The Ranting Cook

Chocolate cookie with chocolate coffee ganache…too good! And then, because I was feeling all fancy and just happened to have it on hand, I decorated these cookies with edible gold leaf. Yeah, edible gold leaf, super fun right? Kind of lovin’ these right now. They're so pretty I almost don't beat any to eat them. Almost... Ingredients: 2 cup sticks unsalted butter softened 1 cup granulated sugar 1 egg 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1 tablespoon instant espresso powder 2 cups all-

I’ve tried to make many basil soups before and I recently realized that over-heating it was my biggest mistake. The basil gets bruised and it can turn bitter. By keeping the soup at room temp, it retains all of its fresh, vibrant flavor. The only things that gets cooked here are the leeks and the garlic croutons. After that, it all goes into the blender and bam! There’s no cream or milks in this recipe . The blended zucchini and a scoop of hemp seeds makes this soup nice and

I planted a lot of basil this year as it's my favourite herb to use in cooking. Every year I have the best of intentions to take it indoors but unfortunately I never follow through and a lot goes to waste at the end of the season. So I've come up with a solution to use it all up and be frugal at the same time. Who doesn't want to save a few dollars? Makes 1/2 cup Ingredients: 3 cups packed basil leaves 1/4 cup olive oil 1 tablespoon lemon juice Instructions: Add all of the in

Oh my goodness. THIS. SOUP. I’m completely addicted. I just couldn’t stop eating it. It’s the perfect amount of sour and savory and the thickness is just right. I’m just in love with it. The kind of love where you want to eat it for dinner and breakfast. I know you get me. If you love dill pickles, then this is the soup you've been waiting for. Ingredients: 5-1/2 cups chicken broth 1-3/4 pounds russet potatoes, peeled and quartered 2 cups chopped carrots (smaller dice) 1 cup

My Gramma was awesome. She was sweet, a great cook and managed to outlive two husbands – all while running a working farm complete with cattle, pigs, chickens, crops and a massive garden. Thanks to weekends at the farm, I learned the value of hard work, how to sling hay bales and how to sneak eggs out from underneath cranky chickens. She always had something good baking in the stove and a well thought out tidbit of advice when I needed it (never leave the house without lip gl

INGREDIENTS: FOR THE DRESSING: 1/3 c. extra-virgin olive oil 1/3 c. lime juice 3 tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro 1 tbsp. hot sauce 1/2 tsp. cumin 1 tsp. kosher salt FOR THE SALAD: 1 c. black beans 1 small red onion, finely chopped 1 c. corn 1 c. cherry tomatoes, quartered 1 c. black eyed peas 2 orange bell peppers, chopped 1 avocado, chopped Corn chips, for serving DIRECTIONS: 1. In a small bowl, make dressing: Whisk together olive oil, lime juice, cilantro, hot sauce, cumin,

It’s Sunday. This is the perfect hangover food. This Avocado Bavon Baguette with Honey will save your soul. Trust me. I know this to be true today :/ INGREDIENTS: 4 slices French baguette, sliced on the diagonal and lightly toasted 1 medium, ripe avocado 1 slice bacon, cooked and crumbled honey DIRECTIONS: Cook bacon and remove excess grease with paper towel. Mash the avocado in a small bowl. Spread the mashed avocado on the toasts. Sprinkle with bacon and drizzle with honey.

Old Bay Seasoning is like my own personal Snuffleupugus. I can NEVER find it. So now I'll never have to :) Yield: 1/2 cup 2 tablespoons bay leaf powder 2 tablespoons celery salt (or 1 tbls. ground celery seed and 1 tbls. salt) 1 tablespoon dry mustard 2 teaspoons ground black pepper 2 teaspoons ground ginger 2 teaspoons sweet paprika (smoked paprika is even better if you can find it!) 1 teaspoon white pepper 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1 teaspoon ground cloves 1 teaspoon ground

One little thing about these bars…they are messy, but in the best way possible. The cookie base is meant to be baked so that the center of the bars is slightly underdone. The caramel is meant to be the perfect state of not too runny, but definitely not solid either. These two components create one seriously mess bar, BUT trust me, it’s worth every sticky caramel smear. makes 18-20 bars Ingredients: Cookie Base: 2 sticks unsalted butter 2/3 cup light brown sugar 1/2 cup granu

About those wraps you see down there. Those beautiful mouth-watering wraps. They are good. Crispy, peanuty and slightly spicy. You'll eat more than one so loosen your belt. Ingredients: 1 pound chicken breasts, about 3 breasts 1 tablespoons soy sauce 1 tablespoons sesame oil 1/2 cup chunky peanut butter room temp 1/2 cup coconut milk 1 tablespoon brown sugar 4 tablespoons soy sauce 1 tablespoon hot chili sesame oil 2 tablespoon rice wine vinegar or white vinegar 1/2 teaspoon

