There is something ridiculously sensuous about scallops — they are buttery and soft … and when wrapped in the purity of a well-smoked, naturally cured slice of bacon, you go from sensuous to sinful again. There is a reason this is such a classic pairing — that and because it borders on mindlessly easy. Fact…
Salted-Caramel Ice Cream
It’s a taste that reminds me of a fine finger tracing its way down your spine while warm lips whisper in your ear all things decadent and sinful. It’s sweet and salty wrapped in a silky drape of thick cream … and it will certainly leave you feeling warm … and cool! I’m told that…
Fried-Egg Sandwich with Curried Cream-Spread
I suspect the the “fried egg sandwich” is a cultural expression of a pretty middle-class upbringing in parts of Canada and the USA. Beyond that, I would guess the origins are some country in Europe. If anyone knows the answer, let me know, but my guess is Scandinavia, England, or France. However, like so many…
Tomato Salad (5 Ways)
So tomato season is almost here. My own vines are filling with fruit and I suspect that even with all the rain, some of us in the Ottawa Valley are only a week or so away from fruit. Having said that, the butter lettuce in my CSA share this week was screaming “I want tomatoes,”…
Sautéed Swiss Chard with Meyer Lemon Peel
Whether you got Swiss chard in your CSA bin this week or are simply looking for a yummy way to prepare it, here’s a grande recipe that I think you’ll like. How grande is it? It almost stole the show from the grilled halibut with garlic scape pesto with which it was served. And yes, this…
Grilled Halibut with Garlic Scape-Walnut Pesto
In addition to the fortune of fresh fava beans that showed up in this week’s CSA share, the other ingredient that thoroughly intrigued me were “scapes.” For those not familiar with what is a scape, it is the flower stem of the garlic. Remember, garlic is a bulb that grows in the soil and out…
Garlic Scape-Walnut Pesto
This week, my CSA also showed up with garlic scapes. For those not familiar with what is a scape, it is the flower stem of the garlic. Remember, garlic is a bulb that grows in the soil and out of it will be produced a stem and eventually a flower … just like other bulbous…
Penne with Fava Bean and Fennel Purée (Pasta)
When this week’s CSA bin arrived, the thing I was most looking forward to was the fresh fava beans. This is an example of an idea that got into my head and has stuck 10 or 15 years. Over the years, I had read a number of recipes in my plethora of Italian cookbooks that…
Papaya-Mango Lime Salsa
Here’s an amazing fruit salsa that will be sure to put the kick back in your favourite Mexican fare. The papaya and mango work well together but what really brings this dish together is the lime … and the lime skin in particular. I’ve tried just the zest but there is something much more powerful…
Guacamole Cruda
Ah, guacamole. There aren’t many that sit on the fence when it comes to avocados … or this simple Mexican sidekick. For those that love it but have never made it, here’s a simple recipe to get you started. The only thing that really separates my versions is that I omit tomato from mine and…