Here's the recipe for my sweet potato tacos from the Vegan brunch pop-up of a couple weeks ago. The recipe has all my favourite food qualities: spicy chili pepper on the soft but almost crunchy roasted sweet potatoes, crunch from cabbage, sweetness and acid from the pickled … [Read more...] about Sweet Potato Tacos with Creamy Roasted Poblano Pepper Salsa and Sweet Pickled Shallots
Small Bites and Spreads
Japanese Kentucky “Fried” Chicken
This was by far the crowd favourite at the annual Christmas party. Turns out that KFC is a traditional Christmastime treat in Japan, so I reinvented it for the "International Christmas" menu. If you have time, marinate the chicken overnight instead of 10 minutes beforehand and … [Read more...] about Japanese Kentucky “Fried” Chicken
Karelian Pasties: Savoury Finnish Pastries with Creamy Rice Custard Filling
I didn't know a Finnish person was coming to the annual Christmas party! I made these Finnish pastries, pinching the edges as I rolled the dough over the cooled rice and egg filling, thinking that no one would mind if they were ugly and bland. I didn't expect someone to walk into … [Read more...] about Karelian Pasties: Savoury Finnish Pastries with Creamy Rice Custard Filling
3 Days for Fermented Sriracha (and Chinese chili paste with sesame oil)
Raw foodists will scoff at fermenting and then boiling this hot sauce. Why go to all the trouble creating that healthy bacteria if you're just going to kill it and drown it in vinegar? Well, raw foodists, I do it because the recipe says so, and in a pickling or fermentation … [Read more...] about 3 Days for Fermented Sriracha (and Chinese chili paste with sesame oil)
Nun’s Island Farmers Market Recipes: Spiced Eggplant Confit and Deconstructed Greek Salad
Today I'm at the Nun's Island Farmers Market cooking in the fall chill. I guess I should be pan-grilling pumpkin with parsley and lemon zest, but I'm staying less autumnal with olive oil-simmered eggplant and a tomato-heavy Greek salad. It was about time I took advantage of the … [Read more...] about Nun’s Island Farmers Market Recipes: Spiced Eggplant Confit and Deconstructed Greek Salad
Baked Not-Raw Carrot-Flax Crackers: What to do with leftover vegetable pulp from juicing
Stop yelling at me, raw foodists! I'm not sorry these weren't raw. Baking is so much easier, and I wanted to dilute the amount of flax with this lovely, nutty lentil flour I have from Cuisine Soleil for my gluten-free baking classes. Plus I don't own a dehydrator, which would … [Read more...] about Baked Not-Raw Carrot-Flax Crackers: What to do with leftover vegetable pulp from juicing
Home, and Stuffed Caihua with Huacatay Sauce
There are a handful of things that feel strange after leaving Peru yesterday. 1. Drinking from a water fountain 2. Throwing toilet paper in the toilet 3. Having hot water come from a tap 4. Turning on the heat 5. Seeing a mango on my kitchen counter 6. Worrying about unwashed … [Read more...] about Home, and Stuffed Caihua with Huacatay Sauce
Three Salsas and the Ultimate Guacamole Recipe
I hate red or white onion in guacamole. Green (scallions) are acceptable since they're mild and add visual appeal without leaving you with onion breath. Fresh garlic has no place here either. Lemon is not lime no matter what they call it here in Peru. Key limes are the best for … [Read more...] about Three Salsas and the Ultimate Guacamole Recipe
Sweet Potato Pancakes with Spicy Soy-Lime Dipping Sauce and Avocado
I made a soup once that was a combination of everything good - it was sweet, salty, spicy, and sour all at once. Since that day, those four combined flavours have been my goal for all things excellent, especially when it comes to sweet potato. Now any time I eat sweet potato I … [Read more...] about Sweet Potato Pancakes with Spicy Soy-Lime Dipping Sauce and Avocado
Thumbprint Cookies and Slow-cooker Sugar-free Raspberry Jam
What I learned from a rotary evaporator was that reducing liquids at very low temperatures saves their flavour. Not that the rotary evaporator stood in front of a classroom of able-minded cooks and told me that. Instead, I tasted it in the spherified orange juice that looked like … [Read more...] about Thumbprint Cookies and Slow-cooker Sugar-free Raspberry Jam