15 August 2008

Freudian Sip


Naramata Bench

It is the small things in life that make it all worth while. It just takes a small token of appreciation, a kind word or a pat on the back to make a person feel worthy. A friend gave me a bottle of wine from Therapy Vineyards in Naramata here in the Okanagan Valley. No particular reason except just being a friend...but hey I love a good bottle of wine and I love friends even more.

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12 August 2008

Grilled Halloumi Cheese

When it has been a long day at work I don't always feel like preparing a full blown meal. I sometimes fire up the grill and with tongs in hand brush some halloumi cheese with a little olive oil, grill some flatbread and slice a few tomatoes. A quick and easy meal ...or appetizer under different circumstances.

I found this recipe from Bobby Flay. His original recipe calls for you to barbecue the entire piece of halloumi whole but I prefer to slice mine into 1/2-inch thick slices. You decide..... both ways are probably delicious!!!

**Grilled Halloumi Cheese**
(adapted from a recipe by Bobby Flay)

1/2 pound Halloumi, sliced into 1/2-inch pieces.
2 T oregano leaves
1 T olive oil
1 grilled lemon
Pita bread, grilled
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Brush the cheese slices with olive oil. Place onto a medium hot grill for 2 minutes on each side, or until it has grill marks. Sprinkle with oregano. Drizzle the olive oil on top and squeeze the lemon juice over the cheese.

Serve with grilled pita bread.

If you enjoyed this recipe you may also be interested in:

Fried Halloumi Cheese with Lemon Caper Vinaigrette where you can also find out all about this wonderful Cypriot cheese.
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11 August 2008

Cherry Tomato Salad

If you can find them, add a few sweet little yellow pear tomatoes to the mix. Simple and delicious.......

**Cherry Tomato Salad**

2 T balsamic vinegar
1 T red wine vinegar
1 large shallot, minced
1 T drained capers
1 tsp minced garlic
1/4 cup (plus 2 T) extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and freshly ground pepper
3 pints cherry tomatoes, halved
1/3 cup finely shredded basil

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In a large bowl, whisk together the balsamic vinegar, red wine vinegar, shallot, capers and garlic. Whisk in the oil slowly and season with salt and pepper. Add the tomatoes and basil and toss. Season with salt and pepper. Serve. Best Blogger Tips

9 August 2008

Barbecued Patty Pan

I have designated today as BLOGGER APPECIATION DAY. I just wanted to thank all of the bloggers and friends in some small way who have continued to visit my site over the summer even when I have not been following your own sites as I would like to have.
As most of you know I have been working mega hours at the Easter Seal camp for the summer. It is a camp for challenged children of all age groups. The summer has been rewarding in many ways with many twists and turns. I have been lucky to have some time off to enjoy all that the Okanagan has to offer and to enjoy it as it should be enjoyed.
I feel that overall the summer has been enjoyable, challenging and productive. There is so much joy to be had seeing the children's happy and content faces each and every day. There is only 1 camp left so it is all coming to an end.
As I already mentioned I just wanted to put it out there how much I appreciate all your support over the past few months and I promise to get back to my regular routine of more frequent posting and visiting.
I was asked to post a recipe for the patty pan squash that I found at the farmer's market. They are just as "cute" as vegetables can be being only an inch to 2 inches in diameter. A Patty Pan is a small squash-shaped vegetable which looks like a flying saucer. If they're not available where you live, you can use thickly cut zucchini (courgettes) instead.

I am off for now...I hear the thunder and lightning and a storm brewing....so better take my raincoat..............

**Barbecued Baby Patty Pan Squash**
1 crushed clove garlic
1 T chopped fresh thyme
3 T of olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
12 baby patty pan squash

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Prepare a marinade with crushed garlic, fresh thyme and olive oil. Marinate squash. Place on barbecue grill and cook for 5 - 10 minutes, turning constantly. ( I used my barbecue skillet basket)

Serves 4
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7 August 2008

Barbecued Turkey Breast Stuffed with Mushrooms & Goat Cheese

I was told that summer was coming to an end. With the weather up in the 37 Celsius range I certainly don't think this is the case. We had a few cool days where I was lulled into belief and pulled out a turkey breast to roast. But you guessed it ...it became unbearably hot once again so I opted to try the same dish on the barbecue....but hey I love to barbecue so no problem there!!!! I was inspired by a recipe I found in TASTE magazine which is a publication put out quarterly by the British Columbia Liquor Board .

