All steamed up

Written by Linda Gauthier

One of my very best friends in the world reads my blog daily, how's that for friendship!  She has also recently purchased the Epicure Steamer, and to help her out, I'm dedicating this blog to Steamer recipes.
Now, you don't need to follow these recipes exactly, try different cuts of fish, different flavours etc.  This is just a way to demonstrate to you the versatility of the steamer and what you can do with it.  So, have fun, experiment, it is only food, what does not work one time may work with a few alterations the next time.

Epicure’s Steamed Salmon and Asparagus

A light and healthy meal — ready in under 10 minutes!

Makes 2 servings
Cost Per Serving: 3.23

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 4 minutes

Ingredients:

1 bunch asparagus, trimmed
2 tsp (10 ml) Epicure’s Lemon Pepper Sansel™
2 x 4 oz (110 g) salmon fillets, skin removed

Instructions:

1. Sprinkle asparagus with 1 tsp (5 ml) Lemon Pepper Sansel™. 
2. Place asparagus in Epicure’s Rectangular Silicone Steamer and lay salmon on top. 
3. Sprinkle remaining Lemon Pepper Sansel™ over salmon. 
4. Cover and microwave on high for 4–5 minutes.

Here is a video on how to do it 

Epicure’s Steamer Herb & Garlic Potatoes and Green Beans

Make this flavourful side dish in minutes. No added oil or fat!

Makes 2-3 servings
Cost Per Serving: 0.70

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 5 - 8 minutes

Ingredients:

1 cup (250 ml) sliced sweet potatoes
1 cup (250 ml) sliced potato
1 cup (250 ml) green beans
1 tsp (5 ml) Epicure’s Herb & Garlic Dip Mix

This video shows you step by step 

Epicure’s Steamer Coconut Chicken Curry

2-3 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 8 - 10 minutes

Ingredients:

1 skinless, boneless chicken breast or 4 skinless, boneless thighs
2 Tbsp (30 ml) Epicure’s Mango Curry Dip Mix
Epicure’s Sea Salt and Black Pepper, to taste
1/2 cup (125 ml) light coconut milk
2 Epicure’s Kaffir Lime Leaves (optional)
1 small bell pepper, thinly sliced
1 cup (250 ml) finely chopped broccoli florets

Instructions:

1. Slice chicken into thin strips. Place in bottom of Epicure’s Square Silicone Steamer. Sprinkle with Mango Curry Dip Mix, Sea Salt and Black Pepper. Toss to mix. 
2. Pour in coconut milk and add Kaffir Lime Leaves, bell pepper, and broccoli. 
3. Cover and microwave on high, until chicken is cooked through, 8–10 minutes 
4. Let stand, covered, for 1 minute. Uncover and dish up with rice. 

Per Serving: Calories 200, Fat 12 g (Saturated 8 g, Trans 0 g), Cholesterol 45 mg, Sodium 50 mg, Carbohydrate 5 g (fiber 2 g, Sugars 2 g), Protein 18 g.

Tandoori Chicken bites, Vegetable Pakoras and Dahl
Recipes are found on my blog

         
Here is a sauce I love making for pouring over chicken and rice.  It is also wonderful over shrimp.  Just prepare the sauce, then add your shrimp and cook for 1 or 2 mins until they are pink, using the steamer, of course.

           

Lemon Grass Steamed Chicken

    

Steamed Asian Fish

           


2 servings
Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

1 cup (250 ml) chopped kale or spinach leaves
Epicure’s Sea Salt, to taste
2 — 4 oz (125 g) halibut, sablefish or thick white fish fillets
2 tsp (10 ml) Epicure’s Asian Stir-Fry Seasoning
1 Tbsp (15 ml) Epicure’s Red Pepper Jelly

Instructions:

1. Place kale in bottom of Epicure’s Rectangular Steamer and sprinkle with Sea Salt and 1 Tbsp (15 ml) water. 
2. Place fish on kale and sprinkle with Asian Stir-Fry Seasoning. Spoon Red Pepper Jelly on top.
3. Cover and microwave on high until fish is cooked through, about 5 minutes. 
4. Let stand, covered, for 1 minute. Uncover and dish up with brown rice. Scrape any juices from the bottom of the Steamer and pour over fish.

Per Serving : Calories 170, Fat 3.5 g (Saturated 0.5 g, Trans 0 g), Cholesterol 35 mg, Sodium 75 mg, Carbohydrate 10 g (Fibre 2 g, Sugars 6 g), Protein 25 g

Here is another video 

2 Minute Popcorn

You can also make popcorn in the steamer and it is perfect.  Flavour it with Maple Bacon Sea Salt, or Butter Rum, or how about Poutine flavour or Maple Sugar?  The list goes on and on, wherever your imagination takes you.

