I love the process of growing the vegetables in my garden, or flowers in the yard. It's exciting to start something from seed and watch it progress, to the point of harvesting it to eat or simply marvelling at the colours of the blooms. But I didn't know I could grow mushrooms at home. At... Continue Reading →
Love To Garden: Mint
It's really a joy to grow things yourself, harvest and enjoy eating them. Or to simply revel in the beauty of flowers you planted and grew on your own. My garden is real source of pleasure, entertainment, and of course work. But the work is worth it when I get to enjoy the fruits of... Continue Reading →
A Twist on Tortilla Soup
One of the classic dishes you’ll often find in Mexico is tortilla soup. There are a multitude of versions of this dish. We’ve had it made only with broth and served with toppings like avocados and tortilla strips. We’ve had a version with chicken in it, and a version with beef. I decided to try... Continue Reading →
Guest chefs: fresh ceviche
We were fortunate this week to have friends visit and offer to make us fresh ceviche. This is a traditional dish made with raw fish and fresh produce. Its origins are thought to be Peru, but it is found in many coastal areas throughout Latin America, where fresh fish is in abundance. I am nervous about... Continue Reading →
“Social” cooking
One of the highlights of our recent trip to Europe was the opportunity to spend time with friends. In the Alsace region of France, we got to immerse ourselves in the area thanks to friends who hosted us. While staying at their home, we also got to experience – and learn to cook - a... Continue Reading →
Borscht – beet and beef soup
One of my favourite delights of fall is making borscht with fresh vegetables. In recent years, I would visit the farmers' market and the butcher to get what I needed. This year, I was able to make this soup with my own harvest and the generosity of some neighbours. Borscht is made many different ways.... Continue Reading →
Refrigerator pickles – fast and easy
This summer, the cucumber plants in my garden have absolutely flourished. We have eaten cucumber salads, cucumbers in salads, and just sliced cucumbers with salt and pepper. Not to complain, but we were starting to get a little tired of eating one or two cucumbers a day. So, I dug out my old refrigerator... Continue Reading →
BBQ Jalapeno Poppers
My jalapeno peppers are ready for harvesting from the garden. While on vacation this summer visiting the kids, our son-in-law harvested their peppers and made a great appetizer for us. You may have purchased these or had them at a restaurant, but they are so much better when they are homemade, and the charring of... Continue Reading →
Avocado dip and dressing
I keep seeing posts for healthy alternatives to some classic favourite recipes. I decided the other day to try one, an alternative for Ranch dressing. This recipe uses avocado and plain Greek yogurt as the flavour base. This means it is healthy, but it certainly is not completely without fat. However, it is healthier than... Continue Reading →
Baked coconut shrimp
I love shrimp and could eat them every day. One of my favourites to order at a restaurant is coconut shrimp. Since we can easily get fresh shrimp, I decided to try my hand at coconut shrimp at home. My brother-in-law has made baked coconut shrimp and shared the recipe with me from AllRecipes.... Continue Reading →