January 11, 2017
Sometimes I just crave this soup but to get the one that satisfies my craving I have to make it at home. It’s really quite a simple soup to make, you just need the patience to brown the onions slowly so the soup has the characteristic rich caramelized flavour. You finish the soup in the oven with grilled bread and plenty of cheese that melts and gives the soup the unique topping that one cannot... View Article
November 18, 2016
I haven’t made mac n’ cheese in forever but was in the mood for them today. I didn’t have real macaroni so I used shell pasta, not too small, and it worked fine as the shape works well with saucy pasta. I made a small amount, only 8oz of pasta, because I didn’t want leftovers, too much food around here anyway. I like to serve mac n cheese in gratin dishes, sprinkle the top with... View Article
July 7, 2016
I haven’t made cheese fritters in a while. After trying them at a cooking class party a few years ago I made them a few times but then moved on to other things. Last night I needed a few appies for a group of 6 who was coming over for a glass of wine before dinner at a local winery. I was browsing my blog, found these long lost fritters and felt up to the... View Article
February 21, 2016
Sometime I just crave these slightly savoury, slightly sweet scones so one of the first things I made when I was reacquainting with my kitchen after 100 days absence were these fluffy, pillowy creations. If you follow the blog you know I don’t like too many ingredients or too many dishes to wash so I tend to keep things rather simple. This recipe can be made in one bowl and it bakes quickly so you... View Article
November 26, 2015
I don’t know if you have access to fresh ricotta made this morning but I bought mine from the cheese maker next door while staying at the off the beaten path agriturismo Palazzo del Duca in Tavernelle. A blog post about the experience is in the making but I had to use the cheese right away so here is one of the ways I used it, simplicity itself, and in the words of Leonardo da... View Article
October 2, 2015
Well, back to cooking: many people who love to cook can be divided in two camps: those who love to cook and those who love to bake. I fall somewhere in the middle and really love to do both. Earlier in my cooking endeavour I used to bake a lot and fairly challenging “stuff” like complicated cakes, croissants, all kinds of breads, cookies etc. Now I still bake but simpler things like cookies,... View Article
September 3, 2015
I can never resists fresh, ripe figs when I see them. More often than not I enjoy them fresh on their own but I also make a few things with them. They are nice roasted and served with salted orange caramel, added to salad or on top of a pizza. One thing to keep in mind about figs is that unlike other fruits, they don’t ripen sitting on your counter. They have to be picked... View Article
August 20, 2015
Is celery a seasonal vegetables? I wonder. It’s one of those vegetables that sits in the background, always available. Celery seldom gets to play a major role in recipes and we usually treat it as an aromatic, one of the vegetables that create the flavour base for soups, stews and sauces. True, it is known as a low calorie veggie, good for the snacks category for its crisp crunch, low calorie and high fiber content but... View Article
August 3, 2015
Summer in the Okanagan is in full swing and of course tomatoes are part of it. Little heirloom cherry tomatoes are available at the local organic vegetable stands and make their way to my kitchen and the various dishes I cook. Pasta with cherry tomatoes, tomato salads, pizza and many more dishes have been fun to make and serve in the past few weeks. Today I had a small basket of green, black, red, orange... View Article
May 25, 2015
Pastry dough needs to be in any cook’s repertoire. It’s easy and versatile and can be prepared in advance and left to contemplate in the fridge wrapped in wax paper until called upon to perform. One batch of dough can work for both sweet and savoury tarts although if I know I am using it for sweet tarts I add a little sugar to the mix. Earlier this week I made one batch of pastry... View Article
May 18, 2015
I saw these pears at the store the other day. You think of pears as a fall fruit but this honey belle pear variety is only available here for a short time in the spring, from March to May. It’s a New Zealand pear, small and colourful with a pink blush over a lovely green background. It has a sweet flavour and crisp texture and I enjoyed eating it fresh, sliced into salads and poached... View Article
May 9, 2015
Okanagan Wine Festival offers many opportunities to educate your mind and palate by tasting local foods, wines and cheeses. One such opportunity presented itself the other night at a grilled cheese tasting paired with local wines, presented by Dairy Farmers of Canada. The event took place at the upstairs room at the Eldorado (affectionately referred to as the El by locals). The room was set with linen covered round tables for 8 and each guest... View Article
