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don't adjust your monitor: purple shepherd's pie
2008-01-18 21:13:00
Forget about the fudge, the cake, the cookies. We are well into January now and it seems like a wholesome tasty dinner recipe is needed. If it's comforting, colourful and nutritious, well, then it kind of is like icing on the cake, isn't it? This meal fits the bill. I even give it bonus points because when I started boiling up the potatoes and chopping the red cabbage, I still had no idea—not even an inkling, of what I was going to make for dinner. I'm a bit spontaneous like that!So elbow deep in shreds of purple, I decided I'd make a Shepherd's Pie of sorts. I haven't had much practice in the vegetable pie department, but I did make a very successful pate chinois a while back and figured I had the chops to handle dinner on the fly. So along with the red cabbage, I chopped up some celery, a red onion and got out some frozen corn from the freezer. I wasn't sure how this mess o' vegetables would come together, but it turned out way better than I could have ever imagined. Not...
More About: Purple , Monitor , Adjust

be a better person: really easy chocolate fudge with toasted walnuts
2008-01-15 00:12:00
I know, what am I doing posting another sugar-fueled recipe shortly after posting about this cake? Well, I tried to stay away from candy-making in January, I mean, this is the time for a bit of dietary restraint, whole grains and all of that I'm-going-to-be-a-better-person-than-the- kind-of-person-that-eats-fudge-in-mother f*cking-January! But then again, I didn't make this recipe for me. I made it to give to someone else, so making fudge in January is perfectly acceptable since I'm being totally selfless and isn't that part of every one's plan to be a better person in 2008?And to set the record straight, I'm not really one of those people who get obsessed with fudge. I pretty much get my fill after 1 bite since it's sweeter than all get out. But then I made this fudge...and oh, boy, didn't a little part of me get a bit sad when I realized that I had to give away this delicious concoction of condensed milk, chocolate and butter. Yes, this fudge is so incredible and so easy to...
More About: Chocolate , Person , Easy , Walnuts

live long and prosper: chai-spiced oat bran
2008-01-09 18:06:00
This new year has started off with a bang. I've got a lot on my plate....at least work-wise while the rest of my plate, or rather my cupboards are suffering from some good ol' Mother Hubbard-ism. I just haven't had the time to grocery shop, so besides a load of chocolate leftover from the holidays the meal pickings are skimpy. After bowling on Monday night (I'm a league player, donchya know), I did manage to grab a bag of what I thought was Scottish oats (aka "my breakfast mainstay"). Turns out, I grabbed a bag of oat bran instead.Now, I admit there is something about that freaks me out about oat bran. I think it was those old Prevention magazines that my parents subscribed to that would scream about the life giving properties of oat bran. That kind of food trend business just turns my stomach. So when I found myself with oat bran in my bike bag the next morning, I was a bit disappointed but decided to carry on. I had some leftover chai tea and I decided to use that cold tea in ...
More About: Prosper , Live , Long , Chai

life is better with cake & beer: red ale & chocolate cake
2008-01-03 23:31:00
When I first spotted Nigella's recipe for Guinness cake I was excited. Surely this would be the cake to rival all cakes. But I kept putting it aside since I'm an IPA drinker and my husband will drink whatever is cheap (ie. pils). We just never have Guinness in the house. But then after a Boxing Day gathering, someone left a Chocolate Stout in our fridge. It was then I decided that I'd give that Nigella recipe a whirl as Cornelius' birthday cake. But then, that stout was taken to a friend's house for New Years and it was out of our life for good. So when yesterday rolled around, the illustrious day of my husband's birth, all I had in my fridge was some deep red Maple Cream Ale from a local brewer. Maple Cream had to do and I whipped up the cake lickety-split!This recipe makes a lovely cake because it's tasty and it's one of those one-pot wonders. Dump everything into a pot and it turns out awesome. Yes, the cake is super delicious, uber-moist (I think Nigella sighs over the w...
More About: Life , Beer , Cake

