Posts by The Culinary Chase
grilled zucchini roll-ups – a summer snack
The farmers’ markets these days are showing off the bounty of the harvest. It’s a favourite time of the year for me and for all who enjoy eating locally produced food. The market is a perfect way to re-engage with the farmers, to ask questions about their produce, meat or fish and leave with a…
Read Morebaked eggs with salsa – perfect brunch food
If I’ve had a big lunch, dinner gets pared down to a lighter fare. Baked eggs are simple to make and you can add just about anything to the dish that suits your fancy. Or for something super duper easy chop up fresh tomatoes, add eggs, and pop into the oven. There are oodles of…
Read Moregarlic scapes hummus
Garlic scapes are the flower bud of the garlic plant and are cut to force the garlic bulbs to grow bigger. Some gardeners throw these away! The flavour is less pungent than a garlic clove and has a subtle scallion flavour. How to use? Think of how you would cook a green vegetable (stir-fry, sauté,…
Read Morerhubarb cake – so easy your kids can make it
My mother in law, Aida, is visiting from England and has been with us for the past 12 days. It’s been a whirlwind visit with us trying to fit in every day with something to see, do or eat. At 92 you’d think we would be home more than usual but not with Aida. She’s…
Read Moreopen-face sandwich with poached egg
Sandwiches have been around for centuries. The term sandwich is believed to have been named after John Montagu who was the 4th Earl of Sandwich. Legend has it that in 1762 he asked for meat (most probably salted beef) to be served between slices of bread to avoid interrupting a gambling game. I love a…
Read MoreLemon Tart – a bit of sunshine
The weather here has been grey, wet and cooler than our usual Spring. We were in Paris for a week and it either rained or was overcast with periods of rain showers throughout the day. We came home and had a repeat of Paris weather. It’s been so wet mushrooms are sprouting up in our…
Read MoreGnocchi mac n’ cheese
Mac n’ cheese (aka macaroni and cheese) has been around since the 1930’s and I grew up with it; both the boxed version and homemade. The afternoon my daughter was born I ate a whole box for lunch…no wonder she likes it. It’s been years since consuming the all-too-orangey-looking commercial stuff.
Read MoreParis (La Ville-Lumière)
Mr. S and I recently returned home from a trip to Paris. La Ville-Lumière (city of light) was the center of education and ideas during the Age of Enlightenment. In 1828, Paris began lighting the Champs-Elysées with gas lamps and earned the nickname “La Ville–Lumière”. Paris is a walkable city and you’ll see far more…
Read Moreroasted peppers and gorgonzola crostini
Crostini (little crusts in Italian) are the easiest appetizers one can make. There are oodles and oodles of variations and limited only by one’s imagination. Creative ones such as smashed avocado topped with thinly sliced cucumber seasoned with chili flakes and a splash of extra-virgin olive oil or mashed fresh peas with sea salt, extra-virgin…
Read Moresorrel with pasta and pork
As a regular reader, you know how much I love our local farmers’ markets. There’s always something new and interesting. I have my favorite vendors I like to visit and one, in particular, is Offbeat Farm. Sarah and Jamie are an energetic and enthusiastic couple and they love what they do – farm on less…
Read More