Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp

June 9, 2026

From Ancient Remedy to Beloved Dessert – A Spice Route Treasure – Rhubarb’s roots stretch back thousands of years to the mountainous regions of northern and central Asia (China, Mongolia, and Siberia), where it was cultivated primarily for medicinal purposes. The Chinese prized it as a digestive tonic and laxative,

Praline Meringue Cake with Raspberries

August 11, 2008

This is a bit of a twist on the traditional Pavlova and the raspberries balance the sweetness from the caramel flavored meringue. Pavlova is a meringue dessert named after the Russian ballet dancer, Ánna Pávlova. The dessert is believed to have been created to honour the dancer during or after one of her tours to…

Roast Chicken with Couscous

August 8, 2008

If you’ve been reading my blog for a while you know of my fondness for meals that are easy to prepare with less to clean up afterwards! This dish tops the charts and the flavours here are amazing. My husband who usually doesn’t usually care for couscous said this was very good. Cumin is native…

Lemon Granita

August 6, 2008

Move over lemonade and make room for this Italian semi-frozen dessert! Granita is a traditional Sicilian dish and in some areas of Sicily it is served as a slush like drink rather than a dessert. Serves 4recipe from Desserts 1/2 cup (115g) granulated sugargrated rind of 1 lemon, scrubbed before cleaningjuice of 2 large lemons…

Kulebyaka (Russian fish pie)

August 4, 2008

This fish pie was created in the late 1800’s in Russia. Russia has a rich culinary history and offers a wide variety of soups, dishes made from fish, cereal based products and drinks. Fish was important in pre-revolutionary cuisine, especially on Russian Orthodox fast days when meat was forbidden. This dish has the added health…

Grilled Shrimp Caesar Salad

August 1, 2008

Who hasn’t had or made a Caesar salad? The original version was created in 1924 by Caesar Cardini, an Italian restaurateur in Tijuana, Mexico. Supposedly Cardini invented the dish when a Fourth of July 1924 rush depleted the kitchen’s supplies. Cardini made do with what he had and successfully added the dramatic flair of the…

Mushroom Risotto

July 30, 2008

Rice is the most popular grain in the world but risotto is quintessentially Italian! The texture and ingredients can vary from region to region but the technique always remains the same. The best forms of rice to use for risotto is Arborio or Carnaroli as these will release starch and create a perfect, creamy mixture.…

July 28, 2008

Squid, Chickpea & Chorizo Salad

July 28, 2008

Squid is found in every ocean and most know it by the name, calamari (Italian name for squid). Squid meat is firm and white with a mild, slightly sweet and almost nutty flavor. The squid ranges from one inch in size up to eighty feet, but the most common size for eating is less than…

Nova Scotia, Canada’s Ocean Playground!

July 22, 2008

Nova Scotia is described on their provincial vehicle licence plate as Canada’s Ocean Playground and there’s good reason for it. The province is surrounded by three major bodies of water, the Gulf of Saint Lawrence to the north, the Bay of Fundy to the west, and the Atlantic Ocean to the south and east. In…

On Vacation!

July 7, 2008

Yep, it’s that time of year when school’s out and a break is needed. It’s a short break but one that will help recharge the batteries. I’ll be back! Cheers!Heather

Halloumi, Watermelon & Mint Salad

July 4, 2008

A quick and easy dish to make for those busy weeknights. Halloumi, the squeaky cheese, does not melt when heated. Instead it develops a delicious crust that surrounds a slightly springy, mild interior that squeaks between your teeth! Halloumi is the traditional white cheese of Cyprus. It is a semi hard cheese prepared from sheep’s…

The Best Picnic Sandwich!

July 2, 2008

Growing up, my siblings and I used to make our own Dagwood sandwiches in the summertime, which consisted on whatever we could get our hands on or more to the point, whatever Mom would let us take! The Dagwood would have to have an assortment of cold cuts, sliced cheese (the more processed, the better!)…