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!)
Slow-Cooker
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
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
Sweet and Spicy Slow-Cooker Turkey with Pinto Beans
I kind of cheated on this one. Instead of making a sauce, I just threw in a bunch of my frozen Heinz on Crack (sweet and spicy tomato jam). So if you make this recipe, don't replace it with ketchup or salsa. It won't be the same. The bones you see are the ones I took the meat … [Read more...] about Sweet and Spicy Slow-Cooker Turkey with Pinto Beans
Indian White Bean Coconut Curry
I have a secret. I'm a lactose-free eater who hates coconut. "Oh my God! What ice cream do you eat?" you ask – the obvious question. Either Solo Fruit Sorbet, So Delicious almond ice cream (though for legal reasons it's called "non-dairy frozen dessert") or I make my own almond … [Read more...] about Indian White Bean Coconut Curry
Misnamed “Womp Rat Stew” (Slow-cooker Spiced Lamb and Spinach) for the 8th Annual Volk/Watson Christmas Extravaganza
I didn't create this recipe for womp rat stew. Womp rats are small creates that Luke talks about bullseyeing growing up on Tatooine. According to the Star Wars Wiki, the dish is sometimes called mystery stew and was served at Jun Seros' diner in Mos Eisley, Tatooine. But I got it … [Read more...] about Misnamed “Womp Rat Stew” (Slow-cooker Spiced Lamb and Spinach) for the 8th Annual Volk/Watson Christmas Extravaganza
Riffing on Josée Di Stasio’s Red Lentil Stew
This red lentil stew is inspired by the du Puy lentil version in Josée di Stasio's cookbook À la di Stasio. I swapped in red lentils for the brown, mint for parsley and added red peppers, turmeric and potatoes. Stew is, after all, forgiving. You could also pressure cook it to … [Read more...] about Riffing on Josée Di Stasio’s Red Lentil Stew
The Ultimate Vegetarian Chili and Lessons from a Party Hosting Pro
It was 9:30pm and I was eating my third bowl of vegetarian chili. I could have made excuses, like "it was a cold bike ride," or "I have no personal insulation," or "I haven't eaten all day!" But the bike ride had been two hours before and the last one about not having eaten was … [Read more...] about The Ultimate Vegetarian Chili and Lessons from a Party Hosting Pro
Three Slow-Cooker Recipes and Throwing Off Winter with Lamb Tajine, Tequila Chicken Tacos and the Ultimate Tomato Sauce
Was that snow falling outside my window the other day? I refuse to believe that those big pillows of fluff weren't hallucinations. There's no way we're subzero and it's not even November yet. My general rule is that if it's not worse in Newfoundland than here in Montreal at any … [Read more...] about Three Slow-Cooker Recipes and Throwing Off Winter with Lamb Tajine, Tequila Chicken Tacos and the Ultimate Tomato Sauce