ROSEMARY BUTTER KNOTS

And old-school, but definitely a goodie. Simple biscuits transform into delicious, garlicky twisted knots of rosemary perfection. Geez, could I have used anymore adjectives?

Serves 6

INGREDIENTS

• 1 tube fridge biscuits  

• 1/4 stick butter

• 1 clove garlic, crushed

• 1/2 teaspoon Dried Rosemary

• Kosher salt

• fresh black pepper

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven 400

2. Roll each biscuit into 10 - 12" stick, tie a knot and tuck ends underneath

3. Place on nonstick oiled baking sheet with 2 - 3" spacing, bake according to packaging

4. While cooking, heat small pan on low heat, melt butter add garlic, black pepper and Rosemary

5. When cooked, paint knots liberally with butter while still hot

6. Garnish with pinch Kosher salt

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MAPLE CARROTS

1 pound small-ish, multi color carrots (with green leafy tops if possible) scrubbed

1 tablespoon butter

2 tablespoon maple syrup

1/3 cup water

Pinch Kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

Parsley for garnish

• Cut carrots lengthwise

• Melt butter & oil in a large deep skillet, and cook carrots on high 3-4 minutes until sizzling

• Add water and maple syrup, stir well and cook until still crisp tender

• Serve, garnished with parsley

Blackened 5 Spice Tilapia Sando

Tilapia is cheap and has a great taste – you could also use catfish for this. This is a 10!

Makes 1 sandwich

INGREDIENTS

• 1 tablespoon Chinese 5 Spice 
• 1 teaspoon brown sugar
• pinch Kosher salt
• 3 teaspoons olive oil
• 1 Tilapia fillet, skin removed
• 1 cup mushrooms, sliced
• 1 teaspoon butter
• 1 tablespoon Soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon Sriracha
• 2 tablespoons Japanese mayo (Kewpie brand)
• 1 white bread roll (I used Mexican Torta Roll)
• 1/4 cup shredded icebreg lettuce

DIRECTIONS

1. Mix sauce: soy, Sriracha and mayo
2. Preheat medium skillet on high, add 1 teaspoon oil, cook mushrooms 3 minutes, add butter
3. Mix dry ingredients: 5 spice, sugar, salt
4. Grease both sides Tilapia with teaspoon oil, dust both sides with seasoning
5. Preheat skillet on medium, add 1 teaspoon oil, cook Tilapia each side 1 minute 30 seconds
6. Drizzle 1 teaspoon olive oil on roll, grill until toasted
7. Build: generous layer of sauce, lettuce, mushrooms, tilapia. Slice. Eat.

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Sriracha Chicken Wrap

Super fast food, then perfect munchie food remedy. Make it!

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup Deli Roasted Chicken breast meat, shredded
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon Srirach
• 1 tablespoon runny honey
• Blue Cheese crumbles
• Iceberg lettuce
• handful celery leaves
• wheat tortilla

DIRECTIONS

1. In small pot on low heat melt butter, add Sriacha and honey 
2. Add chicken, cook 2 minutes (until heated through)
3. Warm tortilla
4. Build: tortilla, lettuce, chicken/sauce, blue cheese crumbles, celery leaves.

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GREEK CHICKEN WRAP

Proof you can eat healthy quickly, this takes 5 minutes. 

Serves 2

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup deli roasted chicken breast meat, shredded
• 1/4 cup English cucumber, skinned, thinly sliced half rounds
• 1/4 red onion very thinly sliced
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• pinch Kosher salt
• 2 pita breads
• 3 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
• 3 tablespoons fresh dill, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup greek yoghurt

DIRECTIONS

1. Mix chicken, red onion, cucumber, fresh herbs (keep a pinch aside for garnish)
2. In small container mix oil, lemon juice, and Kosher salt, pour dressing into chicken/mix and coat well
3. Warm pita breads, 1 minute each side in dry skillet
4. Build: pita, chicken/salad mix, yoghurt, garnish with pinch of herbs

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Leftover Steak & Caramelized red onion Naan

This is so delicious. A great party food appetizer, if you are entertaining, the blue cheese pairs well with good bottle of red. 

