Holiday Archives - Page 8 of 13

Horseradish Green Bean Casserole with Pakora Onions

October 8, 2021 No Comments

And just like that, it’s Thanksgiving weekend. Well, it’s Canadian Thanksgiving. Apologies if I inspired any panic attacks among my American readers. I always look at our Thanksgiving as the kick-off to the holiday season. This is more or less our practice run. A chance to revisit and hone our mashed potato technique, brush up on our pastry skills, and remind ourselves that we can indeed arrange a mildly attractive cheese plate. We need this proofing ground this year more than ever. Some of us will be dusting off our stemware for the first time in a long time. So before I launch into the nuances of this Horseradish Green Bean Casserole, I want to assure you that we’ve totally got this.

Holiday, Overthinking Classics, Poultry

Dry Brined Roast Chicken – Overthinking Classics

August 29, 2021 No Comments

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A few weeks ago, I announced a video new series called Overthinking Classics. The premise of the series is simple, I do what I do best and overanalyze and overexplain well-loved classic dishes. Our first episode explored the magic that is Coconut Cream Pie. So for our second installment, I decided to take things to the dinner table and create a centerpiece of a meal. Roast chicken is one of those dishes every omnivorous cook should have in their arsenal. It’s a very approachable introduction to roasts and it creates a manageable amount of food. And chicken, unlike its turkey cousin, is very forgiving. But even with its forgiving nature, there are a number of things you can do to take your chicken to the next level. So let’s dive right in and overthink our way through crafting this Dry Brined Roast Chicken.

Grains & Legumes, Holiday, Pies & Tarts, Vegetarian

Pinto Pot Pie with Dill Puff Pastry

April 2, 2021 No Comments

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When I was in university, I briefly flirted with vegetarianism. It was actually a fairly simple transition for me. I’ve always been more of a carb and cheese person than a meat person. But whenever any holiday approached, I would get lax in my resolve. I would bend the rules to allow a hunk of glazed ham here and a slice of prime rib there. I wasn’t proud of it but in my defense the vegetarian options on most holiday tables, well, suck. It’s not your host or hostess’s fault, by the way. For pretty much all of human history, feasts have been organized with roasted meats at the center. But making something festive and vegetarian-friendly doesn’t have to be a herculean effort and this Pinto Pot Pie proves that.

Cakes, Confections, Cookies & Squares, Holiday

Five Spice Gingerbread Cake with Chestnut Cream

December 23, 2020 No Comments

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Many thoughts ran through my head while I was constructing this Five Spice Gingerbread Cake. “Why am I doing this to myself?” was the loudest and most insistent among them. This whole over-the-top exercise began when I got the “fun” idea of doing a gingerbread diorama on a cake. And once that idea took root in my brain, I knew I was in trouble. I don’t make gingerbread – I’ve never even attempted a prepackaged house kit before this. And my experience with royal icing is…scant. But I’m stubborn, so I persevered and I am so glad I did.