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Chicken, Curries, Dinner ideas, Instant Pot, Slow Cooker recipes

Simple Butter Chicken Recipe

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This Simple Butter Chicken Recipe is sure to impress as it is just as good if not better than what you will find in most restaurants. 

Make some Homemade Garlic Naan Bread to go alongside.

Today I’m so very happy to show you this recipe for a Simple Butter Chicken Recipe that your sure to make time and time again.

Awww the infamous Butter Chicken, also known as (Murgh Makhani). Almost everyone that has tried this dish has loved this dish and if you have not tried it before at home your in for a treat!

Love Indian food as much as me? Then your going to want to try my “Creamy Coconut Chicken Curry” and my “Eggplant Curry” or my “Chickpea Curry” as well. 

Oh and don’t forget the NAAN BREAD 🙂

HOW TO MAKE BUTTER CHICKEN SPICY

To make this Curry easy to make, try purchasing a pre-made Butter Chicken curry powder package like the one below. 

WHAT SPICES ARE USED IN BUTTER CHICKEN 

  • Salt, Red Chilli, Turmeric, Cumin, Black Pepper, Large Cardamom, Cinnamon, Green Cardamom, Clove, Ginger, Garlic, Star Aniseed, White Pepper

I always use a BUTTER CHICKEN SPICE blend as seen below as it has all of this in it already. Otherwise if your wanting to add in your own spices I highly recommend adding 1 tsp of chili powder, cumin, turmeric and fresh crushed garlic and onions. 

 

Below you will see the pre-marinaded and cooked chicken being added to the sauce for the final step in cooking this delicious dish.

The part where your simmering the sauce, you can switch from 1/2 tsp of chili powder to 1 tsp for that extra heat. I love to do that, personally. I will add 1 tsp every time for this recipe. 

WHO INVENTED BUTTER CHICKEN

It’s origins came from three  Punjabi restaurateurs, Kundan Lal Jaggi, Kundan Lal Gujral and Thakur Dass, who founded the world-renowned Moti Mahal restaurant in Delhi. 

WHATS BUTTER CHICKEN SAUCE MADE OF

  • Fresh Cream
  • Ghee or Butter
  • Oil
  • Cashews or Almonds if you do not have you can always use sugar for added sweetness 
  • Plain Yogurt
  • Tomatoes
  • Garlic and Onions

WHAT’S BUTTER CHICKEN

It is one of the most popular Indian curries Worldwide today.

It’s become so popular that the supermarkets are now selling various versions of it in pre- packaged bottles in hopes to win your business. 

But that stuff just won’t cut if for those of us who are familiar with traditional Butter Chicken. Because real butter chicken uses ghee butter you can use regular butter if desired. Then of course there is cream and some stronger curry flavors than most of those pre-made bottled types entail. 

Plus those bottles are expensive costing near 4x the price that it takes to make it from scratch, not to mention not nearly as tasty.

IS BUTTER CHICKEN SPICY

This popular dish hails from the Indian subcontinent and is noted for its creamy and smooth butter taste, you can make it more spicy by adding an extra 1 tsp of red chili powder if desired.

Otherwise this is a mild curry compared to other traditional Indian dishes.

In comparison we would rate the spice level of this dish to other Indian dish, a 4 out of 10. 

Such as Grama masla and Indian curry powder. All which can be found in almost any grocery store spice section. 

I think the reason people by those pre-made bottles is because they think making it from scratch is hard, but I assure you it’s not.

It’s all about having the right ingredients and nothing in this ingredients list is is foreign besides possibly the fenugreek leaves also known as kasuri methi. Also that can be found in almost all grocery stores today.

HOW LONG WILL BUTTER CHICKEN LAST IN THE FRIDGE

In a sealable container up to 3 days and if you want to freeze it for meal – preps you can do that and store in the freezer up to 3 months.

We hope you enjoy this tasty dish as much as we do! Serve it alongside some naan bread and enjoy!

We don’t add as much cream to this Butter Chicken as most do, which will give it a more orange color.

If your wanting a more cream heavy type of Butter Chicken just add 1/2 cup of  cream opposed to the 1/4 cup that my recipe calls for.

If your a CURRY lover like me. Then you will want to try these dishes below!

Note: If you want a more creamy butter chicken add 1/2 cup of cream instead of the 1/4 cup that I used in this recipe.

