WHITE CHILI WITH CHICKEN
Relax this winter with this delicious chili recipe.Ingredients
Serves 4 to 6
2 tbsp (30 ml) vegetable oil, plus extra for frying
1 tbsp (15 ml) butter
2 medium onions, chopped
4 garlic cloves chopped
2 tsp (10 ml) oregano
1 tbsp (15 ml) cumin
1 tbsp (15 ml) garlic powder
2 tsp (10 ml) salt
3 tbsp (45 ml) all-purpose flour
3 lbs (1.5 kg) boneless, skinless chicken thighs
1x 14 oz (398 ml) can white beans, drained and rinsed
3 cups (750 ml) chicken stock
½ cup (125 ml) sour cream
2 x 6-in (15 cm) flour tortillas, cut into ⅛ in (0.25 cm) strips, for garnish
handful cilantro leaves, for garnish
1 jalapeño, finely chopped, for garnish
1 avocado, cut into 8 wedges, for garnish
2 limes, cut into wedges, for garnish
Instructions
- In a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat, sweat onions, garlic, oregano, cumin, garlic powder and salt in oil and butter until soft. Sprinkle in flour and stir until coated. Add chicken, beans and chicken stock. Stir well to mix, until there are no lumps. Reduce heat to low and simmer until chicken is tender, about 20 minutes.
- In a small saucepan, heat 2-in (5 cm) oil over medium heat. Fry tortilla strips until crisp and light golden brown. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate and set aside.
- Remove chicken from saucepan and cool slightly. Shred chicken, then return to saucepan and stir in sour cream.
- Serve chili in bowls, garnished with crispy tortilla strips, cilantro, jalapeño, avocado and lime wedges.
Drink Pairings
CHUNKY SHORT RIB CHILI
Relax this winter with this delicious chili recipe.Ingredients
Serves 4 to 6
5 lbs (2.27 kg) short ribs, meat removed from bone and cut into 1-in (2.5 cm) cubes
2 tsp (10 ml) seasoning salt
1 tsp (5 ml) freshly ground black pepper
2 tbsp (30 ml) all-purpose flour
2 tbsp (30 ml) vegetable oil
2 tbsp (30 ml) butter
2 medium yellow onions, chopped
2 tbsp (30 ml) ground cumin
2 tsp (10 ml) cocoa powder
2 tsp (10 ml) cayenne
1 tbsp (15 ml) chili powder
2 tbsp (30 ml) garlic powder
1 tbsp (15 ml) onion powder
2 tsp (10 ml) smoked paprika
1 tbsp (15 ml) diced chipotle chilis in adobo
2 tbsp (30 ml) tomato paste
1 x 28 oz (796 ml) can diced tomatoes
1 cup (250 ml) water
1 x 14 oz (398 ml) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 small white onion, finely diced, for garnish
2 serrano peppers, finely sliced (adjust amount to taste), for garnish
4 green onions, finely sliced, for garnish
1 cup (250 ml) crumbled aged white cheddar cheese, for garnish
cornbread, to serve
Instructions
- Toss short rib cubes in seasoning salt, pepper and flour.
- Heat a large heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat. Once hot, add oil and butter and heat until butter is melted. In batches, brown beef for about 2 to 3 minutes each side, or until golden brown. Set browned beef aside and continue with remaining beef.
- Reduce heat to medium and add onions. Sweat onions until soft, then add all spices and continue cooking until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Add chipotles and tomato paste and mix. Cook until tomato paste has lightly caramelized, about 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add beef, tomatoes and water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 1 hour and 30 minutes. Add black beans and simmer for another 30 to 45 minutes or until beef is tender.
- Serve in bowls and garnish with white onion, serrano peppers, green onion and cheese. Serve with cornbread.
Drink Pairings
VEGETARIAN CHILI NACHOS TEX-MEX STYLE
Relax this winter with this delicious chili recipe.Ingredients
Serves 4 to 6
2 tbsp (30 ml) vegetable oil
2 red bell peppers, chopped
1 large onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp (5 ml) cayenne
1 tsp (5 ml) chili powder
2 tsp (10 ml) garlic powder
2 tsp (10 ml) cumin
salt and pepper to taste
2 tbsp (30 ml) tomato paste
1 x 28 oz (796 ml) can diced tomatoes
1 x 14 oz (398 ml) can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
1 x 14 oz (398 ml) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
4 oz (125 g) tortilla chips
12 oz (340 g) Tex Mex or Mexican blend shredded cheese
1 small jalapeño pepper, thinly sliced
1 small red chili, thinly sliced
2 green onions, thinly sliced
1 handful cilantro leaves
1 cup (250 ml) salsa
1 cup (250 ml) tomatillo salsa
1 cup (250 ml) sour cream
Instructions
- In a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat, sauté red bell peppers, onion, garlic and spices in vegetable oil until tender. Add tomato paste, diced tomatoes, salt and pepper. Simmer over low heat for 30 minutes. Check seasoning and adjust (remember that chips are salted).
