Those of you who are from Slavic countries may be familiar with Pierogies – crescent-shaped dumplings usually filled with potato and cheese and varying to meat, saurkraut fillings and even dessert varieties. Here in Canada, I was introduced to Pierogies through the two very large Ukrainian and Polish communities here in Canada. The Polish community [...]
Recipe Update from May 2008 My eating diet can be summed up in two seasons: Soup season and salad season. With the exception of the cold soup, it’s salad days indeed. The only other exception I make when it comes to eating a salad ‘year ’round is a Caesar Salad. We’ve all had Caesar Salad [...]
According to Larousse Gastronomique, a Ballotine is made of a piece of meat, fowl or game (or fish) which is boned, stuffed and rolled into a bundle. Don’t let the fancy French term nor the appearance of the dish intimidate you – this is easy to prepare and you’ll impress yourself as well as your [...]
It’s been awhile since I’ve shared a Sunday meal with you but I think the wait was well worth it. In this dish, pork belly makes a return and I pair it with roast potatoes, fresh herbs from my garden, olive oil, lemon juice, seasonings and good ole’ fashioned heat from your oven. The only [...]
Shortly after returning to Canada (from Greece) I had to go and re-stock my fridge (and pantry) after being absent for almost 7 weeks. A shopping we went and I found myself on Lawrence Avenue East and near Diana’s Seafood. Diana’s Seafood has been selling the freshest seafood in the east end of Toronto and [...]
Another sure sign of late Spring/early Summer is the arrival of fresh green peas at the market stands. Many of you may be making a mint soup (hot or cold), pairing it with mint (or dill) or simply serving it as a side dish. All are fine but I think I have a fab new [...]
The cold weather is here and last week I made three soups with the latter being this thick, rustic and very filling chickpea soup. The soup eats like a meal with maybe just some crusty bread on the side or serve a smaller serving if you wish the soup to be merely a starter. This [...]
The first real cold weather has finally arrived and although I didn’t put on a pair of Long Johns, I did tuck in for a comfy evening by the fireplace, a book and a glass of wine. The glass of wine afforded me the ability to use it for making this warm bowl of mushroom [...]
This dish is rich, definitely decadent with it’s unashamed use of bacon and inspired by a recent visit I had at a Japanese (Izakaya) bar here in Toronto. The most outstanding appetizer of the of two nights I spent at Izakaya was this dish made of scallops and enoki mushrooms wrapped in slab bacon. Presented [...]
This dish takes a little patience but you’ll be rewarded with a succulent, slightly smoky appetizer that will fool the firmest chicken haters. What we have here are pieces of chicken breast that are wrapped with bacon, skewered with pieces of pepper and grilled until the bacon fat renders, leaving you with a moist, tender [...]
