Category Archives: Food Blog

Baked Beans, three cooking methods

…Slow Cooker, Oven or Stove Top.

If you have never had home made Baked Beans before, you’re missing out on something very good and comforting. Seriously the first time I had them, I just couldn’t believe how a simple pot of beans could blow me away like that.

The ingredient list may seem long but it’s effortless to throw together.

Throw everything in a pot and that’s it. Dinner done, ok a couple of hours later. If you cook it in a crock pot you don’t even have to stay home.

I’ve given you the cooking times of the three common methods, crock pot, stove and oven. Which ever you prefer. Oven being the authentic way, but all just as good.

Serves 6

Ingredients:

1 lb. white Beans , soaked overnight in plenty of water
1 tbsp. Olive Oil
1 large onion, peeled and chopped
4 oz. smoked bacon cut into cubes
2 Bay Leaves
1 2.5 oz can of Tomato Paste
2 tbsp. Pure Blackstrap Molasses
2 tbsp. Maple Syrup
1 tbsp. Dijon Mustard
1 tbsp. Liquid Smoke
1 tbsp. Sweet Smoked Paprika
1 tbsp. stock concentrate, beef or chicken
1 thick slice of salted smoked pork (loin or shoulder), known also as Kasseler
2 tbsp. thick Dark Balsamic Vinegar
1 tsp. Himalayan Salt
Black Pepper
1/4 C. Tomato Ketchup
3 C. water

Method;

Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat until shimmery. Add diced bacon, garlic, and onion to pan and stir frequently until bacon begins to crisp, about 8-10 minutes.

Reduce heat to medium and add the remaining ingredients. The liquid should cover the beans by 1/2 inch. Add more water if necessary. Bring to a simmer.

Oven : Preheat oven to 300° F . Transfer to an oven proof dish and cover with foil. Cook without stirring, until the beans are tender and the liquid has thickened, about 6 hours. Check the beans every hour to see if you need to add more water, the beans should be saucy at all times. For the last hour of cooking, uncover beans.

Slow Cooker : Transfer to slow cooker and cook on high for about 4-5 hours, depending on your slow cooker, so check.

Stove Top : Bring to a simmer and cook for about 2 hours with the lid half on, check for liquid every now and then.

I like to serve the Baked Beans with home made bread.

If you try this recipe let me know! Leave a comment below and don’t forget to snap a pic and tag it #thecookingspoonblog on instagram! You’ll make my day.

Brownie Cookie Squares with Chocolate Fudge Layer, vegan

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I love anything you can mix in one big bowl and then press into a tin.

These cookie squares are somewhere between a brownie and a cookie, hence the name. They are super quick to make and so nutrient dense that one little square will be enough to last you until lunch or dinner.

I have used half Buckwheat flakes and half Oat flakes just because I happened to have it but you can use one or the other or a mixture of both.

If your dates are dry, soak them in water for about an hour before using.

I have used a bit of Lucuma, but if you don’t have it, it’s fine without.

*Lucuma is made from whole Peruvian lucuma fruit that has been dried at low temperatures and milled into a fine powder. It is a low-glycemic sweetener with many nutrients including beta-carotene, iron, zinc, vitamin B3, calcium and protein. Lucuma has a maple-caramel like taste and I like to use it in sweet things and smoothies.

Makes 16 squares

Ingredients;

Brownie cookie;

1 C. Buckwheat Flakes
1 C. Oat flakes
5 tbsp. Cacao Powder
2 tsp. *Lucuma Powder (optional)
1/4 C. Vanilla Protein Powder
1/2 C. Peanut Butter or an nut butter
5 large soft Medjool dates, stones removed
1 tsp. Pure Vanilla Extract
3 tbsp. Light Agave Syrup
2 tbsp. Coconut Oil, melted or left in a warm place until soft.
Sprinkles (optional)

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Raw Chocolate Fudge Layer;

1/4 C. Raw Cocoa powder
1/4 C. Coconut oil, melted
2 tbsp. Date syrup
2 tbsp. Agave

Instructions;

Blend the Buckwheat and Oat flakes until you have flour and place in a bowl.

Add the remaining dry ingredients and mix with a wooden spoon.

In a food processor blend the Medjool dates until you have a paste, add a splash of water if necessary. Add the nut butter, the vanilla, the agave and the coconut oil. Blend until well mixed.

