January Card Swap

Keri and I have decided to have a go at our Monthly Card Swap. We each make 2 cards then we get together to exchange. This helps motivate us to get in our craft rooms and pull out those sets that we have never/lightly used. This month we both used MFT products. 

I used MFT New Best Friend and made this card....

 

Keri used the MFT set Polar Pals and came up with this purple cutie...

So great to get back crafting!

BBQ Chicken Pizza

 Here's another idea for a quick and easy dinner and another option for using up that Rotisserie chicken from Costco.

This hardly needs a recipe but here it is...

BBQ Chicken Pizza

Garlic Naan (I buy mine at Costco)

Spread your favourite BBQ sauce on it.

Add cooked chopped chicken, red onion and other toppings as desired. 

Cover with mozzarella cheese.

Bake at 375F directly on oven rack for 10 minutes. 

A quick and delish snack or dinner paired with a salad.

Shrimp Bowls

 My favourite recipes are the ones that are shared by friends after a lovely meal together. This recipe is even endorsed by my non-veggie loving relatives. I made it for my Duathalon crowd and they said it was better than a $30 lunch at a restaurant. High praise indeed.

Shrimp Bowls

Sauce:

1/2 cup hoisin sauce

1/2 cup soya sauce (low salt)

2 Tbsp honey

Garlic (1 clove or so)

Rice vinegar to thin out

Warm on stove top or in the microwave.

 

Roast veggies (toss in Epicure Asian Stir fry spice and some sesame oil)

Broccoli

Peppers

Onion

Snow peas  

 

Sprinkle unbaked veggies on top

Shredded carrots

Bean sprouts

 

Add cooked chicken or shrimp. (pan fried in a little oil and stir fry spice as desired)

 

Sprinkle with toasted cashews.

YUM!

 

 

Slow Cooker Ribs

 I feel like I am ready to get back to posting more. Now that the pandemic is subsiding, I feel like I'm getting back to my old routine, taking food to various events and trying out new recipes at home. It is so rewarding to have something in the crock pot ready for dinner and no need to try and figure something out at the last minute. I have been purchasing only meat that is on sale due to the horrendous rise in grocery prices and back ribs were featured last week. 

I paired them with shoestring Restaurant style fries from Costco and air fried carrots:  oil, salt, pepper, cumin and a sprinkle of brown sugar, high heat for 15 minutes, YUM!

Slow Cooker Barbecue Ribs

 1 rack of back ribs (cut into portioned segments)

salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder (about 1/2 tsp of each)

For the Sauce:

1 cup of your favourite BBQ sauce

1/2 cup ketcup

1/4 cup brown sugar

2 Tbsp red wine vinegar

1 tsp Worchestershire sauce

1 tsp dried oregano

dash of hot sauce (depending on how hot you like it)

 

1. Preheat oven to 400F.

2. Place ribs in shallow baking pan and season. Bake for 15 minutes and then turn over and back for 15 minutes more. 

3. Place ribs in a slow cooker. Pour sauce on top and cook 6-8 hours. 

4. If you want to carmelize your BBQ sauce, put back in the oven for 15 minutes or so at 400F. 

Apple Carrot muffins

 I had a meeting to attend last week and I wanted to take something that was marginally healthier to assist people with their New Year's goals. These muffins were so moist and delicious. I didn't add coconut and nuts due to food allergies but I'm sure they would have been even better with these additions. I will definitely make them again.

Apple Carrot Muffins

 2 cups flour

3/4 cup white sugar

2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp nutmeg

3 eggs

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 tsp vanilla

2 cups grated carrots

1 cup apple peeling and grated

1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

1/4 cup coconut (optional)

Coarse sugar for topping

1. Preheat oven to 350F

2. Combine dry ingredients then add wet ingredients. Fold in carrots and apple.

3. Spoon into 12 regular sized muffin tins and sprinkle a little coarse sugar on each.

4. Bake for 18-25 minutes.

 

Saltine Bark

 How have I never made this addictive recipe? I know a friend that makes it regularly and one of my relatives really likes it so I gave it a try and didn't disappoint. Hard to stop eating this. I kind of bunched up the almonds on one side since said relative said he didn't like them then proceeded to change his mind.

 

NOTE: I  toasted the almonds first.

Almond Saltine Bark

35 Saltine crackers (less than one sleeve), unsalted if butter is salted

1 cup butter

1 cup brown sugar

1 1/2 to 2 cups chocolate chips, milk or semi sweet 

Almonds

Line cookie sheet with foil. Layer saltines in single layer. 

Boil sugar and butter for 5 minutes stirring constantly to avoid scorching. Pour 

mixture over crackers. Bake in 375F oven for 5 minutes. Remove from oven. Sprinkle 

with chocolate chips. When they are shiny spread with a knife. 

Cool and break into pieces. Keep in Refrigerator. 

Tiger Butter

 This simple, quick candy recipe is perfect for around the holidays. I think it is gluten free also, which makes an nice option besides peanut brittle as a gift. It's a softer candy so it can be cut quite nicely into squares.

Tiger Butter

3 cups white chocolate melting chips

Melt and add 1 cup of smooth peanut butter then spread on cookie sheet lined with parchment

Melt one cup of semi-sweet chocolate, drop in spoonfuls and then swirl with a knife.

 

I added some mini Reece's pieces. I would press them down slightly into the base. Chill.

Will freeze (but I've never had to)