- Preheat oven to 375 F (190 C). On a parchment-lined baking sheet, layer tortilla chips, chili and cheese. Repeat until you have used all ingredients. Bake until cheese in middle has melted, about 10 to 12 minutes.
- Garnish with jalapeño pepper, red chili, green onions and cilantro. Serve with salsas and sour cream.
Drink Pairings
BLUSH
Sparkling cocktails are great for celebrating the different events and important moments in our lives. This sparkling cocktail can be served to celebrate the holidays, New Year’s, Valentine’s Day, a birthday or any other reason to raise a glass to toast an occasion.Ingredients
Serves 1
1 oz (30 ml) Bombay Bramble Gin
¾ oz (22 ml) St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur
½ oz (15 ml) lemon juice
½ oz (15 ml) simple syrup*
2 oz (60 ml) Brilla Prosecco Rosé
fresh raspberries, for garnish
Instructions
- In a mixing glass with cubed ice, combine gin, elderflower liqueur, lemon juice and simple syrup. Stir to chill and dilute. Strain over cubed ice in a Collins glass, top with sparkling wine. Garnish with fresh raspberries.
- * 1:1 ratio of sugar dissolved in boiling water. Allow to cool before using.
Featuring
MINT GREEN TEA SPARKLE
Sparkling cocktails are great for celebrating the different events and important moments in our lives. This sparkling cocktail can be served to celebrate the holidays, New Year’s, Valentine’s Day, a birthday or any other reason to raise a glass to toast an occasion.Ingredients
Serves
1 oz (30 ml) Beefeater Gin
1½ oz (45 ml) Mint Green Tea*
½ oz (15 ml) simple syrup**
½ oz (15 ml) lemon juice
2 oz (60 ml) Freixenet Cava
fresh mint, for garnish
Instructions
- In a mixing glass with cubed ice, combine gin, Mint Green Tea, simple syrup and lemon juice. Stir to chill and dilute. Strain into a chilled cocktail coupe, top with sparkling wine. Garnish with fresh mint.
- * To make Mint Green Tea, add 2 tbsp (30 ml) green tea to 3 cups (750 ml) boiled water, steep for 5 minutes. Add 1 cup (250 ml) fresh mint leaves, steep for 5 more minutes. Fine strain into a glass bottle and chill.
- ** 1:1 ratio of sugar dissolved in boiling water. Allow to cool before using.½ oz (15 ml) lemon juice
Featuring
FRENCH ONION DIP
Perfect for the holidays, game day and beyond!Ingredients
Serves 6 to 8
3 large sweet onions, thinly sliced
2 tbsp (30 ml) olive oil
2 tbsp + ¼ cup (30 ml + 60 ml) butter, divided
2 tsp (10 ml) salt, divided
1 tsp (5 ml) ground pepper
6 sprigs thyme
1 bay leaf
½ cup (125 ml) white wine
1 cup (250 ml) beef stock
8 oz (250 g) cream cheese, softened
1 cup (250 ml) crème fraîche, room temperature
1 cup (250 ml) shredded Gruyère cheese, divided
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 tbsp (30 ml) minced parsley
1 baguette, cut into 1-in (2.5 cm) slices
Instructions
- In a large heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium low heat, sweat the onions and 1 tsp (5 ml) salt in olive oil and 2 tbsp (30 ml) butter. Once softened, add pepper, 3 sprigs thyme and bay leaf. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until onions are deep brown and caramelized, about 20 to 30 minutes. Add white wine and cook until it has evaporated, about 5 to 10 minutes. Add beef stock and cook until it has evaporated. Remove thyme sprigs and bay leaf and discard. Set onions aside.
- Preheat oven to 350 F (180 C). Mix cream cheese, crème fraîche, remaining salt and half the Gruyère. In a small oven-safe baking dish or French onion soup bowl, layer cheese mixture with onions, ending with onions. Swirl mixture together with a knife or chopstick (as though you’re making a marble cake). Top dip with the remaining Gruyère. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until dip is heated through, bubbling and golden brown. Once done, remove from oven and increase heat to 375 F (190 C). Pick off the leaves from remaining thyme sprigs and sprinkle over dip while it cools.
- While dip is baking, mix remaining ¼ cup (60 ml) butter, garlic cloves and parsley. Spread garlic butter on baguette slices and lay on a sheet pan.
- When oven reaches desired temperature, bake bread until golden brown, about 5 to 8 minutes.
- Serve dip with garlic bread.
