Ode to the Iron Skillet

In terms of cooking, an iron skillet can be a kitchen staple. Not only does it cook food beautifully and fill your food with flavour but it can help you increase your body's iron absorption. If you've got an iron deficiency, this health article about overcoming iron deficiencies gives a lot of helpful tips.

Iron Skillet Tips:

-Season your pan a few times a year, particularly if food is beginning to stick.

-Clean it immediately after use with water and cloths. Avoid soap if possible. If you must use soap, re-season your pan before your next use.



Iron Skillet Recipes:

My two favourite foods to cook in an iron skillet are:

Pan-Fried Potatoes

-Start with good oil such as olive or coconut oil and a dollop of butter. When the pan is good and hot put in chopped potato wedges and add plenty of seasoning salt, salt & pepper, Mrs. Dash and some diced onion. Cook on med-high until done.

and:
Garlic Bread You Eat with a Knife & Fork

Let's Talk Turkey--Turkey Lurkey

I'm a bzzagent. That means that I get to create buzz about new products. Bzzagent sends me information or a free sample and I tell them what I think and what my friends (that I bzz) think. Recently, I got invited to an Ontario Turkey campaign.

Now, I love turkey. I love Thanksgiving and Christmas and Easter turkey but really, other than the odd roasted turkey deli sandwich, we don't really use turkey the rest of the year. Maybe that's partially because we gorge ourselves so much on major holidays and also because we eat it for 3-4 days until we're ready for a 3 month break but it's also because I haven't really gotten adventurous in my cooking with turkey beyond my amazing tag team roasted turkey and stuffing recipe.

But beyond the famous roasted turkey with sage stuffing, I haven't done much dabbling. I'm now inspired! This Bzzagent Turkey Campaign has given me some great turkey recipes. Not only is turkey a great meat because it's high in protein and low in fat (with all that warm and fuzzy tryptophan, too!) but it's very versatile. I didn't really consider just how versatile until bzzagent send me a whack of cookbooks.

Here are some of the mouth-watering recipes inside:

-Spanish Meatballs with Saffron rice (turkey meatballs!)
-Pecan Crusted Turkey with Praline Sauce (Yum!)
-Feta Stuffed Greek Turkey Burgers (I can't wait to fire up my BBQ and give this one a try!)
-Turkey Nachos ( I'm sure a much healthier alternative to my regular Nachos Supreme!)
-Turkey Burrito Casserole
-Turkey Cabbage Rolls
-Spinach and Ricotta Stuffed Turkey Breast (Can't wait to try that one!)
-Jerk Turkey Mango Wraps (This just sounds like summertime to me!)
-Turkey Stew in a Bread Bowl (mmmmm...)

Check out http://www.turkeyrecipes.ca for more!

Cheers,
BzzAgent MarleyMauve

Spaghetti Squash Prima Vera

Today I tried spaghetti squash for the first time. It has a fraction of the calories of spaghetti and was a great 'mock' pasta dish. I'd definitely have it again on its own or as a vegetable side dish. It'd go fabulous with chicken parmigiana, I think.

I made it primavera style and while it didn't taste like spaghetti it was pretty awesome. It had the texture of cooked shredded potatoes and a really nice flavour. Here's how I made it:

Spaghetti Squash Primavera
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-1 spaghetti squash: microwave 8-12 minutes. Pierce with a fork several times and put in a dish with 1/4 cup of water. Turn spaghetti squash over half way during cooking.

-Halve the squash and separate the strands from the seeds

Meanwhile, in a frying pan sautee some slices of zucchini, pepper, and sundried tomato in oil.

Add spaghetti squash and a touch each of tomato sauce, spices, an ounce of shredded cheese, and stir fry for a few minutes.

Enjoy!

Keurig Coffee: I'm In Love With My K-Cups

I recently got a Keurig coffee maker. Here's my review of the Keurig k-cup coffee machine.

Coffee Prayers Answered!


This coffee maker is the answer to a major coffee problem in my house. I wake up about 3-4 hours earlier than my husband each day and as a result, he either gets stale coffee or I get to make two pots each morning (because the pouty lip and the rave reviews about my coffee's loveliness get me every time. )

This coffee maker makes a single cup of coffee at a time and perfectly brews each cup with a k-cup which looks like a milk creamer so this resolves several things including:

-getting a fresh cup of coffee
-getting a fast cup of coffee
-getting the exact flavour you want!




The k-cups are easy to use but not so easy to find as they're not yet available in the grocery stores (from what I've seen but I've seen them in coffee shops and Home Outfitters) so I'll likely start ordering them online through Amazon so I can get many flavours such as decaf, breakfast blend, vanilla, chai tea, and more. (Buying two boxes allows me to pay $0 in shipping). Sometimes you feel like a regular coffee and sometimes you feel like a flavoured one so it's nice to make just a cup at a time, especially if you and your partner don't feel like the same blend. We can even get it in hot chocolate for the kids.

My favourite is the extra-bold. The aroma fills the house instantly.




I've found extra uses for the Keurig coffee machine as well.

1. Make a hot cup of tea with it
2. Get hot water out of it for Cup-A-Soup and instant oatmeal
3. Make hot chocolate with it

You can use your own coffee instead of buying k-cups if you like by using this little doo-dad:



And, if you want to display your many flavours of coffee and tea on your countertop, you can use the Keurig K-Cup carousel:


Seriously, I love this coffee maker! I'm able to get a cup of fresh coffee any time I want. It literally takes less than a minute and tastes as good as coffee shop coffee. I definitely give Keurig a thumbs up!

Making Gravy With Bovril

I love using Bovril to make gravy. While it's a big help, you can still get homemade tasting gravy.

Here's how I do mine:

Bovril Beef Gravy
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Brewed tea, lots of liquid beef bovril (packets of powdered bovril work fine too but I like the liquid best)and beef drippings. Bring to a boil and then as it's rapidly bubbling, slowly pour in mixed flour and water or mixed cornstarch and water. An amount of about one cup but thick works great. Whisk the boiling liquid constantly until everything is thick and then if necessary, strain. Usually, this method results in lump-free gravy.

Bovril Chicken Gravy
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Follow the same as above but with Bovril chicken bouillon.

Extra Gravy Tips:
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-Using Bisquick and milk or water is a great thickening option.
-Use a dash of milk or cream in your gravy for a nice consistency
-Instead of ending with thickener, start with a spoonful of butter and flour and thicken from the beginning
-Add in a cup of condensed cream of mushroom soup for a mushroom gravy but start by frying fresh mushrooms as step one
-Add onion soup mix for an onion flavour
-Make your gravy and then add about 4 cups of a tetra beef stock for au jus and mix with roast beef slices.
-Make your gravy in the roasting pan on the stove for extra flavour