Tuesday, 14 February 2012

Cranberry Stuffed Cornish Game Hens with Cranberry Wild Rice and Steamed Asparagus with Savory Olive Bread

Cranberry Stuffed Cornish Game Hens with Cranberry Wild Rice and Steamed Asparagus with Savory Olive Bread



 
Stuffing

( French bread, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
2
tablespoons margarine
1/4
cups chopped onions
1/4
cups chopped celery
1/2
teaspoons poultry seasoning
1/2
teaspoon dried thyme
1/2
teaspoon dried rosemary
1/4
teaspoon salt
1/4
teaspoon black pepper
1/2
cup coarsely chopped fresh cranberries
1
tablespoon sugar
1/2
cup fat-free reduced-sodium chicken broth
·  Arrange bread on two 15X10-inch jelly roll pans. Bake 12 minutes or until lightly toasted. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F.
·  Melt margarine in large saucepan over medium heat. Add onions and celery; cook and stir 8 minutes or until vegetables are tender; remove from heat. Add bread cubes, poultry seasoning, thyme, rosemary, salt and pepper; mix well. Combine cranberries and sugar in small bowl; mix well. Add to bread mixture; toss well. Drizzle chicken broth evenly over mixture; toss well.
·  Spray roasting pan and rack with nonstick cooking spray. Remove giblets from hen. Rinse hen and cavity in cold water; pat dry with paper towels. Fill hen cavity loosely with stuffing.
Glaze:
·  1/2 cup (125 mL) frozen cranberry cocktail concentrate, thawed
·  1/4 cup (60 mL) liquid honey
·  1 tsp (5 mL) each salt and pepper
In bowl, stir together cranberry concentrate, honey, salt and pepper. Brush over hens. (Make-ahead: Cover and refrigerate for up to 4 hours.)
Place hen, breast side up, on rack in roasting pan. Bake 45 minutes or until thermometer inserted in thickest part of thigh registers 180°F and juices run clear.


Cranberry Rice
Wild rice, dried cranberries, chicken broth

 

Olive Bread

Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 tablespoons active dry yeast
  • 1 1/2 cups warm water
  • 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons white wine
  • 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves, chopped
  • 8 3/4 cups plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 10 1/2 ounces black and green olives, pitted

Directions

In a large bowl, dissolve the yeast in the warm water. Add 1/2 cup olive oil, wine, and thyme to the bowl, and then stir to combine. Sift the flour and salt together, and then add to the yeast mixture, stirring to combine. Knead the dough until smooth, and then add the olives and combine. Cover the bowl, and let dough proof in a warm area until doubled in size, about 1 hour. Mold dough into desired shape (loaf, round, etc.) and allow to proof again.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Brush with the dough with the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, and bake for about 30 minutes, or until a golden crust has developed.
Slice as desired and serve warm.

Cranberry Walnut Salad


Cranberry Walnut Salad


Salad –
2 cups mixed salad greens (I used baby spinach and romaine)
  • 1 cup dried sweetened cranberries (Craisins work, too)
  • 4 ounces crumbled feta cheese (plain or flavored)
  • 1/2 cup walnut pieces (toasted if desired; I did not toast them)



Dressing –
 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
Directions:                                                                                                                
Combine greens, cranberries, feta, and walnuts in large bowl.
  1. Mix vinegar, honey, mustard, and pepper with wire whisk until well blended.
  2. Gradually add oil, whisking constantly until well blended.
  3. Pour over salad; toss to coat.
Serve immediately.

Cranberry Cream Cheese Bites


Cranberry Cream Cheese Bites

1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup water
1 1/4 cups Ocean Spray® Fresh or Frozen Cranberries
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon finely shredded lemon peel
25 3 1/4-inch square wonton wrappers
pkg of cream cheese, cut into 24 3/4-inch cubes
Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray 24 miniature-muffin cups with non-stick cooking spray.

Combine sugar and water in a medium saucepan; bring to a boil. Add cranberries; return to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer about 3 to 4 minutes or until cranberries pop and mixture thickens slightly, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat; stir in lemon juice and peel.

Press 1 wonton wrapper gently into each muffin cup, allowing ends to extend above. Spray edges of wonton wrappers with non-stick cooking spray. Bake for 12 to 14 minutes or until bottoms of cups are beginning to brown.

Place 1 cube of cream cheese in each cup; place sheet of aluminium foil over each pan to prevent excessive browning. Bake 3 to 5 minutes or until cheese is soft. Remove from oven; top each with about 1 teaspoon cranberry mixture.

The Table

There it is - the table setting for Valentine's Day - Boy do I ever love the new china!!
Here is the link for where I learned to fold the heart shaped napkins:
http://www.ehow.com/video_2201949_make-heart-fold-napkin.html

Valentine's Day

Over the next few Days I will be adding my Valentine's day feast!  It is the first time Matthew and I have used our new China.  We got some beautiful Royal Dalton for Christmas from Matthew's Family!!

So The menu:


Philo Cranberry Cream Cheese Bites

Cranberry Walnut Salad

Cranberry Stuffed Cornish Game Hens with Cranberry Wild Rice and Steamed Asparagus with Savoury Olive Bread

Vanilla Ice cream with Cranberry Sauce and Chocolate Dipped Cranberry Almond Biscotti

As I figure out how to put pics on here I will give the pics and recipes I used for this special day!

Wednesday, 14 December 2011

Holey Dishcloth

Here it is.  I will post a pic soon

CO 16

1:  K6, pm, k9, turn
2:  K to marker P2, k2, p2
3:  K6, k8, turn
4:  K to marker P2, k2, p2
5:  K6, k7, turn
6:  K to marker P2, k2, p2
7:  K6, k6, turn
8:  K to marker P2, k2, p2
9:  K6, k5, turn
10:  K to marker P2, k2, p2
11:  K6, k4, turn
12:  K to marker P2, k2, p2
13:  K6, k3, turn
14:  K to marker P2, k2, p2
15:  K6, k2, turn
16:  K to marker P2, k2, p2
17:  K6, k1, turn
18:  K to marker P2, k2, p2
19:  K6, k0, turn
20:  K to marker P2, k2, p2
21:  k all stitches
22:  (P2 tog, yo) repeat brackets to marker, P2, k2, p2

Repeat 1 – 22  until a circle is formed
 Bind off, seam, gather centre

Monday, 3 October 2011

Turkey Time

Thanksgiving quickly approaches here.  The leaves are turning beautiful colours and I can't wait to visit with family over the long weekend!