Fluffy Whipped Chocolate Frosting

Fluffy and decadent and so easy to make. You'll love it! And the addition of coffee granules gives a deepness to the chocolate flavour without making it coffee tasting.

Ingredients:

3/4 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature

4 cups icing sugar, sifted

1 1/2 cups cocoa powder, sifted

2/3 cup  35% whipping cream

2 tbsps vanilla extract

pinch of salt

1 tbsp instant coffee granules

Whisk butter on low to cream then on high until light. Measure the icing sugar and the cocoa powder then sift. Add the icing sugar, cocoa, whipping cream, vanilla, salt and coffee granules. Again, start on low to combine then whip on medium high to high for 5 full minutes until fluffy. Frost your cake then refrigerate to set.

 

Makes enough frosting for a 2 layer 8" cake.

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Air Fryer Mexican Stuffed Chicken

Elevate your dinner game with these air fried stuffed chicken breasts cooked to juicy perfection! 

Ingredients:

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 oz shredded Monterey Jack or mozzarella cheese

1/4 cup chopped spinach

2 tbsps refried beans

1/4 tsp ground cumin

1 egg, beaten

2 tbsps parmesan cheese

Pat the chicken dry with paper towels and flatten with a rolling pin between sheets of wax paper or saved waxed cereal bag. Spread with refried beans. Mix the shredded cheese, spinach and cumin together and spoon onto one side of the chicken. Fold over then brush with beaten egg. Coat with parmesan. Place the chicken in an oiled air fryer basket and cook at 400°F for 10-12 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165°F. Serve with salsa.

Makes 2 servings

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Pierogies with Onions and Bacon

Looking for an easy mid-week meal? Using frozen pierogies, this one can be on the table in under 30 minutes.

Ingredients:

2 small  onions, thinly sliced

3 slices of bacon

14-16 frozen pierogies

2 tsps butter

1 cup chopped kale

sour cream or Greek yogurt to serve

First cook the pierogies as directed on package. I like them boiled and tender. Then, on medium high heat, cook the bacon to crispy and remove from heat. Cook the onion in the bacon fat for 5-8 minutes until nicely browned. Add the butter and kale and toss around for 1-2 minutes. Finally chop the bacon and add to the pan along with the cooked pierogies. Stir together a few minutes for the pierogies to brown and heat through. Serve with a dollop of either sour cream or Greek yogurt.

Serves 2

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Easy Shrimp, Mushrooms, Peppers and Pasta

Quick and easy meal with pretty much all kitchen staples, except maybe the white truffle infused finishing oil for an extra little hit of umami.  If you don't have it a drizzle of your best olive oil will work too.

Ingredients:

350g shrimp

8 or 9 white mushrooms, sliced

1-2 small bell peppers, sliced

1 cup chopped kale

3 tsps minced garlic

5-6 oz spaghetti 

2 tbsps olive oil + 1 tbsp olive oil

1 tbsp butter + 1 tbsp butter

1/4 - 1/2 cup reserved pasta water 

2 tbsps lemon juice

1/4 cup parmesan 

1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

Black pepper to taste 

White truffle infused finishing oil

Boil the spaghetti as directed on package.

Heat 2 tbsps olive oil and 1 tbsp butter in a skillet to medium. Add mushrooms and peppers and cook 3-4 minutes then add the garlic for 1 minute. Remove to a plate. Add 1 tbsp olive oil and 1 tbsp butter to the pan and sauté the shrimp until pink. Add black pepper to taste. Add the kale for 1 minute then return the peppers and mushrooms to the pan. Reserve the pasta water then drain the spaghetti. Toss the pasta in a pot with the reserved pasta water, lemon juice, parmesan and red pepper flakes. Plate the spaghetti and top with shrimp and veggies and finish with a drizzle of truffle oil.

Serves 3

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Air Fryer Breaded Cajun Cod

So crispy, yet tender and juicy inside! And healthier than fried cod using the air fryer.

Ingredients:

400g (5 small fillets) cod

1 egg, beaten

1/2 cup oat or all purpose flour

1/2 cup Panko

1 tsp blackened Cajun seasoning

spray oil

Pat fillets dry with paper towels. Whisk the egg in a bowl. Place flour in another bowl. And combine the Panko and Cajun seasoning in yet another bowl. Now that you've got your breading station set up it's time to start. Dredge the fish in flour, dip in egg then coat in Panko. Place in an oil sprayed air fryer basket and give the fish a light spray of oil as well. Air fry at 400°F for 10-11 minutes, flipping over halfway through. The internal temperature should read 145°F.

Serves 2-3

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Clementine Cashew Cake

Here's a bright dessert that's flourless and fabulous! And the perfect use of less than perfect clementines. If you've got some getting a little soft bake this up right now or pop the clementines into the freezer whole for later use (like I did).

Ingredients:

200g (4 small, 7 oz) clementines, fresh or frozen

4 eggs

120g (4 oz) sugar

175g (6 oz) ground cashews

1 tsp baking powder

Cook the clementines in the microwave in a covered dish with a little water on high for 8-10 minutes. Then drain off the water and let cool. Cut in half and remove any pips. Place everything else (yes even the peel) in a food processor and pulse to a pulp. Add the remaining ingredients to the food processor and mix together for 20-30 seconds. Oil and flour a 1.5L (6" X 6" X 2") baking dish, pour the batter in and bake at 375°F for 40-45 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean. Cool on rack.

Makes 8 servings

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Spiced Maple Salmon

This spiced maple salmon is phenomenal because it's both sweet and spicy, but it's also on a schmear of cream cheese and Greek yogurt and topped with caramelized onion and bell pepper. This dinner for two was a hit!

Ingredients:

1/2 lb fresh salmon fillets 

2 tsps olive oil 

1 tsp minced garlic 

1/4 tsp lemon pepper

1 tsp blackened Cajun seasoning 

2 tsps maple syrup 

1 kale leaf, shredded 

Caramelized onion and pepper:

2 tsps olive oil

1 small onion, thinly sliced 

1 small bell pepper, thinly sliced 

1 tsp minced ginger

2 tsps white wine vinegar 

Pinch of sugar 

Black pepper to taste 

Schmear:

2 tbsps cream cheese (herb and roasted garlic flavour)

2 tbsps plain Greek yogurt

1 tsp lemon juice

Blend cream cheese, Greek yogurt and lemon juice together and set aside. 

Mix 2 tsps olive oil with garlic, lemon pepper and Cajun seasoning and spread on fillets.  Let rest 20 minutes then drizzle with maple syrup. Bake in an oiled dish at 400°F for 10-13 minutes or until salmon flakes easily with a fork. 

Meanwhile place kale in a frying pan with a little oil. Toss on medium low heat 2-3 minutes to wilt. Remove and keep warm.  In same pan add 2 tsps olive oil  and add onions.  Cook 6-8 minutes then add bell pepper for another 6-8 minutes.  Add ginger, vinegar, sugar and black pepper. Stir 1 minute then remove from heat and keep warm.

Schmear the cream cheese mix on the plate and place the kale along side. Top with salmon and crown it off with the onions and pepper.

Serves 2

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