Onion Ring Special

Over the years I have collected many recipes from friends and family...and whenever I prepare that particular dish I am always reminded of the one from whom it came.  Today's recipe is a prime example.  My Aunt Kay e-mailed this recipe to me one summer...thinking it might be something we would enjoy.  And we do!  Two years ago this month my aunt passed away.  I have many good memories of her...and this salad always brings her to mind. If you love the fresh produce of summer..then here is a side dish of multi-coloured bell peppers and onions that most easy to prepare ahead and have on hand in the fridge.  So...if you have a peck of peppers that need picking...here's a recipe for you!

• 1 large sweet onion, sliced in rings (like Walla Walla)
• 1 red pepper, sliced in rings
• 1 green pepper, sliced in rings
• 1 yellow pepper, sliced in rings
• 1 orange pepper, sliced in rings
• 1 1/3 cups sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 1/3 cups white vinegar
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 tablespoons oil

1. Thinly slice all the vegetables and place in large salad bowl with a lid.  
2. Combine sugar, salt, vinegar, water and oil in a saucepan.
3. Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar.
4. Pour over veggies.
5. Cover and chill for at least 24 hours. 
6. Serve as a salad or a meat condiment.

 

Smartie Cookie Pizza

It is simply a giant cookie...also called a cookie pizza or a cookie-cake.  It's a fun dessert for all ages...is easy to transport to a party or picnic or to give as a gift.  Write a message on it with icing and serve it for any occasion.  We took one to a picnic at the lake awhile back...and it doubled as a birthday cake for our granddaughter. Have fun with it!  

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter or margarine
• 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 cups semi sweet chocolate chips
• Smarties or M and M's to decorate

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350° F. 
2. Line a 14-inch round pizza pan with a circle of parchment.
3. Cream butter and sugar with mixer until smooth. 
4. Beat in the eggs and vanilla. 
5. Add flour, baking soda and salt together. Mix until smooth.
6. Fold in chocolate chips.
7. Put the dough into the pizza pan and press it into a circle...leaving a generous 1 inch gap around the rim.
8. Press smarties into the top...as desired.
9. Bake on center rack for 20 minutes or until cookie is golden and set.

Instant Raspberry Frozen Yogurt

This is so simple, it can hardly be called a recipe.  It is rather like 'cheater ice-cream' and really hits the spot on a hot day.  All you need is frozen berries and Greek yogurt.  Simple and delicious!

• 2 cups / 500 grams Greek yogurt
• 2 cups frozen raspberries
• 2-4 tablespoons sugar (or to taste)

1. Put yogurt into food processor (or good quality blender).
2. Add frozen berries and sugar.
3. Blitz until blended.
4. Serve immediately. 

Serves 4.
 

Camping Fare

Summer is upon us...and many of you are likely off camping this weekend.  I am out in the Canadian Rockies...enjoying the scenery, the company and the food...of course!  What's a camping trip without good food?  There's nothing like combining food and fire and cooking up some great campfire treats.  I'm going to share with you a few of our family favorites...things we like to cook over the fire with the grands.

Everyone loves s'mores.   But not everyone knows that s'mores are made so much simpler with the use of  buttery biscuits topped with the perfect layer of melt-in-your-mouth milk chocolate. I usually use Petit Écolier biscuits...but recently have been using Celebration brand.

Roast your marshmallow to perfection.  Sandwich it between two cookies...and enjoy a classic campfire dessert with a bit of a twist.  When I purchased a a package of the cookies and marshmallows this week...the cashier asked if I was planning to put the two together.  I explained how they made great s'mores.  She thought that was the most brilliant idea...and was going home to give this method a try!  So...in case you have never made s'mores this way...I thought I'd pass along the tip.

Banana boats are always a hit...for all ages.

Stuff a banana (skin on) with toppings of your choice (things like peanut butter, chocolate chips, and marshmallows)...wrap in heavy foil and roast over an open fire.  After about five minutes...un-wrap and enjoy the ooey-gooey goodness right out of the boat.  Ice-cream and chopped nuts are always a nice addition!  For detailed instructions...you will have to check out the recipe in the Celebrations cookbook on page 133.

