This Classic Banana Bread is super moist and tasty. Best of all, it’s really easy to make and, apart from the bananas, takes only standard pantry ingredients. It’s the perfect way to use up extra ripe bananas since Banana Bread is best made with overripe bananas. They have so much flavor and add the extra moisture for which banana bread is known. Continue reading Classic Banana Bread Recipe
Here is my suggested meal plan for the upcoming week which is Week 5 in our meal planning series. If you want to check out previous weeks’ meal plans, hotlinks to them are included at the end of this posting.
As with previous meal plans I have published, I’ve provided a list of the main ingredients for each recipe that, for the most part, would probably involve a shopping trip to the supermarket for most. However, as always, read each recipe thoroughly and carefully to create your own list as I have not listed what I consider to be “staple” items like regular milk, butter, eggs, flour, sugar, butter/shortening, oil, spices, etc.
This week, we’ll start off with a baked ham which will give us leftovers for the next day. Continue reading MEAL PLANNING – WEEK 5
Warm, buttery-rich scones straight from the oven. Can’t you just conjure up the mouthwatering scent! These Currant and Orange Scones are light and flaky and have an internal crumb that is moist, soft, and tender. Continue reading Currant and Orange Scones
There is just something absolutely delightful about fresh scones still warm from the oven. Ever so much better they are when slathered with a dollop of either clotted cream or English double cream and a favorite jam or fruit curd such as lemon curd, for example. This posting today is all about how to make perfect scones. Continue reading How To Make Perfect Scones
Today marks my 8th Blogiversary. Eight years since I began My Island Bistro Kitchen food blog. My, how time does fly!
In previous years, I marked this day with some kind of special sweet treat. You can check those out by clicking on the links at the end of this posting. It has occurred to me that I have never celebrated the occasion with a simple Cream Tea. And, regular followers of my blog will know I love anything related to a tea event! So, a Cream Tea it is to celebrate my 8th Blogiversary! Continue reading A Cream Tea to Celebrate 8th Blogiversary
I am not a fan of muffins that have a cake-type texture. I like the muffins, whether wheat-based or gluten-free, to be deli-or café-style, hearty, and generously sized. That’s exactly how I have created these tasty Gluten-free Blueberry Zucchini Muffins to be! Continue reading Gluten-free Blueberry Zucchini Muffins
These Coffee Hazelnut Energy Bites prove there is more than one way to enjoy coffee! Continue reading Coffee Hazelnut Energy Bites
Christmas is, in my opinion, a time of the year when a tablesetting can be well glitzed and glammed up. If you want to add opulence and glamour to a holiday tablesetting, go with gold. It shines, it sparkles, it shimmers and glows in all kinds of light, and it has such warm tones. This is my Glamorous Gold Plated Christmas Tablesetting.
The Christmas color theme in my dining room is gold. It appears on my tabletop tree and in my mantle design. Therefore, for continuity, my table carries the same singular color theme.
Basic white is most often the blank canvas I start with when constructing my tablesettings. It’s neutral and, in the case of this gold-plated tablesetting, it provides a wonderful plain backdrop to let the metallics form the focal point of the table. Had I left my maple table bare, the gold-colored centerpiece would not have stood out as dramatically as it does against the white backdrop. Conversely, had I used a patterned tablecloth, it would have been very busy and cluttery looking and the effect of the centerpiece would have been completely lost.
Nothing was bought new specifically for this centerpiece. I have had all the Christmas balls, baubles, twigs, feathers, and berries for years and they have been used for many different purposes at previous holidays. So, I simply went shopping in my own storehouse!
When constructing the centerpiece, piece by piece, on the table, make sure it is completed before setting the individual place settings. Otherwise, you would be reaching over high glassware, potentially knocking them over and it would just be plain awkward. And, of course, if there is glitter involved or greenery needles, those would find their way on to the plates and into the glasses where food and drink will be served. So, the individual placesettings would be the last aspect of the tablesetting to be completed.
For this setting, I have chosen one large gold ball and then added three or four other different sized balls of a scale that will fit the size of my dining table. This type of centerpiece is scalable meaning it can be made somewhat larger to suit a longer table. It is important to keep the elements in the centerpiece to scale both to the other components of the centerpiece as well as to the size of table itself.
