Melon Carpaccio with Burrata and Crispy Sage
Growing up, I was never much of a melon fan. Watermelon, absolutely, but the others I could happily leave behind. Somewhere along the way, that changed. These days, when summer is in full swing, I can’t get enough of a perfectly ripe melon.
fresh mozzarella, sweet cherry peppers and arugula pie
Flatbreads have been consumed by the ancient Egyptians, Romans and Greeks. The humble pizza/pie (an expanded version of a flatbread), became popular in the USA in the mid-1900s when the Neapolitans came over for factory jobs. According to history.com, the first documented pizzeria was Lombardi’s in Manhattan, licensed to sell pizza in 1905 and is…
double chocolate chip parfait – how to use a failed recipe
It happens. Cooks of all levels have experienced a failed recipe at least once, maybe more. The thing is, a failed recipe has room for improvement and making it into something better the next time around. That’s how we discover things, through trial and error.
hummus (with a surprising ingredient)
Most of us have, at some point, enjoyed hummus either as a dip with pita bread and veggies or as a condiment slathered over a falafel. The recipe is simple; grab a can of chickpeas (aka garbanzo beans), garlic, tahini, lemon or lime juice, coriander and process in a blender. Hummus is a healthy substitute…
cioppino and a San Francisco mini trip
During the first week in March, Mr. S and I were in San Francisco; he was attending GDC while I was a tourist for 5 days. I had never been before and was eager to explore as much as possible and I did! Each day was packed with something new. We stayed in the Mission…
Portland Street Crêperie – a taste of France
Who doesn’t enjoy a delicious crêpe? Even better when a father and son duo decided to open a crêperie 18 months ago in downtown Dartmouth. Over the past 24 months the downtown core has seen a resurgence in the retail and food industry; mostly started by young, enthusiastic entrepreneurs. Mr. S and I are always…
homemade anchovy butter (umami-rich)
Making flavoured butter isn’t a new invention but when anchovies are added, you get a whole lotta umami-rich going on. Say what? Umami is a trendy foodie word for a pleasant savoury taste. In a nutshell, something to pump up the flavour like adding a splash of fish sauce or lime juice. I read that…
avocado and shrimp wonton baskets
When entertaining, I like to make appetisers that err on the side of healthy. I also make sure there’s a mix of food while being cognizant of the dietary restrictions our guests might have. Last month I made wonton noodle soup but only used half the wonton wrappers; the rest I froze. There’s always a…
homemade grainy mustard
There’s an immense satisfaction when something homemade turns out well and puts a smile on your face. It gives that boost in confidence and lets you know you can tackle the next project on a high note. We love grainy mustard almost as much as we do Dijon. In the past 20 years, I have…
celery soup
Celery soup? You betcha! I bought a bunch of celery a couple of weeks ago for a recipe that called for two stalks. It’s a food dilemma for me and figuring out what to do with the remainder stalks usually ends up in the compost box. Around lunch time I pondered what to make for…
lime & cashew fish rolls
This is the second time I’ve made this dish. The first was the week of the new year and I was in search of something different from the food I usually make during the holidays. Lime and cashew paste smeared over the fish sounded so good – it was delicious! But…I struggled with the rice…
chocolate coated toffee
Hello 2017! By now most of you are back to your daily routine. Our Christmas decorations and tree are still up but it’ll all be put to bed come Friday – or at least the tree will be stripped and out on the sidewalk (garbage collection day). Over the holidays I made my usual goodies…
holiday party food – part 2
At this point, the rush of the holiday season is in full swing. On my previous post, I suggested three, easy-to-make party food treats and the three I have chosen today are just as easy. Chocolate is a crowd-pleaser and lovely to have on hand when your friends and family pop over. Making your own…