Drink Pairings
BAKED FETA DIP WITH ROASTED TOMATOES, PEPPERS & OLIVES
Perfect for the holidays, game day and beyond!Ingredients
Serves 4 to 6
8 oz (250 g) cherry tomatoes
1 cup (250 ml) extra-virgin olive oil
1 tsp (5 ml) salt
¼ tsp (1 ml) ground black pepper
4 cloves garlic
3 sprigs thyme
½ sprig rosemary
2 sprigs oregano
2 jarred roasted red peppers, thinly sliced
½ cup (125 ml) pitted, sliced Kalamata olives
2 cups (500 ml) Macedonian feta
2 tbsp (30 ml) whipping cream
4 pita bread
basil leaves, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F (180 C). Place tomatoes, olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic, thyme, rosemary and oregano in a small oven-safe saucepan. Cut a circle of parchment paper to fit in saucepan. Place parchment inside saucepan, pressing it down so the oil seeps up over the paper. Heat saucepan over medium-high heat until it starts to bubble, then place it in oven for 30 minutes. Remove and discard parchment, thyme, rosemary and oregano. Add roasted peppers and olives and set aside.
- Using a blender, mix feta and cream until smooth. Transfer feta mix to a small baking dish and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until heated through. Spoon tomatoes, peppers and olives over top. Garnish with basil leaves.
- Brush pita bread with olive oil from tomatoes and grill until warmed through. Cut into wedges and serve with feta dip.
Drink Pairings
CRAB & MUSHROOM DIP SERVED WITH MUSHROOM CHIPS
Perfect for the holidays, game day and beyond!Ingredients
Serves 6 to 8
1 shallot, minced
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 cups (750 ml) finely chopped button mushrooms
3 tbsp (45 ml) extra-virgin olive oil
2 tbsp (30 ml) butter
salt and pepper, to taste
8 oz (250 g) cream cheese, softened
1 cup (250 ml) sour cream, room temperature
1 cup (250 ml) shredded fontina* cheese, divided
½ tsp (2.5 ml) paprika
1 tsp (5 ml) Tabasco sauce
1 cup (250 ml) cooked crab meat, picked apart and divided
1 lemon, zest and juice
4 green onions, thinly sliced
¼ cup (60 ml) grated Parmesan
1 lb (500 g) king oyster mushrooms, cut into ⅛-in (0.25 cm) slices
vegetable oil for frying
5 chives, thinly sliced
Instructions
- In a skillet over medium heat, warm olive oil and butter. Add shallot, garlic and mushrooms and cook until well done and all excess liquid has evaporated, about 15 to 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and set aside to cool.
- In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, warm 2-in (5 cm) vegetable oil until it reaches 325 F (170 C). Fry oyster mushrooms in batches until golden brown, about 5 to 8 minutes per batch. Remove and drain on paper towel and season with salt.
- Preheat oven to 350 F (180 C). Mix mushrooms, cream cheese, sour cream, ¾ cup (175 ml) fontina, lemon juice, green onions, paprika, Tabasco and ¾ cup (175 ml) crab until combined. Transfer to a small oven-safe baking dish. Top the dip with remaining fontina and Parmesan. Bake, until dip is heated through, bubbling and golden brown, about 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool slightly, then garnish with remaining crab, chives and lemon zest. Top with mushroom chips for dipping. Serve remaining mushroom chips in a separate bowl.
- *Possible substitutes include Gruyère, provolone, Gouda or Emmental.
Drink Pairings
BANANA BREAD DOUGHNUTS WITH CRANBERRY & GRAND MARNIER GLAZE
Spoil your valentine by making this unforgettable brunch item.Ingredients
Serves Makes about 12 doughnuts
1 cup (250 ml) all-purpose flour
½ cup (125 ml) dark brown sugar
½ tsp (2.5 ml) fine sea salt
1 tsp (5 ml) baking powder
2 large overripe bananas, peeled
2½ tbsp (37 ml) unsalted butter, melted
1 large egg
1 cup (250 ml) fresh or frozen cranberries
2 tbsp (30 ml) Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge
1 cup (250 ml) icing sugar
edible rose petals, edible gold and/or freeze-dried raspberries, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- To make doughnuts, preheat oven to 350 F (180 C). Spray 2 doughnut pans* with non-stick spray and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, brown sugar, salt and baking powder.
- In a separate medium bowl, mash bananas until liquified, then whisk in melted butter and egg. Gently fold banana mixture into flour mixture until just combined. Transfer batter into a piping bag fitted with a plain round tip and pipe doughnut batter into prepared doughnut moulds to fill ¾ full. Place filled doughnut moulds on a baking tray and bake until doughnuts are golden brown and spring back when lightly pressed, about 15 to 20 minutes. Allow doughnuts to cool in pan for 10 minutes and then remove and allow to cool completely on a wire rack.
