I feel quite great really. For the first few days on the other hand, I was hungry.
All. Of. The Time.

I’m getting over it, but when it’s already tough to figure out what to eat, snacking is even worse.  When I stopped to consider what I’d usually nibble on, I realized that, pretty much, everything was off limits. I even went for my morning granola. No go, it has dried fruit.

It came down to two things. The always good hummus with carrots was one, but then I was back on the granola. So to satisfy both the salty and the sweet cravings, I drizzled it with warm maple syrup and a drop of oil before baking and salted it on the way out. Flax, sunflower seeds, pepitas, oats and almonds.
A little birdy, but it sure hit the spot.

Perfect for using up left overs on just on their own, these little triangles make a great appetizer or side for a soup.

It took me a while to dig into Palak Paneer, the Indian creamed spinach with homemade cheese.
It wasn’t until a friend of mine returned from an extended stay in India and reintroduced me to a few more traditional dishes, that I realized spinach is a very welcomed side to a spicy curry.
Of course for a vegan version, I make my “paneer” from a diced, fried, firm silken tofu which is soft and mildly flavoured, like the paneer which satisfied my cheese knowing tongue.

For the triangles I add just a little more to the flavour combination with minced red bell pepper and some fresh basil.

PALAK PANEER

5-6 Cups packed Spinach
1 Cup packed arugula (optional)
1/2 Package firm silken tofu
1 Medium Sized Onion, minced
2-3 Bay leaves
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon Minced Ginger
1/2 teaspoon Minced Garlic
1/2 teaspoon Green chili paste
1/2 Cup Water
1/2 teaspoon Garam Masala Powder
Salt to taste
1/4 tsp. Black pepper
1/2 Red Bell Pepper, finely diced
5-6 Large Basil Leaves, finely chopped
Vegetable oil as required

12 Sheets of Phyllo DoughMix ginger and garlic into a paste, add green chilli paste and water to combine.
Add the spinach and arugula to a large pan with a fitted lit.
Pour the ginger-garlic-chili liquid over the rinsed spinach and arugula.
Cover and steam for about 7-8 minutes.
Cool slightly and drain excess liquid.
Cut tofu into 1/2″ cubes.
Heat enough oil to just cover the bottom of a sauté pan. Fry the tofu pieces over a medium heat till they are slightly browned.
Remove tofu with a slotted spoon and continue to drain tofu on paper and set the aside.
Drain all but 1 tablespoon of oil from sauté pan. Fry bay leaves and cumin seeds. Add chopped onion. Sauté until the onions become tender.
Add salt, pepper, and garam masala. Stir well.
Remove bay leaves then add onions along with the spinach to a food processor.
Purée, adding tablespoonfuls of water as necessary until smooth.
Transfer spinach mixture to a bowl and stir in tofu, basil and red peppers.
Taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary.
Preheat the oven to 350ºF.
Lay one sheet of phyllo on a cutting board and brush it lightly with oil.
Carefully lay another sheet on top of the first then cut into 3 strips, lengthwise.
Cover the remaining sheets with a dampened cloth to keep them from drying.
Scoop a heaping tablespoonful of the prepared spinach mixture onto the end of one of the cut strips.
Fold over once to cover then flip the left corner up and over to form a triangle.
Continue to fold the straight ends over to keep the triangle shape, finishing the length of the phyllo.
With a moistened finger, wet the last edge of the phyllo to seal.
Repeat with the remaining phyllo sheets, cutting them into strips, filling then folding over into triangles.
Bake on a parchment lined baking sheet for 12 – 15 minutes or until crisp and golden brown.
Makes 18 triangles.

I wouldn’t go so far as to label myself a hippie or anything. Although I do enjoy a good amount of Canned Heat, I’m just not old enough. What I could call myself is frugal. I grew up with granola in the house but it was “Dad’s Cereal”. Which is, of course, why it was so elusive. We were told it was too expensive for us to burn through on a Saturday morning and we were much better off with the Fruit Loops within reach. However, little did my Mother know that as one of the few occasions my brother and I would get along, we would tag team to the top shelf for a sneaky handful from the protected bag of goodness.

Being the rebel that I am, I’ve continued to prefer granola over mass produced O’s, but the one tidbit of price tag always stuck with me. The giant yellow box is half the price of the tiny one I covet. Seeing you can’t stuff air into oatmeal must be one reason for the price difference and of course, that age old saying of getting what you pay for.

