Spring Rolls

I'v made the spring rolls that I love so much, however they aren' tthe same as the one's I buy at Clafouti.  Clafouti is a little diner across the street from my work.  It's an amazing place, the food is always fresh and good.  The prices are great too.

Their spring rolls are made with shrimp and chicken... not together thank goodness as I don't like shrimp.

Rice noodles
Coriander
Carrots
Soy Beans
Mint
Lettuce

and Rice paper of course.

Soak the rice noodles with Warm water so that they become soft and don't stick together, rinse under cold water and drain.

wet the rice paper on both sides with hot tap water, shake off any excess water and set on a plate to sit for a minute or so,  gather your ingredients and place in the bottom center of the rice paper.. fold in on the ends and roll the sides.  Easy as pie... but you need to get the nack for it... take a look at the huge roll in the center of my plate... that was the first one I made  LOL it's a funny looking one.  Ideally they all should be that size and well wrapped but I only made 5 of them as I am only one person to eat them, no need to over eat.

I also made peanut butter sauce but couldn't get it to be a thin sauce even with the hoisen sauce added to it.  Bit it was good none the less.  Will have to tweak it some more.

Morphed spaghetti squash

So today is the first day that I felt like cooking in ages.  I have gone through a terrible loss- my dad.  It has thrown me for a loup and back again.  I love cooking, photography, socializing and reading... all of which I have lost the urge to do.

My dad was a man who was a pure 'meat and potatos' kinda guy.  And he didn't like to try new things.  I on the other hand love anything mediteraniany (no fish or sea food though), he didn't like to try my cooking unless it was cabbage rolls, spaghetti sauce, my roasts and oh my - my turkey.  He loved my turkey, he always wanted me to cook my turkey with stuffing, fresh cranberry sauce, mashed potatos, carrots and turnip - oops don't forget the parsnip.  The typical holiday meal.  Do not add anything new like raisens, apples or nuts to the stuffing.  SCANDELOUS!

The reason why I am writing this is because he would not like my dinner tonight.  I left work after it being my first day back after some time off (to be with dad).  It was a fine day, it was sunny and bright, people in shorts and t-shirts, out for lunch and strolling about.  I decided that it would be a relaxing evening.  I synced my iPhone with my iTunes library, tried my new ear phones with the thing you could talk into and well headed out to the grocery store.  I never learn, going shopping when you are hungry is never a good idea.  That's exactly what I did.  I ended up with just a few things.

My original idea was to try some rice noodles with a stir fry concoction-  not quite.
I ended up with a spaghetti squash, 1 jalapeno pepper, 3 bulbs of garlic, some cherry tomatos, a bag of cherries-- so good!- a tub of vanila yogourt, 1 zucchini , some mint and some shreddies.  Exciting isn't it?

Not sure what I'd end up making and to be honest I knew it would be a couple of meals all at different times.

I made the spaghetti squash in the oven with some olive oil, 1/2 jalapeno chopped small, with garlic.  I baked it until it was right,

I also started some red quinoa - sauteed some mushrooms and garlic with lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste.  Threw in some cherry tomatos and some corn nibblets, chick peas and once it was warmed up or hot I tossed in some mint leaves.

Now what?

Ok, so I shredded the spaghetti squash put some butter on it and  threw it in with the mushrooms, garlic, lemon juice.... my sautee thingy was done... not quite.  The red quinoa and chickpeas, corn nibblets needed to go in too.

My out come was delishious.  No pictures today I'll let you fuss with your recipe and maybe you could share yours.  I'll be posting photos soon.

Later

Meatless at home.

Well, i've decided to become meatless at home.  For a couple of reasons- dispite the obvious- killing/hurting animals, the chemical additives used in the food the animals eat and are given,  even the 'free range' animals who are treated 'properly' until they are slaughtered...

I feel better -less bloating and I am not as tired or fatigued, not as many migraines and headaches.  I tried this once before and felt better, however it isn't easy to do.  I've bought countless cookbooks, magazines and read dozens of blogs and counting on going meatless and i'm comfortable with it .  Although I have cheated once, OK twice since last tuesday I think that it isn't as bad as I could have been. (one breakfast sausage some bacon and  a small peice of chichen in an asian summer/spring roll)  I'm not saying that I won't eat meat, i'm saying that I will watch what I'm eating and think about the consequences that go along with the meat that I'm injesting.

