Sub Categories in Appetizers

Category of: Appetizers

On a Spoon: Smoked Salmon and Cucumber Salad with Goat Cheese Mousse

October 20, 2013

I  recently jumped on the bandwagon for spoon appetizers, I wonder where they started. I liked the idea right away, when they first came into vogue, but it took me a while to follow this trend. Once I begun making them though, I was hooked. Yesterday I had the opportunity to make some pre-dinner appetizers and my inspiration was a lunch at Noble Ridge Vineyard and Winery prepared by Chef Darin Patterson of Bogner of Penticton restaurant.... View Article

Quesadillas with wild mushrooms, corn and black beans

September 21, 2013

Mexican food has been part of my repertoire for a long time. I enjoy the earthy flavours, simplicity, colours and aromas of this cuisine. I am just now replacing some of the Mexican cookbooks that I had before, and already have a few books by the incomparable Diana Kennedy (the Grand Dame of Mexican Cuisine), the modern and innovative Rick Bayless of  the Fronterra fame and a few other books for information and inspiration. Diana Kennedy,... View Article

Cauliflower Fritters

September 16, 2013

Once in a while I make fritters. I don’t deep fry them in oil but rather cook them on a lightly oiled electric griddle, much like you would cook pancakes. They are delicious and can be served as an “entree” of a vegetarian meal, or if you make them small they are nice as an appetizer. I posted other fritters recipes a while back here and here and they generated a lot of traffic on the... View Article

Roasted Mini Peppers with Lemon Risotto and Roasted Pepper Purée

July 21, 2013

My blogger friend Val (More then Burnt toast) and I just came back from a fund raising event at the Okanagan Lavender and Herb Farm in East Kelowna. It was a fund raiser dinner event for the Central Okanagan Hospice Association set in the beautiful lavender and butterflies gardens at the “farm”. The food was prepared by local celebrity chef Mark Filatow of the Waterfront restaurant and wine bar fame right here in Kelowna. The light... View Article

Potato and Leek Pizza with Rosemary and Creme Fraiche

July 16, 2013

What? Potatoes and pizza? I am in. I have had a few potato pizzas here and there, the most memorable one at the exquisite Crazyweed in Canmore a while back. At Crazyweed they call theirs Bella Pizza and it has pesto, rosemary-crusted potatoes, mushrooms, charred onion and parmesan. It’s not the most common combination for pizza topping but a delicious and satisfying one just the same. If you are a foodie you look for new... View Article

Fava beans and Peas Crostini

July 9, 2013

I have written about fava beans here so I will not repeat the information except to say that Fava beans are a special summer treat that requires a little work. Not only you have to remove the beans out of their comfortable, cushiony pod, but you also need to pop each individual bean out of its protective waxy shell. But , you have done more difficult things and I assure you your effort will be... View Article

Pizza with Fresh Figs, Brie and Honey Drizzle

September 25, 2012

Pizza is one of the signature dishes in my kitchen. I love to make it, eat it and serve it. On weekends I always have pizza dough in the fridge, ready to be stretched, rolled and made into an impromptu snack or main course. Sometimes I buy fresh pizza dough from Mercato or Lina’s and keep it in the fridge for a quick pizza but mostly I like to make my own dough. I cook... View Article

Roasted Smashed Baby Potatoes with Brie and Ancho Chili Jam

September 20, 2012

I am not entertaining too much lately but still, have been in the mood for making all kinds of little appetizers. Why do we have to make these just for guests? When my kids say not to fuss, it’s “just” them, I always tell them that they are the most important audience I have. Whatever you do, it has to start at home first. So I have made a few things to be posted in... View Article

Avocado Fritters – Four Ways

September 18, 2012

On a recent trip to the Mayan Riviera I had a fried avocado salad at one of the large hotels on the beach. It was quite special and I made it a few times since I got home. Today I had a couple of beautiful, ripe yet firm avocados and I thought I’d make these lovely fritters and serve them as tacos in corn tortillas for a quick lunch. I have also stuffed them into... View Article

Gorgonzola-Walnuts Roasted Potato Bites

September 15, 2012

Appetizers (Hors d’Oeuvre in French, Antipasto in Italian) are some of the most fun things to make in the kitchen.This is where you can show your creative side, both in the preparation and presentation. When having company for dinner I tend to offer a selection of them, usually set out on a counter in the kitchen not far from the wine and let the guests help themselves to both while I put the finishing touches... View Article

Parmesan Fries

September 13, 2012

Call them French fries, pommes frites, freedom fries, chips, patatas fritas or oven fries, who doesn’t like them one way or another. Granted, whether long or short,  some like them matchstick-thin and crispy, other like them thick cut, crispy on the outside and soft inside. I like them any way they come and tend to make them at home every now and then. Today I was in the mood so I made some oven fries... View Article

Eggplant “Spaghetti” with Far East and Mid-East Sauces

September 12, 2012

I know that eggplant is not for everyone but I love it and maybe someone out there does as well so here it goes (why am I appologizing?). I have had these three Japanese (or are these chinese?) eggplants in my fridge for a few days now. They are the long skinny eggplants with purplish skin that are available every now and then in our markets. They have thin, edible skin and their flavour is... View Article