Tuna Melt

I like to look back and see how much I’ve improved in the kitchen through the years. When I just moved out on my own, I cooked very little. My cooking knowledge was frightening! If it would be possible, I would’ve been able to burn water… silly but not too far from the truth… lol! I knew that I had to start somewhere and then eventually with practice (a lot), I would get better… thanks to my positive outlook…

Back then I was “trying” to come up with a lot of canned sardines as well as canned tuna recipes which were not always a success, trust me on that one! Then one day after mixing a few ingredients together that I found in my empty pantry, I thought I just created an amazing recipe until I realized later on that it was the barebones of what is called a “Tuna Melt”. Nonetheless, that recipe gave me enough courage to continue cooking and eventually create my own recipes.

Here are the reasons why I’m sharing this recipe with you today. It has a great combination of ingredients that makes it delicious and it is a very quick meal to put together.. Also this Tuna Melt can be served as a canapé (it means bite-size hors d’oeuvre in French that it's served during an event or a soirée). All you have to do is to make it fancier by spooning the tuna mixture on miniature pieces of bread of your choice and then garnish it with fresh chives… Voilà! Either as a meal or “amuse-gueule”, this recipe is simply tasty and quick to make… all great reasons to keep it in your recipe binder!
Bon Appétit!

 

For ingredient amounts and much more, visit http://clubfoody.com/recipe/tuna-melt/

Pomegranate Molasses

I’ve been quite fortunate all my life. I’ve met great people from different backgrounds as well as very well-known people throughout my life… a long list of them! One of them became good friends of mine and it all started when I was studying to become a reporter. One late afternoon I went to a bar-lounge in downtown Montréal and sat at the bar. Not far from me maybe 3 to 4 stools away, was sitting a man in his 30s’. He was loud, funny and quite interesting. When he noticed me, he bought me a drink and then we started talking about a bunch of things with one of the topics being my desire to become a reporter and taking it as my major. He looked at me, and burst out laughing… “What’s so funny?” I asked. “Is it really what you want to do young lady?” he replied. “Of course!” I said. He then said “Because I work at the Gazette!

That night he told me about himself and his friend, who worked at the same place as a sports editor, and about a board game they both invented and were hoping to get a big contract for. After telling me more about it, talking more about nothing and everything, exchanging phone numbers, we left the bar then he kissed the top of my hand and we both took off in different directions. Only years and years later I ran into him through another friend of mine who was a member at a private golf course – The Devil’s Pulpit in Caledon, Ontario.

I remembered sitting at the bar of the Club House with my friend “Big Richard” also known as “Red Dog”, a few stools away from that very loud man. He turned towards us, greeted Richard and suddenly my mouth dropped. It was that man from that bar… it was Chris! At first he didn’t recognized me and didn’t for a while until maybe a month later, he played golf with Richard and told him “Yep I remember her now… she wanted to become a reporter… Did her dream ever come through?”

No my dream never came through although I ended up working for a short period in the newsroom of Radio-Canada before the budget cuts which laid me off. The next time I went back to the Pulpit, Chris and I sat together and he told me how well Scott (the sport editor) and he did with their board game… Trivial Pursuit! He also introduced me shortly afterward to his fiancé Hiam. Unfortunately I don’t remember exactly where she came from but she and I got along very well. She was so sophisticated and well-educated. She spoke many different languages with French being one of them. She was absolutely incredible!

One night Richard and I were invited to their place and on the kitchen island was a jar with a handwritten label of “Pomegranate Molasses”. I asked Hiam what this condiment was for and she said she uses it to enhance the flavor in many of her recipes. After tasting it, I was “hooked”! It was an “OMG” reaction. I couldn’t believe how amazing this molasses was. That night she cooked a lovely meal using this condiment and before I left (Richard was staying there), she gave me the recipe.