I've had fewer headaches (just headaches over the last week and not migraines) the main reason why I've decided to try cutting out meat.  I've been buying fresh grains and fresh veggies/fruit and it is nice to have them  around as you always can munch on something.

I will admit that I will not cut out eggs (in cooking and on occation), and cheese.  I don't think I could live without cheese.  I have not done enough research to find out what is suitable substitute.  I am working on this  and am willing to try.  Another thing that I am (scared to, ) and will try is to cook tofu with the many ways that it can be prepared... Ugh, I will get it right one of these days.

For now, I will have my supper tonight and through trial and error make some delicious meals.

On tonights menu:  I've made a mini pizza with Greek Pita bread and some hot peppers, olives and some mozzeralla cheese.  One of my favorite fast, easy things I make when I'm too tired and fed up to cook.

For tomorrows lunch I've made brown lentils ( I got them right this time, they aren't mushy), some parsley, onions, button mushroom (I think that is what they are called), coarsly chopped walnuts, along with some feta cheese.

I haven't taken any pictures and it's usually because I get half way through preparing and or eating the meal then think- 'damn I should have taken pictures'  ---  I'm usually in the zone when cooking as Cooking Keeps Me Sane.

tonights made up soup

I came home tonight and thought about  making soup.  I had some sweet potatos in the fridge and bought 2 large leeks, I had some dill in the fridge and some garlic.

This soup was - shall I say IS fantastic.

Shana's soup...

1 large leek sliceds
2 medium size sweet potatos
2 large cloves garlic
4 handfuls of barley (to thicken)
2 small Bay Leafs
Dill sprigs choped into 2 inch peices
2 thick carrots sliced into 1/4 inch peices
salt and pepper to taste.
swirl of olive oil


Put 1 Liter of water (you could use vegetable stock, chicken stock if you have some- it would have been tastier if I had vegy stock!) and chopped sweet potatos to cook once soft enough to mash with potato masher -
Mash into smaller chuncks.
Add the Barley
Add Bay Leaf and Leek slices and stir
Add garlic, chopped carrots and some salt and pepper
Add dill sprigs (this gives a nice flavor with the sweet potatos)
Add the Barley
Mash some more and let simmer for the flavors to blend

Add salt and pepper and a swirl of olive oil

I believe this soup will be better the second day.

I can't believe I forgot to photograph it.... I'm ashamed.  :) Next time. Maybe i'll be able to take a photo of  it in the pot..

Hope you like it. A Happy Tummy is a Happy Person

cookies....

My cookies came out alright... however, the coconut balls came out a little too sweet for me but hey are good.

My shortbread was weird...it will turn out alright I guess the second time around....

I willpost photos of the coconut balls tomorrow... :)

Merry eve to you and yours if you are reading this...

christmas cooking?!

So there are times when I could cook up a storm and keep it going.  Lately my fuse has been short and it doesn't seem to be improving.  This last year has been unreal- unlucky and really crappy to say the least.  My idea for gift giving this year (execpt the core people in my life) will be to make cookies, coconut balls and peanut butter balls and put them into a little tin as a gift.

I've found recipes online for these recipes and they seem to be easy enough to make.  I just need to be in the right frame of mind to make them.. put good energy and thoughts into them so they could bring happiness and joy to those recieving them.

NYE will be celebrated with good friends (whom I call my family) and my home made pizza -  (curtesy of Amy P. my cooking encyclopedia ).

I have purchased the items for my recipes and will - if i'm up for it later tonight- will make some shortbread.

For my ONE follower (thank you for following - however long it's been) I hope not to disappoint.  Cooking Keeps Me Sane.  Maybe that's what I've been missing  besides sleep. Feel free to comment - I'll post the recipe links in my next posting and will provide pictures of the finished product.

:)

Carrots

I bought a small bag of carrots this afternoon.  The reason for this is because I saw a recipe in 'Cook with Jamie' called sticky saucepan carrots, I usually don't have carrots in the fridge becaue they go bad.  Carrots are not one of the veggies that I keep for some reason.

