Normally I change a recipe in some way to adapt it to my needs. This one I kept exactly as is. It's from Food in Jars, the websit I trust the most for canning. This woman is a canning guru, and her website offers tons of recipes, tips, and canning wisdom. I call this "Heinz on … [Read more...] about Tomato Jam (aka “Heinz on Crack”)
Dairy-free Mussel Chowder
What's chowder without milk or cream? After reading Mark Kurlansky's "The Last Fish Tale" I'm happy to say it's "authentic." When there was no milk or cream to be had in the Northeastern United States, you used water. So this chowder, cooked for me by lovely people in PEI, was a … [Read more...] about Dairy-free Mussel Chowder
My 11-Lobster Kill Count and Voyaging East
I just spent 8 days in the maritimes. I didn't make it home to Newfoundland (not a maritime province - it's an Atlantic province), but I did make it to lots of places where cars slow down when you even think about crossing the street. I traveled with the band I play with to … [Read more...] about My 11-Lobster Kill Count and Voyaging East
Post-Mortem on the “Souk” at Just for Laughs and the Problems with Street Food
Don't get me wrong, I actually think the outdoor food counters that were set up for a few weeks at the Place des Festivals in Montreal during the Just for Laughs comedy festival were ground-breaking and of very high quality in general. This was not processed pig parts and pink … [Read more...] about Post-Mortem on the “Souk” at Just for Laughs and the Problems with Street Food
Blueberry Sorbet and the Return of Il Gelataio 1600
I'm a little obsessed with blueberries. I'm also a little obsessed with sorbet. And I'm definitely obsessed with frozen blueberries in any form; I could eat them by the sugar-concentrated handful or blended with a simple syrup and processed in this wonder of a loaned machine. … [Read more...] about Blueberry Sorbet and the Return of Il Gelataio 1600
More Salad for the Lemon-Anchovy Vinaigrette
When you're one person you end up with leftover salad dressing often. You can't toss the whole salad with the dressing like you want, but you also don't have to make a new dressing every day. The lemon-anchovy vinaigrette lasts about 3 days in the fridge, so on day two I chopped … [Read more...] about More Salad for the Lemon-Anchovy Vinaigrette
A Summer Salad: Sugar Snap Pea and Red Peppers with Lemon-Anchovy Vinaigrette
First, a note: Don't get scared off by anchovies. The fish flavour isn't strong. Mostly it's just there to add salt and...depth? Try it and you'll understand. It's the "umami" of the dish. The lemon zest completely overwhelms it. Imagine that it was called "Lemon Vinaigrette with … [Read more...] about A Summer Salad: Sugar Snap Pea and Red Peppers with Lemon-Anchovy Vinaigrette
When it Gets So Hot That All You Want is Cucumber Juice
That actually happened. I never thought it would, but it was 35 Celcius for about a week and I didn't have air conditioning. I do have systems in place, like reading at the Chapters on Ste-Catherine Street in the slightly air-conditioned basement, and spending time in the McGill … [Read more...] about When it Gets So Hot That All You Want is Cucumber Juice
The Santropol Roulant Pocket Market and Stellar Black Bean Chili
When they say pocket, they mean it's small. At first I thought it was just a poor translation or something, but no, it's just tiny. 3 vendors were there the day I went, plus Santropol Roulant's fresh vegetables. But three phenomenal vendors: 1 sold vinaigrettes, red coconut … [Read more...] about The Santropol Roulant Pocket Market and Stellar Black Bean Chili
Nordic Shrimp Creole adapted from the New York Times Cookbook
Nordic as in the shrimp, not as in the flavours of the recipe. There's no sour cream or dill involved, thank goodness. Just lots of tomatoes, peppers, celery and onions with salty capers, bright lemon peel, warming cloves and calming thyme. There's also eggplant to give it a lot … [Read more...] about Nordic Shrimp Creole adapted from the New York Times Cookbook