Mac & Cheese

Photo Courtesy of Epicure Selections

The Seasoning for Mac and Cheese is a staple in our house. So much so, that I actually keep extras on hand so I never run out. So much so, that when one jar empties I will place an order for another one. So much so... okay you get the picture. My daughter, almost 6, will put this on anything. I'm pretty sure she'd lick the pot if I let her.

Here is the recipe that is provided on the jar:

Ingredients

1 1/4 cups (310 ml) bite-sized pasta - any kind
2 Tbsp (30 ml) milk
1/3 cup (80 ml) Epicure's Seasoning for Mac & Cheese
2 Tbsp (30 ml) butter – optional

Instructions

1. Cook pasta according to package directions in Epicure's Multi-Purpose Pot. Drain and return to pot.
2. Stir in milk, Seasoning for Mac & Cheese and butter, if desired. Stir to coat.

 

The kids I babysit love this on spaghetti noodles and it's a healthier alternative to those "other guys". Remember, Epicure uses only natural ingredients.

 

I have made the cheese sauce using this recipe in a small pot, obviously omitting the pasta and it's great on veggies. Of course, if you ask Madeline she likes it on veggies... potatoes... meat... dessert. Well, maybe not dessert, but you get the idea. It tastes better, it's better for you, how can you go wrong?

Mini Doughnuts

Photo Courtesy of Epicure Selections.

Since we're going into the Fall Catalogue I thought I'd showcase one of the new Fall products this week. (I know, I'm 2 days late with this post. I apologize.) This week I'm looking at the Mini Doughnut maker. This amazing little product makes amazing little treats! Pair it with sprinkles (dark and white chocolate) and you have the Mini Doughnut DIY kit ($34). It's well worth it because the sprinkles are just as great.

The doughnut maker is made of silicon and it helps get the doughnuts out way easier because all you have to do is give it a little twist, if that. I find that my doughnuts just fall out when I flip it over. Here's the recipe:

Just before I mixed the wet and dry.
This is a batch of chocolate ones! Yum!

2 cups (500 ml) all-purpose flour    

1 Tbsp (15 ml) Epicure’s Baking Powder
1/2 tsp (2.5 ml) finely ground Epicure’s Sea Salt
1 tsp (5 ml) Epicure’s Cinnamon (Ground)
   
3/4 cup (180 ml) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup (250 ml) sugar    
2 eggs
1/2 cup (125 ml) low-fat milk, divided    
1 tsp (5 ml) Epicure’s Pure Vanilla Extract

 

 

After everything is combined.
Put it into a Ziploc bag for piping
into the mould.

1. Preheat oven to 400° F (205°C). 

2. In a bowl, using Epicure’s Piano Wire Whisk, whisk first 4 ingredients.

3. In a second bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until creamy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.

4. Slowly mix in dry mixture and milk in batches: 3 batches dry; 2 batches milk mixed with Pure Vanilla. Be careful not to over mix.

5. Using Epicure’s Silicone Basting Brush, lightly brush Doughnut Mold with vegetable oil. Pipe or spoon dough into Doughnut Mold, filling wells 2/3 full.

6. Bake until a toothpick comes out clean, approximately 12–15 minutes.

 

 

Let me tell you, I got this kit about 2 weeks ago and I'm crazy in love. Cue floating little hearts that are doughnuts. I will make doughnuts 2 times a week because they are so delicious. Don't get me wrong, I don't eat them all myself... okay I eat 50% of them... alright it's 75%. Oh who am I kidding, my jeans are getting tighter! The best time to eat them is fresh out of the oven. Dip in a little chocolate. Scrumptious!

 

Here are a couple of suggestions. If you want to reduce your carbon footprint you can always get a piping bag and clean it out when you're done to be used again. My optimum cooking time is 13 minutes. It makes them light and fluffy and still easy to get out without being over or under cooked. I make 48 doughnuts consistently when using this recipe. Lastly, I save time by using a spray oil instead of brushing oil into the moulds.

 

What about toppings you say? What will the sprinkles stick to? Oh, the list is endless! Try adding some chocolate chips to milk, nuking in the microwave for 20 seconds and you have a great chocolate ganache (my personal favourite!). Mix some icing sugar and milk for a sugary glaze. My kids like this one because we add food colouring and make it fun. My son recently chose red and blue for his birthday doughnuts. Some other options are chocolate and Epicure's new Dukka seasoning for a nutty crunch. Or how about some chai spice? Nutella, anyone? The options are endless!! That's what makes these so great!

 

 

 

Swap out some flour for cocoa powder and you have chocolate mini doughnuts. Melt some peanut butter in the microwave and float away to heaven on a mini doughnut. It makes my mouth water just thinking about it! I feel like I'm in Oz... "I'll get you my pretties! And your little sprinkles too!" But they're not as sinfully delicious as other doughnuts. Save 1/2 the fat and a quarter of the sodium! Plus, unlike the other guys - you know what's going into your doughnuts. No monogluto-something-or-others. Just plain goodness. Enjoy my friend, enjoy!

