Chicken Banh Mi

After a good month of over eating I decided it was time to lighten up a bit.

Ever since I first discovered how awesome fish sauce is I have been obsessed with Vietnamese style food. It is so fresh and crisp; it is sweet but sour and a little spicy. I just love it.

When I saw this recipe for Chicken Banh Mi sandwiches in a Cooks Country Magazine I knew I had to give it try.

What you need,

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2 carrots, peeled and shredded (I used a box grater it worked great)

2 small Kirby cucumbers halved lengthwise and sliced thin.

5 tbsp. lime juice (about 3 limes)

¼ cup fish sauce

3 tbsp. brown sugar

1 rotisserie chicken, meat shredded into bite sized pieces

½ cup mayo

5 tsp. Sriracha sauce

4 soft sub buns split lengthwise and toasted

½ cup fresh parsley leaves (or cilantro if you prefer)

10 or so fresh mint leaves

In a small bowl combine the carrot and cucumber along with 2 tablespoons of the lime juice and 1 tablespoon of the fish sauce. Let the mixture stand for about 15 minutes.

In a large bowl combine the sugar, remaining 3 tablespoons of lime juice and remaining 3 tablespoons of fish sauce, whisk to combine.

Add the chicken and toss to coat.

In a separate small bowl combine the mayo and Sriracha sauce.

Spread some mayo on the toasted buns. Divide the chicken between the buns and top with the pickled veggies, leaving the liquid in the bowl. Top with the fresh parsley and mint.

Simple, healthy and delicious.

What more could you want in a sandwich!

Loved these so much!

Jen

recipe from Cook's Country Magazine

Creamy Tomato & Cheese Tortellini with Sausage

This pasta is simple and wonderful! It comes together in a flash and tastes like a dream.

Make it for dinner tonight, you will thank me tomorrow!

What you need,

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1 lb. smoked sausage, sliced (any kind you like is fine)

1 tbsp. olive oil

2-3 cloves garlic, minced

¾-1 cup chicken broth

1 cup tomato sauce

1 tbsp. brown sugar

1 tsp. Italian season

½ cup heavy cream

1 9oz. pkg. fresh cheese tortellini

Salt and Pepper

¼ cup fresh basil, chopped

Fresh grated parmesan cheese for serving

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Cook the sausage for 4-5 minutes per side until brown and crisp. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute or so until fragrant.

Add the broth, tomato sauce, brown sugar, Italian seasoning, and cream, stir to combine. Season the sauce with salt and pepper to taste.

Stir in the tortellini and bring to a simmer. Cover and cook over low heat for 10-12 minutes until the tortellini is tender.

Stir in the fresh basil.

Serve with a little fresh grated parmesan.

 

That’s it, 20 minutes start to finish! We LOVED it; I will be making it again for sure!

Jen

Recipe adapted from Kevin and Amanda

Turkey Pot Pie

One of my favourite parts about a big turkey dinner is the left overs.

I LOVE a turkey bun for breakfast on Boxing Day. I adore eating turkey and all the trimmings warmed over for dinner.

Then I especially love using up all the little bits of everything to make Turkey Pot Pie!

There are a million ways to make Turkey Pot Pie, mashed potato topping, puff pastry topping, creamy filling, veggies, no veggies… anything goes.

I just use everything left from Turkey dinner.

What you need,

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1-2 cups leftover Turkey, diced

1-2 cups leftover mashed potatoes

1 cup of leftover stuffing

1 cup leftover carrots and brussel sprouts, chopped

½ cup leftover creamed corn

1 cup leftover gravy

1 yellow onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 cup button mushrooms, sliced

¾ cup frozen peas

½ tsp. poultry seasoning

Salt and Pepper to taste

¼ cup fresh flat leaf parsley, chopped

2 tbsp. butter, melted

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat in a large sauté pan.

Cook the onions until they are softened and translucent. Add the garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Add the mushrooms and cook for another 3-4 minutes or until they are starting to soften.

Stir in the chopped carrots and brussel sprouts, the creamed corn, turkey and gravy. Season the mixture with the poultry seasoning and salt and pepper. Add in the peas and parsley and stir to combine. Cook until just heated through.

Meanwhile stir the mashed potatoes and stuffing together. If you don’t have any stuffing, just use all mashed potatoes, or use puff pastry! YUM!

Pour the turkey mixture into an oven safe dish then top with the potato/stuffing mixture. Drizzle the butter over the top and bake for 30-45 minutes until browned and bubbling.

Serve with a nice green salad because after all the eating over the holidays you are gonna wanna put some green stuff in your body!

I love this recipe because you can add whatever you have left over and it will always taste amazing!

A perfect end to a perfect Turkey dinner!

Enjoy!

Jen

Favourite Things Friday Vol 60 - Left Over Wine

Life is finally getting back to normal after the holidays. New Year's Eve was a quiet one, my in house taste tester had to work so I was home by myself. It was OK, I opened a bottle of wine and watched some Harry Potter! I managed to stay up till midnight, which was a shocker.

I had some wine left over, which is great! How often do you need a quarter or a half cup of wine for a recipe. I hate having to open a whole bottle just for that.

Just measure your left over wine into 1/4 or 1/2 cup measures, pour into little screw top containers and freeze. 

Now all you have to do is pop one out of the freezer when you need a splash of wine for that pasta dish or whatever you are making.

So easy and so great!
Left over wine is a very good thing!

Happy New Year!

Jen

My favourite Recipes from 2013

Every year I look back on all the new recipes I made in the past year and try to decide on my personal favourites.

This year it was hard! I made a lot of really tasty stuff this past year. I finally managed to narrow it down, but it took awhile!

10. Fruit Cocktail Cake

This is a classic cake from my childhood. It is sweet and moist, absolutely perfect!

9. Coconut Crusted Chicken Salad with Warm Honey Mustard Dressing

 

Sometimes you just want a salad, this one is delicious!

8. Cheesy Garlic Pull Apart Bread

 

Just look at this beauty. All that melty cheese and warm chewy bread, YUM!

7. Pennee with Chicken Sausage with Kale and White Beans

 

This is my idea of a perfect single girl dinner. I love this kind of thing!

6. Biscoff No Bake Cheesecakes

 

Cookie Butter rocks my world and these simple no bake desserts are not only mouth watering but they look really impressive!

5. Rhubarb Lemon Bundt Cake

 

I LOVE rhubarb! Any thing with rhubarb!!

4. Vietnamese Noodle Bowl with Glazed Pork

 

This is my perfect food. Fresh and crisp it has noodles and sweet salty pork, do die for!

3. Slow Cooker Butter Chicken

 

I am so glad I finally found an easy and super delicious recipe for butter chicken. Now I don't have to go out as often!

2. Muffin Tin Donuts

 

A muffin that tastes exactly like a donut, I don't think this one needs any explanation!

1. Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

 

This is my Dad's recipe. It is really really good! Make it, eat it love it!

Bonus: Spicy Pulled Pork Tacos

 

After you make that Pulled Pork take the left overs and make these ridonculously amazing spicy pulled pork tacos. Seriously your life won't be the same!

I am super excited to make a whole pile of new recipes in 2014! 
There are a few adventurous things I wanna try, like making Bagels and real fried donuts...

I can't wait!

Happy New Year everyone!!

Jen