Amsterdam Restaurant

Poffertjes

Corned Beef Hash

Amsterdam Pannenkoeken

Amsterdam Restaurant

1-111 Oriole Road

Kamloops

Sunday breakfast

 

Homemade pita with tomato, avocado, feta and hot sauce.

Nuff said.

Grocery shop Feb 16

2 kinds of milk, onions, eggs, soup, canned pineapple, salad, frozen veg, green onions, ham, turkey, chicken, horseradish, hot peppers, potatos, parmesan, butter, special k breakfast sandwiches, tomatos, canned tomatos, marshmallows.

$75

This isn't the most well rounded shopping trip, but I'd picked up a bunch of fruit and veggies from Costco, and this was just to fill in the blanks.  The store was having a sale so I picked up some frozen veggies ($1 each) and cans of tomatos (also $1 each) that weren't on my list.  The breakfast sandwiches weren't either, but I thought they'd be something different to try.  The marshmallows are for our Saturday afternoon project - rice crispy squares.

Total - $

Breakfast for Dinner by Lindsay Landis and Taylor Hackbarth

Breakfast for dinner - who doesn't love to switch it up from time to time? Pancakes, eggs and bacon for dinner can make the meal feel fun and decadent.

The authors of the cookbook Breakfast for Dinner - Lindsay Landis and Taylor Hackbarth - have taken the concept and fancied it up. Why have bacon and eggs for dinner when you could have Breakfast Sausage Ravioli, or a burger topped with crispy potatos and a fried egg?

 This is one of the most fun and mouthwateringly delicious cookbooks I've ever got my hands on. Beautiful photos and inventive well written recipes make this a cookbook worth picking up.

I made 8 recipes to test this book -

Grapefruit Herb Sodas

Mini BLT Biscuits

Pita Bread

Shakshuka

Loco Moco

Maple Glazed Pork Meatballs

Banana Bread Bundt Cake

Root Vegetable Latkes

First I have to say that all the recipes were great - they were all easy to follow and delicious.  I would and will make all of them again in a heartbeat.  

There were 3 standouts I must mention - the pita bread - super easy and delicious.  Within 2 hours of starting we were eating fresh out of the oven bread.  The Shakshuka - eggs poached in a spicy tomato sauce was Scott's handsdown favorite.  Mine was the Loco Moco.  Tasting a billion times better (to me) than the dish we tried in Hawaii, once the components of the meal are assembled, it is spectacular.

Thank you, Random House!

Ham and egg cups

This was Sunday breakfast last weekend - quick and easy and delicious.

Bread, crusts removed and flattened with a rolling pin.

Slices of ham

 Cheese

Eggs

Butter

Preheat oven to 350'

Lightly butter one side of each piece of bread. Place bread slices, butter side down, in muffin cups. Add a piece of ham to each cup, some sliced or shredded cheese, and an egg. Season with salt and pepper if desired.

Bake for 15-20 minutes until eggs are done to your liking.

Carefully remove from muffin tin and serve. 

Grocery shop and 2 recipes

Rice, milk, potatos, soy sauce, tomatos, cheese, soup, brussel sprouts, eggs, coconut milk, sweetened condensed milk, beets, crackers, canned tomatos, bananas, tomato paste, green onions, yogurt, ham, turkey, bread, ground pork, bacon, apples, avocado, cucumber, ginger, snow peas, strawberries, creamer, popcorn.  About $86.00.

I cooked these two recipes recently, and I lost confidence while making them - figured that we would not enjoy them, so I didn't take photos of either.  

Short story even shorter - they were both really good.

Chicken Korma 

Macaroni and cheese, boursin style

Ham and Vegetable Gratin

This recipe was in the latest issue of Food Network magazine, and I wanted to make it because I had all the ingredients in the house.  I love it when that happens.

I stuck to the recipe except for 2 things - I didn't have a frozen pea and carrot mix, I used just peas, and I "bammed" the crisp panko bread crumb topping with a handful of crispy onions instead of the parsley (which I thought I had but didn't).

This was really good, really filling and made lots.  If made my way it tastes just like split pea and ham soup, and you know that can't be a bad thing.

Recipe: Ham and Vegetable Gratin

6 of my favorite restaurants in Kamloops

Why six?  Five wasn't enough, and I didn't want to do ten.  Six is the new five.

