Gastronomy and Life's Other Pleasures

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Posts tagged delicious

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Weeknight dinner: slow cooker beef A combination of factors contributed to this dish: for one, the slow cooker had been collecting dust in the cupboard for much too long, and beef was on sale!  I had also been craving a pot roast kind of flavour, so I decided to cook the beef in the slow cooker using this recipe I found on the Zesty Cook blog (click on my photo to link directly to the recipe).  I only made two small changes to the original recipe:  I added one medium sized chopped onion, and I used all red wine and no chicken/beef stock.   I paired the slow cooked beef with steamed baby red potatoes and frozen green beans; we used the gravy (which you can whip up easily from the slow cooker drippings - there are directions in the recipe) to pour over the potatoes instead of butter and sour cream.  We both loved it: the beef was incredibly tender and so flavourful.  We also had fun with the leftovers…stay tuned!

Weeknight dinner: slow cooker beef

A combination of factors contributed to this dish: for one, the slow cooker had been collecting dust in the cupboard for much too long, and beef was on sale! 

I had also been craving a pot roast kind of flavour, so I decided to cook the beef in the slow cooker using this recipe I found on the Zesty Cook blog (click on my photo to link directly to the recipe).  I only made two small changes to the original recipe:  I added one medium sized chopped onion, and I used all red wine and no chicken/beef stock.  

I paired the slow cooked beef with steamed baby red potatoes and frozen green beans; we used the gravy (which you can whip up easily from the slow cooker drippings - there are directions in the recipe) to pour over the potatoes instead of butter and sour cream.  We both loved it: the beef was incredibly tender and so flavourful.  We also had fun with the leftovers…stay tuned!

Filed under food dinner supper beef slow cooker recipe potato green beans blog Zesty Cook meat weeknight easy tasty delicious hearty

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Chef Michael Smith’s Fast Flavours cookbook: slow cooker pork and bean stew Once again, Chef Michael Smith’s cookbook, Fast Flavours, gets it right.  I tried yet another of the recipes from his book recently, and it was fantastic! I love all of his stew recipes, and I love the four ways he suggests for cooking them (fast, somewhat quick, somewhat slow, and very slow).  I chose the very slow option, deciding to make it in my slow cooker.   I think what really set this stew apart from other stews that I’ve made is the sweetness: the recipe calls for honey.  As well, it calls for lots of your favourite mustard, and mine is President’s Choice maple mustard, which is quite sweet.  All together, it made for a great hint of sweetness that balanced out the acidity of the can of diced tomatoes.   The stew turned out awesome in my slow cooker, and I will definitely make it again! Slow cooker pork and bean stew Ingredients -1 pork loin or shoulder roast (about 2 or 3 lbs) cut into 1-inch cubes -1 large onion, chopped -1 can (28 oz/796 ml) of diced tomatoes -2 cups frozen corn -chopped fresh garlic (as much or as little as you prefer) -1 cup of your favourite mustard (I used President’s Choice maple mustard) -1/4 cup apple cider vinegar -2 tbsp chili powder -1 tbsp ground cumin -1/2 cup honey -1 tbsp dried oregano (I used Italian herb mix) -1 can (19 oz/540 ml) black beans, drained and rinsed -1 bunch cilantro, chopped Directions - Fill your slow cooker with all of the ingredients except the cilantro.  Stir well to combine.  Set slow cooker on low for 8 hours.  Serve as is or with rice/quinoa/pasta.  Top with fresh cilantro (and maybe some sour cream) and enjoy!

Chef Michael Smith’s Fast Flavours cookbook: slow cooker pork and bean stew

Once again, Chef Michael Smith’s cookbook, Fast Flavours, gets it right.  I tried yet another of the recipes from his book recently, and it was fantastic!

I love all of his stew recipes, and I love the four ways he suggests for cooking them (fast, somewhat quick, somewhat slow, and very slow).  I chose the very slow option, deciding to make it in my slow cooker.  

I think what really set this stew apart from other stews that I’ve made is the sweetness: the recipe calls for honey.  As well, it calls for lots of your favourite mustard, and mine is President’s Choice maple mustard, which is quite sweet.  All together, it made for a great hint of sweetness that balanced out the acidity of the can of diced tomatoes.   The stew turned out awesome in my slow cooker, and I will definitely make it again!

