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Urbnspice Ultimate Recipe Series

Unbeatable Meat Loaf – The Ultimate Comfort Food

By Denise Pare-Watson

Urbnspice Ultimate Recipe Series

My daughters were both very involved in soccer during their childhood (continuously, for seventeen years), sometimes seven days a week during soccer season.   Needless to say, we were very busy parents, often delivering one daughter to a field before driving to the other side of the city for our other daughter’s practice or game.  As a working Mom, I needed to be extremely organized with meal prep for breakfast, snacks, lunches and dinners.  I developed strategies to make my busy week simpler with a freezer reserve of homemade meals, a repertoire of slow-cooker recipes and a selection of make-ahead meals prepared over the weekend.  One of our family favourites was this Unbeatable Meat Loaf.  

Sliced Meatloaf on a Wooden Board | urbnspice.com
Unbeatable Meatloaf – The Ultimate Comfort Food

We often had what we called ‘oven-meals’ on Sunday and meatloaf was a favourite comfort food of the kids.  The addition of scalloped or lemon potatoes, roasted butternut squash and an apple crisp made this oven meal wholesome and healthy for two very hungry, fit and growing girls.  Meatloaf is an excellent quick and easy make-ahead dish, which also keeps the budget in mind.  

Meatloaf can be popped into the oven immediately after mixing together, or prepared up until topping (see Method) and refrigerated until the next day. This recipe makes two family-sized free-form meatloaves – one to have now and one to freeze for later.  If you can resist eating it all, there should be leftovers for meatloaf sandwiches! 

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Filed Under: Gluten Free Recipes, Main Dishes or Entree Options, Meat Dishes, My Recipes, Sandwiches, Urbnspice Ultimate Recipe Series Tagged With: Comfort Food, Gluten Free Recipes, Ground Meat Recipes, Meat Dishes, Meatloaf, Ultimate Recipe Series

How to Make the Ultimate Date Oatmeal Squares

By Denise Pare-Watson

Urb’n’Spice Ultimate Recipes Series

In my family, Ultimate Date Oatmeal Squares have a long history.   My father-in-law loved these squares and every time we visited, a batch of these squares was always a must-have.  

Ultimate Date Oatmeal Squares | urbnspice.com
Ultimate Date Oatmeal Squares

My research indicates that this old-fashioned dessert has been popular for a very long time in Canada, particularly in Western Canada, Quebec and Newfoundland.  Date squares are made using layers of oat crumb crust and a date purée filling.  These delicious squares are also known as matrimonial cake. I thought that this was an unusual name until I understood the significance of the two layers of oat crumble holding the dates together.  Apparently, these layers symbolize the couple courting and then completing that bond in marriage (I suppose it made sense back then).

Ultimate Date Oatmeal Squares | urbnspice.com
Ultimate Date Oatmeal Bars are also known as Matrimonial Cake

I have made this recipe for The Ultimate Date Oatmeal Squares for many years.  I have always used traditional ingredients such as all-purpose flour, brown sugar and unsalted butter, which always provided a delicious result! In this post, I made modifications to this old fashioned recipe and have adapted it to make a gluten-free and dairy-free version with no loss of flavour, texture or overall appearance. I have provided both recipe versions with the gluten-free and dairy-free ingredients listed first and the traditional ingredients following.  Both deliver a great result.

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Filed Under: Brownies & Squares, Dairy Free Recipes, Desserts and Sweets, Gluten Free Recipes, My Recipes, Nut Free Recipes, School Lunch or After School Snacks, Urbnspice Ultimate Recipe Series Tagged With: Dairy-free Desserts, Dates, Desserts & Sweets, Gluten Free Desserts, Matrimonial Cake, Oatmeal, Squares

The Ultimate Caramelized Apple Cake

By Denise Pare-Watson

Urb’n’Spice Ultimate Recipe Series

Homemade apple cake is a favourite any time of the year.  What makes it so appealing is the versatility of how these delicious cakes can be served.  There is a multitude of apple cake recipes to be found, but I wanted to give you a recipe that kicks up the flavour, texture and versatility up another notch. My Ultimate Caramelized Apple Cake uses a unique technique as well as a distinctive ingredient that is all about building flavour.  This special apple cake will be a hit for breakfast, or that next coffee party, or served warm for dessert with softly whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.  You are going to love it as much as we do!

