Baked Potatoes on the Barbecue

May is in full swing and with the beautiful, warm weather comes grilling season! Steak, chicken, shrimp, burgers, hot dogs... are all the obvious carnivorous grilling favourites, but we can't forget about the veggies. Cooking baked potatoes on the barbecue is probably one of the easiest and most delicious dishes for a cookout. We really love potatoes over here - fried, mashed, roasted and of course baked! You can top the baked potatoes with sour cream, cheese, bacon, chives, butter - all sorts of different flavors. There's something for everyone when it comes to baked potatoes. This isn't really a recipe, more of a 'how-to' so let's get started.


Baked Potatoes on the Barbecue

Ingredients
baking potatoes

Directions

Wash and pierce the potatoes using a fork. Individually wrap them in tin foil, and bake for 40-45 minutes on the barbecue over high heat.

Cut open potatoes with a knife to check doneness, they will be hot so be careful for the steam. The skin should be soft and open up easily.

Happy meatless Monday everyone and enjoy your baked potatoes and grilling season!

- Lou

Roasted Mushrooms

Maybe it’s just me, but I think that roasted mushrooms are a pretty classy food. Think about it; they pair nicely with both white and red wines, they can work well with beef, or in a risotto or in a salad. In general, mushrooms are a class act. Like Audrey Hepburn, who was probably one of the most chic and elegant people ever. No, I’m not comparing Audrey Hepburn to mushrooms, I was just on the topic of class and she came to mind, after all she’s pretty classy herself.

It’s like in Breakfast at Tiffany’s when Holly announces to Fred/Paul that she’s going to sing-sing and says that she can’t go with a green face, or in Roman Holiday when Princess Anne says to Joe Bradley that she’s never been alone with a man, let alone in her night gown. Yes I’ll admit that I’ve seen those movies a few hundred times and each time I’ve enjoyed every second. It was also Audrey Hepburn’s birthday yesterday - she would’ve been 82.

Fun fact: I have a massive painting of her in my room, it’s pretty, and black and white and makes me smile.

Back to the mushrooms, these are so juicy, they literally melt in your mouth. The ingredients are so basic, but they really bring out all the good sides to mushrooms. I think white wine, garlic and butter are the holy trinity when it comes to mushrooms.

Roasted Mushrooms (serves 4)
Recipe adapted from: Authentic Suburban Gourmet

Ingredients
1 lbs white button mushrooms
4 tbsp olive oil
1/4 cup white wine
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
4 tbsp butter, cut into pieces
freshly cracked pepper
Parmesan cheese for serving

Directions

Preheat oven to 450.

Wash mushrooms and pop out and keep the stems.

Toss mushrooms with olive oil, white wine, garlic and pepper. Place in baking dish and sprinkle pieces of butter over the mushrooms.

Bake in the oven for 20 minutes. Serve with a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese.

Since we’re on the topic of class, I’ve been listening to Billy Joel’s “She’s Got a Way” on repeat all day. Something about this song just conjures up an image of a sophisticated, elegant, gracious woman. I want to be her when I grow up. Alright, enough of this classiness, go and enjoy your decadent, classy, juicy roasted mushrooms.

- Lou

Healthy Pancakes

With so much going on in the world right now, today seems like the perfect day for pancakes, or breakfast for dinner. Such a simple dinner means you will have time to read up on the news, or tune in to your local news station. What a historic weekend we have experienced, two events which will be forever remembered.

I think that breakfast for dinner has to be one of the most loved meals, there’s just something about eating eggs, bacon and pancakes for dinner that is just so special. Today I’m sharing with you one of the best pancake recipes I have ever made. These pancakes are not only sweet and fluffy, but healthy too. Finely grated carrot adds to the sweetness and gives them a nice colour and flavor, the cinnamon is just the cherry on top. You would never know these were whole wheat pancakes with flax and bran unless I told you.

Healthy Pancakes

Ingredients
1 cup finely grated carrot
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup bran flakes*
1/4 tbsp ground flaxmeal*
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
2/3 cup milk
2 egg
2 tsp vanilla
3 tbsp brown sugar
butter for frying pancakes (2-4 tbsp)

*If you do not have flaxmeal or bran just add another 1/2 cup of whole wheat flour.
Directions

Whisk all the dry ingredients except brown sugar together in a medium bowl.