As frugal as I am, I tend to never order in a restaurant or buy anything food wise that I could easily make for myself at home. Granola, naturally fits into this category quite well. After recently receiving a bag each of dried papaya and almonds I hit my pantry to complete the list of ingredients.

Although filled with a little more of the good stuff than most store brands, I would call it pretty close to that shoveled childhood handful. All I need to go with it is the bravery of Lolo to commit to making my own soy milk to go with it.

LOW FAT TROPICAL GRANOLA

2 Cups Whole Oats, Old Fashioned
1/3 Cup Dried Papaya, 2 spears halved and diced
1/3 Cup Almonds, coarsely chopped
1/3 Cup Unsweetened Shredded Coconut
1/4 teaspoon Salt
2 Tablespoons Safflower Oil
3 Tablespoons Blue Agave Nectar
2 Tablespoons Brown Rice Syrup

Preheat the oven to 300ºF.
Toss the oats, papaya, almonds, coconut and salt together in a large bowl.
In a small saucepan combine the oil, agave and syrup.
Mix well to combine and heat until it just begins to bubble.
Remove from the heat and pour over the dry ingredients. Stir well to coat.
Spread evenly over a parchment lined, edged cookie sheet.
Bake for 10 minutes. Stir to mix and rotate pan.
Return to oven and bake for an additional 5 – 10 minutes.
Shake granola lightly to break apart any large piece and leave to cool completely.
Store in an airtight container.

CANDIED ORANGE PEELS

5 Oranges, any kind
3 Cups Sugar
1 Cup Water

Soak and scrub the oranges in warm soapy water and rinse well.
Cup the tops and tails from the oranges, then peel.
Cut as much of the pith as you can without getting too crazy about it.
Slice the peels into strips and add them to a sauce pan with enough cold water to cover.
Once the water begins to boil, drain and repeat 2 – 3 times to reduce the bitterness.
Dissolve the sugar in the one cup of water and bring to a low boil, heating 230ºF.
Once the sugar syrup reaches the magic number, reduce the heat to just a simmer and add the blanched peels.
Soak the peels in the simmering syrup for 35 – 40 minutes, or until they are translucent.
If you’re finding it irresistible, infrequently spin the pan but try not to stir it since it will create sugar crystals.
Remove the peels, separate them and lay them out on a cooling rack to dry. (Or be sure to toss them in sugar first, if they’re just for snacking.)
Reserve the syrup for other uses. (Like sweetening cocktails, iced tea or as a glaze.)
Once they are cooled, store the oranges in granulated sugar until ready to use.

I don’t know about you, but I typically go one of two ways when I’m on hors D’oeuvres duty; Chips and dip or stress with what will impress.

I like entertaining and I quite like the reputation that guests don’t need to eat before a gathering at my place. Lately I’ve found a few speedy plates that are quick to keep everyone happy and you chatty while you catch up with company.

The eggplant caviar only takes a bit of prep time with the roasting but with a food processor, everything was so speedy quick that I also threw together some whole grain flat bread in the meantime. Sure, you could buy crackers but this way, you not only know what’s in them, but it’s up to you and your taste buds to add what goes on them. Roll them out and cut them into dainty shapes or go fast and fun and leave them just so. They’re thin and crisp and cracking a piece off to spread some paté just lays things back a little.

EGGPLANT CAVIAR

1 Eggplant, halved and roasted
1 Teaspoon Olive Oil
1 Head Garlic, roasted
Juice of 1/2 Lemon
1 Tablespoon Parsley, finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon Salt, or to taste
Black Pepper to taste

Preheat the oven to 350ºF.
Halve the eggplant and lightly salt each side.
Lay cut side down in a roasting pan.
Cut the top stem from the head of garlic.
Drizzle over a small amount of olive oil and wrap tightly in foil.
Bake the eggplant and garlic for 30 minutes or until both are tender.
Once cool enough to handle, remove the skin from the eggplant and add the pulp to a food processor.
Squeeze the garlic from it’s skin and add it and the lemon juice to the eggplant.
Pulse to combine.
Add the parsley, salt and pepper, mixing to incorporate.
Adjust seasoning to taste, adding more salt, if necessary.
Serve chilled or at room temperature.

