New Years Eve Recipes as seen on CTV Morning Live Ottawa

Whether you’re getting glammed up and entertaining a crowd on December 31st, or chilling in your PJs with your dogs (me!!) – you need to ring in the new year with good food. The following recipes are super simple to recreate, but look (and taste) like you spent hours in the kitchen. BONUS: both recipes use plenty of ingredients you likely have leftover from Christmas cooking/baking.

From my kitchen (sporting my PJs) to yours, Happy New Year!!

Whipped Goat Cheese Board with Sauteed Mushrooms

~ click here for recipe

This festive, fabulous & flavorful Mushrooms Canada recipe (click here for more recipes made with Canadian Mushrooms) 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!!

Grilled White Chocolate Sandwiches with Gingerbread Compound Butter

Yep, you read that right – grilled white chocolate sandwiches. Brunch never tasted so good!

Ingredients

• ⅓ cup (75 mL) salted butter
• 1 tbsp (15 mL) molasses
• ¼ tsp (1 mL) vanilla extract
• ½ tsp (2 mL) ground ginger
• ¼ tsp (1 mL) each of ground cinnamon, ground cardamom and ground nutmeg
• 4 slices of egg bread (*or cinnamon raisin bread OR sourdough)
• 1 (100 g/3.5 oz) quality white chocolate bar, broken in half *dark or milk chocolate can be substituted – I just prefer white for this recipe

Garnish:

• whipped cream, fresh berries and festive sprinkles (optional).

Directions

1. Stir together butter, molasses, vanilla and spices until well combined.
2. Divide and spread butter evenly between, and on both sides of bread (as you would if making a grilled cheese sandwich).
3. Pre-heat a non-stick pan or flat griddle to medium high. Place two slices of bread on pre-heated griddle and divide chocolate evenly between the bread. Top with remaining pieces of bread (to make a sandwich).
4. Grill for about 3 minutes (gently press each sandwich down with spatula). Flip sandwiches and grill for an additional few minutes until bread is grilled and chocolate is soft.
5. Remove sandwiches from the griddle and let stand for a few minutes before cutting.
   Cut each sandwich in half (or quarters) and garnish with whipped cream, fresh berries and sprinkles (if using).
6. Makes two sandwiches.

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!