In another bowl, combine carrot, milk, eggs, vanilla and brown sugar.

Pour dry ingredients into wet ingredients and stir until combined.

On a griddle or frying pan over medium heat, heat 1 tbsp of butter. Depending on the size of your pancakes fry in batches. Flipping over once bubbles began to appear on the uncooked side of a pancake. Flip over and cook for another minute.

Serve warm with maple syrup.

Wrap up this historic weekend and begin your week with tasty, healthy pancakes.

- Lou

Spicy Broccoli

When I was little I always hated broccoli. Actually, correction, I hated the idea of broccoli. It seems that at some point, all kids decide that broccoli is the most disgusting, repulsive, sickening vegetable on the planet. Luckily, I’ve matured (somewhat) since those days and now I wholeheartedly embrace broccoli in all it’s greeny goodness, and am proud to call it my favourite vegetable. I could seriously eat broccoli every day. Sometimes I’ll eat a steamed head of broccoli for dinner, I love it that much.

Now if you’re an adult and you still think broccoli is disgusting, repulsive and sickening, I challenge you to try this recipe. It’s a new take on the slightly boring steamed or boiled broccoli with a little butter. It reminds me a bit of my favourite Green Beans in Vinaigrette. This dish does not take long to make at all, and yields delicious, flavorful results. Garlic, hot chili pepper flakes and lots of cracked black pepper make this side dish delectable.

This side dish would go nicely with Spicy Honey Glazed Chicken Thighs or my Foolproof Sunday Roasted Chicken.

Spicy Broccoli (serves 2-4)
Recipe slightly adapted from: Martha Stewart

Ingredients

2 medium heads broccoli, chopped
2/3 cup water
3 tbsp olive oil
1 large clove garlic, crushed
1 tsp white balsamic vinegar
1/8 tsp hot chili pepper flakes
freshly cracked black pepper

Directions

In a pot or pan bring 2/3 cup of water to a simmer. Place chopped broccoli in the pot/pan, cover and cook for 4 minutes.

In a small bowl, combine olive oil, garlic and hot chili pepper flakes.

Drain the excess water. And pour the oil mixture on top of the broccoli. Tossing to coat broccoli with flavouring.

Remove pot/pan from heat and add the vinegar.

Serve warm.

Enjoy your serving of vegetables today!

- Lou

Spicy Sweet Potato Fries

We’re less than one month away from Living Lou’s first birthday...did you know the first recipe I ever posted was for sweet potato fries? It seems pretty fitting that today I’m talking about my new, favourite recipe for sweet potato fries.

Sweet potato fries remind me of my mom because she loves them as much as I do. Often when we’re watching one of our favourite shows, I’ll make a batch of sweet potato fries for us to snack on. Not only are they fun to eat (who doesn’t love fries?) but they are really good for you as well. This year we’re watching season 2 of Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution... and all I’m saying is that I’m so glad that I pack my own lunch.

These sweet potato fries are a little spicy, but full of exotic flavors which pair nicely with the sweetness of the potatoes. Not only do these make a great snack but they are a pretty nice side dish with dinner - kids will love them...who doesn’t love fries?


Spicy Sweet Potato Fries (4 servings)

Ingredients
2 medium sized sweet potatoes (each sweet potato should yield 2 servings), cut into matchsticks
2 egg whites
1/2 tsp each of paprika, cumin, chili powder and black pepper
1/4 tsp each of garlic powder, onion powder and salt
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper and cinnamon*

* omit the cayenne pepper if you don’t like spicy foods or are making for children.

Directions

Preheat oven to 425F.

Peel and cut sweet potatoes into desired size. I like to cut mine into thick matchsticks, or the classic french fry shape. Place fries in a large bowl.

Combine all the spices, salt and pepper in a bowl.

Whisk the two egg whites together and pour over the sweet potatoes. Using your hands to mix around making sure all the potatoes are evenly coated.

