Cornmeal Salmon

Using cornmeal instead of the usual breadcrumbs gives these salmon fillets a more firm, crunchier coating. There is no flour and egg coating which makes them a little lighter too.

1 lb salmon fillets

1/4 cup milk
1 tbsp caesar salad dressing
1/2 tsp malt vinegar

1/2 cup cornmeal, medium ground
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp lemon pepper
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp dried parsley

Mix the milk, dressing and vinegar together in a large plastic bag. Add fillets and set aside for 10 minutes.

Mix the dry ingredients together in a shallow bowl then press each side of the fillets into the mixture.

Place the fillets on a grill pan that has been prepared with cooking spray.

Broil 4 inches from broiler for 4 minutes on each side.

As always with fish, the salmon should flake easily with a fork.

Oatmeal Cookie Frozen Yogurt Sandwiches

Just because I wish it was summer now...

This is the view from my front door, but inside the kitchen it's summertime (I can dream can't I?)

Start with good sized homemade oatmeal cookies like these:

And here's the link:

http://hotandcoldrunningmom.blogspot.ca/2015/03/old-mill-oatmeal-cookies.html

I made them without raisins for these sandwiches as I thought the raisins would be too hard when frozen.

Next soften the frozen yogurt (or ice cream) just enough to spoon onto a cookie, filling almost to the edge. Pressing the top cookie should bring the yogurt to the edge, then just spread to smooth.

If you like roll the edge in sprinkles,

then wrap in plastic wrap and freeze.

It's the end of February. Summer's just around the corner, right?

Pork Chops and Cauliflower in a Creamy Pink Sauce

1 cauliflower, cut into flowerets
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsps olive oil
3/4 cup tomato sauce
3 or 4 boneless pork loin chops
2 sliced green onions
parmesan cheese

Béchamel Sauce
2 tbsps butter
2 tbsps flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1 cup milk

Bring cauliflowerets to a boil in a large pot then simmer 5 or 6 minutes. Drain and set aside.

Make the béchamel. In a saucepan melt the butter then add the flour, salt and pepper. Whisk in the milk and cook 2 minutes on medium to thicken.
Stir in the tomato sauce for that pretty pink colour and set aside.

Lightly brown the pork chops in olive oil with the minced garlic. Add some of the green onion and remove from heat.

Coat an 8 X 11" baking dish with cooking spray. Spoon in the cauliflower, lay the pork chops on top and pour the sauce over all.

Sprinkle on the remaining green onion slices and some shredded parmesan cheese.

Bake uncovered at 350 F for 20 - 25 minutes.

Serve with a side salad

Best of Bridge Lemon Squares

When my sister in law was in town last week she made these squares for us from her Best of Bridge recipe.
She's a pretty good sister in law : )

Crust:

1 cup flour
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup sugar
pinch of salt

Lemon Custard:

1 cup sugar
2 tbsps flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
zest of 1 lemon
juice of 1 lemon, about 3-4 tbsps
2 eggs, beaten

sprinkling of icing sugar

Combine crust ingredients and gently press into a prepared 9" square pan. Bake at 350F for 20 minutes.

While baking the crust prepare the lemon custard. Mix all the ingredients together and when the crust is ready pour the custard over top.

Bake at 350F for 25 minutes.

Cool. Sprinkle with icing sugar before or after cutting into squares.

Chicken Fried Brown Rice and Quinoa

Chicken fried rice turned up a notch.

1 cup brown rice
1/4 cup quinoa
3 cups water

2 eggs
1 tbsp butter
salt and pepper

1 cup chopped, cooked chicken

1/4 cup soya sauce
1 tbsp oyster sauce
1 tsp sesame oil

Vegetable oil 
1 onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 carrot, diced
1 stalk of celery, sliced
1/2 red pepper, diced
1 radish, diced

4 green onions, sliced
1/2 cup peanuts

Bring rice, quinoa and water to  boil, then simmer covered for 20 minutes. Fluff with a fork and chill.

Scramble 2 eggs in butter, add salt and pepper and set aside.
Mix the soya, oyster sauce and sesame oil together and also set aside.

Heat a couple tablespoons of vegetable oil in a wok or large frying pan. Add the garlic and white part of green onions. Cook on medium heat 1 minute. Add remaining vegetables, except green part of green onions, and cook 5 minutes or until tender crisp.  

Add chicken, rice and sauce and cook another 5 minutes. Toss in eggs and peanuts and heat through.

Serve with extra soya sauce and topped with more green onions.

Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Balls

I made these way back at Christmas time and forgot to post the recipe. So here goes...better late than never.

2 tbsps butter
10 oz mini marshmallows
6 cups rice krispies
4 tbsps peanut butter

milk chocolate wafers
white chocolate wafers
sprinkles

Melt the butter in a large pot on low heat then add the marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat and add the peanut butter and cereal.
Grease your hands with butter and roll mixture into golf ball sized balls, as shown here by my "assistant".

Melt the milk chocolate or white chocolate in the microwave or in a double boiler. Dip the balls in then have small bowls of various sprinkles ready. While the chocolate is still melty dip into the sprinkles, then leave in a cool place to set completely.

Dog Drying Mitt

All you need is an old towel and a cotton work glove (and if you want to get fancy some bias tape) to make a mitt for drying off your four-legged buddy after a walk in the snow.

Fold the towel in half and spread the fingers and thumb of the glove out on it. Cut out 2 pieces about 1 inch larger than the glove and make sure to cut down towards the thumb to ensure ease of movement.

Next pin the tips of the fingers and thumb to one of the cutouts and tack down.

Lay the second piece on top and sew the edges of the towel together.

Pin a length of bias tape around the edge and sew it on.
You can also make a small loop with the tape for hanging the mitt up to dry.