Redcurrant Ripple Ice Cream

Ice cream, one of my favorite summer treats!  With a slew of flavors available, there’s something for every palate.  Last week I picked up a box of redcurrants from the farmers’ market and used a few sprinkled on my fruit tart.  I then used what was left to make a sauce and initially intended to…

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Grilled Garlic Scapes Pesto

It’s funny how easily I can be distracted when trying to write a post.  I enjoy talking about food but there are times when the energy to write seems to evaporate the longer I sit at my desk looking at the computer screen.  I stare out the window hoping for that aha! moment but my…

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roasted peppers

What is it about Mediterranean flavours that drive my taste buds crazy?  It’s an explosion of flavours, all vying for my attention and asking me to favor only one!  But alas, how can I? When I think of food from the Med, the words fresh and healthy come to mind.  And why not. 

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roasted rhubarb and custard

Local rhubarb in the grocery stores and farmers’ markets usually signals spring has arrived but the exceptionally cold and lingering winter forced our spring plants to show up much later.  Last weekend I picked up my first local batch of rhubarb from the farmers’ market.  It always makes me think of the ginormous rhubarb plant…

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turkey meatballs – with an Asian twist

This dish transports my foodie mind back to Thailand.  One of the first things introduced to us was a welcome snack called Miang kham.  The base is a betel nut leaf and piled onto the leaf are fried shallots, ginger, toasted coconut flakes, garlic, lime, peanuts, chopped chili peppers, and topped with a drizzle of…

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Pasta e Patate (pasta and potato)

Pasta e Patate - a quick midweek meal

Pasta e Patate is a recipe from a dear friend of mine.  I met Francesca in Singapore back in 2001.  I had heard glowing accounts of her Italian cooking classes and was eager to meet this culinary wizard.  Francesca did not disappoint.  Her kitchen was light and airy and her cheery disposition made all who…

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Nova Scotia Mussels – Italian style

Even though I cook through the week, it’s our weekends that I look forward to the most. Whether we are entertaining or it’s just the two of us, I like to plan a nice meal. And when I say nice, it doesn’t mean a long time in the kitchen…just a few key quality ingredients. 

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Fried Eggplant with Tomato Sauce

Eggplant, also known as aubergine, has not always been popular and yet there are oodles of eggplant recipes out there making this nightshade plant shine.  I’m sure if you ask your friends if they like it, you’ll receive mixed reviews.  It must be a North American thing ’cause everywhere else this humble plant is consumed…

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Roasted Pork Belly

When we first moved to Hong Kong, one of our all-time favorite fast foods was char siu fun (Chinese bbq pork over rice with a side of ginger sauce – yum!).  This was our first introduction to pork belly and before that I hadn’t heard of it.  Well, that’s not strictly accurate.  Although I grew…

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Citrus Fruit Salad with Roasted Pecans

We had a glorious sun-filled weekend.  Today the morning started off with a grey sky and snow falling gently to the ground…the chunky snowflakes were pretty but more snow?  A total of 10cm (4-inches) fell with more forecasted on the way.  I’m usually more tolerant of our winters and I really don’t want to sound…

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