Ingredients

3-4 breaded chicken burgers

1 can of pasta sauce

Grated mozzarella cheese

Oregano, basil and Italian seasoning (to taste)

Directions

1) Preheat oven to 350’F.

2) Grease a 9×10″ baking pan.

3) Lay out the burgers, then add pasta sauce evenly over each one. Then add some mozzarella cheese evenly over each burger.

4) Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes or until cooked all the way through and the cheese is golden brown and melted.

5) Serve with pasta and garlic bread.

Here are some basic terms and definitions to help you around the kitchen.

Mirepoix- a flavor base made up of diced vegetables that are usually cooked in butter or oil and cooked for a long time on a low heat without browning or coloring. The intention is to sweeten the ingredients instead of carmelizing or sauteeing them.

Roux- butter or oil and flour cooked together and used to thicken sauces. It’s usually used from equal amounts of fat and flour by weight. The flour is added to melt the butter or oil on the stovetop blended well until smooth and cooked to the desired amount of brownness. Two examples: gravy and Alfredo sauce.

Mise En Place- French term referring to having all of your ingredients cut up, grated, peeled, sliced and measured out before you begin cooking. Pans, bowls, tools and all necessary equipment is set out. It’s a technique chefs use to work efficiently and quickly to get things done quicker.

Whether or not you celebrate cinco de mayo or not, this is a great way to improvise making tacos when you don’t have ground pork or beef.

Ingredients

4-6 pork sausages, casing removed

1 red or green pepper, diced

1 red onion, diced

2-3 tablespoons cumin

2-3 tablespoons chili powder

1 package of taco seasoning

1 package of salsa or taco sauce

2 or 3 green onions, sliced

Directions:

1) In a medium or large frying pan, cook sausage, pepper and onions for 7-8 minutes.

2) Gradually add the cumin, chili powder and taco seasoning.

3) Stir in the taco sauce and bring to a simmer for 3 or 4 minutes.

4) Add the green onions and serve with hard or soft taco shells.

One of the first things I remember learning how to make in a cooking class was a frittata. A quick and easy way to combine eggs, hashbrowns and other ingredients.

Ingredients

2-3 eggs, beaten

2 cups milk

4-5 russet or yukon gold potatoes, cubed

1 large red onion, cubed

1-2 red peppers, cubed

2 cups grated mozzarella, cheddar or marble cheese

2-3 slices of bacon, cubed

2-3 green onions, sliced

Salt and pepper to taste

Parsley, (for garnish)

1) Grease a large frying pan with 1 teaspoon of butter. Add potatoes and cook for 5-6 minutes, stirring and seasoning occasionally until golden brown.

2) In a medium bowl, combine the eggs and milk and set aside. Meanwhile, add the onion, peppers and bacon and continue to cook for an additional 3-4 minutes until the bacon is cooked through.

3) Add the egg mixture and tilt the pan to ensure the mixture runs all the way through. Cook for another minute or two then add the shredded cheese and cook until the eggs are set and the cheese is melted.

4) Using a flipper/spatula, lift the frittata onto a large plate. Garnish with parsley and serve immediately with toast and coffee.

Ingredients

4 cups chicken broth

2 cups long grain rice (heaping cups)

1 Package diced fried bacon

1 or 2 sauteed diced onions

1 Large can or jar drained sauerkraut

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1) Mix all together put in a greased casserole dish bake 350 for about an hour.

2) Check on it about 4 times to mix to make sure you added enough moisture.

“Kitchens should be designed around what’s truly important- fun, food and life.”

“Cooking is like painting or writing a song. Just as there are only so many notes or colors, there are only so many flavors- it’s how you combine them that sets you apart.”

There are many methods to making a great omelette. However, this method is both simple and efficient. If you’re a fan of adding lots of fillings to your omelette- ham, onions, peppers or tomatoes for example- make sure these are cooked and caramelized ahead of making the omelette. Using a lightly oiled heavy-bottomed frying pan, add a bit of butter and only when it begins to foam do you add the eggs. Stir the eggs constantly to beat in some air and tilt the pan from side to side allowing any uncooked egg to run off to the sides. Once the top is almost set but still moist and creamy, lift the edges to see if there’s any color on the bottom and then turn off the heat.

Here are a few simple rules and methods to keep and follow in the kitchen.

1) First in, first out (FIFO) any product in the fridge that has an expiry date on it, always use the old stuff before opening or using the new stuff. Place it in the fridge from oldest to newest.

2) Clean as you go- the most efficient way to minimize your mess after you’ve been cooking or baking is to clean as you go. It’s very important to keep your area clean as you’re working.

3) Try not to waste food- one of the worst things to happen is when food goes to waste. Not only is it wasting food but it’s also a waste of money.

Here is a list of 8 herbs and spices that I feel everyone should have in their kitchen.

1) Black Pepper- whether it’s ground or peppercorns, this spice should almost always be used to start your dish’s taste. Additionally it should hit the table for people to add as much or as little as they want.

2) Salt- I personally avoid using table salt as I find it doesn’t deliver as much flavor or nutritional value. I stick with sea salt, which like pepper if used in smaller amounts is a great way to start the taste of your dish. Like pepper it should hit the table for people to add on as little or as much as they want.

3) Parsley- fresh or ground, this herb is a great way to add more color to your meal or dish. This can be added while cooking or as a garnish before the dish is served.

4) Oregano- ground oregano is a great way to help elevate Italian food and help give it more character.

5) Garlic Powder- a great way to give a dish a little more of a savory flavor. This can be used in a variety of different dishes and can be added while cooking and as a finishing touch before serving.

6) Basil- fresh or ground, this herb can be used in vinaigrettes, garnishes and sauces.

7) Chilli Powder- a great shortcut to giving your dish a bit of heat! Most commonly used in Chillies but can be used in pasta sauces and Barbecue sauces.

8) Thyme- most commonly used in pork or chicken dishes, this herb ground or fresh gives an earthy taste to your dish.