Leap Day

Happy Leap Day! (or if you prefer, Sadie Hawkins Day)

While mine was fairly calm compared to other years, it was still fun and I approve of the google cartoon.

So in keeping with their theme: Hop you had a froggy nice 29th!

-r

Last Friday night...

I made homemade pizza!!!

(and you thought I was gonna sing Katie Perry)

It was amazingly good (both hubby and bro-in-law said so...and I didn't bribe them - promise!) Don't ask how I came up with the crazy idea of making my own sauce, and my own dough, and then the topping to top it off... although the fact that the cookbook had all 3 recipes didn't hurt... and it was Friday night and I had two hungry boys to feed. Love of cooking/food means doing crazy things!

Incidentally, I recommend making this pizza next Friday - you can go the total homemade route (like insane people whose hobbies include cooking) or you can simply make the topping yourself and use a frozen dough and your favourite sauce. Either way, it'll be a Friday night to remember!

Wise Guy Pizzia Pie - Italian Sausage pizza with mushrooms and red onions

(courtesy of The Looneyspoons Collections by Janet and Greta Podleski)

227g/8 oz of mild Italian sausage

3/4 cup thinly sliced red onions

2 cups thinly sliced mushrooms

1 tsp dried oregano

1/2 cup pizza sauce

1 12-inch prebaked thin crust pizza dough or homemade dough (if you use homemade dough, you can put everything on the fresh dough and bake for 15 minutes total, or prebake your homemade dough first and keep to the same 10 minutes recommended below)

1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

1 cup of your favourite cheese, packed & shredded

- Preheat oven to 425 F

- Add a bit of olive oil to a large stir-fry pan. Remove and discard the casing from sausage. Break or cut sausage into small pieces and add to pan with the red onion. Cook while stirring on medium-high heat until sausage is cooked through and onions are softened, about 3 minutes.

- Stir in mushrooms and cook until mushrooms are tender, about 5 minutes. Add oregano, mix well and remove from heat.

- Spread pizza sauce evenly over crust. Top with Parmesan cheese if using. Spoon sausage mixture evenly over dough and sauce. Sprinkle shredded cheese evenly over sausage mixture.
- Place pizza directly on middle oven rack and bake for about 10 minutes until cheese is completed melted and edges are lightly browned.

- Eat (you made need a fork and knife depending on how much topping you put on!)

Happy Eating!

-r

Celebrating by not celebrating

I start this post off with a serious note that I want you all to know I sincerely hope you've had a wonderful Valentine's day, and that you were loved and spoiled a least a little today.

Now I promise I'm not going to bore you all with my soapbox speech on the merits of a day dedicated to celebrating romantic love in a certain kind of way (for those of you who know my views on this particular day of the year, you follow; for those of you who don't - I'll summarize and say it's the opposite of my favourite). However, I also refuse to ignore acknowledging it's existence today, because it was just too good of a topic or I'm too lazy (you pick!)

The first year I was dating my hubby he was very sweetly quite excited to celebrate Valentine's day. And while we did exchange gifts (in part because it was our two month anniversary as well), I had to break it to him eventually that Valentine's day wasn't my thing and I couldn't be bothered to have him buy me flowers and chocolates on Feb 14th (plus I argued the price of those items was so much more during that time of year that he could get me flowers and chocolate 3 times throughout the year for the same amount).

Our first Valentine's Day as a married couple is turning out to be quite the experience. We're in our sweats and pj's, watching Big Bang Theory reruns, and knitting/fixing computers. But as I write this, I realize that I've never loved him more. 5 and a half years after meeting him, I'm blessed to be married to my best friend in the whole world, and I wouldn't trade a night like this for anything.

Happy Valentine's Day! No matter how or who you celebrate it with, know that you're loved.

-r

A good cuppa

I"m totally addicted to reading about the tea on this site... I know I'm crazy but I just can't help myself. I want to buy and try them all!

Here are the current 6 kinds I'd buy RIGHT now if I could justify it. I dare you to try to read through just their titles and descriptions and not want a cup of tea!

Orange Blossom

This is one enchanting tea. It’s a subtly sweet rooibos blend of orange peel, orange blossoms and currants, all kissed with vanilla bean creaminess. Grown among the clouds in heaven and harvested by cherubs, it tastes like a golden ray of sunshine. One sip and you’ll find yourself running along a beach at sunset, surrounded by turtle doves. Don’t believe us? Steep a cup for yourself and see where your imagination takes you. 

Dulce & Banana

This dulce de leche inspired tisane is about as good as it gets. It’s delicate and restrained, but has enough body and sweetness to compete with dessert. That’s because this serene herbal mix of chamomile, lemongrass, lavender and rooibos is tricked out with a delicious hint of caramelized banana. What better way to keep you smiling all autumn long?

