Monthly Archives: August 2019

Spinach Basil Pesto! spread or sauce

This nut-free spinach basil pesto is full of flavour! its great with any kind if veg Noodles, My fave is (Zucchini noodles), chicken, shrimp, pasta hot or cold the recipe can be just the basis and you can adjust this any way you want

Ingredients

•  1/2 cup olive oil
•  4 cups packed spinach leaves fresh or frozen
•  2 cups packed basil leaves
•  1 table spoon crushed garlic
•  2 tablespoons lemon juice if you use fresh a little lemon zest is great
•  1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
•  1/2 teaspoon salt
•  1/4 teaspoon grated fresh black pepper 
• 1 hot pepper, if you like it spicy

1. Place the olive oil, spinach, basil, garlic, garlic, lemon juice, parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper in a food processor or blender. Blend for 30 seconds. Stop, stir, blend again 30 seconds until smooth.
2. Store the pesto in a jar or container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. This pesto also freezes, try freezing in Ice cube-tray and defrost individual .. I prefer a zip lock baggie.

George just loves these home made dog treats

1. 2/3 cup of pumpkin puree or apple sauce
2. 1/4 cup peanut butter
3. 2 large eggs
4. 3 cups of whole wheat flour more if needed pre heat oven 350 degrees.

In an electric mixer bowl ass pumpkin (or apple sauce) eggs peanut butter and mix together gradually add flour . if mis is sticky add a little flour then place dough on lightly floured surface, knead a couple of times and roll out until /4 inch thick using a cookie cutter , cut out to what ever shape you and your dog like.. place in oven approx 25 mins .. let cool then I like to do the treat test . i place a store bought treat and a home made treat and tell George to go get his treat he always goes for the home made ones!!

I fell upon this recipe when I was looking for a different soup to make, and boy is this a great soup .. I half the squash take out seeds then each half I slice and peel Soup should take 2 hrs maybe a little more but is amazing

• 3 cups Acorn Squash ( 2 or 3 large )
• 1 medium onion diced
• ’1 lg carrot diced
• 3 tsp crushed garlic
• 1 tsp salt or to your taste
• 1 tbl spn fresh ground black pepper fresh ground black pepper
• 1/4 tsp white pepper
• 1 stick of butter
• 4 cups veg or chicken stock
• 1 tsp dry sage
• 1 tsp dry savoury
• 1/4 tsp cayenne
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 tbl spn worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 cup of fresh grated parmesan cheese I don’t use this all the time it is an option

1 Soup Pot , place olive oil in pot ddd diced carrots, garlic, salt and pepper and onions sauté for 10 mins then add the diced acorn squash cook over medium heat until squash is tender at this point I use my hand blender to puree the squash ,( if you have a food processor use this) then add the cayenne, pepper , savoury , sage , Worcestershire butter, sour cream and parmesan.. This is a great winter soup Bailey loves this soup and eats it just with my fresh bread , she dunks and soaks up the soup.. There is something very heartwarming watching your grand kids enjoy your food! Being a Grandma is the most amazing thing the love I have for my grandkids is to the moon and back a million times

• Tomato Basil Soup made in 25 mins thats fast food
• 1 lg can diced or plum tomatoes
• 2 carrots diced
• 2 celery stalks dice
• 1 medium onion diced
• knob of butter
• fresh or dried basil to taste
• 1 cup veg stock
• 1/4 cup sour cream add more if desired
• 1 tsp crushed garlic
• 1 tsp horseraddish
• s and p to taste
• a little TLC and a great playlist

• In soup pot put in butter, diced carrots, celery, onion and garlic saute .. Add 1 cup veg stock, canned tomatoes garlic, basil s and p. I use a hand blender to puree veggies after this is blended add sour cream, leave to simmer until ready to eat..

