Honey Rhubarb Compote with Vanilla Bean
Posted on 16 April 2012 | 5 comments | share this
Blossoms blooming, bees buzzing and flowers busting forth are promises of Spring but for me the first rhubarb of the season is a sure sign that Spring has officially arrived. I was in Victoria last weekend and picked up my first rhubarb of the season at the Moss St Market. I trucked it back on the ferry along with an armload of spring vegetables for the week of cooking ahead. This year I decided that the first rhubarb of the season deserved a very simple preparation in the form of a compote.
Spring Is In The Air
Posted on 3 April 2012 | No comments | share this
The plum and cherry trees are blooming, the birds are chirping and the plants are starting to sprout. Spring is here once again and the plant world is beginning to wake up and renew. Certainly welcome news for a veggie loving creature like myself. On Saturday morning I ventured to the Vancouver Farmers Market and was delighted to find lots of signs of spring there too. The vegetables and greens I found were so pretty and fresh I just had to share some photos to get you excited about the growing and eating season ahead. Now for a little more warmth and sunshine please.
Roasted Cauliflower with Crispy Capers and Lemon
Posted on 15 March 2012 | No comments | share this
Based on my record over the last month or so, February proved to be the least inspiring month on record for blogging. February and early March is a dark, cold and uninspiring time of year in this part of the world. But I can say that I clocked many hours in the kitchen cooking up all forms of soups, stews and slow cooked meals and of course some sweets in there too. I am slowly coming out of hibernation as the chives, onions, garlic and other brave veggies start to poke their heads above ground. While I watch the rain, snow, hail, wind and sun pass by my window, I dream about warmer days, spring greens and summer berries. Until then I thought I would share this cheerful and tasty cauliflower dish.
Hedgehog Potatoes with Herbed Yogurt Dip
Posted on 31 January 2012 | 2 comments | share this
We are heading towards the light, slowly. But it is still cold and dark and as a result I have been eating every manner of soup, stew, curry and slow cooked dish imaginable. Root veggies and potatoes have been making a regular appearance at the dinner table too. It seems we all need a little extra starch in the winter to keep warm during these cold, dark months. This recipe is so simple to make and I have yet to meet anyone who doesn’t like potatoes, especially cute little crispy ones like these. This style of preparing potatoes is often called hedgehog or hasselback. They are lovingly referred to as Hasselhoff potatoes in our house. Call them what you like but there is no arguing that they are super delicious.
The New Year’s Bounty
Posted on 9 January 2012 | 1 comment | share this
Happy New Year. As per usual there has been plenty of talk of cleansing and resolutions floating around since the calendar turned the page to 2012. Resolving to eat more healthfully and take better care of ourselves and the planet are always worthy resolutions and what better way to accomplish those goals than to eat locally.
Holiday Baking & Chocolate Sparkle Cookies
Posted on 15 December 2011 | 5 comments | share this
Hard to believe that it is holiday baking time once again. Christmas sneaks up on me every year but I am always happy when it arrives as it means a return to many of our family food traditions. I took a few days again this year to do some holiday baking with my mom. We had lots of fun. We made a couple of old favourites and also some chocolate sparkle cookies which come in and out of the rotation depending on the year.
Food Inspired Holiday Gift Guide
Posted on 4 December 2011 | 4 comments | share this
The holiday season is a perfect time to support local artisans, butchers, bakers, farmers, cheese makers, distillers, chocolatiers, coffee roasters, and locally owned shops. Click through for some gift ideas for the food lovers on your shopping list.
Fresh The Movie
Posted on 25 November 2011 | No comments | share this
I am a bit late to the party on this one but I finally had the pleasure of watching a screening of the movie Fresh last night and fell in love. The film celebrates farmers, thinkers and creative people who are working hard to re-invent our food system. It features urban farmer and activist Will Allen, sustainable farmer Joel Salatin, food writer and activist Michael Pollan and many other wonderful characters. I would love to have dinner with each and every creative mind in this film. It would surely make for a fun evening.
Sauteed Brussels Sprouts with Hazelnuts and Parmesan
Posted on 7 November 2011 | 3 comments | share this
I have always been a fan of Brussels sprouts. I owe my love of the sprout to my mom who knows how to cook them properly. Brussels sprouts got a bad wrap for so many years because people cooked the poor things to death. Like all green vegetables, Brussels sprouts are perfectly cooked when they are bright green not grey. So those of you that put the sprouts on when the turkey goes in the oven, please stop! I have been on a bit of a mission to raise the status of the lowly sprout one Thanksgiving dinner at a time. Brussels sprouts seem to be enjoying a resurgence in popularity as people discover how delicious they can be if treated with care. A little Parmesan cheese and hazelnuts never hurt either.
Apple Pandowdy
Posted on 25 October 2011 | 5 comments | share this
Yesterday was a perfect fall day. The air was cool, crisp and the sun was shining. It was also an ‘applely’ kind of day. I spent much of the day in the kitchen cooking and canning applesauce and somewhere along the way decided to set aside a few apples for a dessert of some kind. I love rustic fruit desserts and in the cooler months apples and cinnamon are always the right choice. I decided on an apple pandowdy which is more or less an apple pie with only a top crust. The dessert gets its name from the word dowdy, meaning unfashionable or without style in appearance, but I can guarantee there is nothing shabby about this dessert.