They don’t call them simple syrups for nothing; these are so simple to make and they payoff is delicious. Not only will you have an easy way to add excitement to club soda (finally, a non-boring drink to serve guests who aren’t imbibing, which is so right now), you’ll also be one step closer to making an impressive cocktail. They will keep two weeks in the refrigerator. Make them in advance so you have them on hand for guests or to treat yourself. Ingredients: Orange Vanill

The temperature of your ingredients in baking affects texture, shape and taste. Understanding which basic baking ingredients should be at which temperature – and why – can change you from a nervous baker to a confident one who whips up cookies on a whim. Read on…you may want to preheat your oven before you start. Baking ingredient temperature cheat sheet Butter: Room temperature for cakes and cookies. Butter should be at room temperature for most cake and cookie recipes so i

I call this sunshine in a bottle. Sweet, boozy sunshine. If you’ve never had a sip of the Italian lemon liqueur known as limoncello, you’re in for a treat. Homemade limoncello completely blows away the store-bought stuff, and it’s super simple to make. While many commercial imports tend to be too sweet, homemade limoncello can be made as strong or as mild as you wish. Let it sit a while to age into a bright, smooth sipper, and your concoction could rival some of the finest in

This drink is even better if you make it with my homemade Limoncello!  It tastes like summer. Ingredients: 2 oz Limoncello 2 oz Triple Sec 2 oz Sweet & Sour Mix 2 oz Lemon Lime Soda Instructions: Build in a glass with ice.... #limoncello #TripleSec #drink #summerdrinks #TerriWindover #DefineFit #TheRantingCook

Um what? You love me? Wait until after you drink it, you'll be willing me your first born lol. INGREDIENTS: Lemon wedge, for rimming glasses Coarse salt, for rimming glasses 2 c. ice 2 c. Pink lemonade 1/4 c. fresh lemon juice 1/4 c. triple sec 1 c. tequila 4 Lemon Slices, for garnish DIRECTIONS: 1. Rub a lemon wedge around the rim of four glasses, then dip rims into salt. 2. To each glass, add ice, pink lemonade, lemon juice, triple sec, and tequila. Stir to combine. (if you

Layers of roasted rhubarb, tart raspberries, dark chocolate chunks and almond meal. It’s all soaked in a rich, eggy custard, and then baked until slightly puffy, springy and golden. INGREDIENTS: 4-5 stems rhubarb finely granted zest of ½ orange 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 large brioche loaf- I used 1.5 loaves from this recipe and it was about 900g total 6 eggs 1 cup cream 2 cups whole milk ¾ cups Rogers Berry sugar + 4 tablespoons, divided 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 180g dark chocol

Forget that canned stuff. This version packs a punch with charred, fresh corn and jalapeño. Serves: 6 INGREDIENTS: 6 ears corn, shucked 2 tbsp. butter 2 tbsp. all-purpose flour 1 c. milk 2 tbsp. cream cheese, softened 1/4 c. Shredded Monterey Jack 1 jalapeño, minced (optional) kosher salt Freshly ground black pepper 2 tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro DIRECTIONS: Preheat grill or grill pan to high. Grill corn until kernels are charred and slightly softened, 10 minutes. Once cooled

It's a margarita! It's a pie! It's a margarita pie! Seriously, this is genius! Before you ask, no you cannot come over for a piece as it's all gone :) INGREDIENTS: FOR THE CRUST 2 1/2 c. pretzels 4 graham crackers 6 tbsp. melted butter 1/4 c. granulated sugar FOR THE FILLING 1 can sweetened condensed milk 1/4 c. tequila 1/4 c. lime juice 2 tbsp. triple sec pinch of salt 8 oz. Cool Whip, defrosted Zest of 1 lime (plus more for garnish) Small lime wedges for garnish DIRECTIONS:

These show stopper cookies capture the attention of anyone that sees them. They were my favourite treat at the Italian bakery when I was a child. The lemony cookie filled with zesty orange ricotta beg for sun and summer guests. Mixing up the cookies is effortless, though you’ll need to pick up a small craft brush for the finishing touches. Yield: 25 cookies. RICOTTA FILLING INGREDIENTS: 500g(2 cups + 2 tablespoon) ricotta cheese 110g(1/2 cup) white granulated sugar 1 teaspoon

INGREDIENTS: 3 oz Rum 1 Cup Blueberries 1 1/2 oz Fresh Lime Juice Splashes of Triple Sec INSTRUCTIONS: Combine all with ice in a blender. Blend until desired consistency... #blueberries #drink #summer #TerriWindover #DefineFit #TheRantingCook #triplesec