shortbread jam slices

shortbread jam slices

November 19, 2024

Becoming a grandparent truly is one of life’s sweetest joys! Mr S and I are incredibly blessed to be grandparents to two beautiful boys—our eldest, Will, who’s three, and our youngest, Lachie, is seven months.

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portobello parmesan

portobello parmesan

February 14, 2024

An easy mid-week meal, portobello parmesan served atop a dressed salad will satisfy any hungry tummy.  The portobello mushroom can be served in many ways from a burger or as a pizza base to soup.

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bourbon candied pecans

bourbon candied pecans

January 25, 2024

Candied nuts are a favourite of mine and are even better when homemade.  I serve them in salads, over fresh fruit, as a snack or packaged as a hostess gift.  I love the taste of pecans and incorporate them into my dishes whenever possible. Roasting them is a welcomed sight on a charcuterie board.

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sweet potato curry soup

January 22, 2024

Soup is as old as the hills and every cook has at least one or two recipes they return to. I, too, have my favourites. Having lived in Asia, my cooking experiences with spices before then were very blah. I had never seen a black pepper plant, ginger/galangal, turmeric, nutmeg, mace, clove etc. My senses…

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tofu vegetable curry

tofu vegetable curry

January 15, 2024

Hello, 2024!  I’m not much into New Year resolutions but I do like to kickstart the month with a healthy diet.  For the past 10 days, Mr. S and I have drastically cut back on meat consumption and amped up the veggies.  If you have been following my blog, you know the vegetables I serve…

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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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