Peppermint Holiday Fudge

A sweet minty treat! 

Prep two double boilers. 

In one, add 1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips and 1 cup white chocolate chips in the other.

Once chips start melting, divide a can of sweet and condensed milk between the two.

Keep stirring until all melted and remove from heat.

Add a few dashes of peppermint essential oil to the chocolate chips and stir.

Pour each mixture in a greased dessert dish and then quickly use a large skewer to blend the two. 

Add crushed candy canes to the top and refrigerate for a few hours! 

Cut into small bites for your dessert plate! 

Moolicious and easy! 

Chipotle-Spiced Tuna Cups

These were fun to make. For a low carb diet or a high protein snack, these little cuke-bites are yummy. 

I used two cans of white chunk tuna and two large garden cucumbers; one peeled, and one skin on. 

For the tuna, in a bowl mix:

Two cans of drained white chunk tuna

Sprinkle salt, pepper and chipotle spice seasoning (if you don't have, a dash of cayenne will do)

A tbsp of relish

Two tbsps of mayo 

A tbsp of plain yogurt. 

If you find the mix too dry add more mayo. 

Chop your cucumbers in large pieces, then with a tsp, dig out the seeds of each chunk so you have mini cups. I rested mine on paper towel just to absorb any excess water. 

Then fill and set in a deep dish (pie dish works well) and sprinkle some chopped green onions on top! 

Moolicious

Squirrelly Trail Mix

I have been keen on making many versions of trail mix. The possibilities are endless and the benefits are numerous. You can stock up on your favourite snacks for an inexpensive price at (dare I say it?)...Walmart, for example. The pre made stuff is way over-priced! 

Enjoy this blend of: 

Unsalted peanuts

Unsalted raw almonds

Salted soy nuts

Handful golden raisins

Sprinkling of chopped dried mango

Moolicious! 

Creamy Cauliflower Sauce

This is probably the healthiest, tastiest discovery! 

This creamy sauce is so easy to make and would taste great with just about any type of pasta. 

I chose whole wheat spaghetti for this one. 

First, clean and chop your cauliflower into bite-size pieces. Boil in salted water for 35 minutes. 

Strain and allow to cool. 

Second, sauté half an onion and 3 cloves minced garlic in olive oil until soft. 

Third, put onion, garlic, and cauliflower into a food processor and whirl away until nicely pureed. 

Add salt, pepper, a dash of dried parsley and red pepper flakes and thin out the sauce with 1/2 cup water and a tbsp olive oil. Blend some more. *Feel free to add more liquid to get the sauce where you like it. 

Fourth, when ready to serve, heat in a large pan on stove top and stir in a handful of grated Romano cheese. Add your whole wheat pasta, mix and enjoy! 

Moolicious. 

Summer Veggie Casserole

So, I had some mushrooms, zucchini, polenta and tomatoes to use....I was inspired by the Ratatouille concept. 

I used about half of a prepared polenta tube, two tomatoes, 5-6 mushrooms, 1 small zucchini, 1 garlic clove (minced) and a few tbsps of jarred pesto, and Romano cheese. 

Prep all veggies, garlic and polenta. Thinly slice them in separate piles. 

Preheat oven to 375.

In your baking dish, put some olive oil and a dollop of pesto. 

Then begin layering, mixing up the veggies as you go. 

When your'e halfway, you can season with salt, pepper, cheese, pesto....

Then keep going! 

You can add 1/4 cup water to the dish to give it some moisture (I actually mixed the pesto and water) 

Top with more cheese and bake for about an hour. 

Summery and Moolicious! 

First Timer Cabbage Rolls

So, I have seen my mom and Baba and ChaCha makes these many times and I have eaten my share too! Here is my first stab at it. 

I was surprised by how easy they are to make and will definitely be doing it again. 

1. Prep your cabbage head. Remove any outer leaves. Bring a pot of water to a simmer and core the hard stem from inside. Get as much out as you can. Once water is simmering, plop your cabbage in and with a pair of tongs start removing the leafs. Set aside to cool and try trimming off as much of the hard rib as you can. 

2. Prep your filling. 1. Get a frying pan hot with olive oil. Put 1/2 chopped onion and sauté for 2-3 minutes. Add a package of lean ground beef, one clove minced garlic a tsp horseradish and a few sprinkles of worsheshire sauce, salt, pepper. Mix and cook through. If you see mixture is dry, add a few glugs of beef stock. 2. Cook 1/4 basmati rice following package directions. 

Mix beef and rice- set aside to cool. 

3. Prep your baking dish. Like a lasagna, you can put some plain, red tomato sauce on the bottom. 

Begin rolling. Much like a burrito or pita. Put some filling in the middle of your cabbage leaf, tuck in both sides and as you roll, tightly squeeze in the mixture. Place seem side down in your baking dish. 

4. When ready, top with more sauce and a bit of sautéed bacon, pepperoni or pancetta and freshly grated garlic. Reserve a little more beef stock and sauce for extra liquid, if needed. Bake in a 350 oven with foil top for 35 minutes. 

Moolicious! 

Lemon Zested Blueberry Flax Muffins

These were fun to make in my new mixer (Thanks Santa!). All good quality ingredients, these muffins will make for a good grab 'n go breakfast or pre-gym snack. 

First, be sure to get all your ingredients measured out and ready for the mixer. You can easily do these with a classic whisk/wooden spoon method, it just might take a bit longer. Preheat oven to 350.

1.In your mixer, put in the first 6 ingredients and mix well. Stop.

2.Mix together the vinegar and almond milk and let sit for 2 minutes.