Slow cooker pork and bean stew

Ingredients

-1 pork loin or shoulder roast (about 2 or 3 lbs) cut into 1-inch cubes

-1 large onion, chopped

-1 can (28 oz/796 ml) of diced tomatoes

-2 cups frozen corn

-chopped fresh garlic (as much or as little as you prefer)

-1 cup of your favourite mustard (I used President’s Choice maple mustard)

-1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

-2 tbsp chili powder

-1 tbsp ground cumin

-1/2 cup honey

-1 tbsp dried oregano (I used Italian herb mix)

-1 can (19 oz/540 ml) black beans, drained and rinsed

-1 bunch cilantro, chopped

Directions

- Fill your slow cooker with all of the ingredients except the cilantro.  Stir well to combine.  Set slow cooker on low for 8 hours.  Serve as is or with rice/quinoa/pasta.  Top with fresh cilantro (and maybe some sour cream) and enjoy!

Filed under food stew chili recipe slow cooker pork bean Chef Michael Smith Fast Flavours dinner supper comfort delicious corn tomato honey savoury

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Breakfast at Eggstyle (again) The fiancé adores Eggstyle, so much so that he begs me to go there every weekend.  Most of the time I say no, but even I have to give in every once in a while! haha We try something different each visit, and this time we set our sights on the french toast.  But not just any french toast: apple bread french toast!  Two generous pieces of apple bread dipped in french toast batter, grilled and topped with hot cinnamon apples, yogurt, caramel and toasted almonds.  It was quite a treat!  The bread was fluffy and light and the combination of the apples, yogurt, caramel and almonds was a delightful taste and textural adventure.  

Breakfast at Eggstyle (again)

The fiancé adores Eggstyle, so much so that he begs me to go there every weekend.  Most of the time I say no, but even I have to give in every once in a while! haha

We try something different each visit, and this time we set our sights on the french toast.  But not just any french toast: apple bread french toast!  Two generous pieces of apple bread dipped in french toast batter, grilled and topped with hot cinnamon apples, yogurt, caramel and toasted almonds.  It was quite a treat!  The bread was fluffy and light and the combination of the apples, yogurt, caramel and almonds was a delightful taste and textural adventure.  

Filed under food breakfast brunch Eggstyle french toast cinnamon apple bread yogurt caramel almond Ottawa review restaurant fruit delicious sweet treat

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Fast Flavours: apple chicken with rosemary vanilla chutney This has been one of my favourite Fast Flavours recipes by far.  Chef Michael Smith took the most simple and delicious ingredients and combined them to make magic! I have learned to love the combination of apple and either pork or chicken; apples complement the meats so well.  I must admit that when I first read through this recipe and saw vanilla as one of the ingredients, I was a little bit tentative.  But I got over it pretty quickly! I have a few recommendations for sides to serve with this dish: the first night, the fiance and I ate it with a side of fresh steamed broccoli to soak up all the delicious juices.  In its leftover form, I made some quinoa to go with it, which was also amazing and absorbed the delicious juices just as nicely as the broccoli.  Serve it with your favourite starchy side! Apple chicken with rosemary vanilla chutney, from Fast Flavours by Chef Michael Smith Ingredients - 1 tbsp vegetable oil - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts - 1 onion, chopped - 4 cloves of garlic, chopped - 2 apples, (unpeeled) cored and chopped, your choice (I used Gala) - 1/2 cup of apple cider or juice - 1 tbsp of apple cider vinegar - 2 tbsp grainy mustard - 1 tsp dried rosemary - 1 tsp salt - 1/2 tsp of vanilla extract - 1/2 tsp hot sauce (I used sriracha) Directions - Heat a skillet (with a matching lid) over medium high heat.  Add oil (enough to cover the bottom of the pan).  Once the pan is hot, add the chicken breasts.  Cook until first side is golden brown, about 4 or 5 minutes.  Flip and cook the other side the same as the first. - Remove chicken breasts and turn down the heat to medium.  Don’t worry if the chicken is not cooked all the way though, it will finish cooking in the liquid during the next step. - Add a splash more oil and the onions and garlic.  Cook for a few minutes, stirring occasionally.  Add the apples, cider/juice, vinegar, mustard, rosemary, salt, vanilla and hot sauce.  Adjust the heat to bring to a steady simmer.  Return the chicken to the same pan, and nestle them in the liquid.  Cover and simmer for 15 minutes or so, turning the chicken breasts once during that time.  Serve and enjoy!

Fast Flavours: apple chicken with rosemary vanilla chutney

This has been one of my favourite Fast Flavours recipes by far.  Chef Michael Smith took the most simple and delicious ingredients and combined them to make magic!

I have learned to love the combination of apple and either pork or chicken; apples complement the meats so well.  I must admit that when I first read through this recipe and saw vanilla as one of the ingredients, I was a little bit tentative.  But I got over it pretty quickly!

