Feb 7, 2011 - Shanghai Noodles

The Canadian Living Test Kitchen

This is an easy dinner with so much flavour and flexibility.  Pick your meat and your veggies whatever you have on hand and enjoy!

Shanghai Noodles -  Available in 400g packaged, cooked thick yellow miki noodles are ready to use - and the perfect amount for two. 

4 boneless skinless chicken thighs or chicken breasts
1 tbsp sodium reduced soy sauce
1 tbsp Chinese rice wine or dry sherry (we used cooking sherry) optional
1-1/2 tsp cornstarch
2 green onions
1 sweet green pepper
2 tbsp olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 c shredded cabbage
1 pinch granulated sugar
1 pinch salt
1 pkg precooked miki noodles
2 tbsp hoisin sauce
1-1/2 tsp sesame oil

Preparation:

Cut chicken into 1 inch cubes; place in bowl.  Add say sauce, rice wine and cornstarch;  toss to coat.  marinate for 30 min. 

Meanwhile, slice white part of green onions into 1-inch lengths; thinly slice green parts.  Set aside separately.  Cut green pepper into quarters; thinly slice on diagonal.  Set aside.

In a large skillet, heat half of the oil over medium-high hear; stir-fry garlic and white parts of onions until fragrant, about 1 minute.  Add chicken mixture; stir-fry until juices run clear when chicken is pierced, about 3 min.  Scrape into bowl.

Add remaining oil into pan; sir-fry chosen veggies, sugar and salt for 1 min.  Add 1/4 cup water; cover and stem until water evaporates and cabbage is tender, about 3 minutes.

Add noodles, Hoisin sauce and sesame oil, tossing to coat.  Return chicken mixture to pan along with green parts of onions; cook until heated through.



Mouthwatering Flavour



Feb 6, 2011 - Ethnic Evening - Indian Flavours

Curried Rice - What is it about coconuts?  The coconut milk is to die for.

3 cups of water

1 cup coconut milk

1 tbsp curry powder

1/2 tsp grated ginger

2 cloves garlic, shredded

1/2 tsp thyme

2 stalks scallion, chopped

1 med. onion, sliced

2 cups rice

1 tsp salt

Bring water to a boil and add coconut milk, curry powder, ginger, thyme, scallion and onion.  allow to boil for 3 min.  Add rice and salt.  Stir and cover with a tight lid.  Lower heat to low and allow to steam until rice grains are tender.

Indian Spiced Meatloaf  tried one of the meat loafs from the Fine Cooking Magazine

Cook the Aromatics:

2 tbsp of olive oil

1 med. yellow onion chopped

2 large cloves of garlic finely chopped

1 cup of finely chopped carrot

Heat the oil in a skillet over medium low heat.  Cook the onion and garlic and aromatic vegetable of choice stirring frequently, until softened and just beginning to brown, 6 - 8 min.  Transfer to a large bowl and let cool until warm.

Soak the Bread

2 1/2 cups of medium-coarse white bread such as Italian or French, cut into roughly 2 inch pieces
1 cup of whole milk

In a shallow dish that holds it in a single layer, soak the bread in the milk, flipping once, until soggy but not falling apart, 5 - 10 min, depending on the coarseness and freshness of the bread.  Lightly squeeze a handful of bread at a time to remove some of the milk.  Finely chop and add to the bowl with the cooked aromatics.

Meats

1 lb of ground lamb

1 lb of ground beef
2 large eggs lightly beaten
add Mix-Ins and Herbs and Spices
1 tbsp of Worcestershire sauce
2 1/4 tsp kosher salt
1\2 tsp freshly ground pepper

Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 375f.    Add the meats and eggs to the bowl of aromatics.  Scatter the Mix-Ins, herbs and spices over the meat and then sprinkle with Worcestershire, salt and pepper.  Use your hands to gently mix all the ingredients until just combined- try not to compact the mixture as you do this.

Mix-Ins

2 tsp peeled and finely grated ginger

1 heaping tbsp of jalapeno

Herbs and Spices

1/4 cup chopped cilantro

2 tsp Garam masala

Finishes

2 tbsp of honey

Line the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking pan.  Spray with nonstick spray.  Transfer the meatloaf mixture to the baking pan and form into a 10x4-inch rectangular block (it becomes a loaf as it cooks.)  Spread your finish of choice over the top and lightly down the sides of the meatloaf.  Bake until thermometer reads 165f.  About 40-50 min.  Let rest 10 min.  Cut into 1 inch thick slices.  Enjoy!