Serves 2 as appetizer

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 lb leftover pre-cooked chilled steak (I used filet, but anything you like)
• 1 naan bread
• 1 red onion
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 teaspoon canola oil
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
• 3 tablespoons blue cheese, crumbled

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat broiler
2. In medium skillet on low heat, add butter, oil and red onions cook for 5 minutes or until sugars release and gets sticky
3. Add brown sugar to onions, cook 3 minutes
4. In small pot on med/low heat, bring balsamic vinegar to simmer, turn down as low as possible, reduce vinegar until consistency of maple syrup
5. In dry skillet heat naan for 1 minute each side, just to soften, put to one side
6. In skillet, high heat, lightly oiled, add waffer thin sliced steak, cook 1 minute
7. Build: naan, generous layer red onions, steak, top with blue cheese
8. Broil on high 1 minute
9. Evenly drizzle over 2 tablespoons balsamic reduction, cut and eat.

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LEFTOVER PHILLY CHEESESTEAK SLIDER

Next time you are cooking steak, cook and extra one or keep any leftovers and make this the next day. Love this. Love this! It only takes 10-15 minutes

Makes 2 sliders

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 green peppers, sliced
• 1/2 yellow onion, sliced semi circles
• 3 teaspoons canola oil
• 1/2 lb pre-cooked chilled steak, sliced very thinly (I used ribeye... use whatever you have)
• 4 Crimini mushrooms, sliced
• 2 teaspoons soy sauce
• 4 Provolone cheese slices 
• 2 crusty rolls, oiled or buttered

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat large skillet medium/high heat, add teaspoon oil, green peppers and onions, cook 5 minutes until softened
2. In separate skillet, add teaspoon oil, cook mushrooms 2 minutes
3. Add in cooked onions, peppers and soy, cook 1 minute
4. Grill your roll until golden
5. In separate skillet on high heat, add teaspoon oil, reheat steak 1 minute
6. Layer cheese slices on top of steak, cook 30 seconds
7. Build: roll, veggies, steak/cheese, veggies and eat!

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STIR FRIED STEAK & SNOW PEAS

Not sure much is easier (and healthier) than this. 

Serves 2

INGREDIENTS

• 3/4 lb New York steak – put in freezer 10 minutes, remove fat strip, finely slice across the grain
• 1 big handful snowpeas (remove the tough end)
• 2  1/2 tablespoons canola oil
• 1/2 cup beef broth
• 2 teaspoons corn starch
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon seasame oil
• 1'' cube fresh ginger, peeled, finely diced
• 1 garlic clove, finely diced
• 1/2 orange, zest and juice
• 2 teaspoons seasame seeds

DIRECTIONS

1. In a bowl, mix the broth, corn starch, soy
2. Preheat wok on high, add 1 tablespoon oil and snowpeas, keep them moving, cook 1 minute, remove
3. In same hot wok, add 1 tablespoon oil and beef, break up clumps, keep it moving, cook 1 minute
4. Add snowpeas back in wok with beef
5. Add 1/2 tablespoon oil add garlic and ginger, cook 30 seconds, mix well
6. Add broth mixture, add orange zest and juice, stir on high heat, cook 1 minute – until sauce thinkens
7. Sprinkle over seasame seeds and eat!

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Chinese Corn Chowder

Classic ‘hot & sour’ soup. Though you can certainly add chicken, pork or whatever you like, we’ve made this with only shiitakes & tofu…but you won’t miss the meat, trust me.