Pour the spice mixture over top of the sweet potatoes and toss to evenly distribute flavors.

On a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, bake sweet potatoes for 20-25 minutes or until fully cooked.

What shows are you enjoying?

- Lou

Mushroom and Green Bean Pasta

Salty, sweet, crunchy, soft - this dish has a variety of flavors and textures. Is there anything else you could dream about for your Meatless Monday dinner?

This has to be one of mine (and my Mom’s) favourite dishes; it’s a quick and healthy way to dress up pasta with two of my favourite veggies - green beans and mushrooms! Sure, there’s a little butter and some Parmesan cheese but hey, live a little.

I’m sure other vegetables would taste delicious in here - red peppers and broccoli come to mind. I don’t think you could go wrong either way... this is just too good.

Mushroom and Green Bean Pasta (serves 4)

Ingredients

12 oz (340 g) short twisted pasta
1 cup (8 oz) shiitake mushrooms
4 oz green beans, cut in half
4 tbsp butter
1 small onion, grated
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/2 cup dry white wine
1/2 cup water
2 tsp dried thyme
4 tbsp Parmesan cheese

Directions

Cook pasta as per directions on the box.

Prepare the vegetables: grate onion, chop garlic, wash and cut green beans in half, wash mushrooms.

Melt 2 tbsp of butter in a pan over medium-high heat, saute onion for 2 minutes. Add in the garlic and cook until fragrant, 1-2 minutes.

De glaze the pan with 1/4 cup white wine, scraping up all the bits at the bottom. Cook until the liquid has reduced by half.

Reduce heat to medium and add in the mushrooms, green beans and 1 tbsp of butter . Cook stirring a few times for 5 minutes. Add in 1/4 cup of water and cook for another 4 minutes. Adding the thyme partway through.

Turn the heat off and add in the remaining tbsp of butter and the Parmesan cheese.

Serve over cooked pasta.

Enjoy this Meatless Monday dish - it's my favourite!

- Lou

Living Lou's Broccoli Soup

Today was one of those days, those gloomy, cool, rainy days when all you can think about is a big warm bowl of soup. It is the first day of Spring after all, and all I can say is that Spring is definitely in the air, which means that the season for soups is coming to an end. That’s the only thing that makes me sad about winter ending, no more soups!

Broccoli is one of my favourite vegetables, and I love cream of broccoli soup, even if it can be a little bland, but today I knew that I wanted to make a different kind of broccoli soup. My first thought was one without cream, because well, summer is coming up and I don’t know about you, but I don’t need that extra cream. Then I started thinking about what other vegetables would add to the soup and voila a soup that is as good for the soul as it is for the body.

This is an extremely healthy and flavorful soup, filled with the goodness of vegetables, broccoli, red pepper and carrots, as well as some yummy spices to add some flavorful layers. When serving, that last little handful of cheese is the perfect topping. Please, I beg you, do not omit the cheese! It won’t be the same without it.

Living Lou’s Broccoli Soup

Ingredients

3 tbsp olive oil (approx.)
2 heads of broccoli, roughly chopped
1 large carrot, chopped into 1 inch pieces
1/4 large red pepper, roughly chopped
1 medium onion, roughly chopped
1 large clove garlic, roughly chopped
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp sweet paprika
4 cups vegetable broth
2 cups water
3 tbsp green lentils
2 tbsp 1% milk
salt & pepper to taste
cheddar cheese for topping

Directions

Prepare the veggies, roughly chop the broccoli, carrot, red pepper and onion.

Saute the veggies, cumin, paprika and a little salt and pepper in the olive oil over medium heat for 7 minutes. Occasionally stirring.

Add in the garlic and parsley and saute for another 3 minutes.

Add in the vegetable broth, water and lentils. Bring to a boil. Once boiling, turn down to low, cover and simmer for 20 minutes.

After the soup is finished cooking, puree using an immersion blender or a regular blender to your desired constancy. Mix in the milk and serve hot with a handful of cheddar cheese.

This is the perfect soup to enjoy during these upcoming rainy Spring days. Happy Spring everyone!

