Tag: Canada

Quick and Easy Beet Soup (Borscht)

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I love the smell of borscht cooking on a cold day. My grandmother used to make it for me at lunch along with a sandwich, and it was the warmest feeling knowing she put so much work and love into a meal for me. Borscht doesn’t have to be so difficult to make, though. This is my quick borscht recipe. In hard times, it’s easy to make.

2 carrots chopped

1 celery chopped (I peel mine to remove the strings)

1 can sliced beets

1/2 medium onion diced

1 tablespoon ketchup

1 bay leaf

1 tsp dill

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp ground pepper

1 tablespoon olive oil for sautéing

6 cups vegetable broth

Sauté vegetables and spices in olive oil until tender. Add bay leaf and liquid. Bring to boil and turn down to simmer. Let simmer for one hour to one and half hours.

Shakshuka Hack – Healthy Breakfast Meal

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Mornings aren’t always easy. Sometimes I want more than a smoothie or a fruit to get me through my day but don’t feel like overdoing the carbs. In Israel, a dish called “shakshuka” is a big thing. It’s basically tomato sauce with eggs poached directly in the sauce and cumin is usually the spice of choice. This morning I had fresh produce and was inspired to do something with them. That’s how I came up with this shakshuka hack. It took me one minute to wash and dice the veggies and then 5 minutes to cook everything in a pan. This recipe is for one but just add for each person. So simple.

Ingredients:

1 tbsp olive oil

1 tsp oregano

1 diced scallion

I diced small roma tomato

1 egg

Sprinkle of parmigiana cheese

Add all veggies and oregano to oiled pan. Sauté on burner on medium heat for two minutes. Break egg on top of sautéed veggies and cover pan with lid. Leave lid on for four minutes without removing and continue to cook on medium heat. The lid will keep the steam from the veggies contained and cook the top of your egg without having to flip it. It won’t be rubbery and the result will be a perfect egg. Sprinkle with fresh parmigiana cheese 🧀 Makes one serving.

Cheesy Pasta Parmigiana

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As the warm weather hits, it’s so nice to go out in the patio and share a nice pasta meal with friends. This home cooked dish is something you will be able to make quickly while they are sitting with you in your kitchen, talking about their week.

Ingredients:

2 litres of water

200 g rotini pasta (1/2 package)

4 tbsp canola oil

1/2 cp diced onion

1 tbsp dill weed

1/2 tbsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1 sprig thyme leaves

1 tbsp of flour

1 and a 1/2 cup whole milk

6 slices Haolom white cheese

1/2 cp grated Parmigiana cheese

Instructions:

Bring water to boil. Add pasta and let simmer for 6-7 minutes. Drain but do not rinse.

Fry onions until soft but not translucent (5 minutes). Pinch the leaves off of the fresh thyme. Add them and rest of spices with flour to onions in frying pan and stir until combined (frying flour is a great way to thicken soups as well). Add milk and stir. Let simmer until milk thickens. Add cheese slices and grated parmigiana. Add pasta to pan of ingredients and mix until pasta is completely coated. Serves four.

Serve with a side salad.

Leave your comments. Would love to hear what you would like me to make for you next!

-Chaya

The Perfect Cup of Tea ☕️

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Growing up in Canada our hot beverage of choice was always tea. Whenever we traveled to the US and ordered tea, it came to us tasting like “dishwater” (as my mother would call it).

There is a correct way to make a perfect cup of tea. I always boil my water with a kettle on the stove. This brings it to the perfect temperature for making tea. I always use a teapot. I never clean the pot out with dish soap; I simply rinse it between uses. This “cures” the pot because the soap can add a flavour you don’t want.

4 cups of tea:

2 tea bags

4 cups boiling water

Bring water to a boil in a kettle. When kettle steams, take it off the heat. Pour some boiled water into teapot, swirling around and then dispose of it down your sink. Add two tea bags to the warmed pot and then add 4 cups boiled water over the tea bags. Cover. Let steep for five minutes. Remove bags with a spoon and discard. Tea that sits too long can be bitter.

You can keep your pot warm with a tea cozy, or with a dish towel. Serve with lemon and honey or some milk.

Hint: Always use your good teacups because you are worth the good stuff!

Let me know if you have any questions or leave a comment.

-Chaya