Here is a recipe that Ernie requested from my mom.

I haven't had this but mom cooks it at Gail's when she goes to visit. Ernie said that Ta'haia loved it so he would like to cook it for her, she's pretty picky.

Mediterranean Beef Toss
serves 4.

1 red onion, peeled
2 small zucchinis
1 green pepper
1 28 oz can tomatoes, it says drained but mom doesn't
1 1/2 tbsp oil
1/2 lb ground beef
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 tbsp balsamic or red wine vinegar
1 tsp dried leaf thyme
1 tsp dried sage, mom uses dried basil

Cut onion into thin wedges, keeping root end intact. Slice zucchinis into thin rounds. Cut green pepper into 1" chunks. Coarsely chop tomatoes. Heat 1 tbsp of oil in a large frying pan set over medium heat. Add beef, garlic and 1/2 tsp each of salt and pepper. Stir often until meat is no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Then remove from pan.
Add remaining oil to pan, add onion and cook stirring often, for 2 minutes. Add zucchinis and green pepper. Stir fry until zucchinis start to brown, from 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, vinegar, thyme, sage (basil) and remaining 1/2 tsp of salt. stir until hot, about 2 minutes.
Serve with rice noodles or big crusty buns.

Easy, Breezy, Cheesy

Baked Risotto with Asparagus and Spinach

Great on it's own for a veggie night or a supper side dish.

1 tbsp. olive oil
1 cup finely chopped onion, sautee onion in the oil and add
1 cup of arborio rice, mix well

add 1 bag of spinach and cook until wilts

add 2 cups chicken or veggie broth, simmer for 7 minutes

add 1/4 cup grated paremesan cheese and pour mixture into a greased dish

cover and bake at 400 for 15 minutes

add 1 1/2 cups of sliced asparagus to the rice and 1/4 cup more cheese, stir, cover and bake 15 minutes more


Very tasty and looks great!

Spice Up Those Breasts!

I made this the other night for supper. A nice flavour change to the standard freezer staple - boneless chicken breasts. A bit of an exotic, middle eastern flavour.

Lemon Spiced Chicken

Into a large ziploc bag add:

1/4 lemon juice, honey
2 tbsp soy sauce, rice vinegar, olive oil
1 tbsp fresh ginger, ketchup, grated lemon rind
1/2 tsp cumin, cinnamon, paprika
salt and pepper
- Mix well in the ziploc bag and add your chicken breasts

Let marinate for at least 2 hours or overnight, turning occasionally

Place chicken slights apart in a single layer in a shallow pan
Drizzle the marinade over
Bake at 400 for 35-40 minutes until done, basting with the sauce a couple of times

I used a little cornstarch thickner at the end to have a thicker sauce,

I served this with brown rice fried. (Diane, I love the sun brown rice you put me onto last visit to Winnipeg!)

Margaret

Cranberry Swirl Cheesecake With Cranberry-Raspberry Compote

Thought I'd share the dessert I served during our Christmas dinner.

Serves 12

For Cranberry Puree
2 cups fresh cranberries or frozen, thawed
2/3 cup sugar
2/3 cup fresh orange juice
2 tbsp. grated orange peel
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
4 tsp. vanilla extract

For Crust
Nonstick vegetable spray
2 3/4 cups finely ground butter biscuit cookies or butter cookies (I used ginger snap cookies)
2 tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted

For Filling
4 8-ounce packages cream cheese, room temperature
1 cup sugar
4 large eggs
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup whipping cream
1 tbsp. vanilla extract

Make Cranberry Puree
Combine all ingredients except vanilla in heavy large saucepan. Cook over medium heat until mixture thickens, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Cool slightly. Transfer to processor. Add vanilla. Puree until smooth. Strain into medium bowl (I did not do this step). Refrigerate at least 6 hours.

Make Crust
Spray 10-inch diameter springform pan with 2 3/4-inch high sides with nonstick spray. Wrap outside of pan with 2 layers of heavy-duty foil. Blend cookies, sugar and cinnamon in processor. Add butter, blend until moist clumps form. Press crumb mixture onto bottom and up sides of pan. Chill crust while preparing filling.

Make Filling
Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese in large bowl until fluffy. Beat in sugar. Beat in eggs 1 at a time. Mix in sour cream, whipping cream and vanilla.

Transfer 1/3 of filling to prepared crust. Dollop 1/3 of cranberry puree atop filling. Repeat layering of filling and puree 2 more times. Using knife, swirl puree through filling, creating marbled design.

Place springform pan in large roasting pan. Pour enough boiling water into roasting pan to come halfway up sides of springform pan. Bake until cheesecake puffs around edges, about 1 hour 15 minutes. Turn off oven. Let cake stand in oven 1 hour, leaving oven door ajar.

Transfer cake to rack. Run knife around pan sides to loosen cake. Cool completely. Remove foil from pan sides. Cover cake and chill overnight. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Keep refrigerated).

Remove pan sides. Serve cake with Cranberry-Raspberry Compote.

Enjoy!!!

Cranberry-Raspberry Compote (Yields 2 cups)
1 12ounce package frozen unsweetened raspberries, thawed
1 cup fresh cranberries or frozen, thawed
3/4 cup (packed) golden brown sugar
1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
2 tsp. grated lemon peel
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
1 tbsp. vanilla extract

Combine all ingredients except vanilla in heavy medium saucepan. Simmer over medium heat until cranberries burst and mixture thickens, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Cool slightly. Stir in vanilla. Cool to room temperature. Cover and refrigerate until cold, at least 6 hours. (Can be prepared 2 days ahead. Keep refrigerated).