Another camping favorite  is the 'bush pie'. A bush pie is basically bread stuffed with a filling of your choice...and then cooked inside a cast-iron bush pie maker (available at any sporting goods store).

We used pizza toppings inside our bush pies...and cooked them two at a time inside a double bush-pie-maker.  Our grands love them!  We have also tried the dessert version...which is filled with any pie filling or Nutella and bananas.

For breakfast...or anytime...try cinnamon snakes.



Cover the wiener sticks with tinfoil...then wrap long strips of dough around the foiled end (we used refrigerated Pillsbury crescent dough) and roast them over the open fire until golden. Brush the cooked 'snake' with butter and roll in a cinnamon/sugar mixture.  So good!

And here is a favorite camping lunch that doesn't even need a fire!  Walking Tacos are always a treat. Purchase the single-serving size nacho chips...slit the bag...and make up your nacho plate right in the bag. Again...complete instructions can be found on page 135 of the Celebrations cookbook.
 
And those are the Saturday tips for this week...a few campfire food ideas while the season is upon us.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Apple Pecan Chicken Salad

After enjoying a salad much like this at a local restaurant on occasion...we began having a copycat version at home.  Apples and spicy pecans combined with chicken and greens and a vinaigrette dressing make a delicious full-meal lunch.  Pick up a rotisserie chicken at the grocery store...or throw a few chicken breasts on the grill.

Apple Pecan Chicken Salad

• 8 cups mixed greens or baby spinach
• 1/3 cup sliced red onion
• 1/3 cup crumbled blue cheese (or feta)
• 1 Granny Smith apple, chopped (or add some chopped red apple for colour)
• 1/2 cup spicy sugared pecans* (recipe below)
•  1 1/2 cups rotisserie chicken, skin removed and cut into bite-size pieces 
• Apple vinaigrette dressing* (recipe below)

1. Layer greens, onion slices, blue cheese, chopped apples and spicy pecans on a salad plate.
2. Top with chicken pieces.
3. Drizzle dressing over salad to taste.

Dressing:

• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1 1/2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• salt and pepper to taste

1. Place dressing ingredients in a small jar.  
2. Put on lid and shake.

Spicy Sugared Pecans:

• ½ cup white table sugar
• 2 cups pecan halves
• generous pinch cayenne

1. Heat sugar, nuts and cayenne in heavy medium skillet over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally with wooden spoon. 
2. After several minutes, the sugar will begin to look sticky...and then begin to melt.  Stir continually, coating the nuts with the melted sugar.
3. When sugar is completely melted and turned amber in colour, remove from heat  and spread nuts on a foil lined pan. 
4. Allow to cool and break into pieces. 

 

Greek Tomato and Feta Dip

It can't get much simpler than this!  There is no cooking involved...just a little preparation and assembling.  We are enjoying fresh tomatoes from our local greenhouse and this is a great way to serve them when friends drop by.

• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 3-4 small tomatoes, chopped (Roma or other firm tomatoes)
• 4 green onions, sliced
• 8 oz. crumbled Feta cheese
• 2 teaspoons Greek seasoning, to to taste*
• 1 baguette, sliced in serving size pieces

1. Drizzle olive oil on a large platter.
2. Scatter the chopped tomatoes over the olive oil.
3. Sprinkle on the sliced green onions.
4. Top with crumbled Feta cheese.
5. Sprinkle the Greek seasoning on top.
6. With a spoon, carefully combine ingredients.
7. Serve with sliced baguette.

*It's the Greek seasoning that makes the dish.  It can be found in the spice aisle of any grocery store under a variety of brand names.

Try it.  You'll like it...and so will they!

 

Avocado Egg Salad Sandwich

Who knew...that avocado and pesto paired up so nicely with eggs?  We do now.  It's a great combination!
 

• 6 eggs, hard boiled and diced
• 1/4 cup salad dressing or mayonnaise
• 3 tablespoons pesto
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 ripe avocado, peeled and chopped
• baby spinach leaves
• tomato slices
• 4 sandwich rolls (ciabatta, kaiser, or submarine rolls)

Combine eggs, dressing, pesto and salt and pepper in a mixing bowl.
Stir in avocado pieces gently.
Serve egg salad on sandwich rolls together with spinach leaves and tomato slices.