I have used balls/baubles with different textures with some having designs and others perfectly plain. So, in the centerpiece, I have included balls that are plain satin-finished, glittery, pearlized, and matte finish. The balls are in various shades and hues of gold. This adds wonderful texture and interest to the centerpiece plus their finishes play well off each other and they all react to light differently.
I had some gold twigs that I used to create a base for the balls. To achieve the luxe look, I did not want to introduce any greenery or other color into the centerpiece, save for a bit of ivory in the berries and on ribbon.
The twigs serve the purpose of providing a nest for the balls so they do not roll out of place. I then started with placement of the large ball, followed by the next sized balls, and so on until I achieved the aesthetic look I was going for, filling in any gaps with smaller balls. Some gold-colored feathers and ivory berries were added for interest. Finally, I strategically placed some pretty ribbon bows of ivory and glittery gold in various places throughout the centerpiece arrangement. By doing this, I addressed any remaining gaps and made the centerpiece look full and luxurious.
The ribbon corresponds with that on my dining room tabletop tree. Tabletop trees are so adorable and I find they are particularly suitable for dining rooms.
As those of you who are regular visitors to my website will know, I am not a huge fan of taper candles. I find they are a bit precarious for my liking for use on dining tables. For that reason, I typically use the more stable pillar candles in tablesettings. However, in this case, the table has a very elegant and glamorous theme so the tall, slender tapers do work better than the larger pillar candles. The tapers give height and elegance to the table and, because they are slender, they do not obstruct diners’ view of each other. And, of course, tapers burn down faster than pillars so they become even lower as the meal progresses.
I have a collection of glass candlesticks in various shapes and sizes and many are cut glass with prisms that really do play well to light. This makes them really sparkle on a table, further adding glitz to the tablescape. It is not necessary to have the candlesticks all matching and I do recommend using ones that vary in height as that contributes to layers of lighting when the candles are lit. Using clear glass candlesticks keeps the focus on the gold in the centerpiece and gives it an airy look. In other words, the candlesticks accent, and do not compete with, the gold centerpiece.
I have used two types of gold tapers in this centerpiece. Some candles have a glittery finish while others have a polished, satin finish. This adds interest to the centerpiece and does not make it look so matchy-matchy or that it all came out of a box, pre-assembled in a factory. These are the types of details that give a centerpiece a custom-designed look.
Varying the height of the tapers as well as the candlesticks, also adds light from different levels of the centerpiece. If I can, I try to add about three layers of light to a centerpiece like this – high, medium, and low – so that the centerpiece is really glowing from all angles. Of course, using an odd number of candles makes the centerpiece more pleasing to the eye.
Smaller gold-colored votives are nestled in around the edges of the centerpiece. To keep the votives clean and free from wax build-up inside, I have used small tealights that are already encased in little tin holders. They still add lots of light from the lowest level of the centerpiece. In the photo later on in this post that shows the dinnerware up close, the tea light in a votive can be seen.
I do not recommend using scented candles in a tablesetting as they can be quite overpowering and interfere with the enjoyment of the scent of a good meal. Also, anyone with scent allergies can find scented candles distressing. It’s important to always consider the comfort of dinner guests.
My fall-back for table linen is often a vintage Irish linen tablecloth which is what I have used in this setting. I am not a fan of busy tablecloth designs or seasonally-themed ones. Tablecloths with Christmas designs, for example, may be pretty but they typically require plain dinnerware so they are not too busy for the eye. Additionally, they can really only be used at Christmas and must be stored for the rest of the year.
My preference is to go with non-seasonal neutral tablecloths. If I want to have a seasonal design in table textile, I will usually opt for seasonally-themed napkins, like the cotton napkins with the gold snowflake motif shown in the photo below. Because the thread in the motif pattern is glittery, the napkins blend well with this tablesetting.
I find the best way to fold napkins that have motifs is to use a simple flat fold. Trying to fold this style of napkin into an intricate or fancy fold would result in the motif and its effect being lost.
For that reason, I simply laid the flat-folded napkin over the salad plate so it becomes the focal point of each individual placesetting. Simple yet elegant.
Plain gold charger plates frame each placesetting. The gold color connects the placesettings to the centerpiece. Chargers are an easy and simple way to glam up a tablesetting plus they serve a useful purpose in keeping the tablecloth clean should any food escape the dinnerware. We all know it happens from time to time!
