Childish memories were never more adult …. If you’re like me, tomato soup is synonymous with not only “comfort food,” but it is synonymous with childhood. And yes, for many of us in North America, it is also synonymous with Campbell’s condensed tomato soup. Hands up — please be honest now — hands up who…
Creamy Polenta with Parmesan
I dare say, if you love corn, you should certainly love polenta. I know it has a consistency that will put some people off, but if prepared well, the consistency is creamy and divine. Polenta is truly “peasant” food — but I love peasant food; most people do. When someone describes their favourite “comfort food,”…
Macaroni and Six-Cheeses … with pancetta crumble
If there was a food equivalent of original sin, I think I’ve discovered it. Long have I had the notion of creating a gourmet version of a childhood comfort food so many of us grew up on … create something very very adult. The inspiration for this comes from watching Gordon Ramsay several years ago challenge his…
Scalloped Fennel-Potatoes au Gratin
Cooking with a twist … that’s how a lot of my ideas form: take an idea, an ingredient, a ‘classic’ creation and then ask the question “What if …?” As you’ve seen from my previous post, I had prime rib on the brain and one of the comfort foods I love to serve alongside this…
Farfalloni with Grilled Chicken and Swiss Chard
My quest to find great ways to use chard that keeps showing up in my CSA shares has continued all summer. It’s produced a few excellent side dishes (see recipes: Chard with Bacon and Cranberries and Chard with Meyer Lemon) and an awesome minestrone soup with prosciutto. However, I wanted to see how far I…
Minestrone with Chard and Prosciutto
My CSA shares have given me three challenges related to the regularity and volume of certain bounties: zucchini, kale, and chard. The first of these veggies I’ve managed very well; the kale is getting used as well, but with less imagination; the chard, however, has been a harder test. Zucchini is ‘easy’ by comparison because…
My Grandma’s Hamburger Soup (De/Re-constructed)
There is comfort food … and then there is food that loves. As you will read in my next post (tomorrow’s installment in the Canadian Food Experience Project), this is the most cherished Canadian recipe I know. It is a part of me, part of my family, part of my heart. Recreating this dish, however,…