Pull Apart Pizza Bread

Over the weekend I made this ridiculous, absurd, out-of-this-world, cheesy, gooey, flavorful pull-apart pizza bread.  Should I even keep talking?  Writing?  Blogging?  Whatever it is I'm doing.  Basically, you should probably make this as soon as possible.  It requires a little effort, but it's not hard.  Added bonus?  Your children will totally want to help, and by "help" I mean they'll want to sprinkle flour all over their bodies and the floor like the fairies do.  The pizza bread dough only has to sit for an hour, so the whole thing comes together relatively quickly.  Once it's ready, you stuff little circles with a cheesy, saucy mixture (one you could add any of your favorite pizza toppings to!), and then you shove them all into a bread dish and bake.  Oh, and you top it with a buttery chive sauce because it's not sinful and delicious enough as is.  (Sarcasm)    

You can find the recipe HERE.  Enjoy!  

{Mozzarella, Parmesan, pizza sauce, sliced pepperoni, Italian seasoning}

{My little helpers, flour EVERYWHERE}

{Pockets stuffed, ready to bake...}

{Voila!  Topped with a chive butter sauce}

Also, Pull Apart Cinnamon Sugar Pumpkin Bread!

Lobster Toasts with Avocado

Before I had kids, I was Academy Awards-obsessed.  It was like a holiday in my world.  I saw every Oscar nominated film prior to the big day (and usually by myself because I REFUSE to share popcorn - plus I can't handle it if someone doesn't enjoy a movie that I do).  My friends and I always had an Oscar viewing party that obviously began when the red carpet did so we could discuss fashion.  I could easily stay up to watch the entire, 11-hour-long telecast, because I had energy and slept through the night.  Now??  Now I've seen Trolls 150 times.  The last movies I saw in the theater were Rogue One and Zootopia (had to really rack my brain to come up with that one).  I haven't even heard of some of the Oscar-nominated films, nor do I know the actors in them (when I once knew their spouses and kid's names).  Do I still watch the show?  Yes.  As much as my exhausted self can handle (and I have to find a TV far, far away from my husband to catch any red carpet action).  

However, for those of you who love it, and still view it as a holiday, I'm going to offer you some Oscar-worthy snacks this week for your viewing party.  Like these elegant and delicious Lobster Toasts with Avocado.  If you buy pre-cooked lobster (which I found at Whole Foods) then these will come together in minutes, and they will also be eaten in minutes.  And the winner is... FOOD!  

Recipe HERE.

New Year's Eve tasting menu options on CBC's Weekend Morning Show

Tomorrow I will be presenting the following dishes for New Year's Eve treats, on CBC's Weekend Morning Show, with guest host, Laurie Hoogstraten.  I'll be on at 8:20AM as there will be a year end quiz after the 8:30 news.

This gorgeous beef tenderloin is available on Saturday morning at St. Norbert's Farmer's Market from 10-1PM at the Eagle's Club. One can use tenderloin, rib eye or strip loin for this dish from beef, bison, elk or veal.  Everything is locally produced from sustainable farms.  The micro greens are from Fresh Forage Farms where they grow amazing greens year round.

Beef Tenderloin Carpaccio (Beef from Manitoba Beef by Jim Lintott, available at St. Norbert's Farmer's Market)

Recipe By: Karen
Serving Size: 10
Preparation Time: 0:20

8 ozs tenderloin frozen (or rib eye)
2 cloves garlic minced
1/4 c preserves (I use Mostarda, fig jam, or raspberry)
1/3 c vinegar (shallot, raspberry, etc)
2/3 c extra virgin olive oil
1/4 tsp truffle oil optional
1/4 tsp truffle salt optional


Mix last 7 ingredients together and set aside. Thinly slice semi-frozen meat.
You can use bison, elk or beef tenderloin. Arrange slices on a platter and
drizzle vinaigrette over meat. Garnish with fresh berries or green onions. 