Ultimate Caramelized Apple Cake | urbnspice.com
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Filed Under: Baking Techniques, Breakfast Items, Cakes, Desserts and Sweets, Fruit, Gluten Free Recipes, My Recipes, Urbnspice Ultimate Recipe Series Tagged With: Apples, Cakes, Coffeecakes, Fruit

Gourmet Creamy Baked Tomato Soup

By Denise Pare-Watson

URB’N’SPICE ULTIMATE RECIPE SERIES

The weather is starting to change where I live in the Okanagan.  Mornings are chilly and the day is shorter.  Time to make Gourmet Creamy Baked Tomato Soup!  This is what my family considers to be “real” tomato soup and this flavourful soup is a favourite requested for birthday dinners and family gatherings.

Gourmet Creamy Baked Tomato Soup is similar in style to French Onion Soup, where the finished soup is ladled into an individual baking dish, topped with a buttered and toasted crusty piece of French bread and covered with a thick covering of cheese. This soup can easily be adapted to a gluten-free,  dairy-free and vegetarian dietary option. We like to serve this soup with crispy grilled cheese sandwiches, cut into small strips (or ‘fingers’, as we call them) – perfect for dipping!

Gourmet Creamy Baked Tomato Soup | urbnspice.com

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Filed Under: Cooking Techniques, My Recipes, Soups and Chowders, Urbnspice Ultimate Recipe Series Tagged With: Dairy Free Recipes, Gluten Free Recipes, Soups and Chowders, Tomatoes, White Sauce

How to Make the Ultimate Classic Coleslaw

By Denise Pare-Watson

Urb’n’Spice Ultimate Recipe Series

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I have such fond memories of this particular salad from my days as a chef trainee at a prestigious country club. My first months of employment began in Garde Manger – in the cold foods area of a busy kitchen where sandwiches, salads, fruit trays, salad dressing, desserts and so much more was prepared.  Everything was made fresh from scratch on a daily basis. One of my jobs was making coleslaw (hand-cut) for lunch service as well as ensuring a fresh batch was made for the evening service. With any training came the mentorship of the Garde Manger supervisor whose job it was to acknowledge a job well done as well as critiquing work that needed refinement or improvement. It had been a particularly gruelling week, and when I came in the next day, I was met with a sombre greeting from my supervisor. He told me that there was a problem with my coleslaw. I was prepared for the worst and at the same time, devastated that I might not have met expectations in an environment that required precision. He just broke into a smile, “It was too good! We had to make more in the middle of service!” Since that day, I have described this salad as “The Ultimate Classic Coleslaw.”

Ultimate Classic Coleslaw | urbnspice.com…

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Original content here is published under these license terms:  X 
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Filed Under: My Recipes, Salads, Urbnspice Ultimate Recipe Series Tagged With: Cabbage, Coleslaw, Salad Dressings, Salads

Apple Cream Pie – The Pie That Stole My Husband’s Heart

By Denise Pare-Watson

Apple Cream Pie – The Pie That Stole My Husband’s Heart

Also Known as: “Better Than Beer Pie”

And Also: “Pie in a Bag”

This Apple Cream Pie has many names because there are many stories connected to it. The name that I like best is “The Pie That Stole My Husband’s Heart”. The first time I made it was for my guy over 40 years ago when we first started dating. Making this pie was a huge step for me because up until then, my attempts at pie crusts were marginally successful (you can read all about my adventures in pie crusts here).

Apple Cream Pie cooling | urbnspice.com

I am not one to give up easily, so I watched, I learned and I practiced at my Mom’s side. In time, I became fairly confident making this special recipe for my guy and his brothers who were busy working on their family farm. I may have stolen three hearts that day because the feedback about my pie was outstanding. They proclaimed that ‘this pie is better than beer’ and that was high praise coming from self-described starving university students more accustomed to beer as their primary source of nutrition.

The interesting thing about that original pie recipe was that it was baked inside of a paper bag. I have always been a curious cook and baking a pie inside a paper bag really piqued my interest. The result was a soft juicy filling with a flaky crust. Ever since that day, any request for an apple pie was always for ‘The Pie in a Bag’.

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License Abstract: You may read the original content in the context in which it is published (at this web address). You may make other uses of the content only with the written permission of the author on payment of a fee.

Filed Under: Cooking Techniques, Desserts and Sweets, Inspiration of Urbnspice Series, My Recipes, Pastry, Pies and Tarts, Urbnspice Ultimate Recipe Series Tagged With: Apples, Baking, Baking Tips, Pies, Vintage Recipes

How to Make the Ultimate Mac and Cheese

By Denise Pare-Watson

Urbnspice Ultimate Recipe Series

Today is a special day. It is my only granddaughter’s eighth birthday! As well, it is Mac and Cheese Day because she insisted on having The Ultimate Mac and Cheese for her birthday dinner. There was a chorus from the entire family: “I wish it was her birthday every day!”