I have given you the recipe as it is in the magazine, but by cooking the breast on the barbecue the cooking method is completely different. I was left with no turkey juices for the mushroom goat cheese sauce but I must say it turned out quite well nonetheless. No bread crumbs were harmed during the cooking process either.


I will try this recipe during the colder months as it was intended with a slow roast in the oven, but, perhaps those of you "down under" could try it now. I have interjected the barbecue method between the lines which I hope doesn't make this recipe too confusing.


The turkey within the foil wrapping turned out surprisingly brown and appealing...I would definitely make this again...even with my barbecue method!!!

**Turkey Breast Stuffed with Mushrooms & Goat Cheese**

Filling:

1 T (15 mL) olive oil
1 T (15 mL) unsalted butter
1 lb (500 g) mixed fresh mushrooms, washed trimmed and finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 tsp (2 mL) sea salt
1/4 cup (60 mL) chopped fresh herbs (mixed chives, sage, flat leaf parsley)
freshly ground black pepper
2 T (30 mL) whipping cream or chicken broth
2 oz (1/4 cup/50 mL) plain goat cheese, crumbled

Turkey:

1 boneless turkey breast, about 2 lbs (1 kg)
2 T (30 mL) melted butter
2 T (30 mL) fine dry breadcrumbs
salt and freshly ground black pepper
dried oregano
1/3 cup (80 mL) whipping cream or chicken broth

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Heat oil and butter in a large saute pan. Add mushrooms and garlic and sprinkle with salt. Cook over low heat until the mushrooms begin to release moisture and shrink, about 2 minutes. Increase heat to medium and continue to saute until mushrooms turn golden and liquid evaporates. Stir occasionally. Add cream or broth and sprinkle with goat cheese. Fold in to blend. Remove from the heat. Add more salt and pepper to taste.

Preheat oven to 400 F(200 C) ..in this case I turned on the barbecue to HIGH.

Butterfly turkey breast making it roughly rectangular and evenly thick. Spread HALF the mushroom filling over the inside of the breast. Reserve remainder. Wrap up breast and seal, seam side down, tucking skin around meat. Place turkey skin-side-up in a parchment-lined baking pan ; large enough to hold breast without it touching the sides. Rub with melted butter and sprinkle with a mixture of bread crumbs, slat, pepper and oregano. Roast fro 20 minutes in oven, then reduce heat to 325 F (165 C). Continue to roast until meat thermometer reads 165F (73 C) 40 - 45 minutes.

(Now since I was cooking the turkey on the barbecue I buttered the breast as instructed and sprinkled with oregano, but omitted the breadcrumbs). I then wrapped it in aluminum foil and placed on grill for 20 minutes; turning occasionally. Then I reduced heat to medium and cooked turkey for another 40 - 45 minutes; also turning occasionally).

Transfer breast to a carving board, tent with foil and let rest for 15 minutes. (Since the breast is already wrapped in foil from the barbecue...just let it rest and do its "thang").

Strain turkey juices into a saucepan. Add the remaining mushroom stuffing and 1/3 cup cream. Stir over medium heat to blend. Add more cream or broth if you wish. Slice meat into 1/2-inch (1,25 cm) slices. Serve with mushroom sauce.

Serves 8 Best Blogger Tips

6 August 2008

Green Bean Salad

Green Bean Salad
A couple of days off of work are not spent idly. I need to be available for the summer so I have become a tourist in my own town relaxing at the beach, visiting local wineries and hiking the trails. I suppose for some this would be time spent idly...but what a way to spend time!!!

L'il Burnt Toast and I drove south to Penticton on the holiday Monday. The young people flock there in droves when the weather is perfect to float down the canal from Lake Okanagan to Skaha Lake. It would be fun but considering it is a social event as well as a beer fest it is for the young...not that I am not young at heart. Downing beer in the blazing heat would not be my idea of fun at this stage in my life.....well at least not yesterday...wink...wink... Instead we opted for lunch at Vallarta Grill which has been voted the #1 Mexican restaurant in the South Okanagan. It is owned and operated in true Mexican style...not Mexican style food. If we had have been staying in Penticton I would have taken our waiter up on the Tequila Popper from my favourite Cabo Wabo ...hic...hic!!!!

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