Canadian Dessert that was supposed to be for night one, but became a snack during Day 2, oops! Nanaimo bars!

Just a quick post about the Nanaimo bars as I'm too busy scoffing them down to type;) Yum yum YUM!  My only "complaint" is that adding the chocolate to the top, you'll see when you read the recipe, makes them too sweet, even for me - once took that part off, I enjoyed them much more!  I'm loving learning about new foods and recipes!

Nanaimo bars are 3 layers, so by layer, you will need:

First layer:

• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 cups crushed graham cracker crumbs
• 1 cup shredded coconut
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

To start the bottom layer, grease a 9" pan.  Combine the butter, sugar, cocoa, egg, and vanilla in a medium sized sauce pan and heat on low, stirring continuously, until the mixture becomes thick.   Add the graham crackers, coconut, and walnuts to that mixture, stirring to combine, then pour into the pan, and press into the pan. 

 

For the second layer, you will need:

• 1/4 cup butter, melted
• 2 cups confectioner's sugar
• 2 tbsp instant vanilla pudding powder
• 3 tbsp 1% milk

Mix together all ingredients in a medium sized bowl and beat until creamy.

Spread this mixture over the graham cracker mixture.  

Refrigerate for one hour.  After that hour has passed, melt 1 tbsp of butter with 4 oz semi-sweet chocolate morsels in a small sauce pan - if you're better than me, you will take it off the heat before it gets too hard and be able to drizzle this mixture over the bars,  If you are like me, you will get distracted by Celeb Rehab on VH1 and let this mixture cook a little too much, and end up having to put the chocolate "drizzle" on more like crumbles;)

Refrigerate for another hour atleast, cut, and enjoy:)  Like I said, the chocolate on top is a little sweet for me, but I'm thrilled with the other 2 layers - I'm off to eat another one now:)   Thanks, Canada!

Chinese New Year is tomorrow? Darn, one night early! Night 2 of Olympic Meals - China!!

Melissa, how did you know?

Happy Saturday night!  Almost Valentine's Day for those that love Vday, almost Chinese New Year for those that love to celebrate that, and night 2 of the Olympics too!  Woohoo!  I've been very much looking forward to making this meal, as it includes one of my fave sides that I've written about before - fried rice - and because I'd be making the dish my husband always gets at our local Asian restaurant - Spicy Szechwan beef!

I've never had it before...so I always find it a little difficult and daunting when I taste it - is it right?  How do I tell? I just went with my gut and it turned out fabulously - the husband loved it and gave it a 10!!  Just be prepared to spend about an hour total cooking both of these items:)

For the beef, you will need:

• 1.5 lbs steak slices - I used meat that was already sliced for stew and cut it into thinner pieces
• tsp ground ginger, or 1/2 inch fresh ginger, finely chopped
• 4 tbsp soy sauce
• 1.5 tbsp rice wine
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 1 tsp granulated sugar
• 1 tsp ground Szechwan pepper *** I could not find this in my local grocery store, so I ended up using Szechwan packaged seasoning ***
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 large red pepper, cut into thin slices

Place the beef, cut into small pieces or thin slices in a large bowl.  Add the ginger, soy sauce, rice wine, sesame oil, sugar, Szechwan pepper or powder from packet (I used the whole packet for an extra kick), and salt.  Mix thoroughly and let meat sit in the marinade for atleast 20 minutes.  Add the red pepper to the mixture once the 20 minutes are up.

 

Heat a medium to large fry pan over high heat and add a tbsp of olive oil.  When the oil is ready to cook, add the beef mixture, including the marinade, and cook until the beef is cooked to your liking (for me, it was about 10 minutes).  I decided to also add cans, both drained, of water chestnuts and baby corns.  

I have to say, I love how this came out, and how well it paired with my fried rice I love to make.  The sauce in this dish thickened during the cooking process, which I was happily surprised about!  Also, when you first add the mixture to the hot oil, do not be surprised as there will be quite the sizzle - made me nervous for a sec!  

  

 

I, who rarely has seconds, enjoyed 2 helpings of this!  You might catch me go back for more late night if I get hungry...or maybe not, since this morning I made our Canadian dessert that I didn't have time to make last night - Nanaimo bars!  Check out that blog post too:)

Can't wait to see if the American mogul skiers can beat the Canadians, and if Apolo can win a medal in the 1500 and start his trek to have the most medals ever by an American in the Winter Olympics - go USA!

O Canada! Night 1 of the Olympics and Olympic-inspired meals!

Happy Friday night, everyone!  And happy first night of the Olympics!  I hope everyone takes a moment to think about and pray for the family of the Georgian luger that lost his life today:(

On a happier note, tonight starts what I've been so excited for - meals inspired by Winter Olympic Countries!   I've really enjoyed the research I've done so far, and I'm hoping all of these meals turn out alright!  Please Please PLEASE provide tips and feedback, and if I make a meal from your country incorrectly, let me know:)

Night 1: Canada!  Poutine and Meatpie!