I have chosen dinnerware with a significant amount of gold metallic color for this setting as it ties in with the gold theme and does not introduce another color. The contemporary metallic gold polka dot porcelain dinner plates add some pizzazz to each placesetting. The gold-edged salad plates are in a coordinating design. It is not always necessary (and sometimes it is too much) to have completely matching dinnerware. Mixing dinnerware designs is another great way to create a customized tablesetting look.
So long as the color scheme remains the same and the patterns do not clash, coordinating plates can contribute to a glamorous tablesetting. When mixing dinnerware patterns, it’s a good idea to have one plate with a fairly large design (like the polka dot dinnerplate) and the second plate to have a much smaller design (like the salad plate).
Because there is so much gold color on the table, I did not want to introduce silverware. I have, therefore, opted to use a very simple design of gold-colored stainless steel flatware. I think it is more pleasing to the eye as it holds and carries the gold theme. It is elegant in its simplicity of design.
The super tall gold and rhinestone decorated champagne flutes add grand glitter and glam to this tablesetting giving it a totally festive look and feel. When you see glasses like this, you just know it’s party time!
Because the flutes are very tall, I used my tallest wine glasses for proportion. They are about 9″ tall and are perfectly plain tulip-shaped stemware. Using tall stemware in this type of setting balances out the height of the tapers.
When constructing a tablesetting, it is important to consider how it looks in different lighting situations in which it will be used. For example, if the dining event is in the evening, you want the table to sparkle in the candlelight. Notice how the tablesetting takes on a different hue and ambience with just the Christmas tree lights and the lit candles on the table.
The tablesetting becomes much more dramatic when lit for evening dining. Layers of candlelight bathe the table in soft glowing light and the tea lights in the votives provide great highlights to the setting. It is best to avoid harsh overhead lighting of tablescapes that have bright gold or silver as it can be quite hard on the eye and distracting.
This tablesetting will easily carry me through the entire holiday period up to and including New Year’s. There are no flowers to water or wilt and I can easily exchange my plain white dishes for the patterned dinnerware and use other glassware to change up the look without having to touch the centerpiece (unless, of course, it is to replace the candles that have melted their way down in the candlesticks).
A beautifully set table sets the tone for a wonderful meal. Using a single color palette that looks polished and sophisticated helps to create an elegant and glamorous tablesetting.
I hope you have enjoyed a glimpse into my custom-designed holiday tablesetting.
Snowmen and Snowballs Tablesetting
The Christmas Rose Tablesetting
Blush Pink Holiday Tablesetting
The Christmas Greens Holiday Tablesetting
Just Hear Those Sleigh Bells Jinglin’ Tablesetting
Twas The Night Before Christmas Tablesetting
The Warmth of the Christmas Light Tablesetting
A Tartan Holiday Tablesetting
Pretty Poincettia Tablesetting
Poinsettia Trio Tablesetting
The Holiday Table
The Pink and Green Holiday Table
Purple Tablesetting for the Holidays
Christmas at My Island Bistro Kitchen
Christmas Eve Tablesetting and Dinner
Cupcake Tablescape
Evergreens and Reindeer Christmas Tablescape
Joining the Facebook page for My Island Bistro Kitchen: https://www.facebook.com/MyIslandBistroKitchen/
Following “the Bistro” on Twitter: https://twitter.com/PEIBistro/
Seeing the drool-worthy gallery of mouth-watering food photos from My Island Bistro Kitchen on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peibistro/
Following “the Bistro” on Pinterest at https://www.pinterest.ca/peibistro/
(and you can pin the Pinterest-ready photo(s) below to your favorite Pinterest boards)
Homemade cranberry sauce is so easy to make and tastes fabulous. This Red Wine Cranberry Pear Sauce has a wonderful blend of flavors that complement each other nicely.
Pears and cranberries pair well together with the sweetness of the pears balancing the tartness of the cranberries. The addition of red wine adds a layer to the flavor profile of the sauce and, let’s just say, amps it up a bit! However, even though red wine is a key ingredient in this sauce, more wine is not necessarily more in this case. One-third cup of wine is adequate as adding too much wine can quickly overtake the cranberry flavor and become too strong and overpowering.
Essentially, this sauce begins with boiling water and sugar together, much in the same way as making a simple syrup. Some red wine (any kind you would drink will do) is then added along with the cranberries, pear, citrus marmalade, and some pure maple syrup for an extra dash of sweetness. Stirring the sauce as it cooks helps it to thicken so it is not watery.
