Day 85: Rice Omelette...

Wow!  85!!  Only fifteen more recipes to go and I’ll have created 100 unique recipes of my own!  I’ve been cooking a long time, if only I’d have started this long ago and I would have something like 500 or more!

At any rate, I thought I’d continue with my breakfast kick, before I get back to more stir-fries and desert (keep watch, because this week I have a desert that will heat things up so much your clothes will likely burn off!).

Today it’s the rice omelette.  I first came up with this one years ago, and it started because I had leftovers that I had to do something with.  This was the result.  By chance I had created one of my favorite breakfast dishes, and it doesn’t hurt that it’s easy to make, cheap and fast.

Enjoy...

Day 84: Orange Shortbread...

I had a New Years Eve party to go to, and having been on a stir-fry kick for so long (and it being the holidays), I thought I’d make up a cookie recipe.  I’ve made everything else, but lately I’ve been lacking deserts.

Without further ado, I started with a shortbread recipe, and then stamped my own groove onto it.  Most of my recipes are dead easy, but this one’s a bit more complicated than usual.  But don’t let that stop you from trying it.  I’ve made many mistakes in creating it, and thankfully it’s a resilient enough recipe that you can make mistakes every step of the way, and there’s always a way to undo it without ruining the thing.

The complication arrises from the use of an orange syrup you need to make.  If it’s too hot, it’ll burn the butter.  If it’s too cold, it won’t mix with the butter.  It’s easy to avoid the first mistake, because as long as the sugar syrup isn’t boiling, it won’t be hot enough to burn anything.  If it’s too cold to mix in (which I’ve done), don’t worry, you can scrape out  the syrup, butter and all, and melt it in a pot, and return it to the bowl to mix.

This is a delectable cookie that melts in your mouth, and is much softer than what you’d expect from a shortbread cookie.

Naughty cookie cutters are optional.

Enjoy...

Day 83: Fried Egg Sandwich...

Some of you may be wondering why such a simple dish is being served up here, well, because it’s so simple it’s often overlooked.

I used to eat fried egg sandwiches for breakfast every day when I was going to high school, and I thought recently, “Why not try it again?  I’m a much better cook than I was in high school!?”

Back in the day, I used powdered garlic and what not.  Today I use real garlic, and my own, home cooked bread.  I can honestly say it’s better than ever.

Enjoy...

Day 82: Beef Rice Noodle in Peanut Sauce...

The night had come faster than I had noticed.  Absorbed with work, it was my growling stomach that told me of the late hour.  Alas, I had not gone to the grocer store, and I was short on ingredients.

What to do?

I improvised.  I took what I had and did my best.

It’s an old saying that, “Art thrives on restrictions,” and I found that to be so true here.  Without the normal ingredients I would use for a stir fry, I managed to make one of my favourite dishes to date!

Enjoy...

Day 81: Chickpea and Corn Falafel...

It’s been quite a while since my last posting, what with the holidays getting in the way, but with this being the first post for 2011, I thought I’d start it off with a bang!

This story began off with me looking at the can of Chickpeas and corn on my shelf and thinking, ‘What the hell am I going to do with that?”  I don’t like beans much, and rarely use them.  The only reason I had them was because I bought some to put in a soup I made for a friend.  With one can left over, I was at a loss.  Then it came to me.  “Falafel!  It’s made out of chickpeas.  And I have a can of corn too, who says you can’t make Falafels with corn?”

In no time I was throwing this all together and breaking out my dutch oven to do some deep frying.  Most of the time when I improvise the outcome ranges from good to okay, but in this case, it was AMAZING!  I’ve outdone myself with this one.  They are totally delicious, healthy, and amazingly they aren’t greasy!

This is one of the ones I’m going to be remembered for.  Now I only need to make it out to the Middle Eastern Bakery to get pita and make sandwiches!!

Enjoy...

Day 80: Tourtiere...

‘Tis the eve of Christmas, and with it brings a special tradition.  My brood hails from Montreal and through the years have carried with it the Tourtiere.  This French meat pie is the delicious centerpiece of our Christmas Eve dinner.

However after years of buying store bought Tourtiere, I had that familiar thought which you know is coming, “Why don’t I make my own Tourtiere this year?”

It was a few years ago that I had that thought, and created this recipe.  I usually make a double batch, bake one, and freeze the second for later -Tourtiere is too good to have only once a year.

This pie is a special part of my Christmas, and since creating my own recipe, I’ve made it even more so.  It’s traditional to serve it up with ketchup, but I’ve found this home made version is so infinitely better than store bought, I’ve never felt the need for ketchup!

Welcome to a piece of my family tradition.

Enjoy...

A New Site, A New Name, A New Day. Let's Have Coffee...

To commemorate the new day for this blog, I thought I’d post a recipe that shows how I start the day.

Day 79:  Fresh Roasted Bridgehead Coffee...

I like Bridgehead coffee.  That’s no secret.  I go there at least three times a week with my fellow runners.  One could say it’s the headquarters of our merry band, either that or the Clocktower.

In any case, I’ve discovered that I prefer Bridgehead coffee the way I brew it.  I like a nice strong coffee, but not one overflowing with caffeine.  Over time I’ve managed to find my perfect cup, and here it is for you to try and...

Enjoy...