This is not wine from a kit. There are no commercial yeasts involved. No artificial flavours or chemical preservatives. I never thought I'd make wine, but once you make ginger beer and start exploring Sandor Katz's fermentation bible, Wild Fermentation: The Flavor, Nutrition and … [Read more...] about Homemade Persimmon Honey Wine
All Recipes
Gluten Free and Dairy Free (And Some Vegan) Japanese-Inspired Desserts: Uncle Tetsu’s Cheesecake, Tiramisu, Bananas Foster Pudding Cake, Strawberry Mousse Cake and Chestnut Layer Cake
For the 9th Annual Volk/Watson Christmas Extravaganza, I kept with the Japanese theme (mostly sushi) and created light-as-air pastries and cakes. That's not easy when you're gluten free and dairy free. I can't remember the last time I ate cheesecake or tiramisu, two of my … [Read more...] about Gluten Free and Dairy Free (And Some Vegan) Japanese-Inspired Desserts: Uncle Tetsu’s Cheesecake, Tiramisu, Bananas Foster Pudding Cake, Strawberry Mousse Cake and Chestnut Layer Cake
The 9th Annual Volk/Watson Christmas Extravaganza: Sushi (and a Surprise!)
If you've been reading my blog for awhile, you'll know that every year my family has a massive Christmas party in Newfoundland called an at-home, where friends and friends-of-friends drop by for a few hours in the afternoon on their way to other Christmas parties, most likely. … [Read more...] about The 9th Annual Volk/Watson Christmas Extravaganza: Sushi (and a Surprise!)
Teriyaki BBQ Unagi (aka How to Cook an Eel)
Did you know that unagi on a sushi menu means eel? There sure ain't no Caterpillar in your Caterpillar roll. Instead, that's generally eel that's been grilled, slathered in teriyaki sauce, vacuum-packed sous vide in plastic, frozen, shipped half way around the world, defrosted … [Read more...] about Teriyaki BBQ Unagi (aka How to Cook an Eel)
Kimchi 2016 (Plus fried rice and kimchi jigae recipes, aka “what to do with the rest of last year’s batch”)
There's no better way to warm up on a cold day than with spicy-hot kimchi! Good thing I have an annual tradition of making approximately 18 litres of the Korean red pepper cabbage ferment with my friend Joel. But in preparation for the day-long event, I had to eat the rest of … [Read more...] about Kimchi 2016 (Plus fried rice and kimchi jigae recipes, aka “what to do with the rest of last year’s batch”)
Thanksgiving 2016: Spatchcocked and BBQ-ed Turkey
What a glorious Thanksgiving it was! Sure, these are photos from Canadian Thanksgiving and I'm just getting around to posting them now, but maybe I can inspire our southern cousins with spatchcocked BBQ-ed turkey, Ottolenghi's roasted potatoes and Josée di Stasio's … [Read more...] about Thanksgiving 2016: Spatchcocked and BBQ-ed Turkey
The Great Pumpkin (Don’t Have A Baby, Have A Market, Part 2): Buttered Mashed Squash, Butternut Soup, and Home-Made Pumpkin Pie
If you missed part 1 of this series, you'll want to check out the picture of the baby-less, but squash-filled carriage. Summer markets may be over, Hallowe'en long gone, but squash are still abundant. And my point about having a market and not a baby is that if you only had one … [Read more...] about The Great Pumpkin (Don’t Have A Baby, Have A Market, Part 2): Buttered Mashed Squash, Butternut Soup, and Home-Made Pumpkin Pie
Everyday Chinese Stir-Fried Chicken with Bok Choy and Snow Peas
Look at those peas. Aren't they gorgeous? Those peas and bok choy were not bought in a grocery store. I picked those myself, and felt almost bad stir-frying them until I saw how bright green and delicious this recipe made them. The recipe is incredibly simple, and it's not … [Read more...] about Everyday Chinese Stir-Fried Chicken with Bok Choy and Snow Peas
Greek Dolmades: Vegan, Healthy and Local (if you Forage the Vine Leaves)
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)
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