3. Add dry ingredients to mixer bowl.

4. Add milk mix and mix well. You will come up with a cake batter. 

5. Once all ingredients are mixed, fold in blueberries

6. Put batter in a greased giant muffin (6) tin.

7. Top with more zest, a few oats and a sprinkle of thick sugar

8. Bake for 35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. 

1 tbsp flax meal (dissolve in 3 tbsps water and set aside) 

1 egg

2 tbsps coconut oil, melted

3 tbsps maple syrup

1/2 cup raw organic brown sugar

Zest from 1 lemon

2 tsps apple cider vinegar 

1 1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk

2 1/4 cups whole wheat flour

1 1/2 tsps baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp fine sea salt

1 cup fresh blueberries

Oh so Moolicious! 

Tortilla Lasagna

I was inspired by lasagna....

Fry half an onion, 3 cloves of garlic, and start browning one package of veal. Once browned, add your favourite taco or burrito seasoning. 

In your casserole dish, spray some oil, add a layer of fresh corn tortillas, then your veal mixture, sprinkle your veggies (sliced orange pepper, brussel sprout halves, sliced asparagus and Tex Mex cheese) followed by more tortillas. Repeat this process, top with cheese, sliced sun dried tomatoes and pickled jalapenos and a sliced tomato in the middle. 

Bake at 350 for 45 minutes.

When done, sprinkle fresh basil and chopped scallions. 

Moolicious! 

Winter is Coming Mac 'n Cheese

So, "Winter is Coming" to quote the Starks. 

I created a Mac 'n Cheese dish that will get you ready. 

Boil two cups of rigatoni until al dente. Allow to cool. Reserve about two cups of pasta water for your cheese sauce. 

For the sauce, heat up some EVOO, add a clove of garlic and half an onion and half of a jalapeño pepper, diced. Saute until soft. Then add one cup of frozen brussel sprouts. 

Next add about two tablespoons of corn starch and let dissolve. 

Add 1/2 cup white wine and about a cup of pasta water. Once you see it thickening, add your cheese to melt: about 1/4 cup nacho cheese dip, a handful grated Parmeggaiano Reggiano, and about one cup Emmental and let melt. 

Add your cooled pasta and stir together, then pour it in your baking dish. If you see it's not as moist as you'd like, add more pasta water. Season with salt and pepper, paprika and bake in a 350 oven for 15 minutes. 

Cheesy Goodness. 

And so Moolicious! 

Everyday Vinaigrette

Here is my everyday go to dressing for mixed greens. Tonight we had arugula with some alfalfa sprouts, cherry tomatoes, chopped scallion, and pumpkin seeds for crunch.

In a mason jar, put 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, about 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar, a dollop of grain dijon  mustard, a spoonful each of miso paste and orange marmalade, a clove of minced garlic, salt, pepper. Mix it up and use it over a few days as you need it. 

Beet Power Smoothie

This was a yummy post yoga smoothie. This morning the weather was perfect for an hour long yoga session right in front of the monument on Mount Royal. I was in heaven. Then came home and had this.

In a one serving smoothie maker, blend together a handful of frozen blueberries, a dollop of vanilla yogurt (plain would work too), about half a cup coconut water, 1 scoop of vanilla protein powder, 3 sliced beets (plain, cooked, from a can) and top it off with a splash of almond milk. It's that simple. 

Moolicious and Vitaminey! 

:) 

Vermont Brats with Sauerkraut, Chicken and Salad

One of the reasons we love going to Vermont is the food.  Of course there is the lake, swimming, boating, napping, Ben and Jerry, fresh country air and just being away from the noise of the city. Mike loves to do his charcoal grill, open a beer and grill whatever I bring to him. As my brother says, "Mike is the most meticulous griller he knows." We spent a day in Burlington where they opened up a new Trader Joe's store. They have the great Organic produce at great prices and their wine and beer section is out of this world! So we stocked up on goodies, drove back to the cottage and started making dinner. We shared this meal just before sunset and it couldn't have been more perfect. Just when I was getting full and sad because it was almost over, I remembered that we had Ben and Jerry's Blueberry Frozen Yogurt for dessert! :) enjoy.

For the Sauerkraut and Brats and baby potatoes:

Boil your baby tatoes for about 20 minutes in salted water, set aside. 

In a pot, heat up oil, half a sliced onion, 2-3 cloves chopped garlic. Just when fragrant, add a jar of wine sauerkraut (I rinsed mine first because the salt can be too much). 

Add your potatoes.

Add a chopped tomato. 

Add some pepper, hot red pepper flakes and smoked paprika.

Add half a bottle of Heifeweizen beer and allow to simmer. 

Get the best Bratwurst sausage you can find and get them on the grill to get that smokey flavour....maybe 10 minutes. Remove, chop up and put in your frying cabbage. 

Cover, allow to simmer at a low heat and then forget about it until everything is ready.

Drink the rest of your first Heifeweizen :) 

For the boneless, skinless chicken thighs:

Drizzle with olive oil, season with sallt, pepper, dry rosemary, lemon zest and juice. Keep it simple. Let the charcoal do most of the flavouring! Add to the grill and cook for about 25 minutes, while flipping. 

For the corn: 

Break into halves, brush with coconut oil, sea salt and pepper and add to grill for some slow cooking. 

For the green beans:

Prep a foil packet with two pieces of foil, drizzle oil on the foil, add your beans, more oil, salt, pepper and slices of fresh garlic. Wrap up and throw on the grill.

For the salad:

In a bowl, whisk together lemon juice, zest, garlic, olive oil then add your chopped tomatoes, greens and sliced red onion. When ready to eat, simply mix it together. 

Moolicious!