Even On The Lake We Eat Well

Just thought I'd throw this in here, since we spend more than half of our time out on the lake fishing. I cant take credit for this lunch, the other half made this, and it sure beats hot dogs.

Balsamic Ginger Beef

Since Im still on strike, there are times when our fridge and freezer start to get a little empty and I have to get creative with dinner. Today I found a package of stewing beef and decided to throw this little creation together, and it turned out AMAZING. Dont let the picture fool you, it was a plate cleaner.

1 Package Stewing Beef, chopped into 1 inch cubes
2 Packages brown gravy (2 for 1 at the dollar store)
4 Tbsp Balsamic Vinegar
2 Tsp Worchesire Sauce
2 Cloves Minced Garlic
2 Tbsp Chopped Ginger
1 Tbsp Cooking Oil

In a large skillet, heat cooking oil over medium heat
Toss in minced garlic, and cook 2-3 minutes, or until lightly browned
Add chopped ginger, cook for another 2-3 minutes
Add beef, and stir often, cooking until meat is just browned, about 5 minutes
Meanwhile, mix both packages of gravy with 3 cup water and bring to a boil in a saucepan over medium high heat
Add balsamic vinegar and worchesire sauce

Once meat is browned, transfer entire pan to slow cooker, including juices
Top with gravy mixture, coating evenly
Cook for 7-8 hours on low setting

I served this over mashed potatoes because it's all we had in the house, but it would work well with egg noodles aswell.

Turned out perfectly :)

Blueberry Strawberry Mini Turnovers

An easy desert, made this today with stuff we had lying around the house

1 cup flour
6 tsp chopped and semi melted butter
1/4 tsp salt
3-4 tbsp cold water
1 cup mixed frozen blueberries and strawberries
1/3 cup sugar
2 tbsp baking powder
1 tsp lemon juice

In a medium mixing bowl, combine flour, salt and butter
Mash together well
Add water until its to desired thickness and consistency
Form into a ball
Cover well with wax paper and refrigerate

Meanwhile, mix together berries, sugar, baking powder and lemon juice
Refrigerate

After 30 minutes or more, preheat over to 400
Flour counter
Using a rolling pin, spread out pastry until about 1/2 thick
Cut into rectangles
On a cookie sheet covered with parchmant paper, lay down one rectangle of pastry, layer with berries, then cover with another rectangle of pastry
Using your fingers, press down the edges
Continue with all of the pastry
Slit 3-4 lines in the top of the turnovers
Brush edges with melted butter
Baked for 15 minutes or until lightly browned

Asian Sesame Slaw

A great side dish, quick, easy and cheap to make

1 cup thinly shaved green cabbage
1 cup thinly shaved red cabbage
1/2 cup dry chow mein noodles for garnish
1/3 cup sesame oil
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
2 tsp sesame seeds
salt and pepper to taste

Mix cabbage together in a salad bowl
Mix next 4 ingredients together in a container with lid, and shake until well blended
Pour dressing on cabbage about an hour before serving
Garnish with dry chow mein noodles just before putting it out, so they stay nice and crunchy

Enjoy :)

"Gateau Chomage"

This is another passed down recipe. Growing up in a mining family (between my grandfather, father and I we have over 75 years with inco), we've gone through our fair share of strikes. The following is a recipe that you can easily make with ingredients laying around the house. The name is loosely translated to Unemployment Cake.

Syrup:
2 cups Brown Sugar
2 cups Water

Bring to a boil over medium heat in a medium sauce pan

Meanwhile, preheat over to 375 and prepare cake

Cake:
1 cup white sugar
1 tsp butter
1 cup milk
2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 cup - 2 cups flour, (to consistency)

Melt Butter
Mix all 5 ingredients together
Pour syrup in cake pan with lid
Slowly add cake batter to syrup (it's not going to look appealing right away)
Bake at 375 for 35-40 minutes, or until a tooth pick inserted comes out clean

Serve the cake warm, smothered in milk.

Sweet and Sour Fish Balls

This is a recipe that means alot to me. It comes from my late grandfather. He lived for the outdoors, just like I do, and was always coming up with new recipes for fish. This recipe works really well with "fishy" tasting fish, such as Lake Trout. Even people who aren't big fish eaters will love this one.

Sauce:
1 cup bread and butter pickle juice
3/4 cup water
1/4 cup ketchup
2 tbsp brown sugar
Cornstarch

Bring ingredients to a boil over medium heat
Thicken with cornstarch, only a little at a time, until desired thickness

Fish:
1 lb fish fillets, de-boned
Prepared Pan Cake batter, omitting oil
salt
vegetable or canola oil for cooking

Bring just enough oil in a deep frying pan to about 375 (when you drop water on it it should 'spit')
Cut fish into bite size pieces
Sprinkle with Salt
Dip fish into prepared pancake batter
Fry until golden brown, about 4-5 minutes

Serve fish mixed with sauce over brown rice

Very tasty and similar to a dish available at most Chinese restaurants

Thai Sweet Chili Chicken

Quick and easy chicken marinade

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1/3 cup thai chili sauce
1/3 cup soy sauce
2 cloves minced garlic

Mix all ingredients together
Pour over chicken in a deep dish, cover and refrigerate for 24 hours

Either bake in the over at 375 for 40 minutes, or cook on low in the slow cooker for 7 hours

In the picture, it is served with zucchini pasta

Zucchini Pasta

I love pasta without a thick sauce. We had alot of zucchini in our garden this summer, the plants pretty much took over an entire box, so I got creative with some recipes.

