Braised Lamb Shanks

Michael demonstrates how relaxing cooking can be with braised lamb shanks, roasted cauliflower with almonds, orange juice braised sweet potatoes, and roasted pineapple with coconut crusted ice cream.

• Braised Lamb Shanks 3
• Orange Juice-Braised Sweet Potatoes
• Roasted Cauliflower with Almonds
• Roasted Pineapple with Coconut Crusted Ice Cream

Braised Lamb Shanks 3

Yield: 4

Ease of Preparation: Easy
A recipe is merely words on paper; a guideline, a starting point from which to improvise. It cannot pretend to replace the practiced hand and telling glance of a watchful cook. For that reason feel free to stir your own ideas into this dish. When you cook it once, it becomes yours, so personalize it a bit. Add more of an ingredient you like or less of something you don't like. Try substituting one ingredient for another. Remember words have no flavour, you have to add your own!

Ingredients:

Braised Lamb Shanks

• 4 Tbsps vegetable oil
• 4 x lamb shanks
• 4 x carrots, peeled and chopped
• 4 x celery stalks, chopped
• 2 x onions, peeled and chopped
• 1 L apple cider
• 2 cups raisins
• 1 tbsp cinnamon
• 4 x bay leaves
• 2 x crisp apples, cored and chunked
• Salt and pepper
• 1 x celery rib, sliced
• 1 x carrot, peeled and sliced
• 1 x apple, cored and chunked

Directions:

Braised Lamb Shanks

1. Heat a heavy bottomed stew pot over medium high heat and add oil.
2. When it begins to smoke, add lamb shanks and brown until they are a deep golden colour on all sides.
3. Remove from pan and rest on a plate.
4. Drain excess fat from pot, then return the shanks to the pot.
5. Add carrots, celery, onions, apple cider, raisins, cinnamon, bay leaves, and the apples.
6. Season with salt and pepper and bring to a simmer.
7. Cover tightly and braise for 1.5 to 2 hours, until meat is very tender and almost falling off the bone.
8. Add sliced celery, carrot and apple during the last 15 minutes of cooking.

Orange Juice-Braised Sweet Potatoes

Yield: 4

Ease of Preparation: Easy.
A recipe is merely words on paper; a guideline, a starting point from which to improvise. It cannot pretend to replace the practiced hand and telling glance of a watchful cook. For that reason feel free to stir your own ideas into this dish. When you cook it once, it becomes yours, so personalize it a bit. Add more of an ingredient you like or less of something you don't like. Try substituting one ingredient for another. Remember words have no flavour, you have to add your own!

Ingredients:

Orange Juice-Braised Sweet Potatoes

• 3 x sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into one inch slices
• 2 Tbsps chopped rosemary
• 1 cup orange juice
• 1 x red onion, sliced thickly
• salt and pepper

Directions:

Orange Juice-Braised Sweet Potatoes

1. Put sweet potatoes into a large sauté pan.
2. Add rosemary, orange juice, red onion and season with salt and pepper.
3. Bring to a simmer and cook for about 10 to 15 minutes, until the potatoes are tender.

Roasted Cauliflower with Almonds

Yield: 4

Ease of Preparation: Easy. A recipe is merely words on paper; a guideline, a starting point from which to improvise. It cannot pretend to replace the practiced hand and telling glance of a watchful cook. For that reason feel free to stir your own ideas into this dish. When you cook it once, it becomes yours, so personalize it a bit. Add more of an ingredient you like or less of something you don't like. Try substituting one ingredient for another. Remember words have no flavour, you have to add your own!

Ingredients:

Roasted Cauliflower with Almonds

• 1 head of cauliflower, cut into florets
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 cup sliced almonds
• Salt and pepper

Directions:

Roasted Cauliflower with Almonds

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Put cauliflower florets into a 9" by 13" baking pan and drizzle with olive oil.
3. Add salt and pepper and almonds.
4. Toss well and roast in oven until golden and tender, about 25 minutes.

