"Perfect 10" guacamole.

Got this recipe from a favourite vlogger of mine, Benjimantv.
Not only is this delicious, it's healthy for you too!


All you need are these 10 ingredients:
1. Avocados ( ripe, 5-6 halved)
2. Cilantro- Chopped
3. Lime Juice (1 or 2)
4. Jalapeno (1) minced finely
5. Onions (1 half) minced finely
6. Tomatoes (half cup) Diced
7. Sriracha ( spicy asian chili sauce )
8. Pepper ( 1/2 tsp )
9. Salt to your taste
10. Cumin ( 1/2 tsp )

Serve with chips or crackers and enjoy!

Chocolate Rum Balls

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• Sorry no authentic picture this time, however, I made these last Christmas and they were a hit! They're so easy to make, it's a good last minute dessert for anyone who is really busy during the holidays.

Makes about 4 dozen. 

In a large bowl combine:

• 3 1/4 cups crushed chocolate wafers
• 3/4 cup icing sugar
• 1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts
• 3 tablespoons light corn syrup
• 1/2 cup rum

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• Shape into 1 inch balls, and roll in additional icing sugar. Store in an air-tight container for about 2 days to develop the flavour. 

Enjoy!

Suggestion:

You really want to leave these to soak in all the flavours either for a couple days or at least over night. The longer they sit in the fridge the better and more dominant the flavour will be. 

You may also want to put these in cupcake liners, just to give a better look for presentation 

Hearty Home style Chili

This chili is a great comfort food just in time for the cold weather!

Chili mixture:

• 2 packs of Ground Beef
• 2 Bell Peppers, chopped into large pieces
• 1/2 Onion, chopped into large pieces 
• 4 cloves of garlic, minced finely
• 4 cups of tomato sauce
• 1 can of tomato paste
• 1 can of kidney beans

Spices:

• 4 tbsp of chili powder
• 1/4 tbsp of coriander 
• 1 tbsp of cumin
• 1 tbsp of paprika 
• 1/2 tsp of pepper
• 1 tbsp of salt

In a large pot cook:

Cook beef until about 95% cooked then throw in peppers, onion, and garlic. Add in spices and cook until onions are almost translucent. Then add in about 4 cups of tomato sauce, stir then add in a can of tomato paste. Leave on low heat and stir occasionally for about 3 hours, allowing all the flavors to soak in nicely. Before the chili is fully cooked add in a can of kidney beans and cook for another 20mins.

Spoon into a soup bowl and side with a piece of toast.

Enjoy!

Spinach Dip ( with a kick! )

In a food processor:

• 1 garlic clove 
• 1/2 cup of scallions

Mince until smooth.  

Then add the following:

• 1 cup of sour cream ( the heavier the better, to give a good thick texture ) 
• 1 cup of cream cheese
• 1 tsp of chopped thyme 
• 1/2 tsp of salt
• 1/4 tsp of black pepper
• 1/4 tsp of cayenne pepper

Blend until smooth

For the bread you can either get a large round loaf and cut out the middle. Then add the dip inside. 

OR

You can cut up triangle shapes for the pita bread and toast them in the oven. 

Enjoy!

Sugar & Spice Pumpkin Seeds

Was it just me, or did anyone else feel bad for throwing out the pumpkin seeds after carving a pumpkin for Halloween? Well here's a way you can put those seeds to a good use!

In a bowl:
1 cup of pumpkin seeds
2 tbsp of butter or vegetable oil
3 tbsp of sugar
1 tbsp of cinnamon
1/2 tsp of nutmeg
1/8 tsp of all spice

Preheat oven to 300 degrees
Melt butter and add spices in a bowl. Stir and add in pumpkin seeds and coat them generously.
Put pumpkin seeds in a nonstick sheet or baking pan.
Bake for about 50-60 minutes and stir occasionally.

Let cool & enjoy!

Tip:
For a little extra spice, add 1/4 of cayenne pepper to the mix!

Peanut Butter and Nutella Cookies

Pretty much your classic peanut butter cookie recipe with a chocolaty nutella twist!

Makes about 2 dozen

Combine in a bowl:

• 1 cup of peanut butter
• 1/2 cups of sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup of Nutella 

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Mix first three ingredients well, after mixed add in Nutella and gently fold in. Do not mix Nutella in fully! You want to give it a marble look. 

Roll onto well greased baking sheet, golf ball sized balls and flatten with a fork. 

Add chocolate sprinkles to top off. 

Bake for 20 mins, let cool for 5 min. 

Enjoy!

Sausage and Sweet Pepper Pasta

My boyfriend wanted to cook for me one night and he made this delicious dish! I was quite impressed so I had to share it. 

Serves 5-6 people

Sauce:

• 1 can of crushed tomatos ( or your homemade tomato sauce )
• 2 sweet red peppers, chopped
• 4 regular sausages, mostly cooked and cut up
• 2 cloves of chopped garlic
• 2 small green chili peppers 
• 1/2 onion 
• 1 tbsp of salt to taste
• 1/2 tsp lemon and black pepper powder
• 1/2 tsp oregano 

In a large pot add oil and chopped onions and put on low heat. Cook until transparent then add garlic and green chili peppers, and chopped red peppers. Saute for about 3 minutes then add crushed tomato sauce, garlic lemon powder, oregano and salt. Allow to simmer than add the mostly cooked sausages. Keep sauce on low heat and stir frequently.

While sauce is cooking make the pasta. In this recipe we used penne but any pasta will do.

Pasta:

In a separate large pot:

• Fill pot with water leaving about 3 inches of space from the top
• Put on medium heat to boil
• Add a 1/2 of salt to water 
• Wait for water to boil and add pasta
• Cook for 8-10 minutes, or according to the instructions on the box

After pasta is cooked, drain, spoon onto plate, and top with the sauce.

Add a glass of your favourite wine and enjoy!


Tips:
You want the pasta to be al dente ( firm but not too hard )
The best wine for pasta is Cabernet Sauvignon, it enhances the flavours!