Rhubarb Crumble

Rhubarb is a very old plant with records dating back to the Han Dynasty (206 BC) in China where it was cultivated for medicinal purposes (used as a laxative and treatment for high fever). It was imported along the Silk Road and reached Europe in the 14th century. In 16th century England, rhubarb first became…

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Butter Beans with Chorizo

Butter beans (aka lima beans) are a very good source of cholesterol-lowering fiber. Their high fiber content prevents blood sugar levels from rising too rapidly after a meal, making these beans an especially good choice for people with diabetes, insulin resistance or hypoglycemia. Use butter beans in curries, soups, in a dip, in chili con…

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Gordon Ramsay’s Vietnamese BBQ Pork Skewers

This is an easy recipe with outstanding flavor!  Lemongrass is native to the Philippines and is used in Asian cuisine.  You’ll find it in teas, soups and curries.  It’s a tall tropical grass which has a lemon-like scent because the stalks contain essential oils.  Lemongrass is considered a diuretic, tonic and stimulant. It’s also known…

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Grilled Asparagus with Sun-Dried Tomato Vinaigrette

The city of Halifax, Nova Scotia has 283,000 people however, the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) swells to 403,188 to include Halifax, Dartmouth, Bedford, Lower Sackville, Cole Harbour.   For such a small city we are blessed to have attracted a slew of quality restauranteurs where the owners and chefs happily promote locally grown produce.  Many…

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Barbecue Chicken Quesadillas

Relaxed Cooking with Curtis Stone: Recipes to Put You in My Favorite Mood. With a title like this, who could resist buying?  I started watching this young, spirited chef from down under back in 2007 when he and Ben O’Donoghue were in a cooking show called, Surfing The Menu.  This book showcases recipes that allow…

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Grilled Asparagus with Sun-Dried Tomato Vinaigrette

The city of Halifax, Nova Scotia has 283,000 people however, the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) swells to 403,188 to include Halifax, Dartmouth, Bedford, Lower Sackville, Cole Harbour.   For such a small city we are blessed to have attracted a slew of quality restaurateurs where the owners and chefs happily promote locally grown produce.  Many…

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Pudding Chomeur A La Lavallée

There are some desserts you know are going to taste delicious. When I first saw the photo of this sweet dish that Renée Lavallée posted on her website, Feisty Chef,  I knew I had to try it.  This recipe is from Renée’s momma.  Renée said, “it was named Welfare Pudding because back in the day…

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Roasted Peppers and Spinach Salad with Pesto Dressing

Inspiration for me doesn’t always come from a cookbook or glossy food magazine.  Grocery stores are also a good source of recipes and what’s more, they’re free!  Sobeys produces a quarterly magazine highlighting their brands and the recipes are developed by their own dieticians.  Each recipe contains nutritional information making it easier for those counting…

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Blueberry Muffins

The nursery rhyme, The Muffin Man, was first recorded in 1820 in Britain. Victorian households had many of their fresh foods delivered and muffins would be delivered door-to-door by a muffin man. The muffin in question was the bread product known in much of the English-speaking world today as English muffins, not the much sweeter…

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