Thought for Food

(NC)—Take menu planning off your hands this holiday season. For even more tips and recipes to help your holiday dinner parties go off without a hitch, visit www.presidentschoice.ca.

Cranberry Brie en Croûte

"En croute" simply means encased in pastry, a delicious way to present a whole Brie during the festive season! Assemble earlier in day and refrigerate. Brush with egg wash and cut vents just before baking. Bake until golden.

Prep time: 10 minutes.

Cook time: 30 to 35 minutes.

Makes 10 servings.

1 pkg Ziggy's Whole (450 g)

Double Cream Brie

1/4 cup PC Cranberry (50 mL)

Orange Sauce

1 sheet PC Butter Puff (half 450 g Pastry, thawed pkg)

1 egg beaten

1 PC French Baguette

1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).

2. On top of baking sheet, unroll pastry and parchment so parchment lines baking sheet. Carefully cut away and discard top rind of Brie, about 1/8-inch (3 mm); place Brie in centre of puff pastry. Top Brie with sauce. Bring one corner of pastry up over Brie and brush this section of pastry with egg. Bring opposite corner of pastry up to overlap first corner; brush with egg. Bring remaining two corners of pastry up over top, overlapping sides. Gently press pastry overlap to seal in Brie. Brush whole package with egg. With sharp knife, make four 1/2-inch (1 cm) vents in top of pastry.

3. Bake in centre of oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until pastry is golden. Let stand for 10 minutes.

4. Garnish with orange slices and cranberries, if desired. Serve with sliced baguette. Serve with additional cranberry sauce, if desired.

Posted by Ian McKenzie at 09:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Ingredients

• 375 g Catelli Healthy Harvest Whole Wheat Linguine
• 75 mL (1/3 cup) hoisin sauce
• 45 mL (3 tbsp) chicken broth
• 2 chicken breasts, boned and skinned
• 90 mL (6 tbsp) roasted peanuts, coarsely chopped
• 30 mL (2 tbsp) canola oil
• 1 bag (171 g) shiitake mushrooms
• 1 red bell pepper, in strips
• 3 green onions, in fine strips
• To taste salt and pepper
• 75 mL (1/3 cup) fresh coriander, coarsely chopped

Instructions

• Cook linguine according to package directions; set aside.
• In a bowl, blend 15 mL (1 tbsp) hoisin sauce with 5 mL (1 tsp) water. Use to baste chicken breasts; salt and sprinkle with 30 mL (2 tbsp) roasted peanuts.
• Cook in oven preheated to 200 degrees C (400 degrees F) for 15 minutes; set aside.
• Meanwhile, clean mushrooms and remove stems. Cut bigger mushrooms.
• In a skillet, heat oil and sauté mushrooms around 1 minute. Add pepper strips and continue cooking another minute.
• Add chicken strips, remaining hoisin sauce and chicken broth, then bring to a boil. Add pasta and green onions, mixing well to coat pasta.
• Sprinkle with remaining peanuts and fresh coriander.

Preparation: 20 minutes

Cooking: 25 minutes

Servings: 4 to 6

Technorati Tags: Pasta, Main+Dish

Posted by at 09:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

(NC) - The aroma of these savory corn muffins baking in the oven will whet everyone's appetite. And, these muffins are the perfect partner for an omelet. Enjoy.

1 cup Robin Hood All Purpose Flour 250 mL
1 cup Purity corn meal 250 mL
3 tbsp granulated sugar 45 mL
2 tsp baking powder 10 mL
1/2 tsp salt 2 mL
1/2 tsp dried basil leaves 2 mL
1 egg 1
1 cup milk 250 mL
1/4 cup Crisco Vegetable or Canola Oil 50 mL
1 cup cooked corn kernels 250 mL
1/3 cup chopped black olives 75 mL
1/4 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes 50 mL

1. PREHEAT oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease muffin cups or line them with muffin papers.
2. COMBINE first 6 dry ingredients.
3. BEAT egg, milk and oil in large bowl. Add dry ingredients, mixing lightly just until blended. Stir in corn, olives and sun-dried tomatoes. Spoon into prepared muffin cups, filling about 3/4 full.
4. BAKE in centre of preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in centre comes out clean.

Preparation Time - 20 minutes
Baking Time - 20 minutes
Makes - 10 large or 12 medium muffins
Freezing - excellent

Posted by at 09:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)