Rhubarb Crisp

We have about 10 rhubarb plants growing along the side of our barn that are HUGE (that's what she said). I've never weeded, watered or treated these plants in any way over the last 4 years and they never fail to produce an amazing crop.  I have to admit, rhubarb isn't my favourite however my husband is a huge fan.  I've made stewed rhubarb, rhubarb muffins, loaves, and crisps but have never made rhubarb pie.  That will be my next mission.  Tonight I tried out a new crisp recipe.  Hope you like it :)

Ingredients

1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed

1 cup flour

3/4 cup quick cooking rolled oats

1/2 cup melted butter

1 teaspoon cinnamon

4 cups rhubarb, chopped

1 cup sugar

2 tablespoons cornstarch

1 cup water

1 teaspoon vanilla

MethodIn a bowl, combine brown sugar, flour, oats, butter and cinnamon; mix together until crumbly. Press half of the brown sugar and oats mixture into a buttered square baking dish. Top with rhubarb. In a saucepan combine 1 cup sugar, cornstarch, and the 1 cup of water and vanilla. Cook together until clear, then pour over rhubarb. Top rhubarb with remaining crumb mixture and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

Mojitos

The heat has arrive!  The hubby and I spend the evening on the beach.  There is absolutely no better way to welcome this lovely weather then sitting on the beach, listening to live music, surrounded by torches with a mojito in your hand.  Hello summer! Please stay forever.

Ingredients

1 oz white rum

8 mint leaves

1 tbsp sugar

1/2 oz fresh lime juice

splash  of 7 up

fill with soda

Method

Muddle mint leaves and sugar sugar and add to a tall glass. Add crushed ice, rum, and lime juice. Add soda water, 7 up and garnish with mint leaves.

Thai Curry Soup

Rain, rain go away! We've had rain for days and will continue to until the end of the week.  I wanted to make a cozy, warm dish for dinner - Jill's  Make-shift Thai Curry Soup it is.  It does pack a punch but the flavours are amazing... mmm, Thai soup!

Yields 2 Servings
Ingredients
1 tablespoon red curry paste
1/2 tsp coriander
1/2 tsp cumin
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp curry powder
3 cups water
3 green onion, sliced
2 tablespoons fish sauce
1 cup milk
1 tablespoons sugar  (*I used milk and sugar as a coconut substitute because I didn't have any)

juice from 1/2 lime
1 large beef steak, cubed
1/3 cup bean sprouts
1/2 package Thai rice noodles


MethodOver medium heat, warm olive oil. Add coriander, cumin, curry powder and curry paste and cook for 3 minutes. Add all other ingredients (except sprouts and noodles) and simmer for 25 minutes.  Meanwhile, add noodles to a pot of boiling a water for 7 minutes (turn heat off once it boils). Drain. Add noddles and sprouts to curry mixture and cook for 3 more minutes.  Serve in a bowl.  Garnish with cilantro if desired.

Reese's Pieces Cookies

We are heading to a friends place tonight to check out some recent renos they've done and I wanted to take a little treat with us.  I decided to put a spin on my favourite cookies and used Reese's Pieces instead of chocolate chips.  I didn't want to use a peanut butter cookie recipe because they tend to be on the dry side. These cookies are delish!

Ingredients

1 3/4 cup flour

3/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 c butter or marg, softened (not melted)
1/2 c sugar
1/2 c firmly packed brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
3/4 c Reese's pieces

Method
Heat oven to 375 degrees. Mix flour, baking soda and salt in medium bowl. Set aside. Beat butter and sugars(that's what she said) in large bowl with electric mixer until fluffy. Add egg and vanilla. Gradually beat in the flour mixture. Stir in Reese's Pieces. Drop by heaping tbsp onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 11 - 13 minutes. Remove from tray immediately and put on cooling rack. Makes about 2 dozen cookies

Fried Dough

When I say "breakfast" what are the top three foods that come to mind?  Bacon, eggs and pancakes, right? Well, say that word to an American and chances are donut will be in their top 3. Donuts here are definitely more of a snack.  On Easter weekend my husband and I were lucky enough to spend time with my American side of the family.  It was lovely to see them despite the fact that our time together was quite limited.  While visiting, my wonderful aunt made a yummy brunch treat for us.  Fried Dough Bits.  They were DELICIOUS! 

