Saturday, May 7, 2016

Phyllo Wrapped Steelhead Trout with Saskatoon Savory Sauce on CBC's Weekend Morning Show. Something that any kid could make...

This morning I presented this dish for CBC's Weekend Morning Show, with guest host, Laurie Hoogstraten.  It really is very simple to prepare with impressive results. 


Phyllo Wrapped Steelhead Trout with savory Saskatoon sauce

1 fillet Steelhead Trout (naturally raised in Warren Manitoba, available at Gimli Fish, from Watersong Farms http://www.watersongfarms.com/)
2 cups sliced mushrooms (white button, crimini, shitake, chanterelles, etc.)
Optional:  1/4 cup ch�vre in mushroom mixture
3 tbs butter (1 for saut�ing mushrooms, and 2ish melted for buttering phyllo pastry
1 tbs olive oil
� tsp freshly grated nutmeg
2 shallots, minced
Dijon mustard, to lightly cover the fillet
3-4 sheets Phyllo

Cut filet into serving sized pieces and set aside in the refrigerator. Thaw phyllo and prepare mushrooms as follows:

On medium-high heat, saut� shallots until translucent and add the mushrooms. Saut� until mushrooms are soft. Deglaze with white wine or Mirin (optional). Set aside and let cool.

Preheat oven to 350�F. For the phyllo dish: Lightly coat the fish piece with Dijon Mustard and place on phyllo sheet, cut to fold and cover only. Top with saut�ed mushrooms. Fold pastry over fish and mushrooms and brush with melted butter. Bake for 12 -15 minutes, until brown and depending on the thickness of the fish.

Saskatoon Sauce

1 cup Saskatoons (frozen, wild, available from Gimli Fish)
1 tbs butter
1 tbs olive oil
� tsp dried thyme
1 tbs Dijon Mustard
salt and pepper, to taste
� cup red wine or port

Heat pat to medium high heat and add butter and olive oil. Add Saskatoons and cook until soft. Add mustard, seasonings and red wine. Cook until shiny. Serve over Phyllo Wrapped Steelhead Trout.

Enjoy! 


Later that day...

And for the D.A.Niels Tajine Cooking demo....

Moroccan Beef Stew (can use lamb)
2 lb beef roast, cut into bite-sized pieces
2 onions, thinly sliced
2 tbs ras el hanout
1-2 tbs olive oil
1-2 tbs butter
good pinch saffron
2 large tomatoes, chopped
3 carrots, peeled and diced
2 green peppers, seeded and diced
1/2 - 1 cup prunes
2-3 tbs honey
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup red wine
salt, to taste

Slowly saut� onions on medium-low heat with olive oil until they begin to caramelize. Stir in Ras el Hanout spice blend. Turn up heat to medium-high and add butter and saffron. Brown meat well on all sides and add tomatoes and other vegetables. Add broth, prunes and honey. Add red wine and salt and let simmer for 1-2 hours, depending on using the tajine and toughness of the meat. Meat should melt in your mouth when done.

Serve with flat breads, rice, couscous or bulgur.

Enjoy!



Marak (Tajine) of Red Cabbage with Tomatoes and Olives
� cup olive oil 

1 medium head red cabbage (can use cauliflower), cored and small slice
2 tsp sugar
2 ripe or canned tomatoes, chopped (I�m using 2 tbs good tomato paste with tomatoes)
2 tsp hot smoked paprika
2 tsp toasted ground cumin
4 garlic cloves, grated into paste
1 tsp sea salt
2 tbs chopped flat leaf parsley
Juice of � lemon, to taste
 � preserved lemon (see chef for details)
12 green-ripe olives, pitted



1. Heat oil in tajine over low heat.  Add cabbage and sugar and cover with lid or with parchment paper and the lid and cook gently for 10 minutes.  Raise heat slightly and add a splash of water.
2. Add tomatoes and paprika and continue to cook, covered for a few minutes.
3. mix cumin and garlic and add with � cup water to tajine.  Cook gently for 20 + minutes.
4. Add the parsley and lemon juice.  Garnish with the slivered lemon and olives (or cook in with tajine).  Serve warm or at room temperature.



