Indian Madras Pie...!!!

Bonjour Foodies,

Indian Madras Pie

This recipe makes about 6 servings. It takes about 20 minutes to prep.

 Ingredients:

2 1/2 pounds baking potatoes, peeled and cut into 2 inch pieces.
2 tbsp. vegetable oil
1 package of lean ground turkey
1 1/2 cup baby carrots, sliced
3 medium parsnips, peeled and sliced
2 tsp ground ginger
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground coriander
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 cup frozen peas or frozen vegetables
2/3 cup milk
2 tbsp unsalted butter
Pinch cayenne pepper

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Place the potatoes in a large pot and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil over high heat; cook, boiling, for 12 minutes. Drain and return to pot.

2. Meanwhile heat oil in a large lidded 3 to 4 quart flameproof dish over medium, high heat. Crumble in turkey and cook, breaking apart with a wooden spoon, for 4 minutes. Stir in carrots, parsnips, ginger, 3/4 tsp of the salt, the cumin, coriander, cinnamon, turmeric, cayenne and 1/2 cup water. Cover and cook over medium heat, stirring once or twice, for 17 minutes adding more water if necessary. Uncover and stir in peas or frozen vegetables. Cook for 2 minutes, then remove from heat. 

3. Mash potatoes in pot with milk, butter and remaining salt. Spread potatoes over turkey mixture in dish and sprinkle with cayenne pepper, if desired. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

I made this dish last week and it was good but not nearly as good as my shepherds pie. I think I should change the amount of cinnamon in this recipe.

Where my Garden Grows...!!!

Bonjour Foodies,

I was walking among my garden earlier this morning and enjoying all the things I currently have growing there. I found some batteries for my boyfriends camera and started to take photos of nature at its best.

I found this little guy exploring my marigold flowers. I thought he was pretty cool and got some great photos of him. I was really surprised at the quality of the photos considering this is my first time I using the camera. I think they the photos turned out really good.




Is that caterpillar just the cutest? I don't know if he is good or bad for my flowers but I thought he's pretty cool.

I just love this picture of my tomato plants. I love taking the time to enjoy nature.




 I also harvested some produce while clearing out the garden for spring. I planted some bulbs that hopefully will come back every year. I also currently have two other flower plants that are growing that will also come back as well. I'm so excited for the spring season.


I also started my herb garden indoors. I currently have some seeds sprouting. I love watching my plants grow. Its really fascinating and a lovely wholesome experience.

Gardening Season is Coming to a Close...!!!

Bonjour Foodies,

I started Gardening earlier this Spring. I was sadly a late bloomer in this new found hobby of mine and now winter fast approaches. I'm so sad to see the gardening season go away so soon. I have a boat load of things I must do to prepare my garden for the coming spring. I also want to start composting to build better soil for my garden bed. I planted some herb seeds for my indoor herb garden a few days ago to keep the harvest going.

I grew my very own pumpkin patch in one of my raised garden beds. Something has been eating one of my pumpkins. I'm so disappointed. I wanted to use these pumpkin for carving for Halloween but they have yet to change color. I don't know if I'm doing something wrong or if that's just normal. I think next year I'm gonna skip the pumpkin patch.

It's so sad. My garden is decaying as the fall season rolls in. It makes me sad to see all my produce start to die. The only thing that keeps me going is knowing that next season I have more experience and have a better plan of what I want to grow and what I want to try to grow. I can't wait to get started but first I need to draw out my garden bed. I must make plans on what I'm growing and what I'm not.

Thankfully cooking and baking will be able to fill the void until the Spring.

Sweet and Sour Sesame Seed Chicken...!!!

Bonjour Foodies,

Sweet and Sour Sesame Seed Chicken

Ingredients:

3-4 Boneless chicken breasts
Salt and Pepper
1 cup cornstarch
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 - 1/2 cup canola oil

Sweet and Sour Sauce:

3/4 cup sugar
4 tbsp ketcup
1/2 cup distilled white vinegar
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp garlic salt
Pinch crushed red pepper flakes
Sesame Seeds are Optional

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.

