All Hail Caesar!

SUPER CAESAR!

Summer is finally here and there's nothing better than a refreshing salad filled with super greens. Top it with your favourite barbeque grilled meat such as chicken breast, steak or even try salmon - quick and easy on a hot summer's day without spending a ton of time in the kitchen! Yes, this recipe calls for an uncooked egg yolk - don't worry, it is fine to do. But if you are concerned, you can coddle the egg before cracking it to make the dressing. Coddling an egg is simple - bring a pot of water to a boil and place a room temperature egg in it for 1 minute only. Remove the egg and plunge it into ice cold water to stop the cooking process. Let it rest for 2 minutes before cracking - voilà! You just coddled an egg!

Ingredients for the Caesar Dressing

1 Egg Yolk (separate out the egg white - you can save it for something else)
1 Tbsp Dijon Mustard
1-2 Garlic Cloves (depends on how much kick you want!)
1/2 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Juice of 1 Lemon
1 Tsp Freshly Cracked Black Pepper
4 Anchovy Filets (this is optional if you are not a fan)

Ingredients for the Salad Base

2 Cups Organic Baby Kale (these leaves are much softer and easier to digest)
1 Cup Organic Baby Spinach
1/2 Cup Cabbage, julienne sliced (gives the salad some crunch)
2 Slices Crispy Bacon, chopped
Shaved Parmesan (optional if you don't do dairy)

Method

1. For the dressing: In a food processor, with the exception of the oil, combine all the ingredients until they are well blended. Once they are at this stage, SLOWLY pour in the oil so that it emulsifies. If you pour too quickly, you could split the dressing where the ingredients and oil don't mix. Place the dressing in the refrigerator until ready to use.
2. Wash your greens thoroughly and dry very well with paper towel, or use a salad spinner to get all the water out. Place the greens in the bowl and set aside in the fridge to keep them crisp while you finish the rest of the prep.
3. If you are going to add grilled meats to the salad; barbeque the meat, allow to rest, then cut into strips.
4. Toss the greens and dressing together, top with the grilled meat and sprinkle with the crispy bacon and parmesan (optional).

Baked Egg-vocados

BAKED AVOCADO?!

As they say, Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and this baked egg and avocado meal is FILLING! It's filled with good fatty acids, protein, fiber and flavour - plus it's quick!

Ingredients

4 Free-Range Eggs (if you can get them from a farmer, even better!)
2 Ripe Avocados (larger ones are better to hold the egg)

Sea Salt & Freshly Ground Pepper, to taste

Fresh Chopped Herbs to garnish (chives are best)
Crisp Bacon (Optional to crumble on top!)

Method 

1. Before prepping, preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
2. Half the avocado as normal and remove the pit. On the outside, rounded part of the avocado, cut off straight the rounded part of the avocado so it can sit flat, but don't cut too deep into the avocado that you break through to the centre. 
3. Place the avocados in a baking dish, they shouldn't roll around with the rounded part cut off.
4. Crack an egg into the centre of each avocado, ensuring that the yolk is in the centre of the hole. It is okay if the egg white is spills slightly out of the hole.
5. Bake in the oven for approximately 15 minutes, or until you see the egg whites set.
6. Remove and season with the salt and pepper, then garnish with the herbs and sprinkle the bacon on top if you choose!
7. Eat up!
   
   
   

Cookie SMASH!

PROTEIN COOKIES!

Peanut Butter Chocolate Smash Recovery has arrived at Canuck...so I thought I would try it in a yummy chocolate chewy cookie recipe! Did the test...and they got a "rep" from the tasters :) One of the simplest and easiest cookies to make - about 15 minute cap if you start heating your oven before you begin mixing! Remember to pick up a bag of PB Chocolate Smash the next time you're at the box to try the awesomeness before it is all gone!