- Lou

Rice and Vegetables

Well, well, well, it's the end of January, another Meatless Monday, and a freezing cold and gloomy day... so let's brighten it up with this delicious vegetarian dish of rice and vegetables!

January is an odd month, it seems both like the longest month, and the one that goes by very quickly. I for one am very glad it's over; it's been fun, crazy, exhilarating and filled with highs and lows (mostly highs!), but I'm more than ready for February, which will hopefully be filled with relaxation, and less stress (hello finished college apps and portfolios!)

A nice way to end off the first month of 2011 is with this rice dish - it's packed with vegetables and delicious flavor. Who would think rice could be a meal in itself? Don't let the long list of ingredients scare you, this is not a difficult dish!

Rice and Vegetables

Ingredients

1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp granulated garlic
1 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp granulated onion
1 tsp sweet paprika
2 tsp black pepper
2 tsp ground turmeric
1 tsp dried oregano
2 tbsp olive oil
1/2 small white onion
1/2 medium green bell pepper, finely diced
1/2 medium red bell pepper, finely diced
1 tsp tomato paste
4 cloves garlic, chopped
3 cups long grain rice
3 3/4 cups vegetable stock
1 cup water
1 bay leaf
1 cup frozen peas (not thawed)

Directions

Mix together the spices, salt and oregano in a small bowl, and set aside.

Prep the vegetables, begin by finely dicing the vegetables and chopping/grating/dicing the onions. Heat the 2 tbsp of oil over medium heat, and cook until softened, about 7 minutes. Add the spice mixture you prepared before and cook for a minute. Add the garlic and tomato paste, cooking for another minute or until fragrant.

Add the rice to the pan, stirring to be sure the rice is coated in the mixture and cook for 1 minute. Add in the vegetable stock, water, and bay leaf, bring to a boil. Stir and cover, reducing the heat to a simmer and cook for another 10 minutes.

After the 10 minutes, add the frozen peas and cover and continue cooking for another 8 minutes or until the rice is tender.

Remove the pot from the heat and let it sit for about 5 minutes, stir and serve!

Yum, this freezes well too... I have some in the freezer right now!

- Lou

Living Lou's Omelet

Omelets are such a versatile dish, they are something that can be whipped up rather quickly, with whatever ingredients you have on hand. That is exactly what this omelet was, except I realized it tasted absolutely delicious and wrote down the recipe to share with all of you!


This omelet is pretty packed, every bite is filled with the flavors of either mushrooms, or bacon, or potatoes. It filling and satisfying - it doesn't get much better than this.

Living Lou's Omelet (for 2)

Ingredients

2 strips of bacon, sliced into 1 inch pieces
1/2 cup diced Yukon gold potatoes
1 1/2 tsp oil
4 eggs
2 tbsp milk
1/8 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 cup grated cheddar cheese
1-2 button mushrooms thinly sliced
1 green onion chopped
1/2 tsbp butter

Directions

For this omelet, I recommend cooking it in a small frying pan.

Begin by slicing bacon in 1-inch pieces, then fry them up in 1/2 tsp of oil over medium heat until lightly cooked.

As bacon cooks, dice your potatoes (do not peel). Once the bacon is done, remove it to a bowl and set aside. In the same frying pan, add in the other 1 tsp of oil and season the potatoes with salt and pepper to taste. Fry the potatoes until golden about 8-9 minutes. Shaking the pan 2-3 times during cooking. Remove from pan with a slotted spoon.

While potatoes are cooking, combine eggs with milk and salt and pepper. Prepare the cheese, mushrooms and green onion.

Once the potatoes are done and removed from the pan, add the butter, followed by the egg mixture, sprinkle with cheese and add your other ingredients (mushrooms, green onions, potatoes and bacon).

Turn down the heat to medium-low and cover the pan and cook on the stove for about 8 minutes. Checking after 8 minutes and seeing whether the eggs have set. If they have you're omelet is done, if not cook for another minute or two.

And there you have it, a delicious omelet, perfect for brunch, or a last minute dinner!