It’s a real Peasouper

• Pea and Ham Soup
• My Mom used to make a great pea and ham soup thick and rich ‘ I remember the smell of the ham boiling ! sandwiches with chunks of ham with a hot mustard mmmm
• The name of this thick pea and ham soup comes from the peasouper fogs that used to engulf London until the late 1950s. Traditionally made with split green or yellow peas, which require soaking overnight,
  1 smoked ham to soak overnight ( A ham on bone prefferably)
  1 onion, peeled and quatered
  1 stick celery, roughly chopped leaves to
  1 bay leaf 
  3 sprigs fresh thyme 
  1 handful parsley  
  For the soup 
  200g green split peas, soaked overnight in cold water Knob of butter
  1 onion, diced 2 large carrots diced
  8 cups ham stock from cooking the ham 
  Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  Some leftover cooked boiled ham

Cock-a-leekie (Chicken and Leek Soup)

Beef is sometimes added to this famous Scottish soup, along with the chicken – though I prefer the clearer, more refreshing broth that comes from using chicken on its own. , with plenty of moist chicken left over for salads and sandwiches for lunches and snacks

Another great winter soup is Acorn Squash recipe to follow this is Baileys fave soup

I am loving my Kitchen Aid Mixer It makes bread making very easy! .Today I made fresh buns to go along with the Chicken Veg Soup I made .. It is delicious!

The leaves are starting to change colour and it is getting chilly! I thought is was a great time to bring out my soup pot.. I defrosted a chicken breast, cubed it and fried it in butter , I then put this in to my soup pot added stock and veg, added 1 cup of cooked millet and bring to the boil, then simmer for about 1 1/2 hrs

• 1 chicken breast cubed
• 1 leek
• 1 onion
• 2 celery stalks
• 1 red or green pepper sliced
• 2 lg carrot
• 1 cup of millet
• 1 pkg onion soup
• 2 cups veg stock
• water added if needed

My mom used to make soups just like this .. Oh mom i miss you

Although millet is most often associated as the main ingredient in bird seed, it is not just “for the birds.” Creamy like mashed potatoes or fluffy like rice, millet is a delicious grain that can accompany many types of food. As with most grains, millet is available in markets throughout the year. today I am going to make the Nordic Bowl a recipe I found on line a few days ago I am going to use Millet .. all . Millet is also gluten free and has amazing benefits to your health

Today after the millet was cooked, I put 1 cup of cooked millet in my chicken veg soup!

• 2 cup raw millet
• 4 cups water (or broth, if you’d prefer)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt, optional
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, optional

I cubed a chicken breast fried in butter added garlic 1/2 jalapeño pepper 1 1/2 cups cooked millet and some franks hot Sauce and 2 tsp of turmeric , I cooked in a skillet the, washed the peppers and placed the on a baking tray, I filled the 4 peppers with the chicken millet mix, then baked in a 375 oven for about 25 mins!

I had a meeting today at Thickwood Heights School this morning to discuss Bricks4Kidz doing some ECDP and KEEP classes .. https://ca.bricks4kidznow.com

For supper tonight we are having Cottage pie made with ground turkey,

• 1 lb ground turkey
• garlic, salt and pepper
• 4 lg carrots
• 1 small turnip
• 2 celery stalks
• 1 small onion
• 2 plum tomatoes
• 1 can baked beans
• 2 cups veg stock or boullion
• parsley

in a pot brown the ground turkey, slice 2 of the carrots, onions, tomatoes, celery, garlic, salt and pepper to taste add to the ground turkey . Add stock to the mix then add baked beans.. Simmer until veg is cooked.. Slice remaining carrots and turnip. Place carrots and turnip in a pot and cook

Once the carrots and turnip are cooked, mash with a little butter and black ground pepper. place turkey mix in to an over proof dish , or individual dishes, put carrot mix on top sprinkle parsley on top of the cottage pie . bake in a 375 oven for about 30 mins

Growing up this was one of my favourite things to eat, mom used ground beef, oh and her gravies were to die for. Here is little info on the village and surrounding area where I grew up!!

