Orange Chocolate Chip Shortbread

Christmas Cookie Time! Here's one that is new to us this year but we all love it. Going to make more.

Adam says Santa likes extra chocolate chips so we added a little more.

Orange Chocolate Chip Shortbread

3 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup unsalted butter, soft (room temperature)
1 cup white sugar
4 teaspoons grated orange peel
1 teaspoon orange extract
2 egg yolks
6 tablespoons cream (I used half/half)
2 cups chocolate chips

The original recipe called for mixing the dry ingredients, and then adding them into the mixed wet ingredients...blah, blah, blah. I just threw all of the above into the mixer and they turned out fine.

Roll into balls, then flatten with palm of your hand. Bake 10 minutes at 350 degrees. Merry, merry!

Roasted Radishes and Beets with Blue Cheese

I was searching the web and came across something I've never heard before: roasting radishes.

Have you ever roasted a radish? I highly recommend doing this. The flavour was dee-lightful!

I ended up tossing these babies in with a few other things as it transformed into my lunch. I absolutely loved this and what do I do when I try something new and love it? I share it. That's just how I roll. :)

You're lookin' at my lunch.

Roasted Radish and Beet Salad

Beets; with skins but greens and roots removed
Radishes
Olive Oil
Minced Garlic

Crumbled Blue Cheese
1 lime
Salt to taste
Cracked Black Pepper to taste

Take a piece of aluminum foil and place beets on top. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with minced garlic. Wrap them up to form a little packet of goodness. Be sure the steam cannot escape. Repeat for the radishes.

Place both packets in 400 degree oven for 1 hour. Remove from oven and let cool for a moment. Take a paper towel and rub the beets, removing the skin. Slice and place in bowl.

Add roasted radishes to bowl. Top with crumbled blue cheese, salt and pepper. Squeeze a lime wedge over mixture and toss.

Enjoy!

London Broil

photo by tabby mom jen on flickr

I was recently asked to post more slow cooker recipes (Hi Scotty!). So here is one we love and make pretty often. When I first read the ingredients, it kind of grossed me out; the mixing of two different soups. But this really is at the top of our list and I urge you to give it a try. If you like roast beef and gravy, you'll love this one.

London Broil

1 Flank Steak (some people have used striploin steaks)
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can tomato soup
1 package onion soup mix

Place flank steak in bottom of crockpot. Mix two soups together and pour over top. Sprinkle with onion soup mix.

Cook on low for eight hours (or low on 4 hours). Serve with mashed potatoes. Lots of gravy!

Remembrance Day

Today, I dedicate this page to all who gave their lives for our freedom.

www.agreatplace.ca

Cassette Tapes

photo by dubassy on flickr

I was driving along the side of the road the other day in rural, northern Ontario.

I saw a familiar sight but upon its discovery, I realized just how long it's been since I've come across said sight.

It was an endless stream of cassette tape, set free from its plastic encasement. Grabbed by nature's thorny twigs and roadside weeds, this ribbon waved to me as I drove past, glistening in the sunshine.

It seemed to enjoy its unburdened, new form...unreeled from the little circles of teeth that once allowed it to have a continuous voice in someone's retro player.

I wonder how it got there? I wonder whose vocals were engrained on its surface? I'm thinking Neil Diamond. How do I know? I just have a feeling. I'm just  'hooked on it'.

The last time I saw reckless streams of tape enjoying the outdoors was probably in the eighties or early nineties as we abandoned this technology (which is coming back, by the way).

I know it's litter. And that it's wrong. But you know what? I liked it. I felt like I was driving by an old friend as he waved me on my way. Goodbye old friend.

Slow Cooker Banana Bread

What?! Banana bread in the slow cooker?? That's what I said! I have yet to try this one, buy my friend Cathy says it's a great recipe: quick and delicious.

So to round off a week of crockpot craziness, what better way to end with dessert.  Thanks to Cathy for sharing her day off with us where she cooked, cleaned, baked and organized. What a lucky family to come home to all of that.

Okay, I must admit...Cathy's bread looks more like meatloaf. But I bet it's as good as she says!

Cathy's Slow Cooker Banana Bread

6 Tbsp. softened butter
2/3 cup white sugar
1 egg
4 mashed bananas; the riper, the better!
1 1/2 cups flour1 tbsp. cocoa
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup chocolate chips

Cream butter and sugar in a bowl. Beat in egg. Add banana. Mix.

Add remaining ingredients and stir. Put into greased loaf tin (any that will fit into your crock pot). Tin is not to touch the bottom of the pot. I use two mini tart foils upside down and place the pan on them. Put a paper towel over the pot under the lid. Place a toothpick between the pot and the paper towel.


Cook on high for 2 hours and 15 minutes. Do not lift lid during the first two hours!
Let cool for 20 minutes before eating.

Beef Curry

I am on a slow cooker mission lately. So the ones I try and like, I'll post here. I whipped this up yesterday and when I came in the door from the office, its aroma throughout the house greeted me with a warm welcome.

photo by katandkim on flickr

Slow Cooker Beef Curry

2-3 lbs. Cubed Stewing Beef
1 large, chopped onion
2 teaspoons curry powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
2 tsp. beef stock powder (I just poured in some beef broth)
salt and pepper
3 Tbsp. flour
15 ml. tomato sauce
2 Tbsp. ketchup

Easy-Peasy: Dump all ingredients in slow cooker, except for tomato sauce and ketchup. Stir all around, being sure to coat beef in flour and spices. Pour tomato sauce and ketchup over top.

Cook on low for 8 hours. Serve over whole wheat egg noodles.