Reading his recipe, I thought it would be a good idea to make these.  Then I thought soup.  Looked up 101 cookbooks site and typed in carrots and found this recipe for carrot soup - I decided to make soup for the second time in my life (first one doesn't count because I fell asleep and burnt the soup).

I took stock of what I had in the fridge-
some chicken stock ( I will use the brovil and water as I didn't make any real chicken stock)
Long green peppers (not sure what kind)
challots
baby cherry tomatos
onion
chopped parsley (from the taboule that I made and pre chopped)
okra  (which I absolutly love)
carrots (of course)
mushrooms chopped small (in my case, i mushed them by accident)
some herbs from my pantry (dill, chilantro)
a large handfull and 1/2 of red lentils
2 slices of bacon
garlic
lemon juice
and olive oil

first saute the onions with olive oil, until translucent, add garlic, bacon (chopped)
chop up your carrots into small chunks, cut okra- add lemon juice,
throw in your 4 cups of broth, add carrots, okra, parsley, long green peppers mushrooms, spices, tomatos, challots and let boil for 10 minutes, then bring temp down to simmer
it's a free for all.  just go with it. add salt and pepper to taste.
I forgot the dill- oh well you could always add it later.

I'll post the photos once I clean the conter top and get the steps started.

I'm also not sure if I could freeze this soup to bring to dad.  He hasn't been feeling well so hopefully he'll like my carrot soup.

Whole Wheat Pizza Dough

it's proofing in a warm place for 1 to 1 1/2 hours... then make into little balls then i'll freeze it.  

-             -                 -                 -                 -                  -

ok so the dough didn't seem the way I pictured the dough to be like... I was able to figure it out  and rolled it into 2 pieces, I froze one of them already rolled out ready for use and the second I figured I'd try it tonight.

here's my first ever pizza dough recipe.  (curtesy Amy P--- AKA: my cooking encyclopedia guru!)

-2 1/4 tsp dry active yeast
-1 1/3 cup warm water
combine the yeast and warm water with
-pinch of flour
-pinch of sugar
let proof for 5-10 minutes.

-3 1/2  cups flour ( I used whole wheat flour- you could use 2 1/2 cup wheat and 1 cup of white)
-1 tbsp sugar
-1 tbsp salt

combine in a large bowl

make a well in the middle of the dry ingredients
add the yeast mixture, which should be puffy or foamy and bubbing

-2 tbsp olive oil.

gradually mix together a bit at a time.
knead 10 minutes by hand
let rise for 1 to 1 1/2 hours in a warm place covered with plastic. Keep it wraped until doubled in volume (up to 2 hrs)

Punch down
separate into 2 balls and let rest for 10 minutes.
meanwhile.....

preheat oven 425 degreesF
grease 2 baking sheets and sprinkle with corn meal.

On a floured surface roll out each ball to 12 inch disks. (let rest after 5 inchs then roll ore)

top and bake for 12 to 18 minutes.

The toppings that I chose for this pizza were

-sundried tomatos (they are marinated in olive oil)
-fresh cherry tomatos
-long skinny peppers (they are not spicey)
-pickled hot peppers

only thing missing were the OLIVES. :(   :(

This is the size of the dough before cut in half.

Rolled out - not entirely however, it is a nice size. 

I could smell the pizza cooking- it smells so good.

It is crisping really well however I'll have to thin out the dough somewhat next time.

I am really enjoying this slice.  The crust is crispy and soft inside.  I'm a happy camper.  

Pizza dough is easy to make and fun-- even when your hands are real sticky. :)

today's dinner...

I bought Bulgur wheat for the first time the other day- first  time around making it I made it wronge--  Yes I know, I didn't remember the conversation I had with a friend that it's 2 & 1/2 cups of boiling water to 1 cup of Bulgur.... hense 1:1 wasn't a good idea.  DIDN'T TASTE SO GOOD.

Second time around, I decided to make it as tabule... It turned out really well.

I'll post my lunch tomorrow.  

I also bought whole wheat floure to make pizza dough.  ha ah, we'll see how that goes.

Next order, Tofu something or other.

