Delicious Food Show ! This weekend (October 25-27,2013) here in Toronto!

I will be participating in the Delicious Food Show this weekend and providing media coverage.  It's an amazing event featuring celebrity chefs from Food Network and more.  Check out the link and see you there!

http://www.deliciousfoodshow.com/

Chef Challenge - Ultimate Battle for the Cure - Mount Sinai Hospital 2013

Hello there! This year I will be fund raising for Mount Sinai Hospital.  Your tax-deductible donation would be greatly appreciated! Unfortunately so many of us have been directly effected by cancer and a cure can't be far off!

You can support the charitable event by contributing at:

http://my.e2rm.com/personalPage.aspx?registrationID=2167140&langPref=en-CA

Please note:

The money raised through Chef’s Challenge® supports care and research in women’s cancers at Mount Sinai Hospital. With your support, physicians and researchers can investigate new approaches to prevent, diagnose and treat women’s cancers bringing us closer to a cure.

Funds will help:

•          Support women’s cancer research at the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute at Mount Sinai Hospital - one of the leading biomedical research facilities in the world, bringing a healthier future to Canadians through breakthroughs in health and disease.
•          Advance the work of the Marvelle Koffler Breast Centre -a premiere facility specializing in breast health and disease that helps 33,000 women every year.

Superfood Bananas! Take a couple with you today! Food for Athletes and people on the go!

Healthy Kids - Exotic Meals - How to introduce exotic foods from around the world to your family!

Introducing children to new foods is important to a healthy lifestyle and balanced diet.  It can be we have a one bite rule, basically, you have to try one bite and at least see what it tastes like.  This works well as kids seems to like making funny faces and spitting food into napkins.  Sometimes the first try won’t go over so well but the next time they recognize what you are serving and will be more challenging to get your children to try new things that look and taste totally different.    

Making a trip to the local market is an adventure in itself all of the foreign treats and packaging are a feast for the eyes and senses.  Allow your child the opportunity to choose what you will prepare and help cook so they feel a sense of pride and a connection to the food. 

Japanese themed dinner

Another idea that works well is a theme night where you plan a menu based upon an exotic culture and go with it.  Mexican, Indian, Japanese, Chinese the possibilities are endless!  Beautifying your dining room and table with colourful ethnic themed decorations can make your dinner party a mini vacation to anywhere in world.

African themed table setting

Ethiopian dinner platter

Indian dinner platter

Chickpea Salad

Refreshing chick pea salad perfect for picnics, lunch bags or potlucks. Cilantro, yellow pepper, cucumber, red onion & your fave vinaigrette!

Easy Roast Chicken Breasts - 5 Minute Prep!!

Easy Roast Chicken Breasts

Tired after a long day? Can't bear the thought of cooking? This easy and delicious meal takes 5 minutes to prepare and then you can walk away, take off your work clothes, pour a glass of wine and relax!

Ingredients:

1 large bone-in skinless chicken breast per person
1/2 small bag of baby carrots
1/2 pint grape or cherry tomatoes
1 medium sized red pepper, chopped roughly
2 spring onions, chopped roughly
Your favourite chicken seasoning (I like thyme, paprika, garlic & onion powder with some BBQ sauce for colour)


Instructions:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Layer the vegetables in the bottom of a large roast pan.

Season the chicken in a bowl and lay on top of the vegetables.

Bake for 1 hour uncovered and serve with veggies and rice or pasta.

Holiday Party Menu

Throwing a holiday party can add stress and anxiety to your work like.  The following is a wine and cheese party for 10 guests that was devowered immediately.  All was purchased from a big box grocery with wine store on site ;)

Platter 1 -

Ingredients:

1 head leaf lettuce
Small round of brie and other hard aged round cheeses
Herb Goat Cheese
Red and Green Grapes
Pear slices
Almonds or Walnuts

Instructions:

Wash some leaf lettuce and dry it carefully.

Arrange around the platter so the seams and stems are hidden.

Slice the cheese into portions for sharing

Arrange the cheeses, grapes, olives and nuts to be eye catching.