recipe favorites from 2007
2008-01-03 02:39:00
Today I'm back to work but it's also Cornelius' birthday which means that I've been doing a bit of cake-baking on the side. Last year I made my husband a banana cream pie but this year, I'm making a Guinness Cake based on a Nigella Lawson recipe. From the smell of things, I think this is going to be pretty damn tasty.So for lack of a taste-tested recipe, I thought I'd go over some of my favorite dishes from last year. Enjoy.Tofu Salad SandwichesChocolate Truffle TartBlack Bean Soup with HamLemon Yogurt CakeFettuccine with Mustard GreensWalnut Oatmeal Veggie Burgers with Green FriesPopoversLentil, Apple & Red Onion SaladTortilla PieOrange YogurtChocolate Shortbread Cookies
More About: Recipe , Favorites

happy new year: pasta with sausage, kale and lentils
2007-12-31 23:07:00
In some cultures, it's traditional to eat lentils on New Year s day for good luck, but I decided to get my lentil luck on a little early early and end 2007 off right. I found this recipe on epicurious but changed it to add in some greenery in place of some of the sausage. The kale went really well with the dish and it's definitely something I'll make again. It's the makings of a new year's staple, I think!For the cheese in this dish, I used an organic Parmesan that I bought at a pretty amazing Vancouver market, Tosci & Co. It's the oldest Italian market in Chinatown (and I'd venture to say in this whole city) and I had always been afraid to step inside since you have to ring a bell to be let in. I must have been crazy to worry about that because it's pretty much my favorite store now. I wrote a post about it over at Bazaar on the Food Network Canada site. Take a look and leave a comment!pasta with sausage, kale & lentils2 T olive oil1 onion, chopped3 cloves garlic, c...
More About: Pasta , Happy , Happy New Year , Sausage

christmas cake: icebox peppermint yule log
2007-12-29 21:35:00
My mother-in-law had asked me to make a dessert for our Christmas dinner and with so many things to do over the holidays, I wanted something without much fuss. I also wanted something kind of spectacular and festive looking. While so many bloggers have been whipping up complicated yule logs this month, I decided that I would make one too. Thankfully, I saw this recipe over at Sew Darn Cute and decided that a candy cane icebox yule log cake would be the perfect holiday desert to end our Christmas meal. This cake was easy to put together, was light and fluffy, and the crushed candy canes made the dessert taste like Christmas. Plus, it has that retro 1950's housewife feel that I just love. It was perfection in a log-shaped cake.I wish I had used gummy leaves and berries like the very beautiful original, but I just used Christmas cookie sprinkles for a festive decorative touch. I also used less sugar in the whipped cream mixture, figuring that crushed candy canes have enough sugar alre...
More About: Cake , Yule

jingle bells and chocolate shortbread cookies
2007-12-23 21:25:00
I think I'm all ready for Christmas. Phew! The only thing I have left to do is our dessert for tomorrow's family dinner and making tonight's cozy supper for two. Every Christmas Eve, Cornelius and I relax, drink boozy cocktails, watch movies and play games. Our bar is stocked, we've got my favorite Christmas movie ever, The Shop Around the Corner, and a bunch of board games all lined up. I was thinking I might make up some moules et frites for this evening, but decided to try another Flemish specialty, a Belgium-beer braised beef stew instead. I'll let you know how things turn out.But if you are still in the last minute throes of a baking frenzy, I did make a very simple and super delicious holiday cookie this past week that I'm eager to share. These shortbread cookies are chocolately, buttery and easy to make vegan (if that's what you're into). For me, these cookies are pretty hard to resist and I keep sneaking into the cookie tin to try just one more. Even snacking on the...
More About: Cookies , Chocolate , Jingle , Jingle Bells , Cookie

the calm before the storm: kung pao vegetables with tofu & udon
2007-12-18 22:39:00
I'm back from Ontario and I'm a bit panicked. There's so much to do and Christmas is only a week away! I did a some pre-homemade gifting to take with me to my family, but there's still much stuff kicking my ass.Here's just some of the things I'll be making from my own archives:Rum BallsGinger GemsFleur de Sel CaramelsCandy Cane Chocolate BarkAnd then there's all this yumminess from other blogs to consider:Gingerbread PopcornSuper-Cute Peppermint Yule LogLemon Slice CookiesChocolate Almond n' Toffee SquaresEspresso CaramelsSalt Lick BarsBut before panic takes hold of me completely, it's good to have something warm and nutritious in the belly. This recipe for Kung Pao vegetables was revamped from Thimble's recipe and it made for a super delicious and easy lunch. Filling and hearty to keep up your stamina during the holidays.kung pao vegetables (+ tofu + udon)1 t sesame oil1 T canola oil4 cloves garlic, chopped1/2 red onion, chopped1 small head of broccoli, broken into floret...
More About: Vegetables , Storm , Tofu , Calm

