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! 

Flourless Energy Bites

I can't call these cookies although the process of making them is the same....They have all kinds of healthy ingredients and don't take too long to whip up. When you feel the need to cheat, but don't want the guilt the next day, I think these are the perfect option. I have trouble measuring, but I will try to estimate what went in so you can make them too! The bananas would replace butter and the oats and dry stuff replace your flour. There is no need for it!

First, in a frying pan, toast up a handful of chopped hazelnuts, walnuts and pumpkin seeds on medium  heat until you begin to smell them. Set aside.

Everything gets added In a large bowl: 

Add a tsp of walnut oil

Mash up 2 large bananas really well

Add a drizzle of agave nectar for sweetness

Add a drop of almond extract

Add about 1 tbsp of unsalted, organic peanut butter (nutty or smooth).

Add 1 egg white to bind

Add your nuts/seeds

Add a tbsp chia seeds

Add a handful semi sweet chocolate chips

Add two cups large cooking oats (however, you may need to add some more to get that "cookie dough" texture, so don't put them away just yet.

Add 1 scoop vanilla protein powder (although chocolate can work too since you will add some cocoa powder)

Add a tbsp full of cocoa powder.

Mix all together and form nice sized cookie-like shapes. ***now, if you find the mixture too wet, simply add more oats until it comes together a little better.

Bake at 350 for about 12 minutes. 

They will be soft and chewy when you are done. 

Enjoy with a post-workout glass of chocolate milk!!!

Moolicious! 

Poached Salmon and Beet and Veggie Soup

We aim to eat clean and healthy all year, especially in the summer. For tonight's supper, I served poached salmon with wild rice and mixed greens. You can switch up your sides for this too. The bad I Pad picture does not do this meal justice! Enjoy.

For the soup, get all ingredients prepped and ready to drop in the pot.

- grate 3 medium sized beets, and slice up the stems, finely.

- dice 1 shallot 

- 1 generous tablespoon of Miso paste

- mince 3 cloves of garlic

- cut the kernels off two cobs of fresh corn

- cut a handful of yellow wax beans

- dice up a third of a red pepper.

- strain half a can small white beans (use the other half for bean salad the next day!) 

- chop one fresh green onion for the end. 

Step by step, super simple:

1. Heat olive oil in your pot and sauté the garlic, shallot and beet stems. Add the miso paste and a cube or tbsp of boullion (I use Better Than Boullion soup base- chicken...but vegetable could work too).  

2. Add your beets, wax beans and stir.

3. Add two cups boiling water and salt and pepper.

4. Bring to a simmer, turn to low heat and cover for 10-15 minutes. 

5. After this, add peppers, corn, and white beans, and allow to cook for another 5-8 minutes.

6. When ready to eat, add the scallion and voila! 

For the salmon: 

In a frying pan, place your salmon (I used two nice-sized filets) put 1/2 cup rosee wine, half a lemon, 2 scallions, salt and pepper and enough water to almost cover the top of the salmon. 

Bring to a simmer and cook for 10-12 minutes, depending on the thickness of your fish. 

Remove with a slotted spoon and squeeze it with another hit of lemon. 

Moolicious Meal! 

Seared Tuna Steak over Mixed Greens

I have done this twice this summer. Certainly, you could slap this right on the BBQ without the bread crumbs, but when Moo is not home to turn the BBQ on, I bread it up and pan sear.

So yummy.

Marinate your fresh tuna steaks (for two pieces):

In a dish, put 1 tbsp. canola oil, a dash of sesame oil, lime zest and juice, Kikkoman soy sauce ( 1 tsp.), grated ginger, a tad of crushed garlic, salt and pepper. Make sure both sides are coated and marinate for 20 minutes. 

When ready to sear, get your frying pan nice and hot with some plain canola oil. Coat your tuna with Panko bread crumbs and sesame seeds and fry for about 4 minutes per side. You need to hear that sizzle when the tuna hits the pan. 

In the mean time, prep your single plates with your salad. 

I layered a bed of arugula, raddichio, fresh alfalfa sprout, and frisée.  I had some tomatoes, celery sticks, avocado, and fresh boconncini on the side. 

For the dressing: Olive oil, a dash of Kikkoman, balsamic, salt, pepper and sesame seeds. 

Lay your tuna on your bed of greens and dig in with a cold glass of vinho verde on the side.

Moolicious! 

Bachelor's Supper

We took Joey to the Montreal Impact soccer game the other day. Before that, we cooked up a delicious feast of marinated flank steak, summer salad, garlic pasta and gigantico shrimp grilled to perfection. We wanted something special for the bride, um, groom-to-be. 

For the salad:

On a plate like dish, put a tbsp oil, 2 grated garlic cloves, salt, pepper and a squeeze of lemon. Place sliced tomatoes, beets, cucumber, hot pepperoncini and thinly sliced onions on the plate and spoon some of the garlic oil over top. Season with more s and p and sprinkle some goat cheese with basil on top.

For the pasta:

I boiled plain whole wheat spaghetti until al dente, then drain. In the hot pot, add olive oil, garlic 2-3 cloves, dash of white wine, salt, pepper and dry parsley and lemon zest and juice. Put the noodles back in and sauce them up. 

For the shrimp: 

Marinate 20 minutes in olive oil, salt, pepper, more crushed garlic and zest and juice from one lime. When ready, grill em up for about 3-4 minutes per side. 

For the bavette/flank steak:

Marinate for the day....red wine, diced shallot, hot red pepper flakes, more garlic, salt, pepper and right before they go on, put some Montreal steak spice all over. BBQ for about 12 minutes flipping occasionally. You want slight pinkness in the middle.

Serve up with some Vinho Verde and you've got a restaurant type meal.

Moolicious!