Curry Acorn Squash and Apple Soup

Meat Loaf, Mashed Potatoes, Acorn Squash, Asparagus

Meat Loaf, Mashed Potatoes, Acorn Squash, Asparagus

Meat Loaf has got to be one of the great comfort foods. It's also a great way to feed a big family, and on a budget. You don't have to spend a ton of money to make a great meal! Plus, it's great as leftovers. Eat it as is, or consider putting it in a sandwich? Mmm meat loaf sandwich.

ingredients:

1 pound ground beef

1 cup bread crumbs

1 egg
1 carrot
2 celery stalks
1 onions
2-3 cloves garlic
worcestershire sauce

1/2 cup milk

salt
pepper

ketchup

brown sugar
white wine vinegar

acorn squash
potatoes
milk
salt
pepper
asparagus

directions:

1. In a frying pan, sautee chopped onion, sliced carrot, and sliced celery so that they are slightly cooked. Soak breadcrumbs in milk to ensure your meat loaf will be moist.

2. In a large bowl, combine ground beef, egg, bread crumbs, crushed garlic, a splash of worcestershire sauce, a squirt of ketchup, and the veggies from a pan. Mix with a fork or your hands and form into a big ball.

3. Put the big ball of meat into a casserole dish and form it into a loaf.

4. Mix ketchup, brown sugar, and white wine vinegar into a bowl to make a sauce for the top of the meat loaf. Brush or pour on top of the meat loaf.

5. Put the meat loaf in the oven at 400 F degrees for about 1 hour, or 1 hour and 15 minutes. Serve with mashed potatoes and your favourite vegetable.

Lobster Roll

Lobster Roll

If I told you this roll contained two lobsters and it was huge and I ate all of it... Would you think less of me? I sure hope not. I also made my own mayonnaise on this one!

ingredients:

buttery bun
lobster tail and claw
mayo
celery
lettuce
sweet potatoes
oil
salt
pepper

Lemony Garlicy Hummus

Lemony Garlicy Hummus

I used to make hummus all the time years ago. And it appears my culinary skills have vastly improved as this was the most tasty hummus I have ever made.

ingredients:

1 can chickpeas
1 tbsp tahini
3 cloves garlic
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 lemon (juice and zest)
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper

directions:

1. In a blender or food processor, combine 1 can of cooked chickpeas, tahini pasta, crushed garlic cloves, olive oil, lemon juice and zest, and salt and pepper.

2. Blend until smooth. Add extra water if needed.

3. Serve with baguette or pita or chips. Sprinkle with some chopped parsley if you want to make it look fancy.

Eggplant Parm Sandwich with Greek Style Potatoes

Lemony potato goodness.

Herbed Dumpling and Chickpea Soup

"Those are some big balls!" The dumplings have herbs, and parmesan cheese inside. They were fun to make. :)

Cranberry, Walnut, Green Bean Quinoa Salad, With Veggie Burger

Cranberry, Walnut, Green Bean Quinoa Salad

This is a great quinoa salad to eat as a side, or bring to a pot luck. (as long as there are no nut allergies that is...). It is packed full of flavour and is also really healthy for you. I saw something like this first made at the Vegetarian Food Fair in Toronto, but it had oranges and it didn't have this dressing.

ingredients:

1 cup quinoa
dried cranberries
chopped walnuts
fresh green beans
balsamic vinegar
olive oil

pepper
salt
garlic powder

directions:

1. Cook quinoa in slightly salted water in a pot. 1 part quinoa, 2 parts water. Bring to a boil, and let it simmer until quinoa absorbs all of the water.

2. Set the cooked quinoa aside, and let it cool a bit. After it has cooled, fluff it with a fork.

3. Slice fresh green beans into more bite sized pieces, and steam them so they are cooked through. Blanch them in ice water immediately after to stop the cooking process. This will keep them crisp, and not soggy for your salad, as well as bright green.

4. Mix your dried cranberries, cooled green beans, and chopped walnuts into the quinoa.

5. To make the dressing for the salad, combine balsamic vinegar, olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder into a vinaigrette. The ratio of oil to vinegar should be 3 to 1. 3 parts oil, 1 part vinegar. Mix through, then pour on salad and mix til it is fully coated.