Roasted Vegetable Lasagna

What better inspiration than a bag of the most lovely eggplant I have seen.  It was next to some delicate zucchini and after adding a few more ingredients to my shopping list roasted veggie lasagna was on it's way to becoming a reality.  First was to roast the zucchini and eggplant with olive oil and Italian seasoning.  Second saute the spinach with some fresh garlic, salt, pepper and a smidgen of nutmeg.  Put together an organic tomato basil sauce and add a can of diced tomatoes some Italian seasoning and fresh garlic.  My secret ingredient??? Umami paste added to my sauce to give it that extra special flavour.  You may ask what other secrets I have up my sleeve?  Fresh lasagna sheets instead of dried pasta, it makes all the difference!  Now for the layers:

1. small ladle of sauce

2. fresh lasagna sheets

3. ricotta cheese, topped with sauteed spinach, topped with sauce and a sprinkle of mozzarella cheese

4. next layer of fresh lasagna sheets

5. zucchini, eggplant topped with sauce and another sprinkle of mozzarella cheese

6. final layer of lasagna sheets topped with the remainder of the sauce

7. add a good helping of mozzarella cheese

Bake at 350F until bubbling along the edges and cheese is browned slightly.  I'd say take the time to savour and enjoy every bite however it's so delicious it won't last that long!  Enjoy!

Cajun

Not sure what the allure is.... whether it's because it's the setting for one of the vampire stories I read, or the thought of blackening items and still being able to eat them and say "that's exactly how it's supposed to look".  Maybe it's just the feeling that down home cooking gives you on a cold day?  Whatever the reason I find Cajun food fabulously interesting.  My husband recently travelled to Louisiana and although I could not go with him he made sure that packed away in his suitcase were a few key ingredients to help me create some masterpieces!  Fist up: Fish Fry.

Dinner with friends was served up Cajun style with a good old fashioned fish fry.  I took my package of Louisiana fish fry and some fresh snapper and made a gigantic mess of fried goodness in my kitchen.  Topped with your choice of "Cajun Seasoning" or "Slap Ya Mamma" spice dinner was a hit in the making.  To accompany, and also regulate our intake of fat...I served a spinach salad topped with almond slices, pumpkin seeds, fresh tomatoes and a little buffalo mozzarella.  Last but not least, what would be the point of serving a fried fish without some sort of a chip, Smashed Potatoes!  A take away from watching Michael Smith's Chef at Home it's tasty and a work out all at once.  Cooking these potatoes at high heat always sets off my smoke detectors and my family and I frantically wave blankets and cloths to try and stop the beeping.  It's my way of working off a few calories before I eat them.  Great times were had by all and leftovers were transformed into Cajun fish burgers the following night!  Two birds killed with one stone.

Untammed Feast - Wild Mushrooms

As a yearly tradition I visit the Circle Craft fair and look for something I just can't live without.  Whether it be the olive spoon, aluminum earrings or this year dehydrated wild mushrooms!  Upon approaching the bustling Untammed Feast booth it was clear that they had generated some excitement.  Samples tend to do that amongst a crowd.  We patiently waited our turn and had a taste of their alder smoked chantrelle mushroom dip!  It was love at first bite and I instantly had to have them all... and I did.  Now what to do with these mushrooms?  Go home and make wild mushroom risotto for dinner, that's what.  I began my risotto mostly following the included recipe but used dry white vermouth instead of wine.  The smell that permeated the kitchen and most of my place was making my mouth water.  It was all we could do to wait for it to be ready.  17 mins later it was risotto bliss.  Now looking forward to the next mushroom delight!

Pescatarian for a month

Pescawhat?  Think of a vegetarian that eats fish and shellfish and then you have a pescatarian.  If you have never heard of this you are not alone.  When I recently decided to give up meat for a month and called myself a vegetarian who eats seafood my friend shared that there was actually a name for that, who knew?  In efforts to prepare for the holiday season of amazing delicacies I am eating healthy for the next month.  Now if I happen to loose a few pounds before my birthday and Christmas then so be it!  How did I start this off you may ask?  Well nothing short of delicious in a prawn and tofu stir fry over mung bean noodles.  Healthy, tasty and low fat.  If only all meals could be this easy.  I'll share some of my many food adventures this month and let me know if you want to try this out???

Watermelon Salad

Long gone are the days that salads are just a side line filler.  A good salad can be every bit as satisfying and delicious as any other part of a meal.  In fact if you have ever had the opportunity to eat one of my salads they are usually a meal on their own.  I had the privilege of attending a friends wedding this summer and found yet another interesting salad.  Nothing says freshness quite like a juicy watermelon and when it becomes the center piece of the salad you will never look at it the same way. Served in a bowl topped with goat cheese and fresh basil.it's a delightful blend of sweet and savory.  I'll be trying this again!

