Zucchini Pancakes

The gifts are wrapped, the stockings are hung, the cookies are baked, the movie is playing...but wait...what's for breakfast on Christmas morning?

My family gets super excited for Christmas Eve dinner but we often overlook the most important meal on December 25th, which should be breakfast. Sometimes presents trump food, I know, but it's always good to have a quick and healthy recipe to help sustain you as you tear open the wrapping paper and say your thank yous. 

This Christmas, may I suggest my quick and easy Zucchini pancakes? They are a great way to whip up something quick, while also getting an extra serving of vegetables in between all the carb heavy holiday meals. 

These pancakes are a green spin on potato latkes so I love to serve them up with some apple sauce or plain greek yogurt and green onions. The result is simply delish. Enjoy and Merry Christmas!

Zucchini Pancakes

Preparation time: 10 minutes Total time: 30- 40 minutes

Ingredients:

2 large zucchini squash, grated

¼ cup bread crumbs

1 small shallot, finely diced or 2-3 green onions, chopped

1 egg, beaten

salt and pepper

1 medium sized potato, grated

olive oil for pan frying

½ cup parmesan cheese, grated (optional)

Method:

Step One Using your hands, squeeze as much liquid as you can from the grated zucchini

Step Two Combine the zucchinni in a bowl with the shallots/green onions, potato, and salt and pepper

Step Three Add the beaten egg, cheese and bread crumbs (add more bread crumbs as needd to create a thick and sticky batter)

Step Four Heat a non-stick pan on medium heat. When the pan is hot, add a tablespoon or two of olive oil and then spoon small amounts of the batter into the pan, flattening with the back of the spoon to create the pancake shape. Adjust the heat as necessary (you want the pancakes to sizzle) and do not disturb the pancakes until they have browned on the bottom slightly (about 5-6 minutes)

Step Five Flip the pancakes and continue to cook the other side for about 3 minutes more

Step Six Transfer the pancakes to a plate lined with paper towel to drain before serving with apple sauce or greek yogurt

Bon Appetite!

The most beautiful, quick and easy appetizer you ever did see...

Let's face it- the holiday are a busy time. If you're like me, you love going the extra mile when you're entertaining, to let your friends and family know you love them. There's something magical about the moments when you're hosting and toasting, surrounded by the warmth of loved ones; but when there's shopping, wrapping, baking and cooking to do, sometimes there's just not a lot of time left for beautiful plate presentation or extra fancy dishes.

It's at moments like these that efficiency is key, so I thought I'd share one of my favourite time-saving appetizers with all of you.

This plate will be sure to wow your guests and make them feel like you took some extra time and thought to make something special. It looks beautiful, tastes amazing and it's ready to eat in under 5 minutes. 

If you ask me, that makes it a winner.

All you need are Boursin cheese (it's an herb flavoured, medallion-shaped, soft cream cheese), pomegranate seeds and some chopped rosemary. 

Simply place the cheese medallion in the centre of a plate, and sprinkle the top with fresh chopped rosemary. Then add some pomegranate seeds on top and serve it with a plate of crackers. I like to showcase this showstopper on a plate all  by itself since it's so beautiful and the colours really pop. Serve this on a pretty white or neutral plate to really get the effect as the colours play off each other and it's an instant attention grabber.

Hope you enjoy entertaining with this quick and simple, elegant dish as much as I do. Bon appetite!

Tis the Season...So Eat With It!

Now that winter is here, it means the weather's changing and different fruits and vegetables are in abundance. While we will all always have our favourites, it is so important to eat seasonal fruits and vegetables whenever possible and here's why:

Seasonal produce that grows locally is inexpensive to buy. When a fruit is in season, it is widely available. When it's available locally and on every other corner, the shops can source it easily and quickly and therefore can keep up with the demand. In fact, they often have more of one particular fruit than they need and since every store has that same access to it, they lower their prices.

