Month: May 2019

This One-Bowl Recipe Makes Two Family Favourites that Take You from Weekday to Weekend!

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You have to love it when the same 8 simple ingredients make two different meals that everyone in the family is likely to enjoy.  That’s definitely the case for the recipe I’m posting today, and the great news is that you are likely to have most of this on hand already:

  • Ground chicken
  • chopped onion
  • breadcrumbs
  • eggs
  • salt
  • Pepper
  • dry mustard
  • and a little tomato juice

Combine it all in a bowl and it will turn into a wonderful Chicken ‘Meat’ Loaf for a weeknight meal and some very tasty Chicken Sliders to barbeque on the weekend!  If you make a double batch, you can have the loaf for dinner and freeze the sliders for later.  One prep, one clean-up, and you get two meals!

The inspiration for this recipe is my Mom’s meatloaf.  Mom made a very tasty traditional meatloaf that I enjoyed very much.  One of the things I like to do with my cooking is to occasionally take those traditional dishes and use some different ingredients.  Ground beef was a staple in my Mom’s time and since then we’ve learned that limiting red meat in our diets is a healthy choice. So, a number of years ago, I decided to try ground chicken in Mom’s meatloaf instead of ground beef and I ended up loving it so much, that I always use ground chicken now for this loaf.  The tender consistency is very pleasing and it’s lighter tasting than the beef. The dry mustard and the tomato juice add a nice tang and additional flavour.

As with a lot of the things my Mom makes, there is not a recipe written down.  She goes a lot by look, feel and taste – and experience! So, when I first started making meatloaf I couldn’t get it to stick together, which was frustrating.  The egg and breadcrumbs act as a binder and I seemed to be using the same amounts as my Mom, but my loaf would crumble into pieces every time it was cut, rather than staying in a nice slice that you could easily plate.  It would look like ground beef crumble rather than a loaf.  I definitely didn’t have the same touch as Mom! So, the solution I came up with was to use two eggs instead of one and ever since then, I can get nice full slices from my loaf. 

Chicken meatloaf
Chicken loaf served with roasted potatoes and salad

If you are lucky enough to have leftovers, put the loaf in the fridge for a few hours to get it nice and cold.  Then, slice it thinly to use in sandwiches for lunch. It tastes great and is a healthy alternative for anyone who is trying to limit the use of cold cuts.

 

Another great thing to do with this same recipe is to turn it into chicken sliders.

unnamed
Tasty chicken sliders for your next BBQ

I love the smaller size of a slider compared to a large burger because it doesn’t look so daunting to eat.  And, if you are hungry after one, you can certainly have another! They’re a great size for little kids and adults who may not have a huge appetite.  And, those who have a larger appetite can have 2 or 3! When we are cooking these for a crowd, I usually plan for 2 sliders per person and add 2 more to the total.  That should account for some people eating one, most people eating 2 and a few might have 3….or more! With this plan, everyone has enough to eat and we sometimes have leftovers also.

I found this handy slider press that gives you the option of 1, 2, or 3-ounce sliders.  It’s by a company called Outset and I bought it at Kitchen Stuff Plus.  It helps me make the patties the same size each time, which makes the cooking easier too because they’ll all be done at the same time.

This is a long weekend in Canada that is considered to be the unofficial start to summer for most of us, so there are likely to be lots of backyard BBQ’s going on if weather permits…so give this recipe a try and let me know how you like it.  This easy and tasty recipe makes a ‘meat’ loaf for 4, or 6 sliders of 3 ounces each.  Whip up a batch of sliders.  They freeze well too!  Click here for the recipe.

Happy cooking, friends!  Enjoy the long weekend, fellow Canadians!

 

 

No Reservation for Mother’s Day?  No Problem! Use 5 ingredients to Make this Fancy and Easy Dish in a Flash!

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It’s certainly nice to go out to restaurants to celebrate special occasions, but when those special occasions are observed by many people at the same time like Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, etc., perhaps a restaurant is not the best choice.  On those special days, restaurants can be overly busy and sometimes restrict your time there and often have reduced menus, and even increased prices. And, maybe you are on a bit of a tight budget at this time of year and still want to do something special for Mother’s Day.  So, why not try making a special brunch at home for your Mom or your spouse? If it sounds daunting, please don’t stop reading because I have a simple idea for you that you can put together very quickly with ingredients you probably already have on hand.

Also, this is a very attractive, tasty and healthy dish.  And, although the Moms in your life might appreciate a special meal and some extra attention, they may also be concerned with health and calories and the large portions you often get in restaurants.  So, these Mediterranean Scrambled Eggs are a great alternative. They are fancy enough for special occasions and quick and easy enough for any weekend meal. (I often make these for myself!!)

In just a few minutes, you can turn this…..Scrambled eggs with ham, tomato, greens, kalmata olives ingredients Aug 13, 2017

 

 

Into this….Scrambled eggs with ham, tomato, greens, kalmata olives end product Aug 13, 2017

 

And you will have made the ‘everyday’ into ‘gourmet’.  The “oohs and aahs” are likely to follow!

Here is what you need:

  • Eggs
  • Ham
  • Olives
  • Fresh greens or spinach
  • Grape or Cherry tomatoes

 

Here’s what to do:

  • Melt about 1 tbsp butter in a medium frying pan
  • Scramble 2 eggs per person in a bowl
  • Add chopped ham, olives (whole or sliced lengthwise), coarsely chopped spinach or greens, grape tomatoes (sliced lengthwise) to scrambled eggs, along with a little salt and pepper
  • Gently turn and pull the egg mixture across the pan until soft curds form and eggs are cooked to your liking

 

Serve with:

  • Buttered toast, jam or marmalade on the side
  • Sliced fruit, or a simple yogurt parfait in a small clear dish or glass. (See picture)

    IMG-4341
    Plain yogurt, cinnamon, honey and berries in a simple glass make a lovely parfait
  • Mimosa or mix orange juice and sparkling water for a non-alcoholic version
  • Coffee or tea in her favourite mug or pretty teacup

 

 

Options for Extras:

  • Set a special table using a table cloth, pretty napkin, and a simple flower arrangement or single flower in a bud vase
  • Serve on a tray for breakfast in bed with a pretty napkin and single flower in a bud vase
  • Have her favourite music playing in the background

 

Unlike many fancy dishes you might find when searching for Mother’s Day treats, this one is low prep, quick to make, quick to clean-up, as well as nutritious, filling, and beautiful!  Give it a try and turn the everyday into gourmet. Your Mom or spouse is sure to enjoy it your delicious food and the quiet time at home! Let me know how it goes…Happy Cooking, friends!