Zucchini Bread

Zucchini Bread - 2 loaves or 1 bundt cake
Made this recipe hundreds of times. Let's put this in the category of "family favourite"

Ingredients
3 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
4 1/2 tsp double baking powder
1 tsp salt
4 eggs
2/3 cup vegetable oil
2 cups grated zucchini
2 tsp grated lemon peel
Optional 1 cup chopped walnuts

Directions
Preheat oven at 350 degrees. Grease and flour two 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 loaf or bundt pans.
In a large bowl with fork mix flour, sugar, walnuts, baking powder and salt.
In another medium bowl with fork beat eggs slightly, stir in vegetable oil, zucchini and lemon peels. Stir liquid mixture into flour mixture just until flour is moistened, spread evenly in pans. (I use my KitchenAid mixer on the lowest speed instead of using a fork and mix just until moistened.)
Bake bread for 1 hour or until golden brown inserting a toothpick for doneness. Cool pans on wire rack for 10 minutes, remove from a pans.

#zucchini #zucchinibread #bundtcake #cake

Polenta

Polenta
One of my childhood favourites!
Polenta is cornmeal boiled into a porridge, and eaten directly or baked, fried or grilled. The following recipe is how I make it which is found on the back of the package. Although the directions suggest to bring the wafer to a boil, I find that the polenta flour clumps up. I whisk the flour in the water right away. My favourite topping is pasta sauce with Parmesan cheese and just a .
drizzle of pickled hot pepper oil...yum!

Ingredients
2 1/2 cups corn flour
6 cups water
1 tsp salt

Directions
Place water in a large pot. Immediately whisk in corn flour with salt whisk frequently until it starts to thicken. Let simmer for 20 minutes, stirring frequently.
Place on individual plates and garnish with your favourite sauce and cheese, or serve with your favourite meat and gravy dish.

#polenta #cornmeal #porridge

Blog Oven Baked Ribs

Oven Baked Ribs

Fall off the bone super delicious! You will never BBQ again! I find the BBQ makes them too dry unless you like them that way.

Ingredients
4 lbs spare ribs
1 cup sliced onions
1 cup chilli sauce or ketchup
1 cup water
3 tbsp Worchestire sauce
1/2 cup vinegar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp chilli powder
1 tsp dry mustard
Salt and pepper
1/4 tsp paprika

Directions
Cut ribs into serving pieces. Bake on rake for 1 hour at 350 degrees. Drain fat. Remove rack. Combine remaining ingredients in a small pot. Bring to a boil. Pour sauce over meat. Bake for 2 hours or until meat is tender.
#bbq #ribs #ovenbakedribs

Old Fashioned Irish Beef Stew

Old Fashioned Irish Beef Stew


I've been making this recipe for many years and yet another family favourite. However cooking time is long but your family will love you for it. Be sure to have plenty of Italian crusted bread for dipping! Save this recipe for the cooler fall/winter day.

Ingredients

2 lbs beef for stew

1 onion, finely chopped

2 stalks celery, finely chopped

1 bay leaf

2 lg potatoes, peeled and chopped into chunks

(The potatoes are my favorite and so I add extra) 

3 lg carrots, peeled and cut into slices

2 cups frozen peas

4 cups beef broth

2 cups tomato sauce 

Flour in a plastic bag 

2 tbsp cooking oil

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Cut beef into bit-size cubes. Add beef cubes to flour in bag and shake until cubes are coated with flour. Heat oil in a large pot. Add celery, onion and bay leaf. Sauté until onions and celery are translucent but not browned. Add the beef to the pan and brown beef completely. Add beef broth and tomato sauce. If necessary, add enough water to cover beef. Add salt and pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer. Cover pot and cook for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours until beef is tender. Add carrots and potatoes. Cook 1/2 hour until vegetables are tender. Add frozen peas. Cook 5-10 minutes until peas are tender.

Note: Stir often

#stew #beefstew #homecooking #comfortfood

 

Chocolate Chip Zucchini Cake

Chocolate Chip Zucchini Cake
No one will ever know that zucchini is in the recipe. This is so good and taste like brownies.
Feel free to add some chopped walnuts!