- Lou

Spinach and Mushroom Quesadilla

Today marks the first Meatless Monday of 2011 here on Living Lou, and I'm starting it off with a deliciously simple spinach and mushroom quesadilla. This quesadilla is packed with goodness and the tasty flavors of spinach and mushrooms in each bite! I highly recommend using a pre-shredded cheddar cheese that has been flavored with herbs and garlic as it adds another dimension to the dish.

I started this Meatless Monday initiative about 9 months ago and have been posting my Meatless Monday recipes here along the way, and will continue to do so in 2011, hopefully with more consistency than last year!

To start everyone off in the New Year I thought that a healthy, and quick quesadilla is the way to go. Kids are back from the first day back at school and parents are exhausted after a tiring break and a day at work, so who wants to be slaving away in the kitchen? These quesadillas are an easy and healthy vegetarian meal that kids (and parents!) can help assemble, and enjoy.

Spinach and Mushroom Quesadilla
(makes 1 large quesadilla)

Ingredients
1 large whole wheat wrap
2/3 cup grated cheddar cheese, I like to use the pre-shredded herbs and garlic variation!
1/3 cup spinach
1/3 cup sliced mushrooms
1 tsp olive oil (for the pan)

Directions

Wash and slice mushrooms to desired size, I like to slice mine thinly. Begin my wilting your spinach, you can do so by either steaming or sauteing in a pan. I sauteed my spinach in olive oil for about 1-2 minutes or until it's just wilted.

Assemble the quesadilla, using one wrap followed by 1/3 cup of cheese, followed by the sauteed spinach and the sliced mushrooms, and then finally the remaining 1/3 cup of cheese and the second wrap.

Heat up about 1 tsp of olive oil in a frying pan at about medium-low heat. Place your assembled quesadilla in the pan and let it cook on one side for about 3-4 minutes. Flip and cook on the other side for about 2-4 minutes or until the cheese is melted.

Remove from heat and slice into quarters, serve as I did above with a spinach salad.

Happy Meatless Monday everyone!

- Lou

Gluten Free Vegetarian Quiche

Ah, another Monday and you know what that means? Time for another one of Lou's Meatless Monday vegetarian dishes... on today's menu: quiche! And guess what, not only is this a vegetarian quiche, but it also has a gluten-free crust! And want to know something even better? It tastes amazing. This quiche has the perfect balance of hearty veggies, cheese and delicious eggs, some milk and maybe a smidgen of cream... yum! This is a fun and unusual take on Meatless Monday, usually a nice soup or stew or pasta dish would be a Meatless Monday dinner, but not today!

I'm sure that everyone in your house will enjoy this quiche, it's a big hit here! And the gluten-free crust is made with ingredients available at practically every grocery store!

Note: If you don't want/need a gluten free crust, this can be made in literally an instant, it's the crust that takes a little bit longer. You can use either a store bought crust, or your own recipe!

Vegetarian Quiche

Gluten-Free Crust
1 cup ground almonds
1 cup rice flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 eggs
4 tbsp olive oil

Directions

Pulse ingredients together in a food processor until it forms into a ball. Remove from food processor onto a well flour surface and knead lightly. Press dough into pie dish.

Quiche Filling
4 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup cream
1 cup broccoli chopped
1 cup white button mushrooms sliced
1/2 cup cheddar cheese grated
1/2 tsp onion powder
pinch of nutmeg

Directions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Firstly, prep the ingredients, chop the veggies and grate the cheese. Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl and pour into pastry lined dish.

Bake in the oven for 35-45 minutes, or until center of the quiche has just barely set. Remove from oven and cool 15 minutes prior to serving.

Hope you all have a great Monday, that's meatless and delicious! Plus, how fun is this post? Two recipes for the price of one... woo!

- Lou

Green Beans in Vinaigrette

A Meatless Monday side dish today, green beans in vinaigrette! This is such a nice twist on the classic and succulent warm green beans, with a dollop of butter - which happen to be a favourite of mine! This dish adds layers to your meal, not only because it's eaten cool, but the vinaigrette makes it very similar to a salad. Not only are these green beans the perfect side dish to your meatless Monday main such as Roasted Butternut Squash Soup or Baked Tortellini but it is also a great sweet and vinegary side dish for Thanksgiving!

