Its pomegranate season! No, not here, unfortunately. But in pomegranate-growing regions of the world it's pomegranate season. Which means that you can find both ridiculously over-sized spheres and almost sanely-sized organic versions of the explosive fruit all over Montreal. … [Read more...] about Barley-Pomegranate Salad
Beet, Carrot, and Apple Slaw
Generally, when I have a whole bunch of vegetables in my fridge and I don't feel like turning on the oven or getting out the cutting board, I ask myself, "How much of this can go in the food processor?" If the answer is "lots," I say, "Great!" and start shredding. No need to … [Read more...] about Beet, Carrot, and Apple Slaw
Don’t Cook That Pepper!
Did you see that green/red pepper in the Lufa Farms Fresh Basket this week? The short, sort of stunted-looking one? It's not stunted. It's just as it should be. All that big pepper taste compressed into one little pepper. I bit into it like an apple and it crunched. It crunched, … [Read more...] about Don’t Cook That Pepper!
How Not to Roast a Turnip, and Other Stories…
So those gorgeous black beets that came in the Lufa Farms Fresh Basket this week...are not beets. To my dismay, they're turnips, which I only discovered after an hour and 20 minutes of roasting... I don't think I should feel incredibly stupid because most people with a vegetable … [Read more...] about How Not to Roast a Turnip, and Other Stories…
Wine Recommendations of the Day: Whites and Golden Desserts from Bonterra, Chateau Isenbourg and Cazes
I stop stop my tasting at sparkling wines and reds. I threw in some whites. In fact, I tended toward the whites over the reds because trying reds without food is really hard. It's drying and tannic. But whites are fruitier, lighter. And dessert wines are...well, they're dessert. … [Read more...] about Wine Recommendations of the Day: Whites and Golden Desserts from Bonterra, Chateau Isenbourg and Cazes
Wine Recommendations of the Day: Rich Reds from Beringer, Cazes, and Chateau Le Puy
Well, I tried a lot more wines at the Grande Dégustation awhile back in Montreal, and it's about time I do some much needed advertisement for them. So in the spirit of sharing good spirits, I'm going to start up a mini-series on wine recommendations for all those Christmas … [Read more...] about Wine Recommendations of the Day: Rich Reds from Beringer, Cazes, and Chateau Le Puy
Bubbles and Fizz: Champagnes and Sparkling Wines at the Great Tasting
About a month ago I wrote about an upcoming wine salon called "La Grande Degustation" or "The Great Tasting." Media pass in hand I set out like a kid on Christmas morning to sample what the enormous wine and spirits salon had to offer at the Palais de Congrès. There were, in … [Read more...] about Bubbles and Fizz: Champagnes and Sparkling Wines at the Great Tasting
Sustainable Jerk Mackerel with Almond Pot Liquor
This recipe has nothing to do with: 1. Booze 2. Drugs 3. Mean-spirited people The cook stereotype makes me believe that many cooks out there will be upset about that as they enjoy the former two and are the latter...so if that's you, I'm sorry to disappoint. BUT! If you … [Read more...] about Sustainable Jerk Mackerel with Almond Pot Liquor
Part-Way Fixed: A World of Gluten Awaits (and Gluten-Free Honey Sesame Date Apricot Cookies)
I've burned through my gluten-free flour options in these last few months where I've been avoiding wheat. I made these gluten-free cookies with a mix of barley flour and chickpea flour, honey, sesame oil, dates and apricots. I made them in an attempt to satisfy my sweet tooth … [Read more...] about Part-Way Fixed: A World of Gluten Awaits (and Gluten-Free Honey Sesame Date Apricot Cookies)
Cardamom-Spiced Pumpkin Wedges with Lime
Ever want to be a gourmet cook only to realize the only thing you've got in your kitchen is a squash? Yeah, that happens to me all the time too. As it did the day I made this recipe. Actually, to be fair, I also had a lime and a jalapeno, and a cupboard full of spices, and one … [Read more...] about Cardamom-Spiced Pumpkin Wedges with Lime