Feb 5, 2011 - To Die For BBQ Steak and Baked Garlic & Herbed Potatoes, Smotherd in Garlic Mushrooms

One of Evan's  Top 10 - Definetly a Keeper!

Pkg of Strip Loin Steaks.
Kosher Salt
Butter  (melted)

Salt both sides of steak generously for 60 min.  Then place on BBQ and immediately brush melted butter on top of steaks.  Flip steak when desired and brush melted butter on new side.  That's all.

Each BBQ is different and so are peoples desire of tenderness.  The end result is so amazing.  Enjoy! 

Baked Garlic & Herbed Potatoes (and onions or sweet potatoes if desired)

Preheat oven 350F

3-4 cups cubed into bite sized pieces of  red or yellow potatoes

2 cups of cubed yam or sweet potatoe (optional)
2 cups of sliced or chopped onion (optional)
1/4 c olive oil
1 tbsp of favorite spice (oregano, basil, thyme, or Italian seasoning)

(optional sprinkling of Red Pepper Flakes for spicy potatoes)* careful!

3 -4 cloves of shredded garlic

Place all ingredients into a large bowl toss and coat all potatoes with olive oil, garlic and spices.

Place all ingredients onto foil covered baking pan.  Cook for aprox. 45 min or until potatoes are tender.

Smothered Garlic Mushrooms

3 tbsp of butter

2 cups of chopped or sliced mushrooms

3 -4 cloves of shredded garlic

salt and pepper to taste

Saute mushrooms on med low heat in butter.  Add shredded garlic and salt and pepper.  Let slowly saute and simmer until mushrooms soften and create their own mushroom juice.



OOOOO So GOOD!



* Ceasar Salad would be wonderful with this menu 

* A Red Merlot always tastes wonderful with Beef 



Every Meal is a Special Occasion 



 



Feb 3, 2011

Evan is always on a quest.  The quest to find the perfect cup of coffee, the best Chilli Recipe, the best ever Lasagna, the best meatloaf, the best Gourmet Burger and how to cook the Perfect Steak.  He continues to serch for THE BEST, always rating the dishes.  Still Searching or That's A Keeper.  His latest quest is to find the most Tasty Meatballs.  We have gathered a collection of our favorites.  Stay tuned for more wonderful, mouth watering meals. 

Febuary 3rd 2011 - Ravioli Lasagna with Sausage & Mushrooms

Tried new recipe found in Chatelaine magazine:             Evan says this one is a Keeper 

1 tsp olive oil

1 med. onion diced

2 garlic cloves

500g Italian sausage removed from casing

796 ml can crushed tomatoes

1 tsp dried Italian seasoning

1/2 c heavy cream

1/2c  milk

227-g pkg cremini mushrooms sliced

700-g pkg fresh ravioli spinach and cheese

1 cup (or more) grated Italian 4 cheese

Preheat oven to 350F.  Heat a large pot over med. heat. Add oil, onion and garlic.  Saute about 3 min.   Add sausage meat.  Break up meat to crumbly mixture.  Cook until no longer pink, about 5 min.  Add tomatoes and oregano.  Season with fresh pepper.  Stir in cream and milk until combined.  Set aside 1 cup of sauce.  Add mushrooms and ravioli to post.  Stir to coat.  Pour into a 9x13-in.  baking dish.  Press down to even out raviolo.  Pour reserved sauce overtop, 

then sprinkle with 4 cheese mix.  Bake in center of oven, uncovered, until ravioli are cooked through and cheese is melted, about 20 min.

Serves 8

Febuary 3rd 2011

Evan loves his food. It must have good taste. He is always on the hunt for a great recipe. He has swapped recipes at work, he has asked to borrow his female co-workers magazines to photocopy a recipe, he has even been caught taking a picture with his phone while standing in a grocery line up if he finds a good recipe.

Febuary 2nd 2011

What is Evan cooking tonight is a question that I as his wife and creator of this page get asked every week. Friends will ask so what is your husband making tonight? He is asked at the grocery store, "So what are you cooking tonight?" I have to say that every night he cooks is a treat and every meal is delicious.... I have decided to share his love of good food and flavor with our friends. We hope you enjoy :)