Ingredients
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup cocoa (I used Hersheys)
1 teaspoon Baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup vegetable oil
2 cups packed grated zucchini, I left the skin on
1 1/2 cups chocolate chips

Instructions
Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a large mixing bowl, just till blended. Set aside.
In a medium mixing bowl beat eggs and sugar until fluffy. Add in oil and vanilla, beat again till well combined and oil doesn't separate after sitting for a few minutes.
Blend egg mixture to flour mixture. Beat till blended but don't over beat. It'll be the consistency of thick brownie batter.
Fold in zucchini and chocolate chips.
Pour batter into 2 greased or sprayed loaf pans.
Bake in a preheated 350 dergee over for 50-60 minutes. Test for doneness using a toothpick.
Let cool for 20 minutes in pan before removing to rack to cool completely.
Sprinkle with powdered sugar, slice and serve.



recipe source ChocolateChocolateandmore.com
#chocolate #zucchini #cake

Ricotta Gnocchi

Ricotta Gnocchi

A healthier version of gnocchi instead of using potatoes.

Ingredients 

3 cups packaged whole-milk ricotta cheese

1¾ teaspoon salt

2 large eggs

½ cup Parmigiano-Reggiano, freshly grated

½ teaspoon white pepper, freshly ground

2 cups all-purpose flour, or as needed, plus more for forming the gnocchi.

Directions 

Beat the eggs, and 1 teaspoon salt in a separate bowl until foamy. Stir the ricotta, eggs, grated cheese and pepper until thoroughly blended. Gradually add as much of the flour as necessary to form a soft and sticky dough. (Ricotta gnocchi dough is always soft and sticky-don't work in so much flour that you have a firm or smooth dough, or the gnocchi will be tough and heavy. 

Divide the dough into six approximately equal pieces. Roll one of the dough pieces out with a back-and-forth movement of your palms and fingers to a rope about 1/2-inch wide. Flour your hands, the work surface and the dough lightly as necessary to prevent the dough from sticking. Cut the roll crosswise into 1/4-inch lengths. Repeat with the remaining dough. Dust the cut gnocchi lightly with flour and toss them gently to separate. If not using right away, place them in a single layer on a baking sheet and place in refrigerator until ready for use. 

In a large pot of boiling water, add some salt and add the gnocchi, stirring occasionally until they float to the top and are tender, about 5 minutes. 

Strain and serve with your favourite sauce. 

***If you like, make ridges in each gnocchi by placing them on a fork pressing it down with your finger rolling off the fork. Or you can do this on the bottom end of a ribbed wicker basket (what I use and prefer them this way).

#ricotta #gnocchi #dumplings

Lidia Bastianich

Cinnamon Roll Cake

CINNAMON ROLL CAKE

INGREDIENTS
3 cups flour
¼ tsp. salt
1 cup sugar
4 tsp. baking powder
1½ cups milk
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
½ cup butter, melted

TOPPING
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar
2 Tbsp. flour
1 Tbsp. cinnamon

GLAZE
2 cups powdered sugar
5 Tbsp. milk
1 tsp. vanilla

INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9×13 glass baking pan with cooking spray. Set aside.
In an electric or stand mixer add the flour, salt, sugar, baking powder, milk, eggs, and vanilla. Once combined well , slowly stir in the melted butter. Pour into the prepared 9×13 baking pan.

For topping
In a large bowl mix the 2 sticks of butter, brown sugar, flour and cinnamon together until well combined and creamy. Drop evenly over the batter by the tablespoonfuls and use a knife to marble/swirl through the cake.
Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes or when a toothpick inserted near the center comes out nearly clean.

FOR GLAZE
In a medium bowl, mix the powdered sugar, milk and vanilla together with a whisk. Drizzle evenly over the warm cake. Serve warm or at room temperature.
#cinnamoncake #cinnamon #cake
Community Cooking

Lentil Soup

Lentil Soup

My favourite because it is simple, delicious, nutritionally good and so easy. If you prefer a creamy consistency (like I do), when soup has cooked, purée half the batch.