MUSHROOM PATÉ

2 Portabella Mushrooms, finely chopped
10 Shitake Mushrooms, 3/4 Cup trimmed and sliced
1 Leek, white and light green parts only, well rinsed and finely chopped
2 Cloves Garlic, minced
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
1/2 teaspoon Salt
Freshly Ground Black Pepper, to taste
1/2 teaspoon Dried Rosemary, ground
1/3 Cup Red Bell Pepper, finely minced
3 Tablespoons Brandy
2 teaspoons Parsley, finely chopped
2 teaspoons Chives, finely chopped
1 teaspoon Arrowroot Powder or Cornstarch

Heat the oil in a large sauté pan and add the garlic and leeks.
Once the leeks are soft, add the mushrooms, salt, pepper and rosemary.
Sauté over a medium high setting until the mushrooms are tender and have begun to dry.
Add the peppers and brandy continuing to sauté for 2 minutes more.
Toss in 1 teaspoon of the parsley and remove from heat.
Cool then add to the food processor pulsing to chop.
Firmly press mixture into ramekins.

To make the chive gelée for the topping, add 1/3 cup of water to a small saucepan and bring to a boil.
Add the chopped chives and remaining parsley.
Dissolve the arrowroot powder in 1/4 cup cold water and add, stirring to thicken.
Remove from the heat and cool slightly.
Spoon an even layer over the prepared mushroom paté and refrigerate until set and ready to serve.

WHOLE GRAIN FLAT BREAD CRACKERS

1/2 Cup Whole or Twelve Grain Cereal
1/2 Cup Boiling Water
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1 teaspoon Sugar
1/3 Cup Vegetable Shortening
1/3 Cup Soy Milk, or water
1 1/2 Cups Whole Wheat Flour

Pour the boiling water over the cereal to soften
Let sit 20 – 30 minutes.
In a food processor combine flour, salt, sugar.
Cut in the shortening until it is blended into a crumb consistency.
Add the moistened cereal then through the feed tube, drizzle in the milk, bringing the dough together into a soft ball.
Cut the dough two disks and quarter each of those leaving you with eight pieces.
Heat the oven to 400ºF.
Roll each piece as thinly as possible between two pieces of parchment paper.
If desired, lightly spray the rolled dough with oil and top with any desired combination of truffle salt, sea salt and rosemary or parmesan and black pepper.
Bake for 8 – 9 minutes; until crisp but barely golden, watching as they brown quickly.

I love latkes. It’s almost bad, how much I like latkes. A holiday tradition usually brings sharing and that might be my biggest problem. To date the best solution I’ve had is to make them smaller so I have more. That way it takes me a little longer to eat them and gives others a chance to snag one.

Usually served on their own with a choice of apple sauce or sour cream on the side, I wanted to offer something with them to dress them up, especially when served as an appetizer. Slathered on a plate, I like the sour cream option, but there’s something about the salty grease that goes so well with a little tartness.

For platter passing, otherwise known as sharing, I conjured up my own applish sauce, just a little fancier for the Hoildays. I added the glimmer of pomegranate to quince to make this tart and spicy relish.

It was pretty good. I ate the whole plate.
… But after I was done, I thought I might just make another batch, maybe even double it – to share.
The relish in a little jar tied with a red bow, might just make a pretty sweet hostess gift.

EGGLESS POTATO LATKES

4 – 5 Yukon Gold Potatoes, 2 -2 1/2 Cups grated
1 Small Onion, finely diced
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
1 teaspoon Arrowroot Powder
3 Tablespoons All Purpose Flour
1/2 teaspoon Salt
2/3 Cup Oil for Frying (more or less)

Peel and grate the potatoes and squeeze as much moisture from them as you can.
Add them to a large bowl, along with the finely dice the onion.
Sift the baking powder, arrowroot and flour.
Dust the dry mix along with the salt, over the potatoes, stirring while you add to incorporate it evenly.
Heat half of the oil in a large sauté pan over a medium-high setting.
Either with your clean hands or spoons, shape the potato into a 2″ diameter ball, again squeezing excessive liquid, if necessary. Lightly pat the finished ball to flatten once it’s added to the heated oil.
Repeat to fill the pan and fry for about 5-6 minutes on each side or until crisp and golden.
Drain latkes of oil over brown bags and paper towels.

Serve with Pomegranate Quince Chutney, apple sauce, or sour cream.

