Easy to Do, Delicious to Eat - Some Stress-Free Recipes

Like everyone I know, I'm trying to find some balance between work and family,while trying to eat well, and somehow reduce the stress of juggling so many balls at the same time.   So I thought I'd share some recipes I've made of late that make things a little easier and use local ingredients from my friends at the farmers markets

Eating Local... Well, Mostly Local From Lamb to Rhubarb

If you've been visiting here before, you know I'm all about supporting local producers and eating in season... not to mention making dishes that are simple and quick.  That said, I'm occasionally caught under the spell of some gorgeous... not-yet-in-season-here ingredient.... like these blueberries.   But let me back up a bit....

Life's Easy Pleasures - Shrimp Pizza & Chocolate Muffins

Since there's always lots to do... too much to do on any day off, it's nice to be able to take some shortcuts in the kitchen... or at least some very quick things to prepare... with little mess to clean up.

It is February and Valentine's Day is fast approaching so it seems like every food site is focused on chocolate. I do have a few very decadent, very delicious, very fattening options I could have chosen my own creation

Dark Chocolate & Candied Orange Tart

or the most decadent and yet simple to make

Nigella's Choco-Hot-Pots

They truly stop any conversation... all you will hear is the moaning.

But today, reading through my email... I found a recipe from Robin Hood Four that I had to try... mostly because I have buttermilk in the fridge, bought for some Jalapeno Cornbread Muffins - not chocolate, but so good and so easy to whip up.   But I digress,  the Double Chocolate Buttermilk Muffins , seen at the top of the post are wonderful.  Perfect for a mid morning treat or... well... whenever the mood strikes.

So that's the CHOCOLATE part of the story.  The reality is, as good as chocolate tastes and it even has lots of health benefits... particularly in terms of mood enhancement... we still need more variety in life.

Being more of a savory than sweet kind of girl, I love spicy and salty and, frankly when feeling hungry, I'd head for the fridge for some cold chicken or meat or maybe whip up a quick pizza like this one...

Spicy Shrimp Pesto Pizza

The longest part... waiting for the oven to heat up enough to crisp the crust like the ones you get at a pizzeria.  I often make my pizza dough from scratch, but recently I discovered some prebaked pizza crusts at the grocery store in the bread department and , while not exactly homemade, they certainly speed up the process and taste delicious.

The weekend is coming up, and after running lots of errands or whatever you do on the weekend... what is your favorite, easy to prepare sustenance?

Muffins & Reminders

It's a busy day...I'm heading off to visit the Art Gallery of NS with my daughter and the little munchkins and knew I had to share these very tasty Oatmeal Blueberry Muffins... I whipped up to remind me of the heat wave we had last August when we went blueberry picking. It seemed appropriate given our big snowfall yesterday.

And before I head out the door... a reminder that I'm hosting Presto Pasta Nights tomorrow and you still have the rest of today to create an awesome pasta treat to share with us. Just mention Presto Pasta Nights in your post, with a link and email your post link to ruth (at) 4everykitchen (dot) com

My entry was a cheat, I admit... but tasty none the less. cool pennoni pasta from Colavita Pasta topped with a "mostly bottled sauce" - Classico's Tuscan-style Olive & Garlic sauce to which I added some sliced mushrooms sauteed with minced garlic and a splash or two of balsamic vinegar, some wine, a couple of pinches of red chili pepper flakes and a spoonful of sugar to cut the tomatoey taste. Top with some grated Parmesan cheese and ... voila !

Stilll Blueberry Season

Biggest highlight at the market last week and finally made their way to the local supermarkets as well... blueberries...tiny little wild ones that pack quite the tangy punch and cultivated, big fat and juicy ones. I've already shared some of my favorite blueberry recipes with you, but I certainly haven't had my fill yet...as I write this, I'm enjoying some blueberries and goat yoghurt drizzled with some local honey....heaven in a bowl!

But what was I going to do with the last of this batch???? And, because I really do love to support local farmers when I can, I thought I'd check out Anita Stewart's Canada, which is one of my favorite books. Even if you don't live in this wonderful country, it's a stunning book.

I couldn't resist these stunning Butter Honey Blueberry Muffins which taste even better than they sound. Ingredients....local butter from Tatamagouche, Smeltzer's honey, and wild blueberries from one of the many stands at the Saturday farmer's market.

Just another reason I support Helmann's Eat Real Eat Local Campaign, Tomorrow is another visit to the market...for sure corn will make its way back here, some lovely new potatoes and ...hopefully, some tomatoes...not to mention all the usual wonderful treats. I'll keep you posted.

Wherever you live, there are some local, seasonal things to focus on...what's up in your neck of the woods?