Ingredients
1 tsp olive oil
2 stalks celery, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 onion, chopped
4 cups reduced-sodium vegetable or chicken stock
3/4 cup water
3/4 cup dried brown lentils, rinsed
1/4 tsp salt (or to taste)
      Freshly ground black pepper

Directions
In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Sauté celery, carrots, garlic and onion for 10 minutes.
Stir in stock and water: bring to a boil over medium high heat. Stir in lentils and return to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for about 30 minutes or until lentils and vegetables are tender. Season with up to 1/4 tsp salt and pepper to taste.
#soup #lentil #nutritional
Sue Ekserci, RD

Pasta Sauce

My own spaghetti sauce!

Ingredients
Extra virgin olive oil
1 small onion chopped fine
2 cloves garlic minced
3-4 pieces of pork meat-neck bones, breast or riblets
2-28oz cans of whole plum peeled tomatoes puréed
1 5.5oz can tomato paste
Water
1 tbsp butter
1 bunch basil chopped or torn
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions
Heat a large pot on medium heat and add just enough olive oil to cover the bottom.
Add pork meat and cook till brown, stirring frequently. Add chopped onions, salt and pepper and cook till soft. Add garlic and cook for a few minutes.

Add about 1/2 cup of water stir with wooden spoon and rest the spoon on top of pot with lid leaving a vent. Stir occasionally until most of the water evaporates.
Stir in puréed tomatoes. Add water by rinsing cans. Add paste, butter, basil, salt and pepper.
Raise the heat to a high boil, then simmer for 1 hour. Vent the pot once again and simmer for 1 hour.

Notes
For a tastier sauce, add Italian sausage and meatballs when browning the meat.
#tomatosauce #italian #spaghetti

Easy Burgers

Easy Burgers
I've been making these for many years. The recipe originally is for pan frying but if you want to BBQ, add some breadcrumbs to the mix and split the recipe in four, you will have juicy quarter pounders!

Ingredients
2 eggs
1 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp flour
1 tbsp finely chopped onion
1 lb ground beef or turkey or chicken
1/4 cup milk

Instructions
Beat together eggs, seasonings and flour till smooth. Stir in onion, beef and milk, mix well. Drop 6 large spoonfuls into lightly greased non-stick frying pan, flatten to make patties. Fry three or four minutes at medium heat, turn and fry other side. Serve on toasted buns with toppings of your choice.
#burgers #bbq #summerfood

Fran's Macaroni Salad

Fran's Macaroni Salad

Ingredients
1 lb cooked macaroni (any short type will work)
Hellman's regular or light mayonnaise as much as you need or want
1-2 cans drained flaked tuna
1 celery chopped finely
2 green onions chopped finely
Salt
Pepper

Directions
Cook pasta "al dente". Strain and rinse in cold water. Strain well.
Add mayonnaise, tuna, celery, green onions, salt and pepper.
Serve chilled.
***You can add finely chopped red peppers and/or grated carrots.
#macaronisalad #salad #tuna

Homemade Pizza

Homemade Pizza

How can you not scream it every time! L.O.V.E. pizza who doesn't?
We hardly ever order takeout pizza when you can make it at home in the time you would go pick up the pizza or have it delivered. And there is nothing better than having a hot piping homemade pizza right out of the oven.
And the varieties...endless, endless I tell ya!

Tip with bakery bought dough:
Leave open bag of dough sit at least 1/2 hour for a second rising.

Pepperoni and mushrooms pizza:

Ingredients
Bakery or store bought pizza dough
1/2 jar Ragu with mushrooms pasta sauce (trust me, it's the best or use whatever you prefer), or you can use homemade marinara sauce. See in my blog
Grated mozzarella cheese as as much as you need or want
Sliced pepperoni
1 canned or fresh mushrooms

Directions
Turn oven on to 425 degrees. Spray pizza pan with cooking spray. With well floured hands place dough on floured counter. Press the dough outward with your fingers then pick up the dough and stretch it by grabbing the outer edges pinching the ends in a circular motion. Place dough back onto counter and adjust the size to fit the pan rolling it with a rolling pin.

