Cooking Instructions - December 2006 Menu

When thawing freezer bags be sure to place them in a bowl or baking dish in the fridge in case of leakage. If you forget to thaw you can thaw in the microwave or increase the cooking time by about 25minutes for the foil pans.

Calzones – Thaw in fridge overnight or increase the cooking time by approx: 10 minutes. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 13 to 15 minutes until golden brown. Serve with a tossed salad. Double the time if cooking from frozen. Serve with a salad of your choice.

Pumpkin and Parm and Proscuitto Lasagna - Thaw for at least one 24 hour period in fridge. Preheat oven to 350°. Bake 50-60 minutes let cool 10 before cutting and serving.

Southwestern Shepherd’s Pie - Thaw over night in fridge. Place foil pan in pre-heated 350 degree oven and cook covered for 1hour then uncovered for ½ hour more until topping is golden and hot.
Serve this with a steamed green vegetable and crusty rolls.

Chipotle Lime Pork Loins – Thaw in fridge overnight. Remove chops from marinade (discarding marinade) and grill over medium-hot coals for a total of 12-15 minutes, turning to brown evenly. Serve chops immediately. Serve

Café Chicken - Thaw in fridge overnight Oven: Preheat oven to 375 cook chicken in a shallow pan until juices run clear approx: 50 minutes Serve with rice and vegetables.

Tex Mex Strata - Thaw overnight. Cook in 350° for 30-45 minutes until set in middle.

Fillet of Sole with Sweet Potato Fries - Thaw in fridge. Oven: Preheat to 350 place fillets on a lightly greased baking sheet or parchment paper. Bake for 6 minutes or until flakes easily with a fork. If fillets are not as crisp as you like place under broiler for about a minute. If you are baking fish frozen add another 3 minutes or so cooking time. If you want to make a quick tartar sauce mix 1/2 cup mayonnaise with 2 teaspoons of sweet relish, 1 teaspoon lemon juice and 2 teaspoons of green onion. Stove Top: Fry in a small amount of butter and oil for about 2min per side turn gently fillets are very delicate. Sweet Potato Fries - Preheat oven to 400 place frozen fries on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper and bake for approx 10 minutes turn and continue for another 10 minutes or until desired crispness is achieved.

Gingered Port Salmon - Thaw in refrigerator over night. Grill: Preheat grill. Remove salmon steaks from marinade. Over low to medium heat, grill steaks for 10 minutes on one side, brushing once or twice with marinade. Flip and grill for 5 – 7 minutes or until meat flakes easily with a fork. Oven: Preheat oven to 450°. Place steaks in single layer in greased pan. Drizzle with marinade and bake for 10 minutes or until meat flakes easily with a fork.
Serve with rice and steamed broccoli.

Minestrone - Pour bag with vegetables into pot. Add 3-4 cups water. Simmer until all vegetables are tender – about 10 minutes. Add beans and simmer 5 minutes. Bring to gentle boil. Add pasta, stir and cook until pasta is tender. Stir in fresh tomatoes. Serve immediately, topped with parsley and parmesan.

Brazilian Beef - Thaw in fridge overnight. Place meat mixture in a pan bring to a boil reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, until beef is tender, about 1-1/2 hours. Then stir in beans for last 15 minutes of cooking. Taste, then add more seasoning, if needed. Stir in coriander. Sprinkle coriander leaves overtop, if you like.

Grilled Chicken with Mango Salsa - Thaw in fridge. Grill with indirect heat (heat one side of the grill to med and place the chicken on the other side of the grill bone side down for 40 to 50 minutes checking it often. Discard marinade. Chicken is done when juices run clear when pierced with a fork. Serve with your fresh mango salsa. Oven: Preheat oven to 375. Place chicken and marinade in a baking dish bake for 50 minutes or until juices run clear when pierced. Serve with pan drippings and fresh salsa on the side.

Cuban Beef with Cilantro Salsa – Thaw in fridge overnight. Place beef in a 9x13-inch (3-L) baking dish. Pour juice mixture overtop and turn to coat, rubbing into beef. Roast in centre of preheated oven, occasionally basting with pan juices, until a thermometer inserted into centre of beef reads 140F (60C) for medium-rare, 2 to 2-1/4 hours. When beef is done, remove from oven. Let stand 10 minutes. Skim and discard fat from pan juices. Pour juices into a wide saucepan. Boil over high heat, stirring occasionally, until reduced by half, 8 to 10 minutes. Arrange on platter. Drizzle sauce overtop. Serve salsa on the side.

SIDES
Thaw all sides except for Sweet Potato Fries in fridge.

Serve pastas hot or cold add some cheese and you have another meal. Thaw coleslaw in fridge.

Heat rice in micro wave to desired temperature. Rice can be heated from frozen in microwave.

Sweet Potato Fries:
Preheat oven to 400. Place frozen fries on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper and bake for approx 10 minutes turn and continue for another 10 minutes or until desired crispness is achieved.