Pork Souvlaki Wraps

Pork Souvlaki Wraps

My family and I love wraps. You can put so many healthy fresh ingredients in them! Everyone can make them how they like them.  I buy my meat from Costco, since it`s already seasoned. The taste is amazing. Eventually I would love to find a recipe and make my own spiced Souvlaki.

You can bbq the meat, fry it or even bake it. What we did this time is, we put a little olive oil (3 table spoons roughly) in a frying pan and seared the sides for approx. 5 minutes on each side to caramelize them. We then baked it in the oven on 350F for roughly 40 minutes. (until cooked, each oven is different). By searing the sides you make the meat taste better. also reduces the cooking time in the oven. Once cooked we sliced into thin pieces. Then we placed them on wraps with all of our favourite toppings. Next we took our fresh mushrooms (that we washed obviously) and added a bit more olive oil in the juice's left over from searing the meat. also adding some salt and pepper to the mix. When the mushrooms are almost cooked (browned) we added the peppers and other veggies if we wanted since the ideas vary.  we cooked till they are fully done (again till they are browned all over).  When the meat is cooked then begin to assemble our wraps. (You don't have to cook the veggies in the left over juices, just adds a lot of flavour to the veggies. you can add anything to your likings salt, pepper etc.) we did our normal order including cheese first then meat and then the veggies. We then added our favourite sauce of choice. Fold the wraps and enjoy! These are great for the summer!
I find this a quick and easy dinner to make!

Ingredients

Pork either seasoned you marinated it with or pre bought seasoned pork.
olive oil
wraps
mushroom's
peppers
cheese
lettuce
sauce- creamy garlic, or you can have Tzatziki sauce which is a great sauce with pork.


                                                           Meat cooked and sliced

                                                  
                                                       Mushrooms and peppers cooked

                 
                                                wrap assembled with meat and toppings

                                                                           Enjoy!
                                     

Banana Walnut mini breads

Banana mini breads with walnuts

One of my favourite quick recipes is my mini banana breads. I make them with walnuts and without walnuts. Depends if you want them or not.  Tonight I made them with walnuts.
My son saw the nice ripped perfect bananas and asked if we could make them.  So here we are lol, good thing we had enough to just make 8.  If you are making anything to do with a banana recipe it is so important to wait until your bananas are slightly browning because that's when you get the best flavours. I actually go to the clearance at the back of the store when I am making a major batch and get them that way because they are perfect. When I go through baking spurts its usually for several people. So I need to make a lot.  If you are in a hurry and only have green bananas that ok, just add more sugar after everything is mixed.  Add small amounts until you are happy with the taste. Also you can make a whole big loaf of banana bread just cook it all in one pan.  I just love this pampered chef mini stone because the sizes are perfect for my kids to pull out of the freezer and cut into small pieces to have a snack.  And its so much healthier knowing what my kids are eating. They would rather have this than junk, so that makes me feel so much better as a parent having some control over what they eat.  A big hit for breakfast or lunches at school, or a quick evening snack. I also use margarine in pretty much all my recipes.  Don't use the cheap stuff, does not turn out well at all.  I have been using the kind from Costco for 10 years now and won't use anything else.  Its called Golden Gate Crystal margarine. Not sure if its sold anywhere else. Once I tried the cheap no name stuff and threw out so many cookies was terrible. I wont bake and give it away unless I am completely happy with it. Use a higher priced margarine in the grocery store if you aren't a Costco member.

Also you can add 2 cups of chocolate chips instead of nuts to this recipe.  They taste yummy with chocolate in them as well.
I have tried other kinds of nuts like pecans but find walnuts taste the best with bananas.

Recipe

Pre-heat oven to 350F

Ingredients

3 ripped bananas
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1tsp. salt
2 cups walnuts, chopped into pieces

1) Blend together the bananas, butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla.  Mix well. Then add in the flour, baking soda and salt. When everything is well mixed add the walnuts, gently mix.
2) Make sure your pan is lined with butter so the banana bread mixture doesn't stick to the pan.
3) Poor in mixture until it fills the pan half way.
4) Cook for 30 minutes. 
5) Check with a tooth pick if clean then its done if not then cook for a couple minutes longer.
6) When cooked put on cooling rack to cool.

                                                     Batter with everything mixed

 

 

 

                                                     Stone half filled with batter

                                                      Bread cooling on rack

Enjoy hot with a nice cold glass of milk, a tea or coffee. Or you can wait until it cools, still tastes amazing. I also put them in freezer bags and freeze them.

