Cream of Crimini Mushroom Soup

I know I have come up with something good when, half way through an avid conversation, there’s a pause for appreciation of the yumminess they are eating.  This was the reaction to this seriously intense mushroom flavoured soup. 

Little Sheep Mongolian Hot Pot

Upon my better half’s return from a trip to Shanghai, he could not stop raving about the Hot Pot dinner he had.  Now you have to understand, he was quite leery of the food he was going to be exposed to while in Asia, so I was happily surprised that he was excited about this meal.  

Having spent time in Asia and absolutely loving their cuisine, I was curious to see what this Hot Pot meal was all about.  Naturally, when we found out that the Little Sheep Mongolian Hot Pot restaurant in Shanghai, also had a location in Montreal, we had to give it a try!

High Tea @ Le Maître Chocolatier

High tea has been something I have wanted to do for what feels like an eternity.  Not entirely sure what had been the hold-up.  My last attempt was while visiting NYC for the first time last summer.  I had booked us for high tea at The Russian Tea Room, a place I have wanted to visit ever since I heard about it.  Unfortunately, our visit was cut short due to hurricane Irene bearing down, and the Russian Tea Room was just one of the many food excursions we had to cancel. 

Having seen a good deal for Le Maître Chocolatier on Living Social, I decided to seize the opportunity to finally give high tea a try, and at a discount no less! 

Watermelon Cultivation Day

Today was watermelon cultivation day!  A happy day given that my hearty plant succumbed to, what we believe to be, a disease.  Dark black spots on the leaves, vines and watermelons is not a good sign.

Petite Gâterie "Les Incroyables" Macarons Ladurée

A friend stopped by for brunch while here on business from Paris.  And, the chivalrous guest that he is, brought us une petite gâterie from renowned Parisian pâttiserie Ladurée.  They have been making incredible (“incroyable”) macarons since the early 20^th century, and continue to expand on their original creations by introducing a new flavour each season.

Must Have Beauty Products

via

A quick snapshot of my go-to beauty products.

Enjoy!

French Onion Soup

I typically make French Onion Soup in the fall and winter; however, I ended up with a whole whack of onions as I needed the onion bags to help suspend my growing watermelons!  So I found myself making this soup in the middle of July during a record breaking heat wave!  Probably not the most ideal timing, but is there really ever a wrong time to eat French onion soup?!

Lemon Snow-esque

I'm usually in charge of dessert for our family get togethers, and with my massive sweet tooth, I suppose I'm a natural selection. There are, however, challenges associated with this responsibility. Up first is the daunting task of pleasing so many people. While I think it is safe to say that we all enjoy desserts, the majority of us don't like our sweets to be too sweet. The next hurdle is several of my family members do not enjoy cakes - in any form - not even cupcakes (gasp :) )!! And the final challenge is we have one member that intensely dislikes eggs. Needless to say, I am always happy to try new recipes that fit these requirements. So when one of my brothers indicated that they loved a dessert called Lemon Snow, I had to give it a try! 

Baby Watermelons

One day back in April, I received a little growing kit for a watermelon.  While I very much enjoy eating watermelon, I had never even thought of planting one.  Especially given that I am currently limited to potted solutions.

 

In any event, the kit indicated it was intended for ages 3+ (it is after all called the Jiffy Cup for Kids!), so I figured this could either go really well….or fail miserably!!  I planted the seed in the little cup and soil provided, perched it on a floating shelf in front of the sunniest window I have, and let it do its thing.  To my surprise, a few short days later, I actually had a little sprout.  

Strawberry Frozen Yoghurt

I had a basket of strawberries that needed to be used up and no one around to partake in their yumminess. So instead of heading the jam route, I decided to whip out my ice cream / frozen yoghurt maker for the first time this season. Actually I think it's been a few years since I last used it. This, come to think of it, is strange since this unit is ridiculously easy to use and clean.  I even store the bowl in the deep freeze so it’s ready to go at a moment’s notice.  Really no excuse for lack of use.  In any event, I digress.