During the last half of the cooking process, a pinch of cardamom, a piece of cinnamon stick, and a star anise pod are added for a boost of flavor. The cinnamon stick and star anise are then discarded once the sauce comes off the stove as their function of infusing flavor into the sauce is complete. Continue to stir the sauce as it cools because this will really help it thicken.
This sauce keeps in the refrigerator for up to five days. It freezes very well so is great to have on hand in the freezer.
Cranberry Sauce complements any poultry dish.
With its stunning rich ruby-red color, this delectable sauce is a fine condiment to any holiday dinner.
Complete your next roast chicken or roast turkey dinner with this sauce as a condiment.
Make some extra and share this sauce as gifts with others. A jar of this tasty sauce makes a fine host/hostess gift, too.
[Printable recipe follows at end of post]
Ingredients:
¾ cup granulated sugar
¼ cup brown sugar, lightly packed
2/3 cup water
1/3 cup red wine
2 cups cranberries, fresh or frozen
1 Bosc pear, peeled and cut into small pieces
2 tbsp citrus marmalade
2 tbsp maple syrup
Pinch cardamom
1½” chunk cinnamon stick
1 star anise
Method:
In medium-sized heavy-bottomed saucepan, bring sugars and water to boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium and boil, uncovered, for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add red wine, cranberries, chopped pear, marmalade, and maple syrup. Increase heat to medium-high to return mixture to boil then reduce heat to medium-low. Stir mixture frequently throughout the cooking process, for about 8 minutes. Then, add the cardamom, cinnamon stick, and star anise. Continue to cook mixture, uncovered, stirring frequently while cooking it for another 7-10 minutes, or until sauce thickens (it will thicken somewhat more as it is stirred during the cooling process).
Remove saucepan from heat and discard the chunk of cinnamon stick and the star anise. Stir sauce several times as it cools as this will help it to thicken.
Store sauce, tightly covered, in refrigerator for up to 5 days or freeze for longer storage. Serve sauce cold or at room temperature alongside roasted poultry.
Yield: Apx. 2 cups
Zesty Cranberry-Orange Sauce
Cranberry Rhubarb Sauce
Cranberry Blueberry Sauce
Joining the Facebook page for My Island Bistro Kitchen: https://www.facebook.com/MyIslandBistroKitchen/
Following “the Bistro” on “X” (formerlyTwitter): https://twitter.com/PEIBistro/
Seeing the drool-worthy gallery of mouth-watering food photos from My Island Bistro Kitchen on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peibistro/
Following “the Bistro” on Pinterest at https://www.pinterest.ca/peibistro/
(and you can pin the Pinterest-ready photo(s) below to your favorite Pinterest boards)
Yield: Apx. 2 cups
[Copyright My Island Bistro Kitchen]
A number of years ago, I made these snowmen and, this year, thought they should be part of a casual holiday tablesetting that is aptly named “Snowmen and Snowballs“. So, here they are, all dressed in their finery to preside over the dinner table!
These two snowmen are positioned at opposite ends of the table because they can’t be trusted not to engage in a snowball fight! As you can see, they’ve already been busy with all those snowballs you see on the table!
I am a big fan of using what I already have as opposed to buying new items for tablesettings. In fact, I will often re-purpose decorations and ornaments (especially ones I can’t otherwise find a place for!) by using them in my tablesettings. And, this is exactly what I have done with this tablesetting.
How adorable are these little snowmen votives that adorn each placesetting!
The napkins are a rosy-pink-red pinstripe on fabric that has a homespun texture. They are very suitable for this casual tablesetting. The napkins don’t shout Christmas but are quite suitable for the season. They are also napkins I use other times of the year.
I am using my standard white dinnerware and have framed it with a red plaid charger plate on top of a round green placemat. The combination gives a nod to the traditional red and green colors typically associated with Christmas.
Because this is a fun, casual tablesetting, some liberties can be taken with the placement of elements of the placesetting. For example, because space is at a premium on this table, there really isn’t a lot of room for the cutlery on the sides of the placesetting. Therefore, I have casually laid the flatware at an angle on top of the plates as shown in the photo above.
How cute is this lumberjack snowman with his little red toque! This tablesetting is all about creating a vignette and a story and making it fun.
I seriously think lumberjack snowman is eyeing up his partner-in-crime, the bird watcher, at the other end of the table and taunting him to a snowball fight! We’ll see if we can get through dinner without snowballs flying between these two!