Please if you try and of my recipes give me your feedback on how you liked them and maybe how you improved on them.

I hope you enjoy them as much as we do! This is one I make often and is a family favourite.

Steak Sandwiches

On Father`s Day instead of having the normal bbq steak with sides. I figured we would do steak on a bun! Having so many of us with different likes and dislike can get so crazy, so I know what everyone likes I figured I would keep things simple and use all the ingredients we like.
There are so many different kinds  of marinade out there for meats! I use several but the one I am posting is simple and most people have these staples in their homes in a regular basis!

The steak I choose to use was Rib Steak Cap Off . Of course you can use what ever cut of steak you want, keep in the mind the cheaper the cut the tougher the meat is so you want to marinade it longer like 48 hours, the more expensive the cut I do 24 hours.

                                                      
                                                                Rib Steak Cap Off

 

Marinade for Rib Steak cap Off

Ingredients                                                                     Ingredients for steak sandwiches

4 rib steaks -not frozen                                                                fresh buns
fresh garlic                                                                                   fresh mushrooms
ground pepper                                                                              fresh peppers
ground sea salt                                                                             cheese
olive oil                                                                            corn on the cob, or salad
bbq rub seasoning                                 

In a bowl add 1/3 cup of olive oil, then add 3 teaspoons garlic, can use half the garlic if you want as well. Stir mixture.
Rub the bbq rub seasoning onto both sides of the steak. Grind your salt and pepper over both sides of the steak as well, I like using fresh salt and pepper makes a big difference on taste. All about your personal preference on the amount. Then baste the olive oil and garlic mixture over each side of the steaks. You don't want it dripping wet just a as long as you coast the whole steak on both sides. Put into a container and refrigerate for 24 to 48 hours.

 

 

                                                                 Steaks Marinated

Mushrooms & Peppers

In a frying pan turn heat on high and add 2 tbsp. of olive oil add some fresh garlic like 1-2 tsp. After you cleaned and cut mushrooms throw into pan when the oil is hot. Of course all the prep work should be done before hand to make things easier. Season mushrooms with salt, pepper and any seasoning you like. I added a tbsp. of seasoning salt as well. Mix well, until mushrooms are almost done, then add the peppers.  I used red peppers, again you can use what ever colours you want. Add a bit more seasoning after u taste it when almost done if you like.  A lot of people like to add other toppings like fried onions and tomato's, lettuce feel free, I have picky kids oh and me some what picky too lol so I made them this way. You want to leave a little bit of hardness or bone to the peppers, turn the heat on low and stir until they are done.


                                                              Mushrooms & Peppers

Start bbq and cook your steaks to what ever you desire. You can add bbq sauce if you like as well, we left that as a side. When the steaks are done cut them into strips and then assemble on your bun with all your favourite toppings. We had corn on the cob for our side.  These are very filling so I didn't make to many sides.



                                                                  Finished Product

I really hope its another way you can try your steak and hopefully enjoy like we do. Good luck!

Birthday Cakes!

Thanks to pinterest.com, I love to see what other people make and post so it can give me ideas that I can use. I made the famous kit-kat bar cake with chocolate m&m's on top for my son's 12th birthday. What a huge hit with the kids and yes sugar rush lol! Also made the famous piggy cake for my daughter's 15th birthday! We had so much fun making this cake.  Her friends loved it! I figured I would try and make some chocolate bar cakes of my own! So I made my husbands birthday cake with coconut and bounty bars and for my son's 20th birthday we made a twix bar with skor pieces.  These cakes are all very easy to make, don't have to be a professional cake baker because I am certainly not! But they all turned out great! Also on a tight budget these cakes are less than an ice cream cake or even the ones you buy in the store and the kids love them! The chocolate bars are cheap at the dollar store, we paid .69 cents. Not a bad price at all. You have to try one of these cakes or come up with your own chocolate bar cakes. Enjoy!

Ingredients for cake mix

cake mix
3 eggs
oil  (olive oil)
water

Follow the directions on  the cake mix box
I use 9" cake pans u can also use 8" pans.

Also a little hint to keep your cake soft and moist is I use olive oil in all my cakes, makes a huge difference.

I also am a big fan of Duncan Hines cake mix. That's what I use! Or you can make your own cake mix from scratch.