Campagnolo Roma - East Vancouver Eats

It's not often that I'm introduced to a new restaurant that really intrigues me to return within 1 week.  When a friend suggested a restaurant in my old neighborhood that just opened recently it was decided to try it out for our group outing.  Not much to look at in that the restaurant seats maybe 35 people it's charming warmth was very welcoming. 

The menu was short and sweet but supplemented with a fresh board of the day's specials.  We had no problem in choosing where to start as none of us had ever had a whipped ricotta.  Gently whipped ricotta seasoned with lemon juice and zest topped with fresh cracked pepper and olive oil, served with a house made rustic loaf.  Worth every mouthful we quickly finished and moved on to the eggplant bruschetta.  It did not disappoint and before we knew it our appies were done!  Pasta al dente, hand stretched pizza and pasta that would make your Nonna jealous.  We probably should have stopped there but when you have a honey panna cotta and tiramisu that tastes like Heaven in  your mouth why would you? 

Friendly and helpful the staff didn't complain that we lingered over coffee.  An experience that led to a couple of more visits over the next couple of weeks and I'm pleased to say that each visit was a pleasant and tasty as the first!  Go see for yourself if you don't believe me.

Strawberry Shortcake with Grandma's Cake

Having now made my grandma's orange coffee cake several dozen times now I thought it about time I added my own twist.  I swapped the orange juice for mango juice and gave it a tropical flair.  Then I added peach juice, apricot juice and almost any other juice taking up space in your pantry.  With the great texture and taste of this tried and true recipe it can become almost anything.  I decided one night that it would be a perfect base for strawberry shortcake.  A few sliced strawberries and some whipped topping made one of my favorite classics come to life.  All that was left was to make a cup of tea!

Lobster for breakfast

One of my husband's recent work trips landed him in the lovely province of Halifax.  Being famous for their lobster it was only natural I requested some be brought home.  He obliged and as his carry on luggage were 5 lively lobsters on their way to being a meal!  The flight is a long one and although my promise to pick him up at the airport was fulfilled cooking at 11:30pm was a little out of the question. 
Who needs to wait until dinner, first thing in the morning there was a pot of salt water boiling and 5 lobsters enjoying the last few minutes of their lives....  While my little boy looked on in wonder as I put the skittish little crustaceans into a boiling bath we all waited for breakfast to be served.  15-20 minutes later the now vividly red lobsters took a cool bath in some iced salt water.  It stops the cooking and prevents it from sticking to the shell.  Fresh French bread, garlic butter and delectably sweet lobster far outweigh a breakfast burrito any day!

Dissapointed by Lao Shan Dong

It is always sad when one of your go to places for a good homemade noodle soup lets you down.  We have been going to this little hole in the wall place for amazing homemade noodle soup and delicious pork dumplings for years now.  That is until today.  After stopping in for a take out order we made it all the way home before finding out that we were shorted one soup.  I called them to let them know of their mistake and it took over 5 minutes to get the lady to understand what I was trying to say.  By the time we finally got all of our meals we were terribly disappointed by the decline in quality.  The once tasty soup was not only lacking in flavour but drowning in salt...  I must say that we won't be back and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone I liked!

Where is FoodyMom?

Finding out your limitations is never pleasant....  My goal of blogging once or twice a week about my many food adventures was thwarted.  By what you may ask?  It's more like by whom, my little 2 1/2 year old son.  Working full time in a new position and being a full time mom, wife, daughter and sister makes any semblance of a personal life non-existant.  How do you find balance?  Quite simply, you don't, you make sacrifices instead.  Trying to squeeze a few minutes here and there I can hopefully begin to blog again....  Where else are you going to read about my Canuck's bake off to the Stanley Cup and calamities of cakes gone wrong? Here is where!

Joey's -Burnaby

 A night out "kid-free" is a rare and special occassion and even when it occurs I find it hard to let go. On my last night out we went out with friends to Joey's in Burnaby. Calling ahead on a Friday night can only go so far and after we arrived we found ourselves waiting.... It wasn't that long before a hostest came to offer us a seat with one exception it was to be seated at the chef's table. We were in a mood to try something new and this seemed a perfect fit.

  The table was a long woodent table that sat facing the orderly chaos that is a reastaurant kitchen. We were treated to complimentary cocktail tasters and appetizers and pleasant conversation with many staff that would come by our table.  It is a facinating experience to watch the many wonders of just how your food comes to your table looking so tantalizing.  The speed and efficiency of the staff boggles my mind as I think of how just one other person in my kitchen could drive me crazy.  The location of the table leads to a noisier than usual atmosphere so if you are looking for a quiet dinner to talk this would not be your best selection.  For a fun and enlightening experience and if you don't mind kicking up the volume this is a unique way to spend an evening. 