Happy Canada Day!

via

Hope everyone is having a lovely Canada Day!

Broccoli Soup

Soups are my go-to option when I am looking to whip something up that is nutritious and requires little time commitment on my part. 

I am a huge lover of broccoli; however, my counterpart really only likes the green stuff if it is cooked until mushy and served with a cheese sauce (not my fave).  This soup has been my compromise!  I kicked it up a notch with some red pepper flakes and added some great depth of flavour by tossing in my leftover Parmesan cheese rinds.  That’s right, don’t throw those nobly hard ends out, they are perfect for flavouring stews, sauces and soups.  I keep mine in the freezer until ready to use.

Enjoy!

Cabane à Sucre

One of the perks of living in Quebec has got to be Cabane à Sucre season (also referred to as Sugaring Off or Sugar Shacking)!  The season varies every year, but typically runs from the end of February through early May. 

I gather a significant portion (3/4!) of the world's maple syrup is produced in the province of Quebec.  In elementary school, it was an annual tradition to visit a Cabane à Sucre to see how the maple trees are tapped to collect the sap and then made into syrup.  Maple syrup is essentially made by boiling down 30 to 40 liters of sap to yield a single liter of maple syrup.  Now that is some concentrated flavour! 

Dark Chocolate Chip Comfort Cookies

This is a killer recipe for chocolate chip cookies.  The cocoa, dark chocolate chips and peanut butter is a delectable rich, sweet and salty combination.  I found this recipe on Bakerella  - (which, if you haven't visited, is well worth perusing!) -  in early winter and immediately had a go.  They were so yummy that I selected them as my choice for the first cookie exchange I have ever participated in.

These can be whipped up in no time flat, which was great as I spent a Sunday baking 100 (yes you read that right!) of them for the Christmas cookie exchange.   

As the name infers, they also make an excellent treat to give to anyone who is not feeling well or in need of a pick me up. 

Enjoy!

Guacamole

We were having some supremely warm weather the other week - highs in the 20s, which is rare this time of year - and although I eat avocados year round, guacamole elicits memories of summer drinks on a terrace with friends.  So I just had to whip up a batch!  

Although they are high in fat (it is the good kind of fat), they also have a whole slew of health benefits, including:

Tilapia with Lemon & Caper Sauce

It's funny how our taste buds change.  As a kid I absolutely detested fish - loved shellfish - but couldn't stomach any type of fish.  Nowadays there isn't a week that goes by without fish gracing the menu.

Fish is not only a great source of protein and very healthy for you, but it is also one of the quickest dishes to prepare. 

I've made this dish a few times now and still absolutely love it!

Enjoy!

Preserved Meyer Lemons: Update

The 30 days have finally passed and my Meyer lemons are nicely pickled and ready to go. 

Here's a quick recap of the preserving process.

 A refresher of the before:

You can clearly see all the salt that is lining the bottom of the jar and the firm lemons with relatively clear liquid.

And here are the yellow lovelies after curing for 30 days:

The lemons have softened significantly and the liquid has thickened considerably.  There is no longer any salt collecting at the bottom of the jar, no doubt thanks to the daily shaking :) 

Even after rinsing the salt comes through, but then is quickly followed by a sweet lemon burst. 

I'm now dreaming of different ways to use these little gems up! 

Boston Cream Cupcakes

My family loves Boston cream - donuts & cakes - you name it, we love them.  So when I stumbled across a recipe for Boston cream cupcakes I couldn't resist!

This recipe specifically calls for cake and pastry flour, which I don't typically have on hand.  At a certain point, there gets to be too many ingredients and, well, space is limited.  It had been awhile since I had last made my own batch of cake and pastry flour, and couldn't for the life of me find my notes from cooking school.  So thank you to Joy the Baker for the quick refresher on how to make your own cake & pastry flour!

