I’ve been collecting recipes for many years now. Here are a few of the ones that caught my eye. Although you may find it in one category, it could easily fit into another i.e. an appetizer could also be found in a main etc. Some have been tried, my comments usually show up in italics if I have made them. I’ve given credit to Chef’s/authors/publishers whose names I wrote down when recording the recipes, but go figure – in at the tail end of the boomer generation and blogs didn’t exist when I started collecting them and I never thought of a website either. If I’ve violated any copyrights – just let me know and I’ll fix it. If you try a recipe and have comments, please let me know, I’ll respond. As always – enjoy! Thanks – Chris (cater@foodinspires.com)

2017 Christmas Treat # 6 – Pumpkin Seed, Peanut Butter and Almond Chocolate Squares

My friend Terry from Brooklin (Ontario) gave me the idea for this recipe. Lots of versions of this around the table, this is mine adapted from Terry’s. It has almond slices, pumpkin seeds, peanut butter, salted caramel pieces, Skor bits and chocolate chips. Healthy eating – well it has nuts and seeds in it – [...]

2017 Christmas Treat # 6 – Pumpkin Seed, Peanut Butter and Almond Chocolate Squares2021-11-21T17:11:56-05:00

2017 Christmas Treat #5 – Kourambiethes

I think every country has a version of this cookie. The ingredients tend to be the same with some variations but the results are always delicious. Kourambiethes is a Greek cookie made primarily with lots of butter, not too much icing sugar and a couple of egg yolks. How could that possibly result in a [...]

2017 Christmas Treat #5 – Kourambiethes2021-11-21T17:12:07-05:00

2017 Christmas Treat #4 – Chocolate Chip and Maple Glazed Chili Bacon Cookies

Bacon, bacon extract, maple syrup, maple sugar and chocolate – oh the foundation of good times is finally here! Praise and sing, chorus of angels – world peace will happen. I went crazy with this one so please feel free to omit or substitute ingredients if there is something in the title that doesn’t appeal [...]

2017 Christmas Treat #4 – Chocolate Chip and Maple Glazed Chili Bacon Cookies2021-11-21T17:12:20-05:00

2017 Christmas Treat #3 – Moroccan Semolina Almond Cookies

Oh the hunt continues! So much to do and so little time, but it is great fun to search for interesting ideas and ingredients. This is from Dorie Greenspan’s “Dorie’s Cookies” book. To say I could eat my way through this book would be an understatement. If you don’t have it, oh my goodness put [...]

2017 Christmas Treat #3 – Moroccan Semolina Almond Cookies2021-11-21T17:12:32-05:00

2017 Christmas Treat #2 – Black Pepper and Citrus Shortbread

I’m a big fan of shortbread. I greatly appreciate true artisanal shortbread – buttery, the slightest bit crumbly, melt in your mouth goodness. So this recipe takes the simplicity of the shortbread and modifies the flavor with the addition of freshly cracked black pepper and whatever citrus you have on hand. So I present to [...]

2017 Christmas Treat #2 – Black Pepper and Citrus Shortbread2021-11-21T17:12:43-05:00

2017 Christmas Treat #1 – Curry Leaf and Dry Mustard Cheeselets

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 [...]

2017 Christmas Treat #1 – Curry Leaf and Dry Mustard Cheeselets2024-12-13T15:20:15-05:00

Date and Almond Torte with Salted Caramel Sauce

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 [...]

Date and Almond Torte with Salted Caramel Sauce2020-10-12T19:36:35-04:00

Lemon Zucchini Loaf

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 [...]

Lemon Zucchini Loaf2020-10-12T19:36:35-04:00

Indian Cooking in Italy – Madras Chicken Curry

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 [...]

Indian Cooking in Italy – Madras Chicken Curry2020-10-12T19:36:35-04:00

Mediterranean Style Cracked Olives

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 [...]

Mediterranean Style Cracked Olives2020-10-12T19:36:35-04:00
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