Color Me Happy and Papaya Delights

I absolutely LOVE the colours of the tulips in my supermarket right now. Aren't the colours of spring so lovely?! I have been buying a few bunches here and there and it makes me so happy to see them in my house when it's white (with snow) or brown (no green grass yet) outside.

More colours to love? Fruit! The tropical kind! I never liked papaya before but my parents and my aunt found this great store that always has papaya for a good price. Their trick? Slice it up (cut it in half lengthwise to start and take out the seeds) and then sprinkle some fresh lime juice over it!!! OH so delicious. I also found this recipe that sounds like a winner too. So go treat yourself to some color and a lovely papaya salad!

Lime Basil Grilled Fruit

~ 1 medium fresh pineapple, peeled and sliced thinly into length wise wedges
~ 1 medium ripe papaya, (weighing about 1 lb), peeled and sliced into length-wise wedges
~ 4 tablespoons lime juice (60 ml)
~ 3 tablespoons fresh basil, finely chopped (45 ml)
~ 1/2 cup icing sugar (125 ml)
~ 2/3 cup water (75 ml)

In a small sauce pan over medium heat, combine lime juice, sugar and water and simmer until sugar has dissolved and syrup is slightly thick. Take mixture off heat and stir in basil til combined. Refrigerate for 8 hours to allow flavour to infuse.

Preheat grill to 400F.

Generously oil elements on top of grill and place pieces of pineapple and papaya and grill them for one minute on each side. In a glass bowl combine the fruit and the syrup and stir gently until fruit is coated. Enjoy!

~ From foodnetwork.ca

~ tulip photo from bhg.com

Brie in Pastry

Valentine's Day is coming up and here is a yummy recipe that would be lovely for you and your sweetie!! My hubby and I absolutely love brie!

~ Frozen puff pastry patty shells (from 2 2
10 1/2 oz., 300 g, package of 6), thawed
~ Small Brie cheese round (with rind)
~ Large egg, fork-beaten
~ Medium red apples, cut into thin wedges

Roll 1 pastry shell out on lightly floured surface to 5 1/2 to 6 inch (14 to 15 cm) circle.

Place cheese round in middle of pastry. Bring up sides, pleating dough around edge. Roll out second pastry shell. Cut circle to fit top, using Brie tin. Crimp and seal edges. Make decorative shapes from scraps of pastry. Place on top.

Brush pastry with egg. Place on greased baking sheet. Bake in 450°F (230°C) oven for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 350°F (175°C). Bake for about 5 minutes until golden brown. Transfer to serving plate.

Place apple wedges around pastry. Serves 6.

~ Courtesy of Company's Coming

Crab and Red Pepper Spread

I made and will make this crab dip for a couple of parties this season. It tastes delicious on crackers!

~ 2 green onions

~ 250g cream cheese

~ 1 can crabmeat, drained

~ 1/2 c. shredded cheddar cheese (or marble or whatever you like)

~ 1/2 c. finely chopped red peppers

~ 1 Tbsp. dijon mustard

Reserve 2 Tbsp. of the onions. Mix remaining ingredients and cover. Refrigerate for at least one hour. Sprinkle with reserved onions and serve with crackers.

~ Kraft Canada

Mushroom Hor d'oeurves

Tis the season for entertaining, cocktail parties and cozy evenings with loved ones. I love this time of year. This is a recipe that my mom used to make when I was younger. She always made yummy appies on Christmas eve and we would eat and play games. Such special memories! This is one of my faves and it's easy yet looks so sophisticated. : )

Here's the how-to:

~ 1 1/2 lb. fresh mushrooms, chopped fine
~ 1/2 c. green onion
~ 1/4 c. butter
~ 2 Tbsp. flour
~ 1 cup sour cream
~ 1/4 c. milk
~ 1/2 tsp each of salt, pepper, paprika and tabasco

Saute the mushrooms and onion in the butter in a pan. Sprinkle flour on mushrooms and blend in. Brown lightly.

Stir in 1/2 c. of sour cream and the milk. Cook/stir on low heat for about 2 minutes. Stir in rest of sour cream and all spices. Cook another 2 minutes.

Serve hot in hors d'oeurve cups on a pretty plate. : )

Yes, I splurged a bit this season and bought myself a platter and a set of plates. Ohhhhh how I love them!!

Pretty, aren't they? I got them here.

Bon appetit!

Mango Salsa

This salsa is refreshing and healthy!

~ 1 ripe mango, peeled and ½-inch diced
~ ¼ cup chopped scallion, green part only
~ ¼ cup diced red bell pepper
~ 1 tablespoon finely diced fresh jalapeno
~ 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
~ 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice
~ ¼ teaspoon salt
~ ½ teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil

Mix all ingredients in a bowl and let sit in fridge for an hour or so before eating. Serve with nacho chips or pita chips. This would be delicious with fish for dinner as well!

Cinco de Mayo

It's Cinco de Mayo! Spanish for the 5th of May and I figured a good reason to eat some yummy mexican food. Ok, I didn't have enough time to prepare much ahead of time, so here's what we're having to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. And if you want to know more about the '5th of May', click here.

HaPpy CiNco de MaYo!!

SPEEDY BEAN SALSA

1/2 cup rinsed canned black beans
1 can niblet corn
1/2 avocado diced
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
1 bunch of diced green onions
Juice of half a lime (my limes were small so I used a whole one)
1 cup Salsa
Baked Tostitos' Scoops' chips

Combine all ingredients and toss well in bowl. Let sit 30 minutes in fridge or up to 1 hour to enhance flavors. Spoon into baked tostitos scoops chips
and place on serving dish.
Oh, so yummy.

~ Contributed by Linda K. and Tostitos.ca

You can do this at home!!

Hubby and I were in Victoria, BC last week and we ate some wonderful food!  This was one of my favourites from a restaurant called Lure -- partly because it was DEEELICIOUS but mostly because it was pretty!  I thought, I could totally do this at home!  Wouldn't your guests be delighted at this little gem of a plate....

I can't tell you how oh so tasty it was!  It consisted of a variety of olives, sausage not sure what kind, proscuitto, roasted peppers, marinated red onions (oh yum), roasted tomatoes, goat cheese, pate (not my fave), a cheesy spread and scattered pistachios.  And garnished with an orchid.  I could do this.  I have square white plates and everything. 

If you make your own little tasty platter either for your very special self or very special guests, please send me a comment.  I would love to see them.

Spicy Cheddar rolls

Here is a great recipe for an appetizer. They are simple to make and soooo delicious! They look like you put a lot of work into them too. ; )

~ 1/2 pkg. frozen puff pastry, thawed but cool
~ Roll out on floured board to 20x8 inch rectangle
~ Brush with 2 Tbsp. melted butter
~ Sprinkle 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese evenly over dough
~ Top with 1/4 cup finely chopped hot banana peppers (i use the Bicks pickled ones)
~ Roll each short end of dough toward the centre until they meet
~ Chill 1 hr. wrapped in saran

Separate/cut the 2 long rolls apart and cut each into 24 slices.
Bake on greased sheet at 400 F for 15 min. or until puffed and golden.
Cool on wire racks but best served hot!!

~ Contributed by Dusty R.