How to Get Summer Fresh Tomatoes in the Dead of Winter

Originally published on January 13, 2015

It’s winter. It’s cold, and now there is actually snow on the ground. And because it’s so cold, the top layer of snow has actually turned to ice. So you don’t only get to walk through it (taking three times as long as it normally would), you get to stomp with every step so that you can actually walk through the snow instead of slipping and sliding through it. Needless to say, it’s miserable. Okay, so what does this have to do with food?

A lot, because in the middle of January, there are no Farmers’ Markets. There are no vegetable stands that you can run out to just before dinner to get your farm fresh vegetables. And those tomatoes you see in the grocery store? They’ve come from some unimaginable place like California or Florida – a place where a bright orb still shines in the sky, and they’re actually able to grow fruits and vegetables. Right now. Unfortunately, if you’re still daydreaming of snow shoes instead of sunny skies, the tomatoes you eat won’t taste nearly as good as they do when they come right off the vine. But, there is a way to make our grocery store tomatoes taste almost – almost – like the ones grown in the middle of summer. And all it takes is a little bit of sugar.

First, cut up your tomatoes. It doesn’t matter whether you’re using plum tomatoes, vine tomatoes, or cherry tomatoes. Just chop them up however you’d like, making sure that there is a bit of surface area showing the flesh of the tomato. Place them in a bowl and sprinkle a bit of sugar over top; I used about a teaspoon for every cup of tomatoes. Turn and toss the tomatoes so that the sugar is evenly distributed throughout and then set the bowl aside for about 15 minutes. Just like when you macerate strawberries, doing this will release some more juices from the tomato and sweeten them all up. You can then drain the tomatoes and use them for whatever you need, or spoon the entire thing over a Spring Mix Salad and it acts as its own ready-made dressing.

It might not be a skyrocketing temperature, a sunny hot beach, or an afternoon perfect for bike riding, but when it’s this cold, I’ll take any taste of summer that I can get.

How to Turn Regular Oats into Quick-Cooking Oats

Originally published on January 14, 2015

If you ever make Oatmeal Raisin Cookies, bake with oatmeal, or just like a nice steaming bowl of it for breakfast, you know just how many different kinds of oats are out there on the market. But do you really need to buy steel cut, quick-cooking, and regular large oats to make sure you have just the right kind whenever you need them? Nope ya don’t!

Okay, if you want steel cut oats, you’re going to have to buy them – and probably only use them for making bowls of oatmeal or crunchy granola. But if you want oatmeal for cookies, baking or cooking, you can just buy a bag of large flake oats and turn portions of it into quick-cooking oats when you need them, just by placing some into a food processor. Pulse them once or twice, don’t grind them up completely; you just want them smaller, not complete mush. That’s really all it takes to turn regular oats into those that are quick-cooking.

Even though I measure the oats before I place them into the processor, I also measure them after pouring them out. The change in texture and shape may cause the measurement to be slightly different, and so you’ll want to make sure you’re getting the right amount for your recipe.

Steak with Pepper Sauce

Originally published on January 17, 2015

There’s nothing better than a good steak with a steak sauce or spice that’s as equally good. This recipe gives you both with a great sauce that’s got just the right amount of spice. Although it’s a pepper sauce, I tend to stay away from putting whole (or even cracked) peppercorns in it. Doing so just makes it too peppery for my taste, and I also don’t enjoy biting into those big hunks of peppercorn, which are very overpowering and ruin my taste for the actual steak itself – not to mention get lodged in my gums, causing no end of discomfort. But, if you like to take your chances on letting your teeth jump around those whole peppercorns, I’m certainly not going to be the one to stop you.

Ingredients:

1 flank steak 
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
1/3 cup minced onion or shallot
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 cup cognac
2 cups beef broth
1 tablespoon ground black pepper, plus 1 tablespoon
1/3 cup heavy cream
4 teaspoons cornstarch
2 – 3 teaspoons Dijon mustard
Salt

Directions:

1.) Generously season the flank steak on both sides with salt and pepper. Let sit for 15 minutes.

