Chili Beef Loaded Poutine

I have to start by saying that I love a good proper poutine ,  nice gravy , well cooked chips ( fries ) , and squeaky cheddar cheese curds, best served in a paper bowl , and enjoyed with a plastic fork.  I honestly believe they taste better when someone else makes it for you!  Hahahaha  every once in a while I try at home... so far 3 not so amazing creations.    Then I tried again after a two year break ...  and Wow!  I finally nailed it ! Hahahaha so very far from traditional , but.. it was GOOD!!   Here is how I made it :)) It was mostly all leftovers from a couple of different meals too :))
Enjoy!  

The Leftovers :)   Pan gravy, caramelized onions and mushrooms, and a mildly spicy chili spiced ground beef . Here is a link to make my basic gravy :)
http://richfletchersgoodfoodrevolution.blogspot.com/2010/12/who-doesnt-love-gravy.html

First up , make the chips ...  I MUCH prefer them well done
Here is how to make my chips :)
http://richfletchersgoodfoodrevolution.blogspot.com/2010/12/easy-hand-cut-chips.html

The leftovers...  almost forgot about the roasted red peppers :))   I spread everything out, poured the gravy into pyrex  .. and into the toaster oven it all went , at 325 - 350 for about 20 minutes ( same time as the chips took basically )

Rich's Kitchen Tips and Tricks 2

Over the years, I have amassed all sorts of little tricks and tips to make life easier, faster, or healthier in the kitchen .  I've decided to start sharing some of those with you .   This is the second post for this new series.    I hope you enjoy, or at least find something interesting or useful .

 

In a moment of not thinking.... I used a metal spatula on my enamelled cast iron pot :(( I was left with a series of smalll scratches all the way around.... So I seasoned it ,(Slather it in oil and bake in a hot oven for a couple of hours ) like i have done with all my other cast iron cookware. The oil adhered to all the scratches... so I think Ive saved it, time will tell I guess...   A year later , everything is just fine , not a spec of rust to be seen :))  

 

To test your eggs for freshness , simply place them in a bowl of water .. if they lay flat , they are 100% fresh, if they stand on one end ... edible, but must be fully cooked ! If they float ... compost or throw them away . These ones are just fine :)  

 

Save money, and your health by switching to pyrex and glass storage containers... I use my canning jars too, perfect for hot liquids ( gravy in this case ) and a nice bonus is you can reheat them in a toaster oven, less dishes and no microwaves involved ;)

 

That's it, short and to the point.
 If you have a tip you would like to share , please post it on my Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rich-Fletchers-Good-Food-Revolution/118986254815432  or send me an email to richsgoodfood@gmail.com   and Id be happy to test and share it :))

Eat Well and Be Healthy
Rich 

January's Favourite Nature Shots

Slowly over the course of 2011, I started incorporating  my love of all things nature, into my Good Food Revolution ...  It started with gardening pics and tips, and shots of farm life, and morphed into just about anything to do with nature.  On my Facebook page I have 10 albums dedicated to Nature :)   

I wanted to start sharing them here too ...  so Im going to start doing a monthly post with my personal favourites from the month before.   I hope you enjoy !  

Winter Warmth - also the VERY 1st shot I took with my new camera :)) 

Vines and Cones :) 

Ahh winter ! 

Brrrr :) 

Over the hills to Toronto :) 

I do hope you have enjoyed my first nature post ...  feedback is greatly appreciated !!

Have a wonderful day :)

Eating Local,even in Winter

While working in the fields of a local organic farm last summer,  I had a lot of time to think ... One of the many bonuses to working outside with your hands :)  During harvest season life was great , fresh local veggies everyday , just picked 10 minutes before heading home :)   But what about winter ?  When I can't just simple pick something fresh, either from the field or from the grocery store.   I decided this year , I was going to challenge myself to continue to eat local thru the worst two months for fresh, local food here.  January and February ...   So i started stocking up ,  between a few farms and my own garden I managed to pack away a few hundred pounds of veggies...  lots to see me thru the two months I promised myself.    Quick numbers are 150 lbs of potatoes , 75lbs of acorn and butternut squash, 100lbs of tomatoes, jarred and frozen as a garden sauce,  50lbs of red peppers mostly all roasted and frozen , along with onion and garlic ( quick flavour adders ) ,100lbs of onions and 50 head of garlic .   I did have ambitions to put away more, but simply ran out of time and freezer space ...  It didnt help that the 20lbs of carrots went bad on me lol ..   Looks like I wont have a huge variety to choose from , but it should be fun , and best of all LOCAL :))  I'm already thinking ahead to next year ...   more frozen soups or puree's for sure , and more root vegetables carrots, parsnips, turnips etc...  More variety in canning , not just tomatoes :)

Four weeks in ,  Im really craving a nice big Caesar salad lol .... but its been fun,  Here are a few of my creations so far :)

Roasted Red Pepper n Garlic Hummus :) 

Roasted Red Pepper n Garlic Hummus, garden tomato sauce, red onions, garlic ,  ground beef , and roasted red peppers...  all local :)) Making  homemade hamburger helper :)   

RFGFR's Kitchen Tips & Tricks 1

One of the many things I love about the internet , is the ability to share kitchen tips and tricks,  either with photos , or video how too's.   I decided I wanted to start posting a few of my own .

If you follow me on Facebook,  you may have already seen these as I've had an album for tips  for well over a year now.   If you don't follow me on FB you should check out the daily fun :)   There is something like 160 albums and 3500 photographs to enjoy . 

To help keep your dinner warm , remember to warm your plates ... I simply slid them under the Naan and cheese for a couple of minutes. :) They only need 5 or 10 minutes and a towel will be required to take them out , but its so worth having hot food when you sit down :))

When buying spices in large containers, transfer a small amount to a small spice container . This will help keep your spice stock fresh ,as you won't be opening and closing the jar or tub as often.
I like to use these little magnetic ones.. very handy.

Three tips in one here, buy good quality freezers bags ! This is VERY important, as cheap ones will not protect your good food! Tip 2 , is buy the Bulk/club pack sizes and save a small fortune... i got both of these for $20 , compared to about $50 if just purchased in small 30 bag boxes. Tip 3 , look for the store brands, ones you trust , instead of name brands .. i didnt save any $$ by doing this but got an extra 25% more bags !

I hope some of that was new info for you ,  please feel free to share here ( leave a link in the comments section )  or head on over to my FB page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rich-Fletchers-Good-Food-Revolution/118986254815432 and let me know what your favourite kitchen tip or trick is :)

Eat Well and Be Happy !
Rich