Merry Christmas Everyone!

I'm back! What a hectic couple of days these Christmas holidays were. Unfortunately, only a few days were actually spent at home. With work going up to a few days before the holidays and starting again once Boxing Day was over, there just wasn't as much time as I'd like.

I guess the other major adjustment is getting use to visiting the fiance's family (And vice versa) during the holidays. Instead of spending time with just my own family, we had the difficulty of trying to fit two into the mix. Probably the busiest day was Christmas itself, as we ended up visiting 5 different houses that day! Life was so much simpler as a kid when you wake up and celebrate with the whole family Christmas morning.

It's sad though, because you just get enough time to come in and visit for a short while, before having to move on to the next house. I bet it was not only an adjustment for us however, but also our families. It's hard to take away a daughter from her family on Christmas! However, it all seemed to work out fairly well.

I suppose being somewhat proficient in the kitchen opens up the door for several culinary Christmas presents, and this year I was very successful!  I was extremely fortunate to receive

• Le Creuset - A French Oven
• Chef Michael Smith's Kitchen : 100 of my Favourite Easy Recipes
• Jamie Oliver: Jamie's Italy
• An egg poacher
• A grater/zester
• Some spices (Cumin, Tarragon)
• Everyday Recipes: Tapas
• A roasting pan

Not a bad Christmas collection eh? I was extremely fortunate these holidays, and I can't wait to start using some of these gadgets and recipes! The important thing to remember is that everyone isn't as lucky as me... It's important to help out those that are less fortunate. Just keep that in mind folks!

Anyway, I hope you all had a fantastic holiday! Let me know if you have any great Le Creuset recipes that I have to try!

Apple Roasted Chicken

Well if you haven't cooked for awhile, you might as well cook something with style!! And how good does that chicken look? Delicious!!! I may have been more excited for the soup making that comes after cooking the bird, but this definitely made my mouth water. This recipe comes from the Michael Smith cookbook Chef at Home: Cooking without a recipe.

While the chicken tasted amazing after finishing it, there was definitely another step I would consider when making this. I loved the idea of the chicken cooking on the bed of apples and onions, and the purpose of that seems to be the creation of a stew. When the chicken is finished, Smith instructs that the chicken be sliced up, and the mixed in with the apple and onion mix.

My only issue, is that the chicken seemed to finish ahead of the veggies. Not all the apples were fully cooked, and I wanted them a bit more mushy instead of solid. I had also simply roughly chopped the apples and had fairly large slices. Next time, I'd probably cube them, so they broke down easier. The same goes for the onions. Instead of large slices, I'd break it down into bite sized pieces. I would also consider adding more cider, or some water, in order to make sure their was enough liquid in the bottom.

Because the bottom didn't finish the way I wanted it to, we had the chicken straight and left the apples and onions in the pan, which was probably a real waste when thinking back on it. The chicken tasted great, and was moist enough, but I didn't really capture the flavour of the apple or onions. However, the chicken was definitely good enough for me to make another time! It's just a matter of getting the apple/onion hash down right!!

So if you happen to make this, let me know how it went for you! Either way, I know you'll enjoy it!

Apple Roasted Chicken


Chicken - 4Lbs (1.8kg)
Apples - 4, quartered and cored (although as I mentioned above, you may want to cut the apples into bite sized pieces)
Onions - 2, peeled (Also bite sized pieces)
Garlic - 1 whole head, peeled
Rosemary - 2 sprigs
Salt and Pepper - a few healthy pinches
Apple Cider - 1/2 cup
Green Onions - 2 stalks, diced

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Add the apples, onions, garlic and rosemary to a large roasting pan. Lay the chicken on top. Pour in the apple cider, and then season with salt and pepper.

Roast the chicken for about 80 minutes (20 minutes a pound). The meat thermometer should read 82 degrees Celcius. Be warned, it usually takes a long time for the chicken to heat up, so don't be discouraged if the thermometer isn't moving. It really climbs towards the end of the roasting time. Also, make sure that the thermometer isn't touching bone, as this throws off the temperature. Instead, check around the thickest part of the thigh.

Pull the chicken out and let sit for about 5-10 minutes. Once cool enough to handle, remove the chicken from the mixture and slice up the meat.

At this stage, I stopped and just ate the meat. However, Michael Smith adds the sliced chicken back into the apple mix and stirs it all together to form a stew. You may also want to serve the apple/onion mixture on the side beside the chicken. In any case, sprinkle some green onions on top of the apple mixture if using and serve.

Enjoy!

Bubba's Sweet Sweet Potato Casserole

Things finally slowed down, so after tackling a pile of dirty dishes in the sink, I got straight down to cooking! And because the end of the semester usually results in me being hit with a bout of illness, the best way to fight it is with some chicken soup.