My goal this week, from tonight to next sunday would be to have zero meat...  MMM not sure I could do it.

a new discovery

there is this little fruit store that I go into all the time. They have a nice selection of dried beans and rices as well as okra. I can't seem to find okra at my local grocery store :( so, this little fruit store carries my cravings.
I came across some swiss chard - didn't know what it was until I asked the clerk behind the desk. The swiss chard had beautiful vibrant red stalks and large crinkley dark green leaves with dark red veins running through them.

I got home happy with my find and began my search. I knew I read a recipe in one of my cook books that I have - sad to say that I didn't have one recipe for swiss chard. Next order of business- the Internet. I found a recipe for this swiss chard and was really surprised at how easy the recipe is. Here is the swiss chard recipe that I found and made.

little things

I find that when little things get me down, I want to cook. The title of this blog has been my moto for a little while now and although I don't always have the time to post a message, I am constantly looking for new recipes or new ways to revamp an old one. Today, I had brunch with a few good friends and had a wonderful time however, I was in a weird mood. Don't know why? So, after coping a lift home, I tried to nap- didn't happen. All I kept thinking about was what I want to cook.

I recently bought three cook books and with in these three cookbooks there was bound to be something right? Nothing struck my fancy. I though I could mix and match- yup you guessed it, Portuguese cuisine with Turish cuisine, weird huh? I don't think so because these two types of cuisine are basically the fundamentals of my cravings and diet.

I've taken out a blade roast out of the freezer with some hot Portuguese sausage that I had left over from the chili I made last week. Portuguese sausage freezes well and can be used in all sorts of recipes.

My dinner for tonight:

Blade roast,
potatos,
tomatos (stewed)
garlic,
onions
eggplant
chorizo (portuguese sausage),
dried dill
bay leaf
a bit of olive oil

I'll put it in the oven on 350 degrees - in a oven roaster covered and roast it until the potatos are cooked though then remove the lid to brown them.

I'll give it a go and post a photo.

another cookbook

I recieved the last of the 3 cookbooks I ordered with a gift certificate from my birthday. It is a Turkish cookbook called
Turkish Cookbook: Authentic Culinary Traditions from Turkey by Bade Jackson.

I spent a couple of hours looking at it when I was at the hospital with my dad today- There are many recipes that I will try and will cook frequently, I assure you.

There are a few vegetarian dishes that are a must as well as all of the eggplant and zucchini recipes that are mouth watering.

WIll post the first recipe when I buy some Lamb.
My new favorite meat.

Amy's famous Chili Recipe (with a flare from me)

Ok so I've been bugging my friend Amy for her chili recipe... This is Amy's recipe- I believe it is a simple vegetarian recipe however I've added some extra stuff.

Amy's Three Bean Chili Recipe


1 can (28 oz) tomatoes
1/4 cup tomato paste
1 tbsp chili powder
1 tsp each dried oregano and ground cumin
1/2 tsp each salt, pepper and sugar
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 stalk each carrot and celery
1 can each (19 oz) kidney beans, blackbeans and chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 small can of corn

(With this kind of recipe you can mix it up if you want. I'd add crushed chilis and cayenne pepper. Use 2 onions if you want, or skip the celery, or whatever.)

-Pour tomatoes into the crock-pot. Mush them a bit with a fork. Add everything else and stir. Cover and cook on low until thick enough to mount on a spoon, about 4-6 hours.

My recipe didn't have carrots or corn (I forgot them-oops!)
Shannon's chili recipe (adapted from Amy's 3 bean chili)

1 large can ao diced tomatos
1 small can tomato paste
a couple dashes or shakes of chili powder
1 shake/dash of cumin (as I am not a cumin fan)
a couple dashes/shakes of paprika
small amount of portugues hot pepper mix (ground in mortar/pestal) for taste just throw that in...
2 large cloves garlic smashed and chopped

1/2 of a large (really Large) onion
1 celery stalk cut into slivers (halved then halved again) then choped
2 cans of kidney beans

1 medium package of minced meat (lean preferably)
I also threw in a 1/4 of a portugues chrorice (Sausage) hot. peeled, choped up and sauted with the minced meat for flavor
also I fried out some bacon (3 pieces halved and fried 5-6 pieces in total)

I sauteed some onions celery and the garlic
saute the minced meat
throw in the portugues sausage
chop up the bacon, mix in with meat and sausage cover on low heat to keep warm I guess

in the croc pot add the diced tomatos, garlic, tomato paste, stur it around to mix
add the beans, I chose the kidney beens only, stir again
add the meat mixture and stir it up.