1. Trim and cut the chicken into cubes. Season with salt and pepper. Place the cornstarch into a gallon - size plastic bag and add all of your chicken cubes into it. Seal and shake to coat. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the chicken to a large dish. Pour beaten egg over the chicken and stir gently to coat.

2. Heat the oil in a large skillet and pan fry the chicken over medium high heat on both sides until slightly brown. Place chicken into greased baking dish.

3. Mix all of your sweet and sour ingredients in a bowl with a fork. Pour or drizzle evenly over the chicken, save some as a dipping sauce. Bake the chicken for 45 minutes at 325 degrees. During this process, stir chicken a few times. Add the sesame seeds. Increase the oven to 375. Bake for 15 more minutes. Watch the chicken to make sure it doesn't burn.

I thought I wouldn't really enjoy this meal but as it turns out. I loved it. I can't wait to make it again. I encourage you all to do the same. I promise you won't regret it.

Sugar is my Addiction...!!!

Bonjour Foodies,

First off, I want to apologize for not posting everyday like I wanted. I am having a hard time downloading photos of all the amazing food I have made this past few weeks. I think I might ask for a camera this Christmas. That would be nice. Then I wouldn't have to take photos on my phone. Or I could just use the one my boyfriend got last year or two years ago, not sure which at our Christmas Raffle at work. That would work as well. I might ask for a memory card for it. Then I can use it as my main source for photos.

Second, I have a sugar addiction. I am seriously addicted to anything sugary and sweet. Its such a terrible mix fr me because I adore baking. But I need to find ways to make these foods better for me. I need to work on giving up sugary foods that are bad for me. Like I love chocolate, especially those Halloween Reese's Peanut Butter Pumpkins. They are so delicious and the goodness factors seriously spike with that food. I need better options. If you anyone has some advice on how to do such things, please leave a comment.

I'm having a hard time keeping up with my calorie counter on my phone. I try and then I just stop using it. I need to use it because it might help me loose weight. I really need to loose weight. I'm not fat per say. I just need to loose a few pounds.

The Salty Saloon - Salt is the Enemy #1...!!!

Bonjour Foodies,

Salt can be a wonderful thing. It help bring out the flavor in foods that sometimes taste bland. It also enhances the foods natural flavor. Salt however can also be a very bad thing. Too much of it and it can cause some serious increase of your bodies natural salt intake. Most foods already have salt built in, so the need to add more isn't necessary. But I am one who likes to sprinkle some  on food, especially mashed potatoes. I think mashed potatoes taste better with salt. I need to break this habit I really do. I am currently working on revamping myself to be a better me for a better tomorrow. I'm slowly working in making it less of a thing for myself. I encourage others to do the same. It will be hard but it will be worth it in the end.

I think it would be helpful to season food well. That way there is enough flavor from the spices that salt doesn't make a play on food. Then the consumer won't have to worry if they are eating too much salt or not. I believe in a healthier you for tomorrow. My theory is that once salt is cut from the diet, you will be able to move on and cut other things as well. Some of the things I need to cut are junk food like ice cream and chocolate. I am particular to anything sweet. I have a major sweet tooth. I always have, ever since I was young. I think that cutting those things from my diet will help me loose weight and feel better about my body, my health, and myself.

Food Is Life...!!!

Bonjour Foodies,

I have been so busy lately. I try to juggle life the best way I can. I make dinner two nights a week. I cook more than I have ever cooked before. Whats really funny about that is that I love every moment that I spend cooking. I enjoy finding new recipes and making them my own. I love eating my creations and realizing that I can actually make something that tastes great, even amazing. I'm so proud of myself. My family has started to take notice of my new skill as well. I think they might be a little jealous because I never cooked for them.

I have found so many new recipes that I can't wait to try. First I need to find them and get the recipe. I hope to share more of my food adventures with you soon. Keep checking back for more recipes.

Red Velvet Cupcakes with Vanilla Butter Cream Icing...!!!

Bonjour Foodies,

I made some awesome cupcakes for my little sisters birthday. I decided that they turned out so well that I wanted to share them with you. Now the first time I made this recipe, I made it as a cake and honestly it wasn't all that great. It had this strong chocolate taste that was pretty terrible.

