December 9, 2013

Rice Pilaf with Pitachios, Raisin and Spanish Hot Sauce Drizzle

In my quest for preparing for our Spanish adventure I am cooking with and learning about rice. Rice in Spain is a first course dish but often so full of ingredients that it may as well be main course. How much food can one eat? Rice even grows in Spain (who knew?) in the Mediterranean regions of Catalonia, Valencia and Murcia, where Spanish rice is protected by Denominacion de Origen (denomination of origin, as in... View Article

December 9, 2013

Soft Polenta with Roasted Pears and Gorgonzola

You have to hand it to the Italians. The best foods come from their culture and history. Pasta, risotto, polenta. I can live on these foods, and believe me, I do.  It might surprise you to learn that in some parts of northern Italy (Veneto, Friuli and Lombardy) pasta was virtually an unknown food as recently as three generations ago and it was polenta that sustained life in those regions. I find this fascinating. I... View Article

December 7, 2013

Caramelized Baked Apple

Bonjour from Paris. I scheduled this post to be published while I am in Paris to keep you entertained while I am away from my kitchen getting ready to post from Paris and Spain. Did I say Paris three times in one sentence? you get the picture. I am probably sitting in Parisian cafe right this very moment, warming up (It’s chilly here in December) with a cafe au lait and getting covered by a... View Article

December 6, 2013

Risotto with Butternut Squash

Ti’s the season for comforting foods, and a bowl of steamy risotto fits the bill perfectly. Risotto is one of my “go to” foods when I want something special without a lot of fuss. It can be a one pot dinner that does not require an entire market to prepare and if you have a well stocked pantry, (as you should:), you can make a lovely risotto with not much fuss. Risotto is made with... View Article

December 5, 2013

Yam, Butternut Squash and pomegranates

While you are reading this post I will be on the plane traveling to Paris. I scheduled a few posts to be published while I am away from my kitchen and computer, en route to our destination in Paris. See? I appreciate your visit to the blog and do not want you coming here to an old post. I will post from Paris as soon as possible, sharing our adventures, culinary and otherwise through these... View Article

December 3, 2013

Polenta Gratin with Goat Cheese Sauce

So, as I am writing this I am wondering how the trip to Paris will turn out to be. I have been there before and know I love the city but there are things that interfere. One thing is the excessive smoking everywhere. When I was there in the spring I was looking forward to sitting outdoors at sidewalk cafes but the reality was that I couldn’t. The tables are very close together and people... View Article

December 2, 2013

Risotto with Lobster Mushrooms

The last few weeks have been a flurry of activities, culinary and otherwise. A few more cooking classes to squeeze into the schedule, a couple of extra food and wine events to attend and a few more dishes to cook and photograph. I find it hard to extract myself from my culinary activities. With our trip to Europe coming up soon you know how it is, there is so much to get done, think of,... View Article

November 30, 2013

Barley, Kale and Vegetables soup – Fat Free and Full of flavour

So, how do you get flavour into foods without adding oil? I am so used to cooking foods in a little olive oil to bring out the flavour that it seems impossible to get flavour without it. However, it is possible and this full flavour soup without any free oil or butter shows it can be done. I resisted the temptation to sauté the vegetables in oil and just steam-sautéed them in a little water... View Article

November 27, 2013

Moroccan Vegetable Stew

I am still in “travel” mode, getting ready for our upcoming trip to Europe, leaving next week. As I mentioned we will be in Paris first, then in Spain for a couple of months. I have never been to Spain and looking forward to explore this country’s culinary scene, history and culture. Through my blogger friend Val of More than Burnt Toast I connected with a Barcelona blogger Nuria Farregut of Spanish Recipes by Nuria who... View Article

November 25, 2013

Indian Roti – Cooking Class at Poppadoms Taste India

The other day I took an Indian cooking class at Poppadoms Taste India in Kelowna. Poppadoms is a fabulous Indian restaurant offering traditional Indian foods with a modern twist using local and fresh ingredients flavoured with spices brought over from India. Poppadoms is named after the paper thin, crisp, cracker-like bread traditional in Indian cooking. The owners of the restaurant are the Dosanj family, each working in and contributing to this thriving family business. Mother... View Article

November 24, 2013

Smashed Roasted Baby Potatoes with Two Sauces

I make a small plate of these little gems pretty regularly, sometimes for dinner, sometimes for a snack. Who’s counting? I used to cook in huge quantities before but now I prefer small plates rather than big servings of this or that. It’s more interesting and more than enough food. We eat way too much in my opinion. The Spanish elevated the small plate to an art form and I am looking forward to our... View Article

November 23, 2013

French Crepes with Sugar and Lemon

I am starting to “psych” myself for travel in preparation for our long stay in Europe this winter. I love to travel and finally the time has come and we can go on extended stays in destinations that interest us. This time it’s a month in Paris and two months in Spain, how is that for a for a trip to Europe? Can you believe it? Going to the Garnier opera in Paris, Christmas on... View Article