I've had this post in draft for, seriously, three years.  The number of restaurants keeps changing, as do the restaurants themselves.  Some fell out of favor, some closed, new deliciousness was discovered.  But here's how it stands currently.

In no particular order, here are my favorite places to eat in Kamloops:

Brownstone Restaurant
One of the best fine dining restaurants in town, they have amazing affordable lunches as well.
Located at the edge of downtown on Victoria in a Heritage Building (a former bank), the duck fat fries are a must try.

Donair Express
My coworkers and I discovered this tiny eatery after a lunch meeting we were to attend was cancelled, and we were roaming the streets of downtown Kamloops looking for something fast and inexpensive.  These guys deliver.  Primarily takeout as they have only a handful of stools at a small counter, the food is fast and fresh.  My favorite is the chicken donair.  Affordable, filling and deliciously garlicky. 


Indian Aroma
Located in a tiny food court on Victoria Street, Indian Aroma is a real gem for Kamloops.  The owners are friendly and the food is brilliant.  The butter chicken is the best I've ever had.  A post from fellow Kamloops blogger A.L. alerted me to a daily special to try - Papri Chaat.  Unique and delicious.

Jam Can Cafe
Jamaican food  in Kamloops!  Awesome!  The North Shore of the city hit the jackpot when this restaurant opened up.  It has a warm and friendly atmosphere and a great mix of traditional and fusion foods.  Two to try - the Jamaican Clubhouse, and the Curried Chicken Roti.  And don't forget a side of Johnny Cakes.

Passek's Classics
Local and homemade are key words here.  Many ingredients are purchased locally.  They make their own bread, smoke their pork and turkey.  The menu is large and varied with something for everyone.  Check out the $8 lunch menu available Monday to Friday.  Hungry?  Order the Schnitzel Breakfast.

Mori Mori Japanese and Asian Grocery
A place to not only pick up all your Asian groceries, but your lunch, dinner and snacks too - they do prepared take out as well, at amazing prices.  Tempura, sushi, edamame, salads,dumplings, rice bowls...... so much variety, all of it delicious and deliciously affordable.  I have a weakness for the yam tempura.

2013 Thompson Okanagan Wine and Dine

Super disappointed to see only 4 Kamloops restaurants taking part in Wine and Dine this year.

Wine and Dine on through February 3.  2 and 3 course dinners for $15, $25 or $35 per person.

Kamloops Participants.

Cauliflower Curry with Chicken

This one received absolute rave reviews from Scott - 2 bowlfuls and more complements than he has ever ever given anything I have ever cooked. Ever. 

Our curry powder is mild enough that even Pax tried it and liked it - and he is in such a picky eater stage that most times he just looks at something he doesn't recognize and declares it "Too spicy". 

Cauliflower Curry with Chicken

 Altered from a recipe by Mark Bittman

 2 Tb oil

 1 onion, minced

 1 head cauliflower, cut into florets

 1 tsp ground cumin

 2 tsp curry powder

 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatos

 1/2 lb boneless skinless chicken, cut into small pieces

 Juice of 1/2 to 1 lemon

 salt and pepper

 Heat the oil in a large pan over high heat, add the onion, and cook, stirring, until starting to brown. Add the cumin and curry and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. 

Add the cauliflower and stir well. Add the can of tomatos and 1/4 cup of water. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cover and turn the heat down to medium low. 

Cook for 10 minutes until the cauliflower is beginning to soften. Then add the chicken, stir well, cover and cook for another 10 minutes, until the chicken is cooked and the cauliflower is tender. 

Add the juice of 1/2 a lemon, taste, and add more salt, pepper and lemon juice if desired.

A different kind of breakfast sandwich

Normally if I mention breakfast sandwiches there is egg and hot sauce and cheese involved. Not this time! 

This one is a favorite of mine since the summer - peanut butter and berries. Strawberries would be an obvious favorite, but I also like raspberries and especially blueberries - I love the crunch of the blueberry with the creamy peanut butter.

 Yum. 

Monte Cristo Sandwich

Doesn't that look delicious!?!?!!?

I've been craving this sandwich for months now - we were out of town last year and I spotted a restaurant  that had them on the menu.  We tried to eat there but they were too busy, and I just couldn't get the thought out of my head.  This was supposed to be our New Years Day dinner but I was sick, so I put it off for a week.

I am so glad I made this.  So good.

