The Ranting Cook

Who doesn't want to learn how to make a homemade Caesar dressing that’s lightened up with Greek yogurt, skips the eggs, and can be ready to go in about 5 minutes? Talk about fast and delicious! INGREDIENTS: 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt (I used non-fat) 1/2 cup freshly-grated Parmesan cheese 3-4 tablespoons milk 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 2 teaspoons anchovy paste 2 teaspoons worcestershire sauce 1 clove garlic, pressed or minced 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 1/4 teaspoon se

I’m a HUGE fan of homemade broths. It saves money, there’s less waste and it is far healthier for you. I freeze my broth in one or two cup portions to use as a base or for making rice. Are you wondering what vegetables make good stock or broth and what ones should be left out?  Check out this guide. I’ve even made it alphabetical to make it easy to find what you’re looking for. Acorn Squash The peels are great for stock, but the flesh is too starchy and should be left out. As

This blueberry lime jam is now my official blueberry jam. (Sorry mom). The citrus is a beautiful addition and cuts through the sweetness a bit. Note:  Be sure not to deviate from the ingredient measurements or methods-fruit pectin requires a certain amount of sugar, acid and cooking time to form a proper gel. Makes about 6 to 8 x 250 ml jars. INGREDIENTS: 4-1/2 cups crushed blueberries Grated zest and juice of 1 large lime (2 Tbsp juice + 2 tsp zest) 1 pkg (57 g) Original Fru

This chipotle honey dressing is perfect for salads, marinades, roasted veggies, tacos and whatever else you can dream up! The incredible blend of flavours include smokey chipotles and tangy lime juice and sweet honey all paired together.  Get your taste buds ready for a tasty assault. INGREDIENTS: 3/4 cups extra-virgin olive oil or avocado oil 1/4 cup red wine vinegar 2 tablespoons honey 1-2 chipotles in adobo, plus an extra teaspoon of the adobo sauce 2 garlic cloves 2 table

These are so frigging tasty! The dip is great as a stand alone but when added to the Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Jalapeños it's simply divine. Bacon Jalapeño Dip (on its own) INGREDIENTS: 8 ounces cream cheese (room temp) 1 cup mayonnaise 1 cup sharp cheddar 3 diced green onions 1 diced jalapeno *omit if making stuffed jalapeños 8 slices of cooked bacon, chopped into small pieces INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Mix together cream cheese and mayo until smooth. Add diced green onions, jalapeños &

There’s not much I like better than a well laid out Cheese and Charcuterie Board. I’m a lover of all things cheese and olive as well as variety so it’s a no brainer. I’m pretty picky though as I find there is usually “something” missing. Here’s how I go about creating the perfect board that’s both delicious and eye catching. Start with everything ready and in front of you before you start putting it on the board. I can’t tell you enough how much this will make a difference.

I’ve been asked a few times for a “new” potato salad recipe. So I combined some of my favourite flavours and this Dill and Jalapeño Potato Salad was the taste bud popping result! Don’t skip the part where you toss the potatoes with the juice. Trust me on this one. You can add as many Jalapeños as you’d like if you prefer more heat. Ingredients: 5 pounds red potatoes, skin on 1 tsp kosher salt 2 tablespoons jalapeño juice 2 bunches green onions, green part only, thinly sli

I stopped in at a local eatery here in Fort McMurray called Chez Max. If you haven’t had the pleasure of 1) eating their amazing food or 2) met the fantastic ladies that make all that taste bud smashing food do yourself the favour. It’s a fun environment with the brightly coloured decor, island music and the waft of yummy food smells. I picked up a box of spicy beef patties, a bottle of their in house brand of hot sauce (OMG)and some ginger beer for my favourite type of “Mo

Calling all watermelon lovers. Oh yeah, all you tequila lovers can join us too! INGREDIENTS: 2 oz Tequila 4 oz Watermelon Chopped and seeded 1 oz Fresh Lime Juice 1 oz Agave Nectar Splash of Lemon Juice INSTRUCTIONS: All in a blender. Zap a few times and pour into a glass with ice... #drink #easyrecipes #fastrecipes #bestrecipes #summerdrinks #watermelon #tequila #lime

This classic balsamic vinaigrette with maple has always been one of my favourite dressings. It's such a versatile recipe and can be used as a marinade and to baste meats and veggies on the BBQ. INGREDIENTS: 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard 1 clove garlic, pressed or minced 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt 1/4 teaspoon freshly-cracked black pepper 1-2 tablespoons maple syrup (or honey), to taste (optional add-ins: 1 tablespoon minced fr