Through the years, I was lucky to spend more time with Chris and his lovely fiancé Hiam but sometimes circumstances – or just life – separate people. I got busy with my event planning company until 9-11 and then my life took another turn. Unfortunately I saw them less and less to the point that years went by. Next thing, I met David and moved to the West Coast. The year after I got here, I sadly found out about Chris’ death and although I tried to find Hiam, I couldn’t.

Because of this lady, I’m sharing this fabulous Pomegranate Molasses recipe with you! I’ve been using it in so many dishes and one of them will be posted next year in 2018 – I haven’t decided which month yet but please pencil it in… It is called Moroccan Chicken Thighs with Dates & Pomegranate Molasses. I also use the molasses as a Balsamic Vinegar substitute. I’m also working on creating a dessert with it – I know I shouldn’t spill the beans. After you make this condiment, you’ll be happily surprised by how incredibly versatile it is and how you can use this molasses in many of your favorite recipes.

This recipe means a lot to me. Not only is it a fabulous condiment that EVERYONE should have in their kitchen but it is also a reminder of these two great human beings I was fortunate to have in my life… Chris and Hiam!
Bon Appétit!

 

For ingredient amounts and much more, visit http://clubfoody.com/recipe/pomegranate-molasses/

Roast Beef with Fresh Herbs

This coming weekend, many countries around the world will have Easter as a public holiday. Many places will be closed on “Good Friday” as well as on Easter Monday. I’m not sure how other nations enjoy this particular holiday but I’m sure all those will have a couple things in common: a long weekend to rest and an occasion to get together with family and friends.

If you are hosting dinner over this weekend, you might want to make something easy, delicious and doesn’t require that much attention… after all you want to spend time with your guests. The best answer that checks all the boxes is a roast!

When it comes to this particular cut of beef, there are many options to choose from. The prime rib with bone-in, also known as rib roast, is the best cut you can get. It has nice marbling and some fat. The next best one is a top sirloin roast which the cut is from the butt and is absolutely tender. Both of them are quite pricey but definitely worth every penny. You can also go with cheaper cuts but if you are hosting a dinner, spend the extra money and get a nice tender one!

Prepping a roast is definitely not complicated. To make it tastier, you’ve got the right recipe right here! With fresh herbs, this roast will turn out to be not only juicy but also flavorful. To me Easter is pretty much a holiday that welcomes spring and summer and by adding fresh herbs to this recipe it’s a good teaser for all the freshness ahead of us.
Bon Appétit!

 

For ingredient amounts and much more, visit http://clubfoody.com/recipe/roast-beef-with-fresh-herbs/

Carrot Soup with Mashed Potatoes Recipe • Incredibly Tasty! | Club Foody

After vacationing for 5 weeks in the Palm Springs area, getting back to cold, damp, grey, rainy weather is no fun! It took almost a week for us to get adjusted because we dropped about 30º Celsius (86ºF) in temperature… One type of food that I’ve made a lot upon our return was soup like Chicken Tortilla Soup, Cream of Mushroom Soup, French Onion Soup Gratinée, Slow Cooker Beef Barley Soup, and others. It is a great way to warm up your body. It is something I like to have around especially during the coldest months of the year!
 
With Thanksgiving and the Holidays around the corner, people tend to entertain more at home therefore getting stuck with lots of leftovers. One of the things we have often sitting in our fridge is mashed potatoes. Of course, they can be reheated but a great thing about leftovers is they can also be re-used in other recipes…
 
Now back to soups!
I have made my Carrot Soup recipe for decades now and it was only last year that I made a big change to the recipe… I added some of my Mixed Mashed Potato leftovers to it. Although I always thought the soup tasted amazingly good, the added ingredient made it even better!
 
Before I switched to using leftovers, I used to add raw russet potatoes cut into small cubes to the carrot soup mixture and then proceed with the recipe. Starch is a big component as it helps thicken the soup. Now by using mashed, it makes things go faster and make it even more flavorful… you should try it!
 