I added some more juice from another can of tomatos to add liquid to the mixture.
I set the croc pot on high and there you have it.

I have posted on my facebook page that I was making Chili and I have a list of people wanting a bowl. If it turns out I will make more as it is alot easier to do than I originally thought.

I'm just hopeing that the Bacon adds a nice flavor to the portugues sausage and minced meat. If it doesn't I will add one or the other.

Next order of business- tofu chili.

I will put up a picture I promise.

Long time no see

I've been out of commission for a few months - I've since graduated from University and other life stuff is happening all at the same time.

I am bored now with no papers to write or tests to study for- I've decided to continue on my quest for making food that I haven't cooked before. Well recipes i haven't tried before. I have recieved a great cook book from my best friend and her better half at christmas:

Cooking with Jamie: it's a wonderful book to have on your book shelf and an excellent book for those who are just starting out - learning to cook. It gives ample advice and techniques on how to chop, freeze and store foodstuffs. Wonderful.

I have yet to try any of the recipes--- I'm excited to try most of them- even some of the fish ones... hence I dislike fish.. I will try one of the salmon ones and maybe a cod one...

But first, I have two recipes to try-

Amy's famous chili recipe that I have asked her for three hundred times and her pizza doe recipe.

My first one would be the chili recipe because I've had the chili at the pub "Murphy's chili" and let me tell you I want to make it. Plus, not to mention that I have a slow cooker thingy to use it for. Yeay for that.

I will find my recipe and make it during the week. I promise that I won't leave you hanging this time. I will make that recipe and post it here.

Another thing that I want to do is enter a contest :

Leite's Culinaria is hosting a contest and i'd like a stab at it. Do you think I could do it? I will try.

This is the recipe I want to try

Vinegar-Glossed Chicken

apart from that I have a long TO DO list.
-fix spice cabinet
-up date my spice containers, I want mason jars for my spices

that's it for now.

I will cook Tofu for the first time tonight.

let you know how it goes.... Yicks!

Apple Pie

I made apple pie for the 1st time today. It turned out great. A bit to sweet for my taste- next time I will put less sugar and it will be fantastic... maybe a bit more cinnamon.

I made the dough and filling from scratch. The recipes I got from a couple of sites which I will link:

The crust and the filling turned out nicely. The crust was a bit tricky since it was the first time I did it. I have a good idea about it now.

I hope the people at work like it, as I intend to bring it to work.

Until later.

Thanksgiving

I haven't decided if I want to make something for thanks giving this year. Although I am grateful for my family and my friends- I really don't want to make a big hoopla of it. I am going to find a good recipe to make and have dad over for a drink and a nice meal.

I have that Donna Hays magazine with that chicken recipe that I want to try but I also want to try the Beef Bourguignon recipe from Julia Childs book and the movie. Maybe I'll do that. I will keep you posted and hopefully I will have pictures to post.

I am jealous at all the blogs that are up and running that have pictures. Envious! I will attempt!

Until then...

Lentil Croquettes

I made lentil Croquettes tonight. I found the lost food processor in the back of my cubbord and thought I should put it to use.

They were good but I don't have the spoon technique down pat yet. I will figure it out though.

Yummy!

Chicken Soup

Been feeling under the weather these days and since mom doesn't live in the province- I had to make the soup myself. Put it this way- it's not mom's soup.

I didn't do groceries this weekend but had carrots and onions, chicken and some herbs-freshly dried rosemary, some parsley and oregano...

Threw it into the pot with some boiled chicken breasts bone in... and some rice, yellow lentils, a cut up sweet potato, and some of those little italian pasta dots... (not sure what they are called).

The only thing I didn't have was CELERY! The only thing that matters in chicken soup.

Anyhow, the soup did the trick - I am feeling better and that is what matters.

Sunday night

Today I decided to defrost the last pork roast that I had in the freezer. It smells so good!

I cut some baby potatos in 1/4s and threw in some whole peeled tomatos (from can- the Aurora ones are the best tasting-)

with some oregano, parsley and dill... with a whole lotta garlic

I will make some rice with it.

That's all.

I love my appartment when it smells like food.

Bye for now.