Years ago, when my husband and I took our very first trip to Italy we learned a tip about shellfish and cheese.  We were staying in a little pensione on the Adriatic with a restaurant on the main floor that faced the ocean, so gorgeous it could have been a movie set. One night, we… Continue reading

It probably come as no surprise to everyone that we are having a much smaller gathering for Thanksgiving this year – just like most of the country.  We still want to make a fuss, cook way too much, and spend quality time with certain family members.  You too I bet. These circumstances happen to work… Continue reading

With so many years of putting together a Thanksgiving feast for friends and family, and double doses for this Canadian-American family. I finally feel I have a handle on how to get the meal on the table without too much chaos, and with some semblance of grace.   First tip: make as much as you… Continue reading

Have you heard about this famous Plum Torte originally published by Mariam Burros in 1983 for the New York Times? It was so popular that it was published every year from 1983 to 1989, by then the editors felt it had been featured enough.  Apparently not, according to all the backlash they received, after making… Continue reading

As the summer winds down, I usually do a mental inventory of all the seasonal foods we have cooked and enjoyed to make sure we haven’t missed out. With all the usual suspects all accounted for: tomatoes, corn, zucchini, leafy greens, and more tomatoes, I cast a larger net and discovered I had not made… Continue reading

You know when you see recipes that look so simple but contain gluten, so you don’t even attempt them because you assume it won’t work for us gluten free?  Well, honey this is not one of those recipes! This time luck is in our favor.  This flatbread recipe produces a wonderfully chewy, crispy, savory flatbread,… Continue reading

We have all become so bored of quarantine meals.  It was time to make something DIFFERENT for dinner today. We were feeling indifferent with the steady staple of 1) some protein from the freezer or tofu, 2) a vegetable that has been resting in our cold garage that hopefully is not moldy yet.  3) gnocchi/rice/potato… Continue reading

Growing up, dinner was usually cooked out of necessity, what my parents had shopped for that week and had on hand became dinner, there was no running to the store for a forgotten ingredient that’s for sure. My Mum did had a knack for creating dinner magic with a pound of ground beef. One week… Continue reading

I know there are legions gnocchi fans out there, sadly though, I have never been one.  If given a choice for a Italian carbohydrate it would always be spaghetti for me.  With spicy tomato sauce, carbonara, aglio e olio peperoncino, or just butter and parmesan cheese, each one my favorite. However my daughter sent me… Continue reading

When my daughter was younger she just didn’t like pureed soups.  I could never figure out why?  As she grew older, and more articulate, she informed me that she didn’t like pureed soup because every spoonful feels and tastes the same. Huh, who knew.   To get around that dilemma, I  found a few ways… Continue reading

This last week we dusted off the BBQ, swept off the patio bricks, and set up all the seating with nice comfy cushions. We were all ready and eager for our first outdoor dining experience, of what we hope will be a long and warm season.  However, today it is a balmy 43 degrees with… Continue reading

For the last few years I have defaulted to three super easy desserts to serve at dinner parties.  If you entertain you know it’s more than enough work to come up with a menu, shop, cook a fabulous meal, and set a beautiful table.   Last year it was pears that I popped into the oven… Continue reading

On any given day if I ask my Husband what he wants for dinner most of the time the response will be “Chicken? Maybe fish?  Or we haven’t had a steak in a long time”.  Never does he lead with “how about eggplant? or broccoli?”.   Therefore I sometimes have to be sneaky when it comes… Continue reading

Last week one of my favorite food blogs, Smitten Kitchen, shared a vegan coconut cake.  Made with just 6 ingredients; one bowl, baked in a round cake pan for just 30 minutes.  Could it really be that simple? I admit, I was skeptical since I’ve had so many epic fails trying to conjure up baked… Continue reading

Today, I would like to give some credence to escarole.  It’s a New Year and I wanted to try something new, not just fall back on spinach or kale, my go-to’s in most recipes with leafy greens.  In the same category as endive and frisee; not really a lettuce, as it appears at first glance,… Continue reading

If there is one thing I can tell you about gluten free baking, it’s that if it works, keep doing it.  A mantra I have stood by through and through, and the reason why I have posted 8 slightly different variations of cheesecakes – so far. Baking gluten free is not always as simple as… Continue reading

  With a ton of blogs out there suggesting what you can recreate with all those Thanksgiving leftovers. I thought I would veer hard in the other direction and suggest a soup.  Winter Minestrone, Gluten Free of course, and not a bit turkey in it. Think about it, wouldn’t you better appreciate something light, yet… Continue reading

Lately, it seems that everyone is talking about Shirataki Noodles.  If you haven’t heard they are: gluten free, vegan, paleo, keto, and contain negligible calories. No wonder all the talk huh? I made the spaghetti/noodle variety last week for lunch with a spicy tomato sauce and olives.  It was great for a quick lunch, so… Continue reading

With this hot summer weather, I think everyone wishes they were on the French Riviera eating moules frites while sipping rosé, am I right?  Not the usual mis en scène here, though.  I often find myself caught in an endless cycle of summer salads, which I rotate depending on mood.  However, I am really proud that I… Continue reading

Every year around this time, I get the urge to bake.  It seems like ages since I last turned the oven on.  Lately, it has been too hot to even contemplate any form of baked good; that is until this week.  Yippee! This endeavor dovetailed nicely with the banner crop we have of zucchini this… Continue reading

Most summers I tend to obsess over one specific salad.  A salad that circulates through pot-lucks, bbq’s or just dinner at home.  Last summer I made this Quinoa Lentil Salad many, many times.  The previous summer, my garden was bursting with vegetables, which inspired this Summer Squash Salad with Feta and Herbs. This year a… Continue reading