Place pizza dough on a large pizza tray sprayed with cooking spray and poke pizza dough all over with a fork (or you can purchase a pizza roller).
Place in the oven for about 30 seconds. (This step will eliminate a soggy pizza).
Carefully remove tray from oven and tadd spread sauce, add mozzarella, pepperoni  slices and mushrooms.
Bake at 425 degrees till bubbly and the cheese starts to turn colour. If you want a well done pizza (always my favourite), slide pizza off the tray and let it bake on top of oven rack for about 30 seconds.
Remove pizza from oven sliding it back onto tray. Let it rest a few minutes, slice and enjoy!

***You have some time on your hands and you want to make your own dough you say? It's easy if you have a good mixer with a dough hook.
This recipe is made with baker's yeast. Most bakeries will sell their yeast to customers. Usually sold in a 1 pound piece like a pound of butter, I cut it up into 1 tbsp size individually wrapped and put in freezer ready to use any time! A little bit of work but so worth the effort!

Ingredients
This recipe is for a 24 slice tray of pizza. Cut recipe in half for 1 large pizza.

2 tbsp yeast (defrost if frozen)
2 cups warm water
2 tbsp olive oil
4 to 5 cups of flour
2 tsp salt
1 tbsp oil

Directions
Dissolve the yeast in the warm water, cover with a tea towel 5-10 minutes. When yeast is formed, add the 2 tsp olive oil.
In a mixing bowl, combine the flour and salt.
Slowly add the yeast mixture to the mixer kneading the dough until all the flour is incorporated and dough is smooth, about 10 minutes. If dough is sticking to the bowl, add a little more flour. Bowl should be clean of the flour.

Coat 1 tbsp oil in a large bowl. Place dough in bowl then flip it to coat other side.
Cover bowl with plastic wrap and place in warm place for about 2 hours.
On a floured counter, remove dough and give a quick knead. Cover once again and let it rest for 1/2 hour.
Continue with directions above.
#pizza #Italian #homemade #pepperoni #mushrooms

Fran's Potato Salad

Foodie Fran's Potato Salad

I don't have exact measurements because I've always done it "as needed" depending how many potatoes I was using. However, I will base it on 5 lbs of potatoes because your guests will want seconds on this!

Ingredients
5 lbs potatoes coarsely chopped about the same size
Hellman's regular or light mayonnaise (as much as you need for a creamy consistency)
(I swear by Hellman's, nothing else measures up, but use what you prefer)
4 hard boiled eggs - 3 chopped 1 sliced
1 finely chopped celery
2 green onions finely chopped
1 tablespoon relish
Back pepper
Paprika

Directions
Boil potatoes in salted water, cooking about 20 minutes until the potatoes are cooked. Drain.
Mash the potatoes immediately and let them cool.
Mix in mayonnaise, chopped eggs, celery and green onions.
Add relish and black pepper. Taste to add more salt if needed.
Place in serving bowl. Sprinkle paprika all over and add the egg slices forming a circle for presentation. If you have a small leafy stalk of the celery, add in centre of egg circle for added presentation :)
Serve chilled.

**You can add finely chopped red peppers and/or grated carrots.
#potatosalad

Banana Chocolate Chip Zucchini Cookies

Ahmazing! These cookies were so easy to make and delicious! Next time I will add chopped walnuts :)

Banana Chocolate Chip Zucchini Cookies
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients
3/4 cup shortening
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 cups grated zucchini, squeezed dry
2 ripe bananas, mashed
3 3/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups chocolate chips

Instructions
Cream the shortening and sugar. Add the eggs and beat again. Stir in the zucchini and banana. Sift together the dry ingredients and slowly add until incorporated. Stir in the chocolate chips by hand.
Drop by spoonfuls onto baking sheets. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Let cool on the baking sheets for 2 minutes before removing to wire racks. Cool completely. Store in sealed containers.
#cookies #chocolatechips #zucchini #banana
http://insidebrucrewlife.com/2010/07/zucchini-overload