Enjoy!

Friday, May 6, 2016

Chicken and Sweet Potato Enchiladas


Hello!  Welcome back to me!  We just returned from California where we were for almost two weeks, and I won't lie, I don't mind that my kids are still jet lagged and sleeping in until 8:00 am every morning.  Especially because I know it won't last!  I've missed you guys, I've missed cooking, I've missed my routine... and non-travel-sized toiletries.  I finally got back into the kitchen last night to celebrate Cinco de Mayo and my Mama's birthday!  She wasn't with us (lives in Minnesota), but we toasted to her (tequila, obviously) and enjoyed these delicious Chicken and Sweet Potato Enchiladas.  

I followed this recipe with a few alterations: used an already cooked Rotisserie chicken, added two chopped sweet potatoes with the chicken (that I microwaved for 8 minutes first), and used mini corn tortillas (which fit into one pan - the recipe calls for two).  It was superb!  I would highly recommend adding it to your weeknight meal repertoire.  

For a behind-the-scenes look at my prep, hurry on over to Snapchat (siriouslydelish) and follow me!  I think I'm slowly getting the hang of it... sloooooowly (I'm an old person now).  

Wednesday, May 4, 2016

My Recent Paper on Linoleic Acid in Adipose Tissue

Linoleic acid (LA) is the predominant polyunsaturated fat in the human diet, and it's most concentrated in seed oils such as corn oil. LA accumulates in fat tissue, and as with many of the nutrients we eat, it is biologically active. In a new paper, we systematically review the studies that have measured the LA concentration of fat tissue in US adults over time. We show that the LA concentration of fat tissue has increased by approximately 136 percent over the last half century.

Susan Carlson, PhD
In 2011, I posted a graph on my blog in which I summarized some of the studies that have measured the LA content of fat tissue in US adults over time (1). It showed a remarkably consistent upward trend. Last year, a University of Kansas nutrition researcher named Susan Carlson contacted me and asked if I had published my findings in a scientific journal, because she wanted to cite the trend in one of her papers. I said I hadn't published them, but that I would love to do so together.

Read more �

Burnaby Farmer's Market Opening May 7, 2016

From time to time, we will share with you news or stories from our supporters and we have asked them to provide us with their stories. If you (or your organization) have a story or news related to food security to share, email us at Burnabyfoodfirst@gmail.com and we would be happy to post it on our blog!



Our first one is from Ron Gorman who is with the Burnaby Farmer's Market. Ron is one of Burnaby Food First's supporters (yeah, Ron!) and sits on our Steering Committee as well as lends us a helping hand on other projects too!



We at Burnaby Food First, support buying local fruits and vegetables...and the Burnaby Farmer's Market is one the best places to do just that! We hope to see you there!



-----

By Ron Gorman, Burnaby Farmer's Market














The Burnaby Farmers Market is opening this coming Saturday
May 7, 2016
at 9:00 am - 2:00 pm. We are back at City Hall's (Burnaby) North Parking Lot (for those who have never been) - 4949 Canada Way, Burnaby.





All your favourite vendors are back with a number of
new vendors joining the fun! We have missed all our loyal and wonderful
customers and are building our market this year! 





Join in our Market Bingo
activity opening day for a chance to win $25 in market certificates! 





You can check out our new website at www.artisanmarkets.ca





We would love it
if you could share with others about what you like about our market on our
social media (Facebook/Twitter/Instagram) or share a Yelp review! Come on down
for a coffee, read the paper, do your Saturday shopping and grab a bite at one
of our food trucks! Lots of parking!  





Can�t wait to see you each Saturday in
the Burnaby City Hall Parking lot from 9:00 am - 2:00 pm! Don't forget to bring your own bags to carry your purchases home!



We look forward to seeing you this Saturday!




Sunday, May 1, 2016

Join us on June 8, 2016 - To Talk About Burnaby Food Matters!

