Tortilla Soup

Tortilla Strips
8 corn tortillas (6-inch), cut into 1/2-inch-wide strips
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
Table salt

Soup
2 split bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts (about 1 1/2 pounds) or 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 1 1/4 pounds), skin removed and well trimmed of excess fat
8 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 very large white onion (about 1 pound), trimmed of root end, quartered, and peeled
4 medium cloves garlic , peeled
2 sprigs epazote , fresh, or 8 to 10 sprigs fresh cilantro plus 1 sprig fresh oregano
Table salt
2 medium tomatoes , cored and quartered
1/2 medium jalapeño chile
1 chipotle chile en adobo , plus up to 1 tablespoon adobo sauce
1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Garnishes
1 lime , cut into wedges
1 Hass avocado , diced fine
fresh cilantro leaves
8 ounces cotija cheese , crumbled, or Monterey Jack cheese, diced fine
minced jalapeno pepper
Mexican crema or sour cream

1. FOR THE TORTILLA STRIPS: Adjust oven rack to middle position; heat oven to 425 degrees. Spread tortilla strips on rimmed baking sheet; drizzle with oil and toss until evenly coated. Bake until strips are deep golden brown and crisped, about 14 minutes, rotating pan and shaking strips (to redistribute) halfway through baking time. Season strips lightly with salt; transfer to plate lined with several layers paper towels.

2. FOR THE SOUP: While tortilla strips bake, bring chicken, broth, 2 onion quarters, 2 garlic cloves, epazote, and 1/2 teaspoon salt to boil over medium-high heat in large saucepan; reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until chicken is just cooked through, about 20 minutes. Using tongs, transfer chicken to large plate. Pour broth through fine-mesh strainer; discard solids in strainer. When cool enough to handle, shred chicken into bite-sized pieces; discard bones.

3. Puree tomatoes, 2 remaining onion quarters, 2 remaining garlic cloves, jalapeño, chipotle chile, and 1 teaspoon adobo sauce in food processor until smooth. Heat oil in Dutch oven over high heat until shimmering; add tomato/onion
puree and 1/8 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring frequently, until mixture has darkened in color, about 10 minutes. Stir strained broth into tomato mixture, bring to boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer to blend flavors, about 15 minutes. Taste soup; if desired, add up to 2 teaspoons additional adobo sauce. Add shredded chicken and simmer until heated through, about 5 minutes. To serve, place portions of tortilla strips in bottom of individual bowls and ladle soup into bowls; pass garnishes separately.

Poached Shrimp Salad with Citrus Aioli

I got this recipe from a Superstore Cooking class, years ago, when we lived in Nova Scotia. It's really good.

Poached Shrimp Salad with Citrus Aioli

1 liter water -- lightly salted
1 liter orange juice
1 liter grapefruit juice
1 small onion -- quartered
1 lemon zest
1/2 lemon
1/2 orange
2 bay leaves
3 tablespoons fresh parsley
3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
1 pound shrimp -- 26-30 count
4 ounces lettuce leaves

CITRUS AIOLI:
1 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon orange juice
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon orange zest
1 teaspoon lemon zest
2 cloves garlic
salt and pepper -- to taste
parsley -- to taste

Combine first seven ingredients in pot and bring to boil. Add shrimp to poaching liquid and remove from heat.

Allow poaching liquid to cool to warm.

Remove shrimp from liquid and toss with a splash of olive oil, orange juice, zest, grapefruit juice and salt and pepper. Chill.

Prepare aioli. Mix greens with some olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Serve on a bed of lettuce with aioli on the side.

Roasted Pear Salad with Chèvre and Fig Vinaigrette

I made this salad three times already. It is really good.


