Croatian Blackened Cod

How to make a traditional Croatian fish dish as a low carb version? Come and see….

In Croatia, cod is known as “Bakalar” and is usually served at Christmas as a hearty stew with potatoes. I decided to make this Croatian delicacy into a low-carb gluten free option and enjoy around the pool this summer. Cod is an easy and delicious fish to prepare. I decided to make it into a one sheet pan meal for easy prep and clean up. This dish is perfect for any night of the week. I added some radishes and broccoli along with lemon slices to make the dish pop.

Here is the recipe

Ingredients

2 pieces of Cod about 15 ounces or about 1 pound

4 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil

3 tablespoons of your favourite cajun seasoning

1 lemon cut into think slices

4 radishes cut in half

1 head of broccoli

Salt/Pepper

THE PREPARATION: SO EASY

Directions

Set the oven on to 400 F

1. Clean and cut broccoli, and radishes. Lay the vegetables evenly on the sheet pan. Drizzle with two tablespoons of olive oil. Making sure to coat all the vegetables and season with salt.

2. Clean fish and pat dry with paper towel. Season with cajun spice. Rub two tablespoons olive oil onto the fish and set evenly on the sheet pan next to the vegetables.

3. Add the lemon wedges.

4. Back in oven for 15 minutes.

Serve

Remove sheet pan from the oven and place on nice tray. Remember to add charred lemon wedges and enjoy.

Watermelon Sangria Mocktail

What better way to celebrate Canada Day than with a Watermelon Sangria mocktail. A beverage the whole family can enjoy throughout the day. This drink is easy to prepare and is a delicious way to enjoy summer around the pool. You will begin by cutting the watermelon into cubes and freezing for about one hour.

Next you will muddle the basil/or mint and lime in the empty pitcher

Ingredients

2 cups of watermelon cut into cubes

1 lime sliced

1/2 cup of fresh basil/ or mint you pick

4 cups of fresh squeezed watermelon juice (or store bought watermelon juice)

1 bottle(1 litre) of plain sparkling water like Perrier

1 bottle 750 ml of sparkling grape juice chilled-from Farm Boy grocery store

Lots of Ice

Instructions

1. Once you cut the watermelon cubes space on baking sheet and place in freezer for 1 hour.

2. Add the basil/or mint, and lime slices to the empty pitcher and muddle with a long spoon.

3. Add the watermelon juice, and refrigerate for a few hours (this is where the sangria part comes to play)

4. Add the chilled sparkling grape juice

5. Add frozen watermelon cubes and lots of ice

   Serve immediately

ENJOY IMMEDIATELY

Homemade Cilantro Lime Dressing

Cilantro lime dressing is so fresh and packed with flavour, plus it only takes a few quick minutes to make. The dressing is so versatile and can be used in salads, on chicken fajitas, with your shrimp, or on your tuna salads. I love making this dressing and having it in the fridge for my family to grab. It’s much better than the store bought version.

Homemade Cilantro Lime Dressing

Ingredients

2 tablespoons lime juice

1 cup of fresh cilantro

1/2 cup of plain Greek yogurt

1/4 cup of mayonnise

1/2 teaspoon maple syrup or honey

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions: Place all ingredients in blender and blend for several minutes until pureed and creamy.

Low carb Basil Biscuits

Low carb Lovers are your ready for some biscuits to start your day? I promise these easy to make savoury parmesan cheese basil biscuits will make your day.

Ingredients

Pre-heat oven to 450 degrees

You will need:

1 1/2 cup Almond flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon onion powder

2 large eggs

1/4 cup sour cream

4 tablespoons unsalted butter melted

2 tablespoons basil cut in strips

2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese

Directions

Mix dry ingredients together. In a separate bowl beat the eggs, add melted (cooled butter- if too hot it will cook the eggs) add sour cream. Then mix the wet ingredients with the dry ingredients. Fold in the parmesan cheese and basil. Place parchment paper to the baking sheet, and scoop out soft fluffy dough into balls. It should make roughly nine balls of biscuits. Place in oven and bake for 10-11 minutes.