2 medium zucchini, grated
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/3 cup olive oil
500g or 1 box of whole wheat linguini (or your favorite pasta)
10-12 cherry tomatoes, rinsed
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (more if you like its spicier)
salt and pepper to taste
parmesan cheese, grated

Bring a saucepan to a boil, salt water and add pasta
Meanwhile, heat oil over medium heat in a deep frying pan
Add garlic and red pepper flakes to oil and cover, simmer until slightly browned
After 2-3 minutes, add zucchini to pan
Let simmer 5-10 minutes, stiring often
Add tomatoes, and salt and pepper to taste

Drain Pasta
Add to sauce in pan
Top with grated Parmesan cheese

This dish is great on its own or served as a side for chicken

Easy Healthy Tuna Sandwhich

This is a quick, easy twist on your regular tuna sandwhich. I make this pretty often for my other half's lunches, Im sure the guys he works with hate me for the smell, haha.

1 can tuna in water
1 medium dill pickle
1 tsp dijon mustard
2 slices whole wheat bread

Finely Chop the pickle
Using a fork, mush the tuna in a bowl
Mix in the dijon mustard and the pickle
Spoon onto one slice of bread, and cover with the other

Pretty easy, but alot healthier than the version with mayo.

Warm Maple Balsamic Dressing

This salad dressing goes perfectly with a spinach salad. I love trying any new homemade dressings this one is similar to one that they sell at Tommy's Not Here in Sudbury.

1/3 cup real maple syrup
1/3 cup Balsamic Vinegar
1/3 cup olive oil
1 clove garlic minced

Mix all ingredients together in blender and put on low setting for about 1 minute.
Warm in microwave safe dish for 15-20 seconds
Pour over spinach salad

ENJOY :)

Buffalo Chicken Dip

Made this the other night for my super bowl supper... all the tastiness of chicken wings without the mess.

1 8oz package cream cheese
2 chicken breasts
3/4 cup hot sauce (I used whiskey hot suace)
1/2 cup blue cheese salade dressing
Shredded Cheddar cheese

Melt cream cheese in microwave for about 1:30mins
Fry chicken until cooked through in a frying pan over medium high heat about 10 minutes a side
Mix hot sauce, salade dressing and cream cheese together
Shred chicken and add to dip mixture
Cover with shredded cheddar cheese
Bake at 400 for 20 minutes or until cheese is slightly browned
Serve with warm tortilla chips

Quick and Easy Taco Seasoning

If you dont have any taco seasoning at home, this is a perfect substitute. Works perfectly in chicken taco soup.

1 tbsp. chili powder
2 tsp. onion powder
1 tsp. each ground cumin, garlic powder, paprika, powdered oregano and sugar
1/2 tsp. salt

Slow Cooker Chicken Taco Soup

This is one of our favorites for hunting or fishing trips. It fills you up and warms you up. I usually make it ahead of time and freeze it.

4 cups chicken broth
1 cup beef broth
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can mixed beans
1 can corn niblets
2 chicken breasts
1 package taco seasonin (or you could make your own, recipe to follow)
2 chopped red bell peppers
2 carrots finely chopped
1tsp garlic powder
Salt and Pepper to taste
1 tsp red pepper flakes
Tortilla chips
Cheese (preferably montery jack)

Bake chicken in 400f over for 20 minutes
Meanwhile, add chicken and beef broth, tomatoes, beans, corn, taco seasoning, peppers, carrots, garlic powder and red pepper flakes to slow cooker
Once chicken is cooked, add to soup

Cook on low for 8 hours
Half way through, remove chicken, let cool, and mince into small pieces, then return to soup

Before serving:

Spoon into over safe bowls
Garnish with crushed tortilla chips and shredded cheese
Bake at 400f for 15 minutes, broil for 5 minutes.

Basil Veggie Pasta

Its been a while since I've posted anything, I havent really been trying any new recipes. Last night I got the itch to cook and came up with this one...

Bunch of Asparagus tips, washed and trimmed
1 Red Bell Pepper, finely chopped
1 can Artichoke hearts, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 shallot minced
12 cherry tomatoes
2 TBSP olive oil
1/2 cup chicken stock
1 box whole wheat rotini
salt
pepper
2 tsp basil

Heat 2 TBSP olive oil over medium heat
Add garlic and shallot until slightly browned
Add asparagus, and red peppers,
Cover and Simmer
Meanwhile, cook pasta to al dente (8-9 minutes) in a pot of hot water
Once veggies are getting tender, add artichokes, tomaoes, salt, pepper and 2 tsp basil
Let simmer
Rince pasta in coriander
Use 1/2 cup chicken stock to deglace pan
Add pasta to veggies in pan
Mix well with broth, add a bit more olive oil to coat if you want

Serve sprinkled with fresh grated parm :)

I cooked this last night with french's onion chicken, which is as simple as brushing chicken breasts with dijon mustard, and coating it with crushed french's onions, and baking it for 20 minutes at 400

Hope you enjoy... more to come