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS

• 1/4 cup finely diced smoked ham
• 1 teaspoon canola oil
• One 15 ounce can creamed corn
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch + 2 tablespoons water
• 1 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 egg, beaten
• Kosher salt & fresh ground pepper to taste
• 2 green onions, finely diced

DIRECTIONS

1. Cook ham with oil in a small pan until crispy - set a side
2. In medium saucepan bring corn and chicken broth to a low simmer
3. In small bowl mix corn starch & water until smooth, and stir into the broth, let simmer about 5 minutes
4. While stirring corn broth in a circular direction, pour in the egg from several inches above the pot in a very slow stream (while stirring) to create ribbons
5. Stir in soy, sauce and salt & pepper to taste - simmer a couple minutes
6. Serve topped with ham & green onions

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DOUBLE CHOCOLATE BROWNIE

You're thinking... "so, why are these so special?" Well, that's what I said, until I made them for a party and everyone went nuts about them. According to my SIL, this is the ONLY brownie recipe you will ever need. Credit to my SIL Cheryl for the recipe.

Serves 6-8

INGREDIENTS

• 3/4 cup All Purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 2 tablespoons Bourbon Whisky
• 1/3 cup soft butter
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 12 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract (I used barrel aged Bourbon Vanilla extract!) 
• 1/2 cup whole walnuts (or pecans or whatever nuts you like, just keep them whole) 
• parchment paper

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees
2. Grease and line a 8 x 8'' deep oven proof dish with parchment paper
3. In small bowl mix flour, baking soda and Kosher salt
4. In small pan, on low heat, combine butter, sugar, Bourbon and half the chocolate chips (6oz), cook 1 minute, keep stirring - remove from heat when melted
5. Add vanilla extract and beat in one egg at a time to warm chocolate mix
6. Gradually incorporate the dry mix into the chocolate mix
7. Mix in remaining 6oz chocolate chips and whole nuts
8. Pour mix into greased and parchment lined baking dish, cook for 30 minutes – do toothpick test, if it's clean its done. If not, cook upto another 5 minutes maximum.

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CHECK OUT DESSERT DAY EPISODE – FROM THE BRAND NEW SAM THE COOKING GUY TV SERIES

Quick polenta with Spinach & mushrooms & fried egg

Under 15 minute and only approx 300 calories, gets you a healthy and totally delicious breakfast... I think it's worth it, for school mornings or before work. Honestly, the time could easily be wasted going to drive-thru.

Serves 2

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 cup polenta
• 2 cups water
• 1 tablespoon salted butter
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 3/4 cup Crimini mushrooms, sliced
• 1 clove, finely diced garlic
• 4 big handfuls of spinach
• 2 eggs
• Kosher salt
• Fresh ground pepper

DIRECTIONS

1. In a bowl, add polenta, salt, water, mix well, cover with cling film, microwave high 8 minutes
2. While that cooks do the rest....
3. In hot pan, add 1/2 teaspoon oil, mushrooms, cook 2 minutes, turn down heat, add garlic, cook 2 minutes 
4. In another medium heat skillet/wok, add 1/2 teaspoon oil and spinach, cook 1 minute
5. Season spinach and mushrooms with pinch Kosher salt and 3 grinds fresh pepper
6. Fry 2 eggs over-easy
7. Remove polenta (careful of the steam!!) whisk polenta until smooth, season pinch Kosher salt, 5 grinds fresh pepper, add butter, mix well
8. Serve it up! Polenta, spinach, mushrooms and top with fried egg (or Poached if you want to be super healthy). 

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HUEVOS HANDCHEROS

Healthy on-the-go breakfast for early starts like school or work – tasty protein and only approx 200 calories. To make it fast, just prep at beginning of the week sautee the veggies and keep them in the fridge. 

Serve 1

INGREDIENTS

• 2 tablespoons pre-sauteed chilled veggies: onions, red onion, green onion, fresh green chili, red bell pepper (make a bunch of this and store in the fridge)
• 1 tablespoon salted butter
• 1 tablespoon shredded Monteray Jack cheese
• 1 teaspoon salsa verde
• 1 light flour tortillas
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon Cholula

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat skillet medium heat, butter, chilled veggies, cook 30 seconds
2. Remove from heat, crack in the egg mix quickly for 30 seconds, add cheese, salsa verde and mix
3. Warm your tortilla
4. Build: tortilla, Cholula, egg mix, roll it up.... and off you go!