 

 

Platter 2 -

 

Ingredients:

 

1 baguette, sliced

1 box water crackers

1 box pretzel sticks and rounds

1 box pita chips

 

Instructions:

 

Arrange on platter and serve!

 

 

Platter 3 -

 

Ingredients:

1 slice of pate

1 smoked salmon and cream cheese round

Cheddar and Havarti squares

A few more baguettte slices

Instructions:

Arrange on lettuce on platter then the above and then serve!

 

 

 



 

 

A couple bottles of white and red wine and sparkling water.

 

 

 

Healthy Sausage and Pepper Penne

 

One of my favourite pasta's of all time is sausage and pepper penne.  One order at a restaurant is usually around $15 dollars, the recipe featured below will provide four large servings for the less.  This easy and quick meal cuts costs while providing the same satisfaction of a meal prepared by professional Chef. Try it tonight!

 

Ingredients:

5 – 6 (1 package) italian sausages (turkey or chicken, spicy or mild)
2 tsp (10 ml) olive oil
1 large green pepper, sliced
1 carrot, peeled and diced
1 small onion, diced
4 cloves garlic
10 basil leaves
1\2 tsp (2.5 ml) crushed chilies
1\2 tsp (2.5 ml) salt
1\2 tsp (2.5 ml) pepper
1, 28oz can diced tomatoes

1, 14 oz can of your favourite tomato sauce

400 gram package penne pasta

Instructions:

Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook penne as per package directions

Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium heat

Brown the sausage in olive oil in the skillet

Once the sausage is brown remove it from the pan and add the pepper, carrot and onion

Fry for another minute scraping the brown bits off the bottom of the skillet

Slice the sausage into bite sized pieces and return to the pan

Add the garlic, basil and crushed chilies, stir quickly and then add the diced tomatoes

Reduce the heat to low and simmer for five minutes

Add the tomato sauce and simmer for an additional 10 minutes

Toss the cooked penne into the sauce and stir to coat

Prep Dinner in 5 minutes - Roast Beef

On day's like today, when you will be out trick or treating, busy face painting and handing out goodies.  Throwing a delicious and healthy supper together in five minutes will give you the piece of mind required to get through the day.

This recipe can be assembled in 5 minutes or less depending on how fast you can peel the vegetables.  For ideal results, marinade the roast prior to freezing.

Ingredients:

1 (2-3 pound) chuck beef roast
1 tsp (10 ml) dried thyme
1 tsp (10 ml) dried oregano
1 tsp (10 ml) salt
1 tbsp (25 ml) steak spice
2 tbsp (50 ml) olive oil

6 small new potatoes
1 large sweet potato, peeled and sliced
2 beets, stem removed
4 shallots, peeled
1 cup (250 ml) baby carrots

Instructions:

Place the roast in the center of a large roasting pan

Arrange the vegetables around the beef and sprinkle the spices over the works, but mostly on the beef

Drizzle with olive oil and put in the oven

Bake at 415 degrees, uncovered for 1 and a half hours (90 minutes)

Serves 4 - 6

Leftover Turkey Shawarma Wraps

What to do with leftovers? I don't really enjoy casseroles myself so I try and come up with different uses for holiday leftovers. 

This crowd pleasing meal idea is simple to prepare the day after the holiday and is nearly assembly only. Just ensure to pick up the supplies in advance as most store are closed on holidays.

Ingredients:

1 package pita bread (6 pieces)
2 cups (500 ml) diced roast turkey
1 small onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp (10 ml) black pepper
1 tsp (10 ml) ground cumin
1 tsp (10 ml) ground paprika
1 tsp (10 ml) chili powder
1 tbsp (25 ml) olive oil

Hummos and Tahini dip (store bought)
Cherry Tomatoes (1 pint)
Mixed Baby Greens (1 package)
Hot Sauce (Optional)

Instructions:

Combine the spices and oil in a large non-stick pan

Fry the spices and oil for until fragrant over medium heat (1 or 2 minutes)

Add the onion, garlic and turkey to the pan, stir to coat

Continue to cook until heated through

Serve buffet style so that everyone can customise their sandwich