4 Bosc, Comice, Concorde or Bartlett pears, halved and cored
8 tsp, plus 2 Tbs fig jam, divided
5 oz soft goat cheese, cut into 8 slices
1 Tbs olive oil, plus more for drizzling, divided
2 Tbs lemon juice
1/2 tsp Dijon mustard
4 cups watercress or baby arugula
1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
1/4 cup chopped toasted walnuts or pecans

1. Preheat oven to 375F. Place pear halves cut-side up in 2 large baking dishes.

2. Spoon 1 tsp jam in center of each pear half. Top with goat cheese rounds, and lightly drizzle with oil. Bake pears 30 minutes, or until cheese begins to brown.

3. Whisk together remaining 2 Tbs fig jam, lemon juice and mustard in bowl. Whisk in 1 Tbs olive oil.

4. Divide watercress among 8 serving plates. Sprinkle with onion and nuts. Top each with pear half, and drizzle with dressing.

Source:
VT, Oct. 10

Maple-Date Bars

I made these delicious bars when my parents came to visit, in Nov. 2009, in Comox BC. These are a repeaters.


1 3/4 cups finely chopped pitted dates (about 12 ounces)
3/4 cup water
1/3 cup maple syrup
1 teaspoon grated lemon rind
2/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup all-purpose flour (about 4 1/2 ounces)
1 cup regular oats
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
Cooking spray

Combine dates, water, and maple syrup in a heavy saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil; cook 12 minutes or until most liquid is absorbed, stirring frequently. (Mixture will look like jam.) Stir in rind; cool completely.

Preheat oven to 400°.

Beat sugar and butter with a mixer at medium speed until smooth. Lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine flour, oats, baking soda, and salt. Stir flour mixture into sugar mixture (mixture will be crumbly). Press 2 cups flour mixture into bottom of a 13 x 9-inch baking pan coated with cooking spray. Spread date mixture over flour mixture. Sprinkle with remaining flour mixture. Bake at 400° for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack.



CALORIES 162 (28% from fat); FAT 5g (sat 2.3g,mono 2g,poly 0.3g); IRON 0.7mg; CHOLESTEROL 12mg; CALCIUM 14mg; CARBOHYDRATE 29.5g; SODIUM 78mg; PROTEIN 1.6g; FIBER 1.8g

Cooking Light, NOVEMBER 2005

Apple Spice Cake

CAKE:
1 1/3 cups vegetable oil
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups sugar
3 large eggs
3 to 4 Granny Smith apples, cored and cut into 1/2-inch pieces (3 cups)
1 cup chopped assorted nuts, such as pecans and walnuts (optional)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Nonstick cooking spray with flour

CARAMEL SAUCE:
Make your favorite caramel sauce

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Spray a 12-cup Bundt pan with cooking spray; set aside.

Working over a large sheet of parchment paper, sift together flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt; gather sifted ingredients into center of sheet; set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine vegetable oil, sugar, and eggs; mix on high speed until lemon yellow.

Fold reserved parchment in half lengthwise; with mixer on medium speed, gradually shake in dry ingredients until just incorporated.

Add apples and, if desired, nuts, to batter; mix to combine. Add vanilla, mixing until incorporated.

Pour batter into prepared pan, and bake until a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, 75 to 90 minutes.

Remove from oven, and cool slightly on a wire rack.

Invert cake onto rack; turn cake right-side up to cool completely on rack, and serve drizzled with caramel sauce.

Source:
Apple Spice Cake, Martha Stewart
First published May 2006

Pecan Butter Tart Bars

Base:
1 cup (250 mL) all-purpose flour
1/4 cup (50 mL) packed brown sugar
1/2 cup (125 mL) cold butter, cubed
3/4 cup (175 mL) chopped pecans

Topping:
1/4 cup (50 mL) butter, softened
3/4 cup (175 mL) packed brown sugar
1/4 cup (50 mL) corn syrup
2 eggs
2 tsp (10 mL) vanilla
2 tbsp (25 mL) all-purpose flour
Pinch salt

Line 9-inch (2.5 L) square metal cake pan with parchment paper; set aside.

