I'd walked past the vine leaves outside my community garden hundreds of times, but I'd never put them to use in my kitchen until now. I know they're good for two things: pickling cucumbers (they supposedly keep the pickles firmer without adding any chemicals) and dolmades (Greek … [Read more...] about Greek Dolmades: Vegan, Healthy and Local (if you Forage the Vine Leaves)
Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free
Life-Changing Lemon Chicken, Homemade Hoisin and Everyday Chinese
I read an article in the Globe & Mail a little while ago called "Chop Suey Nation" about why Canada has so many Chinese-Canadian takeout restaurants in small towns from BC to Fogo Island. Not regional Chinese places making hand-pulled wheat noodles in bone broth soups or … [Read more...] about Life-Changing Lemon Chicken, Homemade Hoisin and Everyday Chinese
Cheater’s Risotto with Turbot, Dill and Capers
Here's how you make awesome seafood risotto: Buy a whole fish. Get the fishmonger to filet it. Ask him or her to toss the skin but save you the bones and head. Put these flavourful bits in a pot covered with water and bring them to a simmer for 30 minutes. Strain. Eat the fish … [Read more...] about Cheater’s Risotto with Turbot, Dill and Capers
Mountains of Gluten Free Fake Oatmeal Cookies
It was a lie when I told everyone these were oatmeal cookies. They're actually made with quinoa flakes instead of oats, which are tons more expensive but I can digest them. And I used buckwheat flour in place of all-purpose. They're not vegan though – I used two large eggs from … [Read more...] about Mountains of Gluten Free Fake Oatmeal Cookies
Spicy Fish Soup with Turmeric and Lemongrass (and deep-frying for skinny people)
This is what you need to eat on a rainy summer day. It's spicy and hot and rich but not heavy. And most importantly, it'll warm you up from the inside. The best part? You get to shallow-fry a bunch of garlic. It's not scary, it doesn't waste a ton of oil, and it tastes delicious. … [Read more...] about Spicy Fish Soup with Turmeric and Lemongrass (and deep-frying for skinny people)
Booze-tacular Turbot, and Other Fish Tales
When you brew a giant batch of saké with a master Kombucha scientist, you end up with a lot of saké. I'm not talking awesome saké, but table saké – the kind of saké that I'm happy to make friends taste, but won't crave after a long day. So what do I do with approximately 10 … [Read more...] about Booze-tacular Turbot, and Other Fish Tales
Slow-Cooker Lamb Neck Tagine with Chickpeas and Cinnamon
If you think lamb is too expensive, this is the recipe for you. Whereas a leg of lamb will usually cost you ~$30-$40, a deboned lamb shoulder costs maybe $15, and cheaper still is the lamb neck. Yes, there's more fat, and a lot of it is bones, but they're easy to pick out, add a … [Read more...] about Slow-Cooker Lamb Neck Tagine with Chickpeas and Cinnamon
Cider-Braised Turkey Thigh and why the Oven is Better than a Slow Cooker
How could anything be better than the fix-it-and-forget-it mentality of slow cookers and their resulting fork tender meat? you ask. Excellent question. In a slow cooker, the skin (if you use it) ends up flimsy and gelatinous, even if you sear it beforehand. The only work around … [Read more...] about Cider-Braised Turkey Thigh and why the Oven is Better than a Slow Cooker
Masters Sunday Masterpieces and What to Cook for a Potluck
My dad has an annual tradition of inviting all of his golf friends and their partners over to watch the last day of the Masters, the annual golf tournament that ends with someone wearing a green jacket. It's the only time of the year my dad orders catering – he usually gets a … [Read more...] about Masters Sunday Masterpieces and What to Cook for a Potluck
Baby it’s Cold Outside: The Best Soups, Stews and Slow Cooker Recipes
This should be illegal, this cold weather. My nose thought it was done almost freezing off for the year. But it got a nasty surprise the other day when the cold snap came. Now my nose hates me. And all it wants is soup. Fortunately, that's something I can get into. Homemade … [Read more...] about Baby it’s Cold Outside: The Best Soups, Stews and Slow Cooker Recipes