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Canadian Bacon & Mushroom Pizza

When I was a kid, my family used to order Canadian Bacon & Mushroom Pizza whenever we ordered from our favorite pizza place.

After a recent trip to Costco {where we purchased Canadian bacon}, Frog Prince and I came home craving a pizza. 

It was just the time to re-create a childhood favorite!

Canadian Bacon & Mushroom Pizza

Ingredients

Directions

Begin by preparing the crust according to directions.  Shape into 2 pizzas & place on lightly greased or parchment paper covered cookie sheets.  If you have a pizza stone, go that route. 

Top each pizza with 1/8 C pizza sauce, and the arrange mushrooms & Canadian bacon over the top. 

Top with cheese. 

Place into an oven heated to 425 degrees. 

Bake for 10-15 minutes, until dough is cooked through & cheese is browned & bubbly. 

Enjoy!

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Broccoli Shells & Cheese with Italian Sausage

This recipe doesn’t really have a story, or need much of an introduction. 

It’s simple to prepare, flavorful and really yummy. 

My family enjoyed it – I hope yours does too. 

Broccoli Shells & Cheese with Italian Sausage

Ingredients

  • 3 sweet Italian sausage links {turkey sausage is fine}
  • 8 oz. whole wheat pasta shells
  • 16 oz. chopped broccoli
  • 8 oz. shredded cheddar or Monterrey Jack cheese
  • 1 C milk + 1 T white whole wheat flour (or 1 can evaporated milk)
  • salt & pepper, to taste

Directions

In a large skillet, brown the Italian sausage {casings removed} until no longer pink. 

Meanwhile, bring a large stockpot filled with water to a boil and cook the pasta according to package directions.   

Prepare the chopped broccoli by adding it to the boiling pasta during the last three minutes of boiling.  Drain.   

In a medium saucepan, combine 1 C milk with 1 T white whole wheat flour and whisk until mixed.  Then, heat the sauce, stirring constantly until thick.  You can replace the 1 C milk with 1 can of evaporated milk, if desired. 

Remove from the heat. Allow the sauce to cool down a bit (3-5 minutes), then add the cheese and allow the heat from the sauce to melt the cheese. 

Pour the cheese sauce over the pasta & broccoli. 

Toss in the browned Italian sausage. 

Stir to combine. 

Enjoy!

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Menu Plan–October 21

Sitting down over the weekend to plan our menu saves me so much time during the week.  I know we have the ingredients on hand, and I’ve thought ahead about where we’ll be running to and from, so I know the meal I have planned will work that night.

Not only that, but I know what we’re eating for breakfast too, which is huge when you’ve said goodbye to cereal. 

Of course, things change, and inevitably, we do end up shuffling things around; but I wouldn’t enter a week without it!

Our favorite meal last week was one we had not had in ages…. French Bread Pizzas.  So simple and delicious. 

We also tried one of our favorite winter dinners – Lightened Up Loaded Baked Potato Soup in the crockpot!!! And, it worked wonderfully.  Recipe to be updated soon. 

Today was a delightful day with my family – parents, sister & grandparents, where we enjoyed Caramel Apple Upside Down Cake for dessert … trust me, make this one. 

On our menu this week:

Sunday
Apple Cider Donut Holes, fresh fruit
Lunch with family – we’re bringing Caramel Apple Upside Down Cake!
Leftovers

To Do: Make butternut squash bake, make lunches

Monday
Pumpkin Spice Granola
Roasted Chicken Vegetable Spread Sandwiches, carrots
Make-Ahead Butternut Squash Bake, steamed cauliflower & broccoli

To Do: Put together broccoli hotdish, finish chicken stock

Tuesday
Waffles of Insane Greatness {freezer}
Leftovers
Broccoli Hotdish

To Do: Thaw sweet potato puree, dice apples for oatmeal

Wednesday
Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal {new}
Leftovers
Stovetop Pumpkin Mac & Cheese {new, inspired by}, peas & broccoli

To Do: Thaw kielbasa sausage

Thursday
Pumpkin Spice Granola
Roasted Chicken Vegetable Spread Sandwiches
Brown Rice Bake, Steamed Green Beans

To Do: Thaw muffins {freezer}, dice veggies for soup

Friday
Apple Pumpkin Muffins {new}
Leftovers
Cheddar Chicken & Rice Soup

To Do: Make breakfast bread, thaw ribs

Saturday
Apple Cinnamon Swirl Pumpkin Yeast Bread {new}
Crockpot Cherry BBQ Ribs, Twice Baked Potatoes
Dessert – Gingerbread Pumpkin Bars {new}

Snacks
Spiced Country Applesauce
Popcorn
Apple Chips


Menu Plan Monday is hosted at Organizing Junkie - stop by for hundreds of menus

Find more great menus at OrgJunkie’s Menu Plan Monday!

