One Pot Pasta with Leeks

This cozy pasta dish features mildy sweet and delicate leeks. Grown in sandy soil they have to be meticulously cleaned but are definitely worth the effort.

Ingredients:

2 tsps olive oil

1/2 onion, diced

2 leeks, cleaned very carefully then sliced

1 tsp minced garlic

5 1/2 oz pasta (linguini or ricciarelle)

2 3/4 cups chicken or vegetable broth

3/4 cup water 

1/2 cup cream cheese or cottage cheese

2 cups chopped spinach 

1 oz shredded cheddar

1 oz parmesan

salt and pepper to taste

Heat olive oil in a pot to medium high. Fry the onion, leeks and garlic together with salt and pepper until translucent, 7-10 minutes. You can add a glug of broth to the pot halfway through the cooking time.  Next add the cream or cottage cheese, then water, broth and pasta. Bring to a boil then simmer covered 10 minutes (or the time it takes for your particular choice of pasta). Finally add the spinach, cheddar and parmesan and stir to melt the cheese. Serves 2 

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Ukrainian Pork Stew

This stew checks all the boxes: melt in your mouth tender pork, lots of veggies with warm, earthy seasonings in a rich gravy. The epitome of comfort food!

Ingredients:

 1 3/4 - 2 lbs pork loin, cut in 1" cubes

4 oz diced mushrooms

2 medium carrots, 1 shredded and 1 diced

1 medium onion, diced

1/8 cup minced garlic

2 tbsps vegetable oil

1 tsp ground coriander

1/2 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp smoked paprika

1 tsp black pepper

1 tbsp flour

6 cups water or broth

1/4 cup ketchup

2 tbsps mayonnaise

1 tsp lemon juice

green onion slices to garnish

Heat 1 tbsp oil in pan to medium high. Brown pork for 7-8 minutes, searing to just golden. You may need to remove excess liquid. Then remove pork to a plate. In the same skillet add 1 tbsp oil and fry the mushrooms 4-5 minutes. Then add the onions and carrots for 4 minutes followed by the garlic for another minute. Add the flour and spices and stir for 1 minute then pour in the water/broth and ketchup. Return pork to the pan and bring to a boil. Then reduce heat, cover and gently simmer 1 hour. Uncover and simmer another 1 hour. Remove from heat. Mix the mayo and lemon juice together with a bit of the stew juices. This will keep the mayo from curdling.  Now stir into the stew and serve with mashed potatoes and sliced green onions. Serves 4

 Adapted from jayleenrecipes.com

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Coffee Butter Cookies

Subtly sweet and tender little two bite nuggets for National Cookie Day. The original recipe was a piped cookie but I couldn't pipe them. Either the dough was too stiff or my carpal tunnel just wouldn't let me do it. Anyhow necessity is the mother of invention and these Coffee Butter Cookies were born.

Ingredients:

2 tbsps instant coffee granules

2 tbsps hot water

1 cup icing sugar

1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 large egg, beaten

2 1/2 cups flour

1/4 cup cornstarch

1 tsp cinnamon

2 oz semi sweet chocolate

1/4 tsp shortening

1/4 cup chopped pistachios 

1 tbsp cocoa powder 

Dissolve the coffee in hot water and allow to cool. Beat the butter and icing sugar together until light in colour then add the egg. In a separate bowl combine the dry ingredients. Add the cooled coffee to the butter and icing sugar then add the dry ingredients to wet in 3 additions. Make 1" balls from the dough and place on parchment lined baking sheets. Take a mini whisk, dip it in cocoa powder then press into one side of each ball to make a star pattern. Chill 5-10 minutes then bake at 350°F for 8 minutes. Once the cookies are cooled, melt the chocolate with a little shortening. Dunk one side of the cookie into the chocolate allowing excess to drip off, then dip into chopped pistachios. Chill 15 minutes in the fridge to set the chocolate. Makes 64 cookies. 

Adapted from: jasmafusioncuisine.com

 

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Spicy Kung Pao Chicken

First of December and it's a little chilly out! This Spicy Kung Pao Chicken will warm you right to your toes!