I am so thrilled you are reading one of my recipes, if you made this recipe i’d love to hear about it! Thank you very much for reading and until next time see ya in the kitchen. Don’t want to miss a recipe? Sign up for our NEWSLETTER delivered right to your inbox!

Did you like this curry?

Then you’re sure to like my “Creamy Coconut Chicken Curry” which uses coconut milk as is by far my most popular recipe on this blog. 

More Popular Curry Dishes Below!

 

 

Seafood, Soups & Stews

Thick New England Clam Chowder Recipe

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This may be the best Thick New England Clam Chowder recipe you have ever tried.

This is my go to recipe for New England Clam Chowder soup.

It is out of this world delicious!

WHERE DID NEW ENGLAND CLAM CHOWDER ORIGINATE 

It is said to have originate in NYC and was introduced by the French, Nova Scotian, or British settlers.

And this here is truly an authentic clam chowder recipe. 

I know because this is my favorite soup in the whole wide World.

I will eat this all day everyday if I could.

An when I say my version it’s quick to make, I mean it. 

WHAT IS NEW ENGLAND CLAM CHOWDER

It is a milk or cream based clam chowder vs a tomato like another famous chowder called the Manhattan we have all known to love as well.

It is also thicker and made with butter, potatoes, pork in this case bacon, onions and clams.

WHAT DOES NEW ENGLAND CLAM CHOWDER TASTE LIKE

Creamy, thick, sweet and salty. 

HOW IS NEW ENGLAND CLAM CHOWDER MADE

It is really easy rather, you are simply adding everything to one pot to cook.

Dicing and chopping will take the majority of the time then let the pot do the rest.

Want to save some time with this soup?

Simply use frozen yet clams, there will be no shucking here.

You can have a huge pot of this soup ready to serve in 30 minutes time. 

This soup takes me right back to my childhood, where I used to eat this soup religiously.

I hope you give it a try!

However my family never made it from scratch so I had to settle for the canned stuff.

You know the soup that has way more potatoes than clams? 

Oh the things we remember eh!

My parents used to buy those cans for me by caseload because, they knew I would go through a case in less than 2 weeks.

Well looking back I sure was missing out, now I know how to make real clam chowder.

Long gone are the days of eating thick clumpy chowder from a can and having to add extra cream to it to make it creamy.

Clam chowder soup should be creamy and smooth and filled with clams and there juices. 

Not thick and clumpy and filled with mainly potatoes.

And please don’t add carrots to it, why do some people do that anyway? it’s so so wrong.

Yes there are some people who still prefer a thicker chowder and that is fine, feel free to omit the vegetable stock of that is you.

But please don’t add canned clams, using fresh or frozen is best.

The trick to making the best clam chowder is using fresh or frozen clams and cooking them for just a few minutes at the end to prevent them from becoming rubbery.

HOW TO MAKE NEW ENGLAND CLAM CHOWDER SOUP

  • So what are those secret ingredients?
  • Simply Old Bay Seasoning and some Red Wine Vinegar that we will splash in at the end.
  • The Red Wine Vinegar will give it that extra oomph and help tie this soup all together.
  • And clam juice (See below the kind I used for this recipe)

CAN NEW ENGLAND CLAM CHOWDER BE FROZEN

Most defiantly! 

I hope you give it a try and if you do I would love to know what you think, just let me know in the comments below.  

Keep in mind if you wanting a lower fat clam chowder, you can always use all milk and omit the cream.

I would not recommend that personally but if your on a diet of some kind then by all means, it’s your chowder.

Don’t mistake this clam chowder with any other and definitely not it’s counterpart named the Manhattan clam chowder.

Which is good but made with a tomato stock rather than cream. I now make this soup in big batches so that I can enjoy it over a few days 🙂

What soup is your go to in the colder months?

I am so thrilled you are reading one of my recipes, I appreciate every single one of you! If you made this recipe i’d love to hear how it turned out!  Thank you very much for reading and until next time see ya in the kitchen. Don’t want to miss a recipe? Sign up for our NEWSLETTER delivered right to your inbox!

Christmas & Thanksgiving, Dinner ideas

Easy Ground Beef Wellington recipe

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This Easy Ground Beef Wellington recipe is spiced just right and is family favorite in our house. With the additions of mushrooms and is something that can be whipped up in less than an hour since we are using some pre made puff pastry. 