Burnaby Food Matters: Food for Today; Food for the Future





When: Wednesday, June 8, 2016

Where: Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre,

6688 Southoaks Cres., Burnaby







Two Sessions:






Registration
1:15 pm to 2:00 pm
Afternoon Session
2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Nourish and Network
5:00 pm to 6:00 pm*
Evening Session
6:00 pm to 8:30 pm



*A light dinner will be provided for all registrants



Join us for the second Burnaby Food Forum! Come together to:


  • learn about local programs and projects

  • be inspired by great ideas for the future of food

  • learn about how you can make change where you live, work, play, volunteer and learn

  • discuss why food is important and how it helps us and our communities stay healthy


Note: Participants are welcome to register for one or both of the Forum sessions. Please check back to our website. Registration details will be circulated soon.



Please feel free to download our 2016 Food Forum poster and share with your networks! Help spread our event and we look forward to seeing you on Wednesday June 8th at the Nikkei Museum & Cultural Centre!

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Shredded Chicken Gorditas

Shredded Chicken Gorditas | Loves Food Loves to EatToday I�m joining some other fun people on the interwebz in sharing recipes for Cinco de Mayo (scroll to the bottom for links)! Before we get started, a few notes:

  • Cinco de Mayo is not Mexican Independence Day (that�s in September).
  • Cinco de Mayo is the day that marks the Mexican army's victory over France at the Battle of Puebla.
  • Since the Battle of Puebla, no country in the Americas has been invaded by any other European military, and it�s believed that this victory also helped the Union army beat the Confederacy in the American Civil War.
  • Cinco de Mayo is not widely celebrated all over Mexico, but is celebrated in the state of Puebla.
  • Mexico is a really big country, with tons of regional variations in culture and cuisine. Mexico is not just sombreros, ponchos, chips, and salsa.

Shredded Chicken Gorditas | Loves Food Loves to EatThis year for Cinco de Mayo, I�m trying to move beyond the thoughtless �cinco de drinko� celebrations I�ve had in the past. How do we navigate celebrating and appreciating a culture that isn't ours, while trying not to appropriate it? I think a good place to start is to learn a fact or two about the actual day. And also to avoid dressing up like racial caricatures. And, if we celebrate with food and drinks, which we tend to do in the US, to branch out and see what else Mexico has to offer, beyond guacamole and margaritas (both of which, are also delicious).
Shredded Chicken Gorditas | Loves Food Loves to Eat
That�s what I�m doing�with Gorditas! You might be thinking �you said to branch out and now you�re eating at Taco Bell�the most Americanized �Mexican� fast food place ever.� Here�s the thing: these aren't your run-of-the-mill Taco Bell gorditas... and also, there is a time and place for Taco Bell. I don�t really eat fast food anymore, and haven�t had Taco Bell in years and years. But�one time in high school, we needed a quick lunch when a bunch of family was in town� and we spent around $100 in the Taco Bell drive-thru. That is a LOT of tacos. And freshman year in college, after a couple months of dorm food, my sister drove my roomie and me to the nearest Taco Bell, far from campus, and seriously, it was so comforting and familiar� it felt like a home cooked meal. In my early twenties, I had many post-drinking, late-night, fourth-meal  chalupa supremes. So yes, while I don�t eat it these days, I admit, there is a time and a place for Taco Bell.
Shredded Chicken Gorditas | Loves Food Loves to Eat
However, gorditas happen to be a real thing beyond the walls of Taco Bell, and, according to my research, are actually nothing like the thick, puffy, fast-food flat-bread-like taco shell you may be familiar with. They are, in fact, little round, fried masa-cakes, that are incredibly easy to make, and can be topped or filled with anything your heart desires, from soft fresh cheese, to ground beef, to chicken tingas. They also taste really good fresh and warm, with a drizzle of honey!