  



4 cups (1 L)
Cook Time: 2 minutes

Ingredients:

2 Tbsp (30 ml) popcorn kernels
• Epicure’s Popcorn Seasoning, to taste – your choice

Instructions:

1. Place popcorn in Epicure’s Rectangular Steamer, cover with lid, and microwave on high for 2–3 minutes. 
2. Season with Popcorn Seasoning, and let the healthy snacking begin! 

Per Serving (1 cup (250 ml)) : Calories 50, Fat 0.5 g (Saturated 0.1 g, Trans 0 g), Cholesterol 0 mg, Sodium 10 mg, Carbohydrate 10 g (Fibre 2 g, Sugars 0 g), Protein 2 g.

   

So there you have it, a sampling of what you can do with the Steamer, it is fun, easy to use and versatile.  The flavours are fresh and amazing, the cooking time fantabulous, the clean up a cinch and time in and out of the kitchen "lickety-split".
Soccer moms and students alike can appreciate the value of being able to get a meal on the table quickly and at a reasonable price. What's not to like?  Healthy, fast food (not to be confused with "fast food") and not a lot of muss and fuss.  It is so easy that hubby or your 7 year old can cook something up without the worry of burning the house down or the ruination of your best pots and pans.  Bonus!!!  

I always like to end my blog with a smile, so I thought I'd share this with you.  Watch it and enjoy wisdom from a very wise young man.
It is called: "A Pep Talk from Kid President to You"

                    

This is going to be a weekend of celebrations...

Written by Linda Gauthier

"It's a good thing" as one of  my heroes says......


I have been distracted this week, finding it hard to blog, the reason for this is that our son and daughter are coming home.
He returns from his world travels, having traveled for the past 6 months. Our daughter came home as a wonderful surprise for her father and her brother, she arrived here from Newfoundland.  This is a wonderful thing, no matter how old your children are, and how much you want them to have a bold and adventurous life, when they are gone that long and traveling on their own or living on the opposite side of your larger than life country, as a parent there is nothing better than having your children walk through the front door and announce that they are home.  Pure joy runs through my heart, and I find myself staring at them trying to take in every detail, all the changes, all that is the same, their smiles, the family language, the joking, the nuances of being family, saying you love each other without all the words, just the looks, gestures, body language, the familiar teasing.
Sheer delight, that's what I feel.  As I write this, I am planning a Christmas/Birthday dinner for Hubby.  Yes, you read that right. Christmas in February, since we were not together for Christmas and as a result, just did not feel the same.
Our son, while his hosts were well intentioned, had a boiled chicken, head and all on a bed of rice. (I think they thought that is what "I'm dreaming of a White Christmas" meant) Not exactly a traditional Canadian dinner, good for a giggle but he did miss Christmas traditions.
Our daughter had a wonderful family dinner with her Newfoundland family, but I did not get to spoil her with our traditional recipes, and ours, well, it was just hubby and I and our Nicole, who tends to be pretty silent on the matters of tradition or Christmas dinner for that matter.  We had a wonderful boxing day feast but somehow without the kids it just did not feel the same.

So, on with the reasons I am writing this blog; this week's menu and the big reveal. 

I am still stuck around the 140 mark, darn, darn, darn!!!  So, I guess this means I really have to get serious about my exercise; Nemesis number 2, deux, dos, dva, dwa whichever language you use, it is still a problem area for me and may even be my hardest to overcome.
Years of "sloth hood" and saying "I'll do it tomorrow" are persistent problems with which I am very familiar, and seemingly comfortable with.  However, it is not as hard as it once was and it will only get easier if I set my mind to it.  So setting mind to it now!!!

The following is some interesting information I found in one of my Cooking Healthy Cookbooks and I thought you may find it interesting.
This is from Better Homes and Gardens' "The Ultimate Low-Calorie Book".  It has 400 light and healthy recipes, along with tons of useful tips and hints.

February 2-8 Menu

Please note that there will be changes to Sunday's evening menu.  I just am not sure what, so I will post that later.  Thanks

              

Smile, laugh and enjoy your family and friends, take time for yourself.  Take joy in the small things in life, it sure makes the long ride easier.
Until next time have a great day and thanks for reading.

   
  Just thought this was so cute, I'd share it with you.