The other half of that lunch I promised…

January 31, 2013 at 12:19 pm (Food/cooking)
Tags: calcium, carrot, celery, celery root, dinner, dominican republic, easy, family, healthy, lunch, potato, soup, vegetable

Crema de cepa de apion

“Creole celery root cream soup”

First off if your wondering where I got this idea, it came to me after searching ‘celery root’ on pinterest.. It looked good on there so I decided to make it for my lunch as I had some left over celery root hanging out in my fridge just waiting to be eaten 😉

After reading up on it I discovered that this soup was described as a typical delicacy of Constanza a scenic highland region in the center of the Dominican Republic…. Cepa de apio is said to have excellent nutritional value, medicianal qualities and a very high source of calcium! Sounds good to me!!

Ingredients

Olive Oil
1 med onion chopped
2-3 celery stalks chopped
2 small carrots sliced and diced
3 med potatos peeled cubed
1 celery root peeled and sliced (I used the left over mashed from the night before worked awesome)
1 tsp cumin powder
1 bay leaf
salt and pepper
8 cups of vegetable stock (chicken also works)

Instructions

Heat the oil in the pan med-low heat
When oil is hot, add onions fry until soft
Add cumin powder and bay leaf
Add celery and a couple of minutes later add your carrots, celery root and potatos (keep on very low heat)
Cover the pan and sweat for several minutes, stirring occassionally to prevent sticking or burning
Add vegetable stock & simmer until veggies are cooked. Leave to cool
Once cool blend the soup and season to taste, adjust by adding water if necessary
reheat and serve, fennel also makes a nice garnish for this soup if you have some
Also if you like heat, adding cayanne to this soup is so good!!

“El producto final”

The finished product in Spanish!!

Thats it for today, hope you enjoyed!!

Again any suggestions or ideas for dishes you would like to see me make please feel free to comment on the blog or you can join me on my face book page @

https://www.facebook.com/SchoonerpixiesKitchen

You can also email me at schoonerpixie@hotmail.com

Until next time, Enjoy & Happy Cooking!!

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I’m home alone and it’s lunch time, so this lunch is all about me!!

January 28, 2013 at 8:10 pm (Food/cooking)
Tags: bread crumbs, crab, easy, fun, japanese, lunch, nori, pollock, rice, rice vinegar, soy, spicy, sushi, wasabi, whole grain

“Spicy Crab Sushi & Crema de cepa de apio”

Well my lunch today was all about me! And I have to say it turned out just the way I like it!!

So to start off today I am going to show you how I made Spicy Crab Sushi including homemade Wasabi…

You will need:

1 Slice of Whole grain Bread
1 bamboo mat
2 sheets of saran wrap
1 sheet of nori paper with the last row removed from the paper
1/2 cup of crab flavored pollock
1/2 cup sushi rice
1/2 cup of water
1 tsp of seasoned rice vinegar
Sprinkle of powered wasabi
Sprinkle of sesame seeds
Soy Sauce for dipping
1 tsp of wasabi

So for the rice I cooked it in one of our favorite appliances, the rice cooker.. to get the directions on how to make it stove top read the label on the backside of the sushi rice bag! I actually made my rice first thing in the morning so it had alot of time to cool off, no need to put it in the fridge just set it aside in your rice cooker or the pot you cooked it in.

Take your one slice of bread, and grate it to bread crumbs. Warm a small skillet at 4 with the bottom covered in Extra Virgin Olive Oil, then toast your bread crumbs to later add to the sushi.

On a large cutting board lay down your bamboo mat covering it with one sheet of saran warp, then place your nori paper of top of that. When the nori paper is laid down add your rice, not all of it because it’s to much so add it as needed. Wet your finger tips and flatten the rice unto the nori paper leaving only 1 perforated space remaining empty. Sprinkle on the sesame seed. Remove nori paper and rice with the saran wrap from the bamboo mat, placing down the second sheet of saran wrap, flip the rice facedown unto the saran warp, with the nori paper now facing up.