2.) Melt the butter and the olive oil together in a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. When hot, add the steak and sear on one side for about 8 minutes, until the steak is nicely seared and carmalized. Flip and cook for another 5 – 8 minutes for medium-rare. If you like your steak cooked more than that, cook for 10 – 12 minutes on each side, covering the pan with a lid after you’ve flipped the steak. I like to cook mine just slightly under the temperature I like to eat it at, as it will continue to cook for a couple more minutes while resting.

3.) Lower the heat under the skillet to medium and remove the steak to a cutting board. Cover with aluminum foil to keep warm and let rest while you prepare the sauce.

4.) Drain half of the fat from the skillet and to the remaining pan juices add the onion or shallot along with the garlic. Stir and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, until everything is softened. Pour in the cognac to deglaze and, using a wooden spoon, scrape up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Add the stock and the pepper to the sauce and whisk.

5.)In a small bowl combine the cornstarch and the heavy cream. Whisk this mixture into the sauce in the skillet until it is completely incorporated. Simmer until the sauce is lightly thickened. Whisk in the mustard and again, whisk to fully incorporate into the sauce. Taste, and adjust seasoning if necessary.

6.) Slice the steak into very thin strips and arrange on a platter. Pour a small amount of sauce over top to cover, and serve remaining sauce in a gravy boat on the side.

7.) Serve and enjoy!

Roasted Spicy Potatoes

Originally published on January 22, 2015

Can you believe that to make roasted potatoes I used to just toss some potatoes with olive oil, salt and pepper? Yep, before I knew about boiling potatoes and “chuffing” them as you do in Jamie Oliver’s Roasted Potatoes, or even boiling them in the oven (yes, the oven) and still calling them roasted potatoes, this is one dish that used to always be a guaranteed bore on a plate. Now though, I know all about different ways to make my roasties, and it just so happens that sprinkling steak spice on them is one of the most delicious.

Ingredients:

3 pounds new potatoes, scrubbed and cut in half 
1 tablespoon, plus 1 teaspoon Montreal Steak Spice 
2 tablespoons olive oil

Directions:

1.) Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.

2.) Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and toss to coat potatoes evenly with the oil and spice. Spread them out evenly in a large casserole dish or baking sheet.

3.) Place potatoes in the preheated oven and bake for 35 – 45 minutes, until potatoes are crispy and golden brown.

4.) Serve and enjoy!

Pork Chops and Green Beans in a Beurre Blanc Sauce

Originally published on January 26, 2015

Pork chops didn’t use to be my favourite thing to eat. They always seemed to turn out too dry, too flavourless, or just too boring. But I’m still mindful of the many plates of boring, plain pork chops that I’ve served in the past and I’m always trying to find ways to make them better. Luckily the last time chops showed up in my fridge,I was reminded of a Julia Child quote, “With enough butter, anything is good.” I decided to take Julia to task, and see just how much butter I could put on the plate and still stand it. Turns out, when you make Julia’s beurre blanc sauce, that amounts to quite a bit.

Remember when making a beurre blanc that it can be quite finicky. It separates easily and cannot be held, even over the lowest of heat, for very long. It’s for this reason that you need to have the rest of the meal prepared before you even start making the sauce. This way you can just pour it over your meat or side the second the sauce is ready.

Ingredients:

4 boneless pork chops
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound green beans
2 1/2 tablespoons white wine vinegar 
2 1/2 tablespoons dry white wine (lemon juice can be substituted)
1 tablespoon shallots, very finely minced 
1 cup butter, well chilled and cut into 16 pieces
1/2 teaspoon white pepper 
Salt
Black pepper

Directions:

1.) Preheat oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit.

2.) Place a steamer basket inside of a large saucepan with about an inch of water. Wash and trim green beans, and place them inside the basket. Season the beans lightly with salt, then cover the saucepan with a lid and bring the water to a boil. As soon as it’s boiling, turn the heat off, keep the lid on, and leave the beans inside while the rest of the meal is cooking. By only having the water boiling for just a few seconds, you will steam the beans without over-cooking them.

3.) Heat the two tablespoons of olive oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat. Season the pork chops with salt and pepper and when the oil is hot, place them in and cook the chops for five – 7 minutes on each side, until they are nicely browned and caramelized. Then flip and cook the other side for another 4 – 5 minutes. After the chops have been seared nicely on both sides, place them on a baking sheet and put them in the preheated oven. This will keep the chops warm, without overcooking them.

