Tuesday, October 11, 2016

Vidalia Onion Dip

Delicious warm onion dip appetizer to spread on baguette slices or crackers. 




I'm always looking for great snack ideas that can be used for lunch.  We enjoy on the weekends being able to slow down, relax over lunch and having something that is out of the realm of your typical lunch meal of soup or sandwich.

This sweet Vidalia onion dip fits the bill of the non-traditional lunch type food.  Piled up on rounds of fresh baguette or crackers, it makes a filling snack or appetizer to enjoy with perhaps a nice glass of wine.



Filled with lots of sweet Vidalia onion and wonderful gooey cheese I couldn't see that this dip wouldn't be anything but incredibly delicious.  While it was baking in the oven, the aroma was incredible! I couldn't wait for it to finish and cool down enough to dig in.  And delicious it was!! In a pinch, you could use regular onions but it is well worth the effort to search out Vidalia onions as they have a much sweeter taste.

This Vidalia onion dip is on a regular rotation in our house.  If you are looking for a stress free appetizer for game day or other gatherings, this dip fits the bill.  Preparation is quick and easy and while it bakes in the oven, slice up some nice fresh baguette or make up a plate of crackers.



Vidalia Onion Dip
by notjustgrilledcheese
Prep Time: 10 mins.
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Keywords: dips, dressings and sauces
Ingredients
  • 2 cups Vidalia onion, chopped
  • 1 cup shredded Asiago cheese
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
  • 3/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
  • 2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
Add all ingredients to a medium sized bowl. Stir well to combine.
Spray a one quart baking dish lightly with cooking spray. Pour combined mixture into baking dish.
Bake at 350 for 40 minutes. Let cool slightly. Serve with crackers or slices of fresh baguette.
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Wednesday, July 20, 2016

Teriyaki Marinade

A delicious marinade for steak and other meats





Hope everyone is staying cool!  With the hot temperatures outside, we are definitely well into the summer season.  I think my favourite part of summer is being able to fire up the barbecue for meals to keep the heat out of the kitchen and also that barbecuing eliminates all those messy pots and pans.

By far, my husband's go to on the barbecue is a good steak.  He likes to marinade it all afternoon to give the steak flavour and to improve on it's tenderness.  As I would never remember to pick up a marinade when I was shopping and we are trying to get away from store bought items, it was time to come up with a marinade of our own.

Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Chocolate Chip Cookies

The ultimate soft and chewy chocolate chip cookie



The other day, before setting off for work, my husband asked if I could bake some cookies.  He specifically did request these Peanut Butter Cookies as they are his ultimate favourite, but I needed a chocolate fix, so I decided on Chocolate Chip Cookies instead.

This Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe has made regular rotations through my kitchen for over 20 years.  I think I could make these in my sleep.

Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Zucchini Relish

A delicious relish to top your next burger or hot dog made with garden fresh zucchini.




This delicious zucchini relish is on my to do list every year when canning season rolls around and zucchini is in season.  For some reason (I can’t remember why exactly) I didn’t get a batch made last year and well before the barbecue season has ended we ran out.  I actually had to resort to buying some relish from the grocery store – you know that bright green, unnatural looking stuff that has very little flavour.  Once you have had this delectable tasting relish, the store bought kind just won’t do.

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Pasta Salad

Packed with veggies and a delicious dressing, this pasta salad is ready for your next barbecue.


Summertime!! The season of outdoor barbecues, impromptu neighbourhood get togethers and reunions.  Always fun and always a ton of fantastic food.  I love an easy throw together dish to contribute to these events and this pasta salad fits the bill.  You can always find an arsenal of pasta of many types in my pantry and this time of year, the fridge is usually full of fresh produce making this salad a favourite of mine.  So it was this particular salad I decided to make last weekend for a cousin get together.

Although the weather was horribly hot, (I bet you could have cooked an egg outside that day) it was great to visit and chat with people that we haven’t seen in years.

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Ham and Broccoli Pasta Casserole

An easy casserole using leftover ham with loads of veggies baked in a flavorful alfredo cheese sauce.


Easy casseroles that are quick to put together and use ingredients that are usually in my fridge and pantry are a favorite in our house.
When large bone-in ham goes on sale, we always stock up the freezer with a few to take advantage of the great price.  I think the last time we stocked up, an 8 pound ham was slightly more than $6.00.  After first enjoying a huge dinner of baked ham with all the fixings, I cube up the leftover meat into 2 1/2 to 3 cup portions that go into the freezer for casseroles and soups.

Friday, August 7, 2015

Cauliflower Gratin

Cauliflower baked in a creamy, rich gruyere cheese sauce.


I love this time of year when a stroll through our Saturday morning farmer’s market is on our agenda every weekend.  I try to pick up all our veggies and fruits here before heading off to the grocery store.  There is nothing better than the great flavour from locally grown produce.  The last couple of weeks, I’ve been eating tomatoes that actually taste like a tomato and haven’t tired of just a simple toasted tomato sandwich for lunch almost everyday — but on to the cauliflower.