Get your crab flavored pollock, cut into med sized pieces. Line the whole row legenth wise about an 1 1/2 inches from the bottom of the paper. Then cover the pollock with the toasted bread crumbs. Sprinkle on a LITTLE bit of the powdered wasabi onto the top of the row.

Fold over on the side closest to you, then roll the remaning side over, continue to tighten and roll with the bamboo mat. When it is rolled remove from the saran wrap. Cut roll into .5 inch slices, makes around 7-8 pieces.

Take your powered Wasabi, in a small dish add 1 tsp of powder, .5 tsp of water, mash together and combine until it can be rolled into a ball. Place on the plate with sushi pieces.

In a small dish add soy sauce for dipping!!

すべて完了

Subete kanryō

Meaning “All Done” in Japanese

So for todays blog I am done, and if you are interested in finding out how to make the delicious Crema de cepa de apio, a Creole Celery Root Cream Soup, a speciality dish made in the Dominican Republic please come back tomorrow..

Any ideas or suggestions, please feel free to email me at schoonerpixie@hotmail.com or join me on my facebook page

@https://www.facebook.com/#!/SchoonerpixiesKitchen

Until then Enjoy & Happy Cooking

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When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie…………..

January 23, 2013 at 11:32 pm (Food/cooking)
Tags: bbq, cheese, easy, green pepper, mozzarella, mushroom, onion, pita, pizza, sauce, steak, whole wheat

I learned to make homemade Pizza Sauce from one of my favorite chef’s Michael Smith.. He is an amazing chef that shows people how cook simple and delicious meals in the comfort of your own home! Since I started making this sauce I have yet to buy canned sauce since. The great thing about this sauce is that it makes enough to make 2 or 3 pizzas. So for your convenience you can freeze it if you have alot left over.

4 cloves of minced garlic
1 large onion (white or red)
1 jar of strained tomatos (I use La Regina San Marzano because they are the best, also they can be purchased in 8’s at Costco and can be used in many dishes)

3 tbsp of dried oregano
2 dashes of Worcestershire Sauce
Dash of dried Chili Flakes
1 tbsp Kansas City Style BBQ Sauce (for a more traditional sauce, omit the bbq sauce)

First add your E.V.O.O. to the bottom of your pan turn on Med-High heat (6-7)

Add your Onions & Garlic, once they start to sautee, add a dash of water, this will soften the onions and prevent the garlic from burning, season with Salt & Pepper. Once your veggies are softened, add your chili flakes and oregano.

Excuse the steam “It’s HOT in my kitchen” 😉

Then add your jar of tomato sauce, (each bottle has basil in it you can leave the basil in or remove it, if you leave it in make sure you chop it up good in the pan).

Then add your Worcestershire sauce and your BBQ Sauce. Let simmer until it is time to put your pizza together.

Just for timing purposes it’s time to make the Sweet Potato Dollar Chips!

This is a healthier dish for you than your regular potato as it doesnt have as much starch so if you are watching what you are eating these are an awesome substitue.

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees

1 larger long Sweet Potato cut into coin size pieces (1 potato feeds 3 people)

In a large mixing bowl add your sweet potato. Then coat the dollars with:

2 tbsp olive oil
3 or4 good dashes of garlic plus
Salt & Pepper

When every thing is mixed, on a cooking sheet place your sweet potato on the pan. Like this! Then put in the oven for 15 minutes, turn over and bake for another 10 minutes or until both sides are browned!

Now back to the pizza,

4 small fast frying steaks, cut into small pieces
1 small green pepper diced
1 small onion diced
1 cup of sliced fresh mushrooms
2 cups of grated Skim Mozarella Cheese
3-4 whole wheat pitas

In a small frying pan with some E.V.O.O. sautee your onions & green peppers, again when they start to cook at a shot of water. When cooked set aside on a plate.

Next fry your steak in the same pan, season with salt and pepper.