After going back and forth between a few cookbooks, I ended up basing my masa-cake recipe off the one in Mexico: The Cookbook, which is beautiful behemoth of a cookbook (according to a lot of reviews, it�s actually really poorly edited and fairly inaccurate, but as a seasoned home cook, I think it has enough to get me started and provide a ton of inspiration� buy at your own risk, I guess). Rather than a traditional filling, I went with my weeknight standby: a store bought rotisserie chicken, shredded and tossed in warmed enchilada sauce. 
Shredded Chicken Gorditas | Loves Food Loves to Eat
Gorditas with Shredded Chicken 
Adapted from Mexico, the Cookbook
Serves 4

2 cups + 3 tablespoons masa
� cup AP flour
� teaspoon salt
1.5 cup + 2 tablespoons water
Oil with a high smoke point (like vegetable oil, sunflower oil, grapeseed) or ghee

Whisk together the masa, flour, and salt. Add water a tablespoon at a time, until dough is moist, soft, and pliable (but not wet). Roll into 15 balls, and flatten each ball to about �- � inch thick disk.

Heat a couple tablespoons (enough to fully coat the bottom) oil or ghee (I used a mix of both) in a heavy bottomed skillet, over medium heat. Cook a couple of gorditas at a time, a minute or two on each side, until golden and crisp. Drain on a paper towel. Once cool enough to handle, slide open to fill. 

Filling & Topping
� rotisserie chicken
1 cup green enchilada sauce, warmed
Refried beans, heated
Cotija cheese, crumbled
Sour cream
Shredded lettuce
Tomatoes
Avocado

Shred chicken and toss with warmed sauce. Fill each gordita with a dollop of beans and a spoonful of chicken. Top with cheese, sour cream, lettuce, tomatoes, and avo, as desired.

Shredded Chicken Gorditas | Loves Food Loves to Eat

Wait, there's more! 
Check out a bunch of fun Cinco de Mayo inspired recipes! Everything from cocktails and snacks to desserts and dinner ideas!

Margarita Granita by Feast + West
Cinco de Mayo Party Inspiration and Recipes by A Joyfully Mad Kitchen
Poblano & Mushroom Tosadas by The Mexitalian
Roasted Strawberry Rhubarb Agua Fresca by Will Frolic for Food
Street Corn-style Roasted Potatoes by A Little Gathering
Pork & Black Bean Stew by think fruitful
Tequila Lime Tart by Love & Flour
Crispy Fish Tacos with Cajun Mayo by Winstead Wandering
Strawberry Watermelon Agua Fresca by A Savory Feast
Carne Asada Fries by Tornadough Alli
Mexican Carrot Dogs with Chunky Salsa Verde by Strength and Sunshine
Raspberry Lime Rickey Margaritas by Feed Me Phoebe
Slow Cooked Carnitas Style Chicken by Simple and Savory
Chicken Fajita Sandwich by Brunch-n-Bites
Cantaloupe Mint Margaritas by The Speckled Palate
Brussel Sprout, Wild Mushroom, Avocado and Feta Tacos with Tomatillo Salsa by Arthur Street Kitchen
Spiced Chocolate Ice Cream with Roasted Pepitas by Bethany Grow
Roasted Veggie Salsa by Living Well Kitchen
Seared Scallop Tacos with Spring Mango Salsa and Avocado Cream by Domesticate ME!
Blackberry mint agua fresca by the Grant life
Nightshade Free Southwest Salad by I Say Nomato
Southwestern orzo salad by Family Food on the Table
Watermelon Mint Margarita by Gold & Bloom
Mix-Your-Own Guac Bar by Hey There Sunshine
Blood Orange Margaritas by Glisten and Grace
Veggie Stuffed Chiles Rellenos with Avocado Cream by Hello Little Home
Traditional Homemade Flour Tortillas by Sustaining the Powers
Slow Cooker Red Chicken Enchiladas by Sustaining the Powers
Sizzling Texas Fajitas by Sustaining the Powers
Margarita Poke Cake by Pink Cake Plate
Cheesy Southwest Egg Rolls by Pink Cake Plate
Mojito Cupcakes by The Rustic Willow
Margarita Shrimp Tacos by Macheesmo
Pineapple Cilantro Salsa by Feast + West
One Pot Taco Soup by A Joyfully Mad Kitchen
Tequila Lime Cupcakes with Margarita Buttercream by Sugar Dish Me
Slow Cooker Chipotle Turkey Tacos by Two Places at Once
Margarita Bar by Mixplorology

34 of the best Cinco de Mayo inspired recipes! Everything from cocktail recipes, dessert recipes, salsa recipes and dinner ideas for Cinco de Mayo. Pin for later!

