Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp

June 9, 2026

From Ancient Remedy to Beloved Dessert – A Spice Route Treasure – Rhubarb’s roots stretch back thousands of years to the mountainous regions of northern and central Asia (China, Mongolia, and Siberia), where it was cultivated primarily for medicinal purposes. The Chinese prized it as a digestive tonic and laxative,

Honey-Crisp Oven-Fried Chicken

January 15, 2014

What is it with fast food that can send your stomach growling after a whiff of something deep-fried?  When my sensory system is alerted to these aromas, it’s all I can do to stay away.  According to The Urban Daily, Scottish immigrants to the United States are often credited with being the ones to introduce…

Carrot Soup with Feta and Quinoa

January 13, 2014

When it’s cold outside there’s nothing more comforting and warming than homemade soup.  Soup, by the way, doesn’t need to be arduous nor does it need to take a long time to make to taste good. Carrot soup with feta and quinoa should make you take notice as this isn’t something ordinary but downright scrumptious!…

Halloumi with Oven Roasted Tomatoes and Couscous

January 8, 2014

If you haven’t heard or tried halloumi cheese, you’re in for a treat.  Halloumi, the squeaky cheese, does not melt when heated. Instead it develops a delicious crust that surrounds a slightly springy, mild interior that squeaks between your teeth! Halloumi is the traditional white cheese of Cyprus and is made from ewes’ and goats’…

Salted Caramels (or so I thought)

January 6, 2014

New Year’s Day saw us taking a drive along the scenic route to Peggy’s Cove and stopping for a bite to eat at Rhubarb Restaurant – I love the name!  It had been highly recommended by Dan from PosterBoy and he was spot on!  My sister Kris was visiting from Toronto and she had never…

Vanilla Ice Cream

January 2, 2014

Hello 2014! I don’t know about you, but I’m really glad to see the back of 2013.  It was an unsettling year for us and things can only get better.  As I write this post it’s -18c (windchill lowering it to -26c)…bitterly cold!  It would seem a bit odd that I am writing about homemade…

Top 5 Favorite Recipes for Christmas

December 20, 2013

The celebration of Christmas in our house begins with breakfast which consists of ham and eggs, toast and freshly brewed coffee.  Of course the presents are opened pre breakfast…that would be just cruel to make you wait!  Around lunchtime I head back into the kitchen to prep the turkey and the stuffing.  Some people believe…

Cranberry Cupcakes

December 18, 2013

Think of cranberry and you’re likely to associate it with Thanksgiving and Christmas in North America and with good reason as they’re native only to North America. Early pilgrims thought the cranberry blossom resembled the head of a crane and called them ‘crane berries’.  According to Nova Scotia Cranberry Growers Association, cranberry production began in…

Crostini with Beetroot Jam and Goat’s Cheese

December 15, 2013

Holiday parties are in full swing now and we all have our favorite dishes we like to make that tend to be specific for this time of year. I, too, find myself repeating appetizers especially those that are given the two thumbs up by my family. So it can be daunting to want to step…

Asian-style Rice Noodle Beef Salad

December 12, 2013

Our Asian experience seems like a lifetime ago but whenever we have a dish that reminds of food from that side of the globe, it almost feels like we’re back there. Almost. I’ve made this Asian-style rice noodle beef salad many times in Hong Kong and Bangkok but last night, as we sat around the…

Sausage Stuffed Mushroom Caps

December 8, 2013

There are oodles of recipes for stuffed mushrooms but most require too much cooking for my liking.  I want a simple yet mouth-watering appetizer to whip up while I chat to my friends.  Sausage and mushrooms are perfect companions and pair them with garlic and fennel…it becomes a snack your guests will find hard to…

Barley Salad with Roasted Squash and Fennel

December 4, 2013

It can be a challenge keeping your kids healthy when they live at home but when they leave the nest for university or boarding schools this can be a bigger challenge. We’re happy to be back in Nova Scotia for many reasons and one of those is that Laura is able to hop on a…

Pretzels Dipped in White Chocolate and Crushed Candy Cane

November 29, 2013

I’m in the holiday bake mode!  This is ‘the most wonderful time of the year‘ for me.  I am in my element as I bake, cook, and roast all leading up to the 25th.  Forgive me if I sound mawkish but I love Christmas.  I love how people seem a bit kinder, smile more and…