Stuffed Spaghetti Squash with Italian Turkey Ragu

Ground turkey is a weird kinda thing...consistency, unique scent too. I sometimes cook with it because I feel like it will be leaner than other meats but I don't overly adore it.  Just realize that it needs some serious, but serious seasoning to be tasty, otherwise so-so. Because I have some thawed,...

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Fantastic Fish Pie

This is a rich, hearty, decadent and creamy casserole for a cold winter's day.  It has a few steps to prepare but so worth it.  Based on a Gordon Ramsey recipe, this reminds me of a meal you would have in a steamy British pub. YUM! Step 1: Poach the fish and create the basis for the flavourful sauce. ...

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Perfect Pumpkin Muffins

So, I'm no baker, this we all know.  And I've made a million different pumpkin muffin recipes, most to no avail.  But, this is the one, perfectly light and well spiced.  Add raisins or chocolate chips for an extra bit of fun...a Sunday morning treat. Feel free to pump up the volume on the spices!! Pre-heat...

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Ham and Egg Magic Muffins

This is what you make on a Sunday morning after a late night out...comfort food, easy, (a one bowl wonder) light and satisfying. If you eat one, you can eat 100! Pre-heat your oven to 400 degrees. "Pametize" your 12 muffin tin. 1 cup cottage cheese (no butter, no oil...super!) 4 eggs, lightly beaten 1 cup...

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Vibrant Horseradish Maple Vinaigrette

The tangy bite of this vinaigrette coupled with its maple sweetness is simply addictive. Make a double batch in a large mason jar and it keeps for eons in the fridge. You really need to blend this concoction to emulsify.  A magic bullet or immersion blender works great. 3 tbsp. Apple cider vinegar 2 tbsp. fresh grated or jarred hot horseradish 1 tbsp. Dijon mustard 1 tbsp. mayo 1 tsp. maple...

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KILLER Frozen Nanaimo Pie

This pie is a riff on a classic Canadian dessert.  It is too easy for words and is ridiculously delicious.  I mean, who doesn't love Nanaimo Bars, and imagine, it's a stinky hot summer day and you serve this ice cream marvel to the crew! The first time I tasted it a Suzie and Tassie's...

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Strawberry Almond Custard Pie

If you have 4 minutes, you can make this pie. This is not a real recipe... its just a quick "put together" pie, and so delish in the height of strawberry season.  We are so lucky to live within minutes of a fabulous U-Pick farm and recently came home with a few pounds of very sweet hand picked strawberries....

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Havarti Grilled Cheese on Challah Bread

It's lunch time at the cottage!  While visiting our favorite T-bombs at their wonderful cottage this past summer, we indulged in a simple yet beloved lunch... Havarti Grilled Cheese on Challah Bread. This is the epitome of gooey comfort food, and yes, there's a bit of technique involved when you...

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Indulgent Eggplant Parma

Eggplant parma is a labour of love. Everyone knows that a GREAT eggplant parmesan has breaded, seasoned eggplant.  All other variations that try to avoid the breading just don't cut it for me. So, in an effort to still get that great taste without all the oil and frying, I bake the eggplant. ...

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Rancher's Pie (we made up the name)

I'm not really sure how this name came up for this casserole.  I think we decided while eating the concoction because it has a southwestern kinda taste to it and it's great with hot sauce. A riff on a traditional Shepard's Pie or in bon Quebecois...fabulous Pate Chinois! I was thinking of a TWIST to this...

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My Son's Persian Saffron Scented Salmon

WOW, who knew? I guess a lifetime of hanging out in his family kitchen combined with an innate global sensibility lead my son to create unbelievable flavours and presentation in this glorious dish, and with such ease! As this dish came together, the aroma of caramelized onions and sensuous saffron...

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Cozy Corn Chowder and Honey Cornbread

Cozy Corn Chowder...a late summer soup, smooth and luxurious! And, it comes together quickly.  It's especially great if you don't know what to make for dinner and you have a couple of potatoes and some corn hanging around. (fresh corn is best but frozen is great too...delish either way!)  There are...