Corby Hill is a village in Cumbria, England. It is located 5.4 miles by road east of the city centre of Carlisle. The Trout Beck stream passes here. The village forms part of a small urban area which also includes the villages of Warwick Bridge and Little Corby. Cumbria is beautiful The first pic is Carlisle Castle we bought our first house 15 mins away from this

Is SKYR is an icelandic cultured dairy product, it is like a cross between yogurt and cream cheese !! It is becoming very popular world wide

The Cultures

Yogurt and Skyr are both cultured dairy products.. This is great poured over a fruit salas or an apple pie Yummy

I have just come across a recipe it is called nordic bowl .. I think I will make this at the weekend. It looks delicious

Mix Yogurt or SKYR with half the dill.. In another bowl dream quinoa with lemon juice. Top the dill Yogurt/SKYR mixture with lemon quinoa. smoked salmon, cucumber, and garnish with the remainder of the dill

Ingredients

2/3 cup plain yogurt or SKYR
2 tsp fresh dill, finely chopped
1 Tbs quinoa cooked
1/2 tsp lemon juice
1-2 slices of smoked salmon
1 Tbs cucumbers, diced

7 probiotic, rich foods for good gut health. The good bacteria may help to improve digestion, boosting immunity,

Why fermented foods?? There are 7 of these Fermented foods. This good bacteria may improve digestion, can help to boost immunity. Take care of your gut, and it will take help take care of you.

Eating foods packed with probiotics good bacteria is a great way to boost your gut health Fermented foods, like yogurt and kimchi, these are rich in probiotics. The good bacteria grows during the fermentation .  These 7 fermented foods added to your diet is a healthy dose of probiotics.

Kimchi, Sauerkraut, yogurt, Kiefer it is a fermented yogurt like milk , Miso A fermented paste made from barley, rice or soybeans,, Kombucha, and Tempeh Tempeh is made from naturally fermented soybeans. It’s similar to tofu

Well it is a rainy sunday and George is wanting to go for a walk, so on with my wellies and we will go.. First I will write my blog Today I will be cooking a Portobello mushroom burger with red peppers a slice of cheese..

A Marinade for the portobello mushrooms

• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar 
• 1/4 cup olive oil 
• a big squeeze juice from 1 lemon
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 
• 1 Tbl spn minced Garlic
• 1 teaspoon finely minced thyme leaves or basil
• 1/2 salt

2015/16 when I began to realise that certain foods caused a lot of pain and discomfort , David said we have to do something about this, I took mental notes .. I soon found out eating red meat caused a lot of pain, bread sometimes .. Spicy food.. So our journey began.. David watched numerous documentaries one was Plant Pure Nation, it was amazing..

I started baking my own bread, We also stopped buying processed foods that were quick meals!! These also made a lot of garbage! I find I read a lot of labels now! We do buy some canned goods Tomatoes,tomatoe paste some beans .. I also buy a lot of dried beans of many different types, I soak them overnight or put them in the Insta pot!! Then create!!

I can remember my mom soaking beans and peas!! This makes me smile..

My mom was an orphan there were 3 little ones Mom & 2 younger siblings, only the youngest got adopted. At a very young age my mom was put in to service as a maid and cook I believe.. What a great cook she was .. Her victoria Sponges oh my I still cant make them like her, she always said when whisking its all in the wrist action Me I have a kitchen aid Mixer !!

Im off to put the bread in to baking pans then out with George my faithful Springer Spaniel!!

Sat play list a little Phil Collins, Genesis, Elton John, Beatles , Glass tiger a little 80’s rock and were off! Music and cooking is my happy place .. It is so funny, if I get bored I cook, I will go to the Grocery store , looking at produce, or just head to my pantry and think hmm what can I cook today!! Right now Im thinking I may do some pastry and freeze a few pie shells for future use!! I love to cook soups and stews there is something very satisfying about home made soups and stews!! Stay tuned folks!! Some of my best soups were a spur of the moment decission.. For the most part I dont follow recipes !! Example Like my seafood red chowder!! I always start off a soup with 2 stalks of celery, 1 onion and 2 large carrots a little veggie stock and it grows from these!!

I grew up in a small village, Corby Hill in Cumbria UK

The nearest city was Carlisle that was 5 miles away!! The village had a butchers shop, a post office, small grocery store and a couple of local pubs.. A Fish man coming around with his van once a week, there was a van that sold produce that would come around I believe weekly!! The Local Bobby to!! My brother was a butcher , We bought our meat locally.. mmmm

Growing up i loved to watch my mom in the kitchen, she just knew her way around the kitchen!! She made everything seem so easy.. I didnt ever see her with a recipe book!

