Classic British Potted Shrimp
A Tudor classic that won over Ian Fleming and James Bond: tiny shrimp sealed under golden spiced butter, made for warm toast.
stuffed plantain balls (rellenitos de plátano maduro)
Last week we were in Playa del Carmen for a long-overdue vacation. And, like any vacation, I do the research on places to see and eat. For our last day, we chose to have lunch at Mamita’s Beach Club. The restaurant was on the beach and the views were spectacular. The setting was idyllic. After…
pasta with roasted tomatoes & garlic
This is one of my favourite, easy-to-make pasta dishes. Roasted tomatoes are the bee’s knees! The heat releases the tomatoes natural sugars resulting in an intense flavor. Throw in a head of garlic and you have the most delicious roasted tomatoes you will ever devour!
New York Sour Cocktail
A bourbon sour finished with a red wine float, born from Friday night cocktail challenges with my daughter.
pappardelle with potato & brown butter sauce
I recently purchased Pasta Grannies; it’s been a long time since I bought a cookbook. I know, gasp! But to be honest, I have a lovely curated collection of cookbooks. Each has a special meaning for me. So when I saw this book, it spoke to me and to the Italian grandmothers (nonne) who divulged…
Chocolate Bark with Sour Gummies
Dark chocolate spread thin and topped with sour gummies and Pop Rocks, then broken into colourful pieces.
chestnut dip
To be honest, I cannot say I was ever a real fan of the chestnut. Perhaps it was the smell of something burning which permeated the air when we lived in Hong Kong. Roasted chestnuts are a beloved winter tradition in Hong Kong. Mobile hawker stalls spring up on sidewalks around the city and outside…
Chicken Noodle Soup
The easiest soup to make, ready in 20 minutes. Ground chicken or leftover rotisserie chicken with egg noodles, carrot, ginger and garlic.
Dhal
My first dhal was in Hong Kong in 1998, at an Indian restaurant in Wan Chai. A thick, economical lentil stew and a great introduction to Indian cooking.
diy bath bombs
Gift-giving from the heart is always welcomed, IMHO. Back in August, I hosted a baby shower for my daughter, Laura, and one of her requests was for me to make bath bombs as baby shower favors for our guests. I have to admit I was a little apprehensive but as I queried the web, it…
Pumpkin and Cream Cheese Gingersnap Tart
Pumpkin pie isn’t everyone’s favourite, but most enjoy cheesecake. This is the perfect marriage of the two, on a base boosted with gingersnap cookies.
pumpkin trick or treat
Pumpkin carvings as long as I can recall have always been associated with Halloween. As a kid, every house in the neighbourhood had at least one. But imagine my surprise when we lived in Asia and our Australian and New Zealand friends thought the tradition was weird or off-putting! According to Britannica, Halloween is based…
Crabapple Jelly
Picked from the big crabapple tree in my daughter’s backyard. Just fruit, sugar and water: one of the easiest preserves to make if you’re new to canning.