            For this cake you will need 1 box chocolate cake mix, cook as instructed on box. let cook then decorate. It takes 12 kit-kat chocolate bars. Then you will need some chocolate m&m's as many as you want.  Chocolate icing. Icing the first layer and then add second layer of the cake, icing that.  I keep my chocolate bars in the fridge, helps when you handle them.  I add a small amount of icing on the back and  start lining them across the cake.  You can add a bow to keep it altogether but you don't' have to. Then add the m&m's on once the bars are all set in place.

 

 

Kit-Kat & M&M cake

 

Ingredients

 

1 box 2 layer chocolate cake mix, follow directions on back

2 containers of chocolate icing

12 kit-kat bars

chocolate m&m's at least 1 cup or more

ribbon if u want

 

 

                                                                                               

 

If you would like this cake you will need a box of chocolate cake mix follow the directions on back for cooking instructions. Chocolate icing. The piggy's were made out of homemade fondant which is way better than the stuff you buy In the store. I have recipe posted under the this picture so you can make them as well.  Its very easy to make and tastes like marshmallows. When cake is cooled you icing the first layer, then add the 2nd layer and  icing that as well. Then you will add the kit-kat bars around the sides of the cake, putting a small amount of icing on the back.  Again I keep my chocolate bars in the fridge. Then add the little piggy's and your ribbon. Making the little fondant pigs were a lot of fun!

                                                         
                                                                  Kit-Kat & Piggy Cake

 

                                                                        Ingredients

                                                    1 box of 2 layer chocolate Cake mix
                                                      2 containers of chocolate icing
                                                                   12 kit-kat bars     
                                                   1 bag miniature marshmallows (white)
                                                                       icing sugar
                                                                    food colouring 
                                                                             ribbon

 

 

Marshmallow Fondant recipe

Ingredients:

• 8 ounces miniature marshmallows (4 cups not packed, or half of a 16-ounce bag)
• 1 pound powdered sugar (4 cups), plus extra for dusting
• 2 tbsp. water
• Food coloring or flavored extracts, optional

  Dust your counter or a large cutting board with powdered sugar. Place the marshmallows and the water in a large microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high for 1 minute, until the marshmallows are puffy and expanded.
2. Stir the marshmallows with a rubber spatula until they are melted and smooth. If some unmelted marshmallow pieces remain, return to the microwave for 30-45 seconds, until the marshmallow mixture is entirely smooth and free of lumps. If you want colored or flavored fondant, you can add several drops of food coloring or extracts at this point and stir until incorporated. If you want to create multiple colors or flavors from one batch of fondant, do not add the colors or flavors now. Instead, refer to step 6 below for instructions.
3. Add the powdered sugar and begin to stir with the spatula. Stir until the sugar begins to incorporate and it becomes impossible to stir anymore.
4. Scrape the marshmallow-sugar mixture out onto the prepared work surface. It will be sticky and lumpy, with lots of sugar that has not been incorporated yet--this is normal. Dust your hands with powdered sugar, and begin to knead the fondant mixture like bread dough, working the sugar into the marshmallow with your hands.
5. Continue to knead the fondant until it smoothes out and loses its stickiness. Add more sugar if necessary, but stop adding sugar once it is smooth--too much sugar will make it stiff and difficult to work with. Once the fondant is a smooth ball, it is ready to be used. You can now roll it out, shape it, or wrap it in cling wrap to use later. Well-wrapped fondant can be stored in a cool room or in the refrigerator, and needs to be kneaded until supple before later use.
6. If you want to add coloring or flavoring to your fondant, flatten it into a round disc. You might want to wear gloves to avoid getting food coloring on your hands during this step. Add your desired amount of coloring or flavoring to the center of the disc, and fold the disc over on itself so that the color or flavor is enclosed in the center of the fondant ball.
7. Begin to knead the ball of fondant just like you did before. As you work it, you will begin to see streaks of color coming through from the center. Continue to knead until the streaks are gone and the fondant is a uniform color. Your fondant is now ready to be used or stored as outlined above.

                                                                                                               

 

For this cake you will need 1 box of a 2 layer cake mix. Follow the baking directions on the box. When the cake is cooled completely you will icing the first layer of cake. Add coconut over the icing, then add second layer of the cake and finish off icing the cake. Add the coconut again on the top layer over the icing. Then take your bounty bars with a small amount of icing on the back and stick them on the cake.  I always keep my chocolate bars in the fridge.

