1 Cup Butter or Margarine
1 Cup Peanut Butter
1 Cup White Sugar
1 Cup Brown Sugar
~Cream Butter or Margarine with Peanut Butter & Sugars
~Add 2 eggs, mix well
~.1 Cup Flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1/2 teaspoon baking powder;
~1 Cup Oatmeal
~1 Cup Coconut
~1 Cup Butterscotch Chips
~1 Cup Chopped Walnuts
Instructions
½ stick butter
1 c. sliced carrots
½ c. chopped onions
1 c. chopped celery
2 ½ c. chicken broth, divided
3 Tbl. cornstarch
2 c. half and half
½ tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. baking soda
2 c. grated colby
Instructions
Melt butter in large heavy saucepan. Sauté carrots, onions, and celery until vegetables are tender. Add cornstarch and stir to blend. Put in blender and add ½ c. chicken broth and blend until smooth. Return to pan and add remaining 2 cups broth and half and half. Heat, stirring occasionally until thickened and add salt, pepper, soda, and cheese. Stir until cheese melts and soup is smooth and hot. This soup freezes well. I always double it for my family, and have even successfully quadrupled it!
It’s mid February and winter shows no sign of letting up. My go to food is definitely soups and stews during these chilly months, and I feel proud that I can basically make a soup out of pretty much anything! (I know, it’s the small things in life.) So when my husband asked what was for lunch today (he’s working at home these days but apparently hasn’t learned how to turn the stove on yet, lol!), I immediately thought of making soup.
I opened the fridge to find some sad looking winter tomatoes that had been lying in the bottom of the crisper drawer for far too long, along with a limp carrot. No problem I thought. Out comes the Instant Pot (I’m still obsessed) and 30 minutes later, delicious hearty tomato soup.
Ingredients
6 or 7 medium tomatoes
2 tbsp good quality olive oil
1 medium carrot
1 onion
1 clove garlic
5-6 cups chicken broth
Preparation Instructions
Put a small pot of water to boil.
Peel and cut the onion and carrot.
Score the tomatoes on the top with an x. While you are waiting for the water to boil, set your Instant Pot (or saucepan) to saute and heat up the oil.
Add the onion and carrot, and saute about 6 minutes, until translucent.
While they cook, drop the tomatoes into the water, two or three at a time, and leave in the water about 10 seconds. Scoop them out and repeat with the remaining tomatoes. When cool (almost instantly), peel the tomatoes. Cut them in half, and use your fingers to scoop out the seeds. I’m told tomato seeds and skins are very hard on the digestive system, which is why I bothered with this extra step.
When the onion is cooked, add the tomatoes, and squeeze one clove of garlic over top. Saute 3-4 minutes
Add the broth, close your Instant Pot and pressure cook on high for 10 minutes.
If making this in a saucepan, you may need to cook it for 45 minutes to obtain the same richness of taste.
Release the pressure, and use an immersion blender to puree. Season to taste
Serve with crostini (I use Ace crackers), a drop of olive oil, lots of fresh ground pepper and sea salt.
2 (250g) pkgs cream cheese, at room temperature
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
6 slices bacon, diced, cooked, drained & cooled
1 bunch green onions, finely sliced
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 cup toasted pecans, finely chopped
Directions
1. In a large bowl combine cream cheese, grated cheddar cheese, bacon, green onions, Worcestershire sauce and black pepper. Place mixture on a large sheet of plastic wrap. Shape into a ball and wrap completely.
2. Chill cheese ball in the refrigerator for at least two hours. Remove cheese log from the fridge at least 30 min., before serving. Roll in pecans to coat. Serve with crackers and sliced vegetables.
Prep Time: 10 min.
Total Time: 50 mins., plus cooling time
Ingredients
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 tbsp molasses
2 cups buttermilk
3 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 400F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl combine whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour, baking soda and salt.
3. In a separate bowl combine molasses, buttermilk and melted butter. Pour liquid ingredients into flour mixture. Stir with a wooden spoon until dough comes together. Tip mixture onto a lightly floured work surface. Shape into a round loaf shape and place onto prepared baking sheet. Using a sharp knife slice a large X in the top of the loaf.
4. Bake in the oven for 35-40 mins., until the dough is golden brown on top and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom. Remove loaf to a wire rack. Let cool 1 hour., before slicing.
Prep Time: 15 min.