I used Fresh Forage Mustard Micro greens and Parmesan  Reggiano curls.

Serve with baguette slices or water crackers.
Enjoy!


Seared Foie Gras with fig or pear compote

The Foie Gras comes from Brome Lake, Quebec.  It is a free range duck.  They are not penned and walk around freely.  They come to be fed.  The whole duck is used in different products.  They provide an excellent foie gras and is available at DeLuca's on Portage Ave. 

Prepare crostini or toasts and top with warm compote as recipe follows;

1/2 - 1 whole sliced pear or 2-3 sliced fresh figs Or Mostarda with figs
1/2 tsp butter
ground hazelnuts (optional)
deglaze with Frangelico or Disorrono

Cook pear or figs in pan and cook down with liquor.

Prepare foie gras slices by slightly seasoning with sea salt.  In a hot pan, sear foie gras on both sides until brown and deglaze with liquor.  Place on prepared toasts, top with a few grains of Fleur d�sel or good sea salt and serve immediately.
Enjoy!

Crispy Tortellini Bites

How are your holiday breaks going?  Are you eating a tremendous amount of food and frying things for a midday snack like us?  My sister dragged me to my first ever Soul Cycle experience today and I thought I was going to die.  My body was like, "LOL you crazy fool, you've had 17 pounds of beef, chocolate and vodka over the past week, HOPE YOU'RE HAVING FUN!"  Oh well, the new year is right around the corner and then we'll all hit the gym and eat nothing but kale and drink gallons of water, right?  Riiiiight.  In the meantime, let's keep frying things!

These crispy tortellini bites are AMAZE BALLS.  They are also very easy to make, although slightly time consuming because you have to work in batches.  However, SO worth it.  It's as simple as making tortellini according to the package, coating it in an egg, flour, panko mixture and lightly frying it them in oil.  Serve alongside marinara for dipping and sprinkle parsley on top for color!    

Recipe HERE.

Have the Happiest, Healthiest New Year's Eve - see ya in 2017 :)

Fair Trade Gift and entertaining on CBC's Weekend Morning Show

 This morning on CBC's Weekend Morning Show with host Terry MacLeod, I presented some easy to prepare dishes that are also cruelty-free.  Now that the holidays are approaching, people love to serve shrimp.  If you buy certain wild caught shrimp from Argentina, Mexico, Texas, New Brunswick and Alaska, for example, you can be certain that slavery ships were not used to get the shrimp to your table.  The chocolate as well, is certified Fair Trade, which also means, for example, that child labour was not used to produce the chocolate.  Fair Trade Chocolate and other Fair Trade ingredients can be purchased at Ten Thousand Villages and through Fair Trade Manitoba.

Shrimp and other seafood are available at Gimli Fish.

Shrimp with dips (Korean)

1 bag wild caught peeled shrimp (now available at Gimli Fish) (or buy pre-cooked)

Blanch shrimp in boiling water until fully cooked and then cool immediately in an ice bath. Drain completely.

OR

Saut� shrimp in a drizzle of sesame oil until pink. Season with salt and white pepper. Chill until ready to serve. Serve with the following dipping sauces:

Korean dipping sauce
1 tablespoon kochu jiang (Korean hot pepper paste)
1 tbs white vinegar
drizzle sesame oil
1 tsp brown sugar
1/4 cup cold water
1/4 cup orange juice
1/2 scallion, finely chopped

Combine all ingredients until smooth. Enjoy with fried tofu, on salads, seafood, etc.

Wasabi Sour Cream Dipping Sauce
Sour cream
wasabi paste, to taste
pinch sugar

Mix all ingredients and increase wasabi for desired results. 
Fantastic with shrimp and other seafood but also wonderful with roast beef.

Ooey Gooey Brownies
1/2 cup butter
3 oz dark Fair trade Chocolate*
1 cup lightly packed brown sugar
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1/2 cup unbleached white flour

*Callebaut Chocolate available at DeLuca's Grocery Store in Winnipeg or look for the Fair Trade label.  www.fairtrademanitoba.ca  Camino Chocolate can be found at Ten Thousand Villages.