Roasted Pineapple with Coconut Crusted Ice Cream

Yield: 4

Ease of Preparation: Easy. A recipe is merely words on paper; a guideline, a starting point from which to improvise. It cannot pretend to replace the practiced hand and telling glance of a watchful cook. For that reason feel free to stir your own ideas into this dish. When you cook it once, it becomes yours, so personalize it a bit. Add more of an ingredient you like or less of something you don't like. Try substituting one ingredient for another. Remember words have no flavour, you have to add your own!

Ingredients:

Roasted Pineapple with Coconut Crusted Ice Cream

• 1 x pineapple, skin and ends trimmed off and cut into large chunks
• 3 Tbsps brown sugar
• 1/2 cup dark rum
• 1 tsp ground allspice
• 1 cup flaked coconut
• 3 scoops vanilla ice cream

Directions:

Roasted Pineapple with Coconut Crusted Ice Cream

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Place pineapple chunks into a large bowl and add sugar, rum and allspice.
3. Toss well and pour into a 9" by 13" baking pan.
4. Roast for 1 hour, or until pineapple is caramelized and tender.
5. Place coconut into a shallow bowl and add a scoop of ice cream.
6. Roll it around until it is coated in coconut.
7. Repeat for other ice cream balls.
8. Spoon some pineapple into a serving dish and add ice cream.
9. Serve immediately.

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Baked Halibut

Michael shows off his infinitely modifiable method for cooking any fish by creating baked halibut with tomatoes, onions & a simple sauce, tomato couscous with black olives, cucumber & carrot salad, an avocado tuna fish appetizer and chocolate banana milkshakes for a treat.

• Baked Halibut with Tomatoes and Onions
• Chocolate Banana Milkshake
• Cucumber and Carrot Salad 2
• Simple Seafood Sauce
• Tomato Couscous with Black Olives and Basil
• Tuna Avocado Salad

Baked Halibut with Tomatoes and Onions

Yield: 4

Ease of Preparation: Easy. A recipe is merely words on paper; a guideline, a starting point from which to improvise. It cannot pretend to replace the practiced hand and telling glance of a watchful cook. For that reason feel free to stir your own ideas into this dish. When you cook it once, it becomes yours, so personalize it a bit. Add more of an ingredient you like or less of something you don't like. Try substituting one ingredient for another. Remember words have no flavour, you have to add your own!

Ingredients:

Baked Halibut with Tomatoes and Onions

• 2 x onions, peeled and sliced
• 2 x tomatoes, chopped
• 1 heaping tbsp curry powder
• Salt
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 1 lb. fresh halibut
• 1 tbsp oil
• Salt and pepper

Directions:

Baked Halibut with Tomatoes and Onions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Place onions in an 8" by 8" baking pan and then add tomatoes, curry powder, salt and orange juice.
3. Rub fish with oil and salt and pepper and place on top of the vegetables.
4. Bake for 20 minutes, or until the fish flakes and is just cooked through.

Simple Seafood Sauce

Yield: 4

Ease of Preparation: Easy. A recipe is merely words on paper; a guideline, a starting point from which to improvise. It cannot pretend to replace the practiced hand and telling glance of a watchful cook. For that reason feel free to stir your own ideas into this dish. When you cook it once, it becomes yours, so personalize it a bit. Add more of an ingredient you like or less of something you don't like. Try substituting one ingredient for another. Remember words have no flavour, you have to add your own!

Ingredients:

Simple Seafood Sauce

• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 2 Tbsps ketchup
• 2 Tbsps marmalade
• 1 x green onion, sliced
• 2 Tbsps lemon juice
• 1 tsp curry powder

Directions:

Simple Seafood Sauce

1. Whisk together until well blended and serve as a condiment with halibut or other fish.

Tomato Couscous with Black Olives and Basil

Yield: 4

Ease of Preparation: Easy.
A recipe is merely words on paper; a guideline, a starting point from which to improvise. It cannot pretend to replace the practiced hand and telling glance of a watchful cook. For that reason feel free to stir your own ideas into this dish. When you cook it once, it becomes yours, so personalize it a bit. Add more of an ingredient you like or less of something you don?t like. Try substituting one ingredient for another. Remember words have no flavour, you have to add your own!