Step one however, was to make myself a chicken dinner so I'd have all the soup parts. Besides, it's a great excuse to make a chicken dinner! To go along with it, I really wanted to make this dish that my Uncle Bubba made for me in once upon a time. It's a great accompaniment to a chicken/turkey dinner, and feeds a lot of people!

Sweet potatoes are considered a super food, with lots of nutritional benefits such as antioxidants, anti-inflammatory nutrients, being fat-free and loaded with fiber. They also seem to be good at fighting cancers and heart disease. All in all, a pretty healthy spud!

This dish however, abuses the healthiness of the sweet potato by adding a fair bit of sugar and butter. The problem though, is that it's just so darn good it's hard to resist! Uncle Bubba had already cut the sugar down more than half in this recipe, but you still may be inclined to reduce it more, as sweet potatoes are already fairly sweet on their own.


Bubba's Sweet Sweet Potato Casserole

Sweet Potatoes - 4 Large ones, cubed
Brown Sugar - 1/3 Cup
Eggs - 3, lightly beaten
Vanilla - 1 tsp
Milk - 1/2 cup
Butter - 1/2 cup, melted

Brown Sugar - 1/2 cup
Butter - 1/3 cup, melted
Flour - 1/3 cup
Pecans - 1 cup, roughly chopped

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Start boiling a large pot full of water. Once reaching a boiling temperature, add the cubed sweet potato and cook until softened. Drain and mash.

In a large bowl, mix together the sweet potato, brown sugar, vanilla, milk and butter. Beat the eggs in a separate bowl and add as well. Make sure all the ingredients are mixed in well together. Transfer the mixture to a casserole or pie container (Oven safe).

In a separate bowl, mix together the brown sugar, butter, flour and pecans. Mix together well, then drizzle over the top of the sweet potato mixture. It makes a nice crust when cooked, so don't be scared if it looks like too much. Place in the oven for about 30 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and solid, and the potatoes are cooked through.

It stays hot for awhile, so watch your mouths! Thanks for the recipe Bubbs! Enjoy!

Fast Food Nation

I suppose it isn't unexpected that a food blogger will come online to blast the fast food industry. After all, most food bloggers have been cooking for years and have realized the benefits of cooking at home. Sometimes, this makes us snobby because, hey, we can just cook that at home!
I'm currently sitting at work, watching the people stream in and out of the fast food stores that are nearby. In this tiny strip mall, there are four different fast food chains, Taco Bell, KFC, Dairy Queen and a Little Caesars Pizza. I don't have a problem with the restaurants, I have a problem with the amount of people that use it!

I can understand going for fastfood once in awhile. People don't feel like cooking, it's fast and easy, and sometimes you just crave a cheeseburger. The sad part I'm realizing as I watch the constant drive-ins, the diners and the take-homers, is that most of these people aren't just doing the "occasional" fast food meal, but that it's a consistent visit!

I visited a food food establishment last week, and was staring up at the board trying to figure out what I wanted to eat, and a customer comes in and orders immediately. He knew the menu completely! And to continue my rant... I finally settled on a combo, and got a small ice cream for the fiance who was sick at home with a sore throat. $14!!! For a small fast food burger, fries a drink and an icecream! I should have gone to a fancier restaurant and paid four extra dollars for a steak dinner with baked potatoes and veggies!

I also don't understand why healthier fast food options are neglected as compared to the deep fried and fatty options... I won't start rambling about the benefits of home cooking/fresh produce etc. because I'd just be preaching to the choir.

I guess I'm snobby as well... But I'm also comfortable knowing that I can cook at healthy meals at home, and occasionally try a fastfood item.

Do you ever eat fastfood? Why/Why not?

Sausage Gravy on Pepper Thyme Biscuits

With only a presentation left in terms of school work, the stress of my education has evolved into stress of Christmas. I haven't even had a chance to think about what I'm going to get for people! And as soon as the Christmas rush is over, I can start stressing about school again! It is sad that I'm already looking forward to summer coming?

As mentioned before, those last couple of days at school left me with a somewhat depressed kitchen. Not only because of the lack of food, but with dishes slowly piling up. As the fiance said when she came home on Friday... "Oh Jeff, you're better than this!" Gah... the shame... However, I did power through the dishes today to make a much cleaner kitchen!

As I was mentioning though, the lack of food forced me to be inventive with what was available. Sometimes these are the best moments though, as new dishes are discovered. This one for example, was a delicious and easy meal that really doesn't hurt the ingredients in the cupboard at all.   Not only that, but it's also a meal that helps you stay full for longer! I got this recipe from the blog The Curvy Carrot, which is an awesome name for a blog! She also has several other delicious looking recipes on her blog, so I suggest checking it out!

