This one is a bit tricky. You need a lot of time, patience, and desire, but I think the pay-off is worth it. If you don't like the taste of coconut, make the dulce de leche with all almond milk, but know that it will take much longer to thicken (maybe an extra half hour or 45 … [Read more...] about Peruvian Desserts: Layered dairy-free dos leches (two milks) cake with caramel dulce de leche and coconut whipped cream
Honey & Maple Syrup
Dinner Party Menu Ideas, from Indian Ven Pongal or Lamb Saag to Ancho Chili-Rubbed Salmon with Sweet Chili Hollandaise
I have a saying: "You can't choose your family, but you can choose your dinner guests. I do think my family makes up the majority of my blog readership, however, so I'd better be careful what I say! So let me tactfully start by saying honestly that I love cooking for family. As … [Read more...] about Dinner Party Menu Ideas, from Indian Ven Pongal or Lamb Saag to Ancho Chili-Rubbed Salmon with Sweet Chili Hollandaise
“Plenty” of Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Parsnips, Tomatoes and Capers
I've used the "plenty" pun in a title before, but with significantly more disastrous (and less delicious) results. So I wanted to give this one a more positive spin since I really do love this cookbook by Yotam Ottolenghi. The capers are not optional. Only use roma tomatoes … [Read more...] about “Plenty” of Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Parsnips, Tomatoes and Capers
Is There Such a Thing as Too Many Whole Yellow Peas?
The answer is clearly "yes," unfortunately. But one more recipe for the local legume won't kill you. And this one doesn't have anything funny in it like mango powder. The best part? Garlic slices that turn sweet in the broth. You can slow-cook or oven-bake this dish. And though I … [Read more...] about Is There Such a Thing as Too Many Whole Yellow Peas?
Curried Pumpkin Seeds with Garam Masala
When you cook something with pumpkin or squash (such as Thai pumpkin stew) and you spend all that time removing the seeds and the muck, it's a shame to just throw out all the protein. Ok, chuck the muck, but keep the seeds. I went through a pumpkin seed stage and then realized I … [Read more...] about Curried Pumpkin Seeds with Garam Masala
Thai Pumpkin Curry with Mackerel and Fish Sauce
I wrote about how I was gifted a pumpkin at a farmers market. Well, a girl can't live on pumpkin smoothies alone, try as she might. And I didn't try very hard. So I ended up with half a pumpkin to cook. And that, dear reader, called for pumpkin stew. but I don't really like your … [Read more...] about Thai Pumpkin Curry with Mackerel and Fish Sauce
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
Thanksgiving 2012 – The Photos
Wow. What a dinner. The brined turkey tasted like amazing pho' broth soaking into the most tender meat. The stuffing with gluten-free bread absorbed it all too, with just a little smokiness (others said. I couldn't taste the smoke), maybe from the oven, which was smoking, or from … [Read more...] about Thanksgiving 2012 – The Photos
Pumpkin Pie Smoothie
When you're gifted a sugar pumpkin from an organic farm as thanks for using their leeks in a cooking demo at a farmers market, the world becomes your culinary oyster. Okay, maybe my world. Maybe most people's worlds turn into a black hole of worrisome thoughts along the lines of, … [Read more...] about Pumpkin Pie Smoothie
Bourbon and Maple Syrup-Soaked Japanese Pears (and Peaches)
At the Columbia City Farmers Market in Seattle I met a man selling Japanese cucumbers. Now, I have a friend in Montreal who asked me to grow him Japanese cucumbers once because they're impossible to find there. So when I saw them at the market, I was intrigued. They're less … [Read more...] about Bourbon and Maple Syrup-Soaked Japanese Pears (and Peaches)