Ingredients:

Tomato Couscous with Black Olives and Basil

• 1 cup couscous
• 1 1/2 cups tomato juice
• 1 x 17 ounce can chickpeas, drained
• 1/2 cup Calamata olives, pitted and chopped
• 1 bunch basil leaves, sliced thinly
• Salt and pepper

Directions:

Tomato Couscous with Black Olives and Basil

1. Put couscous into a medium sized bowl.
2. Heat tomato juice to a simmer and pour over couscous.
3. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and allow to steam for 10 minutes, until couscous is tender.
4. Remove plastic and fluff with a fork.
5. Stir in chickpeas, olives, basil and season with salt and pepper.

Cucumber and Carrot Salad 2

Yield: 4

Ease of Preparation: Easy.
A recipe is merely words on paper; a guideline, a starting point from which to improvise. It cannot pretend to replace the practiced hand and telling glance of a watchful cook. For that reason feel free to stir your own ideas into this dish. When you cook it once, it becomes yours, so personalize it a bit. Add more of an ingredient you like or less of something you don't like. Try substituting one ingredient for another. Remember words have no flavour, you have to add your own!

Ingredients:

Cucumber and Carrot Salad

• 1 x cucumber, sliced thinly
• 2 x carrots, grated
• Half a red onion, sliced thinly
• 2 x fresh grated ginger
• 1/4 cup cider vinegar
• 2 tbsp honey
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 bunch fresh mint, chopped
• salt and pepper

Directions:

Cucumber and Carrot Salad

1. Put ingredients into a medium sized bowl and toss well.
2. Adjust seasoning.

Tuna Avocado Salad

Yield: 4

Ease of Preparation: Easy.
A recipe is merely words on paper; a guideline, a starting point from which to improvise. It cannot pretend to replace the practiced hand and telling glance of a watchful cook. For that reason feel free to stir your own ideas into this dish. When you cook it once, it becomes yours, so personalize it a bit. Add more of an ingredient you like or less of something you don't like. Try substituting one ingredient for another. Remember words have no flavour, you have to add your own!

Ingredients:

Tuna Avocado Salad

• 1 can tuna, packed in water
• 1 x avocado, pitted and peeled
• 2 Tbsps olive oil
• 2 Tbsps lemon juice
• 1 x green onion, sliced
• 1/2 cup chopped parsley
• Salt and pepper

Directions:

Tuna Avocado Salad

1. Place tuna and water into a bowl.
2. Chop avocado and add along with the rest of the ingredients.
3. Toss well and serve with crisp bread.

Chocolate Banana Milkshake

Yield: 4

Ease of Preparation: Easy
A recipe is merely words on paper; a guideline, a starting point from which to improvise. It cannot pretend to replace the practiced hand and telling glance of a watchful cook. For that reason feel free to stir your own ideas into this dish. When you cook it once, it becomes yours, so personalize it a bit. Add more of an ingredient you like or less of something you don't like. Try substituting one ingredient for another. Remember words have no flavour, you have to add your own!

Ingredients:

Chocolate Banana Milkshake

• 4 x ripe bananas
• 4 x large scoops vanilla ice cream
• 4 cups milk
• 1 tbsp cocoa powder

Directions:

Chocolate Banana Milkshake

1. Place all ingredients into a blender and puree until smooth and thick.
2. Serve immediately.

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• Blue Cheese-Crusted Filet Mignon
• Horseradish Smashed Potatoes
• Pavlova with Orange Marmalade and Orange Whipped Cream
• Roast Tomatoes with Baby Spinach

Blue Cheese-Crusted Filet Mignon

Yield: 4

Ease of Preparation: Easy.

