Food Mamma

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cookies for the holidays!

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It’s December! That means it’s time to get baking for all those cookie exchanges, holiday parties and homemade gifts for family and friends. Here’s a round up of some cookies perfect for the occasion!

Cherry Jam Palmiers
One of the easiest cookies to make, these palmiers are fast with only a handful of ingredients.

 

Peppercorn Shorbread
An odd combination, but these buttery peppery cookies are delicious!

Hazelnut Nutella Cookies
Soft and chunky, these are the perfect cookies to leave for the big man!

Lavender Shortbread
A little bit of lavender goes a long way in these buttery morsels.

Mint Chocolate Cookies
Mint and chocolate are a match made in heaven. These cookies are soft and rich and pair perfectly with a glass of cold milk.

Chocolate and Almond Whipped Shortbread
These are one of my favourites and always a fun one for the kids to decorate. They are whipped for ten minutes and are buttery and delicious!

Heart Sugar Cookies
Made with love, the glaze on these babies is so delicious!

Chocolate Dipped Walnut Shortbread
The humble shortbread is elevated by the addition of walnuts and dipped in chocolate.

Chocolate Chip Cookies
Everyone is happy for a classic at a cookie exchange. These chocolate chip cookies are decadent and delicious.

turkey chili

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When given a choice, Q would rather have a home cooked meal over eating out. He doesn’t like the usual things you can find on a kids menu. Chicken strips and mac and cheese, forget about it. A bowl full of chili though, and he’s a happy camper.

I tweaked my original chili recipe, omitting chili powder all together and adding more of everything else to ensure a flavourful bowl of goodness. With everything thrown into the slow cooker the night before, we have a hearty lunch ready in the morning with hardly any effort.

You know its a great recipe when my picky little guy asks for seconds. Q likes his topped with cheese, lots of it. It’s also great with some sour cream and green onions or over a baked potato.

Turkey Chili

2 pounds ground turkey, browned and drained
2, 19 oz cans of mixed beans, drained
1, 28oz can crushed tomatoes
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 tsp coriander powder
2 tsp sweet paprika
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 TB 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. Top with cheese, onions or sour cream.

Combine all ingredients in slow cooker and mix thoroughly.
Cook on low for 8 hours. – See more at: http://www.foodmamma.com/2010/09/comforting-slow-cooker-chili.html#sthash.Xk50XJIz.dpuf

Combine all ingredients in slow cooker and mix thoroughly.
Cook on low for 8 hours. – See more at: http://www.foodmamma.com/2010/09/comforting-slow-cooker-chili.html#sthash.Xk50XJIz.dpuf
Combine all ingredients in slow cooker and mix thoroughly.
Cook on low for 8 hours. – See more at: http://www.foodmamma.com/2010/09/comforting-slow-cooker-chili.html#sthash.Xk50XJIz.dpuf
Combine all ingredients in slow cooker and mix thoroughly.
Cook on low for 8 hours. – See more at: http://www.foodmamma.com/2010/09/comforting-slow-cooker-chili.html#sthash.Xk50XJIz.dpuf
Combine all ingredients in slow cooker and mix thoroughly.
Cook on low for 8 hours. – See more at: http://www.foodmamma.com/2010/09/comforting-slow-cooker-chili.html#sthash.Xk50XJIz.dpuf
Combine all ingredients in slow cooker and mix thoroughly.
Cook on low for 8 hours. – See more at: http://www.foodmamma.com/2010/09/comforting-slow-cooker-chili.html#sthash.Xk50XJIz.dpuf

seared scallops and prawns with scrambled eggs

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It’s been a long week and as tempting as it was to grab take out, I had to resist.  We had a busy weekend ahead and I knew we would be eating out.  I decided it was time to start cleaning out my freezer.  With a wedding in the family coming up in the summer, I had a feeling we would need some space in there.  I was happy to find some scallops and jumbo prawns but couldn’t think of any side to make with it.  We had finished most of our produce and rice just didn’t appeal to me.  Rummaging through the fridge, I did notice that we had an abundance of eggs and spinach….scrambled eggs, why not? 

After making the seafood, I felt that it really needed some kind of sauce.  The lemon butter sauce I threw together with garlic was just the right flavours needed to top off the scallops and prawns.

The combination was perfect!  Comfort and decadence on one plate.

Seared Scallops and Prawns

6 sea scallops
6 jumbo prawns
olive oil
salt
pepper

2 TB butter
2 TB lemon juice
1 garlic clove

Pat the seafood dry and sprinkle them with salt and pepper.  Heat oil in a hot pan and sear until cooked.  Once seafood has been removed from the pan, add the butter, lemon juice and garlic.  Pour sauce over seafood and enjoy.

shrimp wonton soup

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I have always wanted to try wonton soup but it seems like every restaurant has their wontons with pork, which I don’t eat.  I came upon a few recipes that had shrimp wontons and I knew I just had to try it.  I combined a few different recipes and came up with this.  I don’t think greens are normally in the broth but I added spinach for more nutrients.  The first time I made, we loved it but since we hadn’t tried it before, we had nothing to compare it to.  The next time, we had friends coming over that had tried wonton soup before.  They loved it and went back for more – always a good sign.  This will definitely be a regular at our house.

Come join SoupaPalooza at TidyMom and Dine and Dish sponsored by KitchenAid, Red Star Yeast and Le Creuset.

Shrimp Wonton Soup
Wontons:
1/2 pound shrimp
2 green onions
1 tsp corn starch
1 tsp soy sauce
1 tsp minced ginger
1 tsp sesame oil
Broth:
4 cups chicken broth
1 TB soy sauce
splash of fish sauce
2 green onions
spinach

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.