At its most fundamental level, cooking is pure chemistry and physics. At its most profound, it is art, tradition, culture, identity and love. Nothing arguably combines both as purely as making preserves. Thus when I took up the most recent challenge in The Canadian Food Experience Project chose to make it personal, I found myself with the challenge…
Chocolate Zucchini Cake (Gluten-Free)
As mentioned in my last post, three staples of my CSA shares have seemed both constant in their delivery and therefore a constant challenge to use too. The inspiration of what to do with my last batch of zucchini came through my ruminations in September as I prepared to share a “cherished Canadian recipe.” In…
Pork Souvlaki
Souvlaki is one of the easiest meals in my arsenal. It is one of those ‘go-to’ meals I do when I need something quick. Therefore, when I walk through the meat section of a grocery store and I see per-seasoned and skewered souvlaki, I shake my head every time. I have no idea why anyone…
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…
Thai Salad with Napa Cabbage
Sweet ♦ Salty ♦ Sour ♦ Spicy ♦ Aromatic Some would define the classic Thai flavours as simply Sweet, Salty, Sour, which they are, but I like to think that it is a quintet that makes for most Thai food, not just a trio. And like any great band, it is harmony of playing together that creates memorable moments….
Caprese Frittata with Mozzafina, Fresh Tomato and Zucchini
Ah! Sunday morning breakfast. There are few thing in life as noble in their ability to slow time down and create a pace of existence to which we can breathe the day full. The zucchini in my CSA share continue to challenge me and I continue to mount the hill but I’m now starting to…
Moussaka
Some things in life are inevitable. Put enough eggplants in a person’s CSA share and something Greek like the ubiquitous Moussaka itself is certain to appear eventually! Does Moussaka need an introduction, really? Made well, it is an incredible dish with the richness of a stew and the full satisfaction of summer. And I swear,…
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…
Oatmeal Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies (redux)
If you love moist, tender cookies, here’s a great gluten-free cookie recipe that everyone is sure to love. Trust me – no one will notice the absence of the wheat flour – they’ll just be going, “Mmm, wow, what are these delicious cookies?!” And, yes, that is “banana” in the title of the recipe. What…
Rösti-Potato Quiche with Caramelized Leeks
If you’ve had potato pancakes (or some version thereof), love fondu, and think the inventors of raclette should simplify things by getting rid of a kitchen applicance you use once every two years, I’ve got good news for you in this recipe. And, yes, this was my eclectic inspiration for this recipe — that and…