Easy Cheesy Holiday Recipes as seen on CHCH Morning Live

Whipped Goat Cheese Board with Sauteed Mushrooms

~click here for recipe

This festive, fabulous & flavorful Mushrooms Canada recipe (click here for more recipes) suggests to grill the mushrooms- I prefer sautéing mushrooms in some butter, and deglazing the pan with a splash of balsamic, and stirring in chopped fresh rosemary, garlic (to taste), and pinch of salt & pepper.

For a sinful touch: drizzle the final dish with truffle oil before serving. Enjoy!!

Cheesy Crab Dip Pasta Bake with Cracker Crunch Topping

Turn a crowd pleasing crab dip into a weeknight comfort food dish your whole gang will devour.

Ingredients

• 3 cups (750 mL) Italpasta Artisan Gemelli (click here for product info)
• 2 tsp (10 mL) cornstarch
• ½ tsp (2 mL) each of salt, ground nutmeg and onion powder
• 2 cups (500 mL) milk
• 1 tbsp (15 mL) butter
• 1 onion, chopped
• 4 oz (120 g) brick style cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup (250 mL) grated aged cheddar
• ½ cup (125 mL) each of chopped green onion and chopped fresh parsley
• ½ cup (125 mL) prepared mayonnaise
• 1 tbsp (15 mL) Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tsp (10 mL) hot sauce (heat level of choice)
• 1 tsp (5 mL) lemon zest
• 1 tbsp (15 mL) lemon juice
• 3 cans (170 g each) crab meat, drained
• 2 cloves garlic, minced

Topping

• 1 ½ cups (375 mL) roughly crushed crackers
• ½ cup (125 mL) grated aged cheddar cheese
• ½ cup (125 mL) chopped fresh dill
• ¼ cup (60 mL) melted butter
• 1 tsp (5 mL) paprika

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 F (200 C).
2. Cook noodles according to package directions. Drain well. Keep pasta in the colander and toss with a small splash of vegetable oil (about 1 tsp (5 mL)). Set aside.
3. Whisk together cornstarch, salt, nutmeg, onion powder and milk. Set aside.
4. Over medium heat, heat butter in the same pot you cooked the pasta in. Cook onion until lightly brown, about 2 to 3 minutes.
5. Re-stir the milk mixture well (as cornstarch will have set at bottom) and add to the pot. Cook, while stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens slightly, about 5 minutes.
6. Remove from heat and stir in cream cheese until it has mostly melted through sauce. Stir in reserved noodles and remaining ingredients until well combined.
7. Place mixture into a well greased 9 X 13-inch casserole dish.
8. Mix together all topping ingredients and sprinkle evenly over pasta.
9. Bake for about 15 minutes, or until the top is golden and the edges are bubbling.
10. Remove from the oven and let stand for about 5 minutes before serving.

Tip:

• Add ½ cup (125 mL) roughly chopped pickled jalapenos to the cracker topping mixture before baking.
• Use 2 cups (500 mL) chopped poached shrimp instead of canned crab meat.

White Chocolate Cookie Bars with Gingerbread Mascarpone Frosting

‘Tis the gingerbread eating season – and I’m here for it!! Seriously, this frosting might just blow your mind! Click here for recipe.

Where to Find ‘Delicious & Doable’ Across Ontario

Find ‘Delicious & Doable ~ Recipes For Real and Everyday Life’ on Amazon (click here) or at one of the below retailers across Ontario:

Type Books ~ 883 Queen Street West, Toronto
Lemonberry ~ 2 Orchard Heights Blvd #10, Aurora
Fanfare Books ~ 92 Ontario St, Stratford
Casual Gourmet ~ 1027 King Street West, Hamilton
The Post Office – 18 Front St. N, Thorold
Chef’s Paradise ~ 1314 Bank Street, Ottawa
Gift It Grey ~ 19492 Opeongo Line, Barry’s Bay
Creative Cook ~ 35 Manitoba St, Bracebridge
Muskoka Brewery ~ 1964 Muskoka Beach Rd, Bracebridge
Stephen’s Butcher Shop ~ 8 Harris St, Port Carling
Hilltop Interiors ~ 1150 ON-141, Rosseau
Cedar Canoe Books ~ 72 Main St E, Huntsville
Clark’s On Main ~ 1090 Main Street, Dorset
Bigley’s Cottage Kitchen ~ 39 Bolton St, Bobcaygeon
Farmer’s Daughter – 72 Main St E, Huntsville
Kitchen Bits ~ 1390 Kingsway, Greater Sudbury

Heading to Muskoka this winter? Click here for a list of my upcoming cooking classes at The Creative Cook!!
Hope to see and feed many of you soon!