Pepper Thyme Biscuits

Flour - 2 cups
Baking Powder - 1 tbsp
Thyme - 1 tsp
Pepper - 1/2 tsp
Salt - 1/2 tsp
Butter - 3/4 cup, chilled and cubed
Milk - 1/2 cup
Egg - 1

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.

Combine the first four ingredients, cut in the butter until the mixture is crumbly.
In a small bowl, whisk the milk and egg together, then add to the powder mixture. Stir together until they are just combined. Don't over mix.

Knead the dough briefly, then roll out so it's about a 1/2 inch thick. Cut out circles using a cup, then place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for about 12-15 minutes or until lightly brown.


Sausage and Gravy

Sausages - 1 (14oz) package
Butter - 4 tbsps
Flour - 4 tbsps
Milk - 4 cups
Sage - 1/8 cup
Red Pepper Flakes - a healthy pinch to taste.
Salt and pepper

In a large frying pan, cook the sausages as directed on the package. I prefer adding about an inch worth of water inside of it and letting the sausages cook, but whatever suits you! Set the sausages aside when finished.

Using the same frying pan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the flour, and make a roux by by using a wooden spatula to stir the mixture together. Once golden brown, gradually add the milk, stirring constantly. Continue to stir for about 10-15 minutes until the gravy has thickened.

Add the sausage (I chopped mine up by this point. I may even suggest crumbing sausage as well), the sage, red pepper flakes and salt and pepper.

Serve over the hot biscuits. I also made this for breakfast with leftovers the next day, but added a fried egg and some grated cheddar cheese... amazing! Works for both the breakfast and dinner!

Fatburger Restaurant

Unfortunately my studying has left a very sorry state of affairs in my kitchen these last couple of days. After resorting to a bowl of Ichiban and some tater-tots the night before, I was definitely lacking in anything of any real substance at home. How did I get myself into such a conundrum? Exams...and sickness. Both combined made me perfectly lazy at taking care of myself at home. So I wanted to go out and get something.

I'll admit it, I was craving a hamburger. I eat healthy regularly, but occasionally (and I really do mean occasionally), I like to add some grease to my diet. So I decided to head out and get some food from the newly opened Fatburger (1505 Mayor Mcgrath Drive, Lethbridge AB).

My first impression is all about the name of this establishment. It both terrifies and excites me. It promises a large burger, but at what cost to my arteries? Fatburger's name actually dates to the 1940s, when 'fat cat' or 'fat city' to describe a popular place. But what does that translate in it's food? Only one way to find out! So I stroll into the restaurant to see! It definitely raised my eyebrows...

Based on the design for old '60's style burger joints, this place looks good! Plush leather seats, some stainless steel, neon lights, and some classic jukebox music coming over the radio (with some modern twists). And it was full! Almost all the tables had customers dinning in and enjoying themselves. Definitely not what I expected. The staff was really pleasant behind the counter as well. Hollering out the orders and conversing with each other, these weren't people downtrodden by the fastfood experience, but invigorated with some spirit and energy. It was a welcome difference than the forced smiles at other locations. My only regret now, was that I was getting this food for takeout instead of staying in! But sickness has a way of forcing one back to the safe comforts of the couch...

So I ordered the traditional fatburger, an order of fries and a strawberry milkshake. I was then guided to the "takeout bench" where others wait to get their food to go. Pretty smart having an available area like that.... Although I really wanted to sit at the bar style counter by the window... how classic! But I was patient, and observing! Other menu items included larger burgers, chicken/turkey burgers and some sandwiches, hotdogs and salads. The burgers have an option of throwing on cheese, bacon, chili or an egg. I haven't had an egg on a burger in awhile... but the moment had already passed. Alas! Next time I'm sure. They also sell booze! Beer (in large mugs), frozen margarita's and caesars take a spot on the menu as well. "What IS this place?" I wondered as I sat there.

The next thing I know, my order is brought out to me and I'm off, sadly. It speaks a lot about the environment of an establishment when I'm already planning on who else I can invite along with me next time I go...

So the atmosphere was pretty good, but what about the food? A real ice cream milkshake is amazingly delicious. A good amount of thickness, so that I don't have to force it up the straw, but still thick enough to enjoy as a proper milkshake, although the whipped cream on top was definitely unnecessary. The fries didn't taste like normal fastfood fries, you can tell something is different about the oil it's cooked in. Some short research later and it turns out they are served in cholesterol free soybean oil. While this might seem odd, I didn't mind the flavour at all, but I'm still cautious about the nutrition of this product. Remember, they are still french fries.

