Lobster Roll Panzanella

Lobster Roll Panzanella
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When I was growing up, lobster was the food of the summer. Every Canada Day, my family would set up picnic tables lined with newspaper and tear into freshly cooked lobsters with wild abandon. With varying levels of dexterity, we’d all wrestle the meat out of their shells and immediately dunk the morsels in melted butter. We were never more ambitious than that. Just simple fresh lobster and hot butter. But now that I have the annoying responsibility of buying my own food, I’ve been searching for ways to make this admittedly pricey treat stretch further. This Lobster Roll Panzanella is my current favourite solution.

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Strawberries and Cream Panna Cotta

Strawberries and Cream Panna Cotta
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I’m a day late for Canada Day but at least my dessert is appropriately dressed. This Strawberries and Cream Panna Cotta features a luxurious panna cotta with layers of suspended fresh strawberry jelly. I made my panna cottas mini because I find them easier to serve this way. But you could easily use a larger (roughly 3 cups) mould and slice and serve like a cake. The cross-section would be quite the reveal when served this way. But with individual panna cottas, breaking into one would be its own personal mini surprise. I guess it all depends on how much of a showboat you intend to be. No judgment, I like to showboat as much as the next ham. 

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Smashed Cucumber Dumpling Salad with Peanut Kimchi Dip

Smashed Cucumber Dumpling Salad with Peanut Kimchi Dip
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Even when you cook for a living, you need the occasional easy win. Cooking is the love of my life; my true passion. But that doesn’t mean I’m above a convenience meal or two. Particularly when it is as delicious as this Smashed Cucumber Dumpling Salad with Peanut Kimchi Dip. This dead-simple salad features veggie dumplings seared to golden perfection and tossed with smashed cucumber, kimchi, shaved red onion, and jalapeño rings dressed in a simple soy vinaigrette. To add to the low-key luxury, I invited peanut butter and kimchi juice to the party. Sound good? Good! Let’s make it!

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Creamy Scallion Udon Noodles

Creamy Scallion Udon Noodles
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Noodles will forever be my ultimate comfort food. No matter what corner of the world they’re from or what sauce or broth adorns them, I want to slurp ’em. You could say I’ve never met a noodle I didn’t like. I’ve met a few that had room for improvement, sure. But an inedible noodle? I doubt their existence. And to celebrate this fact, I have some highly edible noodles for you today. These Creamy Scallion Udon Noodles, to be exact. This relatively simple dish features chewy udon noodles swimming in a scallion-rich coconut broth, garnished with scallion curls, sesame seeds, and a sprinkling of wild violet petals. 

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