Preheat oven to 350�F
Butter an 8-9 inch square baking pan or bread pan.
In a heavy large pot, melt the butter and chocolate together, stirring occasionally. Prepare remaining ingredients separately. Beat eggs in a separate bowl. When the butter and chocolate have melted, remove from heat. Add the brown sugar and vanilla and stir until well incorporated. Add the beaten eggs and stir quickly to prevent the eggs from cooking. Stir in flour and mix until smooth.

Pour into pan and bake for up to 20 minutes. Enjoy hot or cold. Optional to add up to 1/4 cup of your favourite chopped nuts.

Butternut Squash, Leek and Ricotta Toast

It's fall!  My house has vomited up Halloween decorations!  I'm not sure if there is anything more satisfying in this world than the $1 bin at Target.  Are you with me?  Well, maybe this appetizer that I sort of made up last night.  I could eat ricotta on crusty bread any day, but add roasted butternut squash and caramelized leeks and a drizzle of balsamic glaze??  I could REALLY eat that.  I mean, I did really eat that.  Last night.  I ate a lot of it.  It's the perfect appetizer for your next cozy get together.  You know the kind, where you're all wearing chunky sweaters and drinking warm cider around a fire and stressing about how Christmas is right around the corner.    

Butternut Squash, Leek and Ricotta Toast
Makes about 10
Printable Recipe

1 cup diced butternut squash
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 leek, sliced
2 Tbsp unsalted butter
Salt and pepper
Ricotta
Small baguette, sliced
Balsamic glaze

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Place butternut squash on baking sheet, and toss with olive oil and salt and pepper.  Place sliced bread on another baking sheet.  Put both pans in the oven, and roast squash for 10-15 minutes and bread for about 10, flipping once to prevent burning.  Meanwhile, melt butter over medium heat in a small skillet.  Add sliced leeks and season with salt and pepper.  Saute for 10-15 minutes, until leeks begin to caramelize.  Set aside.  To assemble, spread ricotta on each slice of bread.  Top with some leeks and butternut squash.  Drizzle everything with balsamic glaze and sprinkle with some coarse or flaked salt.

Baked Crab Dip

Our time at the beach is almost over.  Teacher letters went out yesterday, which feels like the first official sign of fall.  I finally started to register the kids for their activities, which pretty much makes my head spin.  So for now, I'm soaking up every minute of the sun-filled, routine-less days.  I'm also trying to eat as much seafood as I can before heading back to my east coast bagels.  Like this easy, delicious baked crab dip.  I found lump crab meat at a Gelson's out west, but I'm sure Whole Foods would be a good alternative.  This appetizer was a hit at my daughter's two-year birthday celebration.  That's right, SHE IS TWO.  Wasn't I just posting an absurd amount of homemade cakes whilst pregnant with her???  Is "whilst" even a word?  Did I use it properly if so?    

Speaking of cakes, I will share her birthday cake(s) tomorrow.  In the meantime, make this dip!

Recipe here.

Crab Toasts with Lemon Mayo

Is everyone enjoying (or watching) the Olympics?  I think they're so much fun, and our TV is pretty much on NBC all day long.  My almost-two-year old even chants "U-S-A"  and definitely has no idea why.  These athletes just astonish me.  It is beyond my comprehension to be so gifted at a sport, and don't even get me started on the Butterfly stroke.  HOW DO BODIES DO THAT??  

We had an Olympic Opening Ceremonies party the other night (which I tried to snap and share in my Insta stories) and made different foods from around the world.  My kids and nieces drew flags to represent each country and we set them out by the food.  Fun was had by all, and just because the Opening Ceremonies are over, that doesn't mean you couldn't have your own Olympics party any night of the week with friends and family!?  I think you should, and then tag me on Instagram.  

