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)

Not your everyday pot roast!

I love pot roasts.  They take a generally less flavorful and relatively inexpensive cut of meat and through the magic of braising, turn it into a superb tasting meal.  I used a bottom round cut, for this pot roast.  Not a lot of fat, just a beautiful piece of meat.  The trick with pot roasts [...]

Not your everyday pot roast!2020-10-12T19:37:44-04:00

Durham Community Foundation’s 2014 Odyssey Ball Gala

As luck would have it, I am once again associated with a wonderful organization - the Durham Community Foundation (durhamcommunityfoundation.ca). This is a foundation that disburses to local causes or needs in the Durham region. The difference between this foundation and others is that financial gifts donated to them are invested - creating a lasting [...]

Durham Community Foundation’s 2014 Odyssey Ball Gala2020-10-12T19:37:44-04:00

Peri Peri Chicken for a cold winter day!

This is a recipe from Lorraine Pascale. Another you must try this dish.  I’ve adapted the recipe a bit – my notes, as always are in italics.  I served it with some roasted vegetables - delicious!  We like it hot so I used a combination of Thai and Habanero Chilies along with some “Tabasco sauce with [...]

Peri Peri Chicken for a cold winter day!2020-10-12T19:37:44-04:00

Hot and Sour Soup with Shiitake Mushrooms and Cabbage

Happy New Year everyone! Is it cold enough for you? Well it's cold enough for me. We may not be under a polar vortex, but it's darn cold outside. So you need some soup to warm you up. And, you need a fast (I'm being asked by many of you for fast), easy (I'm being [...]

Hot and Sour Soup with Shiitake Mushrooms and Cabbage2020-10-12T19:37:44-04:00

2013 Christmas Cookie #10 – Seven Layer

Sorry, but this is as high as I’m going to get in terms of cookies for Christmas.  We got our power late yesterday and between emptying the fridge, shopping and getting ready for the big lunch tomorrow (16 people) I have not had time to try any more.  But I was going to end with this [...]

2013 Christmas Cookie #10 – Seven Layer2020-10-12T19:37:45-04:00

2013 Christmas Cookie #9 – Chewy Ginger Molasses

Is this a Christmas cookie or a Chef's desperate attempt at trying to get to 12 in the next two days?! Whatever you may think, these are actually inspired by my daily visit to Starbucks. Which is actually where I am right now as we are one of the homes effected by the (deep rumbling [...]

2013 Christmas Cookie #9 – Chewy Ginger Molasses2020-10-12T19:37:45-04:00

2013 Christmas Cookies #8 – Dulce de Leche Cookies

When I was a kid back home in Tanga, one of my favourite treats was sweetened condensed milk on white bread. I know, it sounds awful now and could possibly explain my cholesterol levels, but it was oh so good back then. Little did I know that if I were to take that condensed milk [...]

2013 Christmas Cookies #8 – Dulce de Leche Cookies2020-10-12T19:37:45-04:00

2013 Christmas Cookie #7 – Spicy Cheeselets

Oh come now, you didn't think I would make everything sweet did you!  These are another traditional Goan "treat" prepared at Christmas time.  We've been making them for as long as I can remember.  Every family has it's own variation but the basic ingredients are the same - old cheddar, flour and cayenne pepper.  My [...]

2013 Christmas Cookie #7 – Spicy Cheeselets2020-12-14T16:28:55-05:00

2013 Christmas Cookie #6 – Snickerdoodles

Yes that's what I said - Snickerdoodle! I have a very good friend in Minneapolis who loves these cookies. Where I may be the head Pastry Chef in my family, she is undoubtedly the cookie queen. She has raved about these cookies for years, I've never had one. But thanks to this recipe I have [...]

2013 Christmas Cookie #6 – Snickerdoodles2020-10-12T19:37:45-04:00

2013 Christmas Cookie #5 – Coconut Toffee

Yes, this is one of those traditional Goan sweets made at Christmas.  What's a Goan?  Well, I am from Goa, India - at least my parents are.  So anyone with this heritage is called a Goan.  And if there is one thing we Goan's are know for, it's our Christmas sweets.  I remember every Christmas [...]

2013 Christmas Cookie #5 – Coconut Toffee2020-12-14T16:30:06-05:00
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