portobello mushroom primavera

stuffed portobello mushroom primavera

When one lives in a geographical location with four distinct seasons, Spring is the one I look forward to the most.  It signals a time of rebirth and a hint of what lies ahead…warmer weather and longer days equals more time spent outdoors.  Spring officially began in Canada on March 20th.  The weather in the…

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roasted cabbage with parmesan

roasted cabbage with parmesan cheese

Cabbage gets a bad rap if you ask me.  It’s been around for three thousand years and yet it’s not front of mind in the vegetable world.  Most will have eaten it raw in a coleslaw and not many will have tried it cooked on the stovetop or in the oven.  Perhaps we don’t do…

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potato quiche (gluten-free)

grated potato quiche

This recipe takes the rösti, a classic Swiss comfort food, and turns it into a savoury, delicious pie.  Nearly every cook I know has their own favourite version of quiche and my mom’s quiche Lorraine recipe, a family favourite, is so darn good but I have also made a few non-traditional ones, too.  After tasting…

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grilled radicchio with bagna càuda

grilled radicchio with bagna caudo sauce

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…

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grilled zucchini roll-ups – a summer snack

grilled zucchini roll-ups

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…

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garlic scapes hummus

garlic 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,…

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open-face sandwich with poached egg

open-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…

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bbq cauliflower wings

barbecue cauliflower wings

We’re all familiar with buffalo chicken wings but cauliflower wings?  It was through a snapchat from my niece, Sara, that I discovered the vegetarian version.  She sent me the photo and I was intrigued; it’s a guilt-free snack.  The meat version happened quite by accident, as most ingenious recipes do.  The original Buffalo chicken wing…

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lentil soup

budget friendly lentil soup

The other day it was chilly outside (read: freezing!) and Mr. S wanted to know what was for dinner.  After spending 20 years together, there are some things we do in unison without ever thinking about it.  We both said at the same time we wanted soup for dinner.  A bag of lentils in the pantry…

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squash and parsnip soup

squash and parsnip soup

Soup has been around for centuries and previous generations did not use a recipe. They simply dumped various ingredients into a pot to boil.  And each culture adopted its own variation with whatever was on hand.  For my readers who feel more comfortable using a list of ingredients, throw caution to the wind and be…

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