I had seen this recipe for Crab Toasts with Lemon Mayo and knew I wanted to make them during our August vacation.  They were simple, bright and a perfect snack to enjoy beachside.  For our party, I claimed these were "Australian" because, I don't know, I've never been there and it seemed to work, ok?  Check out more of our "foods from around the world" below...

(I put that in quotes because we threw this together in a day, so be nice.)

Creamy Mushroom Toast

Can I tell you guys something?  Haha, like you have a choice.  Anyway, the month of August is the only time I relax.  Like really, truly relax.  Every year, we go to a small town in Southern California for vacation.  We are surrounded by family (also known as BABYSITTERS) and my kids actually play, outside, all day long.  Device time is limited (sort of, thanks Pokemon Go) and they fall asleep every night with sun kissed faces and sand in their ears (don't judge, there is a drought, we sacrifice our cleanliness).  I read a book and go for bike rides with my husband.  I play golf!  We NAP.  

August is a lovely and glorious month.  

And because we are in a rental home, I cook pretty often.  I'm excited to share some beachy, summery foods in the next few weeks.  But for now, this Creamy Mushroom Toast is something I made before we left.  It's a great appetizer or even lunch, especially paired with a salad.  

And now if you'll excuse me, I have to go do nothing.  

(Follow me on Insta and Snap for more food-related posts this month.)

Creamy Mushroom Toast

Serves 8-10

Printable Recipe

1 lb. sliced mushrooms

1 Tbsp olive oil

1 Tbsp butter

2 Tbsp red wine

2 Tbsp heavy cream

Salt and pepper

Sliced bread of choice, toasted

In a large skillet, heat olive oil and butter over medium heat.  Add mushrooms, in batches if necessary (you don't want to crowd them).  Saute for roughly 10 minutes, until they begin to brown and caramelize.  Add the red wine, and saut� until wine cooks off, a few minutes.  Lower heat to medium-low, and add the cream.  Saute for another couple of minutes.  Season to taste with salt and pepper.  Smother toast with mushrooms and enjoy!  (Would be great topped with parsley or chives as well.)

Smashed Pea and Ricotta Crostini

I know peas get a bad rep, I think because our grandmothers and their mothers cooked them until they were mushy and bland.  But I'm here to tell you that I LOVE PEAS!  (That just reminded me of the song "I LOVE TOAST" that they sometimes play on the SiriusXM radio station Kid Place Live, anyone out there know what I'm talking about?  I sort of love that song.  Anyway.)  I do, I love peas, because if peas are properly prepared they are bright and fresh and sweet and delicious.  When you "smash" peas with a hint of garlic, fresh basil and good olive oil, the result is perfection.  And then pairing that with creamy ricotta and toasty bread??  Perfect appetizer, your guests will rave.   

Smashed Pea and Ricotta Crostini 

Printable Recipe

2 cups frozen peas, thawed

1 clove garlic, roughly chopped

2 basil leaves, roughly chopped, plus more for sprinkling

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

3 Tbsp + 1 tsp olive oil, plus more for toasting bread

2 cups ricotta cheese

1 tsp honey

1 loaf french bread

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Cut bread into 1-inch diagonal slices and place on a baking sheet.  Brush both sides with olive oil, and toast for about 10 minutes, until it begins to turn golden (flipping halfway through).  In a saucepan, bring water to a boil.  Prepare a bowl of ice water.  Add peas to boiling water and cook for 2 minutes.  Drain and immediately place in ice water to stop cooking process.  Let sit for a few minutes, then drain.  Place peas, garlic, basil, salt, pepper and 3 tablespoons of the olive oil into a blender or food processor.  Blend until peas reach a smashed consistency.  In a small bowl, add the ricotta and stir in the honey and 1 teaspoon of olive oil.  Season to taste with salt and pepper.  Assemble toasts by spreading ricotta first, then smashed peas and sprinkle with more basil.         