The tricky part of this recipe is most definitely the pastry cream.  Pastry cream has a very narrow window to get right.  If you under cook it, it will not set properly, but if you over cook it, well then it just turns into a curdled mess.  So the best tip here it to go slow, leave the heat on medium and if you feel the need, take it off the heat and give it a good whisk.  

I always have both a wooden spoon and a whisk at hand when making this recipe.  If the wooden spoon starts to collect some custard on the tips, that is when I take it off the heat and whisk away until all the lumps have disappeared.  I keep using this technique until the desired consistency is achieved.  You will know you are there by coating the back of the spoon with the custard and running your finger down the center.  If you can clearly see your finger mark and no custard oozes into the center - you’re done! 

Enjoy!

Boston Cream Cupcakes

Yields 18 Cupcakes

Based on recipe by Food & Drink posted on Graces Sweet Life

Cupcake Ingredients

§ 2 eggs

§  ½ cup (125 ml) butter, softened

§  1 cup (250 ml) granulated sugar

§  1 tsp. (5 ml) pure vanilla extract

§  2 cups (500 ml) sifted before measured cake & pastry flour

§  2 tsp. (10 ml) baking powder

§  ¼ tsp. (1 ml) salt

§  ¾ cup (175 ml) milk

Pastry Cream Ingredients

§  ½ cup (125 ml) granulated sugar

§  ¼ cup (50 ml) all-purpose flour

§  ¼ tsp. (1 ml) salt

§  2 eggs

§  1 ½ cups (375 ml) whole or 2% milk

§  1 tsp. (5 ml) pure vanilla extract

Chocolate Ganache Icing Ingredients

§  ½ cup (125 ml) semi-sweet chocolate chips

§  ¼ cup (50 ml) 35% cream

§  ¼ tsp. (1 ml) pure vanilla extract

Cupcake Preparation

1.       Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).

2.       Line 12 muffin cups with paper or silicone cups. 

3.       Place eggs in small bowl and cover with hot tap water to temper.  Set aside.

4.       Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Beat in eggs one at a time; then vanilla.

5.       Thoroughly mix sifted flour with baking powder and salt.  Then sift again.  Add the flour and then the milk in two batches before filling muffin cups. 

6.       Bake in the center of the oven for 15 to 18 minutes (depending on the size of your muffins) until lightly golden brown and a cake tester inserted in the middle of the cupcakes comes out clean.  Cool in pan on cooling rack.  Remove paper or silicone liners.

Pastry Cream Preparation

1.       Stir together sugar, flour and salt. 

2.       Lightly whisk eggs in a large saucepan; stir in sugar mixture until thoroughly combined.  Slowly stir in milk, making sure to incorporate any mixture caught in the bottom edges of the saucepan.  Place over medium heat and stirring constantly, bring to just under a boil.  Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla.

3.       Cover with plastic wrap directly on top of custard to prevent a film from developing. 

4.       Chill to room temperature.

Chocolate Ganache Preparation

1.       In a bain-marie (bowl set over a pot of simmering water), combine the chocolate chips and cream and stir until combined.  Remove from heat and add the vanilla.

2.       Cool to room temperature.

Assembling the Cupcakes

1.       Re-line the muffin tins with paper or silicone cups.  Cut each cupcake in half and place the bottom half in the lined muffin tin.

2.       Add a heaping teaspoon of pastry cream to each muffin tin and spread to the edges in an even layer.

3.       Ice the tops of each cupcake with the chocolate ganache and then place on top of each filled muffin tin.

4.       Refrigerate until icing is set, about an hour.

* Notes

 v  The recipe I followed indicated that it yields 18 cupcakes; however, I ended up with 12 cupcakes and a little extra batter.  Since my muffin tins were likely a little larger, I increased the total cooking time by approximately 2 minutes.  Be sure to keep an eye on them, as you really don’t want to over bake them.

Hoisin Beef Stir Fry

I whipped this dish up the other night to use up a whole whack of leftovers and ingredients that were on the verge of spoiling.  Is it weird that I find it fun coming up with clever ways to use leftovers?!

