Minutes for dinner let me show you how.

written by Linda Gauthier

We all have busy schedules and even more so at this time of the year.  So if I could show you how to put an entire meal together, from start to finish, in 30 minutes, would you be interested?  No, I don't mean phone the Pizza place!  I mean a proper nutritious meal, which will fit your budget, and your desire to have a tasty quick meal.

Menu tonight: 
                          Chicken poached in apple cider with apple and 
                          sage and garlic
                          Acorn squash, brown sugar and spices for chutney
                          green beans amandine
                          Couscous with Epicure's Cherries and Berries,          
                          sultana raisins, Mediterranean style.

The above are the ingredients I used, and please note the time is 5:36 pm

Step 1, place chicken breasts in the Epicure rectangular steamer (Aubergine colored item in the picture)
Pour 1/2 cup apple cider on chicken, shake herbs on top, place in microwave for 4 minutes. 

Boil water to make couscous, measure 1 cup of couscous out 

Cut acorn squash in half,  remove seeds,  put Epicure Chutney Spices and brown sugar in cavity of acorn squash, set aside.

4 minutes have passed, remove chicken and check, give it a quick stir and return to microwave for an additional 3 minutes.

Water has boiled, measure 2 cups out, and pour on couscous, stir in dried fruit, place over low heat, stir until the all the water is absorbed.  Approximately 5 minutes.

Chicken is now cooked, remove from steamer.  Place on serving tray in low oven to keep warm.  Rinse steamer, place acorn squash in steamer.  Cook in microwave for 6 minutes.

In the meantime, brown almonds in Epicure Eclipse non-stick fry pan.  When toasted, remove from pan, set aside.  Place frozen green beans in warm pan, pour 1/4 cup water into fry pan, cook until warmed through and cover.  Drain, place pat of butter on beans, add almonds. 

Dinner is now all done please look at the time:

Time total to cook 30 minutes

Complete about ready to plate

A complete and balanced meal.

Complete dinner from start to finish: 30 minutes
Total cost: $3.75 per portion

I use the Epicure Steamers nightly and it is so easy to have a great meal ready in no time and easy clean up.  For further information about the Epicure Steamers, and their versatility, I have added a couple of links to some recipes on YouTube.

Asian style fish


Epicure Steamer Coconut Curry

Information about the steamers

                       

Playing With My Food

Written by Linda Gauthier

Looking at old recipes with new eyes

I have decided to take a new angle on some of my old recipes, so I am playing with my food.
One of the recipes I'm looking at, is a Christmas staple in our house.
Every year, I make the dish known as "Mom's Easy Christmas Breakfast".  I have no idea if that is the correct name, but it is the name we called it in my house.  I do know that there are tons of variations of this recipe out there.
Here is the one I have used for years.


6-12 slices cooked ham
1 1/2  cups sliced fresh mushrooms
8 slices white bread slices 
2 cups shredded cheese

Beat together the following ingredients:

8 eggs
1  1/2 cups milk
1  1/2 cups cream
1 1/2 teaspoons dry mustard or 3 tablespoons Dijon-style mustard
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Directions

Lightly coat a 3-quart rectangular baking dish with cooking spray; set aside.
Place bread slices in prepared baking dish.
Top with half of the ham, mushrooms, and cheese.
Pour half of the egg mixture over the bread and ham mixture.
Repeat layers with remaining ham, mushroom and cheese mixture top with the remaining egg mixture. 

Using the back of a spoon, gently press down on layers.
Cover and chill at least 2 hours or up to 24 hours.
We always made it the night before.
Bake, uncovered, in a 325 degree F oven for 50 to 60 minutes or until puffed, golden and set.
Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.
Makes 12 servings.

So this morning, I started on a plan to reduce the calories of this dish.
Wondering out loud, not sure what to call it, Hubby flippantly stated that we should "hug it and squeeze it and call it George", but somehow I don't think that is quite right.

Name choice number 2,  is...

