Empanadas Chilenas - ricooooo

Last night I had a thought to make empanadas for today's lunch. So Ricardo keeps calling me since morning to make sure I have not forgotten the promised empanadas. I have searched Chilean Empanadas online with (has to be) Chilean pino, which is the filling that goes inside. Since it will be different from Argentinian emapanadas and other countries that do make it as well. I have mixed the white flour with some whole wheat flour, that's why it has a different colour. Inside each circle shaped dough I have put a tbspn. of pino(grounded beef, cooked with onions and garlic, oil, 1/4 cup of beef bouillon and a bit of flour), and I have also have in each of empanadas a slice of cooked egg and the olive. It has to have some raisins as well but I have avoided them, because no one besides Ricardo eats them cooked ;-)) The raisins suppose to give a little sweet taste to the emapanadas.
Here is the link to the recipe: http://southamericanfood.about.com/od/snacksstreetfood/r/empanadaschile.htm

Lemon Bars

While the kids were playing outside in the backyard, I have decided to make this recipe of the Lemon Bars for Ricardo. I was told that since I have received the mixer, nothing was made a specially for him. Only for the kids (of course!). Like chocolate cake which he wouldn't touch... I have never made anything with lemon before, so it was an experience. I guess you could use the same lemon filling for the Lemon Pie. I'm not a big fan of the citrus taste, just because it gives me a weird feeling in the stomach, but Ricardo said it came out good. A little too brown.....something to remember for the next time.

From the book "BAKING", by James Peterson.

Fun Water

The other day I had borrowed this book from the library "Flat Belly Diet Cookbook", by Liz Vaccariello, which included the recipe of a drink that got my attention.

8 1/2 cups water
1 tspn. grated ginger
1 medium cucumber (peeled and sliced)
1 medium lemon
12 small spearmint leaves

Combined in a large pitcher and left overnight or just drink it right away.
I figured it tastes nice and it could replace my juice, which of course includes tons of sugar... plus it could be great for summer.

Home Made Bread

Last night, and usually I bake late at night, once is everyone in bed.... I made my bread. It's not a first time that I'm trying to make it, but I can say that it is the first time that the bread is perfectly made. The mixture came out good, it has risen, and the bread came out not too heavy and not too light - perfect. I really hope I can repeat it again ;-)

The bread called Pan Favorito (Favourite Bread) - recipe from book called "Three Generations of Chilean Cuisine", by Mirtha Uman-Murray. Borrowed from our Chilean friend.

Bok Choy - experimenting (part 2)

Today I had to use the left over of the Bok Choy, so I have prepared the brown rice... oh man, I am having a hard time eating it! First of all it takes about 1 hour just to cook it through, and the texture of that rice is not very familiar to me. Maybe we will get used to it eventually.
So to get rid of the taste I decided to stir-fry the veggies, including the Bok Choy and it was not bad at all. No one left anything on the plate, I guess it was a success!

Bok choy stir-fry:


I had a thinly sliced beef from the Chinese store, so I have used it. But u can use anything u have in your freezer.


olive or canola oil spray
1 clove garlic, crushed
3 cups chopped vegetables, (carrot, celery, capsicum, zucchini, snow peas)
1 bunch bok choy, washed chopped
2 tablespoons reduced salt soy sauce
1 tablespoon sweet chili sauce
1/4 cup sesame seeds, roasted

Spray a fry pan with oil and heat.
Stir fry garlic & chopped veggies for 3 to 5 mins.
Add boy choy and cook until just wilted.
Stir in soy sauce and chili sauce and serve. (Optional: roasted sesame seeds on top)

Link: http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcrecipes.nsf/pages/Bokchoystir-fry?opendocument

Custome Made Beds for Kids

The blue car bed Ricardo built probably 4 years ago for Andre, and the red car took a little longer to make - it's new for Mateo, though he complains that it's not blue (which is his favourite colour). The head lights can be used as a night light... and it has a timer which turns off by itself after 15 minutes! It adds so much to their room...

Bok Choy - experimenting

I have been seeing all this weird looking veggies in the supermarket. So I have bought some Bok Choy, a Chinese white cabbage. What can u really do with it.... well my first try was a tasty one. I chose a simple way to steam it and season it with toasted sesame seeds. Even the kids ate it.

Apparently this cabbage has a vitamin - A and C, calcium and dietary fiber, even iron (which I'm missing).

Ricardo's Basement Project, Very Old Basement ...

About a year ago Ricardo had this opportunity to renovate a basement in 60 year old house. You should have seen it the first time he went there... but after all the demolition and total renovation, including a new hydro system and plumbing..... it came out great!

>> Please click the image to enlarge.
To contact, please call 416.969.6677 or email @ contact.iram@gmail.com