POMEGRANATE QUINCE CHUTNEY

1 Quince, peeled and roughly diced
1/2 Cup water (give or take)
1/8 teaspoon Freshly Grated Nutmeg
pinch Cinnamon
2 Cloves
2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar
1 Tablespoon Orange Balsamic Vinegar*
1/4 Cup Pomegranate Seeds, 1/2 Pomegranate

Peel and dice the quince into 1/2″ cubes.
Add the quince to a small saucepan and cover with just enough water to submerge.
Simmer over a medium-high heat until just tender; about 8 – 10 minutes.
Remove from the heat. Add the quince, along with the remaining water, to a sauté pan.
Continuing over a medium-high heat, sauté the quince, adding the cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg.
Once the liquid has reduced, add the brown sugar and balsamic vinegar.
Lower the heat to medium and simmer to create a syrup; 1-2 minutes.
Add the pomegranate seeds and continue to simmer to release the juice.
Remove the chutney from the heat, find and take out the cloves, then gently mash with a fork. (Watch for pomegranate juice, it stains.)
Serve a top latkes or other savory dishes as a condiment.

*If you don’t have orange balsamic vinegar, you may try substituting regular balsamic with the zest of one orange; about a teaspoon.

Not that I’m the authority but I think that it’s safe to say that Holiday baking is may “officially” begin, now that it’s actually December.

Be it that we took our kids to the community Santa Claus parade or that was today was the first of December, Holidays get me to hum classic carols and remember highlights of Christmas Past. With my brain swirling of roasting chestnuts and the clementine I almost mistook as a lump of coal down in the depths of my stocking toe, I decided the first cookie of the year should be able to last as long as that heart wrenching childhood memory.

Memory aside, it’s always a thrill to bring home the first box of “Christmas Oranges”, as my daughter refers to them. Cracking into them fills a room with a special kind of happiness only little orange packages can bring.

With clementines and cookies on my mind, it wasn’t too tough a decision to get that this biscotti would be the first cookie of the season.

Biscotti is a double baked, super crunchy cookie, perfect for packing in just about any flavour combination and, of course, dipping into mulled wine, coffee or nog.

CHOCOLATE CHESTNUT BISCOTTI WITH CANDIED CLEMENTINE

1/4 Cup Margarine
1 Cup Sugar
1 Banana, mashed well
1/2 Cup Cocoa Powder
2 Cups Unbleached All Purpose Flour
1/4 teaspoon Salt
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
10 Chestnuts, roasted

1 Tablespoon Candied Clementine Peel, finely chopped
1/2 Cup Sugar
1/4 Cup Water

Preheat the the oven to 400ºF.
Peel four clementines removing as much of the white pith from the rind as possible.
In a medium saucepan, dissolve the 1/2 Cup of the sugar in the 1/4 Cup water and bring to a low simmer over a medium heat setting.
Simmer for about 20 minutes or until the peels have soaked up much of the syrup, leaving them translucent.
Place a cooling rack over a baking sheet or parchment. Remove the candied peels with a slotted spoon and lay them on the rack to cool and dry.
Meanwhile, score the bottom of each chestnut with an “x”.
Lay the nuts “x” up in a baking pan and roast for 15 – 20 minutes, until the chestnuts open and are fragrant.
Reduce the oven temperature to 350ºF.
With a hand or stand mixer, blend the margarine and banana until very smooth.
Add the sugar and continue to mix until creamy, scraping the sides as necessary.
Peel and chop the chestnuts.
Chop enough of the prepared peel to equal 1 tablespoon (or slightly more if your tastebuds can’t deny it.)
Add the nuts and peel to the batter.
Sift the cocoa, flour, salt and baking soda.
Slowly add the dry ingredients to form a firm dough.
Line a cookie sheet with parchment and remove the biscotti dough from the mixer bowl.
With dampened hands, shape the dough into a wide, shallow log about 9″x4″.
Bake for about 25 minutes, remove and reduce the oven again, to 300ºF.
Once the biscotti is cool enough to handle, use a serrated bread knife to slice the biscotti on a slight angle, about 3/4″ widthwise.
Lay the biscotti cut side down and bake for an additional 8 minutes. Flip and bake the other side for another 8 minutes or until the biscotti is very crisp and dry.

View this and other great shots this month in the Click contest. The theme is nuts. Do you think there will be other chestnuts?? It is the Holidays after all….

CRANBERRY PUMPKIN TEACAKES

2 Cups Drained, Puréed Jarrahdale* Pumpkin
1/4 Cup Vegetable Oil
3/4 Cup Brown Sugar
1 teaspoon Vanilla
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1 Cup Whole Wheat Flour
1/2 Cup All Purpose Flour
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
1 teaspoon Cinnamon
1 teaspoon Lemon Juice or Zest of One Lemon
1/2 Cup Cranberries, fresh or frozen – dried may also be substituted but will not give as fresh and tart of a flavour

Heat the oven to 350ºF.
Prepare large hole muffin tins with a spritz of spray oil.
Drain the pumpkin in a large mesh sieve in order to remove any excess liquid.
In a large bowl, combine the pumpkin, sugar and oil.
Add the vanilla, cinnamon, salt and lemon.
Once combined, add the flour, baking powder and baking soda, mixing only to moisten.
Fold in the cranberries and drop by the spoonful into the muffin tin.
Filling about 3/4 full, flatten the tops the back of a clean, dampened finger or spoon to make each cake even and level.
Bake for about 18 minutes or until a cake tester can be removed cleanly.

