Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies for kids

Halle mixing up the dough

 This recipe is so easy especially for children.  You don't need
special equipment as the cookie dough can be mixed by hand
using soft butter. I hope you enjoy!

 Yield 38-40 cookies

Jaida and Halle ....our little chefs today

Recipe

¼ lb. soft butter (½ cup)
½ cup brown sugar
½ cup white sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 large egg
1 tsp. Vanilla
1 1/4 cup  large oat flakes
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2  tsp. Salt
1 cup of chocolate chips or more (when baking with kids use more chocolate chips...they love it)

Cream butter and sugars together. 

Add the egg and vanilla and continue to mix well.

Add all the dry ingredients and mix until it forms into cookie dough

Add chocolate chips and mix in.

Portion out cookies onto a parchment lined baking sheet. 

The kids used a teaspoon to portion out the cookie dough.

Bake cookies at 350° for 8-10  minutes.

Simple Pork Fried Rice compliments of Will & Dave

This is an authentic fried rice recipe compliments of Will's Mom, Mrs. Chong. Watching Will create this for dinner was a real treat and believe me it is delicious.

Will whipped up a batch of 'Old Fashioned' cocktails for the chefs

Sauce:
2 tbsp. Soy sauce (or Tamari)
1 tbsp. Honey
White pepper - dash
1 tsp. Sesame oil
2 tbsp. water

4 cups cooked jasmine rice
3 green onions - diced
2 eggs
1 cup Chinese bbq honey pork* (Char Sui) optional but delicious
1/2 Chinese style sausage* (substitute thick cut bacon)
Bean Sprouts
2 shallots
3 cloves garlic

1) Use leftover rice or cook rice as per instructions and allow to cool to room temperature.  Will suggest that you cook the rice in advance in the morning and cool for dinner that night.

2) Combine ingredients for sauce

3) Heat oil and brown aromatics (shallots/garlic)

3) Add rice and combine with aromatics

4) Once rice is hot and steaming, add sauce and meat

5) Create a hole in the middle of the wok by pushing rice to the outside of the pan. Crack eggs and allow yolks to cook whole for a minute

6) Mix eggs into rice and add green onion and sprouts

7) Remove from heat shortly thereafter and serve

* Will says that the pork can be bought at 'T&T Supermarket' or anywhere in China Town

Meat Loaf Spaghetti Sauce for Linda

Linda is working late tonight and I have the perfect, easy sauce to make when she comes over for a late dinner.  Tonight I have picked a 3 meat loaf mix from Queensdale Market in upper Lonsdale        that combines the best of the beef, pork & veal.  This combination is not necessary but it sure is delicious.

Linda and Hudson

400 gr ground meat....your choice... but the best blend is the meat loaf mix from Queensdale market 3030 Lonsdale Ave in North Vancovuer.  They make this special blend in store and it is perfect for meatloaf and spaghetti sauce.
3 tbsp. avocado oil
1/2 large onion
4 garlic cloves
1 large carrot - diced small
1/2 cup sun dried tomatoes
1 large ripe field tomato - chopped
1 can tomato paste ( 5.5 oz)
3 cups chicken or beef stock + more if you want a thinner sauce
salt & papper to taste
1 tbsp. white sugar

Saute onions and garlic in oil first and then add the ground meat.  Continue to saute until the meat is semi cooked and in smallish chunks.
Add the carrot, tomato, sundried tomato, tomato paste, salt & pepper. Continue to cook.
Add the white sugar and dilute the sauce as much as you want with the stock. Continue to cook to reduce.  Just before serving add more stock to thin down the sauce if desired, then bring it up to the boil again.  Turn off the heat and serve over your choice of pasta.  Yummy and enjoy!

West Coast Strength & Movement with Phil Wittmer

It's not all about building muscle bulk and daily training to look better....with Phil Wittmer, co owner West Coast Strength & Movement. It's more about your health and fitness for life...no fads, no gadgets...just lets start with the basics of movement, core and strength.  No judgement, no 'i told you so's', just an honest, basic routine designed to help me regain mobility and strength with my injured knee. 

In March I was walking across the street after a hockey game and my knee gave out. Yes a tad bit of wine was involved, but regardless I tore my ACL & meniscus in the left knee and I was in a brace and had a crutch even while travelling Australia and Bali....not fun. When returning I met with a young Orthopedic surgeon who said my knee was already compromised with arthritis and now with the injury I had to throw away the crutch and get on with strengthening my knees and work on my gait.  Enters Phil Wittmer, a professional trainer and movement expert and one of the kindest, gentlest souls.  He designed a program for me that will be easy for me to do at home that starts with basic core  & balance work and then the routine focuses on my knees to slowly and carefully build up my strength & mobility again.  Thank you Phil and here we go. 
Thanks for joining me and I will keep you posted.

Cinnamon Biscuits for 'Deez Balls'

There is no better way to feed a hungry bunch of ball players than to whip up a batch of my famous cinnamon biscuits.  Easy to make, and delicious as always. Good luck today Deez Balls....and have fun. Click here to go to my original recipe.  Thanks for joining me...enjoy! 

Click here to go to the complete recipe.

Fresh rhubarb from the Cariboo for Strawberry Rhubarb Pies

 Strawberry Rhubarb pies are the best summer treat especially when you can pick the rhubarb fresh.  Maggie & Roddy have a rhubarb patch at their cabin at Greenlake (south east of 100 mile house) and how delicious the rhubarb will be, combined with strawberries to make pies to take to a dinner party.
For a complete recipe for these pies and the best pastry ever, click here to follow this link.  Thanks for joining me and please enjoy!

Greenlake in the Cariboo 

Delicious, pineapple dream cake for the best Calgary Stampede party.

OMG  it can't get any easier than this for a crowd pleasing, delicious cake.  My friend Carol from Calgary found this recipe and shared it with me...wow is all I can say. It is a perfect addition to a Stampede Party at the in-laws. Thanks Karen and Todd for the best Stampede party ever!

Cake ( I know what you are thinking....a cake mix but it works)
1 yellow (golden) cake mix
1 can crushed pineapple
1/2 cup veg oil
4 eggs

Beat eggs first. Add oil, cake mix and crushed pineapple. Beat again until well mixed.
Pour into a well greased 9X13 cake pan. Bake for 25 minutes at 350 degrees. Let cool completely before icing with the topping below.

Topping
I cool whip 1L
1 can crushed pineapple
1 pkg. instant vanilla pudding (small)
Mix together well.

When the cake is completely cool ice the cake with the topping and cool until ready for serving. This cake tastes so much better when made the day ahead..
Yummy is all that I can say.