My new Cast Iron Pot.......What to cook?

Hi Everyone,

Sorry it has been a while, I will have to get you all caught up with my new recipes. My most recent and exciting recipe is in my new cast iron pot.  It was on sale at Canadian Tire.  I brought it home and I thought...oh...hot Italian Sausages... so that got the ball rolling for my chicken and sausage stew!  SO YUMMY!

Here is what you need...

• 10 4 to5 inch long sausages ( I like it spicy but you can use your fav)
• 2 chicken breast or 6 thighs (depending on what you like)
• 4 celery sticks chopped
• 2 medium carrots
• 2 1/2 cups of chicken broth
• 1 cup of Quinoa
• 1 cup of dices potatoes
• 2 tbl spoon of olive oil
• Seasoning of your choice

First you want to cook the sausage and chicken till it is cooked 75%, you can do this in a frying pan.  When 75% cooked chop into 1/4 or 1/2 inch pieces.

Put the olive oil in the bottom of the cast iron pot, and turn heat to low, when the oil heats up add the potatoes for about 3 minutes

Then add the carrots, celery and half of the broth.  When the meat is done and cut add it to the pot.

Let cook for about 10 minutes, then add the quinoa seasoning and the rest of the broth.

Keep on low for 45 minutes to an hour.  And walla!  you have a really tasty dish.

My husband could not wait...it smelt so good, every 5 minutes he would say...is it done now can we have some.

Great for a winter dinner party, packed with protein and is low in fat!  Stay tuned for more great tasting and easy recipes.

Vegetables never tasted so good....

Best veggy's for any meal.....

Well hello everyone, I would like yo say happy spring but...it is lost somewhere out there, it is April 11th and we are still in the minus for weather here...freezing snow warnings here in Burlington Ontario...what is that about.

I decided to do a spring detox and at the same time slowly start to reintroduce foods back in and see how my body likes it.  This way I know what foods to avoid and what food are good for me.  Well in this process, I have cut out everything at first...so the first 2 or 3 days no...dairy, meat, wheat, poultry, yes that means cheese...I know I love cheese and not caffeine, or alcohol...torch-er I know right...was was not that bad!

And in doing this I have found a new love for Vegetables, I tell you, they have never tasted so good...here are 2 really quick and easy recipes that I would encourage you to try.

1 bunch of Kale or spinich
3 garlic cloves
1 onion (chopped)
1 cup of mushrooms (chopped)
your fav. seasoning

Grab a frying pan, poor a little bit of olive oil in it and the minced garlic...I always add a few extra, I love garlic.  throw in your onion and mushrooms, let them cook for about 2 min, the one handful at a time add the Kale or spinach, stiring it constantly.  when it is all soft and mixed in, you are done.

Great for a side dish, or on its own.

Next is the roasted veggy's

3 Carrots
2 Onions
2 Zucchini
2 cups Mushrooms
Seasoning to taste
pre heat the oven to 375 degrees, get one large or to smaller cookie sheets, spray them with non stick spray.  Chop up all of your veg, put them in a large bowl, add 4 table spoons of olive oil, and add your seasoning.  put them on cookie sheets and cook for 40min, flipping half way.

You will love this one, it makes about 4 to 6 serving depending on the size.

These are recipes to keep in mind when you are having a vegetarian to dinner...or if you are trying to eat more healthy.

Stay tuned for more delish detox food!

Grilled Salmon and Indian side dish......

Happy Friday everyone.....I made the most amazing meal last night and it took no time at all.

To tell you the back story on this one......I was at costco...once again...it sounds like I go a lot but I do not...it is just when I do go I load up and then slowly use the items I buy. 

So the last time I was there loading up, I bought this grill for the gas stove that I have been looking at buying for a while and that is also a griddle...grill on one side and griddle on the other...$28.99 and to just give you an idea on the deal this was...I have seen them in other stores for $68...sure they might be a little thinker but with being thicker they will be much more heaver and harder to clean and maneuver......so this one was a great deal...and steal...lol....pardon the pun!

And as well I picked up these GLUTEN free seasoned salmon.  This is a big deal as well because being gluten free you can not buy anything pre seasoned...they normally use wheat for filler....so these were GREAT!

I think that you know where I am going with this....Salmon on the grill.....oh yes I did.....8 minutes a side and it was done.....

And for the side dish...

1 chopped large onion
1 chopped lage red pepper
1 cup chopped carrot

In a wok add 2 table spoons of olive oil and 3...or 4 minced garlic cloves....I love garlic, if you do not so much you can just use just 1.

Once the garlic starts to sizzle throw in the chopped onion, pepper and carrot and cook as you are getting the grill heated....FYI if you just get the salmon (you can cook it in the oven or even microwave) I am not a fan of the microwave.....but what ever floats your boat.....or you can go with another protein of sorts for the meal.

Once the veg get almost all cooked....tender..about 15 minutes on med/high, you can add other seasonings...I like cumin for a Indian taste....you can do salt and pepper if you like a more blan dish...or you can heat it up with some cayenne pepper ....YUMMY!

And for presentation...
I start with a large Thai bowl and add the veg at the bottom
then Salmon to the side
I through a few sweet potato and beet chips for color and crisp but you could use crackers or regular chips....what ever you have on tap!!...they just add a little sumin sumin.....

there you have it......My husband loved it so much he actually took himself away from the leafs game to tell me so......lol......

The veg worked out for 4 side dishes and I cooked 4 Salmon...so you got a family of 4 you are good to go...I pack the other 2 for our lunches the next day....double yummy!

For the love of healthy quick cooking......Cheers!

Lamb Chops.....Who knew?

Happy new year everyone, sorry it took me so long to get back to you. I was preoccupied with getting married...lol...yes I am back at you as a misses....not miss.  So now that I am married I have a husband to cook for....not that I did not cook for him before but I can call him my husband...just sounds more serious....lol....

Anyway, we were at my husbands Aunts place in Florida (she winters there from Nova Scotia) and she introduced me to Lamb Chops.....I have never tried them before...you have to give me some slack on this one because I was a vegetarian for a long time....just getting caught up on all my meat products....lol...

She did them 4 min a side on the BBQ and they were so delicious.  Sided with a salad and asparagus...the best dinner ever.....Thanks Auntie!

So now here we are back home in -20 weather....we are not going to use the BBQ....HA! I found them at costco...best place to buy meats if you are not sure on what you are buying or what cut....good place to go...can not go wrong there.

So I did them on the stove....still 4min a side...still very good.  I have to say with just a bit of olive oil and garlic...they just melt in your mouth.

You can side them with my good old smashed potato......see recipe further down my blog.

I promise to write more often now that all of the festivities are over.

Much love to all!