appetizer
fried Brussels sprouts
When thinking about what appetizer to serve, most cooks don’t consider using cabbage and even less think about Brussels sprouts! As a kid, you would NEVER hear me say, “oh yes please, may I have more!” I disliked them for years. It wasn’t until I was and at my great aunt’s home when she served…
Read Morebaked brie with onion jam – make it tonight!
I am not mathematically inclined, but I do like to figure out how things work and have always had an inquisitive mind. If a shortcut works, well, I’ll take that route. It stems from childhood. When a problem arose, I would try to sort it out on my own before approaching my parents. I would…
Read Morechicken noodle salad cups – entertain with ease
Salad cups are one of my favourite ways to serve as an appetizer. You can take pretty much any salad recipe and instead of serving it on a plate, shrink the portion to fit onto lettuce, endive spears, Tostitos scoops, mini fillo shells, wonton cups and so on; you get the picture. December is a…
Read Moregreek yogurt labneh balls
How to turn Greek yogurt into a delightful soft cheese? It’s quite easy and so simple! Labneh is strained yogurt and found in Middle Eastern cuisines. Serve it with a drizzle of olive oil and top with za’atar or do what I did by rolling into balls and place in a jar with olive…
Read Morefocaccia di Recco (stuffed Italian flatbread)
Most people have eaten focaccia famous around the world from Liguria, Italy but I’ll bet a pound to a penny few have tried the version from Recco (a town near Genoa). Yours truly is one of those who most defintely haven’t sampled and what a tragedy! I was checking my Instagram feed and saw a…
Read Morehummus (with a surprising ingredient)
Most of us have, at some point, enjoyed hummus either as a dip with pita bread and veggies or as a condiment slathered over a falafel. The recipe is simple; grab a can of chickpeas (aka garbanzo beans), garlic, tahini, lemon or lime juice, coriander and process in a blender. Hummus is a healthy substitute…
Read Moreavocado and shrimp wonton baskets
When entertaining, I like to make appetisers that err on the side of healthy. I also make sure there’s a mix of food while being cognizant of the dietary restrictions our guests might have. Last month I made wonton noodle soup but only used half the wonton wrappers; the rest I froze. There’s always a…
Read Morelime & cashew fish rolls
This is the second time I’ve made this dish. The first was the week of the new year and I was in search of something different from the food I usually make during the holidays. Lime and cashew paste smeared over the fish sounded so good – it was delicious! But…I struggled with the rice…
Read Morebruschetta with white anchovies
Bruschetta (pronounced bru-sketta) is a classic Italian appetizer consisting of toasted bread slices topped with fresh ripe tomatoes, fresh basil, and extra-virgin olive oil. There are oodles of variations and I’ve named a few here for you to consider: smashed avocado with chopped tomatoes; zucchini goat cheese bruschetta; smoked salmon with mascarpone cheese.
Read Morehomemade quince paste
Quince is a yellow fruit that looks like a cross between an apple and a pear. It is high in pectin and was typically used in jam and jelly making. It’s too tart and hard to eat on its own but cooked it turns sweet with a slight floral taste. My mom used to have…
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