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FROZEN FRUIT SMOOTHIE

We usually have this for work mornings, our on-the-go breakfast. It's fast and refreshing. If you have fruit going a bit on the soft side, zip lock or vacuum seal a portion and throw it in the freezer, I tend to make it convenient with individual cup size portions of mixed fruit, maybe some ginger... whatever you like. Oh and if you have fresh fruit only, just throw in some ice.

Serves 2

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup frozen fruit: peaches, strawberries, blackberries
• 1/4 lemon, rind removed
• 1'' piece fresh ginger, chopped roughly
• 1 ice cube frozen passion fruit pulp (i use the silicone trays)
• 1/2 cup water
• splash cranberry juice

DIRECTIONS

1. Throw it in a bullet or blender, blitz until it starts forming a smooth vortex in the middle and continue for 30 seconds, then drink. 

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KALE QUESADILLA

Don't overlook Kale for a quesadilla filling, it stands up well and holds it's texture, I love this. Try it.

Serves 2

INGREDIENTS

• 1/4 red onion, diced
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/4 red bell pepper, diced
• 1/2 Green Hatch Chile, diced
• 1  1/2 cups Organic red Kale leaves, washed, middle stem and vein removed, finely diced
• 1 clove garlic, crushed
• 4 small flour tortilla
• 1/2 cup shredded Monteray Jack cheese
• 1/4 cup Sour cream
• squeeze lemon
• pinch Kosher salt
• pinch cumin

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat large skillet/wok on medium/high heat, add oil, onion, red pepper, chile, cook 4 minutes
2. Turn down heat, add garlic, mix cook 30 seconds
3. Throw in kale, mix and keep it moving in pan cooking for 2 minutes
4. Warm 4 tortillas, evenly sprinkle half the cheese on two of them, then layer kale mixture, sprinkle another layer of the remaining cheese, top with tortilla, flip and cook another minute or 2, until cheese is melted 
5. Mix sour cream, lemon, Kosher salt and cumin
6. Slice quesadillas, dip and eat

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GRILLED STEAK SALAD

This is a staple meal in our house – protein with a bunch of greens, so quick and delicious. I can get it on the table in 10 minutes.

Serves 2, as an appetizer

INGREDIENTS

• 1 boneless New York steak
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• Kosher salt
• Fresh black pepper
• 10 grape tomates, halved
• 1/2 avocado, diced
• big handful watercress
• big handful baby arugula
• big handful frozen peas
• 1/4 sliced onion
• handful blue cheese crumbles

DRESSING

• 1/3 cup olive oil
• big pinch Kosher salt
• 6 grind fresh black pepper
• 1 tablespoon grainy Dijion mustard
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1/2 lemoon

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat dry cast iron pan or skillet until smoking hot
2. Throw all dressing ingredients in a jar and shake well
3. Rub steak with little oil and season well on both sides
4. Cook steak for 3 minutes, flip cook 2 minutes – let meat rest 3 minutes
5. While thats cooking, defrost peas in a collinder under running hot water for 1 minute 
6. In large bowl, drizzle 3 tablespoonsof dressing over leaves, onion, avo, tomatoes and peas, toss the salad
7. Crumble over the blue cheese
8. Serve the salad, topped with sliced steak (cutting against the grain), drizzle over a little more dressing.

WATCH ME MAKE THIS

(btw... in the video, I forgot the red onion and blue cheese, doohhhh!) 

SUMMER SALAD WITH ANCHOVY DRESSING

Before you say no effing way because of the anchovies – try it. It’s ridiculous. 

Serves 2, as main

INGREDIENTS

• 2 boiled eggs, quartered
• handful asparagus spears
• 1/2 romaine lettuce head (the crunchier bottom half), chopped
• 1 large tomato diced (I used a yellow tomato)
• big pinch fresh parsley, finely chopped
• few grinds fresh black pepper

DRESSING

• 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1/2 tablespoon Dijion mustard
• 4 anchovies finely chopped, or 2 teaspoons anchovy paste
• 1 clove garlic, crushed
• 1/2 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
• small pinch Kosher salt
• 5 grinds fresh black pepper
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

DIRECTIONS

1. In microwaveable dish, add asparagus and few tablespoons water, cover cling film microwave 2.5 minutes, place in ice bath to keep them green
2. add all dressing ingredients into a jar, shake well to emulsify
3. cut asparagus into 1'' pieces
4. In a large bowl, throw in asparagus, lettuce, tomato, eggs, parsley – coat with 3-4 tablespoons of the dressing
5. season with pepper, sprinkle over the parsley, eat!

