So it’s cold outside. Like freezing cold. Too cold to go out and play cold. Pipes freezing kinda cold….(if you live in a rental with really crap pipes). It’s the kind of day, where all day long I think about what warm comforting meal I want to sit down and eat tonight with the ones I love. Well this is it. This is the meal I wish I still had. Sadly we ate it all two nights ago and all I have left are these pictures. Oh and did I mention we have almost no groceries in the fridge! ya…it was too cold to do that too. Guess it’s pea soup and toast for my family tonight. That being said, if you happen to have these ingredients in your home, I highly suggest this is what you warm your tummy with tonight. Recipe adapted from MadelineLu.

Serves 4

Squash bake:

• 3 medium potato, cut into approx 1/2 inch cubes
• 2-3 cups butternut squash, or squash of choice, cut into approx 1/2 inch cubes
• 4 cups crimini mushrooms, sliced
• 1 large cooking onion
• 3 cloves of garlic,minced
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1/4 tsp chipotle chili powder
• 1 generous handful fresh parsley, chopped
• salt and pepper to taste
• oil for cooking; safflower, olive or coconut

Dill yogurt sauce:

• 1/2 cup plain yogurt
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2-3 tbsp fresh dill
• 1 clove of garlic, minced
• Mix all of the above together and you’re done.

To make:

1. Preheat the oven to 350.
2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Boil squash and potato for about 10 minutes or until just about cooked ( you don’t want them mushy)
3. Heat a couple tbsp of oil over medium heat in a cast iron skillet or dutch oven (as I used)….or any oven-proof frying pan for that matter.
4. Add the onions and garlic and cook until soft.
5. Once the potatoes and squash have finished cooking, drain them then toss them in over med-high heat.
6. Add the spices and cook until slightly browned. Stir every so often so they don’t burn to the bottom of the pan. Add a little more oil or broth if needed. This should take about 5 minutes.
7. Add the mushrooms and cook for another 5 minutes or until everything is cooked through (keeping in mind you don’t want a pot of mush). Continue to stir every so often.
8. Season with salt and pepper.
9. Stir in the parsley.
10. Break the eggs over the mixture and bake in the oven for about 10 minutes. A few minutes more if you like your eggs really cooked and a little less if you want super runny.
11. Remove from oven and sprinkle with a little more paprika and pepper.
12. Serve topped with the dill yogurt sauce and a side of wild rice and lentils or a nice crispy baguette.
13. Enjoy!

Today Toronto was hit with a ton of snow. It was one of those days where you just want to curl up under a nice fuzzy blanket and read a book or watch your  favourite Christmas movie. Sadly I, like so many others, had to travel a fair bit on public transit this afternoon taking far more time than it normally would have. While I stood outside waiting for the streetcar with the snow soaking through my hat and boots simultaneously I couldn’t help but dream of getting home for supper and sitting down to eat this super comforting bowl of stew…..and that is exactly what I did.

Recipe adapted from Deborah Madison

serves 6-8

• 2 tbsp safflower oil or any other neutral tasting oil
• 2 onion, diced
• 6 medium russet potatoes, chopped into bite sized chunks, about 1 inch thick
• 1 package of sausage, about 6, chopped into bite sized pieces
• 4 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp cumin
• 1 tsp coriander
• 2 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 4.5oz can chopped green chillies
• 2 cans of whole yellow tomato
• 1 L low sodium vegetable broth
• salt and pepper to taste

In a large dutch oven or pot, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for a few minutes, stirring frequently. While you do this, in a separate pan cook the sausage. I cooked them over med high heat for about 10 minutes in 1/4 cup of water. First make a few slits on each sausage and then cover. Flip half way. When finished drain and chop. Set aside. Back to the onions….now that they have softened add the spices, garlic, potato and chillies. Give them a stir and cook, stirring frequently for about 7 minutes. At this point you can add the salt, I used about half a tsp but feel free to use more or less. Add the tomato, sausage and broth. Using a wooden spoon quickly break up the tomatoes. Bring to a boil then lower to a simmer for about 30 minutes or until the potatoes are cooked through. Season with more salt and pepper. Before serving give the stew a quick couple of pulses with an immersion blender to make sure you don’t have any super large chunks of tomato in there, this will also help thicken the broth up a bit. Serve with a dollop of greek yogurt and some fresh flat leaf parsley. Enjoy!

