebook or Twitter if you try this simple and delish recipe!

Cheers,

Veronique

Filed Under: American, Breakfast, Fruits Tagged With: , ,
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