For some of you who are not familiar with my Mixed Mashed Potato recipe, I use 2 kinds of potatoes. If you want to find out more about it, click on this link – Mixed Mashed Potatoes. Let’s keep in mind that I’ve incorporated my mashed potato recipe here therefore if you are using another mashed recipe, your soup will definitely taste different than mine!
 
You can try it with my mashed recipe or stick to yours but whichever one you use, this is a great Carrot Soup recipe to have around. Another ingredient I like to add is heavy cream; just a little… not too much! Using a spoon, I gently stir it in the soup. It’s visually cute and adds that subtle “touch” to it. I usually place a small sprig of parsley on top but I didn’t feel like going to the supermarket… it was too cold!!!
Bon Appétit!
 
Check out these other soup recipes…
– West Coast Smoked Salmon Chowder
– Turkey Noodle Soup
– Minestrone Soup
– Udon Noodle Soup
– French Onion Soup Gratinée
– Corn Chowder
and for even more delicious soup and chowder recipes, click on this link… Recipe Category • Soups & Chowders

 

For ingredient amounts and much more, visit https://clubfoody.com/recipe/carrot-soup-with-mashed-potatoes/

Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel by clicking on this link… Club Foody YouTube

Mexican Cornbread Recipe • New Tasty Holiday Side! | Club Foody

I love the Holidays! It’s a special time to get together with friends and family under the same roof to enjoy a beautiful meal while sharing stories and laughter.
 
When I moved in with David, I not only left my friends from Toronto behind but also had a bigger distance to travel between my family and I which are from all over the province of Québec. At first I kind of felt lonely but through the years I’ve been here, David and I started our own traditions with new friends… creating “our” new extended family! These wonderful human beings that bring so much joy into our lives are the reasons for celebrating these events!
 
Of course I love to serve them the traditional turkey dinner but I also enjoy bringing new flavors to the table by modifying the menu slightly. Each year there’s always something new and different from the “traditional dinner” as it makes dinner for my guests more interesting. Honestly, who loves monotony? I sure don’t and none of our people do. Life is too short for boring food… lol!
 
Last year I added a totally new food item to the table and oh boy, it was gone so fast! Everyone loved it, even the ones who are not too crazy about “spicy” food – although it’s not really spicy at all…! Now that I have your curiosity hooked, let me reveal the recipe… it’s my Mexican Cornbread!
 
That’s right… cornbread but not just any cornbread… This amazingly simple recipe is far from ordinary! It is super yummy with a slight zip to it – I’m not kidding… it’s not “hot” at all but it has some personality to it if you know what I mean. This Mexican Cornbread is easy to make – most of my recipes are like that – and it’s a delicious change from regular dinner rolls or olive bread. Hey! There is nothing WRONG with both of them… In fact I have a great Dinner Rolls recipe as well as an amazing Mediterranean Olive Bread for you to try. It’s just a fun change for your meal and surprisingly, it goes amazingly well with turkey… no joke!
 
Next time you want to bring some yumminess to your dinner party, this is definitely a recipe to consider. David and I also love to serve it with a large bowl of warm soup… – you know those nights when no one feels like cooking but you still want something good to eat , especially when it’s yucky outside… Yep those are the ones! Anyway, this Mexican Cornbread is a recipe you don’t want to miss. Add it to your “must have” list and watch everyone’s reactions when you put this cornbread on the table…
Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Holidays!
 
Check out these other Holiday recipe ideas…
– Squash à la Canadienne
– Tourtière (Meat Pie)
– Citrus Cranberry Sauce
– Turkey Gravy without Drippings
– Old Fashioned Stuffing with Giblets
– Popovers
and for even more tasty bread recipes, click on this link… Recipe Category • Bread

 

For ingredient amounts and many more, visit https://clubfoody.com/recipe/mexican-cornbread/

Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel by clicking on this link… Club Foody YouTube

Pumpkin Pie

Although my parents were amazing home cooks, there were certain food items that they never used in their cooking. Once in a while, one of them felt adventurous and prepared a new dish with ingredients they knew.

