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mint chocolate chip ice cream

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A couple weeks ago, we went to sin city and had a fabulous few days there.  It was a nice break and we enjoyed some quality family time.  On our last day there, we stopped for some mint chocolate chip ice cream. It was the worst mint ice cream I have ever had!  When we got home, I was happy to find some cream in the fridge and found my easy recipe for one of our favorite flavours. 

Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
1 cup milk
2/3 cup sugar
2 cups cream
1 tsp vanilla
1.5 tsp mint extract
3 drops green food coloring
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

Dissolve the sugar in the milk.  Add the rest of the ingredients (except the chocolate chips) and chill the mixture for an hour.  Follow the directions of your ice cream maker.  Add the chocolate chips in the last ten minutes.  Enjoy!

shrimp cakes

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Shrimp is a staple in our home.  It thaws easily and cooks quickly, it’s the perfect thing to pull out and make a quick meal with.  We had family bringing dinner over (lucky us!) but I still wanted to make an appetizer.  My fridge was stocked with peppers and onions and I thought this would be the perfect quick snack to make.  Hubby loved them and even raved about them to our massage therapist – always a good sign.  Can be served with roasted red pepper dip or garlic aioli.

Shrimp Cakes
Makes 12 1 pound raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
3 green onions, chopped
1 red pepper, chopped
1 egg
1 TB dijon mustard
salt
pepper
breadcrumbs

In a food processor, coarsely chop the raw shrimp.  Transfer to a bowl and add the veggies, egg, mustard, salt and pepper.  Add breadcrumbs, a little at a time, until the mixture can be formed into patties.  Refrigerate the patties for about 5 to 10 minutes.  Pan fry the shrimp cakes until shrimp is cooked and each cake has a nice brown crust.

Q turns 2!

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This past weekend, my little man turned 2!  Seems like just yesterday he was born.  We celebrated with a few friends and family with a Sesame Street themed music party. 

I think I shocked the people who knew me by not making a single thing! Well, I did make chocolate chip cookies for the kids to take home with a crazy straw for milk but besides that, nothing! 

We ordered pizza from down the street and snacked on veggies and chips and assorted flavours of crackers from the goldfish bar. 

My mom, who makes the most delicious cakes, baked Q’s cake and we got the local bakery to decorate it with the Sesame Street theme. 

My sister-in-law led the kids in song so they were able to play with their tamborines, xylophones and maracas which they were able to take home with them.  All in all, it was a fun day!

garlicky tomato and avocado bruschetta

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We have been lucky in the last couple of weeks to enjoy some great October weather.  We took advantage of this last week and went to Canmore for the day.  We had lunch at Luna Blue and enjoyed a feast of garlic with bruschetta, pizza and pasta.

I had good friends coming over for a lasagna dinner and I needed a quick appetizer to go along with it.  The garlicky bruschetta from the week before had been on my mind and I figured it would be the perfect starter.  I added an avocado to the mix which added some texture and made the bruschetta creamy.  It was a hit, even with the little ones.



Garlicky Tomato & Avocado Bruschetta

3 tomatoes, chopped
1 avocado, chopped
3 cloves of garlic, chopped
4 TB olive oil
1 tsp balsamic vinegar
bunch of basil, chopped
salt
pepper

baguette, sliced
olive oil for drizzling

Slice the baguette on the diagonal and place on a baking sheet.  Drizzle with olive oil and bake until toasted.

Mix the ingredients for the brushcetta.  Let stand for 10 minutes.  Top the toasted baguettes with the mixture and enjoy!

banana bread

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When visiting my cousin in Toronto this summer, she had made the most amazing banana bread. This bread is incredibly moist and so tasty, I was delighted when she shared the recipe. It became an instant hit and is now a regular in our house. Thanks A!

Banana Bread
1/2 cup margarine, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1.5 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup sour cream
2 bananas, mashed
1/2 cup chocolate chips

Cream margarine and sugar together.  Once combined, add eggs and vanilla.  Next, mix in the dry ingredients – flour and baking soda.  Add the mashed bananas, sour cream and chocolate chips.