Ingredients:

Marinade:

1 1/2 tbsps soy sauce

1 tbsp rice vinegar

2 tsps cornstarch

1 1/4 lbs chicken breast, cut in 1" cubes

Sauce:

1 tbsp balsamic vinegar

2 tbsps soy

1 tbsp hoisin sauce

2 tsps sesame oil

1 1/2 tbsps honey

1 tbsp cornstarch

1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

1/4 tsp minced ginger

1/3 cup water

Stir Fry:

2 tbsps vegetable oil, divided

1 bell pepper, cut in 1" squares

2 celery stalks, sliced

3 tsps minced garlic

1/3 cup edamame beans

4 mushrooms, sliced

1 onion, sliced

1 small red hot chili pepper, thinly sliced or chopped

Mix the marinade ingredients together then add the chicken to coat. Let stand 15 minutes. Mix together the sauce ingredients except for the cornstarch (add that only when ready to use). Heat 1 tbsp vegetable oil to medium high in a large skillet or wok. Add the onion, pepper, celery and mushrooms. Cook 5-7 minutes then remove to a large bowl. Heat 1/2 tbsp vegetable oil and cook 1/2 the chicken for 3 minutes. Remove to vegetable bowl, then add another 1/2 tbsp oil to the  pan and cook the remainder of the chicken 3 minutes adding the garlic in the last 30 seconds. Return all the chicken and vegetables to the pan along with the edamame, chili pepper and sauce (with the cornstarch added). Heat through. Serves 4 

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No Knead Focaccia Bread

This fluffy, airy focaccia is so easy to make! No kneading and no overnight waiting. Serve as is or slice in half for an awesome sandwich bread! Not gonna lie... it is time consuming, but mostly hands-off time.

2 1/2 cups water, 105-110°F

2 tsps yeast

1 tbsp honey

1 tsp salt

4 tbsps olive oil

5 cups flour

Topping:

1/4 cup olive oil

3 tbsps Kalamata olives, chopped

1 tsp salt

1 tbsp thyme

1 tbsp black sesame seeds

1 tbsp oregano

1 tsp saffron

2 tsps minced garlic

red pepper flakes to taste 

Combine water, yeast, honey, salt and olive oil then add the flour. The dough will be sticky. Cover and rest 30 minutes. Now, with wet hands, stretch and fold the dough 4 times turning the bowl each time. Cover and rest another 30 minutes. Repeat this process (stretch/fold and rest) 3 more times. Oil a 9 X 13" baking dish. Turn the dough out of the bowl into the prepared dish. Fold over once from each side then gently spread the dough to fill the pan. Cover with wax paper or a baking sheet and let rise for 1 hour. Drizzle olive oil and dimple the dough with your fingers, going almost all the way in. Add the toppings and dimple again. Bake in a 450°F oven for 20 minutes. Serves 10-12

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Sheet Pan Pineapple Chicken Drumsticks

A twist on the classic sweet and sour chicken. These drumsticks come with sweet fresh pineapple and a mix of veggies perfect on a bed of rice!

Ingredients:

2 lbs chicken drumsticks

4 cups fresh pineapple chunks

1/2 cup pineapple, mango or orange juice

1 cup ketchup

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

1 tbsp soy sauce

1 tsp minced ginger

3 tsps minced garlic

1 tsp ground mustard

3/4 tsp red pepper flakes

salt and pepper to taste

1 large bell pepper, cut in chunks

1/2 large onion, sliced

1 1/2 cup edamame beans 

Whisk the juice, ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire, soy, ginger, garlic, ground mustard and red pepper flakes together. Reserve 3/4 cup and set aside. Toss the chicken with the rest of the sauce then salt and pepper them, cover and refrigerate 30 minutes to 6 hours. Line a sheet pan or roasting pan with foil and spray with cooking oil for easy cleanup. Spread the bell pepper, onion, edamame and pineapple on the bottom then arrange the chicken pieces on top.  Roast at 425°F for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and brush with reserved glaze. Drizzle some glaze on the bed of pineapple and veggies if you like. Return to the oven for 10 minutes then brown 3 minutes. Finally brush with remaining glaze to serve. Serves 4

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Golden Buttery Fillet of Sole

Lightly browned fillets served with a lemon butter sauce is a simple, classic fish preparation.   

Ingredients:

4oog (14 oz) fillet of sole (whole fillets or cut in 1/2 for easier handling)

2 tbsps olive oil

salt and pepper to taste

3 tbsps butter

1 tsp minced garlic

juice and zest of 1/2 a lemon

1 tsp dry parsley

Pat the fish fillets dry with paper towel then salt and pepper them. I cut mine in half to fit easily in my pan and allowing for easier flipping as well. Heat oil to medium high in a large frying pan. Cook the fish 4 minutes then carefully turn over for another 3 minutes or until they flake easily with a fork. Remove from the pan and keep warm. In the same pan and on medium heat add the butter and garlic for 1 minute until fragrant. Remove the pan from heat and add the lemon juice, zest and parsley. Spoon over the warm fillets to serve. Serves 2  

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