Cooking for family

My most favourite thing to do is cook to family and friends. I just had a baby on May 17th so I am home taking care of my daughter therefore I have lots more time to cook. For all women out there who are scared to cook for their men because they always burn everything here is my story.

I seriously used to burn water. I would put it on the stove start it up and forget about it. I am a busy women. I work a morning job from 7 to 1pm delivering mail. I then come home to a 2 month old daughter, finace, parents and 7 horses that all want to be feed. If I can find time to cook and actually not burn it you can too. That is why I decided to share my recipes. Everyone always asks me how I find time to cook such good food. Time management. At the begginning of the day when you should be eating a good breakfast but you are eating a bagel on the way to work think of all the things you have to do that day and budget how much time you are going to have for supper. Come on ladies make atleast a hour for a good supper.

Last nite I made Feta and Herb dip for toasted french bread, BBQ Potatoes, Ceasar Salad, Steaks and Chicken. For Dessert Apple cake. Myself and my finace cooked for 7 people tonight. What was the shocker? I actually got to sit down and spend time with my family. Here are the recipes.

1) First thing first. Start the BBQ.
2) Wash the potatoes. Keep skins on. Slice into chips but don't cut all the way through the potatoe you want it to keep its potatoe shape. Make little packets out of tinfoil for three potatoes each. Add into each packet three potatoes and half an onion diced. squish a tablespoon of butter in between each potatoes and sprinkle with garlic powder.  close up the tinfoil and put of the BBQ until soft.

3)Feta and Herb Dip

3/4cup sourcream
1 cup crumbled feta
tablespoon dried parsley
3 garlic cloves
teaspoon dried dill
dash salt and pepper
1/2cup green onions

chop green onions and garlic as small as you can get it add everything to a bowl. mix and serve with toast french bread. I slice my french bread and toast it in the toaster. I still burn my french bread when I try to toast it in the oven. Note: store dip in fridge till ready to serve and save toasting the bread till almost last, but you can slice ahead of time.


4) Spice Steaks and Chicken Breasts.

steaks
Garlic powder
Clubhouse whiskey spice
Mrs. dash Steak
Paprika

chicken
Mrs. Dash Herb and Garlic
Seasoning Salt
Pepper
Garlic Powder

5) Once the potatoes are ready take off BBQ put chicken on and grill till ready.
6) Take chicken off grill steaks to your liking.
7) Mix up Ceasar Salad garden ready Kit for the supermarket.
8) Serve and eat.

9) Apple Cake Dessert.
I made this ahead of time, the night before and stored in tin foil in the fridge but you might like it better warm.

Poached Pears

• 3 apples
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 4 cups water
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cinnamon stick

Spice cake

• 3/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup ground almonds (see note)
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 pinch ground cloves
• 1 pinch salt
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 egg

Directions

Poached Pears

1. Peel the apples, decore them (slice into big pieces if you can decore them). Place the apples in a bowl and sprinkle with lemon juice. Set aside. Place the water, sugar and cinnamon in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Add the apples and the remaining lemon juice. With the syrup barely simmering, poach the apples until tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer to a plate and let cool to room temperature. Set aside 60 ml (1/4 cup) poaching liquid.

Spice cake

1. With the rack in the middle position, preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F). Line a 10 x 20-cm (4 x 8-inch) loaf pan with parchment paper, allowing the paper to overhang the long sides. Butter the other sides. In a bowl, combine the flour, ground almonds, baking powder, spices and salt. Set aside. In another bowl, cream the butter with the brown sugar using an electric mixer. Add the egg and beat until the mixture is smooth. With the mixer on low, add the dry ingredients, alternating with the reserved poaching liquid. Pour the batter into the loaf pan. Stand the apples in the batter, touching the bottom of the pan Bake 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the cake between the apples comes out clean. Let cool on a rack and unmould.

Remember don't try new recipes on the night of a dinner party. Perfect and practice a recipes before hand. Also have fun. Don't rush. Don't be afraid to ask for help from the kids and your hubby. Even my 2 yr old niece helps me bake.

Happy cooking!