Alcohol Free Drink-tastes so good you won’t want to add anything else

I’m doing #dryFeb and that means my creative juices are overflowing with delicious mock tails. My non-alcoholic drinks are tasty without too much sugar and no hangover. To help celebrate my birthday I created this Birthday Berry Float- perfect for the occasion as well as a mid-week beverage.

Ingredients for 4 drinks each approximately 150 ml.

1/2 c of frozen mixed berry fruit

8 tablespoons coconut water

1 can of san Pellegrino cherry mineral water

1 dollop of Halo brand birthday cake ice crease

Directions

Add frozen berries to blender and puree. In each 150 ml class add 2 tablespoons of berry puree, 2 tablespoons of coconut water, top with San Pellegrino and add dollop of Birthday cake ice. Now you’re ready to -Sip and Start singing Happy Birthday to Me.

Gluten Free Holiday Roasted Radishes

If you’re looking for some gluten free options for your holiday I suggest giving these roasted radishes with ranch dressing a try. Loaded with delish flavor and so easy to make. They sorta, kinda look like potatoes, but don’t really taste the same. Radishes have their own flavor separate from ‘the potato”. Nevertheless, these healthy options are so worth the try especially with my homemade ranch dressing.

Ingredients

-2 lb of radishes washed, trimmed and cut in half

-1 tablespoon extra virgin oil

-1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoom pepper

1/4 dried oregano or dried parsley

Directions

-preheat oven to 425 F

-In a bowl combine the cut radishes, salt, pepper, olive oil, oregano or parsley. Combine well

-Spread radishes in a 8 X 8 baking dish

-Bake for 30 minutes until the radishes are soft

Once done add your homemade ranch dressing

Homemade Ranch Dressing

Ingredients

• 1 cup mayonnaise 

• 1/4 teaspoon salt (you may want to add more)

• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder

• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

• 2 tablespoons fresh chopped dill

• 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar

• 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar

• 2 tablespoons unsweetened almond milk

• fresh chopped chives

Instructions

1. Add mayo and rest of the ingredients in a mason jar.

2. whisk the ingredients together until combined

3. Serve with your salad, or place in mason jar with lid and store in fridge for up to one week. 

   Once the radishes are out of the oven- add to serving dish and drizzle with ranch dressing

Healthy Halloween Dinner Ideas

Just because Halloween looks a little different this year it doesn’t mean it gonna be boring. In fact, I’ve gone beyond my regular candy table with healthy and fun dinner ideas for my Family. Look through this post and others to find recipes for my Chicken Cacciatore, my Baked Buffalo Cauliflower bites and Homemade ranch dressing, all of which can be added to make your Halloween table healthy and spooky. And yes, there will be candy and chocolate this year. My kids would totally revolt if I eliminated everything. Let’s be realistic and let’s make the most out of it.

First this gluten free dark chocolate mousse.

Ingredients

1 cup of heavy whipping cream

1/4 cup or less (remember this is dark chocolate) cocoa unsweetened

3 tablespoons monk fruit sweetener

1/2 ripe avocado (OPTIONAL) I liked it, but you may not.

1/4 teaspoon pink Himalayan salt

Direction

Whisk heavy cream until fluffy, add cocoa, monk fruit, whip until combined. Top a pinch of pink Himalayan salt. Top with fresh raspberries, or chopped almonds.

Once the Chocolate Mousse is complete- add to your Healthy Halloween Table and see how your family reacts.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Creme Brûlée

The dessert that got me a 8.7/10 from my husband. When I hear the word Creme Brûlée my mind immediately goes to “this is a difficult dessert” to make.  It must be the whole torch thing and lighting the sugar that has become synonymous with this dessert.  But not to worry ‘no torch needed’ here.  Instead of sugar, I added a dollop of fresh whipped cream.  Here is your step by step.

