appetizer
roasted vegetable stacks with goat cheese
I am in veggie heaven with these roasted vegetable stacks and in one recipe I get the daily recommended servings of vegetables; my kind of dish. Although the end of Summer means goodbye to warmer days (sigh), its departure signals the bounty of the harvest (yay!). It’s the perfect time of the year to grab…
Read Moregrilled radicchio with bagna càuda
Sometimes less is more and in cooking terms it’s spot on. Simple ingredients can make any dish shine. Bagna càuda is an Italian sauce made with butter, olive oil, garlic and anchovies. The Italians eat it with fennel, peppers, carrots, cauliflower. Fresh bread dipped in this sauce is simply scrumptious! Or, give your taste buds…
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 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 Moreprosciutto rolls – an easy snack to make
Easy to make; my three favorite words. In my culinary world, nothing pleases me more than to whip up an elegant-looking appetizer using only 3 ingredients. Our friends, Ralph and Michelle, stayed with us last weekend and Thursday was the only night we were eating at home. My head was spinning with food ideas I…
Read Morepork belly bites – one helluva snack!
.Well, hello 2016! Whatever the days or weeks ahead have in store for me, I’m ready! Mr. S and I spent Christmas in Calgary. Over the holiday period I cooked in other peoples homes; one being my daughter’s (a first for me!), one at my cousin’s (in Edmonton) and the other at my daughter’s employers…
Read Moreprosciutto wrapped tomato
The holiday season is just around the corner and it’s that time of the year when we’re out socializing and entertaining at home. The thought of entertaining can be intimidating for both the novice and the experienced. When I know I am having friends over, I generate a plan, cook ahead, stay within my limits…
Read Moresavory palmiers
These delicate, but easy-to-make French pastries can be sweet or savory. Palmiers, named so because they look like palm trees or the shape of an elephant’s ear, uses puff pastry for its base. Traditionally, simple ingredients such as sugar and cinnamon are sprinkled over the pastry then folded, rolled, sliced and baked in the oven. …
Read Moremushroom pâté
Now that November is here, I start looking for easy-to-make snacks, appetizers, and finger food for the upcoming holiday season. Everyone has their favorites and one of mine is pâté. The thing is, it’s rich and calorie laden. An easy solution without compromising taste is to use the mighty mushroom. Not only are delicious, they’re…
Read Morecrab phyllo cups
The freezer compartment of our fridge is puny! While it has 2 levels, it’s like playing a game of Jenga. Everything placed in the freezer has to be done with much precision and each time the freezer drawer is opened, there’s constant reshuffling. A while ago we purchased a package of frozen crab meat (imitation,…
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