The downside of this type of a dinner, it makes choosing your dinner a difficult thing.  Seeing all this yummy food coming from the kitchen with the delicious aromas puts you in the mood to try everything....  I had to settle on some comfort food and after appys of chicken wings, calamari and flat bread, chose the ahi tuna club as my main course.  The ahi tuna cooked to a pleasant medium rare, the onion rings gently battered and the thin shoestring fries with their light and crispy flavour only confirmed I made the right choice. 

Why stop there, with a final challenge ahead we chose to share Joey's interpretation of apple pie.  A light puff pastry with apples dressed in a caramel crumble it was tasty enough to have without the icecream.  After all you know how I feel about apple pie a la mode, it really should be served with cheddar cheese!

All in all a great evening out and one to be repeated again soon!

Pumpkin Muffins, better than a doughnut

I've been on a bit of a muffin kick these days and I have tried a few good recipes.  So far I think I have enjoyed the Pumpkin Millet muffins from the Rebar cookbook the best!  They are moist yummy and not to sweet.  The warm pumpkin smell that fills the house while they are in the oven baking is enough to draw you in. The delightful texture and flavours only make a good cup of tea even better!  Such simple little things to make it's a wonder why I don't bake them all the time. I've been trying to make some healthier but still yummy recipes and recipes like this it makes eating better a breeze.  If you haven't run to the nearest bookstore to pick up this cookbook yet, then what are you waiting for?  You are this close to being the next Dining Diva.  Not sure if baking is your thing?  Try the green rice or tofu scramble and you won't be disappointed.

T-Bone Steak

Do you ever have that feeling that you just need a steak?  When I was nursing my son I found that I could eat non-stop and never be quite full.  This is when I loved to go to The Keg for the T-bone steak they have in their winter grill.  There is just no flavour like a T-bone and it's worth every bite.  Now however there is usually more in my doggy bag then my stomach for just cause.  Have a look at the size of this thing????  It will not beat out my favorite steak from The Chop House in Palm Springs but it's still a darn good steak!

Carrot Cake for rabbits everywhere

There is this great little vegetarian restaurant in Victoria, BC called Rebar that I try to visit every time I get the chance over to the island.  I immediately purchased their cookbook when it came out and find it a great go to on my shelf.  When my uncle's recent 70th birthday required a cake, I found myself eagerly accepting the challenge.  With a family chocked full of bakers I would be up against some serious taste buds.  Sifting, blending, icing and decorating = Amazing!  With rave review all round I was now officially in charge of the carrot cake for any family gathering.  My secret, fresh pineapple chopped by hand and real Belgian white chocolate in the icing.  With delicious flavours like this it will make even your pickiest eaters want their carrot intake!

Grandma's Chocolate Cake

When the weather is dreary and ambitions to go outdoors are low, the time is right to bake a cake.  Nothing to difficult, no layers galore, just a simple chocolate cake to enjoy over a cup of coffee.  I have had this recipe floating through the house taken down on an old realtor scratch pad waiting for the right time to test it out. 
1 cup vegetable oil
1 cup milk
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla

3 cups flour
3 tbsp baking powder
3/4 cup cocoa powder
pinch of salt
1 cup strong coffee

Combine milk, oil and sugar until well blended.  Add eggs one at a time.  Add vanilla and blend thoroughly.  In a separate bowl sift together flour, baking powder, cocoa and salt.  Add flour mixture to batter alternating with coffee.  Pour mix into a 10" springform pan and put in the oven at 350F for about 65 mins. 
Fair warning to all who make this, don't expect to have any leftovers!

Rice Bowls

Rice Bowl night is met with great enthusiasm in my house.  It's a great way to use up all the extra veggies in your fridge and make sure your family gets a balanced meal in a bowl.  Some of my go to veggies are; carrots, snow peas, peppers, zucchini, grated beets, chopped cilantro, bean sprouts and chopped peanuts or cashews.  I usually put a pot of rice on in the rice cooker.  Usually I select jasmine Thai rice but brown rice or red Thai work great  as well.  For protein I like to make some garlic shrimp, grilled chicken and teriyaki steak in strips.  Scoop a little rice in your bowl, top with your favorite veggies and protein then comes the piece de resistance (super yummy) satay sauce.  Not just any satay sauce will do, Trader Joes satay in a saucepan with a can of coconut milk and a couple of tablespoons of peanut butter is what I'm talking about!  It's a great meal with plenty of options.  Now life would be just perfect if I could get my son to eat them!