Ingredients

-1 cup of heavy creme

-3 large egg yolks at room temperature

-1 tablespoon monk fruit (sweetener)   https://naturamarket.ca/lakanto-classic-monkfruit-sweetener-235g.html Monk fruit is a small, green gourd that resembles a melon. It’s grown in Southeast Asia.  Monk fruit  sweetener doesn’t  impact blood sugar levels, it has zero calorie.  Unlike some artificial sweeteners, there’s no evidence to date showing that monk fruit has negative side effects.

-1 tablespoon unsweetened peanut butter

-2 oz dark chocolate -I use 90% dark chocolate

Directions

1. Turn oven on 350 degree F.  YOU will need 4 ramekins and a roasting pan to bake the ramekins in as you will be adding water.

2. Add the cream to a pan and turn oven on medium heat.  Warm up the cream but don’t let it come to a boil.

3. In a separate mixing bowl, whisk egg yolks, & monk fruit sweetener until fluffy.

4. Remove cream from heat and take approximately 1/8 of the cream and whisk it into the egg yolk mixture.  You do this step as it stops the eggs from splitting.

5. Whisk egg mixture into the rest of the cream-stirring continuously.

6. Place mixture back in pan and add chocolate and peanut butter.  Stir on medium heat until chocolate melts and peanut butter is combined. 

7. Pour chocolate mixture into each ramekin -filling it 3/4 of the way.

8. Place ramekins into a roasting pan (deep enough to cover height of the ramekins)

9. Add 2 cups of boiling water to the roaster until it reaches no more than a quarter way up the ramekins.  The hot steam prevents the tops of the brûlée’s from cracking.

10. Bake in oven for 30 minutes

11. Remove from heat and let sit on your counter a few minutes before placing them in the fridge for 3 hours to set.

Once it has chilled you can dig it.  I ate mine without whip cream, but my husband loved the additional whip on top.  Enjoy.

Low Carb Cream of Mushroom Soup

Am I crazy for thinking my kids will want to try this velvety cream of mushroom soup? Maybe, but I’m gonna try. Homemade cream of mushroom tastes so different than the canned stuff, plus my version is low carb which means no added flour or cornstartch.

Ingredients

1 1/2 pound of white mushrooms

1 shallot-chopped

2 cloves of garlic minced

2 tablespoons of grated ginger

1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil

2 teaspoons of salt

1 teaspoon pepper

1 cup of broth- I used beef broth- but use what you have or prefer

1/2 cup of heavy cream

Directions

1. Heat oil in a large pot, add shallots and sauté on medium heat for 2 minutes. Allow onions to get soft but not burn. Stir in garlic, and ginger.

2. Add mushrooms, salt and pepper. Stir and continue to cook until juices evaporate

3. Add broth and reduce heat

4. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes

5. In batches, blend the soup until smooth using your blender or immersion blender

6. Transfer pureed mushrooms to pot and add heavy cream

7. Simmer for another 3 minutes on low heat.

8. Season with salt and pepper and herbs like thyme, or parsley.

Chicken Cacciatore Easy weekday meal

Need a weekday meal the whole family will eat and enjoy? Try my super easy and flavorful Chicken Cacciatore. I use my instant Pot for a lot of meals including this one.

Once my chicken was done cooking in my instant pot, I transferred to my Le Creuset Cast iron round French oven because it’s a lot easier to serve.

