I find it fascinating how our meals change through the course of a year as the things in season change, from the new tender veggies of spring to the hardy, substantial offerings of the fall. Nothing better describes this change in seasons than the emergence of potatoes and leeks … and nothing, if not this,…
Roasted Corn Salad
What’s the difference between a salad and a salsa, besides the language? The difference is “sauce” (which is what salsa translates). With the end of summer and the end of fresh corn nearing, I was craving corn to form the basis of salad number four in my five course salad night … and I wasn’t looking…
Grilled Fennel and Orange Salad
When the fennel showed up in my CSA share last week, I knew what salad number three was going to be in my five course salad night. I also knew I wanted citrus in it as a change of pace, even though the flavour isn’t exactly in season. But because of the season, I wasn’t…
Salmon Steaks with Lemon and Dill
Fish tales beget fish recipes. I’m sure that is written somewhere profound. In preparing my latest entry, The Shore Lunch, for the Canadian Food Experience Project, I was craving fish. The dilemma, as you’ll deduce from the entry, is that I’m unable to find wild, fresh trout where I now live. Inspired by my dill,…
Grilled Ratatouille
Ratatouille…. I’ll wager it is one of those dishes that leaves very few on the fence. I’d also wager the distribution of fence dwellers isn’t even. What better challenge, then, than to make a classic dish whose heyday may be past but whose opportunity for a triumphant return remains. I previously remarked that if you…
Maple-Lemon Mint Quinoa with Grilled Zucchini and Dried Cranberries
What do we name our creations? It’s not like naming a newborn where you can easily choose a family member or favourite character in a novel. My ability to choose the right name will determine whether you’re reading this right now or have passed it over, dismissing this as another trendy quinoa recipe. Recipes so…
Caesar Salad with Grilled Hearts of Romaine
Sometimes, certain things get into my head and like a catchy song they just linger and play over and over again. Such is the notion of grilling romaine lettuce, and idea that took root a few months ago when I first saw mention of it … and, if you’re anything like me, you’re colourfully saying…
Baked-Barbecued Apples
Growing up with apple orchards all around me, little in life is more comforting than anything with apples. Taken crisp and fresh off the tree, I’m a thief among the leaves and branches. But baked with sugar and cinnamon, the apples become the thief of all life’s problems. Truly, almost nothing goes better with pork…
Root Beer Barbecue Sauce
Mmm, root beer. How many wish it came in more forms than just a drink or the occasional candy or sometimes even ice cream? And how many of you love to grill ribs? Here’s something I put together in a bid to infuse the essential herbaciousness of the root beer into a barbecue sauce in…