Add the batter to a loaf pan and cover with foil.  Bake at 350 degrees for one hour.

chicken and spinach curry in less than 30 minutes

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We have been eating way too much red meat lately.  It was time to take a break and start making more chicken and fish dishes.  Looking through my fridge, I found I had some chicken and spinach, so I figured I would make hubby happy and make an Indian dish.  Indian food does not have to be complicated or time consuming.  In less time than it took Q to watch an episode of “In The Night Garden”, this dish was ready to eat!


Chicken and Spinach Curry

Oil
3 chicken breasts, cubed
1/2 pound baby spinach
3 TB crushed tomatoes
2 tsp tomato paste
3 TB fried onions
1 tsp crushed ginger
1 tsp crushed garlic
1/2 tsp coriander powder
1/2 tsp cumin powder
1/4 tsp turmeric
3/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup water
coriander for garnish

Saute the chicken in the oil until half-cooked.  Add the spinach and continue cooking until chicken is cooked and spinach is wilted.  Add the tomatoes, onions and spices and cook for a few minutes.  Add water and let simmer for 10 minutes.  Serve with rice or naan.

comforting slow cooker chili

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Its getting cold out there!  The winter chill is in the air and its not even fall (almost, but not quite)!  With a weekend filled with cold and rain, comfort food was called for, like slow cooker chili.

I love the slow cooker.  You dump things in, plug it in and let it sit and cook for you.  Plug it in in the morning and you have a delicious meal waiting for you when you come back home from work.  I prefer plugging it in at night and enjoying the wonderful smells as I sleep.

This is the easiest chili recipe and its delicious.  Perfect for those cold, rainy days. 

Slow Cooker Chili2 pounds ground beef, chicken or turkey, browned and drained
1 can mixed beans, drained
1 can crushed tomatoes
2 – 4 tablespoons chili powder
1 clove garlic, minced
1 1/2 teaspoons coriander powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
1/2 cup water
 

Combine all ingredients in slow cooker and mix thoroughly.
Cook on low for 8 hours.

celebrating eid – tomato and bocconcini salad

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Today is Eid, a festival which marks the end of Ramadan and a month of fasting.  On this joyful day, people celebrate by going to mosque and sharing a feast with friends and family.  This year’s dinner consisted of a fabulous meal made by my mother-in-law which consisted of biryani (a rice and meat dish), and freshly fried samosa. 

My contribution to the meal was a Tomato and Bocconcini salad made into an appetizer by placing the cherry tomato and cheese on a toothpick.  This is one of my favorite salads – the combination of the lemon, garlic and basil adds so much flavour to the otherwise flat-tasting cheese.

This is a ridiculously easy to make salad and a great way to use up those summer tomatoes.  Its packed with so much flavour, and is a hit everytime it is served.

Tomato and Bocconcini Salad

200 grams mini bocconcini
1 pint cherry tomatoes
zest and juice of one lemon
2 garlic cloves, minced
basil bunch, chopped
2 TB parmesan cheese
1/4 cup olive oil
salt
pepper

Combine lemon, garlic, basil, parmesan, olive oil, salt and pepper.  Add cheese and tomatoes and toss.

jessica’s restaurant in chestermere

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Beef, coated in batter, deep fried and tossed in a sweet and spicy sauce…yum!  Ginger beef is one of my favorite dishes and a must have at least once a month (or twice!).  Luckily, Chestermere has a fabulous restaurant that serves great ginger beef to satisfy me every time I get a craving.  The restaurant is located in the plaza just behind the car wash.  Usually, we get their dinner for 2 – soup, spring rolls, chicken fried rice, chicken with mixed vegetables and ginger beef.  Their portions are generous, and we always have left overs.  The staff at Jessica’s are very accomodating. When I have my son with me, they are happy to deliver the food to my car so I don’t have to take him out of his car seat – how sweet is that!  If you live in the city, Jessica’s has a second location in Temple.

Jessica Restaurant‎ #1 on Urbanspoon