THE FULL FEED

Carrot Juice

Mashed Potatoes

Kareem of FibreOptics

Mashed Potatoes | Super Savoury Spuds

Mashed potatoes the way my mom makes them. Superb, buttery and minimal lumps.
Prep Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 4 adults
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Canadian, Jamaican
Calories: 300

Ingredients
  

  • 500 g yellow potatoes (1 1/4 lb) (4.5 cups) (preferably Yukon Gold variety s
  • 1 tbsp Kosher salt (15 g)
  • 1/4 cup butter (60 g)
  • 1/2 cup cow’s milk (60 mL)
  • 6 cloves roasted garlic (60 g) (optional)
  • 6 L water

Equipment

  • 1 large soup pot
  • 1 potato masher (ricer or fork as alternative
  • 1 vegetable peeler
  • 2 large mixing bowls
  • 1 large wooden spoon
  • 1 small saucepan

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Assemble all ingredients and equipment.
  2. In a large soup pot, bring 6 L water to a boil. Meanwhile, rinse and peel 8 – 10 Yukon Gold potatoes (500 g) using a vegetable peeler.
Boiling
  1. Carefully, submerge the peeled potatoes in the boiling water and lower the heat to a simmer. Leave the potatoes to boil for 40 min. Check in at 30 min.
  2. During the 30 min check-in, assess the potatoes for doneness. They should be fork tender.
  3. In a small saucepan, bring ½ cup milk (125 mL), ¼ cup butter (60 mL), 1 tbsp Kosher salt (15 g), and 6 cloves of roasted garlic (60 g).
Finish and Serve
  1. Once the potatoes are fork tender, retain ~5% of the hot water (300 mL) and drain away the excess water using a colander. Then, return the potatoes to the hot large pot. Add the hot milk and garlic mixture to the potatoes and mash vigorously with a potato masher over low heat. Aim to mash and whip the potatoes until little to no lumps remain, using the retained hot sparingly to soften and smooth the potato mash.
  2. Your garlic potato mash is now ready. Serve immediately, enjoy heartily!

Breakfast Veggies I

Kareem of FibreOptics

Breakfast Veggies II | Honey Light

Kickstart your day with some seasoned veggies!
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings: 4 adults
Course: Breakfast, Side Dish
Cuisine: Canadian
Calories: 50

Ingredients
  

  • 1 small bag frozen vegetable mix (California mix) (750 g)
  • 1 tbsp olive oil (15 g)
  • 1 tsp Kosher salt (4 g)
  • 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper (4 g)
  • 2 tsp paprika (8 g)
  • 2 cloves garlic (15 g) minced
  • 1 tbsp honey (15 mL)

Equipment

  • 1 large frying pan
  • 1 silicone spatula or wooden spoon
  • 1 large metal bowl

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Assemble all equipment and ingredients.
  2. Empty a bag of vegetables into a large metal bowl, cover the bowl and allow the vegetables to defrost in the fridge overnight or on the countertop for 2 hours.
Spice Blend
  1. Drizzle the vegetables with 1 tbsp olive oil (15 mL). Season the vegetables with 1 tsp Kosher salt (4 g), 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper (4 g), 2 tsp paprika (8 g), 2 cloves of minced garlic (15 g), and 1 tbsp honey (15 mL).
  2. Bring a large fry pan to medium-high heat on the stovetop. Empty the vegetables into the hot pan and sauté, tossing occasionally (every minute), until the veggies are cooked through with the edges lightly browned (5-8 min).
  3. Serve immediately alongside your favourite major protein source and enjoy heartily!