Cake Plate Re-designed

I was extremely proud of my boxing day purchase, a new fancy cake plate with a cover!  At $14.99 it was a steal and just exactly what I wanted.  However nice I thought it was on it's own my little 2 year old thought it would look better with a little pizazz.  He proceeded to cover half the side with his favorite "Cars" stickers. 

The Fish House - Take 2

A few months back I had shared a dissapointing trip to The Fish House in Stanley Park.  The gift certificate they had sent me as an apology has sat on my fridge for several months as a constant reminder to try again.  When I went to look at the gift certificate thinking it was about time to use it I was unpleasantly surprised to find that it had expired.  I took the chance that if I called them they might still let me use it.  This time their customer service was top notch.  I made reservations for the following day for afternoon tea and invited my mother and mother in law to join my little boy and me.  It was like night and day from the moment we were escorted in and guided to a lovely table by the window.  Our server was pleasant and attentive our food delightful.  Never have I tasted such a lovely scone!  When I asked if perhaps we could order an appetizer off the dinner menu our server apologized and said unfortunately no.  Without a word to us he in fact went in to ask the kitchen and was able to offer us the muscles on a hot skillet with the chorizo sausage!  This dish was one of our favorites from the menu at the since closed Cannery.  So sad to see it go but nice to know that it lives on through it's sister restaurant.  The afternoon was a success and thanks to the attentive and pleasant staff at the Fish House we will be back!

Wine and Cheese - A birthday celebration

Things change as do people.  Whereas years ago I would have enjoyed going out drinking pitchers of sangria and enjoying the hilarity of drunken friends I am now just as content to have people come to me with wine in tow to share their drunken hilarity in my home.  To celebrate with friends I invited everyone over, no gifts, just a bottle of wine and your favorite cheese was on the menu.  I rushed home from work and set up a butcher block with a selection of cheeses and plate full of crackers.  Chopped a selection of sausages and deli meats from the International Sausage House and it was a snack that could be a meal.  The cheeses on the menu were: Pecorino, Provolone, Smoked Gouda, Aged White Cheddar, Boursin, Herb & Garlic Goat Cheese, Smoked Polish Cheese, Applewood Smoked Cheddar and I'm sure I missed a couple more.. I had told everyone after 5pm and they obliged with most arriving after 6pm.  Instead of my neurotic tasting habits of beginning with whites lightest to heaviest, etc.... I just popped the cork and went to town. 

Wine 1

Concha y Torro WINEMAKER'S LOT
Carmener 2008

I was the lucky recipient of this fabulous bottle of wine at my husband's work Christmas party.  It was smooth and full bodied, easy to drink and went lovely with the Pecorino cheese.  I went back to this wine several times through the evening and would definitely buy this again!

Wine 2

Layer Cake, Shiraz 2009

South Australia

Being such a young wine this one went straight into the decanter to help "air it out".  It's a favorite in our household for being an easy drinking rich tasting shiraz.  The chocolate and cherry undertones make it a delightful wine for after dinner or all on it's own!  Unfortunately my attempt to make the layer cake to go with it just wasn't the same...maybe next time.

There were several more wines but time is short and I have yet to to tackle dinner tonight.  The rest will have to wait.

Grandma's Secret

For as long as I can remember my grandma has made this wonderful cake she sells and serves with coffee.  My grandmother however lives a bit farther than the next town and calls San Jose, Costa Rica home.  Her orange flavoured cake is not only one of my favorites but also my mom's.  For my mom's upcoming birthday I decided I would give it a try and before you can say "hola" I had my grandma on the line.  I jotted down her instructions and 5 mins later her secret (not so secret) recipe was mine.  As
I am a fan of sharing good recipes I couldn't hold back on this one. 

Grandma's Orange Coffee Cake

3 cups flour

1 1/2 cup sugar

4 eggs

2 x 150gr butter (approx 1 1/2 cups)

1 small glass of orange juice (about 1 cup)

3 tsp baking powder

Cream butter until pale and fluffy and slowly add sugar

Add eggs one at a time combining well after each

in a separate bowl combine flour and baking powder

Add dry ingredients to butter mixture alternating with orange juice

Pour into well greased bundt pan

Bake at 350 F for approximately 1 hour until dark golden colour.

I will be wishing my mom a happy birthday this week and let you know how it turns out!

Jan 3, 2011
Update on the cake, while the recipe is fabulous and easy to put together unfortunately for me it stuck to my bundt pan....  Instead of a lovely slice of cake, we had yummy cake in a bowl.  After this huge disappointment I tried again and poured it into a greased and parchment lined springform pan for 1 hour and 14 mins.  Much better!