Basically a Monte Cristo is a ham, turkey and swiss cheese sandwich.  But instead of eating it as is, or maybe toasting it, you go bonkers and batter and fry it.  THEN you sprinkle it with icing sugar and serve it with a side of jam.  It's amazing.

I've had this sandwich a couple of times before, most memorably at Disneyland.  So here's the recipe I followed, courtesy of a Disney recipe website:

Monte Cristo Sandwich

Try it and enjoy!

Grocery shop, January 13

3 kinds of crackers, tomato juice, 2 kinds of milk.  Macaroni, lettuce, tomatos, chips, honeydew melon, apples, sour cream, cream cheese, fruit snacks, strawberries, jicama, cucumber, broccoli, deli ham and turkey, gingerale, bread.  Cost about $65.00. 

I didn't have to buy any meat this week as I'm using up some stuff in the freezer.  The chips and cream cheese are for my skinny ass husband to make a crab version of his Shrimp Dip.  Damn him. 

This week I'm making a chicken curry from Mark Bittman, mac and cheese with boursin, and a miscellaneous night where I'll just pull things out of the freezer and fridge and we'll have a mishmash dinner. 

Happy Sunday.  It's cold and snowy and I'm curled up under a blanket watching Diners Drive Ins and Dives while my boy sleeps and the washer whirrs.  There may be a cocktail too.....

Nearly Wordless Recipe - Refried Bean Enchiladas

Tortillas

Refried beans

Cheese

Enchilada sauce

Yum.

December food

It's January 9, and I have cooked only two interesting meals so far this year. The other night I made a Spanish Tortilla - link here, and served it with sliced tomatos and a quick guacamole. It was delicious. 

 I also made the dish that I wanted to make on New Years Day. It got scrapped when I came down with a cold and ended up in bed. 

Our first dinner of 2013 was a frozen lasagne that was not good. But this dish was worth the wait.  Post on that soon. Here's a few dishes I made in December that were excellent:

From one of my favorite books that never lets me down, How To Cook Everything, by Mark Bittman -  Broad rice noodles with chiles pork and basil.  So good.

Nigella's meatballs and sauce

 

Sauteed medallions of pork with lemon and parsley, another great one from Mark Bittman. 

Cacio e Pepe, from Gwyneth Paltrow. Delicious. 

Chicken Milanese, also from Gwyneth. I wanted to make the tomato and avocado salad to go with it, but my avocados had gone rotten. So it was just chopped tomato. 

Tiny Christmas/New Years post

A photo of my Christmas booty- 

The Christmas Turkey - only the second turkey I have ever cooked in my life. Not the best photo, but it was gorgeous and delicious. 

We had a traditional Christmas dinner this year, as one of our guests has some newly imposed dietary restrictions. We had roasted potatos, carrots, mashed turnips, stuffing and the most delicious brussel sprouts.

Sprouts with Pancetta 

2 lb brussel sprouts, cleaned and trimmed and cut in half 

2 tb oil 

4 tb finely chopped onion 

100g pancetta, chopped 

Steam the sprouts until just tender. Heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onions and pancetta and cook until the onions are softened and the pancetta is crisp. Add the spouts and raise heat to medium high, toss until combined and heated through. Season with salt and pepper if desired.

I'm sitting down with some cookbooks, trying to find something for dinner on New Years Eve and New Years Day.  No luck yet.  Something fun, delicious, easy.  That perhaps all 3 of us (ok, the baby) would eat.

New Years Resolution time!
Have you made yours?
I have 3 this year, although 2 are the same as always.
Lose weight
Become more organized
Plan at least 2-3 meatless meals per week.

Happy Saturday. 

Baking with Robin Hood

The other Friday night we were sitting in the living room, relaxing.  The TV was on, I was flipping thru a cookbook, Scott was reading the paper, and Pax was playing with his cars.  Suddenly Pax stood up, threw his arms wide, and said "I have idea!  LET'S MAKE COOKIES!!!!!"

Who can argue with enthusiasm like that?

As Pax has gotten older (3 now!) he is showing more interest in what happens in the kitchen, much to my delight.  So when he wanted to do some baking, I was all for it.  And fortunately we had just received a promotional box from the lovely people at Robin Hood, full of baking goodies to try and write about.

Robin Hood All Purpose Flour, Robin Hood Quick Oats, Eagle Brand Dulce de Leche, Crisco Shortening, a lovely wooden recipe box, and a bag of baking goodies, including a spatula, snowflake and round cookie cutters, sprinkles, and cupcake liners.