While your steak is cooking place your pitas on a cookie sheet (only 3 per sheet will fit), add your tomato sauce. Then add your steak

In the frying pad add your sliced mushrooms, cook only long enough to add to your pizzas the green peppers & onions.

Then add your mushrooms and last but not least the cheese.

By the time every thing is sliced and diced, sauted and grated and the pizza are prepared, your sweet potato dollars should be ready to take out of then oven.. If you have to wait a few minutes thats ok!!

Put your pizzas in the oven on bake for about 7 minutes, leave the temp at 375. After the 7 minutes turn your oven to broil melting the cheese and adding that extra crisp your pita bread… Remove from the oven and serve!! I use a pizza cutter to cut them in fours….

This is a great meal that the whole family will love. It is also a meal that you can play with. It is okay to maybe change the steak to chicken or even pulled pork or add your own favorite toppings like hot peppers, olives, feta cheese or even green onion. It’s all about what you like. This is also a super healthy meal with lean cuts of meat, low starch, skim cheese and a thin whole wheat pizza crust.. Can’t get any better than that!

I also make these pizzas for friends as apps and they are a big hit, they are alot of work.. but they are so good that it is worth it!

I hope you and your family enjoy this delicious meal..

Please feel free to join me on facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/#!/SchoonerpixiesKitchen

Is there anything you would like me to learn to cook and post on my blog please I am up for any of your ideas and suggestions. You can comment on here or email me at schoonerpixie@hotmail.com, your feedback is appreciated 🙂

Until then Enjoy & Happy Cooking

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Delicious on a cold day, Porter Beer Beef Stew!!

January 22, 2013 at 3:48 pm (Food/cooking)
Tags: beer, dinner, family, garlic, ginger, onion, porter, potato, root, squash', stew, supper, vegetables

Delicious on a cold day, Porter Beer Beef Stew!!.

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Delicious on a cold day, Porter Beer Beef Stew!!

January 21, 2013 at 6:34 pm (Food/cooking)
Tags: beer, carrots, dinner, family, ginger, hearty, onion, parsnips, porter, potato, root, stew, supper, turnip, vegetables, warm

So yesterday I made a delicious Porter Beer Beef Stew for supper and want to share my recipe with you.. It is a little bit of work but it is worth it, the supper was delicious and so was todays lunch 🙂

I also made this in our Dutch Oven that we bought for a STEAL at the Super Store for only $14.94.. it was regular $59.99!! This dish is amazing and we have used it pretty much everyday since we bought it for roasting chicken, stews even and homemade goulash.. It is beautiful and we are so glad we found it for a song!

Porter Beer Beef Stew!!

What you need:

1 roast chooped into chunks, the worst cut you can find the better for tenderizing
1 large diced Onion
1 small piece of ginger
2 stalks of celery diced
3 cloves of minced garlic
1 small cabbage- cut into rustic pieces
1 med squash- peeled and cut into rustic pieces
2 small turnips- peeled and cut into rustic pieces
8 med size potatos- peeled and cut into rustic pieces
1 medium parsnip- peeled chopped and cubed
3 large carrots- peeled, chopped & cubed
1 box Beef Stock, low sodium
1 can of Porter Beer (Fuller’s)

In your pot add olive oil, brown your cubed beef. When browned remove & set aside in a bowl!

Next pour in a 1/2 cup of beef stock & 1/2 of the beer, to remove all the browned bit. Then add your onions, celery, garlic and ginger (an easy way to get the ginger is to keep it in the freezer, when ready to use, take a piece of it, remove the skin and micro plan it into the dish, alot easier than mincing it) While sauting, chop your vegetables. Remember this a stew so they dont need to be cut perfect, the more rustic the better!

Then add your veggies… Potatos, squash, turnip, cabbage, carrots & parsnip. When you add them do not add the stock right away let stand for 15 minutes stirring occassionally. This helps the vegatables keep whole when slow cooking. Add the beef you set aside!