Everyone knows how crazy busy things get on Thanksgiving, so why not make a simple, and sure to please side dish like these green beans in vinaigrette?

Green Beans in Vinaigrette
Recipe Adapted from: Martha Stewart

Ingredients
1-2 lbs green beans, ends trimmed
2 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tbsp white-wine vinegar
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper

Directions

Have a bowl/pot of cold water prepared. Steam green beans for 5-8 minutes. I like steaming green beans because they turn a vibrant green and remain nice and crunchy as well.

Once they are done steaming, quickly move the beans to the water to stop them from cooking. Once cooled, dry off and place in your serving dish.

In a bowl whisk together the oil, vinegar, mustard, salt and pepper. Once mixed, pour over beans and toss to serve.

It's that easy, and delicious. Yum!! Have a great Meatless Monday and be sure to put this on your list for Thanksgiving!

- Lou

Meatless Monday's are back... with Potato Soup!

Meatless Monday's are officially back here at Living Lou! So be ready... every Monday a meatless, vegetarian meal will be coming your way! They can be anything from salads, to soups, to pastas! And the best part is that not only is it good for your body to eat less meat, but it also benefits the environment!

Ah... fall is in the air! Autumn, or fall, is definitely my favourite season... When I think of fall I think of; soup, snuggling in front of the TV as all of my favorite shows come back, Thanksgiving and of course fall fashions!

And with my lovely introduction about my love of fall, I give you a recipe for a delicious, hearty fall soup!

Potato Soup

Ingredients
3 tbsp butter
1 onion (chopped)
1 stalk of celery (chopped)
8 medium potatoes (peeled & chopped)
milk (enough to cover soup. This is the liquid for the soup!)
cracked pepper to taste
1/2 tsp oregano

Directions

Wash and chop the onion, celery and potatoes.

Heat the butter in a pan, and saute onion and celery on low heat for about 5 minutes, or until the onion is translucent.

Once celery and onion is finished cooking, move to a large pot. Add in potatoes and oregano. Cover with milk. Simmer covered for 30 minutes, be careful not to burn the soup!

Once done cooking, using an immersion blender, puree the soup to your desired consistency! If it's too thick, add some water. Grind in some freshly cracked pepper to taste.

Garnish with fresh chives!

There you have it, the perfect soup to warm your soul during the upcoming cold season!

- Lou

Meatless Monday ... Summer Salad with Basil Garlic Dressing!

As I write this post, it is 11:50pm on Monday, so it is still "Meatless Monday", I've been having issues with my photo editing software and I couldn't get the pictures to where I wanted them, but I've finally conquered the computer and been able to fix the problems!

So, I know in my last post I said that I would be posting about cupcakes next... well don't worry, those are still to come! But it is Monday, which means it's time for my weekly "Meatless Monday" post! Today, I decided to have a yummy, super healthy salad for dinner. But the real star of this salad was the dressing, a basil, garlic dressing. And it was delectable... yummmmm!



Ingredients (dressing, makes about 1/2 cup)
2 cloves garlic
1/4 cup roughly chopped fresh basil
1/3 cup olive oil
2 tbsp white balsamic vinegar
1 tsp dried basil
1/8 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1 tsp parmesa cheese (grated)
a pinch of salt and pepper

Directions

Using a food processor, process the garlic until it is chopped, add in the fresh basil and pulse until finely chopped. Add in all of the other ingredients and process until smooth, or desired texture!

And there you have it, a simple to prepare, weeknight, meatless, dish!

p.s In case anyone is wondering what I put in my salad, lettuce, cucumber, mushrooms (matchstick), carrots (grated) and chopped broccoli (for some extra nutrients, broccoli is a super vegetable similar to sweet potatoes!) you can also add in some beans for a bit of extra protein!

- Lou

Meatless Monday – Vegetable soup!

Yes, it is June 14th, and yes it was 25°C outside today, and yes I did decide to have soup for dinner.

