I’ve tried to make many basil soups before and I recently realized that over-heating it was my biggest mistake. The basil gets bruised and it can turn bitter. By keeping the soup at room temp, it retains all of its fresh, vibrant flavor. The only things that gets cooked here are the leeks and the garlic croutons. After that, it all goes into the blender and bam! There’s no cream or milks in this recipe . The blended zucchini and a scoop of hemp seeds makes this soup nice and

I planted a lot of basil this year as it's my favourite herb to use in cooking. Every year I have the best of intentions to take it indoors but unfortunately I never follow through and a lot goes to waste at the end of the season.  So I've come up with a solution to use it all up and be frugal at the same time. Who doesn't want to save a few dollars? Makes 1/2 cup Ingredients: 3 cups packed basil leaves 1/4 cup olive oil 1 tablespoon lemon juice Instructions: Add all of the

My Gramma was awesome. She was sweet, a great cook and managed to outlive two husbands – all while running a working farm complete with cattle, pigs, chickens, crops and a massive garden. Thanks to weekends at the farm, I learned the value of hard work, how to sling hay bales and how to sneak eggs out from underneath cranky chickens. She always had something good baking in the stove and a well thought out tidbit of advice when I needed it (never leave the house without lip gl

INGREDIENTS: FOR THE DRESSING: 1/3 c. extra-virgin olive oil 1/3 c. lime juice 3 tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro 1 tbsp. hot sauce 1/2 tsp. cumin 1 tsp. kosher salt FOR THE SALAD: 1 c. black beans 1 small red onion, finely chopped 1 c. corn 1 c. cherry tomatoes, quartered 1 c. black eyed peas 2 orange bell peppers, chopped 1 avocado, chopped Corn chips, for serving DIRECTIONS: 1. In a small bowl, make dressing: Whisk together olive oil, lime juice, cilantro, hot sauce, cumin,

It’s Sunday. This is the perfect hangover food.  This Avocado Bavon Baguette with Honey will save your soul.  Trust me. I know this to be true today :/ INGREDIENTS: 4 slices French baguette, sliced on the diagonal and lightly toasted 1 medium, ripe avocado 1 slice bacon, cooked and crumbled honey DIRECTIONS: Cook bacon and remove excess grease with paper towel.  Mash the avocado in a small bowl. Spread the mashed avocado on the toasts. Sprinkle with bacon and drizzle

Old Bay Seasoning is like my own personal Snuffleupugus. I can NEVER find it. So now I'll never have to :) Yield: 1/2 cup  2 tablespoons bay leaf powder 2 tablespoons celery salt (or 1 tbls. ground celery seed and 1 tbls. salt) 1 tablespoon dry mustard 2 teaspoons ground black pepper 2 teaspoons ground ginger 2 teaspoons sweet paprika (smoked paprika is even better if you can find it!) 1 teaspoon white pepper 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1 teaspoon ground cloves 1 teaspoon ground

About those wraps you see down there. Those beautiful mouth-watering wraps. They are good. Crispy, peanuty and slightly spicy. You'll eat more than one so loosen your belt.   Ingredients: 1 pound chicken breasts, about 3 breasts 1 tablespoons soy sauce 1 tablespoons sesame oil 1/2 cup chunky peanut butter room temp 1/2 cup coconut milk 1 tablespoon brown sugar 4 tablespoons soy sauce 1 tablespoon hot chili sesame oil 2 tablespoon rice wine vinegar or white vinegar 1/2 teaspo

They don’t call them simple syrups for nothing; these are so simple to make and they payoff is delicious. Not only will you have an easy way to add excitement to club soda (finally, a non-boring drink to serve guests who aren’t imbibing, which is so right now), you’ll also be one step closer to making an impressive cocktail. They will keep two weeks in the refrigerator. Make them in advance so you have them on hand for guests or to treat yourself. Ingredients: Orange Vanill

The temperature of your ingredients in baking affects texture, shape and taste.  Understanding which basic baking ingredients should be at which temperature – and why – can change you from a nervous baker to a confident one who whips up cookies on a whim. Read on…you may want to preheat your oven before you start. Baking ingredient temperature cheat sheet Butter: Room temperature for cakes and cookies. Butter should be at room temperature for most cake and cookie recipes