4.) Place the shallots, white wine vinegar, wine or lemon juice, 2 tablespoons of butter, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and white pepper in a medium-sized stainless steel saucepan. Turn heat onto high and boil the mixture until it’s reduced to the consistency of syrup. There should be about 1 1/2 tablespoons remaining.

5.) Remove the saucepan from the heat and immediately beat in 2 pieces of the chilled butter. Continue whisking until the butter is softened and creams into the rest of the mixture. Then, set the saucepan over very low heat and beating constantly, continue adding the remaining pieces of butter one at a time, waiting until one piece is softened and creamed into the mixture before adding another. Once all the butter has been added, the sauce will be thick and ivory-coloured, and the consistency of a light hollandaise. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and white pepper.

6.) To plate, mound the starch (potatoes or rice, typically) in the centre of the plate, and plate pork chops and beans on top of each other. You can do this in whatever order you’d like. I chose to place the beans on top of the chops, but I might do it differently next time, for presentation sake. Drizzle the beurre blanc sauce over top.

7.) Serve and enjoy!

Pork Roast and Potatoes in the Slow Cooker

Originally published on January 27, 2015

I love recipes that you can make in the slow cooker. Not only are they super easy, but for working parents such as myself, it’s reassuring to know that the family is still eating a nutritious meal even while you’re at work. This recipe gives you an entire meal – including protein, starch, and vegetable – and it’s super tasty, too. I used a bone-in roast, which gave us some gorgeous pork chops once the roast was cut; and because of all the onions in there the sauce that you spoon over top of the lot once it’s done is reminiscent of French Onion soup. Have you ever had French Onion soup poured over pork? It’s pretty darn good.

Ingredients:

2 small onions, thinly sliced
3 1/2 pounds bone-in pork loin roast 
2 tablespoons olive oil 
1 cup hot water
1/4 cup sugar
3 tablespoons vinegar (any kind you like)
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon ketchup
1 tablespoon garlic powder 
1/2 teaspoon hot sauce
5 potatoes, peeled and quartered
1 – 2 cups baby carrots (depending on how much you need or want)
Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
Salt
Pepper

Directions:

1.) Season the pork roast generously with salt and pepper. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium-high heat in a skillet. When hot, add the pork roast and sear on all sides for 3 – 5 minutes, until it’s browned on all sides. Turn off heat and transfer to a plate.

2.) Lay half of the onion slices evenly on the bottom of the slow cooker. Evenly spread the potato quarters over top of the onion slices and spread the remaining onion slices over top of the potatoes. Place the pork roast on top of the potatoes and fill in the sides with baby carrots.

3.) In a bowl combine the hot water, sugar, vinegar, soy sauce, ketchup, garlic powder, hot sauce, and a pinch each of salt and pepper. Whisk to thoroughly mix all ingredients together, and then pour over the pork roast and other ingredients in the slow cooker. Cover the slow cooker with a lid and set on low for 6 – 8 hours, or high for 4 – 5 hours.

4.) Serve and enjoy!

Chipotle Chicken Enchiladas

Originally published on January 30, 2015

Enchiladas have become a regular staple in my house and, like any other dish that starts to make a regular appearance, they stand the risk of becoming boring. I try to mix it up by adding Spanish rice sometimes, switching out beef for chicken or pork, and playing around with different enchilada sauces. This time I left out the rice, and instead served them with some chips and salsa (which the girls were just tickled by). But my enchiladas are always, always served on a bed of shredded lettuce. It cools them down if you feel the chipotle may be too much, and also adds a bit of freshness to each bite.

Ingredients:

For the enchiladas:

1 tablespoon vegetable oil 
3/4 cup pico de gallo
3 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, chopped, plus 2 tablespoons of sauce from the can
3/4 cup water
1 cup black beans
2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken, skin removed
1/4 cup cilantro, roughly chopped
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese, plus 1/2 cup
8 12-inch tortillas
2 cups shredded Romaine lettuce 

For the sauce:

3 fresh tomatoes, pureed in a food processor
2 1/2 cups chicken stock
2 tablespoons cumin
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 tablespoon onion powder 
1 tablespoon garlic powder
Salt
Pepper
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour 

Directions:

1.) Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and lightly spray or brush a 9″ x 13″ casserole dish with vegetable oil.