Do you menu plan?

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Curry With One Masala- Palak Soya Bean Curry

It's been gloomy and rainy for the past few days, somehow I don't feel like doing anything when the sun hides into the clouds and the day becomes gloomy.  No matter how tired and lazy I feel, still  have to fulfill few of my basic instincts, like eating.  I can go on with some take away or some snacks to munch on but that's definitely not going to satisfy the nutritional requirements for my body. 


So I'm forced by myself to cook and eat some healthy food and at the same time without too much chopping or cooking.  Thinking about some spicy food which is apt for this season, at the top of my head I could dream about poori channa, parotta chalna etc. Oh! no that requires quite lot of time.
 
 Alright, now having some soaked soya beans and fresh palak in my refrigerator, all I could think about is Palak soya bean curry. After palak panner, Murg Palak, we all love making Palak channa or Palak peas too, this is exactly the same category.  Although Palak Channa is the best for me, I love combining Palak with other pulses and beans too.

Note:
The same curry style can be adapted for Chickpeas or Peas instead of Soyabeans. Channa Masala can be found in any Asian or Indian Grocery stores

Serves 2
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:
Cooked Soya beans- 100 gm
Palak- 100 gm ( cleaned and chopped )
Tomato- 2 medium sized (pureed)
Ginger garlic paste- 2 tsp
Cumin seeds- 1 tsp
Channa Masala powder- 2 tsp
Oil- 1 tbsp
Salt to taste

Method:
Heat Oil in a pan. Add the cumin seeds, then ginger garlic paste.  Stir it for 2 minutes until the raw smell goes away. Now add the tomato puree, stir well. Cover and let it simmer for about 3 minutes. When you open the pan, the colour of the tomatoes should be in bright red colour and the oil should start leaving the sides of the pan. 
At this stage add the cooked soya beans, channa masala powder, salt and stir well.  Cover and cook for a few minutes until the masala gets incorporated well.  Finally add the palak puree, stir well, let it simmer for 2 minutes. Switch off the flame. Serve warm withbread, chapathi's or rice.

To make the palak puree:
Blanch the washed palak in hot water for 2 minutes.  Drain the water and wash in cold water immediately. Puree the palak in a
blender into a smooth paste by adding little water.
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Friday Favorite Finds #131

I don’t know what it was about this week, but Christmas goodies started popping up all over blogs & Pinterest.  I took that as a reminder to start thinking about Christmas, but then promptly continued to enjoy fall & all the foods I love.  Don’t cut this season short by looking so far ahead to the next one… we’re just half-way through October!

{All images are from the original recipe source, and linked through Pinterest}

 

Butternut Squash & Lentil Pot Pie
{This is a perfect fall dinner – l’ve never combined squash & lentils,
but I think I’ll love it.  Thanks, Ella!}

 

Hummus
{Lindsay from Pinch of Yum posted a recipe for hummus! I can't wait to try this since it doesn't rely on sesame seed paste -- a great thing for me with all my food allergies!}

 

No-Bake Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies
{I love the combination of pumpkin & oats together, so these no-bake cookies look amazing! Toss in a few chocolate chips... oh my! Thanks Lisa at Once a Month Mom}

 

Apple Cinnamon Swirl Pumpkin Yeast Bread
{Love, love, love this idea. My favorite pieces of fall all in one slice of bread!
Emily – you rock.  }


If you like these recipes, pin the source of the recipe & NOT my blog!  If you click on the recipe images, you’ll be directed to Pinterest where you can repin the recipes.  The talented chefs that came up with these recipes deserve the credit and traffic, so, please, please pin the source!

What did you find this week?

Please link up to a post containing your list of recipes to try -- do not link up individual recipes, or recipes that you’ve already made, your links will be deleted.   Be sure to leave a link back here to Finding Joy in My Kitchen.

Also – don’t forget to say hello when you stop to visit one another’s finds.  Everyone always appreciates a comment.

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Giant Pumpkin Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie

Two weeks ago, my sister turned 25.

To celebrate her birthday, my family & I surprised her with a giant pumpkin cookie – topped with dark chocolate frosting {I had to try a small cookie just to make sure it was safe.  It was}. 

My sister was super surprised that we made this giant cookie and brought it to the pool where she was coaching her team of synchronized swimmers!

The cookie was fabulous; worked wonderfully as a large cookie.  The girls at the pool loved the cookie too. 