Also, pea pesto here and here.

Caramelized Mushroom and Onion Mini Tarts

Hello friends.  As I sit here quietly watching the news so that my kids don't hear in the next room, it's hard to find something to say about mushroom and onion tarts.  After a weekend so consumed with death and hate, everything else feels foggy and pointless.  It's so natural to feel enraged, and confused, and sad as hell.  I also feel thankful, for the good, heroic people in this world who rush towards danger to lend a hand, who gather for vigils and memorials, who stand up for love and against hate.  The world keeps turning, even though it may feel completely stuck in place.        

So at your next gathering, look around the room and take in that you're lucky to be present with friends and family.  Surround yourselves with one another, and laughter, and love, and food.  And make these incredibly simple and delicious Caramelized Mushroom and Onion Mini Tarts - I mean, I had to squeeze it in here somewhere.  But honestly, food brings people together.  Food feeds our souls.  Food is love.  Spreading that love today and everyday to all of you!      

Recipe here.

Grilled Halloumi Cheese

I don't want to live in a world without cheese.  In fact, there have been times in my life when I've questioned whether or not I might have a slight aversion to dairy, but I honestly don't even care.  I love cheese too much.  I went to college in Wisconsin after all!  I don't think I've ever met a cheese that hasn't made me extremely happy.  Only recently did I discover Halloumi at a couple of our favorite Greek restaurants (this one on the east coast and this one out west).  It's this superb, mild, sturdy cheese that is perfect when grilled or fried.  My brother was over this weekend and he threw it on the BBQ for probably 5 minutes, drizzled it with good olive oil, a squeeze of fresh lemon and sprinkled it with sea salt and ground oregano.  We ate the entire plate!    

Cheese and Spinach Puff Pastry Bites

I have a tendency of getting on random food kicks where I eat the same thing every day for months.  Back in my 20's when I worked in an office, I ate a banana and peanut butter literally at the same time each day (if the office was out of bananas I would hyperventilate).  I'm nearing the end of my latest kick, which is the Wheat Spinach Savory Fold-Over Thingy (you'd think I'd know the official name of it) from Starbucks.  It's low in calories, it's the perfect mid-day snack, it's flaky and buttery and salty and delicious.  I've had puff pastry in my freezer for awhile in hopes of recreating it, and I sort of got around to it last night.  This is definitely a variation of the Starbucks version, but it's just as salty and buttery and delicious.  I followed this recipe but altered it by using puff pastry sheets instead, and cutting them into small circles before molding them into cups in a mini cupcake tin.  I baked them at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes until they were bubbly and golden.  

So what should I eat every day for the next few months?

Brussels Sprout Chips

Do you know what I consistently want?  Honey BBQ Fritos Twists.  Like, I want them all of the time.  If I could eat a bag every day without feeling guilty or disgusting (or gaining a thousand pounds)... I would.  And because of this, I don't think I've opened a bag since college.  I'm too afraid of what might happen once I taste that sweet and spicy crunch.  WHY IS IT THE PERFECT CRUNCH?  Nope, no... I must not go there.  Instead, I will make things like Brussels Sprout Chips, which are delightful and flavorful AND nutritious.  It is somewhat tedious, I admit, to rip off the outer leaves, but you can also slice them thinly with a knife for a similar effect and texture.  Check out this recipe if you would like to avoid Honey BBQ Fritos Twists taking over your life as well.  

Crispy Buffalo Cauliflower

Raise your hand if you love buffalo flavored anything!  Wow, I see 17 million hands!  Because I have 17 million followers!  Ok but really, I don't know many people who don't love buffalo sauce.  However, typically it's associated with rich foods like wings or burgers.  Not anymore, my friends, not anymore.  How about a crispy, buffalo VEGETABLE!  Cauliflower!  The hearty florets are lightly coated in a garbanzo bean flour & water batter (which makes them gluten-free, yes?), seasoned with garlic powder and a little salt, baked until crispy, smothered in buffalo sauce and baked some more.  They are so delicious, and would be even better dipped in a Greek-yogurt based blue cheese sauce (last night all I had was ranch on hand, still yummy).  I followed this recipe - enjoy!!