delicious confections: mint melties
2007-12-07 22:40:00
I'm in the throes of Christmas baking and homemade gift making. We're heading to Ontario first thing tomorrow morning to visit family and won't be back until a week before the holidays really kick in. I'm making/baking most of my presents this year because who doesn't love receiving homemade treats? Tiny, mini loves of UBC cake have been baked, my totally addictive crack-like snack mix has been bottled up, an uber-fancy version of my standard granola has been packed into glass jars and I've got some potent limoncello waiting to be bottled and corked.I did mix in some new players in the holiday baking mix this year. After seeing this delicious post on the 64 sq ft kitchen blog, I had to make those snowy white merengue cookies. I've made merengue to top key lime and lemon pies and I've also made a few showy pavlovas in my recent past, but I've never made a merengue cookie like this. Unfortunately, I don't have a piping bag so mine didn't have the kiss-like disposition, but...
More About: Mint , Delicious

beat the clock: italian minestrone with beans, pasta and chard
2007-12-06 02:45:00
I've been doing a lot of cooking lately, but I've pretty much sucked at the documentation part of things. I could tell you about the amazing chicken tortilla soup I made yesterday for lunch or the wonderful spicy pork loin I roasted the other day, but without photos or a story, there ain't much to tell.It's not that I'm becoming a bad blogger or anything like that, it's just that with the holidays around the corner and a trip to visit family across the country looming, time is of the essence. I'm sure I'm not the only one feeling pinched by time! Which is why this recipe for a hearty Italian pasta and chard soup is a perfect no-brainer. It's quick and simple and any leftovers make a delicious speedy and filling lunch. And top this bowl with some organic parmesan cheese...well, you can almost forget about all the directions you are being pulled in.italian minestrone with beans, pasta and chard2 T olive oil1 onion, chopped3 garlic cloves, minced1 rib of celery, diced1 carrot...
More About: Clock , Beans , Pasta , Beat

mid-week breakfast: cornmeal-ricotta waffles
2007-11-30 00:31:00
Tip toeing around a chilly morning kitchen isn't my idea of a good time. Week day mornings are an in and out affair. I put the espresso pot on the stove and quickly stir up some oats and jump into the shower. When I come back, the kitchen has warmed up considerably and I can start my day. But endless days of porridge can be a bit of a drag and yesterday morning I decided to put a little something special into a mid-week breakfast. I looked back to a couple of earlier breakfast recipes (cornmeal pancakes and orange ricotta pancakes) and decided to do a little mash-up. Instead of pancakes, I was going to combine the best elements of both recipes and whip up some waffles.And what waffles they were! As soon as our waffle machine beeped letting us know the first waffle was ready, we tore it apart and ate it on the spot. No syrup, no plate, no cutlery...just pure waffle loveliness. Crunchy from the cornmeal and so airy and floaty with the ricotta, they took the chill out of a cold morning...
More About: Breakfast , Ricotta

pull up a lusty vegan mug: peppermint hot chocolate
2007-11-28 19:00:00
The other night, we cozied up on the couch and watched some TV on DVD from the library. This time around it's season 1 of The Wire, an HBO cop show that I'm totally hooked on (despite hating the 1st episode). It's gritty with great characters and there's something kinda romantic about hunkering down with your sweetie under a woolly afghan watching drug busts on TV. Cue the mother-flippin' violins! But cozier still is the above scene and a mug each of hot, sweet peppermint hot chocolate. I made the hot chocolate with almond milk cuz I love almond milk and it's available cheap at my local grocer. As for the peppermint, I added the full amount cuz I like things minty fresh, but if you're not down with all that mint, start with an eighth of a teaspoon before going whole hog.Nights of cozy TV watching aren't necessarily great for photo taking so I decided to quickly illustrate a lusty mug o' hot chocolate. If you want to see great illustrators and their food blog drawings, chec...
More About: Hot Chocolate , Chocolate , Vegan , Pull

