Perogies

Perogies are just one of those foods that you really love or really do not love. My kids love them. And they really are an easy dinner when you need an easy dinner.
I have not actually made them, one day maybe. But for now, I am buying them frozen ever so happily.
And the best part is what goes on top. I have been buying the good old potato perogies and here is a list of toppings that I put in bowls to choose from: chopped tomatoes, chopped green onion, chopped crispy bacon. Sour cream and spinach are also good.
Any way you dress these divine little dumplings they will taste oh so good!!!

Welcome to Autumn

I find this time of year to be a thoughtful one. We are starting to stay indoors just a little bit longer. Being close to those we love a little more often. It is that time when cooking takes on the smell of cinammon and sage after an August full of basil.
The house smells like dinner (in a good way) long before you sit down at the table.
I made something today that I have not made in years, stuffed pork tenderloin. It had all of the qualities that I mentioned above and it tasted so good with steamed brocoli and carrots.
I took two pork tenders and sliced them down the centre, but not all the way through. Just opening them up so they are flatter and twice the width. Place in a casserole. In a saucepan melt 1/4 c butter and add half of a chopped onion and 1/4 c of chopped celery. Add a little sage and savory, salt and pepper. Turn the heat off and add two cups of finely chopped bread crumbs, a handful of raisins and one chopped apple, skin removed. Mix together and place and or pack on top of the first tenderloin. Plunk the second tender on top. Wrap four pieces of bacon around the two tenders, almost like a ribbon and secure with toothpicks. Bake for about twenty minutes...Enjoy!

Dinner...turning in to lunch

I realize that this is a very practical way to eat, eating leftovers from dinner for lunch the next day. And so many clever fold do it. I remember a lovely lady I worked with at the TD Bank years ago would bring the most divine leftovers, the lunch room always smelled so good. And as recent as this summer I was given some great advice to eat what I had made the night before. It is practical and such a good way to keep that refridgerator clean...not to mention economical!
Having said all of this it is a challenge to do day after day for your family.
Last week I started well because we had a group of ten kids for lunch the first day back. My kids were thrilled because there were leftovers all week!!! It did get me thinking how great it is to have a choice in the morning, be it leftover chicken or blackforest ham or salami. Peanut butter is a weekend only treat but sunflower butter is a great substitute...amazing with creamed honey!!!
Leftover rice with peas and carrots or leftover mac and cheese are both good for lunch. My next challenge will be to make sure there is enough food in there because I have one in particular who is eating not only a lot but very frequently!!!

Happy September

It really is the start of the year for those of us who have school age children. With September comes fall which is a heavenly time of year for food. I have been buying a lot of tomatoes and basil and making a lot of tomato sauce and pesto, two favourites. Both are easy to make and taste soooooooooooooooo much better than what you have to settle for when you buy it. It is also the time of year when we think of comfort food, ways to make us feel good after a long day at school or a miserably rainy day. It being Sunday my husband is making dinner, and he is preparing his specialty, roast chicken. His method is to simply stuff them with lemons and rub the outside with a little butter and herbs de provence. The taste is wonderful but your house smells heavenly!!!

Potato Salad

This quite possibly could be the best of all summer salads, at least one of the top five.
My favourite way to make it is to use small potatoes, scrubbed with the skins still on. Cut them in half, ensuring all are the same size. Boil them just until they are firm, not mushy. Do drain them well, potatoes retain so much water. Once they are drained pour on your very favourite vinaigrette, use tarragon as the herb. And add as many shelled peas as you feel like!!!
This is so good paired with any bbq and green salad...or...for lunch the next day!!!

Favourite Food

The truth is that pizza is my most favourite food, really and truly. And we have one place in town that is excellent, wood fired, thin crust, divine. But making pizza is pretty much the best way to go, it tastes so good and every time I make it, my husband always says, this is the best pizza ever...!!!
And you can make enough for your family at a fraction of the cost, not to mention you can add exactly what you want with the best ingredients possible.
So go crazy tonight, add whatever you want whether it is goat cheese or feta, pesto or tomato sauce, pepperoni or pancetta, just have fun and pour a little red to go with, will definitely taste even better that way!

Something new...for us

We had never bbq'd a whole chicken before. This was something my husband was dying to try, so off I went to find the perfect little chicken, turns out I found an eight pounder, which is very good for us. My husband took the back bone out, sounds awful really, did not watch the process. He made a dry rub for it and let it sit overnight in the fridge. The flavour was incredible but the biggest delight of all was how juicy it was, which is why we should always buy bone in chicken...I often get lazy and this was the perfect reminder! Totally worth the effort!