Posted by Billie-Jean | Mar 26th, 2010

The Benefits of Oatmeal

I love oatmeal.  I didn’t really like it as a child but come to think of it, I am not sure if I am confusing oatmeal with Cream of Wheat, which I dreaded.  I go through breakfast favorites, lately it has been a poached egg on toast but I always come back to oatmeal.  In fact, I just finished eating a bowl of it.   I want to share some information with you about oatmeal, incase you have forgotten about this...

Posted by Billie-Jean | Mar 24th, 2010

Chicken Pasta with Fried Capers

This recipe is a favorite that I have been making for years.  The recipe is so simple but the key is FRESH.  I love that word actually.  Everything put in the recipe can be as fresh and flavorful as you decide to make it.  Fresh basil, fresh lemon zest and juice, organic chicken, fresh parmesan, garlic, a really decadent olive oil and some nice sea salt to finish it off.  The only thing you buy in a jar are...

Posted by Billie-Jean | Mar 22nd, 2010

Reese’s Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake

As most of you know I do not claim to be a baker at all.  I am not sure why I can’t get a handle on this but I think it is because I am too erratic.  I have a measure shmeasure sort of attitude plus I am moving at mach 9 just to get the baked good done.  Baking to me is like science or chemistry whereas cooking is like art class.  I feel like I can relax more when I am cooking and most things can be...

Posted by Billie-Jean | Mar 15th, 2010

Creamy Chicken Pot Pie

Creamy chicken Pot pie (print here) 10 mL olive oil 2 tsp 1 garlic clove, minced 1 2 medium carrots, sliced 2 5 mushrooms, sliced (about 1 ¼ cup) 250 mL frozen peas or corn 1 cup 250 mL lower sodium chicken broth 1 cup 250 mL 2% milk, divided 1 cup 30 mL cornstarch 2 tbsp 3 mL ground thyme 1/2 tsp 2 mL crushed rosemary 1/4 tsp 2 mL pepper 1/4 tsp 500 mL cooked chicken, diced 2...

Posted by Billie-Jean | Feb 27th, 2010

Anthony Sedlak-The Today Show

Last year I wrote  a post about Anthony Sedlak at the Vancouver Home Show, you can read that post here.  He showed up again with Matt Lauer and Meredith Viera for an Olympic special.  Here is the video link for him making Canadian style french toast with Canadian bacon.  Enjoy North Vancouver’s very own, Anthony Sedlak. Anthony Sedlak Today Show Technorati Tags: anthony sedlak matt lauer, canadian...

Posted by Billie-Jean | Feb 24th, 2010

Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients (print recipe) 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour 3/4 teaspoon salt 3/4 teaspoon baking soda 1 cup unsalted butter/or salted if this is all you have, at room temperature 1 cup granulated sugar 2/3 cup light brown sugar 2 large eggs 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 1 ½ cups semi sweet chocolate chips or chunks cut off of a semi sweet bakers bar.  I use both,...

Posted by Billie-Jean | Feb 23rd, 2010

Cheesy Potato Pie

Okay, stop what you are doing right now and go to the grocery store to make, by far and away, the best potato pie I have ever eaten.  This even beats the other Potato Pie recipe I have in my recipe section.  I think the apple gives it just the right amount of flavor.  OOh OOh all the flavors together….I take a bite, close my eyes and go to a place that is taste heaven.  Even if you choose to buy your...

Posted by Billie-Jean | Feb 13th, 2010

Packing Lunch…again.

I often wonder what to put in the kids lunches.  Things can get old very fast.  When did we North Americans decide that sandwiches were the only  choice for lunches everyday?  Our friend visiting from Columbia was surprised when she saw me packing the typical brown bag lunch everyday.  Where she lives, the kids go home from school for a big hearty meal, sandwiches are unheard of.  She also said that lunch is...

Posted by Billie-Jean | Feb 12th, 2010

Tortilla Soup

Today I made Tortilla soup.  I have been searching the internet and cookbooks for the most “authentic” tortilla soup.  What I have learned is that there is no such thing as authentic or original tortilla soup in the sense that it all started at one point by one person and there is only one true way to make it.   The “original” tortilla soup was varied and it varied from one person’s...

Posted by Billie-Jean | Feb 7th, 2010

Potato Pizza

Ingredients (print recipe) 3 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into thinish slices 1   frozen pizza dough, thawed  or your own homemade dough!!!! or just buy the shells pre-made or…….. 3 tablespoons  butter 4 garlic cloves, minced 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper seasoning salt on the potatoes if you dont use salt and pepper.  Seasoning salt is so good. 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded ...