When I first moved over here twelve years ago . . . there were some things that you just couldn't find. Things like Betty Crocker cake mixes, Marshmallow Fluff,  and Skippy Peanut Butter, amongst other things.  You never know what you will miss until you can't have it any more . . .

 

Over those years I have had to learn to adapt some of my favourite recipes to use other ingredients that are available over here . . . but there were still some things that you just couldn't adapt no way . . . no how.  I used to bring back oodles of stuff each time I went over to Canada to visit my family.  Todd used to do a lot of moaning about that . . . but I just reminded him of how he would feel if he couldn't get marmite anymore!

The Rugby World Cup 2015 commences today, Friday the 18th of September and will be hosted this year on home soil.  The England team need the support of home fans and whether you're watching from home or make it along to the hallowed grounds of some of ruby's most inspiring pitches, you'll need some very English sustenance to keep you going.   To that end, The English Provender Co has come up with some of the best recipes for snacks and nibbles to watch each match,  beginning with these delicious Pork and Piccalilli Pies!

 

Using the leftover buttercream, assemble the top of the cake, placing 5 Cadbury Creme Egg halves on top along side meringue kisses.


Once set, take out from the refrigerator and remove the tin with care. Remove the acetate.  Drizzle over some white chocolate, dark chocolate and caramel sauce in a criss cross pattern.  Cut the mini creme eggs in half lengthways and arrange around the outside of the cheesecake.  





  Once the ganache has thickened and is of a spreadable consistency, fill a piping bag with it.  Pair up the macarons. Place a slice of the cadbury creme egg on the bottom sides of each of half of the shells, and pipe a ring of  ganach around each slice. Sandwich together with the remaining macarons. Voila! Cracking Creme Egg Macarons.   


For a handy printable of all three recipes please click here.   Make sure you pick up some extra eggs  just for munching on!   They are available in several different sizes.  It wouldn't be Easter without them! Happy Easter!

  

Can you guess what day this is?  You are right!  It is Meals of the Week Day!  The day when I gather together and share with you all the meals that I have cooked or eaten over the past week. 

You have all said that you enjoy these posts, and I actually find this very helpful myself, for a few reasons. One if helps me to look back on how I have been eating and perhaps make some changes in future weeks, and two, it helps me to plan my meals for the week ahead.

The temptation when one lives by themselves is to not cook, or to eat out of cans, bottles and boxes.  Frozen dinners, ready meals, etc. I don't want to be that person.  Already prepared food is quite expensive for one thing, and it is usually filled with salt, fat, sugar and a lot of other things I don't really want to be eating.

When I lived in the UK, eating small was a lot easier actually.  The UK is the King of the Ready Meal!  They have it down to an art and some of them are really quite good.  Marks and Spencer is the best at it. I used to love LOVE shopping there. Their ready meals were fabulous and did I live in the UK, I would probably eat more of them. 

I discovered this American couple on YouTube this week. The Magic Geekdom.  They had a whole video dedicated to shopping in M&S.  Do check it out if you are interested. They were huge fans. they made me feel quite homesick, and they were in the Chester M&S also, the one I used to shop at.

In any case, ready meals here in Canada cannot compare to M&S. I cook for myself all the time.  I might cheat every now and then and buy a rotisserie chicken, but who doesn't!

In any case these are the meals that I cooked for myself, or was treated to over the past week. I ate out twice and had dinner at my sister's on my Brother in Law's birthday, so not everything was cooked at home. I have provided recipes for those alternatives in the place of the restaurant food that are equal to or better then most of the restaurant food I had.

SUNDAY May 28th, Grilled BBQ Chicken

Usually on Sundays I go to my sister's for Sunday dinner. This week I had everyone here so that my sister could have the treat of going out golfing with her husband Dan.  Because I had church in the morning, I kept it really simple with some Grilled BBQ Chicken.

I also made a  Herbed Potato Salad. I had some baby potatoes that we had bought at Costco the other week that I wanted to use up and had everything in house ready to do it.  Its a very simple salad I think. Must easier than the mayonnaise type. It has a vinaigrette and herb dressing that you toss the warm potatoes into.  They soak up all the lovely flavors.  Light and delicious.

We also enjoyed a mixed salad and some garlic bread sticks from the store. (DON'T!  Essentially they were hotdog buns coated in garlic butter. Not that great.  Very bready.)  For dessert my sister had brought over a Sugar Free Apple pie.  Yummy!

 

The other day when I got that tasty piece of beef from the people from Abel and Cole, they also very generously included a package of their delicious free range organic back bacon. The Ensor family have had a butcher's shop in Gloucestershire's picturesque Royal Forest of Dean for nearly a century. They currently cure outstanding bacons and gammon hams for Abel and Cole. As well as running the butcher's shop, they're also organic farmers. Much of A & C's organic bacon comes from their slowly-reared pigs. The succulent pork for their free-range bacon and gammon comes from neighbouring farmer, Richard Hazell.


I just have to ask, how could anything farmed with such care and so responsibly produced fail to be good???



And good it is. Just look at that wonderful colour. It's bright and tasty looking, not anaemic like some bacon I have seen. It also has a wonderful proportion of lean to fat, and what really made me fall in love with it, was that it isn't pumped full of water, like some are. This is a big plus in my books. I also hate it when my bacon smells like, to be perfectly blunt . . . pigs. I know bacon comes from pigs, but I don't like to smell them when I am cooking it. This smelled heavenly . . . all smoky and bacony, if you know what I mean . . .



I just love air cured, smoked back bacon and here in the UK we have some of the best. After having tried this bacon I have to say, in all honesty, it's just wonderful! I think I'll be adding it to my veg box on a once a month basis. (We try not to eat too many cured meats, but once a month, it's a real treat here at Oak Cottage.)



I know that calling this the World's Best Bacon Sarnie is pretty bold, but I'll stand by my words. It has all the ingredients that constitute a great bacon sarnie in my opinion. Great tasting pan grilled free range organic smoked bacon. Free range organic eggs, cooked in butter. Some really flavourful cheddar. Soft, fresh buttered white bread, and . . . let's not forget the lashings of brown sauce!!!



I challenge you to give this a try and then come back and tell me . . . is this not the greatest or what! It goes without saying that this is a once in a blue moon treat. There has to be a bazillion calories in it, but . . . once in a blue moon? Why not go whole hog and treat yourself! (every pun intended!)



Go on . . . dig in . . . you know you want to.



*World's Best Bacon Sarnie*
Makes 1
Printable Recipe

I am giving the quanities to make one here, but it is easily multiplied to make much more. I know this is a bold statment, calling this the World's Best . . . but just make one and try it out. I think you'll agree! This IS the best! It will be love at first bite!

4 rashers of good quality free range organic smoked back bacon
2 slices of good quality white bread (you don't want the bread to compete with the flavours here,
only to enhance)
softened butter
2 medium free range organic eggs
1 slice of cheddar cheese (I used Simply Inspired's sliced medium cheddar with Roasted Red Onions,
fabulous darling, simply fabulous!)
Lashings of Brown Sauce (optional)

Lightly spray a large nonstick skillet with some oil and heat. Once it is hot add the rashers of bacon and pan grill them, until done to your preference. It shouldn't take too long. I like the fat along the edge to be a bit crispy, so I hold it up with the tongs so that the fat is just hitting the pan and I get it really crispy that way. Place in a warm oven to keep warm, whilst you cook the eggs. Wipe your pan out and melt a bit of butter in the pan over medium heat. Once the butter begins to foam, crack in the two eggs. Cook on one side, until the edges are just beginning to crisp, then flip it over and cook the second side for about 20 seconds. Slap on a slice of cheddar cheese, dividing it between the two eggs. Allow to melt.

Butter the bread and then place one slice on a plate, buttered side up. (You don't want to toast the bread. Part of the appeal of this sarnie is the way the bread is all soft and squishy) Top with a bit of brown sauce if using. Place the bacon on top and then finally put the eggs on top of the bacon, cheese side up. Top with the other slice of bread, buttered side down. Cut in half, kick your feet up and enjoy!



mmmmm . . . now that's a great Bacon Sarnie . . .

PS - if you haven't figured it out by now . . . Sarnie is another way of saying Sandwich. You know, a rose by any other name et al . . .

In the quest to use up some of those lovely sauces and mayonnaises I received in my recent sandwich hamper, I decided to make us some delicious turkey burgers the other day.    We love turkey burgers almost more than we love regular burgers.  No word of a lie.



I have created quite a few turkey burgers in the past . . . with Thai flavours, Mexican flavours, Spiced Chipotle, Buffalo Wing Flavours, etc.   This time I wanted to do something completely different.  I put my thinking cap on . . . and here is what happened next.



One of our favourite casseroles to make here, after we have enjoyed a roast turkey, is my turkey divan casserole (or chicken, you can make it with both).  You know the casserole I mean, it incorporates the delicious flavours of sour cream, mayonnaise, lemon, curry, onions and broccoli cuts.  Oh, and cheese, lets not forget the cheese!



I used fresh lean ground turkey and incorporated all of those flavours into a burger, but not just any burger . . . a Turkey Divan Burger!!  By using some of the Hellman's Twist of Lemon Mayonnaise, chopped cooked broccoli, chopped red onions,  some salt and pepper, curry powder and some grated strong cheddar  (I used the dyed one this time for colour) I was able to come up with a delicious burger with all of the flavours of a Divan casserole.

 

It was moist and delicious . . . with a tiny bit of crunch and loads of colour from the broccoli, red onions and cheddar . . .  flavours from the lemon mayonnaise and the curry powder.   It was sooooo good.   I topped them with an additional slice of that same rich cheddar cheese, let it melt down over that juicy burger and then I served them on toasted ciabatta buns, spread with some more of that gorgeous  Twist of Lemon Mayonnaise and some shredded baby gems along with more thinly sliced red onions.  These were fabulous to say the least.  I hope you will give them a go!



 *Divan Turkey Burgers*

Making sure children who avoid gluten have a lunchbox which includes a good mix of nutritious and filling foods as well as a yummy treat can be quite an art, so Mrs Crimble's  - the much-loved gluten free bakery brand - has come up with some tips on how to guarantee that your children can always enjoy a healthy, fun and gluten free lunch.




Single Serve Bakewell Slice from £1.10


Treats and high-energy snacks - Identify at least five things that your child loves and then rotate them so it will be a surprise.  If your child plays a lot of sport you may want to include an extra high-energy snack.  Mrs Crumble's now has single servings of their NEW cranberry and Almond Oat Cookies, their NEW Double Choc Oat Cookies, a range of Oat Flapjacks, Choc Macaroons, Jam Rings, Bakewell Slices and Double Choc Brownies.



Buttery Oat Flapjacks from £1.10

Sandwich Substitutes - Rice or Quinaoa Salads with chopped red peppers and other crunchy vegetables are great, or try gluten free falafels.  A mini pack of hummus with a packet of Mrs Crumble's Potato Bites or some carrot sticks also go down well.



Cheese & Onion Potato Bites Multi Pack (4 bags) £1.79

Bake Your Own at Home - Mrs Crimbles home bake mixes are easy to make and can be adapted for all sorts of recipes.  Make your own fresh gluten free bread using the Mrs Crimble's Bread Mix - perfect for sandwiches at lunch time.

  

Rice Cakes - Mrs Crimbles Apple Rice Cakes are wrapped in handy five slice portion packs inside the box.  These make a delicious and nutritious snack when paired with individual cheese portions or can be enjoyed just as they are.



Calcium - For growing bones, it's good to include a yoghurt (don't forget a spoon), or a milk drink.  If your child is dairy intolerant, then some calcium enriched oat milk, cubes of cheese or some sardines (if they like them) are a good idea.  



Single Serve Jam Ring, from £1.10

Drinks - Making sure your child drinks enough is vital.  Water is best and fruit juice is also good, just be aware it can contain a surprising amount of sugar.



Cranberry & Almond Oat Cookie  RRP £1.49

Mrs Crimble's started over 30 years ago and today their products can be found in all good independent farm shops, health stores, delicatessens and supermarkets such as Sainsbury's, Asda, Waitrose, Morrisons, Co-op and Tesco.  Mrs Crimbles can also be found in he USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.  



Mrs Crimbles is the Official Free From Sponsor of England Netball, in particular supporting the Back to Netball scheme which encourages female players of all ages to get active and re-introduced to the much loved school sport.

Mrs Crimble's have also continued their support for the Breast Cancer Charity - for the first 15,000 new members who sign up to the Back to Netball Scheme during the 2013/14 season, Mrs Crimbles will donate £1 to the charity.

In response to consumer feedback, Mrs Crimble's have launched an online shop through their website providing consumers with a convenient location to access the complete range.   The website also features Mrs Crimble's blog and a regularly updated "Where to buy tab.

Follow them on Facebook  
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Happy Cinco de Mayo.  For years I was not sure what Cinco de Mayo was.  Probably because I was living in the UK.  You may not know what it is either.  Now that I am living back in North America, I thought it was about time I learned about it!

Cinco de Mayo happens every year on the 5th of May. It is a holiday that commemorates the Mexican army's victory at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War. Although a relatively minor holiday in Mexico, the day is a popular celebration in the United States. And what better way to celebrate than to eat delicious Mexican food?  

I may not be Mexican or American, but I do love Mexican food and any excuse to eat seems like a great idea to me! In honor of it I thought I would share my favorite Tex Mex recipes with you today.  All are delicious or I wouldn't be sharing them. Who knows, you may discover a new favorite of your own! 

ENCHILADAS CALABAZA -  These are my favorite enchiladas. Totally vegetarian the filling is made with roasted butternut squash, cheese, spring onions, etc  

The delicious filling is then rolled in corn tortillas and then topped with some tomato salsa and more cheese before baking.  These are quite simply fabulous!   

MEXICAN CHICKEN SPAGHETTI - I really REALLY love this dish. Not only does it contain pasta and chicken, two of my favorite things, but it is also one of those recipes that cooks all in one pan. No fuss no muss!

Add to that really fabulous Tex Mex flavors and you have a winner winner chicken dinner!  (Sorry could not resist!)

CHEESY CHICKEN ENCHILADA CASSEROLE -  This is a simple and quick recipe to make, which involves layering chicken, cheese, and enchilada sauce between layers of corn tortillas, along with some onion and green chilies.

I also include a recipe to make my own from scratch homemade enchilada sauce. Its really simple to make and very delicious.

EASY CHILI MAC & CHEESE -  This is quick, easy and really delicious. Its  a store cupboard meal that is a bit of a cheat but nobody seems to mind.

Boxed mac and cheese, canned chili, salsa and plenty of cheese.  Simply yummilicious! 

BEEF BARBACOA TACOS WITH SWEET PICKLED ONIONS - Something I came up with to use up leftover cooked roast beef. These are delicious to say the least! 

You can make the onions up the day before if you wish. They will keep for quite a while. If you don't have any leftover roast beef, you can use ground beef and just cook as per the recipe.

CHIPOTLE LIME CHICKEN FLATBREAD TACOS - A baked taco with a fabulously tasty chicken chipotle lime filling. Just fill and bake in a casserole.

Delicious served with your favorite toppings. I created a lush chipotle sour cream sauce to serve on top with some guacamole and spring onions!  Very tasty!

MEXICAN CHICKEN CLUB FLATBREADS - This is like a Tex Mex, Latin American Open Faced Chicken Club Sandwich.  This is a flatbread topped with a layer of saucy black beans,  melted cheese, topped with some zingy chicken, my own special sauce, crisp bacon, another drizzle of sauce and garnished with guacamole and sour cream.  Whew!

Now that's one tasty mouthful of fusion cooking at its best! 

BBQ FLAT CHICKEN TACOS FOR TWO -  Blistered wheat tortillas slathered in a rich spicy BBQ chicken, topped with plenty of cheese, sprinkled with red onions and baked.  

I like to serve these with a saucy coleslaw which adds color and crunch! 

TIJUANA TACOS -  Blistered flour tortillas folded around a delicious spicy beef filling with refried beans, onions, peppers, crushed tortilla chips, olives, etc.  Served with sour cream, spring onions, cheese and more crushed chips for crunch.

Deliciously simple and a great way to use up the bits and bobs in the refrigerator at the end of the week! 

GREEN CHILI CHICKEN ENCHILADAS - I make the filling with plenty of chopped cooked chicken, grated cheese, some spices and seasonings and green enchilada sauce. Wrapped up in wheat or corn tortillas, placed into a casserole dish, slathered with more sauce and cheese and baked.

Delicious served hot with sour cream and a splash of green tabasco.  You could also use pork instead of chicken if you wanted to  This is a small batch recipe that is very easily doubled to feed more.

CRISPY TWO POTATO TACOS - for the vegetarian in your life, but so delicious even the carnivores will be fighting over them!

These vegetable tacos are fabulously tasty with both white and sweet potatoes, and plenty of zip. Serve with your favorite taco accompaniments for a real family pleaser!

 

CHEESY TACO PUFFS - I have never had anyone turn their noses up at being presented with one of these fabulously tasty hand pies.

No small wonder with a crisp flaky biscuit/scone type of pastry filled with a spicy beef filling and cheese.  Baked until crisp, they always go down a real treat! Children love them also!

CREAMY WHITE CHILI - This is my absolute all time favorite chili recipe. This is an incredibly flavorful version of a white chili filled with  hearty beans, tender juicy pieces of chicken, green chilies and a delicious variety of spices.

With some crusty rolls, or tortillas on the side and a mixed salad, it makes for one beautiful weeknight supper!  I  like to serve it with some white rice and cheese for sprinkling on top.

QUICK AND EASY CHILI - Its simple. It uses store cupboard ingredients.  Its quick and easy. Most important of all, its DELICIOUS!  With beef, beans, tomatoes, etc.

Quick, easy, delicious.  It doesn't get much better than this!  With some cornbread or garlic bread for sopping up all that tastiness, it makes for a fabulous rib sticking meal.

And finally dessert, because it makes every meal that little more special! 

MEXICAN CHOCOLATE LAVA CAKES - These lush chocolate puddings are meant to be enjoyed warm, with or without a scoop of ice cold vanilla on top.

The perfect ending to any meal Trust me on this. Moreish.

And there you have it, some of my absolutely favorite of the favorite Tex Mex dishes. It is by no meals all of the Tex Mex recipes on my page.  I could have kept going forever, but . . . to be honest, if you can't find something to whet your appetite amongst this bunch, then there is no hope.  Happy Cinco de Mayo!

This content (written and photography) is the sole property of The English Kitchen. Any reposting or misuse is not permitted. If you are reading this elsewhere, please know that it is stolen content and you may report it to me at: mariealicejoan at aol dot com 

Thanks so much for visiting! Do come again!