Black Cake

Kareem of FibreOptics

Black Cake aka Rum Cake aka Christmas Joy

A dense, decadent dessert reserved for the holidays. Fruit cake's final form.
Prep Time 2 days 1 hour
Cook Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time 2 days 2 hours 30 minutes
Servings: 60 adults
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Caribbean, Jamaican
Calories: 400

Ingredients
  

Fruit Mix
  • 5 cups red Kosher wine (1.25 L)
  • 8 tbsp overproof white rum (120 mL) (63% ethanol v/v)
  • 1 ¼ cup water (300 mL)
  • 2 cups prunes (500 g)
  • 1 cup Thompson raisins (250 g)
  • 1 cup red or green candied cherries (250 g)
  • 1 cup candied mixed peel (250 g)
  • 1 cup dried currants (250 g)
  • 1 cup citron (candied lemon peel) (250 g)
Cake Batter Mix
  • 4 cups butter (salted or unsalted) (900 g)
  • 1 lb white granulated sugar (450 g)
  • 1 lb brown (Demerara) sugar (450 g)
  • 4 lbs all-purpose flour (2 kg)
  • 15 eggs
Flavourings
  • 2 tbsp vanilla extract (30 mL)
  • 1 tsp lemon juice (4 mL)
  • 1 tbsp almond extract (15 mL)
  • 1 tbsp freshly ground nutmeg (15 g)
  • 1 tbsp ground cinnamon (15 g)
  • 1 tbsp mixed spice (15 g)
  • 1 tbsp mace of nutmeg (15 g)
  • 1 tsp Kosher salt (4 g)
  • ½ bottle caramel browning (150 mL)
  • 4 tbsp baking powder (60 g) (1 tbsp per cup of flour)
  • 2 lemons zest (30 g)
  • 2 oranges zest (40 g)

Equipment

  • 1 extra large mixing bowl
  • 1 large saucepan
  • 1 large wooden spoon
  • 4 large baking pan (diameter >20 cm)
  • 1 silicone spatula
  • 1 kitchen scale (optional)

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Assemble ALL ingredients and equipment.
Fruit Mix
  1. In a large saucepan, add 3 cups red Kosher wine (750 mL), 1 ¼ cups water (300 mL), 2 cups prunes (500 g), 1 cup raisins (250 g), 1 cup candied cherries (250 g), 1 cup mixed peels (250 g), 1 cup dried currants (250 g), and 1 cup lemon peel (250 g). Simmer everything on low heat for 45 min, stirring every 15 min.
  2. The dried fruits should absorb the water. After 45 min, remove from heat and let the mixture cool to room temperature. Once cooled, add 1 additional cup of red Kosher wine (240 mL) and 4 tbsp of overproof (63%) white rum (60 mL). Cover tightly and set aside to macerate for at least 2 days. Then, add the macerated fruit mixture to a blender with an additional cup of red Kosher wine (250 mL) and 4 tbsp of overproof white rum (60 mL) until the ingredients form a deep red thick paste.

Notes

Many of my childhood Christmas Breaks were spent toiling over making this recipe. I hope that you too can enjoy the fruits of this labour one day. Cheers, Kareem

Kale Salad

Kareem of FibreOptics

Kale Salad | A Healthy Squeeze

A simple base for kale salad with an added tactile experience.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings: 6 adults
Course: Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: Canadian
Calories: 120

Ingredients
  

  • 2 bunches kale (400 g)
  • 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (45 mL)
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice or 1 lemon (30 mL)
  • 2 tsp freshly ground black pepper (8 g)
  • 2 tsp Kosher salt (8 g)
  • 1 tbsp honey mustard (15 mL)
  • 1 tbsp garlic (minced) (15 g)

Equipment

  • 1 large salad bowl
  • 1 medium mixing bowl
  • 1 whisk
  • 1 kitchen scale (optional)

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Assemble all ingredients and equipment.
  2. Wash, dry and destem kale and place in a large salad bowl.
  3. Drizzle 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (15 mL) and 1 tsp Kosher salt (4 g) on the kale and massage the kale generously with your fingers to soften it. Set aside.
Honey Mustard Vinaigrette
  1. Add 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (30 mL), 2 tbsp lemon juice (30 mL), 2 tsp freshly ground black pepper (8 g), 1 tsp Kosher salt (4 g), 1 tbsp honey mustard (15 g), and 1 tbsp minced garlic (15 g) to a medium mixing bowl.
  2. Whisk the vinaigrette ingredients, vigourously for 1 min to emulsify.
  3. Drizzle the vinaigrette over the massaged kale and toss to incorporate.
  4. Serve immediately. Enjoy heartily!