DESSERT - Creme Brule

So for some odd reason I was craving creme brule. I have never made it before but it is surprisingly easy! This one was delicious....I stole it from Michael Smith (Chef at Home on Food Network)

Just a note, when I added the milk/cream mixture, the caramel automatically hardened. I just put it back on the burner and stirred until it was melted again!

Yield: 6

Ingredients

• 1 cup plus 6 tbsp of sugar
• 1/2 cup of water
• 2 cups of milk
• 1 cup of 35% whipping cream
• 1 tablespoon vanilla
• pinch of salt
• 8 egg yolks

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
2. Make a caramel with 1 cup of sugar and the water by placing them in a large saucepot and bringing to a boil without stirring. The sugar will dissolve and begin to bubble. Let it boil for about 5 minutes, watching carefully as the water boils off and it begins to turn yellow. Gently swirl until the sugar turns an even golden. Take it off of the heat before it gets brown. Quickly pour the milk and cream into the caramel along with the vanilla and salt and whisk until incorporated.
3. Whisk eggs and then slowly pour the caramel mixture into them, a little at a time, whisking constantly.
4. Pour into 6 ramekins or crème brulee dishes and bake in a hot water bath in the oven for 30 minutes, or until edges are set and centre is slightly jiggly.
5. Just prior to serving, sprinkle with the remaining sugar and caramelize with a blowtorch.

Meal 3

I am still sooooooo full from this meal....it was so good I couldn't stop eating. I got the orginal from the internet the altered it and it was just delicious! I ended up serving it with potatoes and green beans. YUM!!

Chicken in White Wine Tarragon Dijon Sauce

4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halfs

2 cups of chicken broth
1/2 onion, diced

3 garlic cloves (I used jarred pureed garlic)

3/4 cup dry white wine
2-3 tablespoons fresh minced tarragon
4 tablespoons of dijon mustard
2 tablespoons whole grain mustard (could omit and just use more dijon)

1 tablespoon dry mustard
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup or more of flour
1/2 cup cream (optional)
salt and pepper

Pound chicken breasts till thin - this will also make them extra tender.
In bowl, mix flour, season with salt and pepper and add dry mustard to the mix - stir till combine.
Heat up skillet with 1/2 of olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter.
Dredge chicken lightly in flour and place in hot skillet on medium heat.
Let cook till light brown and flip to cook on other site - maybe a total of 5-6 minutes, maybe less depending upon thickness of your chicken breasts.
Once just cooked, remove chicken at once and place on plate and set aside.
In same skilled add onions and cook for 5 minutes.
.Add two tablespoons of flour mixture to cooking onions.With spoon or whisk, cook for one minute.
Carefully add white wine to skillet and add garlic, mustard and herbs at this time.
Add chicken broth - up to two cups of chicken broth, allow to simmer and reduce for almost half.
Add cream and heat
Return chicken to sauce and heat through on low.

Meal Two

Each week I (try) to do a meal plan....I do it by the day, but the way I figure it as long as I have the ingredients on hand it doesn't matter when I make it. Today was supposed to be slow cooker rib night - but I got lazy and went with low fat fettucine alfredo instead. I've had this before, a few times...it's super easy, minimal ingredients and everyone in the house likes it. Plus we could eat it on our knees while sitting in front of the tv watching Team Canada go for gold in the World Juniors! No pictures today, I was in such a rush to go back to watching the game I forgot!
Enjoy!

Ingredients:
300g fettucine (I used cracked black pepper flavour today)
1-1/4 cups 25%-less-sodium chicken broth
4 tsp. flour
1/3 cup (1/3 of 250-g tub) PHILADELPHIA Light Cream Cheese Spread (I used herb and garlic flavour)
3 Tbsp. Light Grated Parmesan Cheese, divided
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg (I didn't have any so didn't use it)
Black pepper to taste

COOK pasta as directed on package.


MEANWHILE, combine broth and flour in medium saucepan. Stir in cream cheese spread, 2 Tbsp. of the Parmesan cheese, the nutmeg and pepper; cook 2 min., stirring constantly with wire whisk until mixture boils and thickens.


DRAIN pasta. Toss with sauce. Sprinkle with remaining 1 Tbsp. Parmesan cheese and the parsley.


Makeover Savings
With butter and heavy whipping cream, Alfredo sauce can pack a lot of calories. Instead, our lighter version uses a combination of Philadelphia Light Cream Cheese Spread, chicken broth and flour and also reduces the amount of grated Parmesan. These changes will save you 300 calories and 34 g fat!

Meal One

So here it is, recipe number one. For supper tonight I made Braised Balsamic Chicken with steamed snow peas and wild rice. I have got to say it was GOOD! So good in fact that Leith said it was the best chicken he had ever had. Landon loved the chicken and enjoyed the peas (wasn't fond of the rice though) and Ronan liked the rice and chicken! This is definitely a make again meal, and it was sooooooooo easy!!!

Try it out, and let me know what you think!

Ingredients:
6 skinless boneless chicken breasts
ground black pepper
garlic salt
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, thinly sliced
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
1 can diced tomatoes (I used the petit cut olive oil and garlic flavoured)
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried rosemary
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

Directions:
1. Season the chicken breast with the pepper and garlic salt. Heat olive oil in a skillet and brown the chicken and onions.
2. Pour the balsamic vinegar and tomatoes over the chicken and add the dried herbs. Simmer until the chicken is cooked through (no pink and the juices run clear).

Nutritional Information per serving: Calories: 210 Fat: 6.1g

What this is....

So I decided that I need somewhere to put new recipes that I try. Good and bad. So this is it! Every night (well everynight that I cook) I am going to put on here with my review.

Feel free to add you own recipes and comments and definitely let me know if you try them!!