2.) Wrap the tortillas tightly in aluminum foil and place them in the preheated oven for about 10 minutes to warm them. This will help make them more pliable when it’s time to fill and roll them.

3.) For the sauce, melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a skillet set over medium heat. When melted add the flour and the chili powder and whisk the mixture smooth. Cook for about 2 minutes, until the mixture is golden and bubbling, and then add the pureed tomatoes, chicken stock, chili powder, onion powder, and garlic powder, whisking until everything is smooth. Let the sauce bubble and cook over medium heat for about 10 minutes, until it’s slightly thickened. Season and taste, then adjust seasoning as necessary. Set sauce aside.

4.) For the filling, heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1/2 cup pico de gallo, chopped chipotle and sauce, and cook until the mixture begins to sizzle, about 2 minutes. Add the beans and water and bring to a gentle boil. Add the chicken and cook for another 2 minutes, until the mixture is slightly thickened. Add the cilantro, salt and pepper, and stir. Taste, and adjust seasoning as necessary.

5.) Spread some of the enchilada sauce along the bottom of the casserole dish. One by one, lay out each tortilla and spoon about 1/4 cup of the filling down the centre of each. Top with 3 tablespoons of the Monterey Jack cheese and drizzle 2 or 3 tablespoons of the sauce over top. Roll the tortilla up by first taking hold of the edge closest to you and folding it over top of the filling, pressing the tortilla in tightly around the filling as you do. Then, grab both sides at once and fold those up and over the filling, and the portion of the tortilla you’ve already rolled. Then just continue rolling the rest of the tortilla up. As you finish rolling each enchilada, place it seam-side down in the casserole dish.

6.) Once all of the enchiladas have been rolled, spoon some of the enchilada sauce over top each of them. Use the remaining 1/2 cup Monterey Jack to spread over top the enchiladas. Cover the casserole dish with foil, place in the preheated oven and cook for about 30 minutes.

7.) Remove from oven and let enchiladas rest for 2 minutes. Place about 1/2 cup of shredded lettuce on each plate, and place one enchilada on top. If desired, garnish with salsa, pico de gallo, guacamole, and/or sour cream.

8.) Serve and enjoy!

How to Get the Highest, Fluffiest Pancakes (Plus the Best Pancake Recipe)!

Originally published on January 31, 2015

The phrase “flat as a pancake” has never made much sense to me. I mean, yes pancakes are supposed to be flat in that they are smooth, lie horizontally, and don’t have major bumps or indentations. But, when it comes to how high that stack stands, it should be as tall as possible. That is after all, the only way to get pancakes that are light and fluffy on the inside, and that stand up tall and proud. Achieving that result has been my mission for the past couple years, I’m ashamed to say. I just haven’t been able to do it. And no matter how many tricks I tried, I haven’t been able to master light, fluffy pancakes. Until now.

Okay, so you want to know the secret? It’s in the bubbles. Undoubtedly you’ve seen that just about every single recipe for pancakes says that once they’re in the pan, let them cook for a few minutes “until bubbles appear.” But, that’s pretty vague, isn’t it? I mean, how many bubbles are you supposed to wait for? Just a couple? All 187 that will eventually appear? And does it matter where those bubbles are on the pancake? In the middle, around the edges? It can drive a person mad trying to figure it all out, and that’s only if you know that bubblesequal fluffy. Otherwise, you’re just flailing spatula in a pancake world. Trust me, I know.

So here’s the thing. After a Sunday morning when I was running a bit further behind on breakfast than usual, I let my pancakes sit in the pan before flipping them longer than I typically would. When I finally got back to the stove, the tops of them were nearly completely covered in circles, and the batter on top was even nearly set. Not cooked mind you, but set to the point where they had stiffened and were almost set. I thought the other side might be burned, but I flipped it over and it was perfect! Not only did I have golden pancakes, but they were actually fluffy, and all my pancake problems were solved! Now I pass this info on to you, so that you can also avoid flat-lining when it comes to your morning cakes.

And when you’re making those fluffy pancakes, make sure you use this recipe. It’s the best, and I’d been on the hunt for it just as long as I’d been waiting for my cakes to rise.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 pinch of salt
1 teaspoon sugar
2 large eggs, beaten
2 tablespoons butter, melted and fully cooled (it has to be completely cooled, or you’ll get crystals in your batter)
1 1/3 cups milk
Butter, for frying

Directions:

1.) Put all the ingredients, except for the frying butter, in a blender and blend until smooth. Let the batter sit for 20 minutes.

