Are there meals that you dream about from before the days of social distancing? I often dream of one in particular. I was sitting into a beautiful new restaurant in NDG in Montreal two years ago with a platter of duck legs, breast, wings, sausage and duck-fat-cooked potatoes in … [Read more...] about Slow-Roasted Duck Legs in Wine: Raspberries and Food Memories
Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free
Quarantine Cooking: Plant-Based and Non-Plant Based Pantry Staples from Beans to Quinoa to Sustainable Tuna
Even in self-isolation or for anyone practicing social distancing not feeling like heading to the grocery store, you're never exactly totally isolated or stuck with nothing but that bag of rice you bought ages ago. But if you don't feel like going out, don't have time for a … [Read more...] about Quarantine Cooking: Plant-Based and Non-Plant Based Pantry Staples from Beans to Quinoa to Sustainable Tuna
Ethiopian lentils, spinach, squash and pan-seared wild deer
I know, I know, this is not an accessible meal for most people. Who has access to wild deer? I was gifted some by a hunter friend. Lucky me, I know. Which is why I really didn't want to screw this up. I don't sear a lot of red meat since I very rarely eat beef, and cooking this … [Read more...] about Ethiopian lentils, spinach, squash and pan-seared wild deer
Dairy-Free Almond Yogurt Apple and Pear Streusel Tarts
What's a streusel tart? It's a pie with a crumbly topping instead of a top dough. It's a fancy name for an open-faced pie with crunchy bits of what's usually a brown sugar-nut combo. It's delicious. This recipe is a variation on a recipe from Brown Eggs and Jam Jars by Aimée … [Read more...] about Dairy-Free Almond Yogurt Apple and Pear Streusel Tarts
Chinese Healthy Soup: Ginseng and Other Adaptogens
I have a New Years tradition with a friend to make a giant pot of soup with a ton of vegetables from Chinatown, the reason being that after a late night of drinking it feels good to start the new year with something healthy, hot and easy to digest. And Chinatown is usually the … [Read more...] about Chinese Healthy Soup: Ginseng and Other Adaptogens
Kimchi Stew – Kimchi Jigae (pork-free)
When I saw that a pork-free kimchi stew won a best recipe award on The Guardian website, I figured it was time to use up the rest of my 2018 batch of kimchi and grab a box of tissues. The spicy stew is supposed to be earthy and rich and deep, but my versions in the past have … [Read more...] about Kimchi Stew – Kimchi Jigae (pork-free)
Pesto Potatoes Two Ways and Trout with Peach Salsa (aka à la Beau Mont)
Rarely is a meal that I make for myself as much about eating something pretty as it is about eating something delicious. But sometimes life just works out for the best. This dish of potatoes and trout is a prime example. I'd made a green pesto (I blended together basil, olive … [Read more...] about Pesto Potatoes Two Ways and Trout with Peach Salsa (aka à la Beau Mont)
Salt Baked Fish
You know when a restaurant charges you $40 for the whole grilled fish? That's a complete waste of my money. Whether it's a waste of yours depends on your income, inheritance, budget, your home's proximity to a good fish shop and the restaurant's sourcing and belief in … [Read more...] about Salt Baked Fish
All the Jams: Canning 2019
I was going to make separate posts about each type of jam and preserve I made this summer, but then realized that would be ridiculous. I made a ton of jam and pickles, from raspberry-blackcurrant-rosemary to gooseberry to mango-chili sauce, tomatillo salsa, pickled heirloom … [Read more...] about All the Jams: Canning 2019
Lobster Salad with a Sweet Basil, Chive and Lemon Vinaigrette
This is spring in a bowl. It's also fall and part of summer, depending on where you live. When lobster went on sale in the spring, I went on a spree, and tossed it with a bunch of my recently grown lettuce, chives, sorrel and basil shoots and some sliced cucumbers. It wasn't … [Read more...] about Lobster Salad with a Sweet Basil, Chive and Lemon Vinaigrette