Menu Planning

I have always intended to plan a weekly menu for dinners around our house. I even have a folder with recipes I have ripped out of mags or printed off from websites. Darling husband and I didn't really get serious about any of this until we realised that Baby Poutine was on his way... for realsies.

So far our plan goes like this:

We each come up with 3 recipes that we will cook sometime over a 2 week stretch. The rest of the days are filled with leftovers, quick meals for when the other partner is not home and occasionally take-out. It only takes about 1/2 hour every 2 weeks to choose the recipes and has so far saved us time and money at the grocery store.

Some meals we have had over the past month have included:

- Flank Steak over Corn Kernel Polenta with Tomato, Basil and Balsamic salad

- Couscous Stuffed Cornish Hens with Roasted Carrots

- Baked Sausage, Fennel and Potatoes with Fontina Cheese

- Lo-Fat Buffalo Chicken Bites with Sweet Potato Fries and Dipping Veggies

- "Sunny's" Cheese Steaks with Red Peppers and Avocado

- Pork Paprikash

Happy Canada Day!

It greatly upsets me when non-patriotic types declare that there are no foods out there that are specifically Canadian. I believe that my list of 100 Canadian Foods to Eat would definitely suggest otherwise.

On Canada Day, local blogs and papers have also taken some time to define what they believe to be their most loved Canadian delicacies.

Take a look:

Foodies discuss their favourite local dishes - Globe and Mail

Menu for a Canada Day Party - Maple Syrup and Poutine

Does Canada have a national dish? - Canadian Living

A recipe for Wilkie's butter tarts - National Post

Food in the News - It's all about the alcohol

My tendencies toward being a bit of a lush have been stopped in their tracks by this pregnancy. How I miss a cold glass of beer on a sunny day or a nice glass of wine with dinner, gin and tonic by the pool, a litre of sangria just because - you catch my drift.

Here is a round up of recipes and articles for all of you still able to imbibe:

Fancy Tequila cocktails - Globe and Mail

Italian reds under $10, just in time to kick off your summer - Toronto Life

How to have fun, when you are "too poor for drinks" - Chow

Brilynn's recipe for Sangria Bites - Jumbo Empanadas

Food in the News - Lets Ketchup! (so cheesy)

(Image taken from National Post on-line article)

Ketchup, catsup - however you spell it - Which one tastes best? - National Post

More reasons to make your own ice cream (as if you really needed any) - CBC Food Bytes

Orange juice, be wary of what you buy - CBC Food Bytes and Toronto Star

We've discussed this before, just because it says "organic" doesn't mean it is "organic" - Gourmet

Lobster, it's cheap! Not for every Canadian though - CBC Food Bytes

Elizabeth Baird and Rose Murray cook Canadian - Windsor Star

Another reason to be proud of Canadian food - Canola Oil! - National Post

Cooking Club 2

Unfortunately, we lost another member of our club. Christine moved to Toronto - hopefully to start a new cooking club there. Julie is our new addition and so far has made some great contributions. This month's theme was "Salt". I love how each theme brings with it, many different interpretations.



The menu included:

Danielle - Salt Baked Potatoes with Goat Cheese

Basil was subbed in for the thyme, which gave it a much fresher flavour. These were VERY easy and would make a great party food.



Pink Cadillac Convertible

None for me, but the rest of the group seemed to enjoy it.



Amarjot - Veggie Salad with Chow Mein Noodles and Raita



Julie - Herbed Roasted Beef in a Salt Crust.

We were all quite smitten with the crust, as none of us had ever done this before. Worth trying for a dinner party - cook less than the recipe requires.



Suzanne - Beet Chips with Various Types of Salt

I love beets in any shape or form. Cutting them extremely thin is the key.



Jillian - Crispy Waffles with Salted Caramel Coulis

To die for! Seriously, some of the best waffles I have ever had and the sauce is ridiculously good. I made the waffles a few days later to eat with local strawberries and whipped cream.