Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp
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,
Raspberry Picante Paloma Pitchers
It’s been a scorcher these past few days and hopefully we’re at the end of a heat wave…I feel like I’m back in Asia! John and I love a simple drink and tequila, however, was never one of them until now. I first made this raspberry paloma pitcher last Sunday…it did not last long! The…
Fattoush Salad
I first made this salad 6 years ago and have enjoyed it many times since then…I never tire of its fresh, clean taste. Fattoush comes from the Levantine cuisine and makes wonderful use of stale or leftover pita bread. Full of nutrients and vitamins – a perfect salad to bring to a family function, picnic…
Easy Homemade Strawberry Ice Cream
An ice cream maker had been on my list when we were living in Asia but I never did purchase one because the voltage there is 220 and that meant when we moved back to Canada it would not work unless I had a converter . I went that route when we moved from Canada…
Sautéed Soft-Shell Crab and Asian Coleslaw with a Side of Rémoulade
Soft-shell crabs are blue crabs in their molted stage. The shell remains soft for only a few hours after the crab has molted. Most soft-shell crabs you see at the market are ready to cook, however, if you buy from a fish monger you will need to ask him to clean the crabs or do…
Wine-Braised Artichokes with Feta and Orecchiette
I’m a sucker for fresh pasta! I make my own from time to time but haven’t been in the mood of late. The other day I was in Eataly (I so love this food market) and could not resist going past the fresh pasta counter. I love watching the machines churn out the different pastas.…
White Asparagus, Rocket, Fresh Figs on a bed of Parsnip Purée
My family adores fresh figs! I recall the first time I said to John that I was preparing an antipasto with fresh figs and his facial expression was a grimace. His memory of figs were the dried ones and possibly not so good. But, like a dutiful husband he tried the fresh version and loved…
Poached Shrimp with Honeydew, Radishes, Jicama, and Scallions
On Mondays I like to serve a light meal for dinner as we tend to eat a bit more on the weekend. Light for us means little or no meat. Too much meat and our body works overtime to process which makes us feel a bit sluggish and good nutrients are flushed away. I’m sure…
BDC 2012 Young Entrepreneur Award
Who is BDC and what is this award all about? BDC is the Business Development Bank of Canada. A financial institution owned by the Government of Canada, BDC has been serving Canadian entrepreneurs for more than 65 years. They have helped more than 29,000 businesses reach their full potential. As a complementary lender, they offer…
Grilled Zucchini with Tomato Slices and Feta
We use our barbecue on a regular basis and one of the things I like to grill are vegetables. It’s easy to do, there’s little clean up afterwards and a bit of olive oil and seasoning is all you need to dress up any veggie. I love how grilled zucchini allows the flavor of the…
Mango, Pineapple and Orange Paletas – A Summer Treat!
As a child I remember hot, sticky summers and one of the easiest ways to cool down (besides running through a sprinkler or a swim in the river) was by eating popsicles. My siblings and I would raid the freezer, sometimes taking an extra one with permission! When my kids were old enough, I would…
Grilled Asparagus and Steak Salad with Hoisin Vinaigrette
I’ve said this before, but I am a salad queen at heart! I must have over 30 recipes I’ve posted on salads alone. And why not? They’re easy to throw together, packed with nutritional goodness for a healthy body and a fab way to utilize leftovers. Hoisin sauce is soy based and regularly used…
Fava Bean Purée
I can’t say I’ve ever been a ‘real’ fan of fava beans…it stems from my childhood intense dislike for lima beans. Whenever mom would place mixed veggies on my plate I seemed to always get all of the lima beans – how could that be I used to ask myself when I had three other…