                                                             Bounty Bar/Skor Bar Cake

                                               

 

Ingredient's

 

1 box 2 layer chocolate cake mix



2 containers of chocolate icing

2 bags of shredded coconut

6 - 7 bounty bars with 3 pieces

 

 

                                                                                                                          

 

For this cake you will bake a 2 layer white cake and let it cool completely.  On the first layer you will icing. Then you will add skor pieces over the chocolate icing. Then you will add the 2nd layer and finish icing. Add the rest of the skor pieces. Take the twix bars and add some icing to the back and stick them on the cake around the outside. Make sure you keep the bars in the fridge.


                                                                  Twix/Skor bar cake

 

Ingredient's

 

1 box white 2 layer cake mix

2 container's of chocolate icing

1 bag of skor pieces

5 pkgs of twix bars 

 

Chocolate Chip Cookies

I am a big fan of this chocolate chip recipe. This one is definitely not a healthy one lol, but so yummy! I really like this one because they stay soft and chewy for several days after you make them.  Even after freezing them they are still delicious.
I always wondered when I saw the Pillsbury chocolate chip commercial how they got completely round cookies lol, because when I first started baking mine certainly weren't all nice and round. When I purchased my melon balls scoops I used a medium size and perfectly round cookies. I now figured out how it was done. Also baking on baking stones makes all the difference. Took me a number of years to figure out what tools I needed to help my all my baking and cooking needs successfully.  I always use a Kitchen Aid Mixer to mix everything! Just because its a brand name cookie recipe you don't have to use brand name baking products! They all taste the same using brand name or no name ingredients!

Hershey Chipits Chocolate Chip Cookies


Ingredients:

Shortening
Brown sugar
Granulated sugar
eggs
vanilla
all-purpose flour
baking soda
salt
Chocolate chips

Pre-heat oven to 375F (190C)

1) Cream together 1 cup (250ml) shortening, 1 cup (250ml) firmly packed brown sugar and 1/2 cup (125ml) granulated sugar.

2) Beat in 2 eggs and 2tsp (10ml) vanilla.

3) Combine 2 cups (500ml) all-purpose flour, 1 tsp. (5ml) baking soda and 1 tsp. (5ml) salt.

4) Blend mixture well.

5) Stir in 2 cups (500ml)  semi-sweet chocolate chips.

6) on an ungreased cookie sheet or stone drop from small spoon or melon ball scoop an inch apart.

Bake at 375F (190C) for 10-12 minutes.  Remove and let cool on a cooling rack
Makes about 6 dozen cookies.

                                                                Dough after its mixed

                                                What they look like using medium scoop

                                                                        Final product

Enjoy with a cold glass a milk! Nothing like a cookie right out of the oven! I hope you enjoy these and much as my family and I do!

Canada Day is coming soon. Last year I made flag cookies to celebrate our holiday! This recipe is actually a Pampered Chef recipe! Its very easy and so yummy!  I decorated them with my own creativity!  Yes I am a Canadian, but these flag cookies can be turned into any country to celebrate their holidays as well!

Ingredients

2 cups butter, divided
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 pkg (510/515g 2-layer size) white cake mix

Steps:

1) Preheat oven to 350F/180C.
2) Microwave 1 cup/250 ml butter on high 1 minute or until melted.
3) slice remaining butter into the melted butter.
4) Measure flour into large bowl, add cake mix and blend together well.
5) whisk in butter until smooth.
6) Sprinkle some flour on counter and roll put dough, cut into shapes using flag cookie cutter.

If dough is to soft, wrap in saran wrap and chill for an hour.

Bake 15-17 minutes or until golden brown
Cool completely
decorate

I used white icing over entire cookie
then I sprinkled red sprinkle candies on the sides to make our Canadian flag
and then a gummy maple leaf in the middle
I purchased these at the bulk barn.

Instead of hand mixing I used my Kitchen Aid mixer, makes the dough smoother and whipped making the cookies melt in your mouth.  I also cook them on baking stones from pampered chef as well, they turned out amazing.

 I hope you enjoy them I know we did and they were a big hit with our friends and family! Enjoy

First Blog

With lots of encouragement from friends and family I decided to make my first blog. You will have to bare with me, just learning how to set things up and figure them out.  I am a newbie blogger! I hope to post something once a week that I either bake or cook and give you my feed back and changes I have made whether its my own recipe or one that I follow.  Hope you enjoy! Welcome to MacPhee's Eatery!