Tag: delicious

Grilled Chicken and Corn Chowder

Published on by friendlyfoodforusLeave a comment

Even thought it is technically April, Mother Nature just refuses to let it be Spring. I am watching tiny snowflakes dance around my yard as I write this and this kind of weather makes me want soup!

So naturally, I go through my cupboards and fridge to see what I have to make soup. Do you ever do this? Just make up recipes based on what you have on hand? I do all the time, actually that probably makes up over 80% of my recipes. They don’t always turn out amazing, but it usually gives me a base to work with and improve on every time.

This recipe hit the bulls eye on the first try! It is perfect comfort food for cold days, but has a taste of freshness to hint to warmer days coming and fresh veggies right out of the garden. It is also cheap….and that is right up my alley. You don’t need to spend a fortune to eat good and tasty food!

Grilled Chicken and Corn Chowder

After gathering the ingredients and grilling the corn, peppers and chicken, it is all easy peasy from there! Melt the butter in a pot and sautee the onions and garlic until fragrant and translucent. Add the broth and potatoes and simmer until they are tender. Puree 1/4 of the potatoes and liquid (or more if you like thicker soup). Return puree to pot and add corn, peppers and chicken. Let the flavors mesh together by simmering for 20-30 minutes (your house will smell amazing by the way)! Add milk, cumin, chili peppers and salt and pepper. Simmer another 15 minutes to heat and you are done!

Serve with a nice crisp salad and buns and you have the perfect dinner for a cozy night in watching movies!

 

Nontraditional Banana Cheesecake

Published on by friendlyfoodforus5 Comments

IMG-0563

First of all, before I start getting angry hate mail from the worlds biggest cheesecake lovers, this is definitely not a traditional cheesecake (it is better, but that is only my opinion!) Instead of graham crackers as the base, it has banana cake. Instead of a thick and heavy cream cheese filling, it is a light and airy whip cream/cream cheese topping.

Ok, now that we have got that out of the way, let me tell you how amazing this cake is! It is one of my go to’s for pot lucks, baby showers and holidays. I just made it last weekend for Easter and it was gone within minutes! What I love about this recipe is how easy it is. Usually desserts this good are hard to make, but this is the exception. Unfortunately, it isn’t very healthy (which would make it the world’s best cake ever) but it has fruit, so that makes me feel less guilty about having two pieces…..or three! To be honest, I am actually eating it as I write this!

Nontraditional Banana Cheesecake Recipe

Makes 9×13 cake pan. If you are looking for an amazing non stick option for your cakes and don’t want to spend a lot of money (what can I say, I am thrifty), check out these amazing non stick pans on Amazon. You get 2 pans for only $14.99. I have never had anything stick on these bad boys!

Banana Cake Base

Cheesecake topping

Pre-heat over to 325 and grease 9×13 cake pan. Mix sugar, oil, eggs and banana in one bowl and flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in another. Mix wet and dry ingredients enough to combine, but be careful of over stirring as this will make a heavier cake. Keeping the mixing to a minimum will give you a much fluffier and lighter base. Bake cake for 30-35 minutes, checking with a toothpick in the middle. Once done, put in fridge to cool while making the topping.

Top make the delicious and fluffy topping, use a stand mixer to make whip cream by combining the packages, milk and vanilla. Whip until stiff peaks form. In separate bowl, mix cream cheese, icing sugar and vanilla until completely incorporated. Mix the cream cheese and whip cream together. Now try now to eat it by the spoonful….I dare you!

When the cake is completely cool, top with cream topping and sprinkle with walnuts.

I hope you enjoy this cake as much as I do 🙂

IMG-0560IMG-0559

–

Get 2 Awesome Wilson Cake Pans for only $14.99!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shop Amazon – Most Wished For in Home & Kitchen

Easy Pineapple Salsa

Published on by friendlyfoodforus1 Comment

So yesterday I was feeling like Autumn was just around the corner and today it is hot as hell here in the sunny south of Niagara! You just never know what the weather will hold this summer! This is the strangest season ever!

So I have been craving pineapple lately and bought a nice juicy one on sale (yay for saving money!). After eating to my hearts desire, I had some left over. My brain immediately started searching the recipe index I keep stored in my head and pulled out a recipe for Pineapple salsa!


I haven’t made it in several years and for the life of me, I cannot figure out why! It isn’t even much of a recipe it is that easy and it is so delicious with so many things!

Use pineapple salsa for chicken, fish, pork chops, sausage, with tortilla chips, fish tacos, etc, etc! Again I start wondering why I haven’t made it in so long!


You won’t even need to write the recipe down (unless you have a bad memory, then I would suggest saving this post!)

EASY PINEAPPLE SALSA

  1. Pineapple
  2. Green pepper
  3. Jalapeño
  4. Onion
  5. Tomato
  6. Salt and pepper

I’m not even going to suggest ingredient amounts because I have never used measurements and have never made a bad salsa! You can even throw in some cilantro (which I hate more than anything in this world, so I never use it.)


