Delicious Steak and Mushroom Pie

Slice 1 strip loin steak into bite-sized pieces. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and dried mustard. Dredge in flour. In a heavy pan that is large enough to make the whole pie filling, brown it in olive oil. Remove to a plate and begin cooking the veg (you will be developing a brown crusty layer on the pan; don’t worry!) Use veg as you like, for us an onion, diced, a couple of stalks of celery, sliced, two minced cloves of garlic, and 3 or 4 c of sliced mushrooms were just right. We chopped in some garden herbs – sage, rosemary and thyme. When the veggies start to get a bit tender, deglaze the pan with some beer. We used Boxing Rock’s Crafty Jack. Add any remaining beer – about a cup was used in total.

Cover and simmer on low heat until it is thick and has a nice gravy. Remove from heat and make the crust…

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For the crust,

Cut 3/4 c butter or shortening into 2c whole wheat flour. Sprinkle in enough water so it begins to cling together as you stir (4-6 T). Shape into two balls, one slightly smaller.

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Roll out the larger ball for the bottom crust. Fill the pie, and top with the smaller crust, piercing the top to let out steam. Bake at 400 for about half an hour, until golden.

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The guy on the right is a bad egg…

This Friday fixing of potato, onion, herbs, egg and tomato is looking good, except for the one whose yolk broke on the way into the pan…

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The last day at work before launching back to the world of running my own company needs to get off to a strong start. It’s not enough that my horoscope said I was a “force of nature”; I also did 45 minutes of rowing and then got to eat this awesome breakfast. Friends and future clients, here I come!

To make this (for 2 or 4):

Cook 1/2 diced onion and two diced potatoes in a small amount 5ml or 1t) olive oil. Tip in some chopped herbs and pepper. Add a couple of spoonfuls of water and break in eggs (more carefully than I did). Surround with diced tomato and lid until eggs are cooked as you like (3-6 minutes).

Have a good one!

To Jamie…and Beyond!

So we are always searching for inspiration. This week we were researching a variety of Jamie Oliver recipes. Today we adapted the Hit ‘N’ Run Panbaked Chicken. We used what we had…carrots, parsnips, olives for extra flavour…and it was beyond awesome. Experiment and make your own veggie combos. We guarantee it will be tremendous.

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Use it Up!

January has been a month of creativity for us – in food, and how we live. We decided at the beginning of the month to follow the old advice: use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without. I must admit we haven’t felt as though we are doing without, but instead, finding things in our cupboards, closets, drawers and refrigerators and turning them to a more interesting purpose. The delicious horseradish mustard that we use frequently in summer made a tangy start to this egg-wich, which also amps up its veg quotient with minced broccoli ends and a few straggler mushrooms that were left in the bag.

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We are working our way through the summer’s harvest, our forgotten condiments, and frozen remains of big batch cooking from the fall. And it’s been a delicious journey…one we will continue for as long as possible.

It's a Blue Kind of Day

ImageWhat a wild weather week we’ve had! From knee-deep snow and frigid temperatures, the thermometer dropped yesterday and we had rain and high winds overnight. Now the sun is doing her best to break through the clouds, illuminating spots in the woods with her brilliant gaze. We’ve put the slow cooker on for a pot-roast dinner, and prepared for whatever the blustery day brings with some blueberry whole-wheat pancakes.

Whatever the weather, we’re grateful – for friends, family (thanks for the call last night!), and the good fortune to live with a big garden, great neighbours, and a view of the Bay.

Get Rich Quick!

Apparently we are in for a wet weekend. So we wanted a quick breakfast that would let us get out on the trail before the rain arrives. Eggs Benedict may not seem like the obvious choice, but this quick Prosciutto Benny with Blender Hollandaise is just the ticket!

For two:

3 large eggs
2 slices prosciutto
1 multigrain English muffin, split
1/4c / 60ml butter
1t /5ml lemon juice
1/2t / 2ml dry mustard
Dash Tabasco
White vinegar
Lemon pepper
1 large tomato, sliced

Split the muffin and toast or warm for a few seconds in the microwave.

Bring a medium pot of water to boil.

Meanwhile separate one egg and put the yolk in the blender with the Tabasco, lemon juice, and dry mustard.

Put the prosciutto in a nonstick pan on low, just to warm it a little.

Heat the butter in the microwave just until boiling. Turn blender on and pour the butter in slowly – it will cook the egg yolk.

To assemble, stack muffin, prosciutto, poached egg. Drizzle with hollandaise and sprinkle with lemon pepper.

Serve with tomato, and go!

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Pizza a la Parisienne???

On our first family trip to Paris, we discovered the delight of pizza topped with egg. To be fair, the first time it was probably a novelty order. But since then, we’ve tried to recreate this many times. It’s hard to do it properly without a pizza oven – the egg over cooks or doesn’t cook quickly enough. Today’s solution: leftover whole wheat pepper and mushroom pesto pizza, topped with a perfectly poached egg. A great start to the day.

Mindful that there are others who do not have enough to eat, please join us by donating to your local food bank or Philippine relief.

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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!

Peppery Goodness

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Last night we were craving comfort food after a day of digging – preparing the garden for a first year’s veggie-growing in the new house. It was chilly out, so stuffed peppers fit the bill.

The oven was set to 350F.

We started by hollowing out two peppers and taking a tiny slice as necessary to make them sit straight. Then we sautéed the chopped pepper tops and a couple of stalks of celery, as well as an onion, in chili garlic oil. Next we added some frozen corn til it was a bit toasted. Lastly, we stirred in black beans (home cooked and frozen until needed – defrosted in the microwave) and some cooked brown rice (same story).

We filled the pepper shells and poured 60ml or 1/4 c of marinara on top. They were baked in a lidded, foil-lined casserole for 45 minutes. Then, removing the lid, we grated some extra old cheddar on each. 10-15 more minutes to melt, and they were ready, along with a fresh salad.

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Eggs with a Smoky Crunch

20121103-101011.jpg One of the tastiest things we have added to our new local menu since moving is smoked salmon. Here in Nova Scotia there is a plentiful supply! This morning, we mixed some flaked smoked salmon with cream cheese, spread it on a whole-wheat English muffin (made right here!) along with some grainy mustard, and topped it with a free-range egg. What a way to start the day. Yum!