Chicken Soup for my sick sister!

My sister has a cold. It was cold outside. All signs pointed to soup!

I started with:
3 carrots
About 2 cups shredded zucchini
Into the slow cooker they went!

Then: Added 2 large chicken breasts

Chicken Broth (you can use whatever kind you like, boxed, canned or homemade!)

Salt, Pepper, Thyme

With about 1/2 an hour left I poured in some whole wheat macaroni... I think I poured in a little too much because it soaked up a lot of the liquid! haha But it was still delish!

I added some more pepper to my bowl and on the side had a yummy whole grain flax bun!
Hit the spot and warmed me up!!

Pork Tenderloin

Dinner Tonight was Pork Tenderloin from the Nature's Green Acres that I got at the farmer's market two weeks ago! I slit it down the middle, stuffed with with chopped garlic (3 cloves). Brushed olive oil on top, sprinkled with salt, pepper, thyme and rosemary. 1 hour on the grill, flipping it every 15-20 mins!

On the side: grilled farmer's market carrots, yellow zucchini and red potatoes. 

Such a simple but delicious dinner and the best part of it was all local!! yay!!

Enjoy your Tuesday night people!

New Favorite things

So I don't have any food to share with you today, but I do have lots of other fantastic things to share!

First, I am now included on a list on Healthy Living Blogs. Its a great new website that has daily "What Health Means to Me" posts by healthy and active bloggers. Its alsohosts a fantastic list of health blogs-- everything from weight loss to foodies! I also think its great that they list blogs by area, which means I can find more Alberta like-minded bloggers! Check it out!

Now onto something more close to home: The Tomato is an Edmonton based publication that I actually picked up for the first time a few weeks ago at a coffee shop, but just kept forgetting to post about! Besides the "Whats happening" section which lets you know about great food events going on in the Edmonton area, it also has fantastic, local recipes and reviews! The summer one should still be in local coffee shops and restaurants and I believe the fall issue comes out sometime in September!

My latest tv addiction.... When my sister moved in with me, she insisted we get more than just basic television. I resisted just because of the price, but what are you going to do? I did miss A&E, History and The Food Network... wow did I miss the Food Network! I am in love with tons of new shows (well new to me! haha) This includes:
The Supersizers Go: two hilarious British people explore the food habits of people over the last few hundred years... it mixes HISTORY WITH FOOD-- its like this show was meant for me!!! ieeee...!!

Eat, Shrink and Be Merry: Two fantastic ladies challenge fatty caloric foods with their healthier versions in a taste test. I'm inspired to make their version of butter chicken sometime soon.

Anna and Kristina's Grocery Bag:  (This is on the W network or Viva) but wow! I always loved the Shopping Bags hints and tips, but this really is the best of all their shows. They make recipes from a cook book and make those recipes for a chef or cook that is known within that particular style of food. Their experiences let you know whether or not you would like that book! Its entertaining and informative!

Its PIE TIME!

Hello dear friends and readers... readers and friends....

So yesterday my friend Angie and I went for pie. It was a celebratory pie of sorts... she and I have both been in the same Masters program, basically the only two people attempting our thesis to be completed this month. Angie officially handed in her paper today but we had pie last night at one of my favorite places in the city, Vi's for Pies. And I got my much loved peanut butter pie...

BIGGEST PIECE OF PIE! 

I ate like half of it. I have leftovers for dessert tonight :)

Creamy... peanut buttery... chocolate rice crispy crust... What's not to love?

Angela opted for (German) chocolate cake. She also only ate half. I'm glad she got to go before she leaves me for the west coast!

In other pie news... I purchased a coupon from groupon.com that got me a Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria  coupon- buy it for $15 and get a $30 coupon! woo hoo! and its good until February, so I have lots of time to use it, though I doubt I will wait! I think this is a really cool website and hopefully they'll keep up with the great deals in Edmonton!

Cheesy Tomato and Meat Stuffed Zucchini

Om nom nom nom nom.... here is last nights dinner!!! So happy I found this recipe and decided to make it.
Here is the original link: http://kalynskitchen.blogspot.com/2009/09/recipe-for-meat-tomato-and-mozzarella.html
I made a few variations ( i only used ground turkey, instead of beef and turkey, I also think my zucchini wasn't  quite the same as the recipes ideal zucchini, but I worked with it.)
Even Ryan mostly liked this, which says something!