Next add 3 bay leaves, the rest of your beef stock and beer. Then fill your stock box with water, add to the pot!

Let cook at low to med heat for a few hours, slow cooking will tenderize the meat and cook the veggies through!

The final product should look like this!!

Wished you could taste it don’t you!! 🙂

Would like to say thanks a million to everyone who have been posting pictures of the things you have made on my blog onto my facebook page.. Makes me so happy to know that sharing my recipies and ideas with you have been put to use!

Please feel free to add yourself to my new facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/#!/SchoonerpixiesKitchen

Any suggestions or ideas you have for me are appreciated!

Until then…..

Enjoy & Happy Cooking!!

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Holy Dan Dan Noodles!!

January 20, 2013 at 4:14 am (Food/cooking)
Tags: asian, balsamic Vinegar, chili oil, chinese, dandan, dish, easy, green onion, meal, noodles, pork, sesame oil, sherry wine, supper

Dan Dan Noodles

First off I have to give all the credit for me even trying this dish to my cousin inlaw Evelyn.. She took me to this amazing little Asian Infusion Restaraunt in New Glasgow, NS called Mamatsu and I have been hooked ever since.. And of course when I like a dish that much I try to make it at home, this time it was a complete success!

I can’t express to you how AMAZING this dish is.. If you like Asian food and want to fix your appetite for China and you try this you will never look back! It is a quick meal but it does require a trip to your local Asian Market.. Since we live in Nova Scotia, our favorite spot is the Tain Phat, in Bedford.. and for my Saint John readers you have easy access to the city market.. Going to the Asian Market is ALOT cheaper than buying all the items at your local Atlantic Superstore.

Here are some pictures of the things you will need to make this at home it would make a great shopping list for your local Asian Market! Don’t worry you can get all of this for under 20.00 including the bag of noodles and I will also be using these ingredients in future recipes.. If you look back I made a noodle bowl that also uses alot of these ingredients that is also totally delicious)

The Pork Mix

-6 ounces ground pork or beef
-1 tablespoon peanut butter and 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil
-2 teaspoons minced garlic (about 2 cloves)
-1 teaspoon minced ginger (I freeze mine then use a micro planer to grate it)
– 1 package of Sichuan preserved vegetables
-1 tablespoon Chinese rice wine or dry sherry
-1/2 teaspoon salt, or salt to taste
-1 handful dry-roasted peanuts crushed

To Start:

In a med frying pan with heat on 6 add your vegetable oil and peanut butter, watch, wait and stir until melted and covering the surface of the pan.

Then take your ground pork add it to the pan by ripping pieces off of it.. The meat needs to cook in crumbles! Add your minced ginger & garlic, chopped preserved vegetables and the sherry. Cook until you think it’s finished then add the crushed peanuts continue to fry.

In the mean time turn on a full pot of cold water on Max to a boil,to cook the noodles. You can buy Dan Dan noodles but they are hard to sometimes get so steak and pork noodles will also do the trick. When it starts to boil add the noodles. The steak and pork noodles I buy, I use 6 of the nests for one meal. The noodles only take about 5 minutes too cook.. So while you are waiting for the water to boil make the sauce.

The Sauce:

Combine in a small pot @ med temp

-1/4 cup chicken stock or water
-2 tablespoons soy sauce
-1 tablespoon Chinese black rice vinegar, or substitute good quality balsamic vinegar
-3 tablespoons chili oil (adjust according to your tolerance of spiciness) If you don’t have any I have a posted a blog on how to make John Boy’s Homemade Chili Oil 🙂

–1 tablespoon Balsamic Vinegar
-3 teaspoons sesame oil
-1 teaspoon sugar

When the noodles are cooked, the pork is cooked and the sauce is combined.. Grab a bowl and in layers, add the sauce to the bottom of the bowl, then add your noodles from the water next, then add your topping.