Base: In large bowl, mix flour with brown sugar. With pastry blender, cut in butter until mixture is moist and crumbly. Press firmly over prepared pan. Bake in centre of 350°F (180°C) oven for 10 minutes. Sprinkle with pecans and press lightly; bake for 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, in bowl, beat butter, sugar and corn syrup until smooth; beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in flour and sa< pour over base. Bake until darkened and slightly jiggly when shaken, about 20 minutes. Let cool on rack. (Make-ahead: Wrap and store in airtight container for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 3 weeks.) Cut into bars. Source:
Canadian Living

Note: Made these bars for our 1st Book Club meeting at my place last night. It was a success.

Gâteau au fromage

Croûte :
1 et 1/4 tasses ( 150 g ) de chapelure de biscuits Graham
2 cuillères à table de sucre
1/4 tasse ( 60 g ) de beurre non salé, fondu

Garniture :
1 et 1/4 tasses ( 250 g ) de sucre
2 cuillères à table de farine
4 paquets de 8 oz ( 250 g ) de fromage à la crème, à température ambiante
3/4 tasse ( 180 ml ) de crème sure
4 oeufs
2 jaunes d'oeufs
1 cuillère à thé d'extrait de vanille

Coulis de fraises au sirop d'érable :
1 lb ( 500 g ) de fraises, lavées, équeutées et coupées en morceaux
1/2 tasse ( 125 ml ) de sirop d'érable


Préchauffer le four à 350 F ( 180 C ). Centrer la grille du four. Garnir le fond d'un moule à charnière de 9" ( 23 cm ), de papier parchemin.

Croûte :
Dans un bol, mélanger tous les ingrédients et les presser au fond du moule préparé.
Cuire au four pendant 12 minutes. Laisser refroidir complètement et beurrer généreusement les parois intérieures du moule.

Bien envelopper de papier aluminium ( large de 18 "/ 46 cm ) la base et les côtés extérieurs du moule, en le laissant dépasser vers le haut.
Doubler le papier.
Réduire la température du four à 325 F ( 170 C ).

Garniture :
Dans le bol du mélangeur sur socle, mélanger le sucre et la farine.
Ajouter le reste des ingrédients et mélanger jusqu'à ce que la préparation soit tout juste lisse et homogène.
Verser sur la croûte.

Préparer un bain-marie:
Déposer le gâteau dans un grand plat de cuisson ( la rôtissoire par exemple ) et verser l'eau bouillante dans le plat jusqu'à mi-hauteur du moule.
Cuire au centre du four environ 1 h 50 ou jusqu'un thermomètre inséré au centre du gâteau indique 150 F ( 65 C ).
Retirer le gâteau du bain-marie ainsi que le papier aluminium.
Laisser tiédir environ 1 heure.
Couvrir et réfrigérer 6 à 8 heures.
Passer une lame de couteau tout autour, entre le moule et le gâteau, puis démouler.

Coulis de fraises au sirop d'érable :
Mettre les fraises et le sirop d'érable dans une casserole.
Porter à ébullition, puis baisser le feu et laisser mijoter 20 minutes.
Plonger le mixeur plongeur jusqu'à l'obtention d'une texture lisse, puis passer au tamis.
Réfrigérer la préparation jusqu'à son utilisation.

Source:
Ricardo
Les Gourmandises d'Isa

Filet de porc à l'érable

2 filets de porc
8 gousses d'ail
8 cuillères à table d'huile
4 cuillères à table de sauce soya légère
180 ml ( 3/4 tasse ) de sirop d'érable
4 cuillères à thé de moutarde sèche
Sel et poivre

Mélanger l'ail, l'huile, la sauce soya, le sirop d'érable, la moutarde sèche et le sel et poivre.

Laisser mariner les filets de porc dans la marinade pendant au moins 3 heures.

