Author: camooney

Sugar and Butter Free White Bread Recipe – So incredibly tasty


I have a knack for turning all attempts of making bread and buns into creating door stops and hockey pucks respectively.  That was until I found this little gem of a bread recipe.

Coconut Oil and Honey bread and buns
Coconut Oil and Honey bread and buns

The added bonus was that it is healthier than your standard recipe (zip it you carb hating, flour despising do gooders – its a compromise).  Anyway I am not a big fan over super wordy recipe blogs, so here goes for your Coconut, Honey White (yes WHITE- phbbbbt health nuts) bread recipe.

Note:  this bread recipe is written for those who have Kitchen Aid mixers.  You may need to adapt for your device or just pull out the stops and the pipes and go full hands on manual bread making.

INGREDIENTS

  • 2 packs yeast (or 4 teaspoons)
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1/3 cup coconut oil
  • 1/3 cup honey
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 cups warm water (100/38 degrees F/C)
  • 6 & 1/2 cups bread flour or white wheat flour (I used all purpose and it was fine)

DIRECTIONS

  1. Pour warm water into your stand mixer bowl (I am lucky I have a kitchen aid mixer).  Add yeast and stir it around to dissolve
  2. To this mixture add the coconut oil, honey, eggs, 3 cups of the flour and salt.  Mix on speed 1 for 10 minutes, using the paddle attachment
  3. Change to the dough hook attachment.  Add the remaining flour (I did 1 cup at a time).  Once all flour is added, mix for 10 minutes on speed 1.  If the dough is a little sticky, you can add a small amount of flour by hand, but not more than a 1/4 cup.
  4. Put dough into a greased bowl, turning so the surface is greased.  Cover and let rise until doubled, approximately 45 minutes
  5. Poke down dough and turn onto a floured surface.  Knead or slap to remove air bubbles
  6. Divide in half.  Shape into two leaves and put into two greased 9 inch loaf pans.  Turn dough to coat surface in oil.  Cover and let rise until doubled.  about 45 minutes.
  7. Bake at 375 degree for about 30 minutes or until loaf sounds hollow when tapped
  8. Let rest in pans for 10 minutes before turning out to cool completely on wire rack.

I owe kudos to http://www.humoroushomemaking.com for this Cindy proof recipe.  No more retaining wall blocks or clay pigeons coming out of my oven.

Enjoy!

 

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Avocado Salsa – Yummy!


My co-worker tried this recipe for a department gathering and it was SO refreshing, deceptively good and a huge hit (addictive).  Credit is to Barbara Vinson the creator of the recipe and Allrecipes.com where I originally found this recipe.  It has my stamp of approval.

INGREDIENTS:

1 (16 ounce) package frozen corn kernels, thawed
2 (2.25 ounce) cans sliced ripe olives, drained
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
5 cloves garlic, minced
1/3 cup olive oil
1/4 cup lemon juice
3 tablespoons cider vinegar
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
4 avocados – peeled, pitted and diced

DIRECTIONS

  1. In a large bowl, mix corn, olives, red bell pepper and onion.
  2. In a small bowl, mix garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, cider vinegar, oregano, salt and pepper. Pour into the corn mixture and toss to coat. Cover and chill in the refrigerator 8 hours, or overnight.
  3. Stir avocados into the mixture before serving.

Served best with tostidos scoops

Auntie Peggy ‘ s Peach Cobler


Made with fresh Okanagan Peaches

I show my appreciation to my love slave by preparing desserts for him made from his favourite fruit, PEACHES!!! And it just so happened that with our hot hot summer, peach season is Peach Cobbler Finished Productabout a month early.  So I needed to dust off my recipe folder and find my Aunt Peg ‘s Peach Cobbler recipe.  Enjoy!

