Melon Carpaccio with Burrata and Crispy Sage
Growing up, I was never much of a melon fan. Watermelon, absolutely, but the others I could happily leave behind. Somewhere along the way, that changed. These days, when summer is in full swing, I can’t get enough of a perfectly ripe melon.
Crostini with Beetroot Jam and Goat’s Cheese
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
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
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
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
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…
Homemade Vanilla Extract
I had been meaning to stop by the historic farmers’ market. I told my husband that I wanted to go there for a specific reason but when I arrived that reason escaped me until I spotted a table across the way decked out in spices. Yes! Now it’s coming back to me. Costas Halavrezos, former…
Red Onion Jam with Dhal
Baby it’s cold outside! We’ve been having a pleasant Maritime November but today the mercury dipped, no wait, it took a nose dive. It’s days and evenings like this that I just want a blanket wrapped around me, plunk myself in front of the television while consuming a bowl of hot soup. While dhal isn’t…
Chocolate Date Balls
I was listening to the radio this morning and the announcer said she only has 2 more paychecks before Christmas! Yikes! Thirty-four days to go and I haven’t done any Christmas shopping let alone any baking. In the next few days I plan to make and freeze any holiday sweets with exception of chocolate date…
Spaghetti Squash with Sausage and Kale
For the love of kale! I can’t seem to get enough of this green veggie. This queen of greens is super nutrient rich with an excellent source of vitamins A, C, and K. Keep in mind, though, that flash cooking helps kale to preserve its nutrients. Spaghetti squash has been around for years. I’ve used…
Carrot and Sweet Potato Soup with Garam Masala Cream
So, it’s your turn to provide food for your book club but you are short on time and ingredients. What to serve? This carrot and sweet potato soup is thick enough to satisfy any hunger pains. Add to it a side of warmed naan bread and pair with a chilled bottle of white wine. Garam…
Pepperoni Pesto
When I think of pesto my mind immediately sees plump basil leaves, pine nuts, a mound of freshly grated Parmesan cheese and smashed garlic bound together with olive oil. But when we think ‘outside the box’, a funny thing happens…we tend to experiment. There are oodles of options out there when rethinking the term pesto. …
Oven Roasted Rutabaga Fries
Confession time. I always thought the word rutabaga was a fancy term for a turnip. So for clarity, here’s the scoop on both – I know you want to get to the bottom of this. While surfing the web I found out that a rutabaga (aka swede or yellow turnip) is the cross between a…