Ingredients:

Blue Cheese-Crusted Filet Mignon

• 4 x x six-ounce filet mignons
• Salt and pepper
• Olive oil
• 8 ounces blue cheese
• 2 x slices whole grain bread, cubed
• Half stick butter
• 2 x sprigs fresh rosemary
• Fresh ground pepper

Pan Sauce

• 1 cup red wine
• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

Directions:

Blue Cheese-Crusted Filet Mignon

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat.
3. Season the filets and rub with olive oil. Place in the hot pan and sear for 1 minute on each side.
4. Place on a cooling rack fitted over a baking sheet. Reserve the pan.
5. Puree the blue cheese, bread, butter, rosemary and pepper in a food processor until smooth.
6. Pack blue cheese crust onto the tops of the filets and bake in oven until meat is medium-rare, about 8-10 minutes.
7. The meat and crust may be prepared in advance, refrigerated, then baked just before serving. If so, add a little more baking time.

Pan Sauce

1. Add the wine to the searing pan over medium-high heat.
2. Scrape loose the brown bits and reduce the wine to a syrup-like consistency.
3. Whisk in the cream and continue to reduce until the mixture thickens to a sauce like consistency.
4. Season and serve with the filets.

Horseradish Smashed Potatoes

Yield: 4 servings with leftovers.
Ease of Preparation: Easy

Ingredients:

Horseradish Smashed Potatoes

• 8 x small or 4 large Yukon gold potatoes, unpeeled, washed and cut into quarters
• 1 x cup milk
• 1 x stick butter
• 2 x heaping spoonfuls prepared horseradish
• Salt and pepper

Directions:

Horseradish Smashed Potatoes

1. Steam potatoes in a stovetop steamer or a pot with a tight fitting lid and an inch or so of water.
2. Cook for 15-20 minutes until tender when pierced with a knife.
3. Meanwhile heat the milk, butter and horseradish in a small pot.
4. Place potatoes in a bowl and pour in hot milk mixture.
5. Smash well and season with salt and pepper.

Pavlova with Orange Marmalade and Orange Whipped Cream

Yield: 6

Ease of Preparation: Easy.

Ingredients:

Pavlova

• 6 x egg whites
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 tbsp white vinegar
• 1 tbsp cornstarch

Topping

• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
• 2 tbsp Grand Marnier orange liqueur
• 1/4 cup orange marmalade

Directions:

Pavlova

1. Preheat oven to 275°F. Fit a piece of parchment paper onto a baking sheet.
2. Beat the egg whites in a stand mixer until they reach soft peaks.
3. Gradually add the sugar, a half a cup at a time and continue to whip until the whites form stiff peaks.
4. Fold in vinegar and cornstarch.
5. Spoon mixture onto the baking sheet, forming a large round evenly shaped mound. Think of an extra large hockey puck.
6. Bake for 1 hour, until the Pavlova is crispy on the outside and has a soft, marshmallow center.

Topping

1. Evenly spread the marmalade onto the top.
2. Whip the cream with the Grand Marnier and spread it on the marmalade. Enjoy!

Roast Tomatoes with Baby Spinach

Yield: 4

Ease of Preparation: Easy.

Ingredients:

Roast Tomatoes with Baby Spinach

• 8 x roma tomatoes
• 2 x onions, peeled and chopped
• 6 x garlic cloves, sliced
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper
• 1 lb. baby spinach

Directions:

Roast Tomatoes with Baby Spinach

1. Preheat oven to 375° F.
2. Toss the tomatoes, onions, garlic and oil together in a roasting pan and season with salt and pepper.
3. Toss well and roast until caramelized, about 45 minutes.
4. Place spinach into a salad bowl and pour in hot tomatoes, along with any juices.
5. Toss well to wilt spinach and serve immediately.

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Colorful Halibut

Paper-baked halibut with julienne vegetables, rice paper tuna salad roll, cherry tomato crisp and curried cauliflower soup with red pepper puree add colourful flavour to Michael’s dinner table.

• Cherry Tomato Crisp
• Curried Cauliflower Soup with Red Pepper Puree
• Paper Baked Halibut with Julienne Vegetables
• Rice Paper Tuna Salad Roll
• Roast Chicken Broth

Cherry Tomato Crisp

Yield: 4

Ingredients:

Cherry Tomato Crisp

• 2 lb. of cherry tomatoes, whole
• 1 x red onion, chopped
• 6 cloves of garlic, sliced
• 3 tbsp of olive oil
• 1/2 loaf loaf of whole wheat bread
• 1/4 cup of olive oil
• 1/2 cup of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, grated
• Salt and pepper

Directions:

Cherry Tomato Crisp

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Toss tomatoes, onion and garlic with 3 tbsp of olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
3. Pour into an 8-inch by 8-inch ovenproof baking dish.
4. Tear bread into bite-sized pieces and toss with olive oil and sprinkle on top of the tomatoes. Sprinkle the grated cheese over the top and bake for 30 minutes. Loosely cover with foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes.