Ingredients

• 5 Chicken breast- one for each member of the family- Or Chicken thighs

• 1 cup Crushed canned tomatoes

• 1 cup canned Tomato sauce

• 1 teaspoon Garlic power

• 1 teaspoon Onion powder

• 1/2 Bell Pepper

• 2 cut scallions or 1 shallot quartered

• 5-6 Mushrooms large cut in half you will add this near the end of the cooking process

• Olives (optional)

• salt pepper

  Directions

  1. Turn instant pot on slow cook setting

  2. Season chicken with salt/pepper, onion power and garlic powder add to instant pot

  3. Add the crushed tomatoes and tomato sauce in the pot with the chicken, bell peppers, and scallions

  4. Cook for 2 hours on low slow cook setting

  5. 30 minutes before its ready I added the mushrooms and olives

Baked Buffalo Cauliflower Bites

With the cooler temperatures I find myself gravitating to spicy foods.  I decided to combine my two favorite things “spicy and cauliflower” to come with a vegetarian take on a favorite appetizer.   This is a low carb option and something I am sure you will be making over and over again.  Also, these baked buffalo bites would be delicious in a taco.

Here is what you will need.

Ingredients 

-1/ 2 cup Almond Flour - I use this brand.

-2 tablespoons Buffalo seasoning - I like it spicy. I used the one from primal kitchen  

-2 eggs

- 1 teaspoon salt 

1 head of cauliflower

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

2. Clean and cut the cauliflower in bite size pieces

3. In a shallow bowl add almond flour, buffalo seasoning, salt, pepper THIS IS YOUR DRY Ingredients bowl.

4. In a separate bowl whisk the two eggs.

5. Add cauliflower to eggs, and coat all the cauliflower- you may want to do this in batches.

6. Immediately add to dry ingredients bowl

7. Arrange cauliflower in a single layer on baking sheet- roast in oven for 30 minutes

8. OPTIONAL- at the end I did turn on the broiler for 2 minutes to get them a little crispier- but totally up to you.

Keto Homemade Ranch Dressing

Homemade Ranch dressing is the best, and it’s easy to make.  I have to admit that I never liked ranch, so the thought of making it didn’t excite me.  Until I decided to make these Keto Blue Cheese Buffalo Turkey sliders. I knew that a simple ranch dressing was going to put these sliders over the top, and guess what? it did.    

I guarantee that once you start to make your own ranch dressing you won’t want to go back to that store bought stuff.

Homemade Ranch Dressing

Ingredients

• 1 cup mayonnaise 

• 1/4 teaspoon salt (you may want to add more)

• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder

• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

• 2 tablespoons fresh chopped dill

• 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar

• 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar

• 2 tablespoons unsweetened almond milk

• fresh chopped chives

Instructions

1. Add mayo and rest of the ingredients in a mason jar.

2. whisk the ingredients together until combined

3. Serve with your salad, or place in mason jar with lid and store in fridge for up to one week. 

Blue Cheese Buffalo Turkey Sliders

Ingredients

-1 pound ground turkey

-1 egg (beaten)

-1 green onion died

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 ounce of blue cheese crumbled

1 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup almond flower 

1 teaspoon mayo 

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1 tablespoon ghee or extra virgin olive oil for frying

Instructions

1. In a large mixing bowl add the ground turkey, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onions. Mix together.

2. Add the beaten egg, mayo, almond flower.  Mix with your hand until everything is combined.

3. Add the crumbled blue cheese and mix well.

4. Make 6 round balls and flatten, place on plate

5. Heat a large skillet on medium heat- add oil or ghee.

6. Let each patten cook 6 minutes on each side.  Make sure to check and see that the middle is cooked through

7. Remove and add on plate and add ranch, chopped chives and fresh dill.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Summer Strawberry Kale Salad

I realized from the start of the pandemic that nourishing my body & mind was really the only thing that was in my control.  I started to cut back on carbs, and sugar.  I said cut back, I didn’t say eliminate all together.  The results have been great.  I feel better in my body, I’m able to move easier, and when I slip into last season’s clothes I realize they are much looser.   This Canada Day will be a lot different, but we can still make food and design beautiful tablescapes that make our family and friends feel special.

I’m determined to continue to create good food that my family and I can enjoy around the table, here is my summer strawberry kale salad that will satisfy your body, mind, and your palate.