Please try this recipe and let me know how it turned out and what you used it with. I have even been known to eat with with a spoon, so no judgement if that is the choice you decide to make 😁

Oatmeal Bars (Gluten/Dairy Free)

Published on by friendlyfoodforusLeave a comment

I know it is not even mid August yet but it is already starting to feel like fall around here. The winds have changed and the need to bake begins!

I have been torn however since I have not done much baking since going gluten free. Baking without flour (I refuse to buy anything labeled “gluten free”) seems tricky!

So I started playing around with oats! Let me tell you, these oatmeal bars are delicious and just as satisfying as anything else laced with wheat! I made them for a pot luck party and they went over so well that I had to make another whole batch for myself!


OATMEAL BARS

  • 2 medium bananas
  • 1 3/4 cups oats
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 cup peanut butter
  • 3 tbsp maple syrup
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 cup dark chocolate
  • 1/8 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 350c and grease a 9×9 pan. Mix all ingredients together (try microwaving the peanut butter first to make it easier) and bake for 20 minutes.


It really couldn’t be easier and I love this recipe since I always have the ingredients on hand. Perfect for a fast dessert, healthy enough for breakfast and delicious enough for a party!

Good Morning Muffins (Sugar Free / Gluten Free)

Published on by friendlyfoodforus2 Comments

I am not a breakfast lover. Well not until around 11am, then I could eat just about everything! But when I get up, it’s all about the coffee and that’s about it! Mmmm…coffee!

I know eating breakfast is important and the healthy and responsible choice, but I just don’t think about it.  About once a month, I make a pact with myself that I am going to eat breakfast everyday from now on. This pact lasts about 2 days and I forget again!

So I came up with a little healthy little breakfast muffin that goes so well with coffee, I look forward to them just as much or more than my coffee! The Good Morning Muffin!

img_2283

Sugar free, gluten free goodness! It is so healthy, I don’t feel so bad about putting sugar and cream in my coffee! I like to make them bite size so I can eat more of them!!

GOOD MORNING MUFFINS

Makes 12 regular or 24 bite sized muffins

  • 1 large yellow plantain
  • 3 eggs
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 salt
  • 2 tbsp oil
  • 1/2 cup rice flour
  • Cinnamon to taste

Make sure your plantain is yellow, even with some black spots. When plantains ripped, they get sweeter! Chop up the plantain in the food processor and then add the rest of the ingredients until well blended. Scrap the edges of the processor to make sure there is no chunks of plantain in there.

I always use muffin liners (mainly because I hate scrubbing anything and muffin tins are THE WORST!) Bake at 325c. for 18-20 minutes for bite size or 20-25 minutes for regular size muffins. You can test by lightly pressing with your finger for a slight spongy feeling.

I like to sprinkle extra cinnamon on top! They have a slight banana taste and are perfect with your morning coffee!

Now I wake up saying Mmmmm….muffins! I feel good about eating breakfast. Like a healthy, responsible person!

img_2287

Coconut Shrimp Curry

Published on by friendlyfoodforus7 Comments

It was a really hard weekend at our house. Friday we had to put our little 13 year old Border Collie down because of cancer, and both of us just walked around in a cloudy haze all weekend not sure what to do with ourselves. By Sunday night, I figured we needed something to get our minds off of the pain and we decided to make a nice dinner together! 

It was nothing romantic, we actually ate in front of the TV, but just the act of slicing, dicing and frying together in the kitchen brought some “normal” back into our house.

A couple weeks ago I had picked up some authentic Indian curry powder from the market and I was just itching to try it! I had some frozen shrimp in the freezer and the snow peas are in full harvest right now, so coconut shrimp curry was a no brainer!


Jack shelled and deveined the shrimp while I chopped the veggies, and once that curry powder hit the hot oil, the house seemed to come alive! It is amazing how food can do that, change your mood with just one smell!

The curry  turned out amazing and made enough for leftovers today! 

COCONUT SHRIMP CURRY

  • 16-24 Raw shrimp, deveined and shelled 
  • 1 can coconut milk
  • 1 tbsp olive or coconut oil 
  • 2 tbsp curry powder
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp tumeric
  • 1/2 onion, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, diced
  • 1 tbsp diced fresh ginger
  • Carrots, sliced 
  • Snow peas
  • Red and yellow pepper, sliced
  • White or brown rice (optional)

Prepare rice as per the package. Devein and shell thawed shrimp and cut veggies. I never add amounts for veggies to a recipe. I figure everyone has a different opinion of how much they want and “too many” vegetables isn’t usually a problem! I used 3 small carrots, 2 cups of peas and 2 peppers, but more or less can be used!

With any curry, you want the spices to hit the oil, so heat oil and add onions and garlic for 3-5 minutes until soft. Add spices and let cook for another couple of minutes. Your kitchen will immediately smell incredible!

Add shrimp and carrots until shrimp is no long translucent, then turn down heat, add peas, carrots and coconut milk. Let simmer for 10-15 minutes. It will thicken slightly, but this recipe is thin so it can make its way through the rice and veggies!! 

The flavours were beautiful, the aroma was lovely and the feeling of being “normal” again was priceless!