Curried Cauliflower Soup with Red Pepper Puree

Yield: 4

Ingredients:

For the Curried Cauliflower Soup:

• 1 heads of cauliflower, trimmed into florets
• 1 x onion, chopped
• 2 tbsp of olive oil
• Salt and pepper
• 2 cups of orange juice
• 1 cup of chicken stock
• 1 tbsp of curry powder

For the Red Pepper Puree:

• 1 x red pepper, seeds and stem removed and cut into 8 pieces
• 1/2 cup of tomato juice
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• Salt and pepper

Directions:

For the Curried Cauliflower Soup:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Toss cauliflower and onion with olive oil, season with salt and pepper and place in a roasting pan. Roast for 30 minutes, until well caramelized. Put into a large soup pot and add orange juice, stock, curry powder and check for seasoning. Bring to a boil, turn the heat down and simmer for 15 minutes.
3. Puree with an immersion blender, or in small batches in a blender.
4. Reheat just prior to serving. Garnish with Red Pepper Puree.

For the Red Pepper Puree:

1. Simmer all of the ingredients together until peppers are soft.
2. Puree in a blender until smooth.
3. Drizzle into the hot soup.

Paper Baked Halibut with Julienne Vegetables

Ingredients:

Paper Baked Halibut with Julienne Vegetables

• 4 x 6 oz halibut filets
• 1 x carrot
• 1 x red pepper
• 1 cup of snow peas
• Zest and juice of 1 lemon
• Salt and pepper
• 1 tbsp Salt and pepper

Directions:

Paper Baked Halibut with Julienne Vegetables

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Cut carrot, red pepper, and snow peas into a julienne. Toss in a bowl with lemon zest, olive oil and salt and pepper.
3. Fold a 16” by 16” piece of parchment paper in half and cut out a large heart shape, with the fold being the centre of the heart. Open it up and then place some of the vegetables along the fold. Place piece of halibut on top of the vegetables, season with salt and pepper and sprinkle on a little lemon juice.
4. Fold the other half of the heart over and begin to fold and roll over the edges to create a package. Twist end to seal.
5. Put on a baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes.

Rice Paper Tuna Salad Roll

Yield: 4

Ingredients:

Rice Paper Tuna Salad Roll

• 4 x rice paper wraps
• 1 can of tuna, drained
• 1 tbsp grainy mustard
• 1 tbsp of olive oil
• Juice of half a lemon
• 1 x green onion, sliced
• 1/4 cup of cilantro leaves
• 1 x dill pickle, cut into long skinny quarters
• Salt and pepper

Directions:

Rice Paper Tuna Salad Roll

1. Pour some water into a shallow dish. Add rice paper wraps and soak for about 2 minutes, until they become translucent and soften. Lay on a kitchen towel and blot to dry.
2. Toss tuna together with mustard, oil, lemon juice, green onion, cilantro and salt and pepper.
3. Place a rice paper wrap on a counter top and lay a piece of dill pickle along the edge closest to you. Add one quarter of the tuna salad on top of the pickle and give 1 complete roll. Fold in ends and continue to roll up. Repeat for each wrap.

Roast Chicken Broth

Ingredients:

Roast Chicken Broth

• 1 kg. of chicken wings
• Several carrots, chopped
• Several stalks of celery, chopped
• Several onions, chopped
• 4 x bay leafs
• 2 sprigs of fresh thyme

Directions:

Roast Chicken Broth

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Roast chicken wings in a roasting pan or sauté pan until golden brown.
3. Put roasted chicken wings into a large stockpot, Add a splash of cold water to the roasting pan and stir until all the bits on the pans bottom dissolve. Add vegetables, bay leaf and thyme. Cover with cold water and simmer for 2 hours. Strain.

