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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Spicy Mediterranean Couscous Salad

I suppose this has become a signature salad in our home, especially in the summer.  I’ve made it so many times I quit counting.  There is something exotic and refreshing about these Mediterranean flavours with an orangy twist.  The spice, saffron and orange combo is fabulous.   In...

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Gorgeous Garlic Bread

This bread concoction is like Italian "candy". I like to use a ciabatta baguette because it is airy with lots of pockets to capture flavor. This is for sure one of our family’s favorite indulgence and goes with anything Italian.  When I say “and I have garlic bread with that...” my kids flip- the whole meal just went up a notch!   Slice the baguette lengthwise.  Place the 2...

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