baking under the gun: chocolate thumbprint cookies
2007-11-26 17:30:00
This past weekend was pretty wonderful. On Saturday, Cornelius and I headed out early to run some errands and then walked downtown to the Vancouver Art Gallery where we saw some amazing videos by Mark Lewis and great photographs by Roy Arden and others. It wasn't until we were walking home in the darkness that I realized that I was having a couple friends over that night. Oops!! I decided to make cookies so I needed something that could go from concept to production in half an hour! So I flipped through Vegan with a Vengeance and found a recipe for chocolate thumbprint cookies. I've never made or have ever eaten a thumbprint cookie before, but the recipe looked simple enough and I got right to it. I didn't have the soy milk the recipe called for, but I did have some almond milk, so I used that instead. If you don't want to go the vegan route, go ahead and add dairy.Despite having to sift the flour and cocoa (I never sift!) and pull out the cookies in mid-bake and add the jam, I ...
More About: Baking , Cookies , Chocolate , Cookie

muffin top: blackberry muffins with crumble topping
2007-11-23 19:34:00
Now before I can tempt you to make a muffin or twelve, check out my new post over at the Food Network Canada blog, Bazaar. It's about lunches, and sandwiches and working in an office for a week. Fun stuff!Holiday baking is near. Time to stock up on dark chocolates and phyllo and other kinds of good stuff. The only problem with that is my freezer is still crammed to the gills with all kinds of fruit from the summer. I have to make a serious dent into my summer stash of blackberries, rhubarb and strawberries before I can make way for anything new. I know, poor me.The other night I decided to bake a little treat for our weekly gathering of ANTM devotees (oh yeah, we put our money where our mouthes are!) and while some sugary sweet cupcakes would have been more appropriate for trash-tv watching, I went with something a little healthier. So I dug into the depths of my freezer and pulled out a container of summer-ripened blackberries. I baked up a whole lot of blackberry muffins and adde...
More About: Blackberry , Muffins , Muffin , Topping , Fins

simple sides: warm cauliflower salad & green salad with tarragon dressi
2007-11-21 22:43:00
On Monday night our bowling league game was cancelled since the bowling alley was being used as a film set. Oh well, instead of an brisk bike ride to the lanes and all the resulting good times, I made due with cooking up a trout. Yup, a freakin' whole fish...with gills, fins, eyeballs, creepy looking fish face and everything! Cornelius' dad had fished the thing a while ago and it sat in the freezer for a bit before I worked up the courage to defrost it. Luckily, it was gutted and cleaned but I still had to contend with a fish and a face...but it was easier than I thought it would be. After rinsing it, I seasoned the thing with kosher salt, pepper and parsley and pan fried it in a little olive oil. I also made a caper-lemon-butter sauce (which is exactly as it sounds) to serve along with it and despite the evil look in that trout's eyeballs, it was a tasty dinner.Alongside, I served up my favorite braised cabbage recipe from Orangette. It's a foolproof, delicious recipe that I'...
More About: Green , Sides , Salad , Cauliflower , Simple

a winning trifecta: tortilla pie
2007-11-19 02:19:00
This past week was busy. Not only did I have my own design work and meetings to attend to, but I had to play corporate graphic designer at my old job, filling in for a old collegue on vacation. There wasn't a lot of cooking or baking to be had. Instead, we ate leftovers, I tried and failed at a pasta/beet experiment, and we went out to the Foundation for natchos. You see, the Foundation has the best natchos ever. Smothered in cheese, corn and black beans and served with tubs of guacamole, sour cream and salsa, it's an $8 spread that almost has me convinced that gobs of cheese can't be that bad for you. With an icy cold beer, it's the perfect thank-god-tomorrow-is-Friday kind of meal.Inspired by the Foundation's natchos, I wanted to recreate that delicious corn and bean awesomeness but without the artery clogging heavy cheese factor, so I decided to make a mexican pie of sorts. You can think of it as a Mexican lasagna using corn, beans and rice...the staples (or delicious trife...
More About: Winning