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Potato Crusted Salmon

Michael tries something new with a family favourite, fish. Potato & horseradish crusted salmon with pickle sauce, roasted licorice carrots, sauteed mushrooms with sherry & spinach and mango & strawberry cobbler make up this reinvigorating menu.

• Horseradish Potato Crusted Salmon with Pickle Sauce
• Mango and Strawberry Cobbler
• Roasted Licorice Carrots
• Sautéed Mushrooms with Sherry and Spinach

Horseradish Potato Crusted Salmon with Pickle Sauce

Yield: 4

Ease of Preparation: Easy
A recipe is merely words on paper; a guideline, a starting point from which to improvise. It cannot pretend to replace the practiced hand and telling glance of a watchful cook. For that reason feel free to stir your own ideas into this dish. When you cook it once, it becomes yours, so personalize it a bit. Add more of an ingredient you like or less of something you don't like. Try substituting one ingredient for another. Remember words have no flavour, you have to add your own!

Ingredients:

The Salmon

• 2 x russet potatoes, baked and chilled
• 2 tbsp horseradish
• 2 tbsp oil
• Salt and pepper
• 4 x salmon filets, 6 ounces each
• 
  

The Pickle Sauce

• 2 x dill pickles, chopped
• 1 x small bunch dill, chopped
• 1 x green onion, chopped
• 1 tbsp mustard
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• The juice from half a lemon
• Salt and pepper

Directions:

The Salmon

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Grate potatoes through the large holes of a box grater into a medium sized bowl.
3. Stir in horseradish, oil and salt and pepper mixing well.
4. Pat crust onto top surface of filets and place in a baking pan or on a baking sheet.
5. Bake until salmon is cooked through and the crust is golden and crispy, about 15 minutes.

The Pickle Sauce

1. Place all ingredients into a bowl and mix well.
2. Serve with salmon.

Mango and Strawberry Cobbler

Yield: 4

Ease of Preparation: Easy
A recipe is merely words on paper; a guideline, a starting point from which to improvise. It cannot pretend to replace the practiced hand and telling glance of a watchful cook. For that reason feel free to stir your own ideas into this dish. When you cook it once, it becomes yours, so personalize it a bit. Add more of an ingredient you like or less of something you don't like. Try substituting one ingredient for another. Remember words have no flavour, you have to add your own!

Ingredients:

The Filling

• 2 cups fresh or frozen strawberries
• 2 cups fresh or frozen mango
• 1/2 cup cup flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 
  

The Topping

• 1 cup flour
• 1/2 cup cornmeal
• 2 tbsp sugar
• Pinch of salt
• 1/2 tbsp baking powder
• 1 stick stick butter, frozen
• 1/2 cup milk

Directions:

The Filling

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Place fruit into a large bowl and toss well with the flour, sugar and lemon juice.
3. Pour into a 2-quart ovenproof casserole or other dish.
4. It is best if the fruit fills the dish but doesn't rise above the edges.

The Topping

1. Whisk together flour, cornmeal, sugar, salt and baking powder. Grate in frozen butter and mix lightly with fingertips.
2. Pour in milk and stir until mixture comes together and forms a rough dough.
3. Place spoonfuls of the dough on top of the fruit evenly covering it.
4. Bake until the fruit is bubbling and the topping is golden, about 45 minutes.
5. Serve warm.

Roasted Licorice Carrots

Yield: 4

Ease of Preparation: Easy. A recipe is merely words on paper; a guideline, a starting point from which to improvise. It cannot pretend to replace the practiced hand and telling glance of a watchful cook. For that reason feel free to stir your own ideas into this dish. When you cook it once, it becomes yours, so personalize it a bit. Add more of an ingredient you like or less of something you don't like. Try substituting one ingredient for another. Remember words have no flavour, you have to add your own!

