CFRA Ottawa at Work ~ February Recipe Mishmash

February may be cold and blah… BUT there is one bonus: February is filled with many excuses to EAT! Whether you’re gathering for the big game, in need of a chocolatey treat for Valentine’s Day, or hanging with your gang on Family Day – the following recipes are a mishmash of dishes that will be sure to please!

Hope your friends & family enjoy these ‘delicious & doable’ recipes as much as mine do!

Super Bowl ~ Alfredo Nachos

Up your nacho game with a jar of pre-made Alfredo sauce and pickled onions! Watching the big game never tasted so good!

This recipe is so darn doable – that it doesn’t even require an actual ‘recipe’! Here’s what you do:

1. Preheat Oven to 400 F (200 C).
2. Layer your fave nacho chips on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper (for easy clean-up) and top with approx 1 ½ cups (375 mL) depending on size of pan alfredo sauce (instead of salsa).
3. Top with traditional garnishes (of choice): grated cheese (of course!!), chopped tomatoes, green onions, corn, olives and jalapenos. Add: cooked ground beef OR chopped cooked chicken, OR, one of my personal faves: roughly chopped pre-cooked shrimp!! (purchase pre-cooked shrimp frozen, then simply thaw).
4. Repeat layers, and top with grated cheese. Pop in preheated oven for about 15 minutes until the cheese has melted and alfredo sauce is bubbling.
5. Remove from the oven, and top nachos with Char’s Pickled Onions!! (recipe below). Serve with guacamole & sour cream. Yum!!

Char’s Pickled Onions

~ click here for recipe (scroll to middle of attached post for recipe)

Valentine’s Day ~ Chocolate Hummus

Plant protein-based chocolate dip? Yes, please!! If you need an excuse to dip some fruit – this chocolate tahini hummus will be your new chocolatey staple.

Ingredients

• 1 (540 mL/19 oz) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed (and patted dry)
• ½ cup (125 mL) tahini
• ½ cup (125 mL) cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup (125 mL) dark chocolate chips (or finely chopped dark chocolate)
• ¼ cup (60 mL) Crosby’s Maple + Molasses (click here for product info)
• 2 tsp (10 mL) vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp (2 mL) salt
• 1/2 cup (125 mL) milk (I use plant-based (almond) milk – but cow milk is fine)

Garnish:

• dark chocolate chips, toasted sesame seeds, drizzle of Crosby’s Maple + Molasses and sprinkle of coarse salt.

Directions

1. Place chickpeas in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a metal blade. Pulse until finely chopped (scrape down sides of bowl when needed).
2. Add remaining ingredients (except for milk) and pulse until very well combined and and mixture is smooth (will likely take about 6 good pulses) – be sure to scrape down slides of bowl when needed.
3. With the motor running, pour in milk and pulse until very well combined.
4. Cover and refrigerate for up to 4 days. Stir well before serving.
5. Place in serving dish. Garnish top with sprinkle of dark chocolate chips, toasted sesame seeds, drizzle of Maple + Molasses and sprinkle of salt.
6. Serve with fresh fruit (strawberries, apple & pear slices), pretzels and or Graham cookies.

Family Day ~ Cheesy Crab Dip Pasta Bake

If you and your gang love a good crab dip, no doubt you will love this cheesy pasta bake! Click here for the 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