I have a few recommendations for sides to serve with this dish: the first night, the fiance and I ate it with a side of fresh steamed broccoli to soak up all the delicious juices.  In its leftover form, I made some quinoa to go with it, which was also amazing and absorbed the delicious juices just as nicely as the broccoli.  Serve it with your favourite starchy side!

Apple chicken with rosemary vanilla chutney, from Fast Flavours by Chef Michael Smith

Ingredients

- 1 tbsp vegetable oil

- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

- 1 onion, chopped

- 4 cloves of garlic, chopped

- 2 apples, (unpeeled) cored and chopped, your choice (I used Gala)

- 1/2 cup of apple cider or juice

- 1 tbsp of apple cider vinegar

- 2 tbsp grainy mustard

- 1 tsp dried rosemary

- 1 tsp salt

- 1/2 tsp of vanilla extract

- 1/2 tsp hot sauce (I used sriracha)

Directions

- Heat a skillet (with a matching lid) over medium high heat.  Add oil (enough to cover the bottom of the pan).  Once the pan is hot, add the chicken breasts.  Cook until first side is golden brown, about 4 or 5 minutes.  Flip and cook the other side the same as the first.

- Remove chicken breasts and turn down the heat to medium.  Don’t worry if the chicken is not cooked all the way though, it will finish cooking in the liquid during the next step.

- Add a splash more oil and the onions and garlic.  Cook for a few minutes, stirring occasionally.  Add the apples, cider/juice, vinegar, mustard, rosemary, salt, vanilla and hot sauce.  Adjust the heat to bring to a steady simmer.  Return the chicken to the same pan, and nestle them in the liquid.  Cover and simmer for 15 minutes or so, turning the chicken breasts once during that time.  Serve and enjoy!

Filed under food chicken dinner apple onion rosemary supper quick healthy delicious Chef Michael Smith Fast Flavours recipe

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Lunch at Thyme and Again

My bffs and I went up to Thyme and Again one recent Friday for a relaxing lunch and to get away from the office and take a bit of a break.  It was a fantastic idea!

I ordered the roasted garlic and cauliflower soup with side of Israeli couscous, which was spiced with cinnamon.  It is one of my favourite Thyme and Again salads! 

My bffs all ordered sandwiches:  the three cheese grilled cheese and the Italian meat combo.  Everything was fantastic! We enjoyed a cozy and delicious lunch nestled in one of their corner tables surrounded by the big store front windows.  We could have stayed there all afternoon!

Filed under Ottawa Thyme and Again catering food lunch restaurant shop sandwich soup couscous salad delicious

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My favourite fall treat: Scone Witch’s pumpkin scone I treated myself to my favourite scone in the city earlier this fall - you have to get them while they are available!  Scone Witch’s pumpkin scones are a fall tradition of mine.  I like to buy two scones: I eat one right away with a cup of strong, hot coffee, bite by sip by bite by sip, and then I freeze the other one to enjoy later!  The texture of the scone is so dense and chewy, and the flavour is the complete essence of the fall season!  Yum.

My favourite fall treat: Scone Witch’s pumpkin scone

I treated myself to my favourite scone in the city earlier this fall - you have to get them while they are available!  Scone Witch’s pumpkin scones are a fall tradition of mine.  I like to buy two scones: I eat one right away with a cup of strong, hot coffee, bite by sip by bite by sip, and then I freeze the other one to enjoy later!  The texture of the scone is so dense and chewy, and the flavour is the complete essence of the fall season!  Yum.

Filed under food pumpkin scone baked sweet dessert snack Scone Witch Ottawa fall delicious

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Irresistibles Red Velvet Ice Cream (Limited Edition) I think red velvet-flavoured desserts have become a bit of an obsession for the boyfriend and I.  So when we saw this ice cream at the grocery store (marked down for clearance no less) we bought a tub! Our most recent experience with red velvet ice cream was this version by Ben and Jerry, which we thought was ok, but weren`t particularly blown away.   When we opened the Irresistibles version, we were delighted by the deep brownish red colour and visible large chunks of red velvet cake.  There is supposed to be a `cream cheese ribbon`but alas it is not extremely visible.  However, this ice cream is delightful! The chunks of red velvet cake are plentiful and fudgy in texture and the ice cream is sweet, creamy and chocolately.  This version is definitely a winner!

Irresistibles Red Velvet Ice Cream (Limited Edition)

I think red velvet-flavoured desserts have become a bit of an obsession for the boyfriend and I.  So when we saw this ice cream at the grocery store (marked down for clearance no less) we bought a tub!

Our most recent experience with red velvet ice cream was this version by Ben and Jerry, which we thought was ok, but weren`t particularly blown away.  