Ingredients:

Roasted Licorice Carrots

• 6 x carrots, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 tbsp ground star anise
• Salt and pepper

Directions:

Roasted Licorice Carrots

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Place the carrots in an 8" x 8" baking pan or other baking pan.
3. It is best if they form a single layer on the bottom of the pan.
4. Drizzle with oil and toss with star anise, salt and pepper.
5. Roast until carrots are caramelized and tender, about 30 minutes.

Sautéed Mushrooms with Sherry and Spinach

Yield: 4

Ease of Preparation: Easy. A recipe is merely words on paper; a guideline, a starting point from which to improvise. It cannot pretend to replace the practiced hand and telling glance of a watchful cook. For that reason feel free to stir your own ideas into this dish. When you cook it once, it becomes yours, so personalize it a bit. Add more of an ingredient you like or less of something you don't like. Try substituting one ingredient for another. Remember words have no flavour, you have to add your own!

Ingredients:

Sautéed Mushrooms with Sherry and Spinach

• 3 tbsp butter
• 1 lb. button mushrooms, cleaned and sliced thinly
• 1 x large onion, peeled and chopped
• 1/2 cup sherry, Marsala, Madeira or port
• Salt and pepper
• 4 x handfuls of baby spinach

Directions:

Sautéed Mushrooms with Sherry and Spinach

1. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and melt butter.
2. When it begins to foam, add mushrooms and onions and sauté until they begin to caramelize.
3. Deglaze the pan with sherry, season with salt and pepper and cook down, scraping up any brown bits from the bottom of the pan.
4. When the sherry has reduced, add spinach and stir until it has wilted.
5. Adjust seasoning and serve immediately.

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Rum Raisin Pork

Molten chocolate cakes with coffee whipped cream headline this dinner of allspice-rubbed pork tenderloin with rum raisin sauce, pear salad with garlic oat crunch & blue cheese dressing, and sautéed spinach with nutmeg.

• Allspice Rubbed Pork Tenderloin with Rum Raisin Sauce
• Chocolate Molten Cakes with Coffee Cream
• Pear Salad with Garlic Oat Crunch and Blue Cheese Dressing
• Sautéed Spinach with Nutmeg

Allspice Rubbed Pork Tenderloin with Rum Raisin Sauce

Yield: 4

Ease of Preparation: Easy
A recipe is merely words on paper; a guideline, a starting point from which to improvise. It cannot pretend to replace the practiced hand and telling glance of a watchful cook. For that reason feel free to stir your own ideas into this dish. When you cook it once, it becomes yours, so personalize it a bit. Add more of an ingredient you like or less of something you don't like. Try substituting one ingredient for another. Remember words have no flavour, you have to add your own!

Ingredients:

Allspice Rubbed Pork Tenderloin with Rum Raisin Sauce

• 2 x pork tenderloins, silver skin removed and thin end removed and reserved for sauce
• 1 tbsp ground allspice
• Salt and pepper
• Oil
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup dark rum
• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1/2 cup raisins

Directions:

Allspice Rubbed Pork Tenderloin with Rum Raisin Sauce

1. Cut each tenderloin in half yielding four total pieces.
2. Sprinkle with allspice, salt and pepper, rubbing all over the pork.
3. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat and sear pork on all sides, letting it cook for a total of 15 to 20 minutes for medium to medium well.
4. Remove from the pan and let rest on a rack, covered with foil until ready to serve.
5. Remove excess oil from skillet and then place back over heat.
6. Add pork scraps and sear.
7. Add water and deglaze the pan, scraping up any brown bits.
8. Simmer until the water has reduced and dissolved the brown bits into a quick flavourful broth.
9. Remove large pork scraps and pour in rum, cream and raisins.
10. Reduce again until the sauce has thickened.
11. Slice pork in half, on an angle and serve with the sauce.

Chocolate Molten Cakes with Coffee Cream

Yield: 6

Ease of Preparation: Easy
A recipe is merely words on paper; a guideline, a starting point from which to improvise. It cannot pretend to replace the practiced hand and telling glance of a watchful cook. For that reason feel free to stir your own ideas into this dish. When you cook it once, it becomes yours, so personalize it a bit. Add more of an ingredient you like or less of something you don't like. Try substituting one ingredient for another. Remember words have no flavour, you have to add your own!

