Spicy Avocado Toasts

Mom and I had this for lunch the other day and loved it.

Its very simple but filling.

Spicy Avocado Toast 
(Martha Stewart)

1 ripe avocado
2 slices of toast
butter or coconut butter
a few pinches salt and pepper (I used flaky sea salt)
a few pinches red pepper flakes
lemon wedges

Peel and slice the avocado.
Toast and butter the bread.
Place sliced avocado on the bread and mash (or leave whole).
Top with salt, red pepper flakes and lemon juice.

BBQ Pulled Pork and Beans

This is a really easy recipe that my kids just love.

The substitute of beans for half of the meat makes this a cheap meal too.

Its simmers in the oven for several hours and gets served over rice or on a bun.

I usually make a coleslaw to go with it.


BBQ Pulled Pork and Beans 
(recipe from Spilling the Beans Cookbook)

olive oil, for cooking
1-2 lb pork tenderloin
2 C cooked red kidney beans (or a 19 oz can), rinsed and drained
2 C cooked navy beans or white kidney beans (19 oz can), rinsed and drained
1/2 C ketchup (I used 1/4C chili sauce, 1/4C ketchup)
1/4 C maple syrup
1/4C cider vinegar (red or balsamic works too)
2 Tbsp brown sugar
1 Tbsp soy sauce
1 Tbsp dijon or yellow mustard
2-3 garlic cloves, minced
a few shots of hot sauce

1/4 cup a favourite BBQ sauce, optional

In a dutch oven, brown pork on all sides (in a little oil, if the meat is lean.)
Add all other ingredients except the BBQ sauce and mix it up in the pan.  (You may need to lift the pork up so all the sauce ingredients blend well.)
Cover and cook in a 300 degree F oven.  Cook for 3-4 hours.
You can also do this in a slow cooker on low for 6-8 hours.

Skim any fat off the surface and shred pork with two forks.
Stir in BBQ sauce, if using.
Serve over rice or on a bun, sloppy joe style.

Chickpea and Potato Curry

Friends of mine made and shared this recipe with me after I raved about it.

It's a simple, tasty curry that's easy to make, especially if you have kitchen help.

The kids loved it served over rice.

Chickpea and Potato Curry

(adapted from Lubbes' recipe)

1 Tbsp olive oil

2 onions, diced

2 Tbsp fresh ginger, minced or grated

2 Tbsp curry paste

1-2 tsp curry powder

pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)

1 lb ground chicken

1 lb potatoes, peeled and diced

1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed

1 Tbsp soy sauce

1 C frozen peas

Mango Chutney, for serving (optional)

In a large Dutch oven, heat oil over medium heat and cook onions, 10 mins.

Add ginger, cook a minute or two.

Add ground chicken, cook until no longer pink.

Add curry paste, curry powder, RP Flakes (if using), potatoes, chickpeas and soy sauce.

Pour 1 Cup of water in and cover. 

Reduce heat and simmer until potatoes are very soft, around 15 minutes.

Stir in peas and cook 5 more mins.

Serve over rice with mango chutney. 

Five Banana Muffins

I like winter.

I love wearing my tuque.

I enjoy shoveling early in the morning before it's light out.

But, for some reason, I enjoy seeing the bright sun on our faces and warmth of this picture right now.

Also, in this picture, we are drinking great coffee which goes great with these muffins.

If you frequently have bananas that are overripe, this recipe a great way to use them up.

I cut it out of a newspaper at least ten years ago and it is still my go to banana muffin.

You, kind of, can't make a mistake with these.

I have morphed these in so many ways and they always turn out.  Try adding espresso powder, coconut, pecans, nutmeg or even substitute pumpkin puree for some of the banana.

The recipe calls for a small amount of sugar but I always leave it out because I think the bananas make them sweet enough.

Five Banana Muffins

(yields 24 muffins)

2 C AP flour (or a combo of 1 C whole wheat or spelt and 1 C AP)

1/4 C sugar (optional)

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cinnamon (optional)

pinch of salt

1/2-1 C chocolate chips (or nuts)

5 bananas, mashed

1/2 C butter, melted

1/4-1/2 C yogurt, buttermilk or sour cream

2 large eggs

Preheat oven to 350.