Here is the ground turkey cooked up with the onions, green pepper and garlic.

With the tomato sauce and mozza added in!

In the oven!!! ohhhh la la!!!

Here is the copy and pasted recipe just in case you are in no mood to click on the link:

Meat, Tomato, and Mozzarella Stuffed Zucchini Cups 
(Makes 6-8 servings, recipe created by Kalyn)

2 large zucchini or yellow squash, about 12 inches long
2 tsp. + 2 tsp. olive oil (may need more, depending on your pan)
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1 green pepper, finely chopped
2 T finely minced fresh garlic
1 lb. ground beef (10% fat or less)
12 oz. ground turkey (10% fat or less)
(use any combination of ground meat you'd like, but use low-fat ground meat for the South Beach Diet.)
1-2 tsp. Spike seasoning (optional but recommended)
2 C flavorful tomato-basil pasta sauce
2 cups low-fat mozzarella or other mild white cheese (I used low-fat blend of six cheeses called Italian blend.)

Preheat oven to 350F/175C. Chop onion and green pepper. Heat 2 tsp. olive oil in a non-stick pan, then saute onion and pepper for 3-4 minutes, until just starting to soften. Add minced garlic and saute about 1 minute more, being careful not to brown the garlic. Remove the onion, pepper, and garlic mixture to a bowl.

Add 2 tsp. more olive oil to the pan. Crumble in the ground beef and ground turkey, season with Spike seasoning, and cook over medium heat until the meat is well browned. Tilt pan to see if there is any extra fat, and remove with a spoon if there is, then stir cooked vegetables and garlic back into the meat. Add tomato sauce and simmer until the mixture has thickened and liquid has cooked off, about 10 minutes, then turn off heat.

While meat cools, cut zucchini into 2 inch thick slices, discarding ends. Use a sharp spoon or melon baller to hollow out a cup in each zucchini slice, leaving just over 1/4 inch of zucchini flesh. Be careful not to get too close to the skin or the cups will leak liquid when they cook.

Spray baking sheet with nonstick spray and stand up zucchini cups, open end up. Stir 1 1/2 cups grated cheese into the cooled meat mixture (it doesn't need to be completely cool), then spoon the meat-cheese mixture into zucchini cups, pressing down with the spoon and mounding it up a little over the top of the zucchini.

Bake zucchini cups for 20 minutes, then remove from oven and use remaining cheese to top each one with a generous pinch of cheese. Put back in oven and bake 10-15 minutes more, until zucchini is slightly soft when pierced with a fork and cheese is melted and lightly browned. Serve hot.

Enjoy everyone!!

Beets!

Hi friends! Just coming out from under my thesis rock to tell you about my yummy dinner last night!

Roasted beets!!! Gotta love farmers market season and beets. From August-October I always buy beets at the farmers market. so versatile. I think my leftovers are going in a salad today!

Got these potatoes at the market on Saturday as well.

They were great! And I must say, very clean right out of the bag. Some of the vendors produce is very dirty but the Hutterite stand is where its at when it comes to clean produce, especially potatoes, which i hate scrubbing!

Grille Zucchini!

All the veggies had olive oil and salt and pepper! thats it!

Had a veggie burger and topped it with avocado and feta. 

YUM!

Anyone else like beets as much as I do? 

Barefoot Wine for a footnote night

Hi Friends! 

Just a quick update after a long, but fairly productive day! I got a decent amount of work done and am at the 2 week countdown before I hand my paper in... I can't wait! But I've got a lot to do. 

One thing to make the next two weeks go more smoothly- I bought some wine!

This one was a wine that Cathy taste tasted at last weeks Capital Ex. We both really liked it and the price was right at only $9 (yes, i seek out less expensive wines, though I don't think that means anything! judge me all you want but I don't have a job right now, haha.)

Barefood Moscato from California

And look at the back: Footnotes!

You know this wine was just asking to come home with me!

Now onto dinner tonight!

I kept it simple and hearty!

