Saucy Spiced Beef & Lentil Meatballs with Linguine

I've unpacked my luggage (thankful a bottle of wine didn't break!), done the laundry, resumed my routine and yet my 7 day excursion to Montréal still is at the forefront of my mind, and will be for a long time, I imagine.  There's so much to tell, I don't really know where to begin.  This could be a long post, so go make a cup of tea and grab a snack (leftover Halloween candy maybe?) and curl up with me for a bit.   I suppose I should begin at that moment when I first saw the city I left so long ago.  We descended over soccer fields and rows of brick houses; trees with amber leaves still clinging.  A friend met me at the airport - I hadn't seen her since 1998, when I was a nanny for her small children - now grown young men.  What a way to age oneself - seeing kids you once used to read Goodnight Moon to now in University writing essays and all that fun stuff.  That afternoon and the next we walked and walked, me finding the rhythm in my step I once had when I was a fresh-faced young art student living away from home for the first time.  I saw some old haunts (my first apartment!), and ate all the good stuff you eat while in Montréal - almond croissants, bagels (oh the bagels!) and smoked meat sandwiches.  It was totally glutinous, but I figured since I was walking so much, the calories didn't count.  Logical thinking, yes?
 

Whole Wheat Beef Empanadas with Green Olives and Figs

'Tis the season of busy busy, rush rush.  I know.  I'm living it as well, though trying to find a bit of balance by curling up with the cats and watching A Charlie Brown Christmas.  During the upcoming crazy Christmas season it's important to plans meals ahead and eat well.  Gotta keep your strength up to fight the crowds.  For my latest article in Culinaire Magazine I made empanadas - basically a savoury turnover - with a traditional beef filling.  Don't be scared by the addition of olives and figs.  It's a winner!  I know making pastry freaks some of you out, but don't be afraid.  If I can do it, so can you.  These little turnovers are super tasty when dunked into salsa and sour cream, and they also make great on-the-go snacks to take with you on road trips or to the hockey rink.  Did I mention they freeze super well, too?  Just pop in the oven to reheat and there's your light supper.  Head on over here for the recipe.  You can pretend you're waltzing down the streets of Buenos Aires, instead of shuffling kids to the rink.

Tradition: Tourtière with Cranberry Brandy Compote

 

Ever since I was a kid my mom would make tourtière - it's a Christmas tradition.  Not being French Canadian, we just called them meat pies - savoury pork/beef filling with cinnamon, cloves, a touch of sage, mixed with mashed potatoes in the middle of a flaky crust.  Simple enough, and so delicious.  Today on the Mushrooms Canada Blog I'm happy to be sharing my mom's recipe, though I've altered it a bit by adding crimini mushrooms.  They not only help to blend and extend the filling, but they add extra nutrition and flavour.  Tourtière freezes very well, and is perfect to have on hand when company drops in over the holiday season.  You know it's going to happen, right?  Young and old enjoy this hearty pie, and with a little cranberry compote on the side, it's just so darn seasonal.  So, head on over to Mushrooms Canada and get the recipe.  I think you'll be happy you did.