 So the burger itself... not too bad! It's marketed as the "leanest ground beef" and claims that in a 1990 survey, Fatburger had the leanest of all fastfood places. However, I'm not sure that I noticed anything especially amazing. The size, disappointingly, wasn't really "Fat" just..bigger than other places, but not by much. It was still a good burger, but I was hoping for something a bit more unique I suppose.

We have to remember however, that I was sick at the time I ate this, so I may have been thrown off a bit. I also ate at home, letting the food cool in the car. And I would bet the experience of eating inside of the actual establishment would make the food taste better as well. I'll just have to give it a try and see!

Staff and Service - B-
Food and Flavours - B-
Atmosphere - A

Anzac Cookies

So tonight I knocked another assignment off of the long list of school work due next week. To celebrate, I hit the kitchen for some baking!

These cookies had caught my eye a long time ago. Historic Fact! The word Anzac is actually an acronym for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. I would have never known that, except that I had read a book by Bryce Courtenay called Solomon's Song. It was definitely one of my favourite books, and one of the only ones that shows the horrors of the First World War. The book is based off of the battle of Gallipoli, in which the Anzac forces were sent to take on the "easy heathens" of the Ottoman Empire. They were sadly mistaken however, and thousands upon thousands of Allied forces gave their lives during that campaign. Even now, Anzac day is celebrated by both countries in April to honour their lives. 

When I saw the title for the cookies, I was immediately intrigued... According to the original blog Versus From My Kitchen, these cookies were made to send to the troops on the front. They don't have a ton of ingredients, but taste delicious! 

My only regret was lacking a big glass of milk to have with them... They just belong together! Even without the milk though, I may have eaten five of them straight from the oven. They are that good. 

Anzac Cookies

Flour - 1 Cup

Desiccated Coconut - 1 cup

Brown Sugar - 2/3 cups

Oats - 3/4 cup

Butter - 1/2 cup (1 stick)

Syrup -  1 tbsp

Baking Soda - 1 tsp

Boiling Water - 2 tbsp (I had the kettle running when I assembled everything)

Preheat the oven to 320 degrees F. 

Take a large bowl, and add the Flour, coconut, brown sugar and oats. Mix them all together.

In a small pot, melt the butter and syrup over medium heat. 

In a small bowl, add the baking soda. Add the 2 tbsps of boiling water and mix together. Add this mixture to the butter and stir. It should foam up immediately. Pour this over the dry mixture and mix together. 

Take a tablespoon of the batter and roll into a ball. Place on a lined baking sheet. Flatten gently with a fork. Bake in the oven for about 20-25 minutes. The ends should turn golden brown. When you pull them from the oven, the middle of the cookies should still be soft, so don't panic! Allow them to cool on the baking sheet before transferring to a wire. 

And seriously... get a glass of milk. Tea will work, but milk... it's a must. 

Huevos Rancheros

If you were thinking this recipe was all about Ranch dressing... you should leave now.

I'm afraid that this blog post will be extremely short and simple. I'm in the midst of assignments/papers/exams/presentations (yes all those in the next week!) and have no spare time to be dallying about writing blog posts. However, it's a worthy break and gets my fingers all warmed up for some typing.

Huevos Rancheros is a popular Mexican breakfast dish that is a combination of eggs and tortillas. There are so many different variations to this recipe, you'll be pretty safe as long as you have eggs, tortillas and a tomato based sauce going on. Perfect for exam season! The tortilla chips and the eggs, the flavour of the lime and the spice from the jalapeno and salsa all combine to make a delicious breakfast. Definitely a good one to wake up and start the morning with! So this is my own take on this particular dish. I hope you like it.

Huevos Rancheros

Eggs - 2
Tortilla - 1, cut into slices
Olive Oil - 1 tbsp
Butter- 1 tbsp
Garlic - 2 cloves, minced
Salsa - 1/4 cup (Feel free to use tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, etc. I just wanted the flavour of the salsa mixed in, and it was available)
Jalapeno - 1, diced
Lime Juice - 1 tbsp
Cheddar Cheese - grated, just for the top

Cut the tortilla into small strips, think really thin french fries... Heat the olive oil in a small frying pan and add the tortilla. Toss occasionally until the tortilla becomes lightly brown and crispy.

Meanwhile, in a medium sized frying pan, melt the butter over medium high heat. Add the minced garlic and saute for a minute. Add the salsa and jalapeno and stir it all together.
In a separate bowl, beat the eggs together. Add to the salsa mixture. Allow the eggs to settle for a few seconds, then give it a stir with a wooden spatula. Stir occasionally, just so the eggs don't settle and break into small bite sized portions (Scrambled eggs). Add the lime juice on top and season with salt and pepper.

Serve in a bowl, top with cheddar cheese then add the toasted tortilla strips. Serve and enjoy!