National Pizza Pie Day

Change the filling into any combination you prefer on your pizza.

Pizza Pie

  • ½ lb mild salami, diced
  • 1 can pizza sauce
  • 2 onions, diced
  • 1 red pepper, diced
  • 1 cup mushrooms, sliced
  • 3 cups self rising flour
  • 1 tbsp butter
  • 1½ cup cheddar cheese, grated
  • 1 ½ cup milk
  • 1. Sift the flour into a bowl and mix in the butter. Stir in 1 cup of the cheese and then make a well in the centre
    2. Pour milk into the well and mix it all together to form a soft ball of dough.
    3. On a floured surface knead the dough lightly then roll out into a 15 inch round circle.
    4. Place the dough center in a round baking pan, with the sides draping evenly.
    5. In a bowl mix together the salami, vegetables and sauce. Spoon this into bottom of dough covered pan.
    6. Fold edges over into middle of dough leaving a small opening in the centre. Sprinkle with remaining cheese.
    7. Bake in middle of 400 degree F oven until risen and golden about 30-35 minutes.

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    National Molasses Bar Day

    Sugar coma here I come.

    Molasses Bar

    Makes 48 bars

  • 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1 cup applesauce
  • 1/3 cup light molasses
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 1/2 cup flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp allspice
  • 1/2 cup chopped nuts
  • 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
    2. In large bowl, cream brown sugar and butter until light and fluffy.
    3. Beat in applesauce, molasses and eggs until smooth.
    4. Add the remaining ingredients and blend well.
    5. Fold in nuts then spread evenly in ungreased 15″x10″ pan.
    6. Bake until toothpick comes out clean 20-25 minutes.

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    National Fettuccine Alfredo Day

    Feel free to omit the chicken and add shrimp or vegetables to this recipe.

    Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo

  • 1 1/2 Pounds of Chicken Breasts (boneless, skinless)
  • 1/8 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/8 tsp onion powder
  • pinch of black pepper
  • 24 ounces fettuccine
  • 1 cup butter
  • ¾ pint heavy cream
  • ¾ cup Romano cheese
  • ½ cup parmesan cheese
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil and spray with cooking spray.
    2. Mix together garlic, onion and pepper and season both sides of chicken before placing on pan. Cover chicken with more foil.
    3. Bake the chicken for 35 minutes then remove foil and continue baking another 15 minutes or until juices run clear. Let cool then cut into cubes.
    4. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente 8-10 minutes, drain.
    5. While pasta is boiling melt butter into the cream in medium saucepan over low heat. Add the salt and pepper.
    6. Increase heat to medium and add the cheese, stirring until melted. Add the chicken and stir until heated through.
    7. Add the pasta and thoroughly coated with sauce.

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    National…..wait…what….nothing?

    This is the one and only day out of 365 days that doesn’t have a National Holiday.
    So if you had the chance, what would you make it?

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    National Chocolate Fondue Day

    Fondue can be used as an appetiser, main course and of course dessert.  It’s one of the best ways to have people over without getting lost in the kitchen while great conversation happens without you.

    Chocolate Fondue

  • 8 oz. heavy cream
  • 12 oz. dark chocolate, chopped
  • optional: various flavour extracts like raspberry or almond to really add a great flavour.
  • cut up fruit, cookies, pretzels, etc. for dipping
  • 1. In a a saucepan over medium heat, warm the cream until bubbles begin to form.
    2. Add the chocolate and whisk constantly until completely melted and smooth.
    3. Transfer to a fondue pot and keep warm. Serve with accompaniments.

    Cheese Fondue

  • 4 cups old cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
  • 1 cup red wine
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch
  • 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
  • 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
  • cubes of bread, vegetables, cooked meats like ham, salami or sausage
  • 1. In a saucepan over medium heat, combine wine and vinegar.
    2. In a bowl toss the cheeses with the cornstarch.
    3. In small amounts add the cheese to the hot wine, stirring well and making sure it’s completely melted before adding more cheese.
    4. Transfer to a fondue pot and serve immediately with accompaniments.

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    Plant of the Week: Rheingold White Cedar

    Rheingold White Cedar (2)

    Growing 5 feet tall and 4 feet wide, Thuja occidentalis ‘Rheingold’ is a dense pyramidal evergreen shrub perfect for borders.  Its foliage has a fine, fuzzy appearance in a golden colour in the summer and a more coppery tone in the fall.

    The cedar prefers full sun to partial shade and moist soil types and should be protected from drying winds.

    Rheingold White Cedar

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    National Chocolate Fondue Day

    Chocolate Fondue

  • 4 oz. butter
  • 4 oz. margarine
  • 1.5 oz. unsweetened chocolate
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1 (12 oz.) can evaporated milk
  • 4 oz. condensed milk
  • 2 lbs. confectioners sugar
  • 2 cups raspberries, frozen, pureed
  • Cubes of fruit and cookies for dipping
  • 1. In the top half of a double boiler, place margarine, butter and unsweetened chocolate and let melt.
    2. When the butter has melted, stir in the milks and let cook for 10 minutes. Whisk sugar into chocolate stirring until well mixed.
    3. Stir in raspberries and vanilla and cook 10 more minutes.
    4. Remove from heat and place in fondue pot to keep warm. Happy dipping.

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    National Stuffed Mushrooms Day and National Homemade Soup Day

    Oh Man….these are so good!!!

    Stuffed Mushrooms

  • 12 large mushrooms
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 tbsp green onions, finely chopped
  • 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
  • ½ cup Cheddar cheese, grated
  • ¼ cup Romano cheese, grated
  • 3 tbsp butter, melted
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
    2. Remove stems from the mushrooms and finely chop approximately ½ of them.
    3. Heat oil in frying pan over medium and cook the stems, garlic and onions until soft about 4 minutes. Let cool.
    4. In a bowl mix together the vegetables, cheeses, seasonings and butter.
    5. Using this mixture stuff each mushroom cap till mounded on top. Arrange on baking sheet.
    6. Bake for 20-25 minutes until browned.

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    National Carrot Cake Day

    Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 3 cups grated carrots
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups white sugar
  • 2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
  • 1 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
  • ½ cup applesauce
  • 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and grease and flour a 9×13 inch cake pan.
    2. In a large bowl combine carrots, flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon.
    3. Stir in the eggs, oil, vanilla and applesauce. Pour batter into cake pan.
    4. Bake until toothpick inserted in centre of cake comes out clean 30-40 minutes. Let cool.

    Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 3 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
  • 1 (8 ounce) package Neufchatel cheese
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1 1/4 tsp vanilla
  • 1. In medium bowl beat together all the ingredients until smooth. Spread frosting on top of cake.

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    National Heavenly Hash Day

    Heavenly hash ice cream consist of marshmallows, nuts and pieces of chocolate. The term can also be used for any recipe with those ingredients or any recipe with a mishmash of ingredients. Which pretty much means everything can be called heavenly hash something.

    Heavenly Hash Brownies

    Makes 24 brownies

  • 1 cup butter
  • ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 4 eggs
  • 1-1/4 cups granulated sugar
  • 2 cups pecans, chopped
  • 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • ½ cup miniature marshmallows

    1. Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a 13X9-inch baking pan.
    2. Melt butter in 2-quart saucepan then stir in cocoa. Remove from heat; beat in eggs and granulated sugar.
    3. Blend in nuts, flour, vanilla and marshmallows. Spread batter evenly in prepared pan.
    4. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Let cool completely before cutting into squares.

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