This is a tradition in our house at Christmas time, and it is Christmas time isn’t it. Well you know what that means (trumpets blaring in the background) – The 12 Treats of Christmas! (in a booming voice). This is Treat #1. I changed the name from Cookie #1 to Treat #1 because I want [...]
We wanted to get both of our families together, which was no easy feat. Everyone lives all over the place (Barrie, Aurora, Toronto, Brampton, and Burlington) and there’s about 50 (truly) different allergies and food restrictions between all of us. We were afraid we might have to eat green leaves with salt and pepper on [...]
This is a torte so it doesn’t have much height, but what it lacks in height, it makes up in taste. Something magical happens when you use dates in cooking or baking. Sometime they dissolve into a beautiful paste that invisibly adds immense flavor and texture to foods, other times they provide the sweet to [...]
Yes my friends, it’s that time of the year again! Neighbors are gathering - in large baskets, zucchini of all sizes, shapes and colors. People you don’t even know are stopping by and knocking on your door to unload – I mean share, the bounty of this most glorious of fall vegetables. So here is [...]
It’s been a while, but I’ve been away, in Italy – Florence, Montepulciano, La Spezia, Genoa, Pienza, Cinque Terre and Rome (there were others but that would be bragging :)). Many were day trips and some, well “port” trips?! And really, how much could you see in a couple of hours on land?! But you [...]
If you have been attending any of my classes at Loblaw PC Cooking Schools you will have heard me speak of this delightful antipasto which was gifted to me last year by my friend Chef Maria. I was amazed with the taste of the olives she had pickled. How? I asked. Maria promised to show [...]
Chris Pires catered our engagement party for 65 people and the food and service were a huge success. The food Chris prepared was absolutely delicious and his recommendations based on our preferences aligned perfectly. Chris and his team were calm, kind and professional. The team was efficient and always ensured all our guests were taken [...]
When I first became a Chef, I must have spent many months going through various culinary websites for inspiration, ideas and direction. One of the sites I came across belonged to David Lebovitz. I guess he intrigued me because he also made a change in his life moving from the US to France. I liked [...]
Here’s another keeper cake recipe. I had some ricotta in the fridge. My friend Maria makes all kinds of delicious Italian treats (which I am sometimes the grateful beneficiary of - ahem, #shehasn'tmadesomethingformeinawhile) with ricotta. I wanted a recipe that was easy to come together and taste good. I ran across a recipe a [...]
You know you have a hit when “everyone” who tries this says “OMG (insert something biblical or not), so good!” This is a variation on a standard Blondie recipe which combines two of my favorite ingredients – almonds and coconut. It’s a one pot dish – no really, and you know how I hate to [...]
