What the heck is "zumi"?

ZUMI...any Greek will tell you, is the elixir of life! Zumi is flavour, zumi is richness, zumi is any saucy concoction in any type of dish.  From the "jus" of a good steak, to the delectable vinaigrette of a salad, to the lemony sauce of a fresh piece of grilled fish. Zumi is the thing that makes you sad when the meal is over and there isn't any left, so now you are licking the plate! All...

Read More

Jackie's Thai Mussels

This mussel recipe is ridiculous. The first time we ate these mussels, we couldn't even speak.  And how about that beautiful, briny broth ("zumi") beyond delicious.  We have made this dish so many times and find that the Costco mussels are always clean, plump and so affordable. ...

Read More

Stuffed Cubanel Peppers with SAZON

SAZON...that perfect packet of punch!  A unique Latino seasoning (cumin, turmeric, chili pepper) “con azafran”, that special flavour and colour of saffron. Granted, it’s a bit salty as any prepared seasoning is, but the wonderful aroma and taste is definitely worth exploring.  I use the GOYA brand...

Read More

"Spaghetti" and Meatballs

First...my Marinara sauce- no onions. Ever.  Brown a bunch of chopped garlic, 7-10 cloves chopped or smashed in olive oil until the aroma is rich, usually golden brown by this time. Be patient to get it right. A trick is to add salt on the garlic while chopping or smashing so pieces don't...

Read More

Quinoa and Salmon Croquettes

Who doesn’t love crunchy croquettes of something or other?  And, once you discover the quinoa TWIST, you will never go back to mushy breadcrumbs for this type of cake. Golden brown quinoa adds a fabulous texture and nutty taste to any type of sautéed “cake” and keeps them fairly light.   I love the fresh salmon version, but these can be made with canned salmon or tune, grated squash, zucchini,...

Read More

Janet's Sumptuous Seafood Pasta

This bowl of pasta was one of the best I have ever tasted...my friend Janet (with the good guidance of Chef Zitiouni) created this fabulous flavor at a lovely dinner party hosted by her and her husband.  Here is what I did to try and re-create this special dish although no one can beat Janet's...

Read More