Jam Thumbprint Cookies

Dec 14, 2022

These classic thumbprint cookies are a favourite holiday treat. Make some for giving or for your own cookie jar.

Prep Time: 20 mins • Cook Time: 10 mins
Chill Time: 1 hour
Makes: 48 cookies

 

INGREDIENTS
    • 3/4 cup butter, softened
    • 1/2 cup sugar
    • 2 eggs
    • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
    • 2 cups all-purpose flour
    • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
    • 1/4 teaspoon salt
    • 1/2 cup red raspberry jam or flavour of your choice
    • 1/3 cup chopped hazelnuts
    • 1 teaspoon grated orange or lemon peel
DIRECTIONS
    1. In a large bowl cream together butter and sugar.
    2. Add eggs and vanilla extract and beat well.
    3. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir into creamed mixture.
    4. Chill for at least one hour.
    5. Shape into 48 balls.
    6. Place balls 2 inches apart on a greased cookie sheet. With moistened finger, make an indentation atop each ball. Mix together jam, nuts, and peel. Fill indentations with 1/2 teaspoon of the jam filling.
    7. Bake at 350°F for 10-13 minutes. Move to a wire rack to cool.

Sauteed Green Beans

Nov 16, 2022

Green beans are a healthy side dish for any meal or occasion. This simple recipe uses just a few ingredients and is ready in minutes.

Prep Time: 5 mins  •  Cook Time: 10 mins • Total Time: 15 mins

INGREDIENTS

  • 2 pounds fresh green beans, washed and trimmed
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon finely minced garlic
  • 1/2 cup vegetable broth, vegetable stock, or water
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1/4 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1/8 teaspoon black pepper

DIRECTIONS

  1. Heat a large 12-inch skillet over medium heat.
  2. Add the olive oil, and once the oil is shimmering and hot, add the minced garlic. Sauté for about 30 seconds, or until the garlic is fragrant but not browned.
  3. Add the green beans, vegetable broth, salt, and pepper to the pan, and stir. Turn the heat up to medium-high, cover, and cook for about 5-6 minutes, or until the beans are just tender and turn bright green.
  4. Uncover the skillet, and stir until the water has evaporated; about 2 minutes.
  5. Add the butter and sauté, for about 1 minute. Add lemon juice and stir to combine.
  6. Add the black pepper. Taste and adjust seasonings, if desired. Serve immediately.

 

Parmesan Truffle Fries

Nov 1, 2022


Truffle fries are all the rage these days. And, while you may think this dish is relegated to restaurant choice only, you’d be surprised to know they are extremely easy to make yourself at home.
Truffle oil is an edible oil, usually olive oil, that is infused with black or white truffles.
The oil imparts an intense flavour – think woody, earthy, garlicky, and fruity – to other foods like meat, vegetables, and seafood.

INGREDIENTS

  • 4 large Idaho russet potatoes, peeled
  • Vegetable oil, enough for deep-frying, about 4-5 cups
  • 4 cups water
  • 1 teaspoon of sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon parsley, minced
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons truffle oil – white or black
  • 1/4 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, finely grated

DIRECTIONS

  1. Cut the peeled potatoes lengthwise into thin strips, about 1/3-inch wide.
  2. Fill a large bowl with water and a few cups of ice. Place the cut potatoes in the water and soak for about 1 hour. Drain and pat completely dry.
  3. Heat oil in a larger skillet or deep-fryer to 325°F.
  4. Working in batches, blanch the potatoes in oil for 2 minutes per batch. Drain the fries on paper towels.
  5. Bring the oil to 375°F. Fry the potatoes for the second time; about 1 1/2 minutes per batch.
  6. Drain the fries on a plate or baking sheet lined with paper towels. Sprinkle fries with salt to taste.
  7. Drizzle the truffle oil over the fries, then sprinkle with the Parmesan cheese, and then sprinkle on the parsley, if desired.

 

Poison Apple Punch

Oct 19, 2022

Poison Apple Punch is a non-alcoholic punch so the kiddos can enjoy it too. The addition of carved apple shrunken heads, or skulls, adds just the right touch to your ghoulishly good Halloween theme.

INGREDIENTS

  • 64 oz spiced or unfiltered apple cider
  • 25 oz sparkling apple cider
  • 72 oz Barritt’s Ginger Beer
  • 6 apples, peeled and carved

DIRECTIONS

  1. Add apple cider, sparkling cider, and ginger beer to a large punch bowl. Stir gently to combine.
  2. Peel and carve faces in green apples with a small paring knife and place them in the punch.

 

Meringue Bones

Oct 19, 2022

Are you ready to add some creepy bones to your Halloween party fare? These light and airy confections are easy to whip up.

PREP TIME: 15 mins   •  COOK TIME: 1 1/2-2 hours   •  MAKES: 10-12 bones

INGREDIENTS

  • 3 large egg whites
  • 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS

  1. Preheat oven to 250°F.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. In a medium-sized bowl, add egg whites and the cream of tartar. Beat together at medium-high speed until soft peaks form.
  3. Add vanilla extract and gradually beat in sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time until stiff peaks form, the meringue is shiny, and the sugar is fully dissolved.
  4. Fill a pastry tube pastry bag fitted with a 3/8-inch round tip with meringue. Pipe a 3-inch long x 1-inch wide line on the parchment paper. Pipe two balls on each side of the line to create the bone ends. You can smooth any peaks/lines with your finger or a spoon. Continue to create 10-12 bones.
  5. Bake for 1½ – 2 hours, or until the meringue easily is moved from the parchment paper. Cool on the baking sheet. Store in an air-tight container in a cool, dry place.

If desired, make strawberry coulis for dipping the bones.

For the coulis:

  •     1 quart fresh strawberries, quartered
  •     2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  •     1/4 cup sugar
  •     1/4 cup water

To make the coulis: Add strawberries, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, 1/4 cup sugar, and 1/4 cup water to a saucepan. Simmer over low heat; stirring and crushing the strawberries in the sauce until the sugar has dissolved completely and the sauce has thickened – about 10 minutes; then let it cool.

 

Spaghetti & Sausage Spiders

Oct 19, 2022

Along came a spider!  We promise these cute spaghetti and sausage spiders won’t scare anyone away!

PREP TIME: 10 mins •  COOK TIME: 10 mins  •  MAKES: 16 spiders

INGREDIENTS

  • 4 beef hot dogs
  • 500g package of spaghetti, uncooked (you won’t need the entire package)
  • tomato ketchup

DIRECTIONS

  1. Cut each hot dog into 4 equal pieces.
  2. Push 4 pieces of uncooked spaghetti through the hot dog pieces –  as pictured above.
  3. Cook the assembled spiders in salted boiling water according to pasta package directions, for about 8-10 minutes.
  4. Drain pasta and hot dogs.
  5. Trim the spaghetti legs to the desired length.
  6. Add the edible eyes using tomato ketchup.