Looking for another festive dish? Then your gonna want to try my Baked Holiday Ham or even my Recette Sheppard’s Pie.

Your family can enjoy this homemade recipe any time of the year.

But really makes the perfect addition to any Holiday meal.

FUN FACT: Beef Wellington get’s it’s name from a man named Arthur Wellesley who was the first Duke of Wellington. He had a victorious Battle on June 18 1815.

The Duke was given his title after defeating Napoleon Bonaparte the year before, and not long after he became Prime Minister. 

Traditional Beef Wellington was made with fillet steak inside. I have had that at a restaurant once and it was delicious.

However, I wanted to create something different. And mix the best of both worlds, beef and mushrooms. This recipe has now become popular on this blog, I hope you give it a try and let me know what you think. 

HOW TO MAKE HAMBURGER BEEF WELLINGTON

This recipe is made with lean ground beef, onions, mushrooms, eggs, panko bread crumbs, flour, red wine vinegar, worcestershire sauce and seasoned with fresh thyme and rosemary.

Be sure to use fresh thyme and rosemary in this recipe, it makes all the difference.

Also do not skip on the worcestershire and red wine vinegar it helps to merge all the flavors together. 

HOW TO MAKE PUFF PASTRY

I used a pre – made puff pastry to save time, (see below) The pre – made puff pastry I recommend is from Tenderflake. The box has 397 grams of puff pasty in it!

 

Simply remove it from the package, allow it to defrost for 1 hour and sprinkle with flour before rolling it out. 

Fill the pastry with the Beef and Mushroom mixture.

Brush with the egg wash.

And make impressions to the dough as so with a fork.

Looking for a FANTASTIC homemade puff pastry recipe?

I have one here in my in my “Turkey Pot Pie” recipe instructions.

You may be more familiar the more traditional “Beef Wellington” type recipes. Which have you using Beef tenderloin or fillet instead of hamburger.

However, this recipe is just as good and if you use brown mushrooms alongside the hamburger it becomes absolutely amazing.

You will be able to serve 3 peoples for dinner easily with this. And if your wanting to serve more, I would recommending make 2 of them. Which is not hard to do at all!

Wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Want more Christmas & Thanksgiving recipes?

Canadian Tourtiere Recipe

 
Cranberry Sauce with Orange Juice
 

Also check out my roundup of Thanksgiving & Christmas Recipes from around the World or my 10 delicious stuffing recipes! for more inspiration!

I am so thrilled you are reading one of my recipes, if you made this, I want to see! Follow Canadian Cooking Adventures Instagram, snap a photo, and tag and hashtag it with @canadiancookingadventures and #canadiancookingadventures. 

Stay connected and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for all of my latest recipes!

 

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The Best Shepherd’s Pie

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This is the Best Shepherd’s Pie! Made with fresh carrots, sweet corn and frozen peas. Along with perfectly seasoned ground lamb and beef this pie is sure to please the whole family.

Shepherds pie can be made all in one dish.

That is if your using the type of dish that can go from the stovetop to the oven like I have here with my Rock Dutch Oven.

Otherwise, you can prepare it first on the stove then move it to a separate baking dish to finish it in the oven.

Not to hard and worth the effort because this recipe is something you will not forget anytime soon.

You are sure to taste the difference with this recipe here, since it uses two kinds of meat.

Creating the best of what is known to some as a “Cottage pie” which is typically made with just beef and the “Shepherd’s pie” which is  made with minced lamb.

I grew up eating the cottage pie, which is made with beef instead of lamb. Traditional Shepherds pie originated from Ireland and is made with just lamb.

So even though you may have thought that you were enjoying a Shepherds pie in past, it may have been the ladder.

Anyone who has ever tried my recipe has said to me “this is the best” shepherds pie they have ever tasted! So that is why I named it the BEST!

Just make sure you are using fresh carrots not frozen. Because there is a huge difference in taste and texture with the fresh. Also use fresh rosemary and thyme if you can it just enhanced the flavors that much more.

Now you will want to start by taking the easy way to preparing this recipe. And to do that you will want to start by skipping the peeling of the potatoes and boil them instead.

This will allow for you to run them under cold water once they have cooked. Being able to simply peel them by hand. From there you will mash them with some whole milk, sour cream and an egg yolk. 

Now the hardest part is done, next you simply are going to saute the two meats in a large pan for roughly 5 minutes before adding in the chopped onion, garlic and spices.