If you are using a home made nut butter you can add a pinch of salt. Store bought nut butters have salt already.

Now mix the dry into the wet and mix thoroughly. To test the consistency press a bit of mixture between your fingers or try to make a tiny ball, if it sticks together it good to go, if it crumbles add a little bit of water, or coconut oil. Blend, repeat.

Line a square dish 8″x 8″, with parchment paper, press the cookie brownie mixture into the dish and cover with cling film, refrigerate for a couple of hours until firm. Cover with a thin layer of raw chocolate or leave as is.

For the Chocolate fudge layer, mix all the ingredients and stir well to mix, spread or pour over the squares. Decorate with sprinkles and leave in the fridge to set. About one hour should be enough. Cut into 16 squares.

Note: the chocolate will melt slightly if left at room temperature for a while.

If you try this recipe let me know! Leave a comment below and don’t forget to snap a pic and tag it #thecookingspoonblog on instagram! You’ll make my day.

Passion Kale Salad with Grapes

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Let me introduce you to a new couple, Passion fruit and Kale. They say opposites attract, right?

Kale being strong, textured, dark and rough, and Passion fruit being delicate, perfumed, sweet and juicy.

These two go together so well. I wanted to find something completely different from the most obvious choices to accompany the kale, giving it sweetness and something very different.

The addition of Grapes I love because to me they are like little explosions of sweet juice.

The nuts have had a turn in the pan with a bit of honey and salt to give them crunch and flavour. So to make a long story short, I think you’re really gonna like this one and it’s so pretty too.

The essential trick is to massage the Kale long enough for the right texture, it’s also easier to digest this way and it becomes a little softer.

Serves 4 as a side

Ingredients;

1 12 oz./350 gr. bag of (organic) washed and chopped Kale

juice of half a lemon

1 tbsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1/4 tsp Himalayan Salt

1 tbsp. Raw Honey

freshly Black Pepper

1/2 C. red grapes cut in half

1 passion fruit. (wrinkled fruit means sweeter)

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1/3 C. Walnuts roughly chopped

1 tbsp. Honey

a sprinkling of Himalayan Salt

Method;

Get out a tray and cover with parchment paper.

Put a frying pan on to medium heat. Toast the walnuts for about three minutes until golden, add the salt and honey. Cook for an other minute or so until syrupy and sticky. Take off the heat and pour the nuts onto the tray with parchment paper. Let cool.

Put the Kale in a bowl. Add salt, lemon juice and olive oil. With very clean hands, start massaging and squeezing the kale, for about ten minutes. Until it turns darker and softer.

Spoon out half of the Passion fruit and add the tablespoon honey, incorporate in the kale salad and mix.

Place the Kale on a pretty serving dish or plate. Decorate with the grapes and nuts. Spoon the other half of the passion fruit pulp out on top of the kale salad.

Not quite what you’re looking for? How about Harvest Pumpkin Salad, baked Halloumi & Chantherelles with Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette.

Angel Hair Pasta with Garlic butter Shrimp and bacon

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This is one of those dinner you can have on the table in under 20 minutes, from start to finish. Great for week nights and SO crazy delicious, you’re going to be licking your bowls!

Serves: 4

Ingredients;

1 lb. fresh Angel Hair Pasta or any thin pasta
1 lb. shelled and deveined shrimp, fresh or frozen (thawed)
4 oz. chopped bacon
2 tbsp. Olive Oil
2 cloves of garlic, peeled and grated
1/2 tsp. smoked Sweet paprika
1/4 tsp. of Red Crushed Pepper flakes
3 tbsp. fresh basil, torn
black ground Pepper
generous seasoning of Himalayan Salt
a handful of freshly chopped parsley
1 C. dry white wine
1 egg yolk
freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Method;

In a large pan with boiling water cook the angel hair pasta according to package instructions. Fresh pasta only takes about 4 minutes, so if you get everything ready for the sauce. It should take about the same time.

In a large frying pan, heat the two tablespoons of olive oil and add the bacon. Cook for two minutes or so, then add the garlic and chili. Add in the shrimp and toss, cook on high for a minute or two until they begin to color. Add the paprika, chili, pepper, salt and white wine. Cook for another minute. Add the basil and the drained pasta. Remove from the heat and stir in the egg yolk making sure to cover all the strands of pasta. Sprinkle with parsley. Serve with grated Parmesan cheese.