Eggplant Milanese: Crispy Cutlets Without the Veal
Golden, crunchy, and crisp. These eggplant cutlets take their cue from classic veal Milanese, but swap the meat for something lighter (and honestly, more fun to make).
Strawberry Pavlova
It’s officially Summer (yay!) although it still feels like Spring here in the Maritimes. A good indicator that we might be leaving the cold behind is the sighting of fresh, local strawberries. I spotted them at the Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market, Pete’s and other grocery retailers over the weekend. I grew up in the country…
Crudités with Blue Cheese Dip
Out of all the menu planning, food prep, and cooking I do, the one thing I enjoy the most is the presentation. It’s so easy to take simple ingredients and show them off. Look around your home for interesting containers that tend to only be used for certain things or special occasions. Crudités (raw…
Grilled Pineapple
This is such an easy, no fuss, and delicious dessert to make. Grilled pineapple can be served on its own, with ice cream or a dollop of yogurt. I’ve been grilling pineapple for years and it’s always a crowd pleaser. I have been asked before how to pick a ripe pineapple. When we lived in…
Wine Tasting in Nova Scotia
All it took was an invitation from Domaine de Grand Pré to join them for their annual barrel tasting to spur us into action and take a mini vacation – it’s an easy one hour drive north of home. It’s been a while since we had a ‘real’ vacation and this was just what we…
Endive Salad
I know, another salad but I promise this one is a keeper! Endive (pronounced on-deev) is a favorite of ours and because I don’t buy it that often it remains a treat whenever I serve it. This endive salad is bursting full of flavor and will have your taste buds doing a happy dance. Ok,…
Beans, Bacon & Blue Cheese Vinaigrette
Making a plate of food come alive with a variety of colors not only is visually appealing but healthy. Think in terms of the rainbow when deciding on what to serve – many colors are already represented by vegetables. You’ll get a good mix of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Keep this in mind next time…
Eton Mess
If you haven’t heard of Eton Mess, you’re in for a real treat! It’s an English dessert, served in the food hall at Eton College, and is a mixture of strawberries, broken meringue and whipped cream. It’s so easy to make and a perfect dish for those novices wanting to try baked meringue…and don’t worry…
Rhubarb Cordial
Cordials are fruit-based concentrated drinks that are diluted with water before being consumed. Homemade versions are easy to make and don’t have any additives like the commercial brands do. Lemon, lime, orange, raspberry and elderflower are some of the popular ones. Rhubarb cordial is my favorite. If you’re lucky enough to have a rhubarb patch…
Baba Ganoush
Baba Ganoush is a Middle Eastern dip made from eggplants. I’ve made this dip many times over the years and it’s an easy dish to make. It requires only a few ingredients and the key is to use these to enhance the flavor of the eggplant. If you are not a fan of eggplant, this…
Asparagus Fennel Salad
Even though asparagus is available year-round, Springtime is the best time to enjoy them. Asparagus and fennel salad may seem like an unassuming dish but don’t be fooled by its looks. The pine nut dressing deliciously coats the veggies and it’s love at first bite! And, because this dish does not require a stove top…
Grilled Oysters with Tarragon Butter
I’m not a fan of raw oysters (lord knows I’ve tried many times). I prefer mine cooked or smoked and these grilled oysters with tarragon butter are absolutely de-lish! They’re about as close to raw as I’ll ever get! And, if you’re like me, shucking oysters take a bit of practice before getting the hang…
Haddock Saltimbocca
The classic saltimbocca dish consists of thin slices of veal topped with a sage leaf, wrapped in a prosciutto slice, and sautéed in butter. If prepared properly, saltimbocca should melt in your mouth. Other variations can include chicken or pork. While haddock saltimbocca isn’t a typical Italian dish, these tender morsels were absolutely delicious. This…