Grilled Farmers Market Potatoes, Carrots and Zucchini!!
Sprayed on olive oil, and then salt, pepper, rosemary and thyme.

Don't you just love it! I do!! 

I got a bbq chicken from the grocery store today. I knew I wouldn't have much time to make dinner tonight. The key with these is to take off the skin (since thats where all the calories and fat are!) and then add your own spices.

I had two glasses tonight, not going to lie.

Salad to finish!

I'm just going to finish up a few more pieces of work and then I am going to relax! Cathy and I are planning to use her new popcorn maker (that she got for her birthday over 3 weeks ago but has yet to use!! I've been waiting in anticipation!)

Night everyone!

Festival Weekend!

Hi Everyone! So the last few days here in Edmonton have been lots of fun! That is because the end of July/start of August is festival time! and great weather! I managed to hit up, in the course of 5 days, Capital Ex, Taste of Edmonton and Heritage Days. Sadly, I forgot my camera for Taste of Edmonton... but regardless I still have lots to say!

Taste of Edmonton: went there on Wednesday night. First, Ryan and I shared green onion cakes (every year they are part of the menu and part of MY menu. so good!) Then we shared pyrogies (given what you pay, I wasn't impressed with the amount. I'll stick to my church basement dinners thank you very much!) THen I had these stuffed mushrooms... by far my FAVORITE of the evening. They were from the Gas Pump (i think it might be a bar haha...) they were stuffed with three cheese. CHOMP! Ryan and I didn't share those, thank goodness!! Finally for dessert: Ryan and I shared a deep fried mars bar (it wasn't that good. I wouldn't get it again. I've had better deep fried mars bar experiences...) and then from the Creperie I had a Glace au Chocolat... it was yummy! Frozen deliciousness.

Angie, Cathy and I had 2 leftover tickets each, so we hit up Taste of Wine for Sangria. It was OK... it was bottle Sangria, which we all agreed was unacceptable. Where is the fruit??

All in all, it was a fun evening! 

Capital Ex: The plan- go see Metric rock out with my sister and my dear friend Jason. and we had free tickets to get into the EX. woo hoo!! The sky-- BLACK! It rained and rained and there was lots of lightening. However, that didn't stop us from getting MINI DONUTS and ALCOHOL! 

Here is Cathy drinking Yukon Espresso Beer- none of us really liked it. It tasted like beer and then had an aftertaste of coffee... not as appealing as you might think.

Here I am with the same espresso beer.

Jason and his friend. They also did not like the espresso beer, but are smiling nonetheless!

Note: These photos were taken before we spent a good 3 hours standing outside waiting for and listening to Metric perform! We were all decently exhausted by the end! 

Now onto HERITAGE DAYS! This is by far my favorite festival of the summer! I spent Sunday evening and a few hours on Monday there too!

Here is Cathy and I with a delicious treat: Frozen Banana Covered in Chocolate! 

I should say: there are tents representing different countries all over Hawrelak Park. Each country makes traditional food and you buy tickets and make your way around the world! It reminds Edmontonians of how multicultural their city is!  This treat was from the Peru tent. 

Here I am eating roasted corn from Peru. Not going to lie, it was covered in butter and salt. And it was great.

Here is Ryan with some of his food choices... I think these are from Slovakia but I might be wrong. One is some kind of traditional hot dog/sausage wrapped in some kind of flat bread. The other is some kind of chocolate puff.

Cathy, Ryan and I only really managed to spend about 1.5 hours there Sunday night before s storm blew in... lucky for me I got to go the next day with Benita! We like to go and buy inexpensive jewelery from the India tent every year! And then eat...

From Afghanistan: Beef and Vegetable Skewers. I wish this had had some kind of sauce or yogurt based dip to go with it. It was dry without something.

Benita eating CAMEL from Nepal. We both agreed that it was tough (which isn't really surprising.) It was still good, especially because of the sauce they put on it.

Benita and me drinking Jalaab, a traditional middle eastern drink, made of rose water, dates, almonds, all on ice. We both liked it and it was quite refreshing!

All in all I had a great time over the past few days! Now that I've eaten my way through Edmonton and the world, I should get back to work!