There was very little or no fast food! Once a month if we were in town we would get fish n chips!! At Bruciannni’s their Ice Cream was good to they were located by the bus station ..

BTW My yorkshires are my Mom’s recipe! she always used a whisk not mixer!!!

oh my her Sunday Dinners I never forget when i first met David and I invited him up for Sunday Dinner, he was a lean, mean eating machine! He worked on a golf course and it was a very physical job!! He then had a 6 pack, I think now its called a barrel !!

After about the 3rd sunday dinner my mom and sister said he eats a lot and we cant seem to keep him full!! My mom was an amazing lady but loved a good joke!! So David came for Sunday dinner I believe it was a pork roast with , Yorkshires and all the trimmings then! a steamed ppudding with custard for desert! My mom would say did you want more son! with a smirk on her face.. after 3 helpings of dinner and 3 helpings of steamed pudding and custard , the boy was still eating .. My mom said : WHELL I NEVER!!!!

, have seen some one with an appitite like you!! David and my mom were the best of friends.. I miss you mom!! When i make a sunday dinner the smells always take me back home .. Love and miss you mom Alittle walk down memory lane Where does the time go

A trip down memory lane !! The baby at the end of the video is my baby Katie who 7 weeks ago had her and Aarons first baby!! Time fly’s enjoy every moment you have with loved ones!

Procesed foods taste good but make you feel sluggish, bloated ! just a couple of reasons. We find by cooking fresh, whole foods your taste buds change, you no longer crave the salty, fatty, high insugar fast foods.. All these empty calories.

We do eat fast food once in a while.. then were good for a long while

I find myself looking at labels

If you look at the ingredients label for a processed, packaged food, chances are that you won’t have a clue what some of the ingredients are.

That’s because many of the ingredients in there aren’t actual food… they are artificial chemicals that are added for various purposes. this is one reason we crave these foods

When we started this journey! I was feeling pretty sick, a lot of pain , i was grouchy with the pain.. David and I did a little research in to plant based eating, cooking from scratch .. Starting with bread.

I bake bread weekly, buns, baguettes, french bread and loafs! Depending on what mood takes me!! then smell of fresh baked bread mmmmm and the taste is amazing

If we get a pizza craving I make my pizza dough, buy the topings we want! All made from scratch!

Lets all try to eat fresh and avoid processed

Fresh foods are more likely to be “nutrient rich,” while processed foods are often “energy-rich,” with added fats and sugars. Eat Fresh

Whole foods, such as fresh fruit, are a good source of vitamins and minerals.

Processed foods not only contain added ingredients, including dyes and preservatives, but the processing itself can destroy nutrients.

I went to @Realcanadiansuperstore for the produce and ww wraps.. I bought the chicken breast @Save-on-foods both amazing produce and service!

When these are cooked and assembled I will post again!

I made a Chickpea Greek Salad one of the plant based snacks David and I take for snacks when we have Inschool classes with Brcks4Kidz.. It is amazing and a healthy snack Chickpeas, red onion cucumber , olives feta cheese red wine vinegar, olive oil , Garlic, Black pepper and some Greek Seasoning !! It is amazing and healthy!!

What is a pre biotic, these are a substance that comes from types of carbs Mostly fibre humans cant digest ! It is beneficial to your gut!! These are what help us .

Some pre biotics Prebiotics are fibers and natural sugars that stimulate the good bacteria in the gut. Many prebiotic foods are suitable for vegans and people on other diets to eat. These foods include almonds, chicory, garlic, and chickpeas.oats, legumes, bananas, berries,Asparagus, dandilion greens, garlic, leeks, onions and many more By eating theses fiber filled veggies can increase your good gut Bacteria

Doctors often suggest them to help with digestive problems.

Pro biotic I take a daily suppliment and eat a Pro biotic yougut with 1/4 tspn of powdered ginger. A pro biotic is found in certain foods and suppliments

We are are trying to figure out exactly how probiotics work. Some of the ways they may keep you healthy !! When you lose “good” bacteria in your body, for example after you take antibiotics, probiotics can help replace them. Alcohol also kills the good bacteria! They can help balance your “good” and “bad” bacteria to keep your body working the way it should. Let’s keep eating right