uhh, shortest post ever? apple cheddar yogurt muffins
2007-11-13 02:38:00
I made muffins on the weekend and they were freakin' amazing. Apple and cheddar? What's not to love. Go and make them already!apple cheddar yogurt muffins3 apples, grated (I don't bother peeling them)1/2 c sugar1/2 c plain or vanilla yogurt1 egg1/2 c oil1 1/4 c flour1 t baking powder1/2 t salt1 t cinnamonpinch each of ground cardamon & nutmeg1/2 c grated old cheddar cheese + extra for tops1. Preheat oven to 375. In a large bowl, combine the first 5 ingredients and blend well. In a second bowl, mix together the dry ingredients and the grated cheese. Add the dry to the wet and be careful to not overmix.2. Add batter to a muffin tin lined with paper cups or grease your pan well. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top. For me, this made 16 muffins but it will depend on the size of your pan. Bake for about 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
More About: Post , Muffins , Yogurt , Fins

hot damn: black bean pumpkin soup
2007-11-09 19:01:00
If you've been reading this blog for awhile, you're probably aware that I am a huge soup lover and my dear husband is not. But I've recently discovered a way for my picky husband to finish a bowl (or sometimes even two). All I need to do is serve the soup with garlic bread or cheese bread and he'll actually put down the spoon and start dunking the bread into his soup until the bowl is wiped clean. I know, amazing.When I saw this recipe from the always excellent and totally drool-worthy blog, Smitten Kitten, I knew that like it or not, soup = dinner. Last weekend, I had made Cornelius' favorite cookies and had a lot of leftover pumpkin puree on my hands. This soup seemed an easy way to use it up. I made a few changes to the recipe, leaving out the tomatoes, sherry and ham but found the results to be stellar. The soup was hearty, spicy and full of texture and a snap to make. Of course, I made a batch of cheese covered garlic bread to go along side and I heard no complaints at all...
More About: Black , Bean , Soup , Pumpkin , Damn

a twist on morning oats: pan fried oatmeal
2007-11-08 19:11:00
Cold mornings loves a hot breakfast and oatmeal is pretty much our mainstay for the winter months. I make it straight up but will often bake it (two different ways), or mix things up a bit with steel cut oats or scottish oats. Yesterday I made oatmeal in my usual way. Cornelius topped his with bananas, almonds and brown sugar, while I added a dollop of sour cherry jam. It's hearty, filling and perfect. But after making a potful of oats, I always seem to have some leftover. Usually, the next morning the leftovers go into the microwave and get rehydrated with a bit of milk. But not today.I wanted to try something different. When I was in Vilnius, we ate breakfast at a little place called Cozy. I ordered oatmeal and it was served not only with a dollop of sour cherry jam, but with a sumptious pool of melting butter. It was utterly delicious. While I have yet to add butter to my oatmeal at home, I decided that maybe butter was the key to a new breakfast discovery. And that's how this ...
More About: Morning , Fried , Twist , Oatmeal , Oats

one bowl of comfort please: spicy chicken and rice
2007-11-07 05:15:00
After reading Ximena's post about a comforting one-bowl chicken and rice dish, I wanted something similar. But instead of picking a meal with an eastern flare, I headed south...errr, well, actually, to September's issue of Bon Appétit and found this recipe. I had to make concessions and additions based on what I had on hand, but it was the perfect dish to make for a rainy day.I love one dish meals because it means that I'm probably using my old thrifted Le Cruset orange dutch oven. Somehow, whatever comes out of that pot turns out wonderfully. And when the weather turns grey and dark and it rains more than there is sunshine, well, that's when the orange beast and I really bond. While I may turn my eye and covet something brand new in, say, turquoise, this beast hasn't failed me yet.This dish is spicy and sweet and truly comforting. It's also versatile. You could easily whip up a vegetarian version by substituting the chicken for chick peas and adding a few more vegetables nea...
More About: Rice , Chicken , Spicy , Comfort , Bowl

