Beef and Portobello Burger with Asiago Cheese

Now here is some man food!  A burger.. but not just any burger, this is the ultimate burger. If you can find a burger lover that doesn't like this, I will... never mind...  it wont happen!

Burger (3 burger recipe)

1 lb ground beef

1/2 medium onion, finely diced

1/2 tsp garlic powder

salt and pepper (to taste)

1/4 tsp chili powder

1/3 cup BBQ sauce of your choice

Blend ingredients together evenly. Form into
Cook your favourite way.  BBQ is ideal.



Mushroom & Onion

3 large Portobello mushrooms
1 medium to large onion (sliced)
dash or two of garlic powder
oil or butter
salt & pepper

1.  Melt butter or heat oil in skillet, but keep on low heat
2. Add onions, salt and pepper, and garlic powder, cook until onions begin to brown.
3. Add mushroom tops to the pan, and cook for a few minutes, flip.. cook some more.


Putting it all together:

1. Place the mushroom cap/top on the heel of the bun.
2. Place desired cheese (or not) on the top of the mushroom.
3.  Add cooked burger patty on top of the cheese.
4.  Place the cooked onions on top of the burger.

Now dress the burger with any other desired topics

Now that's a burger, BE A MAN!

Creamy Garlic Hummus

My spin on an awesome dip/spread.  This dip is great with pita, or Indian naan, or even for dipping some fresh veggies.  Give it a try, you wont be disappointed.  Your guests will be asking for the recipe, I'm sure of it!   This would be vegan friendly if you use olive oil instead of mayonnaise.

1 can (540ml, 19fl oz) chick peas, drained
2-3 cloves garlic, minced well
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp tahini (sesame paste)
2 tbsp mayonnaise (or olive oil, this will make it Vegan friendly!)
1 tsp dried chives
salt and pepper

1. In a blender, (or Magic Bullet), add and blend all ingredients until smooth.  Add salt and pepper to taste.
2.  Enjoy it, because it's awesome!  BE A MAN!

Homemade Pancakes

I dont know about you, but my daughter LOVES her pancakes.  I used to use the instant complete mix, until I read the ingredients.  If I cant pronounce it, I'm not sure if I should be eating it.  Here is my pancake recipe, tastes great, and eveyone will be asking for more.

1 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3 tbsp sugar
1 cup milk
1 egg
3 tbsp oil


1.  In a medium bowl, mix all your dry ingredients.  I use my wire whisk to make sure it's mixed great.

2.  In a separate small bowl, mix egg, oil and milk.  I use my wire whisk here again to beat ti all together.

3.  Add the wet mix to the dry mix, and use the wire whisk to blend until smooth.

4.  Now, use your favourite griddle, frying pan, or cast iron skillet (the latter being my favourite), and heat and oil your selection.  Heat the pan nice and hot, but not so hot your oil in the pan burns.  Pour batter in.  It will form some air bubbles and will become dull around the outside edges when it's time to flip.  Keep an eye, these can cook fast.

5.  Add some butter or your favourite table syrup or maybe some fruit... its a beautiful thing!  Aunt Jemima might even cry.

Bon appetit!   BE A MAN!

The best Butternut Squash soup you've ever had!

This past summer, I grew some beautiful butternut squash in my garden.  Some soup was in order.  I checked my cupboards and checked my crisper, and found just what I needed.

2 butternut squash.. Peeled and cut up.
3 potatoes peeled and cut up.
5 carrots peeled and diced
2 stalks celery diced.
1 medium onion diced.
1 carton (900ml or about 30oz for my American friends) Campbell's vegetable soup broth.
3/4 cup half and half (10%)cream, or 18% cream.
3 tbsp butter
2 red peppers
1 yellow pepper.
Salt
Pepper
Ground ginger


1. Put squash, potato, carrots, onion and celery in large slow cooker or stock pot.
2. Add broth. Add butter. Top up with water til vegetables are just about covered.
Simmer on low for an hour or so. Or a few hours in crock pot on low to medium.
3. Put cooked vegetable/broth into blender (might take 2 or more time filling blender).
Blend til smooth. Pour back in pot. Add your cream. 

4.When all soup is blended/ puréed, add salt pepper and ginger to taste. Put back on stove on low.

Preheat oven to 400.

5.  Cut open peppers from top and remove core/seeds.
Brush with olive oil. Place on baking sheet, bake in oven until pepper skin starts to change to darker colour, about 30 mins or so.
6.  Take peppers out of oven, let cool for 10-15 minutes.  Peel the skin off them (should come off easily), then place in blender, and purée them. Add to soup.

Taste, add more salt... Taste.. Add more salt... Add more salt... Ahh... Perfect. Eat it up.  BE A MAN!

Boterkoek your Oma would approve of!

This is a fantastic recipe for Boterkoek, or Dutch "Butter Cake".  I dated a girl in highschool who was Dutch.  Her Oma made a killer boterkoek.  This is the best I can do to match it. 

2/3 cup salter butter - (let warm on counter so its not hard, or microwave 15 seconds)
1 cup sugar
1-1/2 tsp almond extract
1 egg
1-1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking powder

Pre-heat over to 350

1.  In a medium bowl, blend butter, sugar and almond extract.. use a fork, BE A MAN!  Mix until its totally blended into a creamy paste, if it gets too melty, put in fridge for a short time.
2. Beat your egg up in a second bowl, put about a teaspoon worth or so aside for later.  Mix egg into sugar/butter mixture.
3. Add flour, baking powder in a separate bowl, mix well, then add to main mix.  Mix well!
4.  Press "dough" into a glass pie plate, smooth out.  Some people like to drag a fork across it now to add some texture to the look. Totally your call.
5.  Add 1 tsp water to the little bit of egg you saved.  Mix it up real nice, and then brush it over the dough.
6.  Bake for approximately 30 minutes.  Cake should begin to brown, like my picture.

Take it out, let it cool... cut like a pie, and try to only eat one piece!

Vegan Chocolate Cake that everyone will love!

A while back, my wife was having sinus issues, and was trying to eliminate things for her diet to see if it would help. She went vegan.   At some point, an event came up, and a cake was needed..... And this is what I came up with after blending and perfecting all other recipes I found.

3 Cups Flour
2 Cups sugar
1/2 cup cocoa
1 tsp salt
2 tsp baking soda
2 tbsp white vinegar
1 tsp vanilla
2/3 cup oil
1-1/4 cup water
3/4 cup apple sauce.

Pre-Heat oven to 350.

1.  Blend dry ingredients in a medium to large bowl.  Blend well, we dont want to see and lumps of flour or cocoa.

2.  Add water, apple sauce, oil, vanilla and finally the vinegar.  Whisk together by hand, we don't need to use a powered mixer here... BE A MAN!

3.  Oil, and dust 9x14 cake pan with cocoa.  Pour in batter.

4.  Bake in over for 35-40 minutes, or until slightly firm and an inserted tooth pick comes out clean.

Enjoy!

I like to drizzle Agave Nectar on top (available at your local health food store) and then dust with powdered sugar!  Don't be scared of a cake with vinegar, its excellent.  This cake is safe for any vegetarian or vegan.