Plated Mac and Cheese | urbnspice.com

Plated Mac and Cheese | urbnspice.com

This particular comfort food recipe is one that I have developed over the years to include a flavour boost of finely diced sautéed onions and ham. These ingredients add a new dimension to the Mac and Cheese without changing the traditional Mac and Cheese we all have grown to love. You will also note that the ingredients in this recipe are easily obtained in grocery stores.

How to Make the Ultimate Mac and Cheese | urbnspice.com

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Filed Under: Cheese, Gluten Free Recipes, My Recipes, Pasta Dishes, Urbnspice Ultimate Recipe Series Tagged With: Cheese, Comfort Food, Kid Friendly, Mac and Cheese, Pasta Dishes

Grilled Double Cheese Bacon Sandwich

By Denise Pare-Watson

UrbnSpice Ultimate Recipe Series

When I think of a grilled cheese sandwich, I think of kids. My daughters often tell me that when they were younger grilled cheese sandwiches were one of their most treasured food memories. It was always a hit before or after soccer practices (they played soccer six days a week).  They loved their grilled cheese sandwich fingers and warm cream of tomato soup, which they used as a dip for the crispy batons.  This recipe for Grilled Double Cheese Bacon Sandwich is a classic for little kids and big kids alike.  The addition of crispy bacon elevates the flavour and texture to a whole new level and is comfort food at its best.

The Grilled Double Cheese Bacon Sandwich is caramelized to a golden brown | urbnspice.com

The Grilled Double Cheese Bacon Sandwich is caramelized to a golden brown 

It takes time to make a great grilled cheese sandwich – allow at least 10 minutes with two flips on each side of the sandwich. Ensure you press down on the sandwich with a spatula so that the entire surface of the sandwich makes contact with the pan. The extra effort is worth it – you will be rewarded with a golden crispy crust and a ‘gorpy’ cheesy interior (my definition of ‘gorpy’ is gooey, chewy and tasty).

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Original content here is published under these license terms:  X 
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Filed Under: Appetizers and Small Plates, My Recipes, Sandwiches, School Lunch or After School Snacks, Urbnspice Ultimate Recipe Series Tagged With: Cheese, Kid Friendly, Sandwiches

Make It Your Own Burger

By Denise Pare-Watson

Urb’n’Spice Ultimate Recipe Series

Burgers are a very personal food and as such, it is my belief that burger recipes should provide the user with the flexibility to Make It Your Own Burger.

The following recipe will provide a number of options; as well I will also elaborate on why I have done what I have done. Enjoy!

Make It Your Own Burger | urbnspice.com

Make It Your Own Burger

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Filed Under: Casual Dining, Cooking Techniques, Meat Dishes, My Recipes, Urbnspice Ultimate Recipe Series Tagged With: Burgers, Casual Dining, Cooking Techniques, Hamburgers

The Ultimate Canadian Maple Butter Tarts

By Denise Pare-Watson

Urb’n’Spice Ultimate Recipe Series

Is there anything more Canadian than butter tarts made with pure maple syrup? I truly believe you will agree that these Ultimate Canadian Maple Butter Tarts are hard to beat.  Maple is as much a part of the Canadian food scene as poutine, tourtière or Nanaimo Bars.  This particular recipe is also included in an article pertaining specifically to maple for the Culinary Historians of Canada‘s CANADA 150 FOOD BLOG CHALLENGE.  You can read all about it here.

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My Mom always made this family favourite with maple syrup and I have carried on that French Canadian tradition. The filling for this tart recipe is essentially a custard (similar to pecan pie filling or cheesecake). The addition of maple syrup is delightful and oh, so Canadian. While many butter tart purists prefer their baked treats without embellishments, roasted pecans or walnuts and/or raisins are a great addition.

Maple Butter Tartlet with Pecans | urbnspice.com

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Filed Under: Desserts and Sweets, My Recipes, Pastry, Pies and Tarts, Urbnspice Ultimate Recipe Series Tagged With: Baking, Baking Ingredients, Baking Tips, Maple, Maple Syrup, Pastry, Tartlets, Tarts

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Meet Denise – The Urbnspice Chef

Welcome to Urbnspice - A Taste of Heart and Home. Inspiration in my kitchen is often a trip to the market or an experimental coincidence! Come and join me on this culinary journey where I share my passion for the creative, technical and teaching components of the profession and unravel culinary quandaries for you with fun and easy to follow user-friendly recipes, tips & techniques.
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