Valentines Menu

I do like to go out for dinner, but I also liketo stay in for special dinners and try arecipe I wouldn't usually try. This year the menu is going to sound funny, but I have been wanting to try this recipe and have been waiting because it takes a LOT of cheese making it expensive and hard on the waist line. I find a lot of recipes from American chefs are expensive because in the states cheese, meat and alcohol are much cheeper than Canada. For example this recipe takes a total of one and half lb of cheese, making it about $15 alone on cheese.
Anyways I am making Spicy Macaroni and Cheese by Chef Sunny Anderson, which I saw her make on " The Thing I ever Made-Comfort Food".
The recipe also take whip cream and half and half, I am sure there are a lot of substitutions you could make, but as it is Valentines day I am sticking to the list. The total cost for the recipe is probably about $20-25 which isn't bad as it will feed 3 of us plus leftovers (maybe?) so still cheeper than eating out.

For Desert we are having Pineapple Upside Down Cake, which is something I love, but have never made. I got the:)

Funny to make Macaroni for Valentines day, but its what both my boys love and I think it will be tasty. I should post a review and photo tomorrow.

Pizza Chili

I got this recipe fro the "Make it Fast, Cook it Slow" cookbook by Stephanie O'dea, so if you like it check out her other recipes in her books or website, A Year of Slowcooking.

Ingredients
1 lb ground beef (browned)
1 jar (500 ml) Pizza/Pasta sauce
1 can(14 oz) Diced or crushed tomatoes
1 can kidney beans (I drained and rinsed them)
Pepperoni-I used two links from the deli, but you could use more. I cut them length wise into 1/4 s and then chopped them into tiny pieces, mostly for the flavor. I used regular because of Lochlan, but you could use spicy if you like.
1 Bell Pepper (any colour), chopped
2 t Italian seasoning (or your own blend of Basil and Oregano
1 C water (optional)

Shredded Mozzarella for serving.

Combine first 7-8 ingredients (I used crushed tomatoes so I did not add the water, I think it would also depend how thick your pizza sauce is, so it’s your call). Cook in your slow cooker on low for 5-8 hours.

Serve in bowls and mix 1/4 of shredded cheese into each bowl.
So easy yet so tasty, plus lots of room for improvising.
Enjoy!

Note: Another Pizza recipe that is a big hit in our house (and any house we take it to ) is the Pizza dip recipe from Eat Shrink and Be Merry, which is another staple cookbook in my kitchen.

A new Christmas tradition Rock Buns

A few years ago I purchased The Gentle Art of Domesticity *by Jane Brocket (at the recommendation of my friend Jill on a post I cannot now find on her blog) as a gift for  Mary, my husband's mother and a good friend of mine (I dislike the term Mother-in-law).  Mary and I love this book , because it is all about crafting and creature comforts.

One of these such things is Rock Buns, which have now become a seasonal treat in our house that are much enjoyed warm out of the oven with a glass of scotch.

They are sort of like scones or a giant cookie made with candied fruit and peel, and lots of spices. They are nothing like fruit cake, but are very rich and sweet (made with brown sugar), our whole family loves them.

All that being said I am not going to post the recipe, because I feel they are a unique recipe (maybe only in Canada) and needs to go along with the story in her book of the place they have in their (the authors) family.

My own mother visited Mary and discovered the book as well and so I sent her a copy last Christmas.
Recently I purchase Jane's newest book Turkish Delight And Treasure Hunts  for Mary's birthday, which features recipes from children's books. I have not read it yet, but Mary says it is quite cute. I did take a peak and the first recipe was Pickled Limes from Little Woman, which I have always been curious about and am dying to try.

*Note: If you do purchase this book, beware that when converting the recipes from English to American measurements there were some errors made and you should print a copy of the corrections .