Tip of the Day #19: Date Night

Date Night Idea - enroll in a cooking class with your significant other; they can be lots of fun!

Tip of the Day #18: Kids in the Kitchen

Teach your children in the kitchen!! Kids are like sponges and absorb information quickly--instill cooking skills at a very young age! They will love to help!

Here is my little assistant :)

Tip of the Day #17: Learning New Recipes

Expand your recipe base! Plan a potluck with friends or suggest a soup exchange!

Valentines Day Meal Idea--Beef Wellington

Have you ever watched "Hell's Kitchen" and wondered how to make that 'oh-so-yummy-looking meat, covered in a pastry dish?' Well, I used to think the same thing and so I decided to research a recipe and alter it into my own! On the show, it always looked so difficult to master, but honestly, although a bit time-consuming, it is quite easy!

This is perfect recipe to produce a delicious Beef Wellington for your significant other, on what better day than the one you celebrate your love for one another!

What you need:

2 lb Beef fillet
1/2 lb Portobello mushrooms (chopped)
1 large onion (chopped)
handful of finely chopped flat leaf parsley
2 eggs
1 sheet of dough (President's Choice has a great boxed one that contains 2 sheets)

Instructions:

1.  Sautee mushrooms and onion in large frying pan. Once browned, remove from stove top and let cool.

2. Sear beef on ALL sides; make sure to NOT cook beef while searing for too long--ensure all sides are just lightly browned then remove from pan.

3.  Take sheet of dough and flatten out, ensuring to stretch out VERY lightly as to not tear.

4. Place meat on top of dough sheet, then place mushroom & onion mix in a generous line on top of meat.

5. Carefully take one side of the dough and bring up over top of the meat, then repeat with ALL sides--smooth down creases in dough where sides meet.

6. Whisk 2 eggs in bowl until thin, then brush over dough.

7. Place in oven at 400 degrees until temperature reaches 125. Wait approximately 10-15 minutes before slicing.

Serve with a nice mixed green salad or potatoes.

Tip of the Day # 16: Cooking w Wine

Remember to keep a bottle of both white & red wine under your sink--they make a world of difference in your cooking!

Check out our Chicken Carbonara recipe below that incorporates wine into its recipe!

Chicken Carbonara

To make Alfredo Sauce:

1. Heat in a pot: - 1/4 cup oil, butter or bacon grease (any type of fat)
                         - 1/4 cup flour
                         - 2 cups milk (any %)
                         - splash of WHITE WINE
                         -  dash of garlic powder
                         - dash of dried parsley flakes
                         - grate parmesan cheese into mix or add the powdered cheese

2. Stir until sauce is thickened--if it becomes too thick, you can add a splash of water to thin out.

Remainder of Recipe:

Boil Penne pasta noodles

Dice chicken, sprinkle with a dash of Thyme & cook in skillet

Cook bacon in oven at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes, then dice and place in skillet with chicken

Once bacon is crispy, you will see tiny crumbles stuck to bottom of pan--add a splash of WHITE WINE and watch it boil. Add Alfredo sauce to pan and cover all chicken & bacon.

Place cooked pasta on plate and spoon out sauce and meats over top.

DIG IN! :)

Tip of the Day #15: Picky Eaters

Picky Eaters? Serve foods with a variety of colour as kids are attracted to them the most!

Try these Rainbow Shish Kabobs!