Love Tea #7

One sip of #7 and you’ll find yourself head over heels. Mysteriously changed. Magically happy. Walking on air. How does it work? Frankly, we don’t know. Our blender came up with it and then just ran off with the girl of his dreams. Maybe it’s the chocolate bits that lower your inhibitions. Or the seductive strawberries. Or the romantic rose petals. Either way, this black tea is seriously lucky.

Midsummer Night's Dream

This citrusy-mint tea is refreshingly magical, with sweet apples, cool spearmint, tart gooseberries, orange oil, and petals of marigold and rose. But before you take a sip, we should probably warn you that it’s a bit of a love potion. For some people, it seems to turn regular summer evenings into dreamlike nights of romance and enchantment. Ice it and see what happens. Caffeine-free.

Mint Chocolate Rooibos

You won’t want anything else for dessert when you taste this tea. Even the aroma is totally satisfying. Minty fresh, with hints of dark chocolate and rich vanilla. Pour it and admire the coppery red of the rooibos, then take a sip and sink into its velvety sweetness. You can’t help but fall in love.

Read My Lips

Okay, this is probably the world’s best chocolate tea. Honestly. Better than dessert. More reliable than sex. It’s a totally decadent combination of China black tea, vanilla, peppermint, chocolate bits and spicy red peppercorns. Plus it contains little red candy lips for a kiss of sweetness. In other words, it’s a completely satisfying spring experience with no guilt or strings attached.

now I'm off to make coco chai rooibus.
chau!
- r

Superbowl Sunday (just go with it)

Okay, so this post is actually a week late, so I"m going to ask you to pretend you're reading this last week Sunday. Pretty please for me? Thank you!

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It's Superbowl evening ladies and gentlemen...Superbowl XLVI to be exact. I am parked on the couch at my in-laws, with food galore, and the confession that I still don't completely understand American football. But still I try!

For those of you who know me well enough, me + American Football were never friends. I thought it was a slow, confusing, and very unentertaining game to watch. I figured it was 'just an American thing' (my apologies to my American friends). But times have changed (and I have an American football loving husband) and I now begrudgingly quite enjoy Superbowl Sunday, although my hubby will confirm I still ask the silliest questions regarding football rules.

One of the main reason's I love Superbowl is because it gives me a chance to make food. Yummy party appetizer-type food! This year I went a little overboard, and made 4 different recipes. Below is the recipe for what was deemed the most successful and on the remake list...look for it at your next party! (yes, that means you have to invite me).







Macho Nacho Dip
(*disclaimer: i did not name this dish, but i wish i did!)

First Layer
1 can white kidney beans
1 cup light (5%) sour cream
2 tbsp taco seasoning

Place ingredients in mini food processor (or blender) and puree until smooth. Spread evenly over bottom of 8x11'' glass baking dish. Cover and refrigerate while making the next layer (put the dish in the fridge this each time you've completed a layer)

Second Layer
1 cup frozen sweet green peas (thawed)
1 can diced green chilies (or you can do what I did and replace this with 1/2 cup of water)
3 lg avocados
2 limes (you'll use their juice)
1/3 cup minced red onion
1 tbsp minced fresh cilantro
1 1/2 tsp taco seasoning
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp black pepper

Place peas and can of chilies with their liquid (or substituted 1/2 cup water) in blender and puree until smooth. Set aside. Peel and pit avocados and mash pieces in a bowl. Squeeze the juice out of 2 limes and add to mashed avocados and mash some more! Add pureed peas mixture and remaining ingredients and mix well. Spread evenly over bean layer and refrigerate.

Third Layer
1 cup light sour cream
1 tub light garden vegetable cream cheese (I used Philadelphia brand)

Stir together softened cream cheese and sour cream until well mixed. Spread over guacamole layer and refrigerate.

Fourth Layer
2 cups salsa (use light, medium or super spicy as you wish)
2 tsp minced cilantro

Mix together and then, you guessed it! Spread over cream cheese layer and refrigerate.

Fifth layer
1 cup shredded cheese (old cheddar or marble are the best kinds to use)
1 cup chopped lettuce (you can use iceberg, but romaine lettuce cut small enough works nicely too)
1/3 cup minced red bell pepper
1/4 cup chopped green onions

Sprinkle cheese over salsa layer. Top with lettuce, followed by red pepper and green onions.
Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until serving. Try to have it all assembled in the fridge for at least 2 hours before serving. Enjoy!!!

*recipe courtesy of Janet and Greta Podleski, in their cookbook The Looneyspoons Collection (arguably the best cookbook I've ever owned. Honestly. Just ask my hubby!)

Happy eating!
- r