Roast Chicken

Roast chicken has got to be the easiest food to make. I don't know why so many people are apprehensive about making it. Probably because of all the salmonella scares and not knowing when it's done. Well I don't have a meat thermometer so I pull the leg to tell if it's done: if the leg breaks apart easily and the juices run clear, its done! But even when it's done, let it sit for 15 minutes before cutting in to it. That will help the meat stay juicy and tender.

I can rarely find roaster chickens anymore, only fryers (which i roast anyways because i'm desperate) so when I saw that this big plump roaster was only 12 dollars, it was an easy dinner decision. This particular chicken happened to have a timer in it, which popped out when the chicken was done. It worked great!

So here is how to make easy-schmeezy roast chicken...

1) Wash the chicken on the outside and rinse the insides. Dry.
2) Sprinkle the inside of the chicken with salt and pepper. If you have celery salt or poultry seasoning you can use that too, but if not don't sweat it.
3) Cut up any onion and celery you have around and throw it in the chicken.
4) Rub olive oil on the outer skin of the chicken then run in sea salt and cracked pepper (or whatever you have)
5) Roast in a 375 degree oven until the leg pulls apart easy and juices run clear.
6) Let sit for 15 min before cutting in!

And you MUST use the bones for soup...or else...

Chick Pea Curry

Chick Pea Curry

I loveeee curry! Chicken, Shrimp, Vegetable, Lentil, ALL kinds of curry.
I first got introduced to it a few years ago when my sister's indian boyfriend made it for our family dinner. I had never tried Chick Pea Curry before and was pretty hesitant. I only tried it because when i asked for the Lentil curry at the curry booth at the mall, they gave me this by accident. What a great accident it was!!

To be truthful, the only way I've ever made curry is from a can. But I'm ok with that because its So good and easy. I've tried a few brands but my favorite is Patak's Tikka Masala with Lemon and Corriander.

To start, fry onions in oil until they brown. Add a can of drained chickpeas and season with salt and pepper. If you want, add some chopped up tomatoes. Add a can of Tikka Masala sauce and heat. Serve over rice!

It's seriously easy.


Feel free to switch up the chickpeas for Chicken or Shrimp!

Shrimp Curry

Cinnamon Buns

I love cinnamon buns. My gramma (of course) makes the best ones known to man.
I, however, do not.
I made a recipe for cinnamon buns and although they looked good after they were done, they really weren't. I mean I still ate them but that's not saying much. It wasn't long after I made them that I found out I missed a crucial step in the rising process....using a bread machine as the recipe indicated. Now how did that slip my mind....

So, needless to say, I will only be posting the picture, not the recipe, in the hopes that one day I will make them again and do it properly.

My experience wasn't a total loss though! The icing recipe I used was FABULOUS. It made my non-risen cinnamon buns taste great! So here is the recipe for that....

Cream Cheese Icing

1)Mix together: 1/4 cup butter and 1/2 tub of cream cheese.
2) Add a splash of vanilla
3)Add about 2 cups of icing sugar, or until desired consistency.
4)Eat all of it.


Icing:

Cinnamon Buns:

BBQ Hamburgers, hot dogs, and Bacon Wrapped steaks

It's been a busy summer! For the first 3 months of my summer break from uni I worked wayyy too much. Luckily I was able to take august off work and I've been able to relax and cook a lot more. I've still been busy (prepping for the LSAT and traveling London and Bruges), but it's been more of a calm-busy.

So in the spirit of being relaxed, I'm just going to post pictures of the food my boy friend has made and I take no responsibility for. Not to say that it's bad-- in fact it makes my mouth water looking at the pictures-- rather to say that he did it all himself.

Cheers to summer!


Hamburgers

Hot Dogs

Bacon Wrapped Steaks

Banana Bread

BANANA SOUR CREAM BREAD

2/3 c. butter

1 1/3 c. sugar

2 eggs

1 1/2 c. mashed bananas

2 3/4 c. sifted flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 c. sour cream

1. Cream butter and sugar until fluffy.

2. Add eggs, beating well after each one.

3. Add mashed bananas.

4. Add the sifted dry ingredients alternately with the sour cream.

5. Pour into 2 greased 9x5x3 inch loaf pans.

6. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 to 45 minutes.

Recipe from Cooks.com

Things I've eaten lately

So this is where the diary of food begins....

Sometimes, make that most times, I forget to take pictures of my food or I forget to write down changes that I've improved along the way, so most foods I eat won't make it onto the blog.

Fortunately, sometimes all you need is an idea for supper. Once you've gotten an idea you can make it from basic common sense or you can look up a recipe elsewhere.

So these are the foods I've been eating lately:

Breakfasts and mid-morning snacks:
Toast with Peanut butter
Blueberry Bagels with Cream Cheese
Cream of Wheat
Leftover Bacon
Mini-go yogurts
Crackers and Cheese

Lunch:
Primarily leftovers
Lean Cuisine Chicken Parmigiana (Surprisingly good for being a microwave meal)
Carrots
Cucumber Chunks
Butter Chicken and Mixed Vegetable Curry from "The Curry Box" in Manulife Place, Edmonton


Dinner:
Perogies and Bacon
Lasagne
Jack Fish Fried with Lemon Pepper
Blackened Chicken and Fried Linguini
Shrimp fried in Onions, Garlic, and some Hot sauce
Meatloaf
Roast Beef and Mashed Potatoes and Oven Roasted Carrots
Tuna Casserole
Grilled Ham and Cheese Sandwiches


Well that's all that I can remember
Happy Eating!

Oh So Good Blackened Chicken

Oh So Good Blackened Chicken

This chicken is spicy, bold, and juicy. The first time I made it I tried to cut the heat by pairing it with an iceberg salad with mango and mini bocconcini with a simple oil and vinegar dressing. The second time, in the pictures taken, I served it with fresh fruit and pasta fried in butter, garlic, and onions.

Even though it is spicy and warm, this dish still seems very summery to me.

The recipe is adapted from allrecipes.com.

Blackened Chicken

Serves 4

2 tsp. paprika
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground pepper
1 tsp. cayenne pepper
1 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. thyme
1/2 tsp. onion powder
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
3 tbsp. canola oil
4 boneless/skinless chicken breasts

1. Mix all of the spices together.

2. Heat your cast iron skillet until hot hot hot and preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

3. Rub the oil on the chicken, and then coat in the spices.

4. Put the chicken breasts in the hot hot hot, dry skillet.

5. Cook for 2 minutes on each side until blackened.

6. Put the chicken on a baking tray and put in the oven until cooked through, about 5 minutes (you know, until its not pink inside…)

Now eat it, and immediately regret not mixing 4 times the spices so you can make it easier in the future.