When we opened the Irresistibles version, we were delighted by the deep brownish red colour and visible large chunks of red velvet cake.  There is supposed to be a `cream cheese ribbon`but alas it is not extremely visible.  However, this ice cream is delightful! The chunks of red velvet cake are plentiful and fudgy in texture and the ice cream is sweet, creamy and chocolately.  This version is definitely a winner!

Filed under dessert food ice cream red velvet sweet Irresistibles Metro delicious treat cream Canada

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Friday Favourites:  New Products! Here in Canada, we don’t get the same access to delicious new products as our American friends, so the boyfriend and I often like to make the quick drive over into New York State to see what’s new.  On our most recent visit, we found these:  Cinnamon Burst and Dulce de Leche Cheerios (which of course I’d already known about via Tumblr and other food blogs and was dying to try!). So far, we’ve demolished the Dulce de Leche - I prefer them as an afternoon snack as opposed to eaten in their traditional form as breakfast cereal, but the boyfriend has been enjoying a bowl each and every morning!  I’m more keen on trying the cinnamon Cheerios as cinnamon is one of my all-time favourite flavours, but we’ve not yet opened those up. What’s your favourite Cheerios flavour?  We’ve got the cocoa ones now in Canada and they’re pretty good for snacking too. P.s. Happy Thanksgiving long weekend to all of my fellow Canadian Tumblr-ers!  :)

Friday Favourites:  New Products!

Here in Canada, we don’t get the same access to delicious new products as our American friends, so the boyfriend and I often like to make the quick drive over into New York State to see what’s new.  On our most recent visit, we found these:  Cinnamon Burst and Dulce de Leche Cheerios (which of course I’d already known about via Tumblr and other food blogs and was dying to try!).

So far, we’ve demolished the Dulce de Leche - I prefer them as an afternoon snack as opposed to eaten in their traditional form as breakfast cereal, but the boyfriend has been enjoying a bowl each and every morning!  I’m more keen on trying the cinnamon Cheerios as cinnamon is one of my all-time favourite flavours, but we’ve not yet opened those up.

What’s your favourite Cheerios flavour?  We’ve got the cocoa ones now in Canada and they’re pretty good for snacking too.

P.s. Happy Thanksgiving long weekend to all of my fellow Canadian Tumblr-ers!  :)

Filed under food Cheerios dulce de leche cinnamon cereal breakfast delicious

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Marbled Banana Bread Banana bread is one of those baked goods for which most people have a go-to recipe, one that they use all the time and maybe even know the recipe by heart.  Perhaps it was their Mum`s recipe, or just one that that they`ve come to know and love. I fall somewhere in the middle of this scale.  I have a few favourite recipes, but I also absolutely love to try new ones.  The ingredients in banana bread are such that they can be changed in so many ways.  I like to try healthier variations, like using apple sauce or yogurt as part of the wet ingredients, or not so healthy variations with lots of butter or oil (just telling the truth!). I must admit that, in all these years, I`ve never attempted a marbled banana bread until now, and one that is so simple!  The recipe, which is from the lovely Post Punk Kitchen blog,  came up in my blog feed and I was a little unsure at first - there are no eggs in this recipe - but I went for it.  The verdict? A-ma-zing.  I think what intrigues me the most is the simplicity of the chocolate swirl: it is a few tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder and hot water mixed together to form a paste, and then combined with some of the banana mixture.   You know what? I think I found my new go-to banana bread mixture!  Click on the photo for a link to the recipe. P.S. - This is technically a vegan recipe, but I used regular old milk instead of non-dairy milk.

Marbled Banana Bread

Banana bread is one of those baked goods for which most people have a go-to recipe, one that they use all the time and maybe even know the recipe by heart.  Perhaps it was their Mum`s recipe, or just one that that they`ve come to know and love.

I fall somewhere in the middle of this scale.  I have a few favourite recipes, but I also absolutely love to try new ones.  The ingredients in banana bread are such that they can be changed in so many ways.  I like to try healthier variations, like using apple sauce or yogurt as part of the wet ingredients, or not so healthy variations with lots of butter or oil (just telling the truth!).

I must admit that, in all these years, I`ve never attempted a marbled banana bread until now, and one that is so simple!  The recipe, which is from the lovely Post Punk Kitchen blog,  came up in my blog feed and I was a little unsure at first - there are no eggs in this recipe - but I went for it.  The verdict? A-ma-zing.  I think what intrigues me the most is the simplicity of the chocolate swirl: it is a few tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder and hot water mixed together to form a paste, and then combined with some of the banana mixture.  