- While doughnuts cool, make cranberry and Grand Marnier glaze. In a small saucepan over medium heat, bring cranberries and Grand Marnier to a gentle simmer. Continue to simmer until cranberries start to burst and mixture reduces slightly, about 2 to 3 minutes. Using a fine mesh sieve over a medium bowl, strain cranberry mixture, pressing fruit with back of a spoon or rubber spatula. Be sure to scrape underside of sieve, where most of the strained pulp will accumulate. You should have about 2 tbsp (30 ml) of fruit pulp in bowl. Discard contents of strainer. Sift icing sugar over pulp and whisk until smooth and completely incorporated.
- Working with 1 doughnut at a time, dip each banana bread doughnut, top-side down, into freshly made glaze. Allow any excess drip off before inverting and returning to wire rack. Sprinkle with edible rose petals, edible gold and crushed, freeze-dried raspberries, if desired. Let sit at room temperature for 1 hour before serving, allowing the glaze to set.
- *Doughnut pan used for this recipe was 2.65-in x 0.85-in. If you change pan size it will yield fewer doughnuts.
Drink Pairings
DUTCH BABY PANCAKES WITH LIMONCELLO CURD & MERINGUE
Spoil your valentine by making this unforgettable brunch item.Ingredients
Serves 4**
6 large egg yolks
1 cup + ½ cup (250 ml + 125 ml) granulated sugar, divided
⅓ cup (75 ml) Limoncello liquor
2 tbsp (30 ml) fresh lemon zest
½ cup + 3 tbsp (125 ml + 45 ml) unsalted butter, divided
4 large eggs
⅔ cup (150 ml) milk
⅔ cup (150 ml) all-purpose flour
1 tsp (5 ml) vanilla extract
½ tsp (2.5 ml) kosher salt
2 tbsp (30 ml) peanut oil
2 large egg whites
1 pinch cream of tartar
fresh raspberries, for garnish
Instructions
- To make limoncello curd, place a medium saucepan filled with about 1-in (2.5 cm) water over medium-low heat. In a medium heatproof bowl, whisk together egg yolks and 1 cup (250 ml) sugar until smooth and light in colour, about 2 minutes. Place bowl on top of simmering saucepan. Bowl should be resting just above water and not touching it. Using a rubber spatula, stir mixture, taking care to scrape down sides and bottom of bowl, until mixture is very warm and no granules of sugar can be felt when a small amount is rubbed between your fingers, about 5 to 7 minutes. Add limoncello and lemon zest and continue to stir until fully incorporated. Continue to cook mixture, stirring often, until mixture is thick enough to coat spatula and is hot, about another 5 minutes. Remove bowl from heat. Cut ½ cup (125 ml) butter into ½-in (1 cm) pieces. Whisk butter, 1 piece at a time, into limoncello mixture. Allow each piece of butter to melt before folding in next one. Place a piece of plastic wrap or parchment paper directly on surface of warm curd and allow to cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until chilled and thick, about 4 hours. Curd can be made ahead and stored in refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.*
- When ready to make Dutch baby pancakes, place an oven rack in middle position, then preheat oven to 400 F (200 C).
- On stovetop or in microwave oven, melt remaining 3 tbsp (45 ml) butter and set aside to cool to room temperature.
- In a medium bowl, whisk milk, eggs, flour, salt and vanilla. Add melted butter and whisk to create a smooth batter. Set aside.
- Divide peanut oil between four 6-in (15 cm) individual cast iron skillets, place on a rimmed baking tray and place in oven to preheat oil until just smoking hot, about 6 minutes. Carefully remove tray skillets are on and immediately divide batter among hot skillets. There should be a little more than ½ cup (125 ml) in each. Take care, as it may splatter and hiss. Return baking tray with filled skillets back to oven and bake until Dutch babies pancakes are dramatically puffed and golden brown, about 15 to 20 minutes. Once baked, remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Dutch baby will deflate a bit, but that is expected.
- While Dutch babies are baking, make meringue. In bowl of a stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment, start whipping egg whites and cream of tartar over medium-high heat until soft peaks form. Slowly incorporate sugar, adding 1 tbsp (15 ml) at a time and letting it whip for about 30 seconds before adding next sugar addition. Once all the sugar has been added, let meringue whip on high for another 2 minutes. Meringue should be stiff and glossy. Set aside.
- Once Dutch baby pancakes are baked, place about 2 tbsp (30 ml) limoncello curd in sunken part of Dutch baby and top with a generous dollop of meringue. Gently toast meringue under broiler, or with a kitchen blowtorch, until lightly caramelized. Transfer Dutch babies, still in their skillet, to towel-lined serving plates. Garnish with fresh raspberries and serve immediately.
- *You will have more limoncello curd than necessary for the recipe. Use leftover limoncello curd spread on toast, stirred into yogurt or as a filling for cakes or pastries.
- **If making for 2, extra batter keeps well refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Just give it a whisk before using.