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Showing posts from May, 2026

Herbed Potato Salad

  Ingredients POTATOES + VEGETABLES 2 pounds baby yellow potatoes (we used half yellow, half red) 1 pinch sea salt and black pepper 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar 1 cup diced green onion 1/4 cup fresh chopped parsley ( optional ) DRESSING 2 ½ Tbsp spicy brown mustard (or dijon mustard) 3 cloves garlic, minced 1/4 tsp each sea salt and black pepper (plus more to taste) 3 Tbsp red wine vinegar (or white wine vinegar) 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar 3 Tbsp good olive oil (if avoiding oil, see notes*) 1/4 cup fresh chopped dill Instructions 1. Rinse and scrub potatoes, then slice into 1/4-inch slices. Add to a large saucepan and cover with water. Add a healthy dash of salt (for flavor) and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat slightly (to medium/high) and continue cooking for 10-15 minutes or until the potatoes are easily pierced with a knife and also easily slide off the knife. Be sure not to undercook the potatoes or they can be waxy and difficult to eat. Whe...

Pan Braised Osso Buco

  Pan-braising osso buco (veal or beef shanks) is a classic stovetop method that yields incredibly tender meat and a rich, savory marrow . It involves searing the meat to build flavor, cooking a fragrant vegetable base (soffritto), and simmering the shanks low and slow. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ] Key Ingredients & Prep The Meat: 3-4 cross-cut veal or beef shanks (about 1.5 to 2 inches thick). Use kitchen twine to tie the shanks around the sides to keep them from curling during cooking. The Dredge:  1/2 cup all-purpose flour, seasoned with salt and pepper. The Soffritto: 1 diced onion, 1 diced carrot, 1 diced celery stalk, and 2-3 minced garlic cloves. The Liquids: 1 cup dry white wine (like Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc) or tomato sauce and 1.5 to 2 cups of rich beef or chicken stock. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ] Step-by-Step Cooking Guide Dredge & Sear: Lightly coat the seasoned shanks in flour and shake off the excess. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 1 tablespoon of butt...

Beef Vegetable Soup

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Ingredients 3 lbs of bone-in beef shank, cut into one inch pieces 6 cups of water 2 cups of tomato juice 1/3 cup of onion, coarsely chopped 1 teaspoon of salt (or a tablespoon...to taste) 2 teaspoons Worcestershire Sauce 1 teaspoon hot sauce 1/4 teaspoon hot pepper flakes 2 bay leaves 1 cup chopped potatoes  1 cup chopped celery 1 cup chopped carrots 1 cup of chopped cabbage (optional) Method Remove meat from bone; cut in one inch bite-size pieces, sear in hot fat. In a large 6-8 quart stock pot, add seared meat, bones, water, tomato juice and seasonings. Cover and simmer on low heat for 2 hours. Add vegetables, cover and simmer 1 hour longer. Remove bones and bay leaves. Here is a picture of the page from my Mum's 75 year old cookbook, unopened for over 40 years. Has one of my Mum's hairs on it and a dried up piece of onion.  0

Quinoa and Black Bean Salad

METHOD Prep : Cook 1 cup of dry quinoa in 2 cups of vegetable broth according to package directions. Make the dressing: SWEET DIJON MUSTARD SALAD DRESSING ¼ cup (60 mL) canola oil ¼ cup (60 mL) apple cider vinegar 2 tsp (10 mL) Dijon mustard 1 tbsp (15 mL) maple syrup ½ tsp (2.5 mL) garlic powder ¼ tsp (1 mL) salt ¼ tsp (1 mL) freshly ground black pepper Assemble all ingedients in a bowl: 1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed 1/2 cup finely chopped red onion  1/2 cup diced yellow bell pepper  1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved 1/4 cup of chopped cilantro (or spinach, or parsley...) Cooked quinoa  Dressing Toss with a big spoon.