Vegetable soup is one of my favourite types of soup, not only is it full flavour but it’s also packed with goodness and nutrients - it's the best way to eat your vegetables! Another key feature of vegetable soup is that it includes no meat or fish products... thus, perfect for my weekly Meatless Monday's features! (See last week's Meatless Monday appetizer here)

When it comes to soups, I prefer a pureed soup over a brothy soup, I prefer the texture, so I decided to puree this vegetable soup. This isn't typically the way vegetable soup is served, but I think it makes it even more mouth-watering. And on the plus side, I feel like pureed soups are more likely to be eaten by picky eaters who hate vegetables, because there aren’t any visible vegetables!

Ingredients

1 ½ tbsp olive oil
1 cup broccoli florets
1 carrot chopped
6 green onions
1 stalk celery
¼ tsp ginger
2 large garlic cloves chopped
32 oz (4 cups) of vegetable broth
½ 28 oz can (14 oz) of crushed tomatoes
2 tbsp tomato paste
1 ½ 14 oz (21 oz) cans of white northern beans
½ tsp coriander
1 tbsp honey
¼ tsp red pepper flakes
¼ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp dried thyme
1 tsp cumin
1/8 tsp cayenne
salt & pepper

Directions

Heat olive oil over medium-high heat in your soup pot, sauté green onions, carrot and celery for 6 minutes. Add in the ginger and garlic – cook for 1 minute. Add crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, vegetable broth and beans. Add spices and honey. Stir and bring it to a boil, reduce heat to a slow simmer. Add broccoli florets and cover and cook on low heat for 20-25 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and puree the soup in a blender or using an immersion blender.

And there you have it, the most delectable, thick, flavorful vegetable soup! Feel free to indulge in one, two... or in my case, three servings!

- Lou

This recipe was adapted from Slice of Feist

Bite Sized Stuffed Mushrooms

Here's another one of my promised appetizer recipes; stuffed button mushrooms! These bite sized babies are scrumptious, and I actually got a round of applause from the guests! Now that is success. I usually find stuffed button mushrooms to be a little too rich and cheesy for me. This recipe has the perfect balance of flavors. And they are perfect for a dinner party because you can prepare the filling in advance and fill the mushrooms and leave them in the fridge and pop them in the oven when your guests arrive. Twenty minutes later, when the kitchen is smelling heavenly voila, stuffed mushrooms fit for a King!

Ingredients
24 whole fresh button mushrooms
3-4 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped
2 tsp canola oil
1/3 cup fresh cream cheese
1/8 Parmesan cheese
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. onion powder
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper (the added cayenne gives the mushrooms a nice bite!)
1 cup small peeled cooked shrimp

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease the baking sheet with cooking spray. Clean the mushrooms (using a damp cloth or paper towel.) Remove the stems from the mushrooms (sometimes this can be a bit tricky, but once you get the hang of it all goes well!) Set aside the caps and stems. Add the stems and garlic to a food processor and pulse in brief bursts until finely chopped.

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the mushroom caps and garlic and cook for about 5-7 minutes or until all the moisture has disappeared. Add in the shrimp and turn heat down to medium-low. Stir in the cheeses and spices. Mix together until the mixture is smooth and creamy.

Spoon the mixture into the mushroom caps and bake in the oven for 20 minutes. Serve immediately.

Smoked Salmon Cucumber Boats

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This is one of the first posts of my many appetizer themed posts to come in the near future. On the weekend I was asked to help out at two different events (one being a pre-prom party, and the second a dinner party.) I was helping out in the kitchen working for the most part on the appetizers, so I've got a few appetizers to share! This recipe is an adapted version of the Salmon Mousse over on Annie's Eats

These cucumber boats are perfect for a nice summer event. With the use of the fresh, crunchy cucumber and the soft cold salmon mousse, it's perfect for a warm evening.
Ingredients
1 cucumber (rather thin so that your pieces aren't too large.)
1 cup smoked salmon, flaked with a fork
1 cup of fluid cream cheese
1/4 tsp. dried dill weed
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 clove garlic, finely minced
chives for garnish (optional)

Directions

Wash and chop the cucumber (leaving the skin on) into about 1-1 1/2 inch thick rounds. Scoop out the seeds creating a "bowl" in the cucumber. Be sure not to create a hole in the cucumber round.