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Perfection for the Palate...mais oui!

When you visit Deauville/Trouville (two beautiful towns linked by a bridge) on the coast of Normandy, France, you imagine the Parisians of the roaring 20's on holiday, with its wide sweeping beaches, never-ending boardwalks, magnificent Casino's of past, woman clad in striped bloomers and big floppy sun...

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Hearty Tuscan Bean Soup

On a particular rainy spring day, the phone rang... it was my son calling from Tuscany as I was making this soup, how crazy is that!!! Karma.  I suppose he was really on my mind and he inspired me to want to re-create certain Italian aromas and flavours in my own kitchen. This is a earthy soup... even better the next day, and the day after that! You really do need a cold and rainy day to...

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Luxurious Homemade French Mayo

In Normandy, we had the honor of dining on many phenomenal meals prepared by our Tante Suzanne.  I can distinctly remember the unique and rich flavour of this homemade mayonnaise when she would come to visit us from France. No other version tastes like this one... and I've tried and failed at quite...

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My Daughter's Favorite Potato Salad

We attribute this delicious salad to our friend Anne Marie, who is a glorious cook.  We also decided today that all my food pics are awful and so my daughter will be the new photographer and photo editor! (you'll be able to tell which are mine and which are hers!!) Such a simple and yummy...

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Heavenly Hummus- Rosemary and Lemon and "Turkish" Delight

Yottam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi developed what I think is the most fabulous series of books on food. These books are so much more than "cookbooks", they are spectacular... you almost want to eat them. In fact, our dog actually tried. In particular, there is an inspiring Forward in the...

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Fantastic Fish Tacos with Homemade Sides

I remember the first time I ever had a fish taco.  It was nirvana. Ever since, I have re-created this yummy thing in various way and just love the brightness of fish tacos full of warm Mexican/Mediterranean flavours and the freshness of everything that goes along with...

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Fancy Tomatoes Stuffed with Shrimp

Mom creates culinary beauty and taste with the simplest of ingredients...everything is always lovely on her table. This fresh and light recipe is beautifully presented as either an appetizer or lunch.  You will need 6 tomatoes: the KEY is to turn the tomato upside down...

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World's Best Galaktobouriko made by Mom

If there is one dish for which my Mom is world famous, this is it.  Galaktobouriko...a refined Greek dessert when well made. No honey here, no thick filo!  This is Mom's true blue recipe, more delicious than any other dessert you will ever eat. (except maybe for Mom's Swedish Cream...saved...

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Delish Spelt and Buttermilk Quick Bread

I used to make this bread a long time ago and it resurfaced while looking at some of my older recipe logs. So, I'm reviving it...this is a surprisingly delicious bread that is ready to eat in about 30 minutes.  It's especially good and moist considering that here is no butter or oil...the KEY is...

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Vij’s Chicken Curry

There are certain comfort foods that we just can’t veer from, even when we try.  I’ll start off thinking that some kind of a curry would be delicious tonight for dinner...look at myriad recipes and then just make Vij’s curry again...and again, and again. Thank you Vikram Vij- the great Canadian chef. This...

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Baked Rigatoni with Sausage, Mushrooms and Spinach

So many baked pasta dishes can turn out overly soggy or too dry only because the proportion of various ingredients doesn’t always work out the way we hoped.  This recipe is by far the best baked pasta dish and the KEY is the unique sauciness.  The TWIST is in the 2 sauces that make this dish better...

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Roasted Butternut Baked Pasta

A foil pan!? YES, a meal to go...There is an addictive sweet and savoury aspect to this dish that’s hard to deny despite the fact that it is another rich and creamy pasta dish. This is a “one-two-three” recipe, easy and pretty quick to prepare.  A nice big Pyrex or Corning ware pan is needed although...

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Roasted Veggies with Orzo

So simple to make, it’s almost not really cooking! A great side dish nonetheless.  You can use any vegetables you may have, really.  There is no set combination, but of course, I always veer to the Med flavours so here’s my version with Israeli couscous or orzo pasta.   Generously drizzle chunks...

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