INGREDIENTS:

Peach Filling

  • 1 & 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon or nutmeg
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 4 cups sliced peaches
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon butter

Directions for Peach Filling

  1. Combine cornstarch, cinnamon/nutmeg, brown sugar and water in saucepanFresh Peaches from the Tree
  2. Cook and stir until thickened
  3. Add peaches, lemon juice and butter
  4. Cook until peaches are hot (about 5 minutes)

Topping

  •  1 cup sifted all purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 & 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 1 egg (beaten)

Directions for Topping

  1. Sift together all purpose flour, sugar, baking powder and salt
  2. Cut butter into mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs
  3. Combine mile and beaten egg in a bowl
  4. Add to dry mixture, stir until just moistened

Putting It All Together

  1. Pour peach filling into 8 & 1/4 x 1 & 3/4 inch round baking dish.
  2. Immediately spoon on biscuit topping in 6 mounds.
  3. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 -25 minutes.  (topping should be golden brown)

Enjoy

Tuna Tataki with Citrus Ginger Sauce


I tried this recipe recently and it was fantastic!  I need to give kudos to http://www.grouprecipes.com/people/luisascatering for sharing!

Ingredients

  • 3 very fresh albacore tuna fillets
  • 4 tablespoons sesame seeds
  • kosher salt & fresh ground black pepper
  • canola oil for searing

Citrus-ginger Sauce :

  • 2 tablespoons honey (or more to taste)
  • 4 tablespoons soy sauce
  • a few drops of sesame oil
  • juice of one orange
  • juice of half a lemon
  • juice of 1 lime
  • 2 tablespoons saké (or mirin)
  • 2 thin slices of ginger

Salad Garnish:
shaved cucumber, sliced avocado, frisee lettuce, thinly sliced green onions (I used red onion)

Directions

  • Combine all ingredients for the sauce; set aside (the sliced ginger will infuse the sauce).
  • On a shallow plate, pour the sesame seeds. Season the tuna with cracked black pepper and salt. Coat the tuna in the sesame seeds, pressing lightly so they stick to the tuna.
  • Place a saute pan over high heat. Add the oil and sear the tuna on both sides, about 1 minute per side.
  • In a bowl combine the cucumber, green onions and frisee. Toss with some of the citrus-ginger sauce.
  • Slice the chilled tuna across the grain, faning it out into 3-4 pieces per plate. Place some of the dressed greens on 4 plates. Top with sliced tuna, garnish with avocado and drizzle with some more of the citrus-ginger sauce

Starbucks Copycat – Blackberry Mojito Tea Lemonade


20141116_125615 (1)I give full credit to Deseree Kazda for this lovely copycat recipe from http://www.lifeambrosia.com

It breaks down as follows:

Lemonade Ingredients:

  • 3 cups of water (divided into 1 & 2 cups)
  • 1 cup sugar (I used Xyla)
  • 1 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
  • Ice

Blackberry Mojito Green Tea

  • 4 cups of water
  • 5 green tea bags
  • 6 ounces black berries
  • 8-10 mint leaves

Instructions

  1. Prepare a syrup by heating 1 cup of sugar/xyla with one cup of water until the sugar has dissolved.  Remove from heat and chill
  2. Mix 1 cup of lemon juice with 2 cups of water and chill
  3. Brew 5 green tea bags in 4 cups of boiling water.  steep for 10 minutes and then chill
  4. Purée blackberries in a food processor.  Strain through mesh sieve to remove seeds.  Add Purée and diced mint leaves to brewed tea.  Mix well
  5. Add lemon and water, sugar syrup to brewed tea.  Mix well and chill
  6. Serve over ice

Refreshing green tea mojito lemonade for quenching your thirst.

Sharing the Love (aka good websites)


Hi Everyone,
Its been awhile since I posted, however, I found this fantastic site for busy peeps like me. It gives you 20 freezer slow cooker recipes and the shopping list (for Costco) Now as we know not all Costco’s are created equal so some of the ingredients may not be available in your local store. But give it a try it might be well worth checking out:

http://www.5dollardinners.com/gluten-free-slow-cooker-freezer-packs-costco-meal-plan/

Recipe for Strawberry Daquari’s using fresh ingredients


I wanted to make a strawberry daiquiri without using concentrates and syrups. I found this fantastic recipe on AllRecipes.com courtesy of TBOND that I want to share.