So where do I get my desire to constantly try new ingredients and make new recipes? That I really don’t know… I never had a big interest in cooking or baking as a child besides licking the spoon when my mother was making dessert. The only reason I can find is my curiosity about other cultures and desire to find out more about them…

One food item we didn’t have when I was growing up was pumpkin and it’s only later in life that I had my first taste of it. It was a pumpkin pie and I didn’t like it. Is it because the person who made it didn’t do it properly? I’m not sure but I never wanted to try it again until my girlfriend Joanne from Toronto invited me over to join her and her family for Thanksgiving.

Jo is a fabulous cook and everything I’ve tasted of hers in the past was just amazing! Of course on her dessert menu besides other goodies was a pumpkin pie. I was reluctant to try a slice but after her scrumptious meal, I thought I should give it a try… I’m glad I did! It was simply beautiful with a nice smooth texture and the right amount of spices in the background. I devoured my slice like there was no tomorrow while Joanne was watching me with a grin on her face. That night, when it was time to leave, she gave me a couple slices to take home. The next morning they were gone…

My Pumpkin Pie recipe is based on hers of course. I made a few changes to put my personal touch on it but it’s still Jo’s recipe! It became David and my favorite and almost every Thanksgiving and Christmas, I bake this recipe. Very easy to make, this incredibly tasty pie should definitely be served at your next festive dinner. I’m not a “pumpkin pie connoisseur” by no means but I know when something is excellent… and this one is!
Happy Thanksgiving!

 

For ingredient amounts and much more, visit http://clubfoody.com/recipe/pumpkin-pie/

Enchilada Sauce Recipe • Quick & Easy Mexican Sauce | Club Foody

When I started cooking as a young lady, I didn’t have any basic sauces in my repertoire but I did have many packet sauces that you just have to add water to. Please don’t crucify me… I just didn’t know how to make any. My mother started sharing a few recipes with me and the first one she gave me was a Béchamel, then a Hollandaise Sauce followed with Homemade Mayonnaise. Eventually I mastered these three recipes…!
 
Back in 1988 when I went to Puerto Vallarta with my boyfriend Carlo (he proposed to me down there…), I tried dishes I never ever had before. There was one I couldn’t get enough of and it was the Enchilada with its lovely sauce. Yummy corn tortillas stuffed with meat and topped with a spicy tomato sauce along with a tall Margarita. It was only later on in my life when I went back to Mexico City that I finally got a real taste of the sauce and its ingredients.
 
In an earlier blog (Homemade Lemonade), I mentioned about doing business in Mexico and therefore staying there for an extended time. Although it wasn’t a YWCA, I stayed in a lady’s hostel for weeks and the “madre” of that establishment was in charge of looking after us. She is the one who taught me this video recipe… Enchilada Sauce! When I came back home, I made that sauce quite often because it was so easy and yet so tasty!
 
It is a very quick sauce recipe to make and the results are incredibly delicious! Although most will use the Enchilada Sauce in the classic Enchilada dish, this sauce can also be added to casseroles, Mac and Cheese, lasagna, soups, burritos and so on. This is the kind of sauce you can try as a beginner and you won’t feel overwhelmed by the technique. After you give this sauce a try, you will definitely not go back to any store-bought ones… it is exceptionally flavorful!
Bon Appétit!
 