Total Time: 1 hour, 15 min., plus chilling time
Ingredients
Pie Dough:
1 ¼ cups flour
¼ tsp salt
1 tbsp sugar
1 cup cold, unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
2-3 tbsp ice water
Filling:
2 cups pumpkin puree (either from a can or homemade)
2 eggs
½ cup brown sugar
1 cup 35% cream
1 tbsp pumpkin pie spice
¼ tsp salt
Directions
1. In the bowl of a food processor pulse to combine flour, salt and sugar. Add cubed butter and pulse until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add 1 tbsp ice water at a time, pulsing to combine. Mixture should hold together when pressed together but will still look a bit crumbly. Transfer crumbly dough to a lightly floured countertop. Knead a few times to press into a disc and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
2. While the dough is chilling, make the pie filling. Whisk together pumpkin puree, eggs, brown sugar, cream, pumpkin pie spice and salt.
3. Preheat oven to 425F. Roll out dough into an 11-inch circle. Place in a 9” pie dish. Trim edges so that there is only ½-inch overhang. Fold edges underneath and crimp. Pour filling into pie shell. Bake for 15 mins., then reduce temperature to 350F. Bake for an additional 45 min., until filling is set and pie crust is golden brown. Let cool completely before slicing.
4. Serve with whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon.
1 red onions, cut into quarters
2 medium sized sweet potatoes, cut into 1” dice
3 beets, cut into 1” dice
4 carrots, peeled and cut into 1” dice
4 parsnips, peeled and cut into 1” dice
2 cups celery root, cut into 1” dice
½ small rutabaga, cut into 1” dice
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp salt
½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
2 tbsp balsamic reduction (optional)
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 400F.
2. Toss veggies in a large bowl with olive oil, salt and pepper. Divide between two large baking sheets. Bake in top and bottom third of oven, for 45 min., rotating sheets and flipping vegetables halfway through.
3. Drizzle with balsamic reduction before serving.
1 tbsp olive oil
8 chicken pieces, bone-in, skin-on (thighs, drumsticks, half chicken breast)
2 onion, peeled and roughly chopped
1 tsp salt
2 tsp cumin
2 tsp coriander
2 tsp paprika
½ tsp allspice
1 (796mL) can chopped tomatoes
2 ½ cups chicken stock
4 cups diced butternut squash
1 cup pitted green olives
1 cup golden raisins
1 (540 mL) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
½ cup roughly chopped cilantro, plus extra to serve
Lemon wedges, to serve
Yogurt, to serve
Directions
1. In a large saucepan or Dutch oven heat 1 tbsp olive oil over medium heat. Season chicken pieces. Then, brown chicken pieces on all sides, about 3 min., per side. Set aside on a plate lined with paper towel. Drain all but 1 tbsp fat from pan.
2. Add onion and cook until softened, about 3 to 4 min. Add salt and spices, cook 1 min. Add diced tomatoes and chicken stock. Stir in butternut squash, green olives and raisins. Add chicken pieces back into pot and make sure they are covered by liquid. Bring stock to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer and cook, covered, for 30-40 mins., until chicken pieces are cooked through.
3. Stir in chickpeas and cilantro. Serve with couscous, brown rice or crusty bread. Top with extra cilantro, a squeeze of lemon and a dollop of yogurt to serve.
1 tbsp butter
1 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp fresh thyme
500g (½ lb) cremini mushrooms, thinly sliced
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
4 cups vegetable stock
2 tbsp lemon juice
¼ cup finely chopped parsley
Plain yogurt or sour cream, to serve (optional)
Directions
1. Heat butter and oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and let cook until starting to soften, about 3-4 min. Add garlic and thyme and continue cooking, 1-2 min.
2. Add mushrooms and sauté until mushrooms turn golden brown, about 8-10 min. Add salt, pepper and vegetable stock. Bring stock to a simmer and let cook, 20 min.
3. Using a hand blender, blend soup until smooth. Add lemon juice, parsley and cream (if using) and re-warm before serving. Serve with buttered, crusty bread.
1 ½ cups flour
½ cup packed brown sugar
½ tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
½ cup unsalted butter, melted
Cake batter:
3 apples, peeled, cored and cut into ¼-inch dice
1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup packed brown sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
3 cups all-purpose flour, plus 2 tbsp
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon
1 cup 2% plain yogurt
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350F. Grease a 9” tube pan or large bundt.
2. Toss together chopped apples with 2 tbsp flour. Set aside.
3. Make streusel. In a medium sized bowl combine flour, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon and melted butter. Mix together until mixture forms lumps and flour is fully combine with butter.
4. In the bowl of a stand mixer combine butter and sugar. Beat on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 1-2 min. Add in eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add vanilla and mix to combine.
5. In a separate bowl combine 3 cups all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. On low speed add 1/3 of flour mixture, then add 1/3 of yogurt. Continue adding flour mixture and yogurt, alternating, until fully combined. Mix in apples just until combined.
6. Pour batter into prepared pan. Add streusel to the top in an even layer. Bake for 1 hour until golden brown and a skewer inserted into the cake comes out clean. Let cool on a wire rack for 10 mins., before removing from tin to cool completely.
