My family's annual Christmas party happened yesterday. As usual, it was ridiculous: There were the beef tacos. And the chicken tacos. And the shredded chicken with Mexican rice, black beans and aioli crema. Since the party was tex-mex themed, there was a table with … [Read more...] about 7th Annual Volk/Watson Extravaganza: The Pictures
Greens & Herbs
Wok-Fired Bok Choy with Peanut Sauce
I waited about a month before pulling this last pak choy (like bok choy) from my garden. It's a little like kale in that it's hardy and can handle the first frosts. Mostly I wanted to keep something green growing, in an effort to fend off winter, which would inevitably fail. I … [Read more...] about Wok-Fired Bok Choy with Peanut Sauce
Whole Roasted Pumpkin with Brown Rice, Barberries, Cranberries and Sorrel
I was inspired to roast a whole stuffed pumpkin while at an orphan Thanksgiving. All us food- and circus-lovers (longer story) without family in Montreal came together for a potluck on a day meant for being with people you love. I knew a grand total of two people at the potluck … [Read more...] about Whole Roasted Pumpkin with Brown Rice, Barberries, Cranberries and Sorrel
Pickling This: Poblano Chili Peppers with Green Tomatoes and Peruvian Oregano
That's just a fancy way of saying I had a bunch of green, mild-ish chili peppers and needed a recipe to preserve them. It's a simple brine. I wanted to make the kind of green chili peppers you find in cans and need for all sorts of Mexican dishes. But it seems that chilies made … [Read more...] about Pickling This: Poblano Chili Peppers with Green Tomatoes and Peruvian Oregano
How to Cook Whole Fish
When I buy a fish and the fishmonger fillets it for me and tries to throw out the head and bones, I almost cry. What a waste! You're paying $20 for two slivers of flesh. But if you keep that head and vertebrae, you have two more meals worth of quality protein. No, you're not … [Read more...] about How to Cook Whole Fish
Strawberry Summer Salad
Don't worry. You don't need all these ingredients for the salad. It's a variation on a theme. If you don't have sorrel (and who has sorrel if it's not in their garden?) or holy basil or pickled cabbage, who cares? The recipe can't see you. And it's made up, anyway. Strawberry … [Read more...] about Strawberry Summer Salad
Seared Sustainable Arctic Char with a Garden Salad
I really wish my image uploader was working and you could see this fish and salad meal. Instead, I'm going to describe it to you: Think of light green spinach leaves, peppery arugula, and rippled sacred green basil, freshly pulled from the garden. Add the first tomatoes of the … [Read more...] about Seared Sustainable Arctic Char with a Garden Salad
Roasted Chicken Salad with Toasted Almonds, Cranberries, and Balsamic
What do you do with leftovers? You make a heck of a salad, that's what. With the chicken from the chicken Dijon (or any other of a million baked chicken recipes...), this is a quick meal. Skip the nut coating and cooking and just toss it with the greens and things. Or you can … [Read more...] about Roasted Chicken Salad with Toasted Almonds, Cranberries, and Balsamic
Chicken Dijon with Leeks Vinaigrette: Simple, Quick, Healthy
I hate writing that—"simple, quick, healthy." It feels as though I'm suddenly connecting myself with every mom-friendly cookbook thrown into the bargain bin at Chapters. But it's a meal that you put down in front of people and there's nothing scary involved. No blood sausage. No … [Read more...] about Chicken Dijon with Leeks Vinaigrette: Simple, Quick, Healthy
“Rosolli” Pickled Herring Salad
Any time you mix beets into something, the whole dish is going to turn pink. This salad can get pretty ugly... But leave it in layers, and only add the dressing to the fish, and you'll be alright. Heck, it might even be pretty. It's a Finnish dish involving pickles, cooked beets … [Read more...] about “Rosolli” Pickled Herring Salad