Check out these other sauce recipes…
– Citrus Cranberry Sauce
– Homemade Tzatziki Sauce
– Tartar Sauce
– Iguana’s Mushroom Sauce
– Classic Marinara Sauce
– Triple Chili Wing Sauce
and for even more sauce and marinade recipes, click on this link… Recipe Category • Sauces & Marinades

 

For ingredient amounts and much more, visit https://clubfoody.com/recipe/enchilada-sauce/

Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel by clicking on this link… Club Foody YouTube

Berry Fusion Smoothie Recipe • Healthy & Tasty Beverage! | Club Foody

Summer is long gone but if you are like me, you probably bought some fresh produce during their peak and froze them…
 
Each year I go crazy and buy more produce than I should just in case we don’t have enough until next summer which of course, we have more than enough. One item that we have a lot of in our chest freezer is berries. There are so many recipes we can incorporate them in; from sweet to savory. I have berry recipes for spicy sauces, marinades, desserts and jams but the easiest ones are when they go in beverages…
 
David and I are not really breakfast people although we should be… Maybe a couple times a week we’ll have something in the morning but with our busy schedules, it has to be quick because we are always on the “go”. The perfect breakfast we can bring along with us is a smoothie. With a tasty combination of fruits, my Berry Fusion Smoothie is a great recipe to have around when there’s so little time to enjoy breakfast in the morning.
 
This Berry Fusion Smoothie has a mix of 4 different berries… well okay, there are 2 that are cousins but let’s not be too scientific about it. As you may know, berries are loaded with antioxidants with a great amount of nutrients along with fiber. They are good for your skin, help to reduce inflammation, lower cholesterol, improve blood sugar and much more. For these reasons, David and I make sure to have berries weekly in our diet and you should too…
 
Simple, fast and nutritious, this berry fusion smoothie will start your day off “berry” well… lol!
Bon Appétit!
 
Here are more delicious breakfast recipes for you to try…
– Soufflé Mexican Omelet
– Breakfast Quinoa Cereal with Mixed Berries
– Quiche Lorraine
– Coconut Waffles
– Breakfast Sausage Muffin Cups
– Christmas Stollen

and for even more beverage recipes, click on this link… Recipe Category – Beverages

For ingredient amounts and much more, visit http://clubfoody.com/recipe/berry-fusion-smoothie/

Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel by clicking on this link… Club Foody YouTube

Veal Piccata

I remember my first date with someone I didn’t know from school or through friends. He was a handsome guy I met at a night club that bought me a couple of drinks, danced and laughed with. At the end of the night, he wanted to take me out for dinner and asked me out on a date. I accepted and we exchanged phone numbers. A few days later, I met him in a very upscale Italian restaurant in downtown Montréal. This 30 something year old man looked pretty sharp in his suit and let’s face it, I was nervous!

It was the first time I was on a “fancy date” with a “man”. He was so well-mannered and even asked me to choose the wine which I politely declined, so he did – c’mon I was only 19… I was drinking Black Tower back then… yuck! After the sommelier poured us a lovely Barolo, we said cheers, clinked our glasses, tasted this awesome wine and I knew that this man could show me some new culinary sensations therefore I asked him to surprise me with the menu. That was the night that I ate my first Veal Piccata… oh my! With a side of pasta with tomato sauce, the meal was so scrumptious! For years to come, this is what I was ordering each time I saw it on a menu…

A few years ago after I moved in with David, we went out for dinner and there it was on the menu… my Veal Piccata! Without any hesitations, I ordered it but it was such a disappointment! It was anything but Veal Piccata – the sauce barely had enough lemon in it, the veal wasn’t pounded enough and didn’t have that specific taste you get from veal… it tasted more like beef to me. Most things happen for a good reason and that sad culinary experience led me to give it a try at home.

Right from my first attempt, mine was far superior to the one from the restaurant and let’s be honest… much cheaper! From there, I’ve kept making this dish at home, getting it the exact way I want it. It is quite simple to make and the results are just amazing! This is a meal you can serve for any special occasion… it’s that gooood!
Bon Appétit!

P.S. If you’re curious about what happened to him and I, here it is… nothing! We had a great time, went out on a couple more dates together and both realized that we didn’t have the same views on life at that time. He wanted to get married and have kids while I just started my adult life. If I was a few years older, perhaps things could have been different. Oh well, c’est la vie!

 

For ingredient amounts and much more, visit http://clubfoody.com/recipe/veal-piccata/