Bulls eye barbecue ribs, slow cook, then put them on the grill

I buy baby back ribs on sale.

I am never sure if it is cheaper to buy the frozen or fresh in sauce.....

Into the slow cooker for 4 hours (I cut the rack into 2 pieces). low setting or high

Out of the slow cooker and onto the grill.

I use  pre-made bulls eye sauce but do have a good home made sauce as well.

Ribs and garlic bread.  Add a salad.

BLT sandwich on Mountain grain bread

I use the microwave tray with paper towels.  I  want a quick, easy clean up.

Crisp as I can get it without burning. 

Get ingredients ready while the bacon cooks,

Today''s greens are spinach, arugula.

I skipped the butter because I ate it immediately.  Butter is used for flavour and to water proof the bread.

pulled pork on ciabatta bun - coleslaw

Yes, coleslaw from a bag.  You saw it in my asian slaw post; time to use it up! I love Safeway bakery ciabatta buns.

I defrosted frozen pulled pork (I always freeze some for a second meal). I use my slow cooker, add the cheapest cut of pork available.  I like original bull eye barbecue sauce.  I add sauce until I cover the piece of pork.  I also add a thinly sliced onion.  Cook on low for 5 hours (depending on amount of pork). I pull the pork apart with 2 forks and turn the slow cooker to high to thicken the sauce. 

difficult to make it look appealing!

Sandwich is served!

Grilled teriyaki chicken - using frozen, butterfly cut breasts

Home made or from a bottle. Butterfly cut fresh chicken, put in bag with your favourite marinade.  Freeze.  Defrost safely in the fridge or microwave.  Barbecue or grill or bake or fry, until juices run clear.

Serve with broccoli salad and hasselback (hedgehog) baked potato

Strawberry shortcake - I used pre-made sponge cake cups

Cutting thins slices to make a fan shape

Steel strawberry huller.  The berry cups freeze well.

A tulip shaped strawberry garnish

Better view of the huller

Strawberry fan and small scoops of whip cream finish the desert

hedgehog potato (hasselback) - baked or barbecue

Add captionWash and dry a russet potato. Place between chop sticks. This helps you cut almost through the potato.

Place on aluminum foil (barbecue). Spray with cooking oil (reduce calories).

Wrap and place on grill.

Fresh chives from the garden.

Add butter and chives to potato.  You can also use sour cream, bacon bits or sprinke with grated cheese.

Build a salad! use commercial dressings, praline nuts, toasted seeds, cranberries & more!

Asian slaw; use prepackaged coleslaw mix, asian salad dressing and peanuts.  Toasted sunflower seed work well instead of nuts, I've even added dried cranberries.

a simple mixed salad: add your favourite dressing!

Add plain sugar to coat the pecans (or walnuts or almonds). I turn the element to high, stirring. As soon as sugar starts to melt, stir again and place nuts on a plate to cool quickly (avoids carry over cooking).

Quick cool down while salad is being prepared.

Store any toasted seed or nut in an airtight container in the fridge (nuts contain oil that could go rancid or off.
I package toasted almonds and praline nuts as gifts.

Packaged greens, grape tomatoes, cucumber chunks, red pepper slices, praline pecans with mango chipotle dressing.

Broccoli slaw: bacon, cheese, red onion, cranberries and toasted almonds, or pine nuts or sunflower seeds. 

I keep a bag of bacon crumbles in the freezer (Costco).  I cook them for 30 seconds to crisp before using them in salads

add cheese cubes (I like old cheddar)

I added red onion and dried cranberries; golden raisins work well.

add mayonnaise or miracle whip and stir.  I let mine sit for a few hours, sprinkling the nuts on top right before serving (to keep nuts crisp)

Hamburgers - Chatelaine tips (June 2014) home made patties.no recipe amounts

all ingredients gathered together

root end or top end intact; slice down, vertically, through the onion to the flat side resting on cutting board.

cut horizontally through onion 

Slice vertically again to separate into small pieces (or larger if you want). 

Jalapenos - I cut down the center and place cut side flat on the board

the heat is in the center white part that holds the seeds, feel free to remove part or all of it (I can't take the heat)

Smack the garlic with the knife blade

Skin of garlic clove peels off easily once smacked

If I have cilantro I add it 

Oatmeal or bread crumbs extend the meat, give flavour and absorb fat.

I break an egg into a separate bowl first, don't want shell in my cooking!

Mix up the meat with all the ingredients until evenly blended

Only piece of tupperware I own!  

Shape the burger (I like mine to cook quickly, so I make them thin).
WASH your hands immediately to avoid cross contamination - e. coli, hamburger disease!  Also happens when people do not use a clean plate for cooked meats after barbecuing! 

Extra lean ground beef gave me no grease to fry in!  I will use lean next time!

Cut a slit in the top to make sure there are no pink or raw juices.

Toppings in a divided tray

Bakery bun....think I need to add some colour through more veg on this burger!!