Ingredients

4 cups of chopped/cleaned kale

1 cup of fresh strawberries cleaned and cut

4 ounces feta cheese

1/4 of extra virgin olive oil

a squeeze of lemon juice

1 tablespoon of good Canadian maple syrup

2 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar.

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

Directions

Add chopped kale to large salad bowl, squeeze in lemon juice and start massaging the kale.  I do this to make the kale softer.   But totally up to you.  Add feta cheese and strawberries. 

In a separate container add olive oil, vinegar, maple syrup, salt, pepper.  Whisk well, and then pour over the kale, feta cheese and strawberries.

Celebrating Mother’s Day during Covid

With some creativity you can make Mother’s day extra special.  This year, flowers and delicious food prepared at home is my go to option.  Plus, I’m sure Mom will absolutely love the extra love and attention.  Here are a few tips to transform your coffee table into the best spread ever.

 1. Pick 2-3 of your Moms favorite brunch foods.  Think omelets, or pancakes, bacon or quiche.  Maybe it’s one hot dish and a couple cold dishes like bagels and cream cheese, or something like a build your own Yogurt parfait station.  Think about your Mom’s favorite foods.

2. Fresh fruit is always an easy and nice dish to include.  Look at what you have in the fridge and create a fruit salad.

 3. Beverages are a must.  As a matter of preference, I like to think about the beverages before the food.  Does your Mom like coffee, green smoothie,  or would she like a mimosa?  A mimosa is a combination of sparkling wine or champagne with orange juice. 

 Recipe for my Mother’s Day Mimosa

 Per Champagne Flute

Fill each flute with 1/2 champagne/or sparkling wine like Prosecco and 1/2 with orange juice.  I then like to add a splash of St. Germain liqueur.

Hope you find these food and drink ideas helpful as you prepare and plan the best Mother’s Day in quarantine.

How to manage your wedding logistics and your emotions during a pandemic?

COVID-19 is impacting all of us, but especially the couples who decided that 2020 was going to be the year of wedding bliss. I’m here to give you some tips on how you and your partner can manage your logistics and emotions during this unprecedented time. If your wedding is scheduled within the next few months it’s time to start thinking about a backup plan.  

1.     Remember your most important priorities for your wedding. 

Is your priority:

a.     To have a religious ceremony with your grandparents/parents in attendance?  Then keep in mind the option of postponing. You don’t want to put anyone’s health and safely at risk.  

b.     Or maybe your priority is to be legally married ASAP.  In that case you will want to check if your local city clerk’s office is open in order to elope.

Or

c.      You want a wedding to be the best party with family and friends. If this is the case then look into the option of 2021 as your new wedding year.

2.     Allow all the emotions to surface: anger, sadness, disappointment. I encourage you to express these feelings with your partner, your family, and friends. After you’ve felt all the feelings, it’s time to start making those decisions, making those phone calls, and writing those emails.

3.     Venue and Vendors-Review and start reading all the fine print on all those contracts you signed several months ago.  What is your venues policy on postponing? And how about the non-refundable deposits you placed with all your vendors months ago? Contact all your vendors and see what options are available before you make your final decision.  Remember your vendors want what’s best for everyone, are probably very flexible, and might be able to roll over the deposits. Contact them to see what’s possible. 

4.     Look at the this pandemic as the first hardship/obstacle you are experiencing as a couple. How can you lean on each other? How do you react when your world turns upside down? What are your strengths and your partners during these difficult times? Trust me, you will be faced with other difficult times in your marriage down the road. Find the silver lining.

5.     Take care of yourself. Practice proper hygiene. Wash your hands.  Take a walk as a couple or by yourself. Drink enough water, eat nourishing food, and get enough sleep. And BREATHE. You will get through it. 

**And finally, remember when you get through ALL this, you will have a great story to share.

Easter brunch beverage

What is your favorite beverage for a causal relaxing weekend brunch?  I enjoy a mimosa, but it would seem that I’m not the only one who occasionally indulgences in the day time beverage.  Data from Google trends shows that search interest in brunch has been rising since 2004.  Those spikes in interest correspond to Easter and Mother’s Day-two days that are evidently synonymous with brunch, with mimosa leading the way as the favorite.