Around, and in between, the two snowmen, I have simply made a base of faux snow. I then just laid some faux greenery, along with some pine cones, mini white twinkle lights, and a string of snowball lights, on top of the snow. The battery-operated snowball lights do double duty in that they are part of the tablesetting story and they also add some unique lighting to the table. The snowballs look eye appealing, both in daylight and at night.
I didn’t fuss too much with the placement of the greenery, red berries, and pine cones, all of which are needed to contrast the white snow.
This type of tablescape is a good option for anyone who is not comfortable creating a precise table centerpiece as there really is no right or wrong way to position the greenery.
Some of today’s faux greenery is quite a good replica of the real greenery, pinecones, and berries. Plus, it is reusable, year after year.
Using both the snowball lights and twinkle lights adds a layer of drama to the tablesetting, particularly for evening dining. Without the layers of lights, the whole center of the table would be quite dark in the evening even with ambient room lighting.
It’s always important to think about how the tablesetting will look in different lighting situations for different dining experiences. This is especially true if the dining event is in the evening when no daylight will provide natural light in the room. The snowball lights really pop and come to life after dark. With nothing more than the tree lights, the lit votives, and the snowball and twinkle lights, the table comes to life and provides a cozy, warm, and inviting dining experience.
The little votive candles exude a warm, soft glow at each placesetting. I love the detail on these votives. They add a touch of whimsy to the tablesetting.
Typically, I would seat guests around all sides of the table. However, no matter how I positioned the snowmen, someone was going to be looking at the back or side of one of the snowmen. When constructing a tablescape, it is important to ensure that all guests, from all angles, have an equal view of the whole tablescape.
To ensure optimal visibility of all sides of the tablescape in the”Snowmen and Snowballs” tablesetting, a simple fix is to place two guests on each side of the table, leaving the ends vacant. This way, all guests have a full view of the entire tablescape/vignette.
Because the taller elements (the snowmen) are at the ends of the table and the center part is low profile, it is conducive to good dinner conversation among guests. Had I placed the snowmen in the center of the table, their height would have somewhat obstructed the view of diners of their dining companions.
I hope you have enjoyed a peek of my whimsical “Snowmen and Snowballs” Tablesetting. This setting is proof that not all tablescapes have to have the focal points of interest dead in the center of the table. Sometimes, the focal points can be at either end, or indeed, both ends of the table. This works so long as there is a connector between the two such as the low-profile runner of greenery and snowball lights atop faux snow in this setting.
Joining the Facebook page for My Island Bistro Kitchen: https://www.facebook.com/MyIslandBistroKitchen/
Following “the Bistro” on Twitter: https://twitter.com/PEIBistro/
Seeing the drool-worthy gallery of mouth-watering food photos from My Island Bistro Kitchen on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peibistro/
Following “the Bistro” on Pinterest at https://www.pinterest.ca/peibistro/
(and you can pin the Pinterest-ready photo(s) below to your favorite Pinterest boards)
Of course, by subscribing to receive an email notification of new posts and recipes, you can be among the first to know when I publish a new post or recipe. Simply enter your name and email address in the Subscription block over on the right-hand side of my home page.
To view other holiday tablesettings from My Island Bistro Kitchen, click on the links below:
Blush Pink Holiday Tablesetting
Just Hear Those Sleigh Bells Jinglin’ Tablesetting
Glitz ‘n Glamour New Year’s Eve Tablesetting
The Warmth of the Christmas Light Tablesetting
Christmas Eve Tablesetting and Dinner
A Tartan Holiday Tablesetting
Pretty Poinsettia Tablesetting
Poinsettia Trio Tablesetting
The Holiday Table
The Pink and Green Holiday Table
Christmas at My Island Bistro Kitchen
Purple Tablesetting for the Holidays
Evergreens and Reindeer Christmas Tablesetting
Cupcake Tablescape
Twas The Night Before Christmas
The Christmas Rose Tablesetting
These hearty Cranberry and Eggnog Cookies are good any time but they are especially good at Christmas. This is because they combine traditional flavors of the season – eggnog, dried cranberries, orange rind, pecans, and the warm spices we associate with Christmas – cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves. Continue reading Cranberry and Eggnog Drop Cookies
Scotch Cookies (sometimes called “Scotch Cakes”), close cousins of Shortbread, are a must-have Christmas tradition in many PEI households. They are a very common addition to holiday sweet plates. I am often asked if I have a recipe for Scotch Cookies and this is it. Continue reading The Bistro’s Scotch Cookies
These Coconut Date and Cherry Squares are one of the easiest squares to make as there is only the one layer. Simply place the coconut, dates, cherries, and pecans in a large bowl. Stir in sweetened condensed milk and transfer mixture to a baking pan. How easy is that! Continue reading Coconut Date and Cherry Square
Oh, the divine tantalizing scent in the house when this homemade Pumpkin Spice Granola is baking in the oven! The combination of pumpkin purée and warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, cloves, and ginger make this a winner! If you want a clean, healthy breakfast cereal, or snack food, free of preservatives and additives, this granola is for you. Continue reading Pumpkin Spice Granola
These Carrot Zucchini Muffins are so packed full of flavor! Even though they are gluten free, that should not be construed that any one who is not celiac or gluten-sensitive cannot eat them. In fact, I would be very surprised if anyone could guess they are gluten free!