You know what? I think I found my new go-to banana bread mixture!  Click on the photo for a link to the recipe.

P.S. - This is technically a vegan recipe, but I used regular old milk instead of non-dairy milk.

Filed under food snack sweet banana bread baking chocolate banana recipe blog Post Punk Kitchen healthy delicious

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Lunch at The Table

I feel a great deal of satisfaction and happiness after trying new restaurants, even those that I may not usually consider due to the nature of the cuisine. This was the case for The Table, a vegetarian restaurant that some work colleagues and I decided to try one recent lunch hour.

I have nothing against vegetarian or vegan cuisine, but, full disclosure here, I am a true lover of meat and fish/seafood, so when I treat myself to a lunch, I want something that I’ll love. I had experienced this type of meal only once before, quite a few years ago in Montreal at Le Commensal.

Well, you can imagine my surprise when, after perusing the dishes in the buffet at the Table (the food is served cafeteria/buffet-style, and you pay by weight), I was quite excited to sit down and get a taste of it all! I chose a little bit of a few of the hot dishes, with some salad and a tomato slice topped with pesto on the side. I think my favourite item was the bean loaf, which I topped with the lentil curry for some moisture and added flavour. I also really loved the tofu ball; it had so much flavour! My conclusion? I would definitely go to the Table again and again; the food was fast, fresh, wholesome and delicious!

For dessert, which is also served buffet-style, I chose a slice of the flourless chocolate cake. It was so soft, light and moist - I practically licked the plate clean!

Filed under Ottawa The Table delicious food healthy restaurant review vegetarian buffet fresh

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Lunch at the Foolish Chicken

The Foolish Chicken is another one of those fab little places close to where I work, and I’ve come to know it and love it. I’ve eaten there many times but had not yet documented my experience until now. My most recent visit was in commemoration of my bff’s wedding, where her work colleagues joyously celebrated sending her off to get hitched!

The resto is owned and operated by a husband and wife team who are extremely friendly and accommodating. They love hosting groups of nearby office workers (an extremely common occurrence for them) and we love to eat their delicious, home cooked, lovingly prepared meals! They are known for their expertly cooked chicken and for their homemade desserts which include amazing cheesecakes and pies.


I was feeling sandwich-y during this last visit so I decided to order one of the daily specials: a chicken sandwich with avocado served with a garden salad. The sammy came served on an herbed bun, and the chicken breast was tender and juicy. I think it had been marinated in a dried herb seasoning mixture as I could see the remnants of dried rosemary still clinging to the breast meat when I opened up the sandwich. It was delicious! I was so full.

Our gal of the hour was also treated to a celebratory dessert by one of our fellow staff members, so she chose the Snickers Pie to share with the table.  The pie features a chocolate brownie base stuffed with oozy caramel and peanut goodness all with a smooth chocolate ganache topping.   I’m  told the pie was to. die. for. And that’s the thing about the Foolish Chicken - you know you’re always going to walk away satisfied after a delicious, well-made meal for a great price!

Filed under food lunch sandwich chicken avocado delicious fresh Ottawa Foolish Chicken Snickers Pie dessert sweet homemade treat

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Roasted red pepper, bacon and shallot tart How delicious does this look? I made this tart as one of my contributions to my bff’s baby shower a few weekends ago, and it was amazing!  I found the recipe on the lovely Sweet Sugar Bean blog, and adapted it slightly.  The original recipe features whole asparagus spears as one of the toppings, but I replaced them with jarred roasted red peppers and added sauteed shallots for a kick of flavour (click on the photo for a link to the recipe).  The base of the tart is puff pastry, which I had not yet worked with in any of my kitchen adventures, so it was a fun challenge for me.  It made the tart light and airy, which was perfect for the way that I served it: I sliced it up into bite-sized pieces, each with an inidividual toothpick for easy munching!

Roasted red pepper, bacon and shallot tart

How delicious does this look? I made this tart as one of my contributions to my bff’s baby shower a few weekends ago, and it was amazing!  I found the recipe on the lovely Sweet Sugar Bean blog, and adapted it slightly.  The original recipe features whole asparagus spears as one of the toppings, but I replaced them with jarred roasted red peppers and added sauteed shallots for a kick of flavour (click on the photo for a link to the recipe). 

The base of the tart is puff pastry, which I had not yet worked with in any of my kitchen adventures, so it was a fun challenge for me.  It made the tart light and airy, which was perfect for the way that I served it: I sliced it up into bite-sized pieces, each with an inidividual toothpick for easy munching!

Filed under food recipe appetizer dinner tart savoury roasted red pepper shallot bacon Boursin asiago cheese Sweet Sugar Bean blog delicious party