Allow to cool slightly then remove from tins to a rack to cool completely before dusting with confectioners sugar.
Serves perfectly with a big hat and a steeped Earl Grey.

*Jarrahdale pumpkins are beautiful, blue ridged heirlooms which originated from Australia. Terrific for baking, they have a velvety texture with a mild sweetness and a vibrant orange flesh. Of course other unseasoned pumpkin purées may be substituted if one can’t be found.

With thirteen members of the 4 and 5 year old set, I knew I’d need extra hands and entertainment but as far as the food went, I figured I had it covered.
Between the green goo and witches brew, there were ghost pops, goblin cakes and these Casper cookies.

The cookies are great for cutting out cats, witches, pumpkins and ghosts alike. Pretty quick and easy to make, just err on the underdone as the edges can brown fairy quickly.

HALLOWEEN SUGAR ROLL OUT COOKIES

3/4 Cup Vegetable Shortening
3/4 Cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
Pinch of Nutmeg
2 Tablespoons Orange Juice
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour, plus a little for dusting

Combine shortening and sugar using an electric stand mixer until incorporated, scraping the sides of the bowl as necessary.
Follow with orange juice and vanilla, mixing until combined.
Add flour in batches. The dough should come together smoothly, be soft but not overly sticky.
Shape dough into a ball, divide in half then flatten into two disks.
Wrap the dough in plastic and chill for about an hour.

Preheat oven to 350ºF.
Line a baking sheet with parchment or a Silpat liner.
On a lightly floured surface, roll each disk 1/4-inch thick.
Cut out dough using lightly floured cutters.
Transfer cutouts to prepared baking sheet using a thin, metal spatula, if necessary.
Bake for about 8 minutes or until edges are firm and bottoms are very lightly browned. Transfer cookies to wire racks to cool completely.
Frost and decorate cookies with royal icing as desired.

ROYAL ICING

2 Cups Icing Sugar
1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1 1/2 Tablespoons Soy Milk
3 – 5 Tablespoons Warm Water

Mix sugar, vanilla and soy milk with an electric mixer until combined.
Slowly add the the first three tablespoons of water, one at a time.
Mix well and stop to check consistency; adding the remaining water, one tablespoon at a time as necessary. The icing should be fluid and smooth. The drizzle from the beater should leave ribbons that hold on the surface for about three seconds.

To decorate, spoon the prepared icing into a piping bag, reserving about 2 tablespoons.
Using a small, plain tip, outline the edges then flood the centres.
When all of the ghosts have been iced, add two drops of black food colouring (or two drops of dark green with one drop of red) into the reserved icing.
Spoon coloured icing into the piping bag to dot eyes and a nose on the ghosts to finish.

Makes about 24 cookies.

So quick and fun, this autumn carnival snack is a must do, especially if you have kids or, of course, if you still are one.

MOLTEN SUGAR MACS

6 Medium Sized Macintosh Apples, cleaned, dried and free of blemishes
6 Skewers or Popsicle sticks,
1 Cup White Granulated Sugar
3/4 Cup Water
2 Tablespoons Corn Syrup
1/4 teaspoon Cinnamon
2 – 3 Drops Crimson Food Colouring, optional

Wash and dry the apples.
Securely place the skewers down into the core of the apples.
Heat the sugar, water, corn syrup, food colouring and cinnamon in a large saucepan over medium – high heat.
Stir to dissolve and combine. When the mixture begins to boil, place a candy thermometer or allow to continue boiling for about 5 minutes.
To test the mixture the candy thermometer should read 300ºF or be at the hard ball stage.
If you’re without a thermometer, carefully drop a small amount of the mixture into a cold glass of water. It should harden crisp, immediately.
When the molten sugar is ready, remove it from the heat and carefully dip and roll each of the waiting Mac’s to coat evenly.
Allow the finished apples to completely harden on a sheet of parchment or Silpat.

Don’t refrigerate, eat immediately & enjoy.