Meatpie, have made it a bunch of time, no problem, but always thought it was French...well doing research, found out it's Canadian, but I would guess French Canadian:)  But first, let's start with Poutine.  As soon as I told the husband my idea to do these Olympic meals, his first request was Poutine.  I have to say, I took the easy road on this one as I kept finding recipes asking for cheese curds...what the heck are cheese curds??  Anyways, this was super easy and the husband loved them and ate the whole tray!  Success!  All you need is:

• bagged french fries - I used about a 1/4 of the bag since it's just the 2 of us and it was just an appetizer
• one jar of homestyle beef gravy
• parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 450.  Bake fries at 450 for 15 minutes, or until they are to your liking.  At the same time, heat gravy in a sauce pan over medium heat, covered.  Once the fries are cooked thru, remove them from the oven, cover with the gravy, and then cover both with parmesan cheese.  Place the fries back in the oven with the mixture on top and bake an additional 5 minutes, or until cheese slightly melts.  NOTE - I used grated parm cheese - I would suggest, and next time I would try, shredded parm cheese, because I think it will melt better:)

 

  

Now, the main dish, a favorite in my family, meatpie!  So easy and so yummy!  I can't remember if I've blogged about this before, but if I have worth, so what, it's worth repeating:)  You will need:

• 1 lb hamburg
• 1/2 lb ground pork
• 1/2 lg white onion, grated or cut into bite sized pieces
• 3-4 large potatoes, peeled, and made into mashed potatoes 
• 2 ready-made pie crusts

Cook hamburg, ground pork, and onion in a medium fry pan, sprayed with Pam, over medium high heat until meat is cooked thru.

At the same time, make your mashed potatoes.   Once both are made, combine the potatoes and meat into a large bowl and mix together.

Place one of the pie crusts into the pie plate, and dish the meat/potatoes mixture into that crust.  Cover with the 2nd crust and bake at a pre-heated 400 degree oven for about 30 minutes, or until the top crust is browned to your liking.  I like to eat it plain like this, some people, I won't mention any names, cover it with ketchup, which I think is "nasty."  But to each their own;)

Yay!  So happy to be off on this adventure!  Now if only I was an actual Olympian...I can't skate, or ski, or bobsled though....curling?  Maybe next time!  

See you all tomorrow night for night #2!!  Which country do you think will be next??  Oh and I'm hoping to get up enough energy while watching these wonderful Opening Ceremonies to make Nanaimo bars!  If not, early tomorrow;) 

CCC is back - Aruba pics, a restaurant review, and what's coming up!

Bon Bini, everyone!   So the husband and I are back from Aruba - tanned, well sort of tan for me, rejuvenated, and ridiculously in love, even moreso than before if that is possible:)  It was one of the best trips of my life and I can't wait to go back someday!  From the amazing food and drink, to basking in the Aruban sun, or under a palapa reading Revolutionary Road, to Carnivale, to etc etc etc ;)  Here are some of my fave pics:

 

  

  

  

  

 

  

  

 

So, more than a few, I apologize;)  

I must say I was pleasantly surprised, even thrilled, with Aruba.  All of the people were so nice and helpful, the weather was perfect, as there was always a breeze, and the Aruba Ariba's, ahh!  You never know how it's going to be going to a new place, especially one you had reservations about, but I'm glad I put those aside and went - best and most relaxing vaca of my life:)

I wish we had more time for everything - more sightseeing, more excursions, but especially more restaurants!  There were restaurants everywhere, and we only got to a sample a few.  I'm going to talk about one below - definitely let me know if you have questions, or if you have been there before too and want to add your two cents:)

• El Gaucho - http://www.elgaucho-aruba.com/  - definitely make a reservation ahead of time!  Very large restaurant with very nice, Argentine-feeling decor.  The mood is set by a wonderful mariachi pair, and the wonderful sound of people having a great time!  We started off with their complimentary garlic bread (much better than the garlic bread we had the night before at Gianni's) and their "appetizer" ribs - seemed more like a meal to me!

10 huge ribs, dipped in their awesome sauce = heaven!  I was full already, and I only had 3!  But, next came our wonderful meals, and might I say the drinks/app/dinner/dessert were spread out so nicely, we never felt like they were pushing anything at us.  But back to the meals - the husband had a huge rib eye with mashed potatoes, broccoli, and corn on the cob - not a huge fan of the sides, but the rib eye, he says, was the best he's ever had!  I had a beef tenderloin with fries, corn on the cob, and my fave, fried plantains - I loved mine, loved it, but I must say I enjoyed my tenderloin the week earlier at Grill 23 a little bit more, like maybe 5 points more, based really on the seasoning.  Still, loved it, and would definitely eat it again!  

Dessert  = flan topped with coconut - so good, but too big for me to finish!  Must have been all that other stuff;)

As you can see, we really enjoyed this restaurant because of the food and the overall atmosphere!  I would give it 9 out of 10 stars!!  Like I said, I would definitely eat this again, but most likely would try something else just to have more to rate the restaurant as a whole on!

What's next for CheyCanCook?  The Olympics!  Starting this Friday night 2/12, I'll post about the different, country-themed meals I'm making in accordance with the Olympics, and some facts to go along with it - I can't wait - for the Olympics AND the food:)  I hope this work!  I'm working on finishing up the menu tonight...but am a little stuck on Russia - any suggestions??

Glad to be back!  Now to catch up on all of YOUR blogs:)