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asian green bean salad

Holy shit! This is an amazing summer salad, it really packs a punch of flavor. Say no, to boring salads, and make this instead. 

Serves 2

INGREDIENTS

• bag french green beans, trim off tough ends
• 2 cups ice
• 2 garlic cloves, finely diced
• 1'' fresh ginger, finely diced 
• 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 1 teaspoon soy sauce
• pinch red pepper flakes
• 4 green onions, tops and tails removed, diagonally finely sliced
• 3 tablespoons fresh cilantro, finely chopped
• handfull Frech Fried Onions

DIRECTIONS

1. Blanch in boiling water for 3 minutes, drain
2. drop beans into an ice bath – keeps the color and stops cooking, pat dry with paper towels
3. in a small bowl mix asian dressing: garlic, ginger, rice vinegar, sesame oil, soy
4. in a large bowl throw in green beans, green onions, cilantro, red pepper flakes and pour over all of the asian dressing, coat everything
5. garnish with French Fried Onions
    

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Pizza Dough in 3 minutes

 Of course you can buy pizza dough already made at the store – but why would you when it’s this easy and can be made in a food processor? And whether it’s for a pizza, calzone or simply a doughy bread for the grill – it’s the best.

2 to 2 1/2 cups unsifted, all-purpose flour

One 1/4 oz packet instant yeast

1 teaspoon sugar

1/2 tablespoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon Kosher salt

3/4 cup warm water, between about 110 and 120 degrees F

1 tablespoon olive oil

• With the 'S' blade in place, put 2 cups of the flour, yeast, sugar, garlic powder and salt in the bowl of a food processor - pulse a couple times

• Add the warm water and the oil - process until a soft dough forms

• If it's still sticky, add extra flour a few tablespoons at a time and process

• Take out of processor, shape into a ball, put into a lightly greased bowl, cover with a towel and let rise in a warm place until approx doubled in size, about an hour

• Then shape and use as normal

WATCH ME MAKE THIS...

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QUICK ROASTED CORN

This is awesome way to have that roasted flavor without laboring 40 minutes over a hot grill....

Serves 2​

INGREDIENTS

• 2 fresh corn cobs (husk and silk threads removed)
• cling film
• 2 tablespoons butter

DIRECTIONS

1. Wrap and seal corn in cling film
2. Microwave for 7 minutes (maybe 10, if you have an old microwave)
3. Remove with towel, beware the steam!
4. Brush butter all over
5. Turn gas up high, place cob directly on the burner, turn every 5 seconds allowing to roast a little on the surface (if you dont have gas, place in hot dry skillet).

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Poached eggs in advance

This is essential if you want to remove the stress from a big family breakfast or brunch, you can make these eggs up to 2 days ahead of time!

INGREDIENTS

• eggs (however many you need...)
• 2 tablespoons white vinegar
• 2 cups ice

DIRECTIONS

1. Fill large bowl with ice and cold water - put to one side
2. Crack eggs individually in to a small bowl
3. In medium pot simmer 8 cups water – little bubbles at the bottom – if you want use a thermometer, 198 degrees (not boiling, 212 degrees)
4. Spin the water creating a vortex, slip one egg into center
5. Simmer for 3 minutes, maybe gently nudge it to stop it sticking to the bottom
6. Using slotted spoon gently scoop out egg, whites should be firm to touch and yolk area soft
7. Place in iced water, then repeat cooking steps 4-7 for each egg
8. Store eggs and water in fridge for up to 2 days
9. To reheat: gently place eggs in a pot boiling water, boil for 1 minute ONLY, serve!  

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