Evelyn Chartres Author
Main Dishes

Chicken Tetrazzini with Roasted Red Peppers

A straight-forward recipe that combines noodles, chicken, mushrooms, cream, sherry, and red peppers to create a ready-to-serve dish. This cream based dish is sure to be a crowd pleaser!

Ingredients

  • 6 ounces (180 g) of egg noodles
  • 1 pound (450 g) of chicken breast
  • 3 tablespoons of butter
  • 10 fluid ounces (285 ml) of canned sliced mushrooms
  • ½ teaspoon (2.5 ml) of cumin
  • 2 cloves (5-10 mg) of garlic pressed (Optional)
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) of flour
  • 1 cup (240 ml) of chicken broth
  • 1 cup (240 ml) of heavy cream
  • 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of dry sherry
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) of fine chopped roasted red peppers
  • 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of Italian seasoning
  • ½ cup (120 ml) of grated Parmesan (Optional)

Preparation

  1. Cook pasta according to package directions, rinse, drain, and set aside.
  2. Grill and spice chicken according to preference. Cut into cubes, and set aside.
  3. Melt butter in a large saucepan (1.4 quarts or 1.3 litres) over medium heat.
  4. Add mushrooms and cumin then sauté until browned.
  5. (Optional) Add garlic and sauté for about a minute.
  6. Stir in flour; whisk until smooth.
  7. Add broth and bring to a boil.
  8. Blend in cream and sherry. Allow sauce to thicken.
  9. Add red pepper, chicken, and Italian seasoning. Allow peppers to warm up.
  10. In a large bowl, mix pasta with sauce. Ready-to-serve.
  11. (Optional) Sprinkle with Parmesan for a burst of flavour.
12 August 2019 By 1 Comment Filed Under: Main Dishes, Recipes Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Peppercorn and Dijon Steak Sauce

A steak sauce that is easy to make, and keeps well when refrigerated. This recipe provides a burst of flavour with your meal that is sure to please. Remember to add peppercorns for an extra kick!

Ingredients

  • 2 cloves (5-10 g) of garlic
  • 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of finely minced onions
  • ⅓ cup (80 ml) of mayonnaise
  • ⅓ cup (80 ml) of Dijon mustard
  • 3 tablespoons (45 ml) of red wine
  • ½ teaspoon (2.5 ml) of  Italian seasoning
  • Peppercorn to taste

Preparation

  1. Sautée garlic and onions over medium heat, until onions are transparent. For more flavour, allow onions to brown.
  2. In a soup bowl, mix garlic, onions, mayonnaise, mustard, red wine, and Italian seasoning. Stir until you have a consistent finish.
  3. Refrigerate until needed.
  4. Serve on top of steak. Add peppercorn to taste for an extra kick!
11 March 2019 By Leave a Comment Filed Under: Main Dishes, Recipes, Sides Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

French Onion Soup

French onion soup is known for its ooey-gooey goodness. With its simple ingredients and straightforward recipe, this dish is sure to be a crowd pleaser! This recipe makes enough soup for six bowls and it keeps well, so it works as a leftover.

Ingredients

Soup

  • 2½ pounds of (1130 g) of sweet onions
  • 3 tablespoons (45 ml) of butter
  • 4 cloves (10-20 g) of pressed garlic
  • 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of thyme or 2 bay leaves
  • 2 tablespoon (30 ml) of flour
  • 1 quart (900 ml) of beef broth
  • ½ cup (120 ml) of dry white wine
  • 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of Balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of brown sugar

Bread Layer

  • 1 baguette of French bread
  • Garlic butter

Cheese Mix (Per serving)

  • ¾ ounce (20 g) of shredded swiss cheese
  • ¾ ounce (20 g) of shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 3/16 ounce (5 mg) of shredded parmesan cheese

Preparation

Soup

  1. Cut the onions in half lengthwise, then slice. Set aside.
  2. In a large pot, melt butter over medium heat.
  3. Add onions and garlic. Let the onions sweat, until they are translucent and soft.
  4. Add thyme (or bay leaves), then sprinkle softened onions with flour. Mix until you have an coat.
  5. Pour in beef broth, wine, balsamic vinegar, and brown sugar. Stir occasionally, bring to a boil then reduce heat to simmer.
  6. Simmer for about an hour.
  7. Taste the soup. It is done when onions are very tender and the broth has a balance of sweet and savoury. Add more brown sugar or balsamic vinegar to balance if needed.

Bread Layer

  1. Cut ¼ inch (0.6 cm) slices of baguettes. Enough to cover surface of your French Onion soup bowls (varies on size).
  2. Spread with garlic butter.
  3. Broil in oven or use a toaster oven to toast the slices. Ready once you have a golden brown finish. Set aside.

