:: Bruschetta with Garlic Cream::

I innovated a recipe! Every now and then I get it right.

Garlic Cream
In a food processor, mix:
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/3 cup sour cream
1 large clove garlic
chives
fresh shaved Parmesan, to taste
fresh basil
salt & pepper

Tomato Mixture
2 tomatoes
1 large clove garlic
olive oil
balsamic vinegar
fresh basil, shredded
chives
freshly shaved Parmesan
salt & pepper

What To Do: Cut a baguette into rounds. Brush with olive oil. Broil until golden. Top with garlic Cream, followed by Tomato Mixture.

::Rustic Strawberry Tart::

This is a spinoff of my Rustic Apple Tart. Same crust. Different Filling.

FLAKY PIE CRUST:

• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 2 sticks (8oz) chilled butter, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
• 1/3 cup water
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon sugar

Filling:

• 1 1⁄2 lb strawberries, hulled
• 1⁄4 cup plus 2 Tbsp granulated sugar
• 1 1⁄2 Tbsp cornstarch
• 1 tsp grated lemon zest
• 1⁄8 tsp ground nutmeg

FLAKY PIE CRUST:

Combine water, salt, and sugar in measuring cup. Stir and put cup in fridge for at least 15 min. (to chill water and to dissolve sugar and salt). Chill mixing bowl and paddle if possible.

Combine flour and butter pieces in mixing bowl. On medium speed, cut butter into flour till butter pieces are the size of chickpeas. With the mixer running, pour the water into the butter mixture. Mix till the dough comes together.

Separate dough into 4 discs. Wrap each with film and chill.

Filling: Halve 1⁄2 lb of the berries (choose ones similar in size) and reserve. Quarter the remaining 1 lb strawberries lengthwise. In a medium bowl, toss 1⁄4 cup sugar, cornstarch, lemon zest and nutmeg until blended; add quartered berries and butter, and toss to coat. Remove dough from refrigerator. Pile berry mixture in an even mound in center of dough within 2 in. of dough edge. Gently lift the unfilled dough edge up and onto the filling. Brush dough with egg; sprinkle with remaining 2 Tbsp sugar.

Bake 40 minutes, or until crust is golden and filling is juicy. Remove from oven; slide parchment onto a cooling rack. Let cool 15 minutes. Arrange remaining halved strawberries cut side down on top of cooked filling. Lightly brush berries with red currant glaze. Cool completely.

::Rhubarb Cake::

Light and tangy. The best way to use rhubarb.

2 cups flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 cup butter

Sugar (few tbsp.)

Blend into crumbs. Press into 9 by 9 pan. Reserve 1/2 cup for topping

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/2 softened butter

2 eggs

1/2 cup flour

Mix well with beater. Add 4 cups chopped rhubarb. Spread mixture over crumbs and sprinkle with remaining crumb mixture. Bake at 350 F for 40-60 minutes.

:: Mango, Almond Quinoa Salad::

I was served this for dinner the other night and had three plate fulls. Really fresh and delicious.

2 cups Quinoa (cook like you would rice)

3 mangoes chopped

Generous handful of cilantro, chopped

Any nuts and seeds you have on hand (toasted at 350 F for about 8 minutes or until slightly golden); I used pumpkin seeds and slivered almonds

2 peppers chopped (I don't use green ones in this recipe)

Chopped red onion (I didn't use this last night)

Dried fruit (I used raisins and cranberries)

Option: Clove of garlic

Dressing:

Freshly squeezed lemon juice

Yogourt and mayo

Oil

Honey

Curry powder

:: Elisha's Pecan Pie ::

My friend, Elisha happened upon a fantastic version of pecan pie. She swapped the usual pie crust for a shortbread base. Genius! Saves time and tastes amazing.
Crust:
1 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
2 cups flour
Optional: Drizzle in some syrup for a hint of maple flavour.

1. Blend and press into a pie plate. Prick all over with a fork.
2. Partially bake @ 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and let rest.
3. Lower oven temperature to 275.

Filling:
3 eggs
1 cup dark brown sugar
3/4 cup corn syrup
6 Tbsp melted butter
1 Tbsp vanilla or coffee liqueur
2 to 2.5 cups pecans

1. Pour filling into the crust and bake for about 50-60 minutes @275, or until slightly jiggly. This is the "low and slow" method. {I, for one, rarely get my pies to really firm up the way they shoudl because I worry about ruining the crust. But pecan pie tastes great in whatever state it is in!}

Maple Pecan Option:
3 eggs
1/2 cup white sugar
4 Tbsp melted butter
1 cup maple syrup
1.5 cups pecans

::Cucumber Boats::

A quick snack for the healthy-minded.
I found it at ::RawonTen::

Lunch

Cucumber Club

serves 1 ~ $2.08 per serving

1 cucumber ($.59)

1 small onion

1 avocado ($1.49)

salt

This is another recipe idea from Bette. It's so simple and made a great lunch that was both light and filling.

Peel the cucumber and cut in half. Using a spoon or scoop, scrape out the seed cavity and some of the flesh so that it's a hollowed boat. Keep what has been scraped out and chop finely. To that, add one chopped avocado and one finely minced onion. Mix together and use this to fill the cucumber.

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::Banana Date Cake::

I have been trying to cook and bake in a new way lately. Mostly because everyone I know is doing the same. Here is a successful cake from the "Clean Start" cookbook that can be eaten guilt-free.

WET INGREDIENTS
10 dried dates, pitted
2 ripe bananas
1⁄3 cup maple syrup
1⁄4 cup virgin coconut oil, melted
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

DRY INGREDIENTS
1 cup chickpea flour
1 cup almond meal
1⁄4 cup tapioca flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1⁄2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1⁄2 teaspoon sea salt

Preheat oven to 350°F and lightly grease 8 x 8-inch baking dish.

Place dates in large bowl and cover with boiling water to soften. Drain well, add bananas and mash both together so that chunks remain. Add maple syrup, melted oil, lemon juice and vanilla and whisk to combine.

In separate bowl, whisk together all dry ingredients. Add to bowl with banana mixture and fold gently to combine, making sure not to overmix. Pour into prepared baking dish and bake for 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from oven, place on rack and cool completely before slicing or removing from dish.

MAKES 1 cake