I call this sunshine in a bottle. Sweet, boozy sunshine. If you’ve never had a sip of the Italian lemon liqueur known as limoncello, you’re in for a treat. Homemade limoncello completely blows away the store-bought stuff, and it’s super simple to make. While many commercial imports tend to be too sweet, homemade limoncello can be made as strong or as mild as you wish. Let it sit a while to age into a bright, smooth sipper, and your concoction could rival some of the finest in

This drink is even better if you make it with my homemade Limoncello!  It tastes like summer.  Ingredients: 2 oz Limoncello 2 oz Triple Sec 2 oz Sweet & Sour Mix 2 oz Lemon Lime Soda Instructions: Build in a glass with ice.... #limoncello #TripleSec #drink #summerdrinks #TerriWindover #DefineFit #TheRantingCook

Um what? You love me? Wait until after you drink it, you'll be willing me your first born lol.  INGREDIENTS: Lemon wedge, for rimming glasses Coarse salt, for rimming glasses 2 c. ice 2 c. Pink lemonade 1/4 c. fresh lemon juice 1/4 c. triple sec 1 c. tequila 4 Lemon Slices, for garnish DIRECTIONS: 1. Rub a lemon wedge around the rim of four glasses, then dip rims into salt. 2. To each glass, add ice, pink lemonade, lemon juice, triple sec, and tequila. Stir to combine. (if y

Layers of roasted rhubarb, tart raspberries, dark chocolate chunks and almond meal. It’s all soaked in a rich, eggy custard, and then baked until slightly puffy, springy and golden.   INGREDIENTS: 4-5 stems rhubarb finely granted zest of ½ orange 1 teaspoon vanilla  1 large brioche loaf- I used 1.5 loaves from this recipe and it was about 900g total 6 eggs 1 cup cream 2 cups whole milk ¾ cups Rogers Berry sugar + 4 tablespoons, divided 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 180g dark c

Forget that canned stuff. This version packs a punch with charred, fresh corn and jalapeño.  Serves: 6 INGREDIENTS: 6 ears corn, shucked 2 tbsp. butter 2 tbsp. all-purpose flour 1 c. milk 2 tbsp. cream cheese, softened 1/4 c. Shredded Monterey Jack 1 jalapeño, minced (optional) kosher salt Freshly ground black pepper 2 tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro DIRECTIONS: Preheat grill or grill pan to high. Grill corn until kernels are charred and slightly softened, 10 minutes. Once co

INGREDIENTS: 3 oz Rum 1 Cup Blueberries 1 1/2 oz Fresh Lime Juice Splashes of Triple Sec INSTRUCTIONS: Combine all with ice in a blender. Blend until desired consistency...  #blueberries #drink #summer #TerriWindover #DefineFit #TheRantingCook #triplesec

Serves: serves 4 Ingredients: ¼ cup balsamic vinegar 1 cup sliced strawberries 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes 1 cup halved mini mozzarella balls 1 ripe avocado, pitted and diced ⅓ cup pecans, toasted ⅓ cup loosely packed basil, torn Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper Instructions: In a small saucepan, bring the balsamic vinegar to a high simmer over medium heat. Stir, then reduce the heat to low and simmer until the vinegar has thic

Would this be a good place to admit that I only kind of enjoy sandwiches? I know, what the hell Terri?!? What I mean is, it’s the proportions: too much bread, too little filling. If you've ever been to New York and had a sandwich from one of those Jewish delis that are taller than your glass of beer, you know that less bread, more filling is a good thing, if only you didn’t want to have to unhinge your jaw just to take a bite.  My solution is to serve them open-faced and pi

Easy peasy and delicious. Just a handful of ingredients and your friends will be amazed.  Ingredients: 1 can (14 oz.) artichoke hearts 8 oz, whipped cream cheese, at room temperature 1 large shallot, finely chopped 1/4 Tablespoon salt 3 Tablepoons  Truffle Oil 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese Instructions: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Sauté shallots in 1 Tablespoon Truffle olive oil until soft. Transfer to a mixing bowl. Add cream cheese, artichoke hearts, the remaining 2 Tab