i will survive: mediteranian tuna, cabbage, potato salad
2007-11-05 22:45:00
I swear I'm not going to die of mercury poisoning by posting another tuna recipe in just a few short days...but if yer gonna go, maybe this is the way to do it. I should preface this post by mentioning that it wasn't my intention to eat canned tuna for lunch today. I already was feeling poisoned from the oil paint fumes from finishing my weekend paint the new dresser project and I just wanted something simple for lunch: boiled potatoes. That was going to be it. Comforting and soothing for an upset stomach and general wooziness. But somehow, things didn't work out like I had planned.While the potatoes were a-boiling, I checked out the fridge and decided to add a bit more to my lunch plans. Half of a red cabbage was sitting in the fridge and I did have some remaining parsley and basil plants that needed plucking. And then I spotted that darned can of tuna up in the cupboard and in it went. I'm not looking back. This salad kicks mercury's ass around the corner. Filled with crunch ...
More About: Salad , Potato , Tuna , Survive , Cabbage

the contessa's voluptuous breakfast: orange yogurt
2007-11-02 07:32:00
A couple of weeks ago, I had company for brunch and I wracked my brain trying to figure out what to make. After consulting recipe books and perusing my blogroll, I decided to keep things familiar. I made some almond & cherry scones, whipped out my apple butter, put out my huge glass jar of homemade granola and I fancified some yogurt. You see, last year (when I had cable tv), I saw the Barefoot Contessa make a fancy brunch for her fancy friends in her fancy kitchen. I was impressed. But I was most impressed by her tricked out orange yogurt. It seemed so easy....drain store-bought yogurt overnight and then throw in some add-ins. She transformed a runny breakfast stand-by into something voluptuous, decadent and still healthy.So the night before my morning guest was to arrive, I set up my coffee pot and filter and drained my yogurt in that. In the morning I was rewarded with thick, really thick, yogurt. I added in some honey, coconut and of course fresh orange juice to rehydrate a...
More About: Breakfast , Orange , Yogurt

a case for the lowly tuna melt
2007-11-01 20:44:00
Okay, now why would I post about the lowly tuna melt? Everyone probably has their own twist and probably has been making theirs the same way since forever. Me, I only started eating tuna after 10 years of being a vegetarian. I'm kind of a tuna-newbie, but I've taken to it like honey. It was actually an old boyfriend who turned me onto tuna melts. We broke up but the tuna melt remains my constant lunch time/lazy dinner time/snack time stand by. I love the tang of the pickles, I love the melty cheese and I like that I can eat it out of one hand, so it's the perfect working on the computer and eating lunch at the same time kind of meal. I love me my tuna melt!Now there is nothing fancy here and while I have been known to doctor up the melt with capers, red onions, parmesan and fresh dill on occassion, I like to keep things simple. Onion for flavour, celery for crunch, and definitely, definitely, pickles. The amount of mayo is really up to you, but I like to keep things light. My cho...
More About: Tuna , Case

can't eat just one: peanut butter raisin bars
2007-10-28 23:34:00
When I saw these squares on this blog, I wanted them in my belly, stat! But like all food porn, I knew I'd have to wait until I could make these myself. And boy, was it worth the wait. I wouldn't call these a bar cookie or a square, instead, they fit nicely in the brownie/blondie category. They reminded me of my most favorite stand-by brownie recipe in that everything is all mixed up in one pot. Chewy, dense and with a golden (almost flaky) top, these are a perfect snack. And I say snack for those of you who have restraint. Me, almost never. After one small square, I had to have another and another. I wasn't alone either....Cornelius kept heading back for seconds and thirds bits of peanut-buttery-raisiny-chocolate goodness. It's amazing that these lasted 4 days!I made a few changes to Lynn's recipe but loved the results. I always use natural peanut butter instead of the processed stuff and this recipe didn't suffer for it one bit. I also reduced the raisins and subbed in some ...
More About: Raisin , Peanut , Bars , Butter

spread the love: maple apple butter
2007-10-23 18:27:00
I mentioned last week that I was smitten with apples and my love of the fruit is still holding strong. I've been snacking all week on the delicious Newtown Pippins that I purchased at the UBC Apple Festival but after spying this recipe for Maple Apple Butter at Aimée's blog, Under the High Chair, I knew that it was time to get those apples into something new.Apple butter! It sounds more decadent than it really is....but it is luxurious, nonetheless. I remember making and eating butter as part of a grade three class activity and that delicious memory has stayed with me. Aimée's recipe requires preserving and while I have neither the counter space or the equipment for such an endeavor, I decided to make half the recipe so that it could keep quite comfortably in the fridge. While my apple butter didn't turn out quite as dark as I remember it being from my elementary school days, it is still thick, spicy and just the right amount of tart. You could definitely increase the maple sy...
More About: Love , Spread