The muffins rise and dome beautifully into just the right contoured shape for a perfect muffin. Adding the streusel topping is such a treat on these muffins. It not only dresses them up and adds texture but it makes the muffins ever so tasty by adding additional flavor.
When I started developing gluten-free muffins, I soon discovered that, in order for them to closely replicate wheat-based muffins and have that deli quality I so desire in muffins, the gluten-free version takes a mixture of flours and starches. Simply using a gluten-free all-purpose flour or the cup-for-cup/1-to-1 flour will not substitute well for these muffins. The thing about gluten-free flours is that they each have their own unique properties and, for the most part, they cannot be substituted, cup-for-cup, for other flours. Nor, can an ingredient be left out without affecting the success of the baked good. Some flours, for example, absorb more liquid than others and that affects the amount of liquid ingredients required in a recipe.
From experience, I can say it takes several attempts at perfecting gluten-free baking with speciality flours. However, I have done that work for you, testing, and re-testing several times, each recipe I develop and publish to ensure it can be made with success in the kitchens of others, provided the baker follows my directions exactly, makes no ingredient substitutions, or leaves no ingredient out. Every ingredient (except maybe the spices) contributes to the batter consistency and texture of the finished product.
The Carrot Zucchini Muffins are a great way to add (hide!) vegetables into a muffin. Apart from their wonderful flavor, these two vegetables also add moisture to the batter.
The texture of these Carrot Zucchini Muffins is moist and tender and the interior of the muffins show a somewhat coarse yet uniform interior crumb with small irregular air holes, characteristic of a well-constructed muffin.
[Printable recipe follows at end of posting]
Ingredients:
2/3 cup sorghum flour
½ cup gluten-free quick cooking rolled oats
¼ cup brown rice flour
¼ cup coconut flour
¼ cup + 2 tbsp oat flour
2½ tbsp potato starch
2 tbsp ground chia seeds
1 tbsp + ¾ tsp tapioca starch
1½ tsp xanthan gum
1 tbsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
1/8 tsp allspice
Pinch cloves
½ cup light brown sugar
2 large eggs, room temperature, lightly beaten
1/3 cup coconut oil
2 tbsp pure maple syrup
1½ tsp vanilla
½ cup Greek style vanilla yogurt
2 tbsp whole milk
¾ cup shredded zucchini
¾ cup grated carrot
¾ cup raisins
Streusel Topping:
¼ cup sorghum flour
¼ cup brown sugar, packed
3 tbsp quick-cooking rolled oats
1/8 tsp cinnamon
2 tbsp cold butter
Method:
Set out the eggs, yogurt, and milk to bring them to room temperature. If using solid coconut oil, melt and let it cool to room temperature before proceeding with recipe. Shred the zucchini and grate the carrot.
Preheat oven to 475°F.
Prepare 12 muffin cups (each at least ½-cup capacity) by spraying each muffin cup with cooking spray or greasing individually.
Prepare streusel topping by combining the flour, brown sugar, rolled oats, and cinnamon together. Cut in the cold butter until mixture is crumbly. Set aside.
Combine flours, rolled oats, starches, ground chia seeds, xanthan gum, baking powder, soda, salt, and spices together in a large bowl. Whisk ingredients well to combine. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients. Set aside.