I personally like having brunch at home as I find it overpriced at restaurants, plus I love the causal vibe it creates.  AND its so easy to set up. 

What you will need
-Your finest Orange Juice
-Your favorite Prosecco

1.     Find a place where your guests can easily help themselves.  The last thing you need or want are your guests coming in the kitchen interrupting you while you are busy preparing.
2.    Set the Prosecco in a wine bucket filled with ice
3.    Place Orange juice on a tray along with plenty of glasses.

For guests who prefer a mocktail, how about an Orange juice, mineral water spritzer with elderflower syrup—2 parts Orange Juice—1 part fizzy water—a splash of elderflower syrup.

What better way to welcome your guests and wish them a Happy Easter- than with a bubbly glass of happiness.

Half Time Entertainment-Family Style

Super Bowl Inspiration-

Half time is here, get your family up and over to your tablescapes and have some fun. 

I am not a beer drinker, but guess what?  Beer (well not in the traditional sense) was my inspiration for this easy and fun interactive family friendly tablescape.  Create your own Root Beer Float Station. Yum Yum.

The Set Up
I bought this green floor runner from party city  for $8.99, along with these tiny soft footballs.  

I found 2 burlap table runners and placed them on either end of the green runner.  I then placed these yellow goal posts on either end. Now the field is set for the game!  

The Food-Make it yourself-Root Beer Float Station-

Playing on the theme of the beer tent, I thought I would set up Haagen Dazs ice cream, A & W root beer, and frosted mugs, or frosted mason jars for the best results.

Finally-the best for last-My Giant Beergarita.
So it’s my birthday, and I thought why not make myself the ultimate beer drink and share with my love.
The main ingredient Corona beer
 

Limeade concentrate, and tequila, and crushed ice. I’d recommend a good tequila like an anejo or reposada. Your can go with a Patron or more recently I have been using Casamigos.

Take two cups of limeade, 3 ounces of tequila and 1 bottle of Corona. Be sure to apply a healthy coating of ungranulated raw sugar to the rim after running a lime wedge along it. Garnish with lime wedges and add a couple straws. Or if it has been one of those days just endulge yourself. After all my husband is a liver transplant surgeon.

That’s all folks.  An easy and most of all fun half time entertainment table that will have your family talking several days after.  Gather, Connect and Make Memories.
 

The Simple Things

Today is my Father’s 77th birthday, and I really didn’t have anything planned.  After all it is a Monday, and the kids have activities after school.  But, last night it occurred to me that every birthday we get to spend with my parents is a blessing.  So with that in mind we adjusted and rearranged our schedules to make this evening extra special, for a man who always goes out of his way for all of us.  

I picked a tweed plaid wool table runner that resembles his dapper and tailored style.  My Father loves to look nice.  The matching plaid napkins also remind me of his cravats or ties.  

I then placed a long wooden cutting board on top of the runner and will using it for decoration as well as serving and placing food on the table.  The menu is rustic and cozy, perfect for this chilly fall day. A leek and potato soup, broccoli salad, braised short ribs with a cauliflower mash, and finally for dessert birthday cake.

Apple Spice Cocktail

One of my favorite ways to welcome guests to our home is with a drink.  For the kids, I have apple cider in these gorgeous copper mugs, and some sweet treats.  For the adults I have this fall inspired cocktail.  I like to set up with bar cart in the dining room and invite my guests to help themselves. 

Apple spice cocktail
Ingredients-per cocktail
-1 oz fireball cinnamon whisky
-3/4 oz Calvados-an apple flavored French brandy
-2 oz apple cider
Pinch of ground cinnamon
Garnish with thin slice of apple or a cinnamon stick

Directions:
Put all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with some ice. Shake and pour into glass.