Seasonal produce tastes delicious. When you eat a fruit or vegetable when it was meant to be eaten and close to where it was grown, it ripens naturally on the tree or bush instead of on the back of a truck. That means it stays where nature intended it to for a longer period of time and is allowed to reach it's full taste potential. 

Seasonal fruits and veggies are also so festive! At this time of year, the sweet treats are abundant but nothing will fulfill my craving for something sweet and juicy like a persimmon or some jewel-like pomegranate seeds. 

While taste, price and accessibility is so important, the most important thing to me is the nutritional value. It's as if nature had intended us to eat what we are meant to at the right time...which is to say, at the time when we need it most. For example, pomegranates have tons of antioxidants and clementines and tangerines are filled with vitamin c. It seems to be more than a coincidence that these become naturally available during the peak of cold and flu season. Similarly, in the summer, we have access to cooling fruits like watermelon and cherries. 

So what fruits and vegetables are in season now? When you hit the grocery store or market, keep your eye out for fun winter favourites that add a festive touch to your plates and table. Some of my winter favourites are brussel sprouts, collard greens, sweet potatoes, kale, kiwi, mandarins, tangerines, persimmons, pomegranate, pears, red currants, leeks and turnips. Also don't forget to pick up some chesnuts and walnuts, perfect to keep you warm from the inside out during the cold winter months.

Stay tuned for more recipe posts using seasonal ingredients. I'd love to hear what your favourite seasonal fruits and vegetables are at this time of year. Share them in the comments! 

For me, persimmon wins hands down. What's your favourite?

Compound Butter

It's the most wonderful time of the year and a lot of us are busy with holiday parties, work events and even casual get-togethers. While it's quick and easy to grab a bottle of wine to take over to a friend's house, I sometimes find myself inspired to give them something a little more personal.

I always appreciate little thoughtful gestures from friends and a homemade hostess gift is one of the ways I love to have my friends feel all warm and fuzzy too.

This recipe for compound butter is so quick and easy and it's a great addition to any holiday table as well. I like to use it as a finishing touch on roasted potatoes, boiled vegetables or with freshly baked bread. Make it for yourself, make it for others...either way it's a crowd pleaser and an easy and delicious way to take your dinner to the next level.

Rosemary Compound Butter

Preparation time: 10 minutes Total time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

½ cup salted butter

3 tablespoons of fresh rosemary, removed from the stem and chopped

Method:

Step One Leave the butter at room temperature to soften about 30 minutes to an hour

Step Two Mix the butter and rosemary in a bowl, combining with a spatula

Step Three  Spoon the mixture on to a sheet of parchment paper and roll it into a log shape

Step Four Tie the ends off with string or twist off the ends

Lemon and Shallot Compound Butter

Preparation time: 10 minutes Total time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

½ cup salted butter

2 tablespoons of fresh lemon zest

1 small shallot, finely diced

 

Method:

Step One Leave the butter at room temperature to soften for about 30 minutes to an hour

Step Two Mix the butter, lemon and shallots in a bowl, combining with a spatula

Step Three Spoon the mixture on to a sheet of parchment paper and roll it into a log shape

Step Four Tie the ends off with string or twist off the ends

Get in the Spirit with Holiday Scents

One of the things I love about the holidays is all the delicious smells: pine trees, baked apples, cinnamon, oranges and clementines....ahh smells like Christmas!

I absolutely love this time of year and love celebrating all month long. If you are like me and don't have the time to make fresh gingerbread cookies daily to make your house smell all cinnamon and gingery...this is the perfect trick for you!

Your friends and family will walk in to a home full of warmth that smells like the holidays and there is absolutely nothing to it!

Here's what you need to make your home smell perfectly like this magical time of year:

1 orange, sliced

1/2 a lemon, sliced

a handful of fresh cranberries

2-3 sticks of cinnamon

4 bay leaves

Place all the ingredients in a pot and fill it two thirds of the way with water. Simply leave the pot on the stove on medium heat and wait for the aroma to do it's thing. Add more water as it evaporates and enjoy the nostalgia as Christmas smells fill your home!

Happy Holidays :)