Friendly Food Snobs

rosé sangria

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I know I don’t need to educate anyone on the benefits of pitcher cocktails. Too many to count really! More time with friends, less time prepping and making drinks is my rationale. The longer this sits, the better it gets. Perfect for late summer afternoons and dining al fresco. The sangria is close to the colour of rosé wine and so pretty in a glass pitcher. Enjoy!

rosé sangria

Ingredients:
1 bottle dry white wine
3/4 cup unsweetened pomegranate or cranberry juice
1 1/2 cups sparkling water/club soda
6 shakes angostura bitters
3 tablespoons grand marnier
1 tablespoon sugar
1 orange, lime and lemon

Slice orange into half moons. Drop into pitcher followed by grand mariner and sugar. Leave covered in refrigerator for two hours. Add remaining ingredients and juice of half a lemon. Serve in ice filled glasses garnished with lime wedges.

frittata with greens

041 057This recipe reminds me of my Polish grandmother. I find so many people in love with food attribute it to a grandparent who got them hooked. Lucky I say. I make the frittata using beet greens but you can easily use baby spinach, which is quicker and easier. 

frittata with beet greens

Serves four to six
Ingredients:
2 cups peeled potatoes sliced 1/2 inch thick 
greens of one bunch beets washed and chopped (or boxed baby spinach)
1 onion chopped 
1/3 cup olive oil
half of a zucchini sliced (red pepper/mushrooms also work well)
6 eggs beaten with a dash of milk
salt and pepper to taste
mozzarella cheese torn onto chunks (or feta) to taste

Boil the potatoes in salted water for five minutes. Drain well.  In a frying pan waute onion on low-medium heat in half of the measured olive oil, with salt and pepper for 15 minutes until caramelized. Use a pan that is oven safe.

Add zucchini to pan when the onion is almost done. Cook for an additional two minutes and then remove veg and onion from pan.

Add remaining olive oil back to the now empty pan and fry potatoes, adding salt and pepper for 5 minutes until starting to brown. Preheat your oven’s broiler to high. Fold in the greens to the pan with the potatoes to wilt. Add the onion and vegetable back in.

Pour the egg over top, allowing it to cover the entire bottom of the pan. Let egg “set” on stove for 2 minutes. Place the cheese on top, then transfer to oven to broil for 5 minutes. You’ll know it’s done when the frittata poofs up a bit and cheese begins to melt. Remove from oven and slide a spatula around edge of pan to loosen. Shimmy onto a waiting large plate.

Wonderful served with a light green salad. Slice into four large or six smaller servings.  Leftovers often fought over enjoyed in our house the next day for lunch with a little hot sauce.

wild blueberry chia pudding

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Rise and shine. This recipe is proof to the theory that planning is half the battle for delicious nourishing food.

I make this most mornings I work out. Truth, I sometimes even think about it while I am working out. If I’m going to get up early to get my sweat on, breakfast is my reward. A hybrid of the now famous chia pudding and overnight refrigerator oatmeal, it’s easy to assemble the night before and full of protein from the yogurt, oats and chia seeds, and anti-oxidants from the blueberries, but I really eat it because it tastes so good.

Swap out the blueberries for mango if you like this one. I’d say it’s a good start to the day. Serves two.

wild blueberry chia pudding

Ingredients:
3 tablespoons chia seeds
½ cup oats
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon pure maple syrup or honey
½ cup of frozen wild blueberries
½ cup plain full fat or greek yogurt
½ cup almond milk

The night before, combine everything in the bowl you want to eat it in. Stir and cover. In the morning give it a quick stir. The chia seeds will have absorbed most of the liquid, so add in almond milk and stir to get the consistency you want. Refrigerate for up to two days.

killer roast chicken

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I started roasting a chicken every other Sunday a few years ago, the ultimate comfort food. The house smells amazing and leftovers abound. I simmer the bones for stock. If you don’t have time, just store in the freezer for the next time you make soup. Roasting a big piece of meat can be intimidating, and chicken is a great way to start. After the recipe see my tricks for roasting.

Back to the main event – this killer roast chicken. It might seem like a lot of garlic. It’s not as it gets sweet as it roasts. If you’re a fan of roasted garlic, add even more. Serves 4-6.

killer roast chicken

Ingredients:
1 organic chicken – approximately 1.5-2 kg
1/2 cup olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
1 onion peeled and quartered
5 cloves of garlic
2 sprigs of rosemary
1/2 cup water

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Lightly dry off the chicken with paper towel. Place the chicken breast side down on baking dish. This keeps the meat moist. Drizzle oil on top. Snuggle the onion and garlic and one rosemary stick in the chicken cavity. It will all fit. I promise. Wiggle the other rosemary stick underneath some of the skin.

Season the top of the chicken generously with pepper and a generous shake of salt. Pour water into the pan, avoiding the chicken. Roast in the oven for 1 hour at 400 degrees, basting twice. Reduce heat to 350 degrees for a final 30 minutes. Use less time at the end or more depending on the weight of your chicken. Insert a knife to check to see if cooked when the juices run clear. Let rest for 15 mins. Carve and dive in.

1. Buy the best meat you can afford. Find a butcher in your neighbourhood. Always cheaper and better quality than the grocery store. Go organic if you can, the difference in taste and texture is worth it. My favourite organic produce is from Mama Earth, and meat is from Blue Goose.

3. Let it rest. Always. 15 minutes minimum. Flavours get to know each other and all the juices redistribute. Get yourself something to drink and go chat with your guests and sit down on the couch. You deserve it after slaving in the kitchen.

2. Timing is everything. Prep the sides before and reheat them if this is the first time pulling off a roast for a crowd. This means you can focus on the meat. My strategy is always start hot (400 degrees or more) for 45 – 60 minutes and then take down the heat. Works well for pork, chicken, lamb and beef.

honey garlic sticky chicken

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Sweet, spicy, crispy. Chicken at its best. This tastes like really good take out. Pair with a green salad, or rice to make a perfect weeknight meal. I make the marinade in the morning or night before so the chicken absorbs lots of flavour. This marinade works for up to eight chicken thighs or drumsticks, or a dozen chicken wings.

honey garlic sticky chicken

Ingredients:
2 cloves chopped garlic
4 heaping tablespoons honey
2 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
2-3 tablespoons siracha (depending on how spicy you prefer)
6-8 chicken thighs or drumsticks
Mix marinade and pour over chicken. If making chicken wings reserve half of marinade to brush on wings in last 5 minutes of cooking. Bake at 400 degrees on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet for 25-30 minutes, flipping halfway through. Broil for an additional 2 minutes, if you like.

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