Fettuccini Alfredo

Photo Courtesy of Epicure Selections

I decided to try out the fettuccini alfredo this week. It was a huge hit!! Not only that, it was ridiculously easy to make AND I only used ONE pot. I like it when I don't have that many dishes to do.

This recipe includes the Caesar Salad dressing seasoning. See? And you thought it was only to make salad dressing. Here's the recipe:

Epicure's Fettuccini Alfredo
1/2 lb (225 g) dried fettuccine or spaghetti    
2/3 cup (160 ml) whipping cream    
2 Tbsp (30 ml) Epicure's Caesar Dressing Seasoning
2 Tbsp (30 ml) butter
1/3 cup (80 ml) freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Epicure's Black Pepper, coarsely ground, to taste
1 Tbsp (15 ml) chives

1. In Epicure's Pasta Pot, cook pasta according to package directions.
2. Drain and return to pot. Pour in cream, Caesar Dressing, butter and Parmesan cheese.
3. Toss with two forks and pile into individual pasta bowls.
4. Top with coarsely ground Black Pepper and a sprinkling of chives.

Okay, I should note here that I did not have whipping cream so I substituted milk and it was very good. It was also very rich with 2% milk so I'd be apprehensive to try straight whipping cream. Maybe a  mixture? It would make it a bit creamier that's for sure. Another difference was that I used Epicure's Black Pepper and Garlic grinder. Oh...my... gosh! Talk about delicious! (This is also tasty if you're doing the mac and cheese recipe from our Mac and Cheese Seasoning).

Anyway, I made the pasta and just for the fun of it I set out my wet and dry ingredients ahead of time. I mixed the Caesar salad dressing seasoning and the parmesan cheese together. I also measured out the butter and milk and put them in a separate measuring cup. I'm not saying that this made it easier... I was just bored so I went onto the next step as much as I could.

Once the pasta was cooked I added the dry and wet ingredients to the pot. I put it over the warm burner and tried to mix it together. I actually mixed with a wooden spoon and not 2 forks but the same result happened.

As we were eating I was about to issue the standard "Eat your dinner, Madeline" when I looked over and both my kids had eaten their dinner!! I was amazed! Once again Epicure has made meal time in our house quick, easy and delicious.


I recommend that if you love alfredo you need to try out this recipe. It's so easy to make and dinner is on the table faster than you can set it. Enjoy!

 

Tacos!

Photo Courtesy of Epicure Selections.

This week, as per our meal plan, we had tacos. This was my first chance to try the taco seasoning out. Please note - I had opportunities to try it before but kept forgetting about it because, you know, that's how I roll. Anyway! As I was saying... I got to try out the taco seasoning. Isn't that little jar over there so cute? It may seem small but it packs a huge punch of great flavour!! Here is the recipe to help you get started on making your taco filling.

Delicious Taco Filling
1 lb (450 g) lean ground beef
3 Tbsp (45 ml) Epicure's Taco Seasoning    
1 cup (250 ml) water

It's simple. Brown your meat, add the seasoning and water and let it simmer for 15 minutes. Mmmm, mmmm, mmmm!!

Photo Courtesy of Epicure Selections.
 

Now, if you're like me, you know there is a recipe but hey, you've made tacos millions of times before and you can do it on your own. I browned my meat and added a couple spoonfuls of seasoning to about half a cup of water. (I rarely measure, not very conducive to a blog. I now realize that I will have to change that.) It smelled delicious as the curls of steam wafted through my kitchen.

The first thing that my husband noticed was that we didn't have any taco sauce. So we decided to substitute Epicure's Pico Picante Salsa that I had made earlier in the week. It was good, but a little went a long way. The first taco I put it on... I did not put a little. I was breathing fire from my mouth... okay I'm exaggerating, it was only steam. It was hot but it tasted delicious. My husband and I agreed that while the salsa good it was just a little overpowering which may be because I didn't use the whole 3 tbsps. when I made the filling. It was a bit too spicy for me anyway. My husband loved it.



No grease!! Photo Courtesy
of my iPhone.

As for the taco filling it was delicious. There was tons of flavour with just a couple things missing... salt and grease. I took a picture so you'd believe me. Did you know that 1 tsp (5 ml) of Epicure's Taco Seasoning contains only 10 mg of sodium! Store-bought brands can contain as much as 22 times that amount: 240 mg per 1 tsp (5 ml)!

So in the end it was delicious, nutritious and my kids loved it. Isn't that worth celebrating?

I did try to take a picture of my dear hubby enjoying his taco, but he didn't appreciate my offer so unfortunately this time there are no pictures of us enjoying our Taco adventure provided by Epicure.

My recommendation... try the taco seasoning. If you do store bought tacos you won't go back.