Ingredients:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

2 1/4 cups sifted cake flour (not self-rising)
1/4 cup Dutch-process cocoa powder
1/2 tsp. salt
8 Tbsp. (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 large eggs (room temperature)
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup buttermilk (room temperature)
2 tsp. distilled white vinegar
1 tsp. baking soda

Directions:

1. Put cupcake cups into the cupcake pans.

2. Sift flour, cocoa powder, and salt into a bowl. Beat butter at low speed until creamy. Add sugar, blend on medium speed, scraping bowl occasionally, until fluffy, about three minutes. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each. Scape bowl; add food coloring and vanilla.

3. On low speed, beat in flour mixture in thirds, alternating buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour. (I did this step only with the flour but not the buttermilk). In small bowl, stir together vinegar and baking soda. Stir into batter. Divide batter between prepared cupcake pans.

4.. Bake until tooth pick inserted in center comes out clean, twenty-five to thirty minutes. Cool in pans ten minutes. Cool cupcakes on rack until ready to be frosted.

I really loved these cupcakes. I think it was amazing. I loved it. I hope you all get to try it out.

Oven - Baked Fries...!!!

Bonjour Foodies,

Last week I made some Cheesy Stuffed Meatloaf and baked oven fries to go with it. I absolutely loved the fries. They were so delicious that I decide to make them again the next day for lunch. I thought I'd share the recipe with all of you.

Oven - Baked Fries

This makes a ton of fries. Not sure how many it serves. 

Ingredients:

4 large russet potatoes, unpeeled, scrubbed and cut into wedges.
3 - 4 tablespoons vegetable or canola oil
Kosher Salt
Black Pepper

Directions:

1. Allow cut potatoes to suck in cold water for thirty minutes. Preheat oven to 475 degrees.

2. Drizzle about a tablespoon of oil onto a large baking sheet and spread it around with your fingers. Sprinkle some salt and pepper onto the oil. Then, add the potatoes to the baking sheet. Drizzle oil onto the potatoes, then add some salt and pepper.

3. Cover tightly with foil and  bake ten minutes. Remove the foil and bake another ten minutes. Flip the potatoes and bake ten to fifteen minutes or until super crispy.

These were the best fries I've ever had and you can season them anyway you want. I will be making them from now on as my only source of fries. I suggest that all of you should make these right away. I promise you won't regret it.

Cheesy Stuffed Meatloaf...!!!

Bonjour Foodies,

This meal was so good. I mean I really, really loved it. The meatloaf was different from anything I've ever had before. It had cheese and ketchup in it which was just bizarre.  I think next time I'll leave out the ketchup mix in. I think I would of enjoyed it more if it was only included as a glaze for the top. But everything else that made this meatloaf amazing was delightful. This recipe is not mine and I did not come up with it. I got it from fellow blogger, Joyously Domestic. I just switched it up a bit and did things a little different to make it my own.

Yummy

Cheesy Stuffed Meatloaf

This recipe makes about six to eight servings.

Ingredients:

2 pounds of ground beef
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup saltines, crushed
2 garlic cloves, peeled and grated
1 small onion, minced
1/4 green pepper,  chopped thin
Salt and Pepper to taste, I used 1/2 teaspoon
1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt
A pinch of dried herbs, I used Italian seasoning
Cheese, I used shredded Mozzarella, shredded Sharp Cheddar, and shredded Colby Jack.

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.Then combine all the ingredients except the cheese in a large mixing bowl. 

2. Divide the meatloaf mixture in half and spread half of it out into the bottom of the loaf pan. Lay down a layer of cheese, any cheese you wish to use. I used mozzarella, cobly jack, and sharp cheddar. Spread out the other half of the meat mixture on top of the cheese being super careful not to disrupt the cheese too much. Then proceed to use a rubber spatula(I used a wooden one) to close push the meat together while also making sure that no cheese is visible.

3. Squirt some ketchup on top and spread it out evenly. Bake for one hour in the oven uncovered. Allow the meatloaf five minutes to rest before slicing and serving.

Cheesy Stuffed Meatloaf

 

 

 

So my boyfriend just told me today that he really didn't like the meatloaf. He said he just isn't a meatloaf person, which is sad. I love meatloaf. It's so amazing. I'm gonna make it my goal in life to find a meatloaf he loves.