We read through the enclosed recipe booklet to choose what we wanted to bake.  We started with the Classic Linzer Cookies.

They were surprisingly easy to make, and once assembled, very impressive! We took some to a holiday brunch, and gave some as gifts. They were a hit.

I adore the cupcake lines that were in the package.

I couldn't wait to try them out with the Pumpkin Spice Muffins.  So good.

We also tried a savory dish from the booklet - Tuscan Inspired Pesto Pasta.

This was a real hit for dinner.  We loved the flavors, and the basic white sauce used in the dish was simple to make.

My final baking project and another winner were the  Millionaire's Shortbread Bars.  A lovely shortbread covered with ooey gooey delicious Eagle Brand Dulce de Leche, and topped with chocolate.  One of my co-workers declared it "The Perfect Dessert".

I was thrilled with all the recipes and products that we tried.  Everything was delicious and easy to make.

Head over to the Robin Hood website for lots of delicious recipes for the holidays and every day.  I've joined up to Robin Hood's Baking Hour - a project on the website designed to get families in the kitchen cooking together.  There are tons of recipes, ideas, crafts, and hints for having kids working in the kitchen safely.  Definitely worth checking out.  

Thank you, Robin Hood!

my father's daughter

I read a few strong reviews about Gwyneth Paltrow's cookbook - my father's daughter. Strong enough that I put it on the top of my wish list. And then I was lucky to receive a book store gift card, and you can probably figure out the rest. 

I really like this book - I have cooked more out of it in the past couple of months than I have out of any book I own, probably ever. The recipes are well written and solid, and her stories are intriguing and heartfelt. 

 For me, this is not the perfect book. Gwyneth and I have differences in our palates - she eats a lot of seafood, which I don't. She also eats duck, but not beef or pork, and I am the complete opposite. But we have enough in common that I declare this book a winner, and one of my favorite cookbooks, ever. Hands down. Here's what I've made so far- 

Blythe's Blueberry Muffins

Roasted Cauliflower

Slow Roasted Tomatos (the extra crispy ones were my fault, not the recipes)

Vietnamese Prawn Sandwich

Best Stir Fried Chicken, and Kale Fried Rice with Scallions

White Bean Soup

Fried Sole Sandwich with Spicy Sauce and Pickles

Ten Hour Chicken

I love, love, LOVE this book, and have nothing but good things to say about it. I have a ton more recipes picked to try out, so you may see more photos of amazing dishes later, but for now here's what you need to know - buy this book.

Baci di Cioccolati - the best chocolate cookies

I rarely look at "stats" for my blog, but every year starting in November, my daily visitor numbers start to climb, when everyone begins looking for cookie recipes for holiday baking.  My number one post each year is always for shortbread - here - but I want to share another recipe with you today, in case you are looking for a simple, amazing, knock your socks off cookie recipe. 

My mom makes these every few years, and I made them a couple of months ago for a work potluck and handed out the extras to some co-workers, and the next day I had to make about 15 copies of the recipe to hand out, they were so popular.  These are delicious and truffle-like and gorgeous.

This recipe comes from the book Dishing: Calgary Women Cook.

Baci di Cioccolati

Rosemary Harbrecht

Makes 4 dozen

10 oz semi sweet chocolate

2/3 cup butter

3 eggs

1 cup sugar

2 tsp vanilla

3/4 cup flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

   pinch salt

1 cup dried cranberries

1 cup dried apricots, choppped

1 cup white chocolate chips

Gently melt the chocolate and butter together in a double boiler or microwave.  Let cool.

Beat the eggs and sugar together until thick.  Add the vanilla and melted chocolate and butter.  Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt and mix well.  Fold in the dried fruits, and then the while chocolate chips.

Preheat the oven to 325'.  Drop by spoonfuls onto a greased or lined cookie sheet.  Bake 12 minutes, until the tops are crackly, puffy and shiny.  They will remain soft after baking. 

3

My boy turned 3 last week.

 3!

We had dinner at home with my parents. I made Just Jenn's Teri Beef Chop Steak (love), with mashed potatos, steamed broccoli, and pineapple coleslaw.

All Pax was interested in though, was the cake.  

I am not artistic or good at decorating at all. But I was pretty happy with how this turned out. And Pax loved the toys and the smarties.

 3!!!!!