6 cups ice (I have a smaller blender so I ended up using 3 cups of ice)
1/2 cup white sugar (I used a 1/4 cup)
4 ounces frozen strawberries (I used fresh strawberries and the more the merrier)
1/8 cup lime juice
1/2 cup lemon juice
3/4 cup rum
1/4 cup lemon-lime flavored carbonated beverage (I used one cup of Soda Stream – (another favorite kitchen appliance of mine) Country Time Lemonade flavored soda – almost no sugar or calories)

Original recipe makes 8 servings

These daiquiris were like heaven in my mouth. I don’t think I will ever go back!

Sloppy Joes, slop sloppy joes


Sloppy JoesHoagies and Grinders, Hoagies and Grinders. Remember Adam Sandler’s tribute to the lunch lady?

Well this is actually a recipe for the best sloppy joes I’ve ever had.  So simple, so quick and so tasty.  This recipe comes to you courtesy of one of my favourite cook books: The Good Housekeeping Illustrated Cookbook.  

INGREDIENTS

1 pound lean ground beef
1 medium green pepper, diced
1 medium onion, diced
1 16-ounce can of pork and beans
1/2 cup ketchup
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon chilli powder
6 8-inch-long rolls

DIRECTIONS

  1. In a large skillet,over medium-high heat, cook first 3 ingredients for 10 minutes until ground beef is well browned.
  2. Stir in next 4 ingredient; heat to boiling.  Reduce heat to low; simmer, uncovered, 10 minutes stirring occasionally.
  3. Halve rolls horizontally.  Add 2/3 cup of ground beef and pork and beans mixture and enjoy.

Nuts and Bolts/Bits and Bites Recipe – My party/camping standby


I have to admit my frugal side cannot bear to spend almost $3.00 a bag on nuts and bolts/bit and bites at the store when for about $20 I can make 12 bags that are double the size of the $3.00 bag and they taste SOOO much better

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 to 2 cups of vegetable oil
2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
2 tsp salt
2 tsp celery salt
1 tsp curry powder
1 tsp garlic salt
1 tsp onion salt
7-8 drops of Tabasco sauce
optional: 1/4 tsp tumeric and 1/4 tsp cumin

1 Medium size box each of Cheerios, Shreddies & Crispix (I also add Bugles)
1 Bag of Pretzels
Optional: Peanuts or Mixed Nuts

DIRECTIONS

  1. Mix cereal, pretzels (Nuts) in a large roasting pan with a cover.
  2. Mix above ingredients and slowly pour over cereal mixture.
  3. Mix well to ensure roaster fill of ingredients is well coated
  4. Bake (covered) in an oven at 250 degrees for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, stirring every 20 minutes

I bag them in dollar store clear cello gifts bags.

Enjoy!!! (They never last long in my house)

Christmas Favorite – Prize Butter Tarts


I went so far as to steal an old cook book my mother NEVER used – sorry Mom.  The Five Roses Cookbook.  Printed in Winnipeg Manitoba – back when we actually made stuff in our own country.  I absolutely love this tart recipe and it is SO easy.

INGREDIENTS

1 Pastry RecipeButter Tart Ingredients
1 egg beaten
1/3 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 tblsp milk
1/2 cup raisans, currants or chopped pecans (I just use pecans or walnuts)
1 tsp vanilla

DIRECTIONS

Prepare pasty recipe, roll 1/8 inch thick and cut into 4″ rounds.  Press into medium size tart pans.
Mix all ingredients together, fill tart shells 2/3 full.  Bake in a hot oven 450 degrees  8 minutes, reduce temperature to 350 degrees and bake 15 to 20 minutes longer until pastry is delicately brown.

If using store bought frozen tart shells I bake at 350 for 15 – 20 minutes just watching for the right brownness on the tart shells.

Makes 12 – 15 tarts.

Ready for the Oven
Ready for the Oven