Yields: 30 ish "tim bit" sized treats
Ingredients

2 packages premade pizza dough (you could also use homemade  - not whole wheat though)

1 cup vegetable or canola oil

icing sugar to sprinkle on top

Method

Flatten out dough to the size of a medium plate (not the saucer size but not a dinner plate...).  Cut into 1 inch x 1 inch squares and dropped about 8 at a time into a deep skillet of hot vegetable oil.  Flip once when golden brown.  Remove before they get to a dark brown colour.  Quickly dust with icing sugar (or a sugar and Cinnamon mixture).  Serve warm. YUM!

*be careful of the oil spitting when you drop the dough in! It can also get a little smokey/stinky so open a window or turn the hood fan on

Sweet Chili Chicken on Rice

Fact: I'm sick of chicken.
Solution: Try cooking different 'cuts' of chicken with different types of sauces

I'm not one for meat bones (that's what she said).  It wasn't until a few years ago that I could stomach having the bone of an animal on my plate.  Over the past year I've been learning to work with and cook meats that are on the bone.  I'm still a work in progress but I'm getting there.  Yesterday at the grocery store I was a total bone cop out.  I purchased boneless, skinless chicken thighs, which I've surprisingly never cooked with.  I created a dish using a prepared sweet chili sauce, which was a success.

Ingredients

6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs

1 handful fresh snow peas

1/4 prepared sweet chili sauce

5 tbsp soy sauce

1/4 water

1 cups cooked rice

Method
Put everything (except rice and snow peas) in a skillet and bring to a boil.  Lower heat and simmer, covered for 20 minutes. Stir occasionally.  Break up chicken into bite size pieces as you stir. 5 minutes before its done, throw in the snow peas. Serve over a bed of rice.

Here is a homemade version of sweet chili sauce.  I've never made it but will certain try once my bottle runs out.

Ingredients:1/2 cup rice vinegar (or substitute white vinegar)
1/2 cup + 2 Tbsp. white sugar
1/4 cup water
3 Tbsp. fish sauce
2 Tbsp. sherry (or cooking sherry)
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 to 1 Tbsp. dried crushed chili (1 Tbsp. makes spicy-hot sauce)
1+1/2 Tbsp. cornstarch dissolved in 3-4 Tbsp. cool water

Method
1.Place all ingredients (except the cornstarch-water mixture) in a pot. Bring to a rolling boil.
2.Reduce heat to medium and let boil for 10 minutes.
3.Reduce heat to low and add the cornstarch-water mixture. Stir to incorporate and continue stirring occasionally until the sauce thickens (about 2 minutes).
4.Remove from heat and taste-test. You should taste "sweet" first, followed by sour, then spicy and salty notes. If the sauce isn't sweet enough, add a little more sugar. If not spicy enough, add more chili.

Homemade Hamburgers

Happy 30th Big Guy!
This past weekend was my husbands 30th birthday.  We celebrated by hosting a backyard BBQ with family and friends in the sun (we completely lucked out and had zero rain all weekend!).  On the menu; a giant bowl of pasta salad, grilled veggie kabobs, dogs and homemade burgers.  I freakin' love summer and cannot wait to have BBQ after BBQ out in the sunshine surround by the people we love so much. 

Happy Birthday to one pretty darn fantastic man.

Yields: 12 patties
Homemade Burgs
3 lbs of lean ground beef
1 package of onion soup mix
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1/3 cup bread crumbs
1 egg
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 salt

We have a pattie press which makes like a lot easier.  The press along with the stand mixer (and the help from a not-so-precise Pattie making friend) made the process of making 24 burgers pretty smooth.  Mix all the ingredients together and form into patties.  BBQ through until pink is gone. Serve.