I know this isn’t technically a taco buuut it is a taco bowl! It’s a fresh and  yummy way to get your taco fix without binging out on tacos.

serves 4

FISH

• 2 pounds of white fish –  halibut, haddock, sole, flounder or tilapia
• 1 cup flour
• 1 tbsp smoked paprika
• 2 tsp cumin
• 1/4 tsp chipotle chili powder
• 1 lime, zest and juice
• salt and pepper to taste
• safflower oil, for frying

To make the fish: Preheat a large cast iron skillet ( or any heavy pan ) over medium-high heat. In a shallow bowl mix together the flour, spices and zest. Dredge the fish in the flour mixture until evenly coated. Pour enough oil in the skillet to evenly coat the bottom. Cook fish in two batches adding more oil if needed. Make sure the pan is still sizzling; if not, turn the heat up a little. Cook for a few minutes or until the bottom of the fish is golden brown. Carefully flip. Cook for a few more minutes then add 1/2 the lime juice. Remove from skillet and set aside. Repeat.

CREAMY CHIPOTLE DRESSING

• 1 cup plain greek yogurt
• 1/4 cup vegenaise or mayonnaise
• 1-2 tbsp fresh lime juice
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1/4 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 1/2 tbsp honey
• 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tbsp minced chipotle pepper in adobo sauce, if you can’t handle the heat make sure to remove the seeds. If you like heat feel free to add a little more!
• pinch of salt

To make the dressing: toss all ingredients in a food processor and pulse until fully mixed. Set aside.

SALAD

• 1/2 cup fresh corn kernels
• 2 ripe avocado
• 3/4 cup black beans, strained and rinsed
• 2 tomato, chopped
• 1/2 cup red cabbage, shredded
• 1 red pepper, chopped
• 1 white onion, chopped
• 1 handful of lettuce per bowl
• cilantro for topping

To serve: Fill four bowls with corn, avocado, black beans, tomato, cabbage, red pepper, onion and lettuce. Top with fish and a generous drizzle of creamy chipotle dressing . Sprinkle with cilantro. Enjoy!

Want to mix it up a bit? Try adding any of the following to your taco bowl -

• Mexican rice
• shredded cheese
• chopped pineapple or mango
• chicken instead of fish
• fresh or picked jalapeno
• crispy tortilla strips like in this recipe

These are so good and so easy. Make them, you won’t be sorry.

Serves 6

• 1 small head of cauliflower, cut into bite sized pieces
• 1 1/2 cups chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 3-4 tbsp, red Thai curry paste
• 3-4 tbsp coconut cream, the thick stuff on the top of the can of coconut milk
• 1 tbsp safflower oil
• 1 small mango, cut into strips
• 1 small red onion, diced
• 1 ripe avocado, cut into strips
• cilantro
• plain yogurt
• sriracha ( if you like )
• 6 mini naan

Preheat oven to 400. Toss the cauliflower and chickpeas into a medium-sized bowl. In a small bowl mix together the curry paste,coconut cream and oil. Stir the curry mixture into the cauliflower and chickpeas. Make sure everything is evenly coated. Dump the cauliflower mixture into a baking dish and bake for 45 minutes. Remove from the oven and let sit for a few minutes. Pop your naan bread in the oven for a minute to warm.

To serve: On a mini naan add a little plain yogurt. Top with the cauliflower mixture then add the mango, red onion, avocado and cilantro. If you want you can also add a splash of sriracha. Enjoy.

We decided to take advantage of our Family Day long weekend by inviting a few friends over for a bit of food and a little play time with Poppy. The flirtng was instant as Pop began to work her magic. Sharon was the first recipient of the our little one’s flirty flirty ways and then it was on to the boys. There was a ton of fun to be had with jumbo chalk, books, bowling, and a few tattoos ( thank you paul for teaching poppy it is o.k. to draw on something other than paper ).  Top it all off with a little dance party and I would say the day was a sucess.

Makes about 15 med-small biscuits 

For the biscuits:

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour

2 tsp sugar

2 1/2 tsp baking powder

3/4 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

6 tbsp butter, chilled and diced or grated

1 cup feta, crumbled

6 stalks scallions, finely chopped, green parts only

1 cup plain yogurt ( I used greek 2% )

preheat the oven to 450. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside. Sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In your stand mixer using the pastry attachment add the dry ingredients and cut in the chilled butter. Using the paddle attachment fold in the feta and scallions. Now add the yogurt and mix until just combined. Place two inch balls of the dough on the prepared baking sheets and bake for about 15-20 minutes or until the tops and bottoms begin to turn a nice golden brown.

for the spread:

1/4 cup cream cheese

1/4 cup sour cream

1 tsp lemon juice

1/2 tsp lemon zest

1 heaping tbsp dill, coppped

1 heaping tbsp scallions, chopped

Add all of the above to your food processor and mix until combined.

Additional ingredients:

300g smoked salmon

capers

Lemony Greens:

1 small tub of mixed greens

lemons

olive oil

baby tomatoes

cucumber

red onion

To assemble:

cut biscuits in half, add a good sized dollop of the cream cheese spread and top with smoked salmon, capers and some lemony greens. We served these with a side of scrambled eggs and a little side salad made with leftover lemony greens, some red onion, heirloom tomatoes and cucumber. Enjoy!

*recipe adapted from baconeggcheesecake