Garnish with chopped up fresh green onions!! And tada you are done, your very own homemade DELICIOUS Dan Dan Noodles! As you eat these the sauce will come to the top and the pork will fall to the bottom. It’s an amazing combination.. I made this for supper tonight and still think I want more 🙂

The Finished Product

So thats all she wrote today ladies and gents.. No worries I will be back tomorrow or maybe Monday with my very own recipe for a Porter Beer Beef Stew with Root Vegetables.

Until then Enjoy Life & Happy Cooking 🙂

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Johnboy’s homemade Chili Oil

January 18, 2013 at 7:07 pm (Food/cooking)
Tags: asian, chili, chili flakes, chili oil, easy, gift, kitchen, olive oil, recipe, spaghetti

John Boy’s Homemade Chili Oil!

Wow, long time no blog.. Sorry it’s taken me so long to get back into blogging but sometimes I guess thats how the cookie crumbles.. Since the New Year John and I have both been on a healthy kick and have been doing a great job at eating healthier foods! So look forward to recipes that are healtheir and a little more heart smart!

This next recipe is totally awesome and SUPER easy to make, anyone can do it!! My husband John does a fantastic job at making this and we use it all the time. We think it is a must have in every kitchen even if your not a foodie! 😉

You will need:

1/2 cup of dried chili flakes
1 cup of E.V. olive oil (you can use SOME vegetable oil in the mix if you have to)

Directions:

In a med size pot add your extra virgin olive oil. Turn the heat on to medium #6-7. Heat until you just see it starting to smoke a bit, not ALOT just a bit. Remove from heat for 5 minutes.
Stir in your chili flakes, they will sizzle and crack, and sounds funny but they almost smell like chocolate, so don’t worry they are not burning! Let mixture stand until completely cooled off!

When cooled put the chili oil in a glass mason jar, cover and sit on your counter ready to be used at anytime! This can be used in noodle bowls, chili, spaghetti sauce, any asian recipie, really anything you want to add a little heat to. You could even fry an egg in it.. Just use it sparingly because it’s hot.. We bought smaller jars at The Bulk Barn gave them away with Christmas gifts and they were a big hit!

The Final Product
“John Boy’s Homemade Chili Oil”

Thats all she wrote.. Not sure whats up next? Lots of ideas but nothing decided on yet. However I promise they will be delicious! Here are somethings that I have already made and plan on sharing with you all, BBQ Korean Pulled Pork Tacos with Pickled Diakon, Dan Dan Noodles, Porter Beer Oven Stew and maybe some homemade sushi ideas!! Be sure to check back soon!

Until then Enjoy Life & Happy Cooking 🙂

Please if you would like me to give something else a go, I would love to hear your suggestions and ideas, you can reach me on here or at schoonerpixie@hotmail.com

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Schoonerpixie's Kitchen

The other half of that lunch I promised…

Crema de cepa de apion

“Creole celery root cream soup”

Ingredients

Instructions

“El producto final”

Until next time, Enjoy & Happy Cooking!!

I’m home alone and it’s lunch time, so this lunch is all about me!!

“Spicy Crab Sushi & Crema de cepa de apio”

You will need:

Subete kanryō

Until then Enjoy & Happy Cooking

When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie…………..

Just for timing purposes it’s time to make the Sweet Potato Dollar Chips!

Now back to the pizza,

Until then Enjoy & Happy Cooking

Delicious on a cold day, Porter Beer Beef Stew!!

Delicious on a cold day, Porter Beer Beef Stew!!

Porter Beer Beef Stew!!

Enjoy & Happy Cooking!!

Holy Dan Dan Noodles!!

Dan Dan Noodles

The Pork Mix

The Sauce:

The Finished Product

So thats all she wrote today ladies and gents.. No worries I will be back tomorrow or maybe Monday with my very own recipe for a Porter Beer Beef Stew with Root Vegetables.

Until then Enjoy Life & Happy Cooking 🙂

Johnboy’s homemade Chili Oil

John Boy’s Homemade Chili Oil!

You will need:

Directions:

Until then Enjoy Life & Happy Cooking 🙂

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