frozen yogurt treats

frozen yogurt treats

September 20, 2024

I know, Fall is around the corner and I am posting about a summery snack.  These frozen yogurt treats can be enjoyed all year round; if you like ice cream any time of the year, you’ll like this.  Serve them as shown or atop a fruit salad.  It’s one of the easiest snacks to make…

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pineapple squares

pineapple squares – a vintage dessert

December 28, 2023

As a child, one of the Christmas things I eagerly looked forward to was all the baked goodies my mom and maternal grandmother would make.  One of those goodies was pineapple squares.  I’m not sure where or when the recipe came to be but it’s been around in my family since the mid-1960s.  It’s the…

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coquito

coquito (Puerto Rican rum and milk punch)

December 22, 2023

Coquito, Spanish for little coconut, is a Puerto Rican cocktail made of coconut milk and rum, flavoured with spices like cinnamon and nutmeg.  It’s thick, delicious and has a similar consistency to eggnog.  If you want an eggless eggnog, this is for you!

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mushroom soup

mushroom soup

November 27, 2023

Soup is as old as the hills and loved by the world.  It’s loaded with vitamins, and nutrients, easy on the pocketbook, and with little effort needed.  Although soups are enjoyed throughout the year, the cooler months of winter are when I appreciate them the most.  They’re one of my go-to comfort foods.  My mushroom…

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baked boursin cheese

baked boursin cheese

November 22, 2023

When you have been entertaining and cooking for as long as I have, coming up with new appetizers isn’t easy.  Having said that, now and then I’ll see something on social media that grabs my attention.  Boursin cheese isn’t something new to me.

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creamy polenta with sausage ragu

creamy polenta with sausage ragù

November 15, 2023

I enjoy buying from a farmers’ market.  The market I frequent is open from Thursday to Sunday.  It’s a real treat for me as some markets are only open on Saturdays and Sundays.  One of the vendors I like to buy from is Flat Cap Butchers.  Their story resonates with me.

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warm marinated olives

warm marinated olives

November 7, 2023

The entertaining season is upon us.  Olives are an easy appetizer for your guests to nibble on.  For sure, not everyone loves these stone fruits.  Yours truly was one of them!  When I was a kid no matter how often I sampled a green olive served in a tomato sauce, the taste always made me…

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scotch broth

scotch broth

October 23, 2023

When the mercury drops, I turn to hearty soups and stews.  At first glance, Scotch broth sounds more like a thin liquid to be slurped from a spoon.  But don’t be fooled by the name; this stew is thick and so satisfying.   Like most stews, it contains vegetables and meat and is thickened with barley,…

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French Bread Loaf

french bread loaf

October 18, 2023

Have you ever made bread?  The idea of breadmaking can have you running for the hills. 🙂  However, if you start with an easy recipe that isn’t time-consuming or difficult, you will be pleasantly pleased with the results.  Back in January of this year, I posted a recipe for no-knead bread.

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carbonara

Carbonara (American or Italian?)

October 6, 2023

Don’t shoot the messenger! 🙂  The title of my post may stir up a heated debate on the origins of this beloved pasta.  Mi scusi, allow me to explain.  Food historian Luca Cesari, author of A Brief History of Pasta, says carbonara is an American dish born in Italy towards the end of WWII.

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ahi tuna poke

ahi tuna poke

October 5, 2023

Raw seafood may not be at the top of everyone’s food list.  But, if you enjoy sushi, then you’re gonna LOVE a tuna poke bowl.  This Hawaiian dish is a cinch to make and you can add veggies you enjoy the most.  Poke (pronounced POH-keh) in Hawaiian means to slice or cut something.  Poke has…

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plum jelly

plum jelly

September 19, 2023

I have fond memories of jelly desserts.  My mom made many jellied salads and aspics – some I liked, some I did not. As a kid, I was always fascinated with the ‘jiggly dessert’. My siblings and I would break it down by whipping it around our bowls or to see who could try to…

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roasted tomato sauce

roasted tomato sauce

August 29, 2023

It’s tomato season and nothing is more satisfying than fresh, local ones.  Tomatoes have varied uses; one of the most popular is tomato sauce.  My version of marinara sauce uses fresh tomatoes that are roasted in the oven first and then puréed.  A rustic method with little effort but the flavour profile is downright scrumptious!

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