I must admit, the sauce is not new.  I use this (or a slight variation of it) as a marinade for salmon, which is equally delish!

Enjoy!

Hoisin Beef Stir Fry

Serves 2

Preparation Time – 15 Minutes

Cooking Time – 15 to 20 Minutes

Stir Fry Ingredients

§  2 Tbsp. Olive Oil

§  1 Inch Piece Ginger - chopped

§  3 Garlic Cloves – chopped

§  ¼ Tsp. Red Pepper Flakes

§  1 T-Bone Steak – pre-cooked

§  1 Red Pepper – cut into thick strips

§  1 Small Head Broccoli – cut into florets

§  2 Green Onions – cut into 1 inch diagonals

§  Salt & Pepper

Sauce Ingredients

§  2 Garlic Cloves – minced or grated

§  1 Inch Piece Ginger – minced or grated

§  1 Green Onion – finely chopped

§  2 Tbsp. Demerrera Sugar

§  2 Tbsp. Hoisin Sauce

§  1 Tbsp. Oyster Sauce

§  1 ½ Tbsp. Soy Sauce

§  1 Tbsp. Rice Wine Vinegar

§  ½ Tsp. Mirin

§  1 Tbsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil

§  10 Grinds Black Pepper

Preparation

1.       Combine all the sauce ingredients in a bowl.  Mix well and set aside.

2.       In a large frying pan or wok set over medium heat, add the olive oil and heat.  Add the garlic, ginger and red pepper flakes and cook for 2 to 3 minutes.  Add the red pepper and broccoli florets and continue cooking for 5 to 8 minutes.  Add the green onion and continue cooking for 3 to 4 minutes.

3.       Add the sliced beef and cook for 2 minutes before adding the sauce.  Bring to a boil and simmer for 5 minutes or until the sauce has reduced and thickened.  Check the seasoning and serve with rice.   

* Notes

v  This recipe stemmed from having an extra cooked T-bone steak that I didn’t want to see go to waste.  The broccoli and red pepper also needed to be used up, hence their selection.  The vegetables, and meat for that matter, can be substituted for whatever you have readily on hand.

v  If your steak has not been pre-cooked, then you would need to start by cooking the beef, remove it from the pan until you get to step 3 above

Banana Bread

I grew up eating banana bread.  My mum used to make it on a regular basis, which was great considering there were no store bought treats in the house.  Even while living in Japan, struggling to find all-purpose flour (a challenge when you don't speak or read Japanese!) and  baking in my little Easy Bake Oven (no - not really - but close!), banana bread was a go to recipe.

   

I cannot tell you the number of people that have requested this recipe - even in Japan it was popular!  And it couldn’t be easier.  Even as kids, my brothers and I would pitch in.    The key to success to any banana bread recipe is really ripe bananas.  When they are brown and mushy and to the point where you think you need to toss them, that is when you want to make this recipe!

    

These can be baked as a loaf, muffins, mini muffins or little mini loaves.  You can also omit the chocolate chips and/or walnuts if you prefer, the ultimate results will still be delish.

Enjoy!

Banana Bread

Yields 1 Loaf

Preparation Time – 15 Minutes

Cooking Time – 1 Hour

Ingredients

§  2 Ripe Bananas

§  1 1/4 cups Flour

§  1 1/4 cups sugar

§  1/2 cup Canola Oil

§  2 Eggs

§  1 tsp. Baking Soda

§  Pinch of salt

§  ½ cup Chocolate Chips

§  ¼ cup Chopped Walnuts

Preparation

1.       Preheat oven to 350°.

2.       Butter and flour a bread pan, set aside.

3.       Mash bananas with a fork, set aside.

4.       In a medium bowl combine eggs, sugar and oil.

5.       In a small bowl sift together flour, baking soda and salt.

6.      Add banana and dry mixtures 1/3 at a time to wet ingredients.  Combine but do not over mix.

7.       Fold in chocolate chips and walnuts

8.       Pour mixture into a greased and floured bread pan and bake at 350 for 1 hour.