Day Two - South Beach Diet, Phase II

Well we did survive The South Beach Diet , Phase II - day two. The challenge was to go slowly. I sort of felt like holding on to the reins of a galloping horse, trying to get control of the beast. Melodramatic, you say? True, but... seriously, folks...a quart of fresh strawberries in the fridge and...
I made these lovely looking Oat & Pecan Muffins NOT for yesterday, but rather for this morning's breakfast. NOT for yesterday because I was planning on a pasta dish for dinner and we're only allowed one serving of good carbs. (Note: Quite tasty and I probably will make them again. I bet they'd be really awesome with some dried cherries or some chocolate chips - fine for later in the program.)

Lunch was an afterthought. I know it shouldn't be, but I was caught up in writing and research, so I had a bowl of Yoplait Source 0% vanilla yoghurt (I admit it...fake sugar anything leaves an aftertaste in my mouth, so it's nice to find one no fat version with 0% fat and ...more importantly...0% aspartame) and more delicious strawberries. It is with great self-restraint that I only added the 3/4 cup daily allottment. But I did savor every bite.

Dinner...what can I say except that I'm heading out to buy one of those pasta measures. I wanted to use the multigrain linguine. It's easier to measure 1/2 cup portions when you use little pastas, but I wanted to go with that and naturally, didn't measure it once it was cooked. Oh well, at least I didn't have seconds.

What I should have done was to FIRST eat the lovely salad I made - mixed greens with sweet red peppers and lots of herbs and a lemony pesto vinaigrette. But I couldn't resist a mouthful of the pasta....

Multigrain Mediterranean Linguine with Shrimps

...because one bite led to another and another and...well, before I knew it the plate was close to clean and I was full. So...no salad (which probably would have been healthier to start with) and more pasta than I think I was entitled to....sigh.

At least I get to send a pasta dish to Joanne of Eats Well With Others our lovely Presto Pasta Night host this week. Please join in the fun and end your entries to jhbruno87 (at) gmail (dot) com and cc me ruth (at) 4everykitchen (dot) com - after all, I need some inspiration for next week's South Beach adaptation.

Blueberries + Chocolate Chips = Delicious

Since my last bit of "poetry" was such a hit....

"Good, better, best

Never let it rest

Until the good is better

And the better...has chocolate"

I really do try to cook and bake nutritious dishes, using local ingredients when I can, and opting for healthy grains rather than all purpose flour. And a number of my new cookbooks seem to focus on making healthier versions of the good old fashioned ones I grew up on.

Norene's Healthy Kitchen is one such book that I turn to often. I love her very easy, quick and delicious dishes and since I just got back from a fantastic weekend in Toronto spent with some other food bloggers from across the country (more about that in another post), I didn't have much on hand, nor much time to prepare something to munch on at my 9a.m. meeting.

And I HAD to make something...after all, food feeds the brain, doesn't it? And breakfast is the most important meal of the day, isn't it? And, my associate has come to expect it (as is her husband who will definitely be waiting for a care package). Start to finish, these tasty treats took less than 20 minutes.

Naturally, because delicious, is never delicious enough, and I always have to add more to a recipe...I added chocolate chips to Norene's Blueberry Corn Muffins and made...

Blueberry Chocolate Chip Mini-Muffins

I remember the days when using whole wheat flour was for those strange tofu-eating hippie types in Birkenstocks (no offense to tofu, Birkenstocks or hippies). Not today though. The only "flour" in this batter is cornmeal and whole wheat flour and they are simply delicious.

Another huge change in our eating is being able to find excellent frozen fruit, grown locally and flash frozen so it's tasty all year round...and mine come from The Annapolis Valley, just an hour or so from my door. That said, I can't wait to pick fresh blueberries later in the summer. I'm already envisioning the purple stains on fingers, lips and ... right...note to self...wear something old.

What's your locally grown favorite fruit? And how long are you going to have to wait for the real deal?

Company's Coming and Best Balsamic Apple Cider Vinegar

The sun is shining, the market was perfect...except for one duo that sounded like they were torturing cats...but I won't dwell on that. I really didn't need a ton of things...obviously I had to buy some croissants and just look at this awesome crown of pain d'epi...

...so gorgeous and it probably won't even make it to dinner. I'm envisioning a relaxing afternoon after all the chores and running around....munching some of my favorite Ran-Cher goat cheeses smothered over chunks of fresh bread...but I digress....

We're having good friends over to enjoy some conversation, good wine and dinner. I actually prepared the main course yesterday. Although winter is officially gone and the sun is shining brightly, it's still cold enough for gloves and a leather jacket. So dinner will be a family favorite....

Chorizo & Bean Chili

Jalapeno Corn Bread

and Katherine Hepburn Brownies with some ice cream.

