Multicultural Community Kitchens Christmas Potluck 2013

The multicultural community kitchens celebrated the last session of 2013 with a potluck at the Caring Place.

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It’s nice to see old and new faces as I have not been attending any of the multicultural community kitchens for more than a year. As usual, there are lots of food in the potluck.

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Appetizers: Octopus & Seaweed, Chicken Salad.

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Marinated Chicken, Gizzard & Egg; Funny Taste Chicken (aka Saliva Chicken). (more…)

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Drommar (Swedish Dream Cookies)

This is another shortbread cookies made in the South Arm Older Adults Cooking Club.

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This Swedish Dream Cookies are flavoured with almond extract and with added flaked coconut.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (more if you like almond flavour)
  • 1 cup flaked coconut

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Source: this recipe is adapted from epicurius.com

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Gina’s Perfect Shortbread

These Gina’s Perfect Shortbread is easy to work with. You can make them as balls or roll it out with rolling pin and cut into desired shapes. The chocolate chips act as a guide for how thick they could be.

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This shortbread isn’t overly sweet and the few chocolate chips add a little sweetness.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup unsalted butter
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups flour, sifted
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 to 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips (preferred)

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Chocolate Mendiants

A very merry Christmas to all chowtimes readers.

Christm-is-born

Michelle incorporated a chocolate treat in the South Arm Older Adults Cooking Club for the holiday theme session.

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These Chocolate Mendiants are fairly healthy treats to have at Christmas if you choose dark chocolate and have fruit and nuts on top.

Researchers have found links between dark chocolate consumption and reduced risk of heart problems. The protective benefit was only seen when chocolate contained at least 60 to 70% percent cocoa. (http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/heath/2012/01/dar-chocolate-for-a-healthier-heart)

Ingredients

  • Approximately 1 pound of dark or milk chocolate, roughly chopped (we used semi-sweet chocolate chips)
  • Assorted finely chopped dried fruit, chopped toasted nuts, seeds, sprinkles, etc (we used dried apricot, raisins, toasted pumpkin seeds and candied ginger)

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Banana Bread Cookies

This Banana Bread Cookies recipe is adapted from a recipe that came with ziploc containers.

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This Banana Bread Cookies are like muffin tops. They are great for the lunchbox.

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup milk and 2 tablespoons vinegar or 3/4 cup buttermilk
  • 3 medium ripe bananas
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 egg
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 1/2 cups flour (half whole wheat and half unbleached works well)
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 cup chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup oats

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You can use frozen bananas in this recipe. Just defrost overnight in the fridge or zap in the microwave for 30-60 seconds.

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Baked Apple Pancake

This recipe is a gift from Michelle to the South Arm Older Adults Cooking Club. It is her mom’s recipe and it’s her family tradition to make this Baked Apple Pancake on Christmas morning while the kids are busy opening their gifts.

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You can reduce the butter to 1/4 cup but it does change the consistency of the pancake slightly.

Ingredients

  • 6 eggs
  • 1 1/2 cups milk
  • 1 cup flour
  • 3 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt (only if using unsalted butter)
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 4 apples, peeled and thinly sliced
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons brown sugar

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Source: www.mintgreenapron.blogspot.com

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Hot Mulled Apple Cider

Michelle shared a Hot Mulled Apple Cider in the South Arm Older Adults Cooking Club. This is just perfect for the wintery weather.

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You can check out 10 surprising health benefits of cinnamon here.

Ingredients

  • 6 cups apple cider (we used apple juice)
  • 1/4 cup real maple syrup
  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • 6 whole cloves
  • 6 whole allspice berries
  • 1 orange peel, cut into strips
  • 1 lemon peel, cut into strips

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Source: allrecipes.com

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Apple Muffins

Michelle shared an Apple Muffin recipe in the South Arm Older Adults Cooking Club as apple is abundant and cheap now.

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This Apple Muffin is very moist and it does collapse after being remove from the oven.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup neutral oil
  • 1/4 cup applesauce
  • 3 eggs
  • 2 1/4 cups flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon table salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 cup apple cider or juice
  • 3/4 cup sour cream
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 medium apples, peel and grate

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Source: Earth to Table

Makes 12 muffins

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Kale Pesto Pasta

Michelle shared a Kale Pesto Pasta for the main course at the South Arm Older Adults Cooking Club.

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Here are some facts about kale that Michelle shared with us:

  • Kale has been cultivated for more than 2,000 years. Popular in Europe during Roman times and the Middle Ages, it arrived in the United States in the 17th century.
  • Kale belongs to the same family as cabbage, Brussels sprouts and collards.
  • Kale for snack. Kale chips are a nutritious, easy to make snack.
  • Kale is packed with antioxidants, which help neutralize harmful free radicals in the body. Some research suggests kale helps reduce the risk of certain cancers.
  • One cup of chopped raw kale provides more than 100% of the daily value of vitamins A, C and K.
  • For the best flavour, kale must be harvested after the first frost. This ensures some of the starches are turned into sugars.
  • Types of kales are differentiated by color (green, white, purple, or bluish green) and leaf shape.
  • Kale contains lutein, a type of carotenoid (an organic pigment) responsible for the plant’s color and nutrients. Lutein helps keep eyes and vision healthy. From Webmd.com.

Ingredients

  • 1 bunch lacinto kale or other kale or hearty green
  • 10 oil packed anchovies, optional
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • fresh ground black pepper
  • 1/3 cup mascarpone or heavy cream or soft cream cheese
  • 1 pound penne rigate
  • 1 cup frozen peas
  • parmesan cheese
  • 1 cup pasta water, to thin

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Source: this recipe is adapted from Gwyneth Palthrow’s My Father’s Daughter cookbook

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