Back to School. Lunches?!? Muffins

My 9 year old has a self-imposed limited diet.  I have to pack as much into what she will eat as possible.  Therefore, Banana Squash Muffins.  This recipe is quite adaptable to whatever you might have on hand.  Grated peeled apples work nicely as well.

Banana Squash Muffins
1/2 cup butter
2 eggs
3/4 cup sugar
2 banana, mashed (or one, as you like)
1-2 cups cooked mashed squash (any variety, including zucchini)
1 tbs baking powder
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
2 cups flour (often more, for a thick batter)
2 cups dark chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 ºF.  Prepare muffin tins with papers.

Mix butter, sugar, eggs, bananas, and squash, until smooth.  Slowly add baking powder, milk, vanilla, salt, and cinnamon.  Add flour and then the chocolate.  Add flour if needed.

Fill muffin tins.  Bake.  For mini muffins, bake for 15-17 minutes.  For larger muffins, bake for 20 -22 minutes, depending on you oven.

Cool and store in containers.  Keep refrigerated after a day.

Enjoy!

Lapsang Souchon poached Steelhead Trout for CBC's Weekend Morning Show

This morning on CBC's Weekend Morning Show with Host Terry MacLeod, I presented the following elegant lunch items.  Lapsang Souchon Poached Steelhead Trout and Pancetta, peas and mint pasta.

Lapsang Souchon Poached Steelhead Trout

2 fillets Steelhead Trout (or Wild Sockeye Salmon)

1 l Lapsang Souchon Tea (Available in most Asian markets, tea shops such as Cornelia Bean), steeped and cooled
1/2 cup Mirin (sweet Japanese cooking wine)
1 tbs grated fresh ginger
1/2 tsp white pepper
good drizzle good sesame oil (I like Kadoya, found in Asian markets)
1/4 + soy sauce
1tbs sugar

Mix marinade/poaching liquid when tea is steeped and cooled.  Place fillets in marinade after scoring the skin to prevent curling the fillet in poaching.  Leave skin on to keep fish moist.  It can be removed after cooking.

Let marinate over night or for a few hours.

Pour poaching liquid into a pan large enough to hold the fillets.  Bring to boil and then simmer the fillets for 5-10 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fish.

Serve hot with reduced poaching liquid or chill for a luncheon.  Garnish with chives or chopped green onions. 
Pancetta, Peas and Mint Pasta
 (serves 3)
5-10 Strips Pancetta, cut into smaller strips
1 cup peas (frozen)
few sprigs fresh mint, chopped or shredded
chilies, to taste
1 clove garlic, minced
pinch nutmeg
few tablespoons cream
drizzle olive oil
cooked pasta (I used shells but farfalle is traditional)
grated parmesan


In a sauté pan, heat oil and add pancetta and garlic and cook over medium heat.  Add some spoons of pasta water to soften if too crisp.  Add peas and remaining ingredients.  Toss together with pasta and grate cheese over top.  Enjoy!