If you think this is a cake only your grandmother would make, you have the world's best grandmother. Do you know what happens when you put a base of sugar below sweet, juicy fruit and bake it? It browns at the edges, so you get that chewier, almost crispy in places, caramel-y … [Read more...] about Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
Fruit
Balsamic Figs with Sheep’s Milk Cheese
The trick to this gorgeous appetizer is to find good figs. The rest is simple. But it's March! you say. Do you think a lot of figs grow in Montreal at any time of the year? My friend gets one per season, and the work she puts into burying that plant at the end of the growing … [Read more...] about Balsamic Figs with Sheep’s Milk Cheese
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
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
Horrible Mistakes, Getting it Right, and Peach, Tamarind and Tarragon Pie
Have you ever made a horrible mistake? I'm talking worse than starting a grease fire when your confit cooking goes awry. Worse than overcooking fish. Even worse than deflating mousse. Actually, if you type "disaster" in the search bar of my blog you'll come up with a whole slew … [Read more...] about Horrible Mistakes, Getting it Right, and Peach, Tamarind and Tarragon Pie
Seared Mackerel with Peaches (or Figs) and Ratatouille
I saw chef Becky Selengut make this at the Queen Anne Farmers Market in Seattle with peaches instead of figs last year. You can make it with either. Right now the Greek and California figs are in Montreal groceries. but so are Ontario peaches. The California peaches taste better, … [Read more...] about Seared Mackerel with Peaches (or Figs) and Ratatouille
Canning Class This Friday in Montreal: Homemade Organic Blueberry Jam
Ever want to learn how to make jam? Now's your chance. This Friday, Aug. 1st, from 11am-1pm I'm teaching my Canning 101 class. We'll be cooking down the organic Quebec blueberries I picked last week with just enough sugar and lemon juice to reduce into sweet, gel-ed … [Read more...] about Canning Class This Friday in Montreal: Homemade Organic Blueberry Jam
Seared Sustainable Arctic Char with a Garden Salad
I really wish my image uploader was working and you could see this fish and salad meal. Instead, I'm going to describe it to you: Think of light green spinach leaves, peppery arugula, and rippled sacred green basil, freshly pulled from the garden. Add the first tomatoes of the … [Read more...] about Seared Sustainable Arctic Char with a Garden Salad
Soft and Gooey Strawberry-Rhubarb Pudding Cake
Mmm...That's how every good recipe should start. With an unprompted verbal reaction to how good that dish was. Sometimes you need cake. Sometimes you need cake that's soft and sweet and tangy and buttery. And sometimes you need that cake quickly. That's not always easy when … [Read more...] about Soft and Gooey Strawberry-Rhubarb Pudding Cake