More buffalo: Bufalo Chicken Burgers, Buffalo Chicken Chili, Buffalo Chicken Chop Salad and Buffalo Deviled Eggs

Quinoa Pilaf in Turkish Dolmas on CBC's Weekend Morning Show!

 On Saturday, I'll be presenting the following Dolmas using local Tamarack Farms Quinoa, for CBC's Weekend Morning Show with host Terry MacLeod.  

Turkish Dolmas with local Quinoa pilaf (Adapted from Classical Turkish Cooking, by Ayla Algar)

1 cup Tamarack Farms Quinoa

2 cups vegetable stock

1 onion, finely diced

2-3 tbs olive oil

� cup fresh tomatoes, finely diced

� cup almond slices (or pine nuts.  I used almonds due to cost and allergies)

1-2 Tbs Turkish Baharat � or � � tsp each of cinnamon, dried mint, fresh dill, nutmeg, cloves, pepper

3 tsp sugar

� cup currants (or zerishk)

� cup raisins

3 tbs lemon juice

salt, to taste

For the Cabbage:  � cup water, 3 tbs lemon juice, salt

For the Peppers:  Rich tomato sauce, red wine

1. Saut� the onions in olive oil in a pot.  Add seasonings, tomatoes, almonds, currants, raisins, currants and then salt and lemon juice.  Add the quinoa and coat through.  Add the stock (or water) and bring to a simmer.  Cover and let simmer for 20+ minutes.  Let cool.

2. For the cabbage leaves:  Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and place a cored cabbage in the water for 4 minutes.  Peel off leaves and return to pot to repeat to remove more leaves. 

Cut out a small triangle of the core of each leaf.

Place a tablespoon or two of the pilaf at the top of the leaf, and roll, like a burrito or salad wrap, and place in a baking dish that has been lined with extra cabbage leaves at the bottom.

Fill the baking dish and cover with the water, lemon juice, olive oil and salt mixture. Bake at 300�F for 1-1/2 hours.

Serve warm or cold.

3.  For the peppers:  Core the peppers and cook in the boiling water for 4 minutes, to soften.  Fill with pilaf and place in a baking dish with a rich tomato sauce with red wine.  Bake at 350�F for 1 hour, or until soft.

Serve hot, warm or cold.

Enjoy !

Spinach Balls

I was recently on a "booze cruise" with a bunch of moms (and excuse me while I cry for not being there this very second).  We sailed along on a water ferry, drinking wine, eating appetizers and talking about how our kids and husbands drive us crazy!  Juuuuuust kiddddddding.  Anyways.  Someone made these Spinach Balls and they were FANTASTIC.  I asked her if I could share the recipe and she said yes, so here it is!  Funny story though, I made them over the weekend and forgot one giant ingredient: the 3/4 cup of butter.  I realized this after my first bite and wondered why they didn't taste as addictive as they had on the boat.  Butter... butter makes everything better.  However, they were still pretty good without the butter so if you're in the mood to make them SUPER healthy, you can go ahead and omit it.  (But I wouldn't recommend it cause I don't recommend those kind of things.) 

Spinach Balls

(Makes approx. 45)

Printable Recipe

2 packages 10oz. frozen chopped spinach, thawed

3/4 cup butter, melted

1 small yellow onion, diced

4 eggs

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

2 cups seasoned bread crumbs

1/4 tsp pepper

Pinch of salt (I was generous here)

Combine all ingredients, roll into small bowls, place on a baking sheet (I greased mine) and bake for about 20 minutes at 350 degrees, until the edges are golden.  Enjoy!

The next morning I saut�ed the leftovers in BUTTER and added a fried egg.  Yum.