The pan I use is the rock its a large dutch oven type pan that goes from the stove to the oven.

I am so thrilled you are reading one of my recipes, I appreciate every single one of you! If you made this recipe i’d love to hear how it turned out. Don’t want to miss a recipe? Sign up for our NEWSLETTER delivered right to your inbox!

Dinner ideas, Vegetarian

Easy Pizza Ratatouille

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This Easy Pizza Ratatouille with Mozzarella Cheese is so good you won’t believe it’s Vegetarian. 

I just love Ratatouille, it’s fresh, healthy and so good for you.

And is one of those excellent summer time recipes, since it utilizes all those fresh garden vegetables so well.

Not to mention very pretty, just look at the rainbow of colors.

Made with a few simple ingredients.

That being of eggplant, zucchini, tomatoes and mozzarella cheese it doesn’t get any fresher than this. Which is then smothered in a quality can of tomato based pizza sauce.

Your sure to impress anyone when serving this dish!

There are many recipes out there for this famous french dish called “Ratatouille” and plenty different ways to preparing it.

Traditional Ratatouille is made without cheese, however I like to add Mozzarella to mine, because it really enhances the recipe and makes it taste more like a pizza without the added carbs.

Lay upon layer of Tomato, Green Zucchini, Yellow Zucchini, Mozzarella Cheese and Eggplant!

Also be sure to cook it for a minimum of 2 hours as that sure helps to bring out all the vegetables flavors which happens through caramelization.

This recipe is sure to be a family favorite, and is gluten free.  I hope you like my version of this famous dish. “Bone Appetite”!

I am so thrilled you are reading one of my recipes, if you made this, I want to see! Follow Canadian Cooking Adventures Instagram, snap a photo, and tag and hashtag it with @canadiancookingadventures and #canadiancookingadventures. 

Stay connected and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for all of my latest recipes!

 

Dinner ideas, Slow Cooker recipes, Soups & Stews

Comforting Chili Con Carne

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This Comforting Chili Con Carne has hamburger, tomatoes, kidney and pinto beans along with onions, garlic, jalapeno peppers, red yellow and green peppers. And many different seasonings that make it true Con Carne that we have all come to know and love. So if your looking for a great chili recipe, you have found it!

It always amazes me how quickly fall comes and turns into winter. One minute it’s t-shirt weather and the next we are pulling out our sweaters, toques and scarves. When the weather starts to change like this, I immediately start to think of heart slow cooker meals. Don’t you? If you like chill then you are sure to like this recipe, colder like this, it makes a BIG pot and will last you for a few days. Good hearty meals that bring warmth to the body and soul make these colder months much better, nothing beats going coming home to a hot bowl of good old chilli con carne.

You can prepare this chili in crock pot or on the stove top, depending on the time you have at hand. Today I am using my crock-pot, because I have errands to run this morning. So this will take me roughly 20 minutes to prep then I will set it in the slow cooker for 6 hours, and return to a meal fit for a queen or king. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

 

How to make the Comforting Chili Con Carne:

  1. Start by chopping up your onion, garlic, jalapeno pepper, red, yellow and green peppers.
  2. In a large pot saute your onions in 1 tbsp of oil till translucent, add in your peppers, then garlic and saute another 5 minutes till slightly  tender.
  3. Remove from pot and set aside.
  4. Next add your ground hamburger to the same pot and saute till lightly browned.
  5. Then add in your onions, garlic and peppers.
  6. Pour in a can of kidney beans, pinto beans and tomatoes and simmer on medium low.
  7. Once everything is hot, add in 1/2 a can of your refried pinto beans.
  8. Add in all your spices and season with salt and pepper
  9. Pour in 1/2 cup of water, a splash of red wine vinegar along with 1 chicken stock cube.
  10. Simmer on medium – low stirring often for one hour.
  11. Or in your Crock Pot – on low 6-7 hours
  12. Serve with fresh bread or cornbread, enjoy!

Note: You can always use ground turkey or a vegan meat supplement if you like instead of beef.

 


I am so thrilled you are reading one of my recipes, if you made this recipe i’d love to hear about it! You can post a review, picture below or via Instagram and let me know how it turned out. And by doing so you will be automatically entered into our seasonal CONTEST to win one of our great prizes. Winner will be notified via email within a week after the contest closes. Thank you very much for reading and until next time see ya in the kitchen. Don’t want to miss a recipe? Sign up for our NEWSLETTER delivered right to your inbox every Month!

