September 20, 2013

Oeuffs en Cocotte: Baked Eggs with Mushrooms and Goat Cheese

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

September 20, 2013

Summer Zucchini Stuffed with Risotto and Wild Mushrooms

My fridge is overflowing with produce from the market. I can’t help myself when I go to the market and in spite of good intentions (“I am just going to see what they have”) I come back with bags and bags of beautiful seasonal produce. How can I not? I speak with the vendors who grow the produce themselves and then what? Just leave without buying? I don’t think so. And, think of the lovely... View Article

September 16, 2013

Cauliflower Fritters

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

September 15, 2013

Yellow Beets and Radicchio Salad with Walnut Vinaigrette

Beets are abundant n the markets right now and I have been taking advantage of this and buying them in red, yellow, pinkish and the striped varieties. (It’s kind of like buying clothes I like, give me one in very colour:). I roast them, make them into a chilled soup, add them to salads, pickle them or shred them and bake in foil with a pat of butter, salt and pepper. Summer beets Pickled beets... View Article

September 14, 2013

Pasta with Striped Pink Eggplant, Cherry Tomatoes, Pine Nuts, Cilantro Pesto and Purslane

Eggplants come in a variety of shapes and colours. The dark purple or black is the most widely available eggplant but there are pink, white and even striped varieties. Have you used the striped pink eggplants before? I believe it is called Listada di Gandia. There is some controversy about its origin. Some say it came from Spain, others say from France. Regardless, it is mostly considered now an Italian variety. I guess the Italianos claimed it... View Article

September 5, 2013

Late Summer Roasted Carrots and Pomegranate Salad with Orange-Cumin Dressing

Pomegranates in the stores means that fall is on its way. I am excited about the change of season and the new fruits and vegetables it brings to the markets but of course I am sad to see the summer coming to an end. Spring, summer and fall seem to be so short here in Canada and the winter sooo looong. Early fall is an interesting season, where summer merges into fall. We still get... View Article

September 4, 2013

Tartine with Ricotta, Heirloom Tomatoes and Parsley Pesto

I like simple foods but the food needs to taste good and look pretty. Tartines lend themselves to all these requirements: they are simple to prepare, flavourful and look so beautiful. Tartine is a perfect lunch. You can add a bowl of soup or pair it with a salad for lunch or serve it by itself as a lunch, light dinner or even a snack. I love tartines so much that I have a special... View Article

September 3, 2013

Penticton Farmers Market

If you are visiting the Okanagan don’t miss a trip to Penticton’s weekly farmers’ market. It’s a worthwhile destination for foodies, craft-lovers and anyone who appreciates a taste of the local. The market, held every Saturday from May 4th to October 26 between 8:30-1:00 is considered by those “in the know” to be one of the best in the Okanagan if not the entire province (permanent Granville Island Market excluded:). The market is organized by... View Article

September 2, 2013

Plum Kuchen

Plums are the “it” fruit right now in my kitchen. Plum compote, plum jam, plum galette and now a plum kuchen. This is an easy recipe that receives good reviews from guests so I though I’d share it. I am starting to bake more now that the fresh berries are at the end of their season (berries and cream is a pretty standard fare here during the summer). Now that it’s getting cooler it’s nice... View Article

August 29, 2013

Avocado, Grapefruit and Endive Salad with Micro Greens

  Here is a simple and refreshing salad with nice textures and flavours. I found the beautiful avocados in one of the stores and had to get them. Since they perish rather quickly, I had to use them in a few dishes right away. A couple of them will be posted. The salad combines the sweet and tangy grapefruit, creamy avocado and slightly bitter endive. A grapefruit vinaigrette pulls everything together nicely. I meant to... View Article

August 28, 2013

Fig and Brie Crisp Bread

I am still on a bit of a roll with pizza on the grill and this crisp bread is just another form of pizza shaped into a rectangle and cut crosswise to serve with a glass of vino. This crisp bread ended up on the boat and enjoyed on a sunset sail (minus the wine, we don’t drink and sail:) on the beautiful Okanagan lake. It was just the two of us on the boat... View Article

August 27, 2013

Grilled potatoes with Parsley-Lemon Pesto

Earlier this season I planted a little flat leaf parsley seedling on the patio and somehow, in no time it grew into a huge plant with beautiful flat leaves packed with flavour. Who knew these herbs can grow like that? In Calgary I could barely make it survive. Now I have several herbs in the rooftop garden and can step outside at any time to pick fresh rosemary, thyme, sage, basil (green and purple, sorrel,... View Article