Flake the salmon with a fork and put it into the food processor. Next add in the remaining ingredients and pulse until the desired texture. (Note: I like mine very smooth.) Scoop out about one teaspoon of the salmon mousse and place it into a cucumber bowl. Repeat the process for all the cucumber bowls. Serve immediately.

And there you have it, a yummy, summery appetizer for your next dinner party!

- Lou

Recipe adapted from Annie's Eats: Salmon Mousse

Meatless Mondays!

Has anyone heard of the Meatless Mondays initiative? I think it's an amazing idea, which is really easy to do and will make a big difference. If people all around the country, and the globe took part in meatless Mondays campaign not only would we be healthier but we would also be doing our part in saving the environment!

Meatless Mondays is an international campaign which originates all the way back to WWI. Now that I think of it, I do remember learning this in history class last year... Anyway, it came back around in WWII but it was recently recreated as a public health awareness program in association with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health’s Center for a Livable Future. Recently the campaign has earned lots of publicity through the endorsement of celebrity chef Mario Batali as well as Sir Paul McCartney and Gwyneth Platrow (to name few!) It's gained more publicity through respected news outlets such as CNN, The Los Angeles Times, Macleans Magazine, The Toronto Star, The New York Times, The Times Of India, The Atlantic, and The Washington Post. If you wish to see what they said about "Meatless Mondays" click here.

I have decided to endorse this initiative and have planned it into my weekly menu! As for today's meatless dinner... French Roasted Salmon, with garlicky green beans and mushrooms!

Really a pretty simple and basic, yet extremely delicious and satisfying meal! The recipe for the salmon is my own adaptation off of the "French Roasted Salmon" recipe from besthealthmag.ca. I have to say that this is seriously, without a doubt, the best salmon I have ever had.

Ingredients (for salmon seasoning)
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp dried rosemary
1/4 cup of olive oil
1 tbs Dijon mustard
3/8 tsp chili flakes (you can add less/more depending on the heat level you want.)
1/8 tsp pepper
salmon fillets (really any size you want...)

Directions

Preheat your oven to 450° F. Grease an oven safe dish with a little olive oil to avoid the salmon sticking.

Salmon Garnish

Combine all of the ingredients together in a bowl and whisk them together. Place your salmon in the dish and season with sea salt. Brush the tops and sides of the salmon with the garnish you have just prepared.

Bake them in the oven uncovered for 12 minutes. Once the 12 minutes is up, turn the oven off, cover the salmon and leave them in there for about another 8 minutes! And voila, you should have mouth watering, perfectly cooked salmon!

And there you go! Delicious salmon!

- Lou

Recipe adapted from besthealthmag.ca

Baked Sweet Potato Fries

It's tough to believe that one of the sweetest and most delicious vegetables is also one of the best for you. Most people associate sweet potatoes with thanksgiving, but I think that they should be eaten all year 'round. And I have to say, when you're in the mood for a nice tasty snack there is nothing easier and tastier than some savory, sweet potato fries! (well not really fries, since I bake 'em!)

Let's discuss the nutritious nature of sweet potatoes. They are one of the "super vegetables" and many people say that sweet potatoes may in fact be one of the healthiest vegetables for you. They are full of vitamin A and vitamin C, vitamin B6 as well as proteins which are unique to root vegetables. Sweet potatoes also contain antioxidants which help to eliminate chemicals which damage cells. Want to know more nutritious info about sweet potatoes? Check out this analysis.

Baked Sweet Potato Fries

Ingredients
1 sweet potato
2 egg whites
olive oil
salt & pepper to taste

Directions

Preheat the oven to 425 F. Line a baking sheet with wax paper and a little olive oil to ensure your potatoes do not stick.

Chop the sweet potato into your desired shape. (I like matchstick.)

Whip two egg whites together in a boil and drench your sweet potatoes in the egg white mixture. Lay them out on the wax paper and garnish with salt and pepper to taste. Pop them in the oven for 20-30 minutes, and voila!

- Lou