Wholesome Whole Wheat Crepes

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125ml (1/2 c) whole wheat flour
1/8 teaspoon salt
125ml (1/2 c) 1% milk
65ml (1/4 c) water
10ml (2T) butter, melted
1 large egg
Cooking spray

Gently mix all but cooking spray together with a whisk. Refrigerate 1/2 an hour. This will give a thinner crepe.

Meanwhile prepare toppings – we whisked some cream and prepped fresh berries, but a creamy seafood or chicken filling works well also.

To cook, heat a medium sized nonstick pan on medium heat. Spray w cooking spray or wipe w a paper towel dipped in canola oil.

Pour in about 1/4 c batter and swirl to a thin layer. When surface is dry, flip gently and cook a few seconds more. Place in warmed oven that has been turned off, on a tea towel.

Repeat. Makes 6 crepes, 2 servings.

We're in a Hot Soup!

What do you make on a hot day? Soup! (Well, at least when your garden is producing more Swiss Chard than you’ve ever seen!)

We started with onions and chard from our organic garden, some white beans cooked earlier in the season and frozen, potatoes from the local market, and a chorizo from Ratinaudhfx on Gottingen (merci beaucoup!)

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The chorizo was poached in some veg broth, then set to cool. Meanwhile we sautéed the white parts of the onion, the garlic, and the potato in a little olive oil. Next, the broth.

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After about 5 minutes simmering, the beans, until heated through.

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Next, we sliced the chorizo thin and chopped the green parts of the onion and the chard. Into the pot!

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The smell was marvelously overwhelming at this point:

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5 more minutes to simmer, and it was ready to serve. Isn’t it good that the weather has started to cool down?

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Can't Put a Damper on This Canada Day

Well, it has been a soggy Canada Day weekend, and today’s forecast doesn’t look promising. However our family has a sure-fire start to the day, no matter the meteorological outlook. It begins like this:

20130701-084826.jpg. Everyone has a favorite way to eat fresh, local strawberries, and in our house it’s shortcake. But cake is really a misnomer, because it has to have biscuits along with the freshly-whipped cream. And before it disappears, it looks like this:

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Happy 146th birthday, Canada. Have a safe and wonderful day. Oh, and Happy Birthday to you too, Dad!

Thinking Back to Winter

This was a post in the wintertime…but on a blustery, rainy day it would taste just as sweet!

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As we were hiding inside waiting to see what the blizzard would bring, we wanted something hot and delicious for breakfast. French toast seemed like a good idea. But how could we make it even better? We added a heaping tablespoon of Just Us! coffee’s Mexican Hot Chocolate mix to the egg wash. Topping it all with some sliced banana, pecans, and maple syrup from Acadian Maple Products, made our tummies smile.

Faster than Hollandaise

If someone tapped into our social network today, they might even discover what we’ve had for breakfast. In the midst of the net crawling, personal info spying controversy that is filling up the (do we still say airwaves?) we’re still talking about food.

Today, a quick substitute for Eggs Benedict. All the rich creaminess, topped with a poached egg, but fast and easy enough for a workday. Here you go, Internet spies, here’s the recipe:

For two:
2 toasted whole wheat English muffins
1 avocado, mashed, with the juice of 1/2 lime
4 poached eggs
Cracked pepper
Chipotle powder

Spread the English muffins with the pepper. Top with eggs, and sprinkle with chipotle powder to taste. Enjoy!

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Tuna Melts with French Flair

In just barely more time than it takes to assemble and slice sandwiches, you can have this delicious tuna melt, to warm you on a chilly day near the coast. Makes 3 or 4:

3-4 slices of multigrain toast (not buttered)
1 can tuna in water, drained, and mixed with
1 diced tomato
15 ml Dijon
15 ml mayonnaise

Preheat broiler to high. Make the filling and put it on the toast. Grate over top, a thin layer of Comté cheese (aged cheddar works well also). Voilà, a satisfying lunch for 2.

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Sweet Sunday Startup

20130609-090558.jpgSweet Sunday morning! For us, it’s a combination of relaxing and getting ready for Mass. But no matter what your Sunday looks like, it’s great to get it off to a shining start.

Having had a very rainy, windy Saturday, something warming was called for. We discovered some dried cranberries during the cupboard cleanup and the idea was born: French Toast with apple, cranberries, cinnamon, walnuts and maple syrup. A great local breakfast, especially since Acadian Maple Products are just down the road. But even if they’re not your neighbours, you can order their amber deliciousness online.

Around the Corner from Nice

20130606-071912.jpg Our dinner plans were foiled. A couple of days ago we picked up some fresh green beans and a piece of salmon, expecting to make a slight twist on the classic Salade Niçoise. But some twists of fate kept the recipe off the menu for three days, and third-day fish is never a good idea. The beans weren’t looking so hot, either.

Not deterred, we gathered a basket of greens from the garden – tender turnip greens, arugula, spinach, chard, beets, and a few kinds of lettuce. Some pretty French radish. It would be enough. We made do with some good-quality canned tuna, a red pepper (locally hothouse grown) and free range eggs. Olives and a Dijon lemon dressing rounded out the meal. How can you be anything but grateful in the season when home gardens are springing to life with delicious surprises every day?

Take it Outside!

20130602-084335.jpg It’s foggy over the bay this morning, but yesterday was the first hot, sunny, really summery day of the year. We started with golf, then into the city to do some shopping and “summer hair”.

Local pork chops were secured from Highland Drive (recommended by Fred as The BEST) and grilled with a little chipotle powder and a light hand on the sea salt. On the side, steamed young turnips and radish, and a salad of greens from our garden – turnip, Vulcan and Simpson lettuces, Bibb, romaine, arugula, and Swiss chard. On top, some steamed young asparagus, and a dressing of Dijon, sesame oil, and Mirin.

Isn't it Ironic?

On this chilly Saturday we’re fueling up for a day of painting and home improvement. The irony is not lost on us that we’re dining on an English muffin and cream cheese, topped with smoked salmon from our favourite French charcuterie, Ratinaud.

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On the side, local hothouse cucumbers and baby tomatoes. C’mon sun!