In separate medium-sized bowl or large measuring cup, whisk together the brown sugar, eggs, coconut oil, maple syrup, and vanilla. Stir in the yogurt, milk, zucchini, and carrots.
Pour wet ingredients into well in dry ingredients. With large spoon, mix ingredients together just until dry ingredients are fully incorporated. Do not overmix. Fold in raisins.
Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups, filling almost to the rim of each cup. Sprinkle streusel mixture over tops of muffins. Transfer muffins to pre-heated oven and immediately reduce oven temperature to 400°F. Bake for apx. 20 minutes, or until muffins are just firm to the touch and a cake tester inserted into center of a muffin comes out clean. Do not overbake or muffins will be dry. Remove from oven and let muffins rest in pans for 5 minutes then gently remove from pan and transfer to wire rack to cool completely.
Yield: 12 muffins
Joining the Facebook page for My Island Bistro Kitchen: https://www.facebook.com/MyIslandBistroKitchen/
Following “the Bistro” on Twitter: https://twitter.com/PEIBistro/
Seeing the drool-worthy gallery of mouth-watering food photos from My Island Bistro Kitchen on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peibistro/
Following “the Bistro” on Pinterest at https://www.pinterest.ca/peibistro/
(and you can pin the Pinterest-ready photo(s) below to your favorite Pinterest boards)
Of course, by subscribing to receive an email notification of new posts and recipes, you can be among the first to know when I publish a new post or recipe. Simply enter your name and email address in the Subscription block over on the right-hand side of my home page.
Perfectly domed, packed full of flavor, and topped with a tasty streusel topping, these Gluten-free Carrot Zucchini Muffins are a special treat!
Set out the eggs, yogurt, and milk to bring them to room temperature. If using solid coconut oil, melt and let it cool to room temperature before proceeding with recipe. Shred the zucchini and grate the carrot.
Combine flours, rolled oats, starches, ground chia seeds, xanthan gum, baking powder, soda, salt, and spices together in a large bowl. Whisk ingredients well to combine. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients. Set aside.
Yield: 12 muffins
So, we all know how beautiful a decorated roast turkey on a platter looks and many of us associate this with the ideal Thanksgiving. The reality is, however, that many households are small and either don’t need, or want, a large turkey. The responsibility of getting a turkey properly cooked can be somewhat daunting. Yet, who among us does not want to celebrate Thanksgiving in a somewhat traditional manner and have the heavenly scent of turkey roasting in the oven.
To show how the traditional elements can be incorporated into a small-scale Thanksgiving dinner, I have prepared a dinner for two. This meal is easily scalable meaning it can be multiplied to serve the number of guests you have.
I still wanted turkey but I wanted something manageable in size and meat that would cook quickly and without having to have a large roaster. That’s where fresh boneless turkey breasts come in. They are available in all sizes, ranging from the small 1-pounders. These cook quickly, especially in a convection oven, and you still get the same wonderful scent in the house as the turkey breast roasts. The other benefit to a boneless turkey breast is that it is all pure meat. There is no large carcass to deal with and the meat slices so perfectly for stylish plating.
I brine my chicken and turkey. It makes such a difference to the flavor and texture of the meat. All I do to brine a fresh turkey breast is let it sit for a few hours submerged in a salt-water brine. After brining, I pound it somewhat thin, roll some of my stuffing into the breast, and tie it securely. I then brush the entire meat with melted butter mixed with olive oil and sprinkle it lightly with paprika. I head to the garden and pick some fresh parsley, rosemary, dill, oregano, and thyme (or whatever blend of herbs I happen to have at the time). Chopped really fine, these herbs are then sprinkled over the meat which is set on a rack in a small roasting pan.
I am a huge proponent of using a meat thermometer. This ensures my meat is always cooked properly and stays tender and juicy. I cook the turkey breast in my convection oven till it tests done on the meat thermometer. After the turkey comes out of the oven, I loosely tent it with tinfoil for about 20 minutes or so before proceeding to carve it. Comes out perfectly cooked and juicy every time. Easy-peasy.
For gravy lovers, the downside to roasting turkey breast is that there are virtually no drippings from the meat which can be used to make gravy. This is easily enough remedied, however, by making the gravy using poultry stock which is what I have done here from some homemade turkey stock I had in the freezer.