Saturday, April 23, 2016

Changing the diet on CBC's Weekend Morning Show

This morning, on CBC's Weekend Morning Show with host Terry MacLeod,  I presented the following recipes that have been adapted to Low Glycemic Index ingredients to benefit people living with diabetes.  

Curry leaves can be purchased at Dino's Grocery Mart on Notre Dame, Dong Thai groceries on Notre Dame, Young's (three locations), Lucky's, etc.


Eggs, Potatoes and Cauliflower

There are a number of steps in preparation but its really worth clearing the preparation space, getting the mise en place all ready and going ahead with this recipe. This dish can easily be made ahead of time and reheated. Vegans can enjoy this recipe without the eggs. The addition of sweet potatoes or yams makes this more friendly for living with diabetes as the long fibres break down slower, thus preventing peaks in blood sugar.  This would also be perfect for Passover.

1 head cauliflower
1 cup UNSWEETENED coconut (original recipe called for freshly grated)
1 teaspoon salt
4 Roma tomatoes, cubed
1-inch cube of fresh ginger, cut smaller
4 cloves garlic, peeled
2 tablespoons olive oil (original recipe called for vegetable oil)
1 tsp fenugreek seeds
1-inch stick of cinnamon
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1-3 fresh hot green chilies, minced
1 tsp ground turmeric
6-12 fresh curry leaves (use more if using dried curry leaves)
2-4 yams/sweet potatoes, cubed (original recipe called for boiling potatoes)
4-6 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and cut in half crosswise
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon garam masala


1. Put the coconut into a blender container on high and slowly add 1 cup very hot water. Let blend for more than a minute. Strain through a cheesecloth or fine sieve, squeezing out as much liquid as possible. This is the first coconut milk. Set aside.

Put the coconut that remains back in the blender and repeat with another cup of very hot water. Strain in another container and set aside. This is the second coconut milk.

2. Hard boil the eggs and cool, peel and cut in half. Set aside.

3. Cube yams.

4. Break the cauliflower into flowerets or bite-sized pieces.

5. Put the ginger, garlic, and chilies in a small blender cup and add 1/4 cup water. Blend until it makes a smooth paste.

6. Heat the oil in a large cooking pot over medium heat. When hot, first put in the fenugreek seeds. After a couple of seconds, add the cinnamon stick. Add the onion and fry for about 2 minutes. Add the ginger-garlic-chili paste and fry for another minute.

7. Add tomatoes, turmeric and curry leaves to the pot. Keep stirring and frying for 2 minutes. Now add half of the second coconut milk., cover, turn heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes.

8. Uncover, add the yams or potatoes, cauliflower, 1 tsp salt and the remaining half of the second coconut milk. Stir gently and bring to a simmer.

9. Cover and simmer on low heat for 5 minutes, stirring once or twice.

10. Uncover again and put in the halved eggs, cut side up, the first coconut milk and the lemon juice. Mix very gently, spooning the sauce over the eggs. Cover and simmer another 5 minutes. Sprinkle in the garam masala. Mix gently.

Enjoy!

Filipino Avocado Milkshake

This is the traditional recipe.  I will change it by dropping the sugar, milk and ice-cream and using stevia, frozen condensed fat free milk.  Avocados are recommended as a snack before bed due to the long fibres and the good fats which are beneficial for people living with diabetes.  The Australian Diabetes Association recommends 1 avocado per day.


Ingredients

1 avocado - peeled, pitted, and cubed
5 cubes ice
1 tbs stevia
1 teaspoon fresh lemon or lime juice (optional)
1 tin frozen fat-free condensed milk


Directions

Place avocado, ice, stevia milk, lemon juice, into a blender. Puree until smooth.