2.) Heat the butter in a frying pan over medium-high heat (but with the burner set closer to medium than to high.) When the butter starts to sizzle, pour small circles into the pan. Let them cook for a few minutes, until LOTS of bubbles have formed on the top, and the top is nearly set.

3.) Flip the pancakes and let them cook through on the other side for 2 – 4 minutes. Move to a platter and repeat steps 2 and 3 for the remaining batter.

4.) Serve and enjoy!

Valencia Style Rice

Originally published on February 7, 2015

When I first saw “Valencia Style Rice” in The Recipe Encyclopedia, I thought it might be a new way to prepare rice using different techniques and – a quick look at the ingredient list told me – items that I had never put with rice before. As I was making it I couldn’t help but wonder what made it “Valencia Style”. Is it the ingredients? Is this a dish that’s eaten quite often in Valencia? Is there a real place called Valencia? With so many questions, I had to look it up.

Turns out, Valencia rice is a short grain rice, although it is sometimes also called paella rice because, as you could probably guess, it’s often used to make paella. It also comes from Valencia – the real place, that’s the third largest city in Spain. It’s a fairly starchy rice and is distinct from other types of rice because it can absorb quite a bit of moisture without breaking down. It’s sometimes compared to Arborio rice, although the Italian variety is much starchier and will result in much creamier dishes. And as it turns out, you can also substitute the regular short-grain rice that you can find in any grocery store here in North America.

1 1/4 cups short grain rice 
1 tablespoon olive oil 
1 tablespoon butter
1 medium onion, chopped
Zest and juice of 1 orange
1/2 cup white wine
1 1/2 cups chicken stock 
Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish 

Directions:

1.) Soak rice in cold water for 10 minutes. Drain, rinse with cold water, and drain again.

2.) Heat oil and butter in a medium pan over low heat. Add onion and cook until golden brown and soft. Reduce heat to low, add rice, stir, and cook for 2 minutes, or until the grains are lightly golden.

3.) Add the orange zest, juice, wine, and stock. Cover the pan with a tight-fitting lid and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered for 8 – 10 minutes, or until almost all of the liquid is absorbed.

4.) Remove the pan from the heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes, or until all of the liquid is absorbed by the rice.

5.) Separate grains from each other lightly with a fork. Gently pour onto a serving platter and sprinkle with fresh parsley.

6.) Serve and enjoy!

Nigella’s Rapid Roastini

Originally published on February 21, 2015

Nigella Lawson is a favourite of mine. Not only is she utterly stunning, but she also specializes in easy down-home cooking. She’s not technically a chef mind you, but she’s got the food knowledge and the know-how to be treated like one. When I first saw her make this gnocchi dish for some of her girlfriends on Nigella’s Kitchen, it immediately became one of those things that stuck in my head and nattered at me until I finally got around to making it. That was just a couple of days ago, and I’m still amazed that something so delicious can come from your grocer’s freezer section, and that it only takes ten minutes (max!) to make.

Now, Nigella does ask that you don’t use frozen gnocchi. Apparently she’s worried that the extra moisture will cause the fat in the pan to splatter and burn you. With frozen gnocchi all I had on hand, I just let mine sit on the counter for a few minutes to thaw. Nigella also served these with just a little salt and pepper but I thought they might need a little something more so I picked up some ready-made bruschetta while at the store and just piled it on top. Of course pesto, roasted red pepper sauce, or any other sauce you fancy would also be just as nice – they sell them all there!

Ingredients:

1 package frozen gnocchi, thawed
2 tablespoons olive oil 
Salt
Pepper
Prepared sauce (optional)

Directions:

1.) Heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the gnocchi when the oil is hot, being sure to separate the gnocchi if it’s sticking together.

2.) Season the gnocchi with salt and pepper and cook for 4 minutes on one side. Turn the gnocchi over and cook for another 4 minutes on the other side. The gnocchi should be crisp and golden on both sides.

3.) Plate the gnocchi and, if using, top with the prepared sauce.

4.) Serve and enjoy!