I’m a HUGE fan of homemade broths. It saves money, there’s less waste and it is far healthier for you. I freeze my broth in one or two cup portions to use as a base or for making rice. Are you wondering what vegetables make good stock or broth and what ones should be left out? Check out this guide. I’ve even made it alphabetical to make it easy to find what you’re looking for. Acorn Squash The peels are great for stock, but the flesh is too starchy and should be left out. A

There's not too many sauces or dips I like more than home made tzatziki. It's so fresh and summery tasting and it goes with so many dishes it's crazy or just as a simple dip for crackers or bread. I've been known to buy store bought but I usually find them too salty and processed tasting. Tzatziki is actually super easy to make. So take a few minutes and make the real deal. Makes 3 cups INGREDIENTS: 2 cups full-fat plain Greek yogurt 4 garlic cloves, peeled and minced 1 large

This Crispy Buffalo Buttermilk Oven Fried Chicken is so moist and juicy with just the right amount of spice. It’s baked, not fried so it’s healthier, yet you still get that great crunchy coating. INGREDIENTS: 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts 1 cup low fat buttermilk ( recipe ) 1/4 cup buffalo hot sauce* 1 cup Panko bread crumbs 1 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 1 teaspoon paprika 1/2 teaspoon seasoning salt 3+ tablespoons canola or grape

There’s nothing more annoying than when a recipe calls for a half or a cup of buttermilk.  If you buy a carton you usually end up throwing the rest out. This easy homemade buttermilk recipe gives you exactly how much you need.  Increase or decrease ingredient amounts as needed. Your Sunday morning pancakes and fried chicken will thank you. INGREDIENTS: 1 cup whole milk 1 teaspoon lemon juice or white vinegar INSTRUCTIONS: Mix your acid together with your milk. Many people pre

The first time I made homemade soup from scratch it literally changed my life. Ok, that may be a slight exaggeration, but I never buy processed soup anymore.  Basically because it sucks bigtime. I always thought it must be hard to do. Imagine my amazement at how easy it all was. My soup making talents have grown as I’ve experimented over the years. I’ll share some of my tips and tricks on this post to help you skip that learning curve and get straight to the good stuff. Befor

Yes, I’m still in love with my Instant Pot. It’s like a super cool boyfriend that keeps buying you flowers even after the “honeymoon phase”. Or in my case skidoo parts lol. This Risotto with peas and artichokes is delicious and pretty on the plate. And the best part about the Instant Pot is it eliminates the constant stirring that’s usually needed. The number one reason most people don’t make it. There’s something to be said for the pain in the a$$ factor in life. INGREDIENTS

Mmm Butter Chicken. My absolute favourite  of all the exotic dishes. I call it the gateway dish to learn to love curry lol. And now it's ridiculously fast and easy to make thanks to the Instant Pot. Serves: 6 INGREDIENTS: 3 tbsp butter unsalted 8 cloves garlic minced 2 tsp fresh ginger minced (or paste) 1 cup tomato puree or passata 2 tbsp tomato paste 3 tsp garam masala 1 tbsp coriander ground 1 tsp cumin ground 1 tbsp smoked paprika 1 tsp turmeric 1 tsp salt 2 lbs chicken t

What I love most about this One Pot Taco Pasta is how pretty and colorful it is, because you know we eat with our eyes first. If you're a cheese lover then the more cheese the better.  I know I only list one cup of shredded cheese in the ingredients list, but hell, go big or go home. Some of you will be like "omg the calories!"  I say forget about them, go for the cheese! And then maybe go for a walk :) Serves: 6 INGREDIENTS: 1 lb ground beef 1 small onion, chopped 3 cloves g

A new, easy and fun way to enjoy your burger. Let the kids help build their own and they are more likely to eat it. INGREDIENTS: 4 slices bacon 1/2 onion, chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 lb. ground beef 1 tube refrigerated biscuit dough 2 dill pickles, chopped 1 c. shredded Cheddar yellow mustard 4 tbsp. butter, melted sesame seeds Ketchup, for serving DIRECTIONS: Preheat oven to 375° and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook ba

It's fall and everywhere I look somebody, somewhere is adding pumpkin pie spice to something. Well who says you have to wait until fall? With this homemade version you can have it all year round in anything you'd like. INGREDIENTS: 3 tbsp. ground cinnamon 2 tsp. ground ginger 2 tsp. nutmeg 1 1/2 tsp. ground allspice 1 1/2 tsp. ground cloves INSTRUCTIONS: 1.  Combine spices well. 2. Store in airtight container #homemade #TheRantingCook #TerriWindover #nutritionist #easyrecipes