I'm even adding a new dish to the mix...Crunchy Cucumber & Red Pepper Salad with Cumin & Fresh Mint...from a gorgeous new cookbook...Once Upon a Tart ....but more about those in another post.

And what does all this have to do with going to the market and the photo at the top of the page?

Well, the secret ingredient to this chili is the Balsamic apple cider vinegar from Boates farms. I usually buy a couple of bottles in the Fall when we go to apple picking in the Annapolis Valley and the chili used up the last of my supply. This vinegar truly makes the best salad dressing ever. Drizzle a little with some almond oil over mixed spring greens and you'll have everyone licking the bowl clean and asking what you did to make it so tasty.

This morning, I was a little worried when Mr Elderkin himself (it's at his orchard that I usually buy the vinegar) told me he had run out...although I did buy a bag of beautiful honey crisp apples from him. Fingers crossed and breath held, I headed directly over to the Boates Farm stand and lo and behold...the last two bottles were sitting on the counter. I even was nice enough to leave one bottle behind for someone else to enjoy.

Now it's on to the rest of this glorious day, but what's your favorite "secret" local ingredient that you can't live without?

Breads & Muffins

Breads
Passover Rolls

100% Whole Wheat Bread

French Whole Wheat Bread Kneaded in the bread machine

Bread Machine Challah (Egg bread)

Challah

Fancy Raisin Challah

Holiday Raisin Challah

Cheese Rolls

Chocolate Espresso Whole Wheat Bread


Dakota Bread - starts in the bread machine, finishes in the oven

Dark Pumpernickel Bread - sort of bread machine...

Bread Machine Plus Pumpernickel Rye...different recipe than above...you choose your favorite

Grilled Pizza

Heavenly Herb Rolls (made with a bread machine)

Herb Oat Bread

Homemade Deli Rye Bread (if you love Montreal style rye, you will love this)

Whole Grain Rye Bread ( a very healthy, very easy version)

Norene's Best Brown Bread Kneaded in the bread machine

Pain d'Epi

Passover Rolls

Marcy Goldman's Passover Onion Rolls

Pumpernickel Rye (started in the bread machine, baked in the oven)

Scandinavian Light Rye

Seriously Montreal Style Bagels - kudos to Marcy Goldman!


Sunflower & Cumin Seed Bread Kneaded in the bread machine

Wine & Rosemary Focaccia Kneaded in the bread machine

Whole Wheat Rosemary Focaccia Kneaded in the bread machine

Whole Wheat Pizza Dough Kneaded in the bread machine

Whole Wheat Pizza Dough II Kneaded in the bread machine

Muffins
Apple Pecan Muffins

Apricot Pecan Muffins

Asiago Rosemary Muffins

Blueberry Plus Muffins - you'll never guess the secret ingredient

Blueberry Chocolate Chip Mini-muffins

Blueberry Cornbread Muffins

Blueberry Corn Muffins

Blueberry Flax "Muffins"

Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins

Oatmeal Blueberry & Pecan Muffins

Butter Honey Blueberry Muffins

Cherry Pecan Cornbread Muffins

Cocoa Flaxmeal muffins - way better than they sound!

Fruit & Nuts, Oat & Wheat Bran Muffins

Jalapeno Cornbread Muffins

Savory Cornbread Quinoa Muffins

Lemon Blueberry Muffins

Nigella's Maple Pecan Muffins

Norene's Pumpkin & Cranberry Muffins

Ginger Pumpkin Muffins

Double Chocolate Buttermilk Muffins

Norene's To Die For Chocolate Zucchini Muffins

Oatmeal Sunflower Muffins

Oat & Pecan Muffins - South Beach Diet phase II

Oatmeal Carrot Muffins

Oatmeal Pecan Blueberry Muffins

Peanut Butter & Jam Muffins

Rhubarb Blueberry Pecan Muffins

Strawberry Lavender Muffins

Apricot Pecan Muffins

Wild Blueberry Pecan Bran Muffins


Biscotti
Apricot Ginger Biscotti


Chocolate Hazelnut Biscotti


Lemony Biscotti



Sweet Breads & Loaves
Banana Pecan & Chocolate Chip Bread

Banana Poppy Seed Bread

Carrot Raisin Bread

Chocolate Spice Loaf

Cranberry, Pistachio & Ginger Loaf Cranberry Orange Loaf

Date & Nut Loaf

Gingery Carrot Loaf

Scones, Squares & Biscuits
Frozen Butter Biscuits

Buttermilk Scones with Dried Currants


Multigrain Scones

Dried Fruit Maple Squares

Ellie's Energy Bars

Crisp Biscuits