Tag Archive: Spring

Cheese Fritters with Savoury Bell Pepper jelly

July 5, 2012

Since sunday I have had cheese fritters twice, both delicious. First time was at a hands-on cooking class party to celebrate my dear friend Marilyn’s significant birthday. We gathered at the home of Sylvia and Ray, owners of Wine & Thyme Cooking School in Kelowna and for a few hours got our hands wet and prepared some lovely foods based on recipes provided by Sylvia and under her supervision. Sylvia is Cordon Bleu trained and... View Article

Chocolate Chip Cookies

July 4, 2012

There are countless “best” chocolate chip cookies recipes out there. I am not going to make any such claims. I am sure that your Mom makes the best ones. However, I have been experimenting with different ways of baking cookies and now and then will post a recipe that I think is good for sharing.  I made these ones large, soft and cake-like with an additional egg yolk and glucose. I used glucose as it... View Article

Patio Snacks: Home Fries, Crudités and Mint Lemonade

July 2, 2012

On the flight to Kelowna this weekend I was of course thinking about what I may be cooking in the next few days. Kelowna is wonderful for fresh seasonal produce. There are farm-direct produce, a good size farmers market on Wednesdays and weekends with excellent local produce and countless fruit stands everywhere. Heaven for vegetarian cooks. As it happened we were invited out every day so I didn’t get to do as much cooking as... View Article

Sex in a Glass (Dulce de Leche Iced Espresso)

June 29, 2012

Flying to Kelwona from Calgary on Thursday I was visualizing us sitting on the rooftop patio of our local abode, scanning the scene and sipping a wonderful iced drink. Although of course I have more than enough glassware I still had to stop on the way from the airport  at my favourite store in Kelowna for dishes and accessories for entertaining, Modern Accents on Bernard, to check out their current collection of glassware for serving... View Article

Roasted Red Pepper Panini

June 29, 2012

We are in our Kelowna rooftop abode and the sun is shining so grilled panini with roasted red peppers is on the menu for lunch on the patio today. Panini is a grilled sandwich and it’s a good idea to have in your repertoire a few standby recipes to make when the need arises. A grilled sandwich is a lovely lunch or snack anytime. Together with  a salad it makes a meal. Add a small bowl... View Article

Risotto Cakes with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce

June 28, 2012

Risotto cakes are a great way to use leftover risotto although I often make the risotto especially for making these cakes. The cooked risotto is already sticky and does not require egg to bind the cakes. If you have leftover risotto simply shape it into cakes, roll in bread crumbs and fry in a little oil until golden on both sides. You can also bake them in a 400 degrees oven, turning once to brown... View Article

Spinach and Feta Pancakes with Creme Fraiche and Lemon Butter

June 28, 2012

The long weekend is here. Time for a leisurely brunch or dinner on the patio, weather permitting. Here is a recipe for quick spinach pancakes to make when you have fresh spinach on hand. These are good for brunch, lunch or dinner. For brunch try topping them with a poached egg and quick hollandaise. For lunch or dinner serve them with a dollop of crème fraiche or sour cream and serve with a green salad.... View Article

Tomato and cucumber Salad (Israeli Salad)

June 27, 2012

Here is a simple to make salad that creates its own dressing and is delicious on its own or alongside other foods. It’s a typical salad in Israel and each family has its special way of cutting the vegetables and adding this or that to personalize the outcome. Many take pride in cutting the vegetables into very small cubes that blend together into a lovely fine salad that you could almost eat with a spoon.... View Article

Thyme Lemonade

June 26, 2012

Iced drinks are a bit of a specialty of mine. I am not talking about alcoholic drinks. I just like to make a variety of beautiful iced drinks to serve on a summer day on the patio (not that there were too many days to sit outside with all the rain that we have been getting). I make breakfast drinks, iced tea, iced coffee, sangria, fruit essence and all kinds of lemonade. Lemonade is really... View Article

Two-Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies

June 21, 2012

I have to confess that I have been on a cookie baking binge lately. I wonder what got me started? Probably my outing with my friend Anne who celebrates her wedding anniversary every year by donning her original wedding gown and going out in a “chauffeur” driven luxury car, dressed as a bride, delivering cookies (aha) to un-expecting and bewildered friends . I went with her dressed as the “bride’s maid” but more on that... View Article

Fried Ravioli Appetizers with Dip

June 20, 2012

When I have company over I like to have a few appetizers set out usually on one end of the long kitchen counter (island) as my kitchen is large and central and people like to gather here. This way I don’t feel left out of the early conversation. I don’t mind if my guests watch me put together the last few touches on the upcoming dinner, although I don’t often let (or make) anyone help... View Article