The Recipe Game

Mystery Recipe 4

1.  The first ingredient comes from a member of the bovine family and was first brought to Canada by the early European settlers.

Identify the ingredient : lamb / beef / chicken / bison

Ingredient Clue : The source of this ingredient provides many types of food, including milk, cheese, butter and meat.

The ingredient is about 1 kg (2 pounds) of beef, which needs to be cubed and browned in 30 ml (2 tablespoons) of melted butter or oil.

2.  You have to be careful with this next ingredient. If you boil it too long you will not have enough for your recipe.

Identify the ingredient : water / oil / lard / eggs

Ingredient Clue : This substance is sometimes referred to as H2O.

The ingredient is water. Boil 1 litre (4 cups) of water and pour it over the meat in the pot. Make sure that you do not let too much evaporate.

3.  The next ingredient is a small, dark, dried fruit used as a condiment to season food.

Identify the ingredient : pepper / cumin / cinnamon / salt

Ingredient Clue : You usually buy this condiment ground, but some people buy it whole and grind it themselves.

Black pepper is the condiment we are looking for. You can flavour your dish by adding 2 ml (½ teaspoon) of pepper, along with 5 ml (1 teaspoon) Worcestershire sauce, 15 ml (1 tablespoon) salt, and a pinch of either allspice or cloves.

4.  If you add too much of this fruit your dish will have a tart taste.

Identify the ingredient : orange / banana / pineapple / lemon

Ingredient Clue : In addition to being used to add favour in cooking, this juice makes a tasty drink when combined with water and sugar.

The ingredient we are looking for is lemon juice. Add extra flavour to your dish by adding 15 ml (1 tablespoon) of lemon juice. The lemon is the fruit of an Asian evergreen tree.

5.  This next seasoning is a mild powder made from sweet red peppers.

Identify the ingredient : chili / paprika / basil / chives

Ingredient Clue : The colour of this seasoning is dark or deep reddish orange.

The spice we are looking for is paprika. Add 2 ml (½ teaspoon) of paprika to your mixture along with a clove of crushed garlic and 1 or 2 bay leaves. Cover your pot and simmer for 2 hours, stirring occasionally.

6.  After 2 hours, remove the bay leaves and start adding your vegetables. The first vegetable is green and is often added along with onion to add flavour to dishes.

Identify the ingredient : carrots / celery / potatoes / onions

Ingredient Clue : You often remove the leaves from the stalks of this vegetable before you use it.

The vegetable is celery. Dice 2 stalks of celery and 1 onion and add them to your seasoned meat mixture.

7.  Another vegetable to be added is a root crop that is native to Siberia.

Identify the ingredient : cabbage / squash / turnip / catnip

Ingredient Clue : This vegetable is often confused with a vegetable called a rutabaga.

Turnip is the vegetable you need. Cut a turnip into small pieces and add it to your seasoned meat dish. This root crop is a good source of calcium, potassium, and vitamins A and C.

8.  This root crop was used as a medicinal herb in Afghanistan before it was introduced to Europe during medieval times.

Identify the ingredient : mango / carrots / oranges / leeks

Ingredient Clue : This orange-coloured vegetable is grown in every province of Canada.

Carrots are the vegetable you're looking for. Carrots are an excellent source of ascorbic acid. Dice 4 or 5 carrots and add them to the pot.

9.  The final item is the most valuable vegetable crop grown in Canada.

Identify the ingredient : macaroni / cheese curds / tomatoes / potatoes

Ingredient Clue : This crop represents over 50% of all fresh vegetables consumed in Canada.

The last vegetable needed is the potato. Potatoes originated in the Andes but are now grown in temperate climates all over the world. Once you have diced and added 4 or 5 potatoes to the pot, cover and simmer your dish until the vegetables are tender. Serve your creation with warm bread.

Guess the recipe : vegetable soup / poutine / stew / chicken souvlaki

Clue for Guessing Recipe Name : Many variations of this food are served. The meat can be game or other domesticated meat. The condiments chosen depend on what best complements the meat. Vegetables vary from home to home.

The mystery recipe is : Stew

References

Barss, Bunny. The Great Canadian Cookbook. New York: Mud Puddle Books, 2004.

Benoit, Jehane. L'encyclopédie de la cuisine canadienne. 6th Edition. Montréal: Les Mesageries du Saint-Laurent Ltée, 1963.

The Canadian Encyclopedia [online]. www.canadianencyclopedia.ca/index.cfm?PgNm=HomePage&Params;=A1 (accessed February 15, 2005).

Nelson Canadian Dictionary of the English Language. Scarborough, ON: ITP Nelson, 1997