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.
savory palmiers
These delicate, but easy-to-make French pastries can be sweet or savory. Palmiers, named so because they look like palm trees or the shape of an elephant’s ear, uses puff pastry for its base. Traditionally, simple ingredients such as sugar and cinnamon are sprinkled over the pastry then folded, rolled, sliced and baked in the oven. …
Overnight Pancakes
A birthday breakfast for Mr. S. Back from our morning walk, I pulled the batter from the fridge, thinned it with a splash of milk, and had fluffy pancakes on the table in 10 minutes. A weekday luxury, indeed!
poached pears – an easy dessert
It’s been a while since I last poached pears. A super easy dessert to make and one where you don’t need any special ingredients. Poached pears make the best use of unripe fruit and heightens the flavor of firm but ripe pears. This light and delicate dessert is perfect for entertaining; the pears stay in…
mushroom pâté
Now that November is here, I start looking for easy-to-make snacks, appetizers, and finger food for the upcoming holiday season. Everyone has their favorites and one of mine is pâté. The thing is, it’s rich and calorie laden. An easy solution without compromising taste is to use the mighty mushroom. Not only are delicious, they’re…
Warm Barley Salad
Pearl barley stirred with mascarpone, roasted red pepper and asparagus, artichoke hearts, garlic and parsley. Served warm.
homemade apple chips
Apples are in abundance this time of the year. I love autumn for all the delicious fruit and vegetables that leave the farmers’ fields and are readily available in food shops and markets. One fruit I eagerly await their arrival is the humble apple. It’s hard to imagine there are over 7,000 varieties! With so…
Split Pea Soup
A family favourite: whenever Mom had a roast ham, we knew split pea soup was coming next. Split peas and a smoked ham bone, finished with fresh tarragon.
chicken stew with olives
Four weeks ago today we were cruising the Bosphorus River, listening to the historical commentary about Turkey and how this river has influenced its shores. As I sit here reminiscing of our trip, it feels as though it was eons ago. All the planning, research, initial deposit to final payment, and the excitement leading up…
Finish Dishwasher Cleaner
I’ve lived in five different countries with my husband and daughter and one of the least favorites about living in different countries is the move. No matter how clean a place looks when first inspected, you find hidden dirt. I wouldn’t say I’m a clean freak but what I would say is this: kitchens and…
vacation time
“Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.”– Gustave Flaubert The Culinary Chase’s Note: I’m off to explore new parts of the world. I shall return with a treasure trove of exotic food memories, sights and sounds of ancient cities. Until then…
macaroni and cheese – with a slight twist
I grew up on macaroni and cheese both in the homemade version and the boxed one. Both are comfort foods but it’s been years since I had the boxed one. Every cook has their own version but is it possible to improve on a classic dish? At first thought, no way, but after considering the…
pasta salad with roasted chickpeas
I’ve had this package of multicolor farfalle (Italian for butterfly) pasta for weeks now and every time I open the pantry door, there it is, waiting for me to do something with it. The colors of the butterfly pasta are all natural using beetroot, spinach, turmeric, paprika and black squid ink. I wanted something special…