October 1, 2014
Just in case you think I am holed up in here and cook-photograph-write and never go out, that’s almost but not always the case. Yesterday my foodie friend Val and I went on a foodie excursion south of here and had a blast. We call these the “two foodies and a hummer” excursions and we do them quite often. We stopped for coffee and pastries at Bliss Bakery in Peachland, photographed golden delicious apple harvest at... View Article
September 22, 2014
If you have been following this blog you would know that I am a big fan of the breakfast ritual. I consider a leisurely breakfast a luxury and indulge in it whenever possible. Not every day. Most mornings breakfast is a steaming bowl of oatmeal with seasonal fruits enjoyed on the patio when the weather is good or indoors when it’s too cold outside, but even then, simple as it is, I try to enjoy... View Article
July 25, 2014
Since I bought the new Vitamix blender I can’t stop blending things. It does such a good job and creates a wonderful texture. Earlier in the spring before the seasonal berries were in I made smoothies with frozen fruits and ended up with a sorbet, not quite what I intended but good anyway. Now that fruits are in season I use fresh fruits to make various smoothies and they are fresh tasting and refreshing. If... View Article
May 29, 2014
I go to great length to have oatmeal for breakfast when we travel and it’s a standard breakfast when we are at home. Oatmeal doesn’t have to be boring, to me it isn’t in any event. There are different styles of oatmeal, depending on how they are cut and processed. Instant is out of the question and quick cooking is close second on the never never list. My favourite cuts are the old fashion and... View Article
May 22, 2014
After the Seinfeld muffin top episode I believe an entire industry developed from this idea. Muffin top pans popped up in kitchen shops and bakeries begun to offer this muffin alternative to anticipating muffin aficionados. I jumped on the bandwagon and bought a muffin top baking sheet and I have been totally in on the muffin top “movement”. I love the tops of the muffins. The bottom part is always tangled in the muffin cup and is... View Article
March 13, 2014
So it’s spring and I am cooking with asparagus again. I am posting this together with the white asparagus recipe in another post in celebration of a new season and a new crop of veggies. This is what’s nice about cooking a vegetable-centred cuisine, there is always something new and exciting. Asparagus is one of my favourite vegetables, green or white. I consider it a delicacy when used in season and as soon as the... View Article
October 5, 2013
Fall mornings are a fabulous thing. Who invented them? Morning hot chocolate on the patio is ever more enticing as we watch the fog lifts slowly off the lake to reveal the beautiful silver blue of early morning. Although we know it is coming, fall seems to arrive suddenly. One morning it’s summer, the next morning it’s fall. “Don’t remember summer even saying goodbye” says David Mitchel in Cloud Atlas. Suddenly the days are shorter and... View Article
September 20, 2013
One of the most luxurious experiences is a leisurely breakfast and we have made quite a ritual of it at home or wherever in the world we are. Good food, beautiful table setting, freshly squeezed juice, a steaming cup of coffee, this is my idea of luxury. It doesn’t happen everyday, but I do make a point of carrying out this ritual now and then, creating moments to remember for my family, friends and myself.... View Article
July 18, 2013
Farro is an ancient grain that came into vogue a few years ago and is now readily available in grocery and specialty stores. It is known by many names and there is some culinary controversy over this but who really cares? it is basically a nice nutty chewy grain that cooks quickly and beautifully and can be used in many dishes. Since it is a grain I cook it for breakfast occasionally and serve it... View Article
September 11, 2012
I made these potato cakes as part of a breakfast selection when I had non-vegetarian friends visiting, hence the smoked salmon. If I remember correctly I poached a few eggs and offered them along with this dish. The potato cakes can be made in advance and reheated at breakfast. I made them as little cakes but they can also be made thinner and larger, pancake-like (see image below). When grating potatoes I prefer to use... View Article
July 8, 2012
These last few days in Kelowna have been lovely, although I didn’t get to cook any dinners. With all the gorgeous produce in the markets I was eager to cook but I am coming back next weekend and staying for a while so will get to do more cooking then. I did have plenty of opportunities though to prepare snack food and I posted some of them in the last few days. This morning is... View Article
April 11, 2012
Who doesn’t like pancakes for a leisurely weekend breakfast now and then? Light and fluffy, sweet and satisfying, weekend breakfast at my house often includes pancakes of one kind or another. The key to making pancakes is to not over mix the batter. Mix it lightly and allow some lumps to remain. You can also separate the yolks from the whites, beat the whites to soft peaks and then incorporate them into the batter. I... View Article