Déposer les filets de porc et la marinade dans un plat allant au four et cuire à 350F ( 180 C ) une trentaine de minutes.

source:
fédération des acériculteurs
Les Gourmandises d'Isa

Red Velvet Cupcakes

Makes 24

2 1/2 cups cake flour (not self- rising), sifted
2 tablespoons unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
2 large eggs, room temperature
1/2 teaspoon red gel-paste food color
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup buttermilk
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons distilled white vinegar
Cream Cheese Frosting
Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners. Whisk together cake flour, cocoa, and salt.

With an electric mixer on medium-high speed, whisk together sugar and oil until combined. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until each is incorporated, scraping down sides of bowl as needed.

Mix in food color and vanilla.

Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture in three batches, alternating with two additions of buttermilk, and whisking well after each. Stir together the baking soda and vinegar in a small bowl (it will foam); add mixture to the batter, and mix on medium speed 10 seconds.
Divide batter evenly among lined cups, filling each three-quarters full.

Bake, rotating tins halfway through, until a cake tester inserted in centers comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Transfer tins to wire racks to cool completely before removing cupcakes. Cupcakes can be stored overnight at room temperature, or frozen up to 2 months, in airtight containers.

To finish, use a small offset spatula to spread cupcakes with frosting. Refrigerate up to 3 days in airtight containers; bring to room temperature before serving.

From Martha Stewart Cupcakes

Source:
Red Velvet Cupcakes MS

Fennel and Italian Sausage Pasta

adapted from "Pasta et Cetera" by Josee Di Stasio

1 lb Italian Sausage casings removed
1 fennel bulb halved and sliced
2 chopped red peppers
crushed chili peppers
1 clove of garlic, chopped
1/2 -1 tsp crushed fennel seeds
1/2 cup chicken stock
1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Salt and Pepper

Remove casings from sausage. In a large pan in 2 tsps of olive oil sauté the sausage for aprox 5 mins. until no pink is visible. Remove the sausage and keep warm. Discard fat. Add some olive oil to the pan and sauté the fennel and peppers for 10 minutes or until the fennel becomes soft and caramelized. Add the garlic, fennel seeds,crushed chili peppers, salt, and pepper and cook for 2 minutes. Meanwhile in a large pot boil salted water and cook pasta until al dente.

Add the chicken stock to the fennel pepper mixture and the sausage, add a bit of pasta water, add the pasta after the sauce has reduced a bit. Mix well.

Serve with grated cheese.

Maple Syrup Muffins

1/4 cup butter -- melted and cooled
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 cup oats
1/2 cup 1% low-fat milk
1/2 cup maple syrup

FROSTING:
1 tablespoon butter -- melted
1/2 cup icing sugar
1 tablespoon maple syrup

Preheat oven to 375F.

Melt and cool butter. Add sugar. Mix well. Add oats.

In a separate bowl mix: salt, flour, baking powder.

Mix the butter mixture with the dry ingredients alternating with the milk and the maple syrup.

Pour batter in muffins tin.

Bake at 375F for 15 min.

Frosting: Mix melted butter with icing sugar and maple syrup. When muffins are cooled, frost muffins.

Prawns in coconut

Prawns in Coconut Masala

By Vikram Vij & Meeru Dhalwala

This recipe can be served as an appetizer or passed around with drinks. On its own, the masala goes well with naan or rice. You can substitute canola oil for the ghee in this recipe but remember that you will lose some flavour. Don’t substitute butter. It is difficult to cook cumin seeds alone in butter, as you need to keep the heat relatively high and the butter ends up burning and sticking to the bottom of your pot. Also, use a good-quality coconut milk. If we can’t source any wild prawns, we use prawns farmed in the U.S., specifically California, rather than Asian-farmed tiger prawns. The farming practices of many tiger prawn farms in Asia are considered highly questionable by organizations monitoring healthy and/or sustainable seafoods. Prawns cook very quickly – 2 to 3 minutes on average – so watch them closely to avoid
overcooking them.