Line muffin tin with papers or grease.

In a large bowl (or stand mixer) combine bananas, butter, yogurt and eggs.  

Add chocolate.

In another bowl, whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

Add to flour mixture to banana mixture.

Stir gently without over mixing.

Pour into muffin cups.  I fill them about half full and that usually makes 24 muffins.

Bake 18 mins

 or until toothpick insterted into the centre of a muffin comes out clean.

(You can also make this into a loaf but increase baking time to 50 mins.)

Cheesy Spaghetti and Peas

Cheesy Spaghetti and Peas

(adapted from Everyday Food magazine)

*To break up the spaghetti, wrap uncooked noodles in a tea towel 

and firmly break in several places on the edge of the counter.

1/2 lb spaghetti, broken in pieces*

1 can evaporated milk

3 large eggs

pinch nutmeg (optional)

dash cayenne (optional)

1 1/2 C cheddar cheese, grated

1/2 C mozzarella cheese, grated

1/2 C parmesan cheese, grated

3/4 C frozen peas

Heat oven to 400.

Cook pasta a couple minutes less than package directions.

In the mean time, whisk all other ingredients in a large bowl.

Add cooked pasta to cheese mixture.

Pour into a 2 Quart casserole dish.

Bake 12-15 mins.

Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Zucchini and Red Pepper Sautee

I love doing this for lunch.

It's faster than making an epic sandwich (because sandwiches need to be epic) and leaves me full.

Sometimes I have crackers or a nice piece of bread with it.

Zucchini and Red Pepper Sautee
Serves 1 person lunch.

1/2 medium zucchini, sliced
1/2 red pepper, sliced
1-2 tsp Olive oil
3 fresh basil leaves, torn
1/2 tsp lemon zest
1-2 tsp lemon juice
salt, pepper
1 Tbsp grated parmesan cheese

In a medium fry pan over medium, heat oil.  Sautee zucchini and peppers, sprinkled with a pinch of salt and pepper, for a few minutes, or until barely softened. Stir in basil, lemon zest and lemon juice.  Cook another minute.  Grate parmesan cheese over the vegetables and serve.

Panko Crusted Fish with Herb Dipping Sauce

I was talking to my friend the other day about fish recipes for people who dont love fish.

This panko crusted sole is not super fishy and has a pleasantly mild, crispy coating.

The recipe calls for Old Bay Seasoning, I used Lawrys Chicken seasoning because thats all I had and it worked great too.

If you are in a hurry or dont want to make the dipping sauce just serve the fish as is or with lemon wedges.

Panko-Crusted Fish with Herb Dipping Sauce

Martha Stewart Everyday Food Magazine

1-2 large eggs, beaten

2 Cups panko crumbs (Japanese bread crumbs)

1 Tbsp Old Bay fish seasoning (or other such as Lawrys)

2 Tbsp Olive oil

1 Tbsp dried Parsley flakes, optional

7-8 sole fillet ( I used frozen fillets then prepared and cooked without thawing first)

1/2 Cup mayonnaise

2 Tbsp dried parsley flakes (1/4Cup fresh, chopped parsley)

1 Tbsp Dijon mustard

1 Tbsp lemon juice

2 tsp horseradish

Preheat oven to 475F.

Place egg in a shallow dish, season with salt and pepper.

Combine panko, seasoning, oil and parsley flakes in another shallow bowl.

Dip sole fillet in egg mixture and then in crumb mixture, pressing on the crumbs to make them stick.

Lay the fish on a baking sheet leaving some room between.

Bake without turning the fish over 12-15 minutes or until the fish is lightly browned on the bottom.

Meanwhile, make sauce.

Mix mayo, parslely, dijon, lemon and horseradish in a small bowl.

Season with salt and pepper.

Serve fish with dipping sauce, lemon wedges, roasted potatoes and a salad.