"Mini Wife Savers"

I wanted to have something with the same texture and flavour, but lower calories and smaller portions.

To Serve 3 
Preheat oven to 325
Baking dish with hot water to use as water bath for ramekins when cooking.
Bake in oven for 15 min

Ingredient list:

2 slices of Organic Applewood Smoked Bacon
5 large eggs
3/4 Cup 1% milk
1/2 Cup shredded cheese
4 slices of whole wheat bread
Epicure Selections Roasted Garlic
Epicure Selections Roasted Red Pepper Dip
Epicure Selections Herb and Garlic Sea Salt
Epicure Selections Fresh Ground Pepper
butter 
6 small ramekins for baking

Beat the eggs, with the milk add the herbs and salt and pepper set aside. Slice each slice of Whole wheat bread in 1/2
fry bacon until slightly crisp, cut each piece into 1/3 rds 
Dip the whole wheat bread in the egg and milk mixture
place in ramekins

Bacon slices cut in 1/3's

Bread lining the Ramekins

Place bacon slices into the center of the bread cup 

egg mixture left over from dipping the bread

Pour remaining egg mixture into center of bread cups over the bacon, top each ramekin with cheese.

Spices and cheese

Ramekins in water baths

Place in preheated oven, bake for approximately 15 mins.

baked "Mini Wife Savers"

Brunch!

The flavour was good and the texture was true to that of the original.  The flavour of the bacon was more intense than the ham and was very nice.  With such a small portion, it required a stronger meat flavour than could be achieved with the ham slices.  I think this is going to be what I have for my Christmas Brunch, not sure of the sides yet, working on that still.


And I thought I got myself into messes? 

Now what?

Hope you are having a better day than this guy, keep smiling, and trying new things. 

Try looking at things from a different angle, you might be pleasantly surprised.

Then again, you might end up like this guy, but that's not always bad is it?  It's making you smile, right?

Or you may be feeling empathy, either way, you are viewing things differently than you were 5 minutes ago.

Talk to you soon.

Busy busy week Christmas Elf work etc.

written by Linda Gauthier


Hubby's office party this weekend and trying to get ready to send off boxes to Newfoundland, Epicure parties, etc. just a busy little elf.
Much like everybody else at this time of year.
I am going to sit down and send out the info you are all waiting on:
Did she or didn't she lose weight this week.
I just know there are hordes of you out there waiting in anticipation for my latest words of wisdom.
Yup!
I am sure of that.
But, oh well, I seem to have become addicted to talking to myself and guess what?
I like it!
Is that considered a character flaw?
Or one of those senior moments?
Well, I did lose this week.


I am now down to...

Seem to be at a plateau, but is is a slight loss.
From last week's 142.8, this week's 142.4 gives me a grand total loss of 29 lbs even, as of today.
On the bright side, it is not a gain.

Now I have something to show you.
Normally I am totally against having my picture taken and it is not enjoyable for me.
However, I have made a photo montage of "before and now" pics, which can be found at this site.
Click on the opening photo to start the image carousel of photos.
Click on each to view description texts.  Click again to return to the carousel.

Here is another photo, taken just before we headed out to the party.
New dress, new attitude and I actually let a picture be taken of me.  So you now have a more recent face to go with these feet.
More to lose, and I now have to start concentrating on my activity level and toning, but I now know that I can do it.
It seems to be a matter of proving to myself that it does work, then I can see the possibilities that I can go further.  I am sure that this is the same with a lot of us who have more than 5 lbs to lose.
What once seemed an impossible task, now feels possible, and I have to say, it really gives me a nice exhilarating feeling, to be finally rid of this excess weight.

Talk to you soon and hope you will try some of my recipes.
With a tiny bit of exercise, they really do work.
In other words, you don't have to kill yourself nor sacrifice taste.
And if any of you want information about the Epicure Products, you can just leave me a comment and your email address.
Or email me directly, to keep your email private.
I would be happy to answer your questions.