Serves 6

30 prawns, shelled and deveined
2 tsp salt
2 Tbsp ghee or canola oil
1/2 tsp cumin seeds
2 large onions, chopped
3 large ripe tomatoes, finely chopped
2 Tbsp coconut milk, stirred
2 Tbsp red wine vinegar
2 tsp chopped green chilies
3 bunches green onions, white and green parts, chopped

Place prawns in a colander and rinse under cold water. Allow excess water to drain. In a bowl, combine prawns and 1 tsp of the salt. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside in the refrigerator while you are making the coconut masala.

In a large frying pan, melt ghee on medium-high heat (or heat oil for 1 minute). Add cumin seeds and allow them to sizzle for 30 seconds. Add onions and sauté 5 to 8 minutes, or until dark brown but not burned. Stir in tomatoes, coconut milk, vinegar, chilies and the remaining 1 tsp of salt. Cook for 5 minutes, or until tomatoes are cooked through. Add green onions and stir well. Add prawns, stirring constantly until they become pinkish-orange. This will take about 3 minutes.

Immediately remove from the heat.

To Serve: Place 5 prawns on each of six small shallow plates. Top each serving with one-sixth of the coconut masala. Alternatively, divide the coconut masala evenly among six small shallow plates, then top with 5 prawns per plate.

Wine: A Pouilly-Fumé or Sancerre wine is a great sipping wine with this masala.

Chicken Curry

Vij Family's Chicken Curry

½ cup canola oil
2 cups finely chopped onions (2 large)
3-inch stick of cinnamon
3 tablespoons finely chopped garlic
2 tablespoons chopped ginger
2 cups chopped tomatoes (2 large)
1 tablespoon salt
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon turmeric
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon ground coriander
1 tablespoon garam masala
½ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
3 pounds chicken thighs, bone in
1 cup sour cream, stirred
2 cups water
½ cup chopped cilantro (including stems)

In a large pan, heat oil on medium heat for one minute. Add onions and cinnamon, and sauté for five to eight minutes, until onions are golden. Add garlic and sauté for four more minutes. Add ginger, tomatoes, salt, pepper, turmeric, cumin, coriander, garam masala and cayenne. Cook this masala for five minutes, until the oil separates.

Remove and discard skin from the chicken thighs. Wash thighs and add to the masala. Stir well. Cook chicken thighs for 10 minutes, until the chicken looks cooked on the outside. Add sour cream and water and stir well. Increase the heat to medium-high. When curry starts to boil, reduce the heat to medium, cover and cook for 15 minutes, stirring two or three times, until chicken is completely cooked. Poke the thighs with a knife. If the meat is still pink, cook for five more minutes. Remove and discard the cinnamon stick. Cool curry for at least half an hour.

Transfer cooked chicken to a mixing bowl. Wearing latex gloves, peel chicken meat off the bones. Discard bones and stir chicken back into the curry. Just before serving, heat curry on medium heat until it starts to boil lightly. Stir in cilantro.

Divide curry evenly among six bowls. Serves 6

Notes: Dark meat with the bone in makes for heartier stock and allows the chicken to simmer in its own juices. Serve with naan or rice.

Wine: A Spanish Tempranillo with good fruit and balanced tannins is a great complement to this curry.


Garam Masala

1 heaping teaspoon whole cloves
1 ½ teaspoon black cardamom seeds (about 10 whole pods)
6 heaping tablespoons cumin seed
1 tablespoon pounded cinnamon sticks
¼ teaspoon ground mace
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg

Turn on your stovetop exhaust fan. In a heavy-bottomed frying pan, heat cloves, black cardamom seeds, cumin, and cinnamon on medium to high heat, stirring constantly. When the cumin seeds become a darker shade of brown, remove from stove. Transfer the roasted spices to a bowl and cool for 20 minutes.
Place roasted spices, mace and nutmeg in a spice (or coffee) grinder and grind until the mixture has the consistency of store-bought ground black pepper. May be used right away. Will also keep in an airtight container for up to 6 months.
Makes ¾ cup