If you're like me, zucchini have taken over your life. Maybe you don't have a community garden plot with four enormous zucchini plants, blossoms so big you thought they were squash and baseball bat-sized green summer squash hiding under thick green branches and enormous lily … [Read more...] about What Do I Do With That Zucchini?
Canning and Preserves
Nam Prik Pau! Thai Chile Jam That Packs a Punch
Every time I say the name of the recipe I picture graphic novel-style exclamations above me and I want to punch three times in various directions into the air — one, two, three! Basically I feel like a Thai warrior, not someone who just shallow-fried dried shrimp and fish, … [Read more...] about Nam Prik Pau! Thai Chile Jam That Packs a Punch
Three-Citrus Marmalade and Syrup
I love food lore and how so many traditions ring in the new year with something sweet. Like eating honey and apples at Rosh Hashanah or moon cakes at Chinese New Year. But the truth is that life isn't all sugar and spice and everything nice. There's a little bitterness in there, … [Read more...] about Three-Citrus Marmalade and Syrup
7th Annual Volk/Watson Extravaganza: The Pictures
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
Pickling Things
If your family isn't all that rambunctious at Christmas time and you find yourself with a little too much time on your hands to think about the season, it's time to pickle things. There's really no better way to distract yourself. Other things you could do: You could instead … [Read more...] about Pickling Things
Guest Post: Ruby Grapefruit and Crystallized Ginger Marmalade
Today I'm featuring a guest post by fellow Montreal blogger Hilary Morden. The great news is that her photos are tons better than mine! So for more, check out her site, Cocoabeanthevegetable.com. She's big into sweets but also big into balancing the sugar frenzy with healthy, … [Read more...] about Guest Post: Ruby Grapefruit and Crystallized Ginger Marmalade
Italian Marinated Eggplant Antipasto in Olive Oil
I gave a canning class today where we made pink grapefruit marmalade and carrot and cauliflower giardiniera. And if you've never heard of giardiniera, you're not alone...and you're not Italian. Italians have some great pickled vegetable recipes, one of the most popular being … [Read more...] about Italian Marinated Eggplant Antipasto in Olive Oil
Harrief: Some Seriously Funky Red Pepper Paste
When you meet a fellow preserver, one thing generally leads to another...and you end up talking about fermented pepper sauces. It's almost inevitable. So when I met the chef of Lapin Pressé, a very cute sandwich shop on Laurier Ave. and he found out I give canning classes, … [Read more...] about Harrief: Some Seriously Funky Red Pepper Paste
Zucchini Pickles and the Mighty Squash
It was a heck of a zucchini season, wasn't it? If you have no idea what I'm talking about, don't feel bad. For anyone who had giant leaves draping over trellises, weighing them down to the point of collapse, their two-foot-long fruit dangling above the ground, you get it. … [Read more...] about Zucchini Pickles and the Mighty Squash
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