like a velvet glove cast in iron: espresso ice-cream cups
2007-10-22 23:18:00
Some days require advance planning, much organization and a roadmap to see you through. This weekend we had a house guest and while it was fun checking out our city through the eyes of a tourist and sharing our home with a new friend, it still required work. Work to search out recipes, work to grocery shop, work to prepare brunches and dinners. On Sunday evening, when all the hustle and bustle was over, Cornelius and I poured ourselves into flannel coziness and put on a tv-on-dvd guilty pleasure. We also put our new Bialetti stovetop espresso maker to work and made the simplest, most decadent dessert imaginable: espresso ice-cream cups. Believe me, there is no roadmap or recipe needed here.A few years ago on a visit to my favorite city, Portland, OR, I stumbled into the Pied Cow Coffeehouse and had something called a "black velvet" or a "velvet glove". The name never stuck, but the memory of that dessert always did. When I'd tell my friends about how glorious it was, I had alread...
More About: Ice Cream , Cast , Espresso , Cups , Velvet

breakfast on a cloud: orange ricotta pancakes
2007-10-18 21:31:00
Despite the fact that my fridge is full of apples, there isn't one apple present in today's recipe. (Don't you love how I snuck in an apple into my baked pasta recipe yesterday? Ha.) More apples recipes to come, but this simple to make breakfast is all about the ricotta. These pancakes are light and fluffy and have a nice tang from the orange zest (although lemon zest could be subbed in too). Cornelius wasn't too sure about having pancakes with cheese - he obviously never grew up with my dad's amazing cottage cheese pancakes - but after the first bite he was converted.This recipe makes for a pretty thick but delicate batter. Be careful not to add too much batter to the pan and make sure you gently smooth over the tops. The key is to get a nice crunchy edge which adds a nice contrast to the pillowy soft interiors. We topped ours with my favorite sour cherry jam, but warmed honey or a sprinkle of icing sugar would be perfect too.orange ricotta pancakes1 ¾ c ricotta2 eggs1/4 c su...
More About: Breakfast , Orange , Cloud , Pancakes , Ricotta

like an old sweater, but better: baked pasta with roasted vegetables
2007-10-17 21:51:00
It's been rainy and grey for the past 2 days now and I'm totally getting back into cooking and baking again. It feels good and familiar, like wearing a comfy sweater with holes in the cuffs to poke your thumbs through. I may not win any style points but it feels so right. Last night's dinner is like that sweater. It ain't pretty but it was comfort through and through.baked pasta with roasted vegetablesMy fridge is pretty packed with vegetables and I had to do something with them before things turned bad, so I pulled everything out onto the counter and decided that roasting them would be the best option. I turned on the radio to my favorite station and poured myself a bit of wine and got busy. Onions were peeled and chopped, green beans were snapped, cauliflower was broken into florets, cherry tomatoes were chopped in half, kale was roughly torn and into the pan went a lone yam. Everything was drizzled with soy sauce, a generous glug of balsamic vinegar and a pull of olive oil. S...
More About: Vegetables , Baked , Pasta , Sweater

smitten with apples
2007-10-16 19:58:00
There is nothing like a tart, crisp apple. I love apples and autumn and all the comforts that come along with it: hot apple cider, apple pies and those rare days of crisp autumn weather. Thankfully, this past weekend was all about the blue skies, sunshine and that crisp autumm air...and it was also the UBC Apple Festival! I've written about my apple extravaganza weekend for the Food Network blog (which should appear next week or so), but needless to say an apple festival is a pretty wonderful thing. Besides a whole lot of apple tasting and a bit of candy apple eating, I also came home with some BC-grown goodness: one bag of Jonamacs and one bag of organic Newtown Pippins. While the pippins are pretty good eating as is, I'm not too fond of the Jonamac's not-so-crisp texture. In my eyes, it's an apple destined for something more.Yesterday I was in a baking mood. I was leaning towards a crumble or a cake, but as it was still morning, I figured something more wholesome and breakfast...
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