Ingredients:

The Cakes

• 8 ounces bittersweet or dark chocolate
• 2 sticks butter (1 cup)
• 4 x eggs
• 4 tbsp brown or white sugar
• 1 tbsp pure vanilla extract
• 1 tbsp cocoa powder
• Pinch salt
• 6 x ramekins or a muffin pan
• 1 tbsp butter
• 2 tbsp sugar

The Coffee Whipped Cream

• 1 tbsp sugar
• 1 cup 35% whipping cream
• 1 tbsp instant coffee

Directions:

The Cakes

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
2. Fill a medium-sized pot one third full with water and bring to a simmer.
3. Fit a medium-sized bowl over the simmering water, add the chocolate and butter and let melt.
4. Meanwhile beat the eggs with brown sugar, vanilla, cocoa and salt.
5. Pour in melted chocolate and mix well.
6. Rub each ramekin or the inside of each muffin mold with a thin film of butter.
7. Lightly sprinkle each with sugar and shake to coat the inside.
8. Pour in the cake batter and place on a baking sheet.
9. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until the outside of the cakes are baked through but the centers are still a bit runny.
10. Let cool for a few minutes, the cakes will shrink a bit and pull away from the mold.
11. If necessary, run a paring knife around the edges of the cakes to loosen them.
12. Invert onto a plate or all at once onto another baking pan.
13. Garnish with a spoonful of coffee whipped cream.

The Coffee Whipped Cream

1. Whip together the sugar, whipping cream, and instant coffee, until stiff.

Pear Salad with Garlic Oat Crunch and Blue Cheese Dressing

Yield: 4

Ease of Preparation: Easy. A recipe is merely words on paper; a guideline, a starting point from which to improvise. It cannot pretend to replace the practiced hand and telling glance of a watchful cook. For that reason feel free to stir your own ideas into this dish. When you cook it once, it becomes yours, so personalize it a bit. Add more of an ingredient you like or less of something you don't like. Try substituting one ingredient for another. Remember words have no flavour, you have to add your own!

Ingredients:

The Garlic Oat Crunch

• 5 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cups rolled oats
• 3 Tbsps honey
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 
  

The Blue Cheese Dressing

• 4 ounces blue cheese
• 4 ounces olive oil
• 2 ounces white wine vinegar
• 2 ounces honey
• Salt and pepper

The Salad

• A few handfuls of mixed baby greens, washed
• A few handfuls of baby arugula, washed
• 1 x small bunch watercress, washed and ends trimmed
• 2 x pears, cored and sliced thinly

Directions:

The Garlic Oat Crunch

1. Preheat oven to 325°F.
2. Combine ingredients in a bowl and toss well.
3. Spread out on a baking sheet and bake until golden and crispy, about 10-12 minutes.
4. Let cool.

The Blue Cheese Dressing

1. Place dressing ingredients in a small bowl and puree with an immersion blender or puree in a blender until smooth.
2. Adjust seasoning.

The Salad

1. Place salad ingredients into a large salad bowl and sprinkle with garlic oat crunch.
2. Drizzle with blue cheese dressing and toss well before serving.

Sautéed Spinach with Nutmeg

Yield: 4

Ease of Preparation: Easy
A recipe is merely words on paper; a guideline, a starting point from which to improvise. It cannot pretend to replace the practiced hand and telling glance of a watchful cook. For that reason feel free to stir your own ideas into this dish. When you cook it once, it becomes yours, so personalize it a bit. Add more of an ingredient you like or less of something you don't like. Try substituting one ingredient for another. Remember words have no flavour, you have to add your own!

Ingredients:

Sautéed Spinach with Nutmeg

• 2 Tbsps butter
• 1 x onion, minced
• 1 lb. baby spinach
• 1 tsp ground nutmeg
• Salt and pepper

Directions:

Sautéed Spinach with Nutmeg

1. Melt butter in a large sauté pan and then add onions.
2. Sauté until they are softened, then add spinach.
3. Stir until it wilts and then stir in nutmeg and season with salt and pepper.

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