 

Ingredients

2 Scoops Progenex Peanut Butter Chocolate Smash Recovery

1/2 Cup Coconut Sugar

1/4 Cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder

1 Cup Thick Almond Butter (make sure it isn't too liquid/oily, or it won't hold)

2 Eggs, beatened

Pinch Sea Salt

1 Tsp Baking Soda

1 Tsp Vanilla Extract

1/4 Cup Dark Chocolate Mini Chips (used Enjoy Life ones for this recipe)

 

Method

 

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees before starting to combine the ingredients.
2. In a bowl, mix the almond butter, protein, and coconut sugar until combined. Add in the eggs and mix well, then add in the cocoa powder; it should still resemble a dough-like consistency.
3. Add in the remaining ingredients of baking soda, vanilla, salt and chocolate chips. Ensure everything is well combined and the consistency is still dough-like.
4. If you have a small 1oz ice cream scoop, you can scoop out the cookies evenly onto a baking sheet. Or you can eyeball the cookies by shaping them into about 1" size balls and placing them on the cookie sheet.
5. Gently press the cookie balls down to create a more flat top, but not too much or else the cookies won't be chewy or soft after baking.
6. Pop them in the fridge for a couple minutes before placing in the oven to bake for about 6-10 minutes (it depends if you are cooking in a convection or a regular oven - times vary so keep an eye on them!)
7. Remove them from the oven when they have formed a slightly crisp top and allow to cook for about 5 minutes before moving them onto a cooling rack. This will allow the cookie to set on the outside with a little crust and keep the cookie nice and soft on the inside.
8. Once cooled, store in an airtight container any that you haven't eaten yet or shared with your friends!

 

Not so Paleo Vermicelli Bowl

VIETNAMESE "BUN"

This is a two-part recipe! So you have your ‘fish sauce’ since no one every knows the name of it (Nuoc Cham) and you have your vermicelli bowl – together they are a magical dish. Most people will enjoy this dish during the warmer days, as the chilled noodles and fresh vegetables are so refreshing and you top it off with barbecued meat! 

Ingredients
Vermicelli "Bun" Bowl

1 Pkg Vermicelli Rice Noodles (thin kind)

2 Chicken Breasts, butterflied (cut in half horizontally so it opens up flat)

1 Shallot, finely minced

2 Garlic Clove, finely minced

1/8 Cup Avocado Oil

½ Head of Iceberg Lettuce, cut into thin strips (julienne cut)

1 English Cucumber, cut into thin strips (julienne cut)

Fresh Mint

Fresh Thai Basil

Pickled Daikon and Carrots (optional)

Nuo Cham Sauce

1 Tbsp or ½ Lime Juice, freshly squeezed

1 Tsp Rice Vinegar
½ Cup Warm Water
½ Cup Fish Sauce (Red Boat brand is gluten-free)

½ Tsp Coconut Sugar
1 or 2 Small Garlic Cloves, finely minced
1 or 2 Thai Red Chilies, thinly sliced

Method

1. For the Sauce: Combine all ingredients together, mixing well until sugar dissolves. Make sure you taste it so it is to your preferred liking – some people like the more sour taste, and some prefer a sweeter, spicier finish – it’s up to you!
2. Marinate in a bowl, the chicken in the shallots, garlic and avocado oil for about an hour.
3. In the meantime, cook the vermicelli noodles according to package. Ensure when done cooking, noodles are strained in a colander and rinsed with cold water; drain and set aside.
4. Once chicken is done marinated, barbecue chicken until cooked through and still juicy – don’t overcook it and dry it out! Allow to sit for a minute before cutting into thin bite-size pieces.
5. To Make the "Bun Bowl": Divide the noodles into 4 serving bowls, and then divide out the lettuce and cucumber (pickled daikon and carrots if using as well) and top with chicken. Garnish with mint and basil leaves.
6. Serve with the Nuoc Cham sauce poured over – enjoy!

Pretty Pork Patties

PORK PATTIES

Everyone loves a good beef burger patty, but sometimes it is good to mix things up. Pork patties are quick to make and you can put them with any sauce you want. I tend to lean to an Asian-style sauce for these ones since the cilantro and garlic are staple items in Asian cooking.



Ingredients
1lb Fresh Ground Pork
3 Cloves Garlic, minced well
3 Green Onions, chopped finely
1 Tbsp Fresh Cilantro, chopped finely
Coconut or Avocado Oil for cooking

Method

1. The key to a good patty is to not overwork, or over compress the ingredients together - be gentle! Combine all the ingredients in a bowl.
2. Evenly divide the meat into 4-6 equal parts and form into patties - remember GENTLE! Don't squish or pack them too tightly, because when you cook them, they'll end up being really dry - you don't want that!
3. Heat a pan with some coconut or avocado oil in it; add the patties in and cook for approximately 5 minutes per side. The patties should be browned on each side - you can cover the pan for a better cooking experience when you have flipped it over to cook the second side. Ensure that the patties are cooked through before serving.
4. Enjoy with our favourite sauce - something with some spice kicks these babies up a notch!