Stuffed Cannelloni

I finally cooked something. 

Yesterday I whipped up an easy cannelloni.  It totally hit the spot.

Italian Sausage, Ricotta and Spinach Stuffed Cannelloni

1-2 T olive oil
1/2 white onion, diced
1/2 yellow bell pepper (or any colour), diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 Italian sausages (casings removed)
1 cup ricotta cheese
1 cup (packed) spinach, chopped
3-4 fresh basil leaves, chopped
1 box cannelloni
1 jar tomato pasta sauce
Grated cheese for on top

Heat the oil on medium in a high sided pan.  Once hot, add the onion, bell pepper and garlic.  Cook until soft (5 minutes or so).  Add the sausage and break up in the pan.  Cook until done.  Meanwhile boil water and cook the noodles.  Once the sausage is done add the ricotta and chopped spinach and basil.  Stir until combined.  Fill the noodles with the mixture and lay in a greased pan.  Cover with tomato sauce and shredded cheese and bake for about 1/2 hour at 350.

 

 

 

Although these cannelloni tasted great, it was really annoying trying to stuff them.  I usually stick to stuffing giant shells because it is easier.  I made such a mess trying to get the filling in these darn things.

I haven't been cooking much ... but I have been juicing!  The other day I juiced 2 grapefruits and some watermelon.  It was a great combination and a pretty colour too :-)

Today is my dad's 71st birthday!  Happy Birthday Dad!!!  Tonight I am going out for supper with him for something related to his work, and then tomorrow the family is taking him out for a fun dinner at Teppanyaki.

Have you ever stuffed cannelloni?  Do you find it as much of a pain as I do?

BBQ & Breakfast

The weather is still gloomy, but us Saskatchewanians are hardcore and BBQ anyway.  I enjoyed some of Costco's maple chipotle short ribs this week, as well as some BBQd chicken with ginger noodles.

 

 

My dad took the family out for breakfast this morning where I had Smitty's eggs Benedict.  It wasn't great, but I did like that the fruit bowl contained good fruit and no stinky melons.  The worst is a fruit bowl that is full of cantaloupe and honeydew, which are two fruits I could do without.

Smitty's makes a decent breakfast ... but a homemade one is always better.

Mmmmmm mmmmm!

I have two fun dinners that I am looking forward to this week - both with family.  

What are you looking forward to this week?

Raining Weather Eating

It has been gloomy and dreary outside the last couple of days ... but inside, all is good.

My girlfriend Shauna invited me at the last minute this evening to come over for some tiki masala.  There was no way I was turning that down!  Her roommate Alan made it, and I happily devoured this plate full.

Yesterday I was also treated to a homemade sushi dinner.  Mmmmmm!  Enjoyed with some kimchi, tea, smoked oysters and mandoo, it was the perfect dinner for a raining evening inside. 

The BBQ can wait.  I am enjoying this rainy weather eating.

Do you ever have dinner with friends during the week?  Is it raining where you are?

Yubuchobap

I am loving yubuchobap these days.  If you haven't heard of these little Korean pockets of deliciousness, you need to remedy that situation stat.  They are seasoned tofu pockets stuffed with rice.  The seasoned tofu pockets, as well as the mix-ins for the rice come in this package:

The only other thing you need to do is make some sticky rice (I used a mixture of sticky rice and black rice).  After making the rice you dump in some vinegar stuff and a packet of seeds, and then fill the pockets.

One package has enough stuff for 3 batches (the picture above is one batch).

Deeeeelish!

That has been the extent of my cooking in May, and I wouldn't call it cooking!  Other than that I have stopped at Robin's a few times:

 

I ate a sandwich at a local restaurant, Rock Creek.

 

And a scrumptious plate of food at Afghan Kabob & Donair in Saskatoon this weekend.  This place I will return to.  Very soon.

I ate it allllll up.  Afghani food makes Jolene a very happy girl.

A bubble tea next door made for a great finish to the best meal I have had in a month. 

I had a great weekend.  When is the next one? 

How was your weekend?  Have you ever had yubuchobap?  If not, get your butt to the local Korean market and doooo it up!  Do you like bubble tea?  What kind do you order?

Perfect Summer Meal

Sun is shining ... the weather is sweet.

Steelhead Trout & Salad with Sesame Ginger Dressing

 When it's hot outside ... this is what I eat :-)

I hope you're Monday has been as good as mine.

What did you have for dinner this evening?

Friday Night

My Friday evening was spent watching my precious 5 year old nephew play in his second soccer game.  He had so much fun.  My favourite moment was when he ran over to tell us that he took some kid's shoe in the mouth.  His dad said "right on" and gave him a high five ... and Giovanni ran back into the game.

He is a little trooper.

 

 

 

I realized after the game that I hadn't eaten supper, and stopped to pick up a flamethrower burger from DQ.

I had forgotten how good DQ burgers are.  It had been a while.

I went to bed early last night and am now enjoying a relaxing morning.  I think I am on my 3rd pot of green tea.  I also juiced for the first time in months (green pepper, pear, grapefruit, orange), and ate an apple with cinnamon raisin PB while watching videos on YouTube.  

Ahhh, lazy Saturday mornings.  

My thesis work is out of my hands for a while, and I have been enjoying the abundance of free time.

What are you up to this weekend?

Cinco De Mayo

Since it was Cinco de Mayo on Saturday, a Mexican meal was in order.  We used our dishes that are straight from Mexico ... they made the food taste more authentic :-)

First up was pico de gallo and guacamole with chips.

Then we had one of my favourite soups - a black bean, chicken, chipotle soup.

I serve it with cilantro, sour cream and lime that can be added according to one's preference.

The main course was pibil pork stuffed crepes with a poblano pepper sauce and Mexican rice.

 

 

I marinated the pork for a few hours before cooking it, then shredded it and rolled it in the crepes with some shredded cheese. 

 

 

 

The poblano pepper sauce was made with garlic, onions, poblano peppers, cream and a bit of salt.  I roasted the peppers for a bit under the broiler and peeled the skin off before using them.

We also enjoyed homemade bread throughout the meal.

Dessert was sopapilla cheesecake pie.

Before baking:

After:

Served:

I love Mexican food, and Cinco de Mayo is always a great reason to spend the day in the kitchen.

After this fabulous dinner I headed to a club to hear Criminal Kid play.  They are a wicked local band, fronted by my bloggy buddy Allysia from The Real Meal.  If they are ever in your neck of the woods, be sure to check 'em out! 

How was your weekend?  

Did you do anything to celebrate Cinco de Mayo?

Feeeeeeed Me!

I really need to eat.

My appetite has been nonexistent for quite some time.  I ate well in NY, but since being home I haven't been able to stomach much.  Nothing sounds appealing.  I have actually been picking up Booster Juice occasionally (which I don't even really like), because smoothies are better than nothing.

While out for breakfast on Sunday, the thought of breakfast food made me nauseated.  Instead I ordered Mexican Pickle Soup!?  and a side of fruit.  (FYI - No, I am not pregnant).

I expected the soup to be a little more creative, but it basically tasted like a light cream based vegetable soup with some dill in it.  

 

There were a few pieces of pickle, but not enough to make it interesting.  I ate about half.

Breakfast at home as been egg in a hole ... usually a favourite of mine, but I've been choking it down.  

I really have to get back in the kitchen!  Expect something a little more exciting this weekend.

Have you cooked anything interesting lately, or are you in a cooking funk like me?