Whether it’s a meal for 2 or 22, I always recommend doing as much of the prep work ahead of time as possible. In this case, I made the Rhubarb-Cranberry Sauce the day before and refrigerated it. This is my newest cranberry sauce and it combines two wonderful flavors beautifully. Either fresh or frozen cranberries and rhubarb can be used for the sauce. It has the most glorious jewel-toned color and fabulous flavor. The sauce pairs particularly well with turkey.
For the soup course, I am also featuring my newest soup recipe, Roasted Parsnip and Pear Soup. For Thanksgiving, I try to use seasonal produce like parsnips and pears. This soup freezes well so can be made ahead, thawed, and reheated in the microwave. Or, a batch of it can be made specifically for Thanksgiving and the leftover frozen.
For the salad course, I have gone with a really simple salad, most of which came from our backyard garden – fresh lettuce, beets, red onion, and nasturtium flowers. I roasted the beets (though they could be boiled instead). So, on a bed of lettuce, I placed slices of beets and added some mandarin orange sections and slices of red onion. This was topped with crumbled feta cheese and the salad was served with a simple vinaigrette and topped with a colorful and edible nasturtium.
Because I have included both a soup and salad course, it is not necessary to have a number of different vegetables on the plate. Here, I have included the decadent Duchess Potatoes and colorful carrots which, though basic, add a wonderful pop of color to the plate.
My wine pairing with this Thanksgiving Dinner is a 2016 Riesling from Thirty Bench Winemakers in the Niagara Peninsula. A Reisling is a good choice as it has lots of palate-refreshing acidity along with a slight touch of sweetness to balance and complement the variety of flavors in the dinner.
For dessert, it’s Squash Pie. I always maintain that, while similar to pumpkin, squash pie has a richer, deeper flavour.
I have opted for a very simple tablesetting and I have used items I already own in its construction. Miniature white pumpkins were placed on three candlesticks of varying heights. Some hydrangea plucked from my hedge formed a colorful, yet soft-colored, base for the pumpkins. I used three small votives at the base of the arrangement to give a glow of soft light.
Here’s a closer peek.
I intentionally left the tabletop bare because the deep maple wood provides a warm looking canvas for an autumn meal. Each placesetting was framed with gold charger plates sitting on gold-colored round placemats. This keeps the tablesetting muted but yet has the warm tones of fall.
To draw the connection of the pumpkin-focused centerpiece down to the placesettings, I simply placed a small pumpkin atop the napkin at each place.
When the napkins have a lot of colorful border design on them, like these, it is sometimes best to just fold them flat on the plate so that the design is visible. Otherwise, the design may be lost in a napkin fold and not be as effective.
Glassware does not need to match. Here, I have chosen two different vintage pieces from my collection for the wine and water glasses. The tablesetting is clean, simple, and uncluttered. Best of all, it only took a few minutes to create, used items I already had, and the tiny pumpkins cost me less than $4.
I am a big fan of using white dinnerware as it goes with everything and food always looks so appetizing on a white background.
So, regardless the size of your household, there are options to preparing a tasty Thanksgiving Dinner that still includes the elements we expect to see in a Thanksgiving dinner.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
Duchess Potatoes are one of the most elegant ways to serve mashed potatoes. To make this recipe, the cooked potatoes are traditionally pushed through a potato ricer (like the one in the photo below) which removes all lumps and makes the potatoes very light and fluffy. Alternatively, if you don’t have a potato ricer, a food mill could be used or the potatoes can be mashed really well with a potato masher but, with the potato masher, they won’t be quite as smooth and fluffy as when riced. Continue reading Decadent Duchess Potatoes
Every year, we grow cherry tomatoes in the garden. They are prolific producers and there is no way we can use up the pounds and pounds of tomatoes they produce. This time of the year, they can’t even be given away because it seems everybody has an over-abundance of them in their gardens. So, what to do with them? Turn them into a rich, thick, and flavorful Roasted Cherry Tomato Sauce! Continue reading Roasted Cherry Tomato Sauce
Today’s featured recipe from my kitchen is Roasted Parsnip and Pear Soup. The combination of the somewhat nutty flavor of the parsnips pairs well with the sweetness of the Bosc Pears. They balance each other well in this savory soup. Continue reading Roasted Parsnip and Pear Soup Recipe
When I want a quick and easy light meal, I will often make these Classic Tuna Melts. They are super easy to make and are wonderfully tasty. It’s amazing what can be done with a simple can of tuna and a few staple ingredients! Continue reading Classic Tuna Melts Recipe