Giant Pumpkin Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie – Adapted from FJiMK

Ingredients

  • 2 1/4 C white whole wheat flour
  • 1 C quick cooking oats
  • 1 tsp. baking soda
  • 1 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 3/4 C unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/4 C applesauce
  • 1/2 C brown sugar {not packed}
  • 1/2 C sugar {slightly less works}
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 1 C sweet potato puree
  • 1 C dark chocolate chips or raisins
  • 1/2 recipe decadent dark chocolate frosting

Directions

Cream together 3/4 C butter along with 1/2 C brown sugar & 1/2 C white sugar.  Add in the applesauce and stir.  Then, add in 1 egg and 1 tsp. vanilla.  Finally, mix in 1 C sweet potato puree. 

Mix together 2 1/4 C white whole wheat flour, 1 C oats, 1 tsp. baking soda, 1 tsp. cinnamon, & 1/2 tsp. salt. 

Beat together the wet & dry ingredients.  Stir in chocolate chips or raisins. 

Spread the cookie into a lightly greased half sheet cake.  Alternatively – shape into a giant pumpkin! 

Bake at 325 for 20-25 minutes until cookie is set in the center and lightly browned. 

Allow the cookie to cool.

Then, cut into 40-ish bars. 

Frost with decadent dark chocolate frosting. 

Enjoy!

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Cinnamon Coconut Buns

Yesterday was World Bread Baking Day.  After missing my chance for last year, I was desperate to attend it this year.  Unfortunately whenever I try to bake for some important occasions, I experience these power load shedding, fuse gets burnt and finally no current for the whole day.  The same happened yesterday too, so I completed my bread after 8 p.m , which is not a good time for me to picture it, since I depend on natural light 100 percent.


So here I am posting my Cinnamon Coconut Buns today.  This might be just an ordinary coconut bun but I love the flavour of coconut in all food.  Whenever I use coconut in any sweet or dessert, normally I would like to flavour it with cardamom, this time for a change I used cinnamon.  Freshly baked bread always fills your home with a nice aroma, that too if you are having any flavours like cardamom, nutmeg or cinnamon in your bread, the aroma released from the bread is extraordinary. Go ahead, bake it and experience it.

Makes 1 medium sized loaf
Preparation Time: 20 minutes+ rising time
Cooking Time: 30- 40 minutes

Ingredients
All purpose flour- 500 g
Yeast- 4 tsp
Egg- 1
Milk-200 ml+ extra if needed
Butter - 1 tbsp
Sugar- 1 tbsp
Salt- 1 tsp

For the filling:
Fresh grated coconut- 150 g
Brown Sugar- 2 tbsp
Cinnamon powder- 1/2 tsp
Butter- 1 tbsp

For Egg wash:
Egg- 1
Vanilla essence- 1/2 tsp
Granulated Sugar- To sprinkle on top

Method:
Mix together the flour, salt, sugar and yeast in a large bowl. Make a well in the center, add the egg.  Heat the butter and milk together until the butter gets melted.  Add the milk mixture little by little into the flour mixture and start beating with a electric mixer with a dough tool until the dough holds together.
Turn the dough into a floured work surface and knead it well for about 5 minutes.  Place the dough in a clean oiled bowl, cover with a cling film or a warm tea towel and let it rise for 1 to 2 hours until it looks doubled in size.

Mean while start preparing the filling by melting the butter in a pan, then add the coconut and sugar.  Stir well until the sugar melts completely and gets incorporated with the coconut well.  Finally add the cinnamon powder, mix well and take it off from heat.

Once the dough looks raised, punch the air back, do not knead it too much.  Divide the dough into 5  equal rounds.  Roll one round into 8 cm length and 2 cm wide.  Place the filling in the middle and then roll it up.  For the remaining 4 rounds, roll each one into a circle of 8 cm diameter.  Apply the filling in the middle of the circle, fold it into  semi circle, again apply the filling on top, and then fold it again to form a triangle, repeat this with the remaining 3 rounds.

Grease and line a 8 cm round cake tin, place the circle in the middle and all the triangles on the sides.  Cover it loosely and let it rise for 20 minutes.  Preheat the oven to 220 degree Celsius.  For egg wash, beat together the egg and vanilla essence.  Brush the egg wash on top of the bread and sprinkle with granulated sugar on top.  Bake it in the preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes or until the top of the bread looks light brown in colour.  Take it out from the oven, cool it in the wire rack for 5 minutes, remove it from the tin and serve while they are still warm.

Note:
This bread doesn't have to be only in this shape, you can also make it like normal buns.  Just take a small ball flatten it, place the filling, cover the ball and again or any other creative shape too.

Linking this with World Bread Baking Day 2012


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