Pork Tenderloin with Mango Compote, Parsnip Puree and Brussel Sprouts

The pork tenderloin was marinated with lime juice and zest, honey, salt, garlic powder and chipotle chilies. The parsnip puree could maybe have used some potatoes. Overall amazing though thank you Alton Brown!

Beef Stew with St-Ambroise Oatmeal Stout

Beef Stew with St-Ambroise Oatmeal Stout

If you don't cook beef stew with either red wine, or an amber or dark beer, than you should. For this stew, I used the St-Ambroise Oatmeal Stout. It gave it a dark deep rich flavour. Cooking with this beer gave it tastes of espresso and chocolate, which gave the stew another dimension.

ingredients:

2 pounds stew beef
2 carrots
2-3 celery stalks
1 onion

3 poatoes (skin on or off)
1 container of beef stock, or beef bouillon cube

handful of frozen peas

1-2 bay leaf

3 tbsp flour
salt
pepper

1 tbsp cider vinegar
1 bottle of dark or amber beer

directions:

1. Cut stewing beef into cubes. About 1-2 inches thick. Just make sure they are an even size and will cook at the same rate. Chop vegetables into similar sized pieces and set aside.

2. Dredge the beef in a mixture of flour, salt, and pepper. And heat some oil in a large pot. Once the pot is hot, put in the beef to get a sear on the outside of the beef. Flip around until there is a brown crust forming on all sides of the beef.

3. Next, drop in your potatoes, and pour in your beef stock. This is also when you can pour in your beer, and your vinegar. The vinegar will help break down the beef and make it more tender. I'm not going to put in the other vegetables yet because I don't want those to become overcooked. But I don't mind if the potatoes are mushy. If you want firmer potatoes, put them in with the rest of the vegetables later. Bring to a boil, and then simmer.

4. Simmer the beef in the broth for at least 30 minutes on its own. After 30 minutes, you can add the onions, celery, and carrots to the stew. Also add 1-2 bay leafs. And cover the pot again.

5. Continue to simmer the stew covered for another 30 minutes. At this point you can pull out your bay leafs. And drop in your frozen peas which should cook quite quickly, which is way we save them for last.

6. After a few minutes the beef stew should be done, and ready to serve. Best eaten with bread.

Kale and White Bean Soup

Kale and White Bean Soup

I have totally gotten into kale lately thanks to my friend Tara who kept telling me to make Kale Chips, and man they are so delicious! The broth of this soup I felt had a lot of layers and substance for a veggie soup.

ingredients:

1 can of navy beans, or cannellini beans, or white kidney beans

big handful of kale
tomato
onion
veggie stock
garlic
salt
pepper

directions:

1. Caramelize onions in a large pot. Once caramelized, throw in some chopped tomato, and garlic. Stir and mix with the onions. Season with salt and pepper. After a few minutes pour in 1 container of veggie stock, or use veggie boullion cubes.

2. Drop in the white bean of your choice into the soup. You could mash some of the beans first, to give more texture to the broth of the soup, and then drop the rest in whole. Then add lots of fresh chopped kale. Bring to a boil, and simmer for 20-30 minutes, to make sure everything is cooked through and give the flavours of the soup a chance to meld.

Roasted Red Pepper Soup

I always wanted to roast some peppers and peel the skin off. Had seen it done way too many times on TV that I had to try it. It was surprisingly easy. And delicious!

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. :)