Cheese Mix (Per serving)

  1. Mix swiss, mozzarella, parmesan cheese. Set aside.

To Bake

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C)
  2. Oil bowls or coat with a non-stick spray. Fill bowls with soup. Leave about ¼ inch (0.6 cm) of space from the top.
  3. Layer in bread, try to avoid leaving gaps.
  4. Cover with cheese mix.
  5. Place in the oven on broil for 10 minutes. Ready when the cheese layer is bubbly with golden brown accents. If you are reheating the soup, bake in oven for 20 minutes.
  6. Remove from oven, then serve on a plate.
7 January 2019 By Leave a Comment Filed Under: Main Dishes, Recipes, Sides, Soups Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Swedish Meatballs

Swedish meatballs are a de-facto comfort food. This recipe opts to bake the meatballs in the oven so they remain intact during cooking. These seasoned meatballs, coated in sour cream, can really brighten the mood at the table and is sure to become a family favourite!

This recipe feeds 6 to 8 people.

Ingredients

  • 1⅛ cup (265 ml) of dry bread crumbs
  • 1 cup (235 ml) of heavy cream
  • 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of butter (divided)
  • ½ cup (120 ml) of finely chopped onions
  • 2 cloves (5-10 g) of crushed garlic
  • 1 pound (450 g) of ground beef
  • ½ pound (225 g) of ground pork
  • 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of Herbes de Provence or Italian Seasoning (divided)
  • ¼ teaspoon (1.25 ml) of ground allspice
  • Salt and Pepper to taste
  • 1 cup (235 ml) of beef broth
  • 1 cup (235 ml) of sour cream
  • 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of flour

Preparation

  1. Pre-heat oven to 325°F (165°C).
  2. In a small skillet, melt 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of butter. Add onions and garlic then sauté until onions are transparent.
  3. In a large bowl, mix bread crumbs and cream. Then quickly add onions, garlic, beef, pork, 2 teaspoons (10 ml) of herbes, salt and pepper.  Kneed the contents until you have a consistent texture.
  4. Using a heaping tablespoon of meat, roll into meatballs. Place meatballs on greased 17×11 inch (44×28 cm) pan or cookie sheet. Space them out to fit approximately 40 meatballs.
  5. Place in the oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until the centre is no longer pink. On occasion, roll the balls to prevent them from cooking on only one side or sticking to the pan. Once cooked, set aside.
  6. In a large saucepan on medium-high bring broth to a boil. Reduce to low once it comes to a boil.
  7. Combine sour cream and flour into a small bowl then mix well. Stir mixture into the broth, then cook for five minutes while stirring constantly. Do not bring to a boil.
  8. Add meatballs and cook for five minutes. On occasion, place a lid on the saucepan then shake the contents so every meatball gets evenly coated.
  9. When complete, garnish with remaining herbes and serve.
19 November 2018 By Leave a Comment Filed Under: Main Dishes, Recipes Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Dijon and Maple Salmon

In la Belle Province, maple syrup is a major industry and a frequent contributor to breakfasts in my family. Over time, this ingredient has migrated for use other meals, and this recipe is a prime example.

This recipe is a delightful combination of Dijon mustard, maple syrup, sweet onions and garlic. Once baked, it creates a heavenly fusion of flavour. Sweet and tangy, every bite is different from the last. Love it!

This recipe feeds 2 people.

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces (225 g) of salmon fillet(s)
  • ½ teaspoon (2.5 ml) of butter
  • ⅓ cup (80 ml) of Dijon mustard
  • ⅓ cup (80-100 ml) of maple syrup
  • 2 cloves (5-10 g) of finely chopped garlic
  • 1 tablespoon (15 mg) of finely chopped sweet onion
  • ¼ teaspoon (1.25 ml) of dill seeds
  • Salt and Pepper to taste

Preparation

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C).
  2. Filet fish into a ¼ inch (0.6 cm) thick slices then pat dry.
  3. Butter both sides of the filet then site aside.
  4. In a bowl, mix mustard and maple syrup until you have a consistent finish. Taste to confirm that you have the right balance of sweet and tangy. Generally, you can adjust by adding more maple syrup.
  5. (Optional) Tear some aluminum foil wrap to fit individual pieces, then place in a bowl or plate to create a cavity. This allows to cook on the grill, and keeps individual portions warm until it’s ready to serve.
  6. In a baking dish pour ½ sauce to create a base, then top with fillets.
  7. Pour remaining of sauce onto the fillets, then sprinkle: garlic, onion, salt, pepper, and dill seed.
  8. Place in oven about 15 minutes or until the salmon is a consistent colour and flakey.
  9. Remove from oven then meal is ready-to-serve.
22 October 2018 By Leave a Comment Filed Under: Main Dishes, Recipes Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,