 

 

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Christmas & Thanksgiving, Quick and easy recipes

Brussel Sprouts with Bacon and Balsamic

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These Brussel Sprouts with Bacon and Balsamic are a family  favorite side dish.

The first time I made them was last Christmas and everyone was asking me for the recipe.

So here it is... BACON Brussels.

Since Christmas of last year, I have been making them almost monthly. 

I will serve them for super as opposed to just a side dish sometimes.

It is a great meal actually and a good way to eat tons of Brussel sprouts. 

HOW TO MAKE BRUSSLE SPROUTS WITH BACON AND BALSAMIC VINEGAR

  1. Start by washing and cutting the bad ends off the Brussel sprouts, then slice the sprouts directly in half and set aside.
  2. On a large cutting board, chop the bacon and add it to a large frying pan sauteing till cooked but not caramelized.
  3. Toss in the brussels sprouts and balsamic vinegar and saute till cooked how you’d like the vegetables.
  4. Lastly, season with salt and pepper.

Note: Be certain to purchase a good quality bacon, you don’t want a ton of fat in it.

However they work very very well as a side dish, think Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner.

Not only are they super delicious their also very filling, because those little brussels are packed full of fiber.

So go ahead and indulge!

They don’t take that long to make either, I like to cook them directly on the stove top this way they pick up all the flavor from the cooked bacon.

Making this a true one pot dish, that anyone can prepare in less than 30 minutes.

Because you will be frying the sprouts in the leftover bacon fat, now don’t frown now.

My bacon gives off about 1 tbsp of fat, it’s that lean.

This step really enhances the flavor of the whole dish, so I recommend you give it try before you knock it.

However you can drain all the fat if desired, just be sure to still saute the brussels in the same pan as the bacon was cooked. I hope you enjoy!

Start by washing the Brussel Sprouts, cut off the rough ends then slice lengthwise and set aside. 

Once the bacon has cooked, but not caramelized add in the Brussel sprouts and seasonings. 

Add in the Red Wine Vinegar last and it’s ready to serve.

I tend to eat these for dinner frequently, however they really should be shared.

More Christmas & Thanksgiving recipes you may like:

See below for more inspiration!

Also check out my roundup of Thanksgiving & Christmas Recipes from around the World or my 10 delicious stuffing recipes for more inspiration!

I am so thrilled you are reading one of my recipes, if you made this, I want to see! Follow Canadian Cooking Adventures Instagram, snap a photo, and tag and hashtag it with @canadiancookingadventures and #canadiancookingadventures. 

Stay connected and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for all of my latest recipes!

Dinner ideas, Slow Cooker recipes, Soups & Stews

Prairie Pot Roast

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This is one of the easiest and most delicious recipes for a Prairie Pot Roast. 

My partner has been requesting this recipe for sometime now. And it’s not that I don’t like roast, it’s just I may be all roasted out.

I basically grew up eating this all day everyday or so it seemed. However, just because I am not crazy over pot roast anymore. Doesn’t mean I can’t cook a good one.

After all, I learned a thing or two over the years watching my family prepare this meal over and over again.  

Sorry it has taken this long hun! But here it is my family’s favorite way to cook a Roast. And yes i’m certain your going to love it!

Today, I tend to lean more towards recipes that are new or of another culture. I guess, you can say my tastes have changed over the years.  So if you are a roast lover like the rest of them, then this recipe is definitely a keeper because it’s super tasty, tender and easy to prepare.

Some people like to cook there roasts in red wine, I much prefer the acidity of red wine vinegar plus it’s cheaper. Then adding in some worcestershire sauce and the right spices will have this roast kicked up a notch.

My partner who is a huge pot roast fan, gives this recipe his “A”+  rating of approval. And after tasting this early last week has been begging me to make it again soon. I hope you let me know what you think in the comments below, Bon appetit.

 

 

I am so thrilled you are reading one of my recipes, if you made this recipe id love to hear about it!You can post a review, picture below or via Instagram and let me know how it turned out. And by doing so you will be automatically entered into our seasonal CONTEST to win one of our great prizes. Winner will be notified via email within a week after the contest closes. Thank you very much for reading and until next time see ya in the kitchen. Don’t want to miss a recipe? Sign up for our NEWSLETTER delivered right to your inbox every Month!

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