Chickpea Pita Salad with Sweet & Sour Date Vinaigrette

Chickpea Pita Salad with Sweet & Sour Date Vinaigrette

It’s been a week. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you why? I’m sure your stress levels are also high and your spirits low. But hey, we’re surviving even if we’re not necessarily thriving. I’m not ashamed to say I’ve leaned on comfort food quite a lot this past week. I submit my previous post for Chili Fries as evidence of this. So, as this emotionally draining week drew to a close, I actually found myself craving a salad. And I’m pleased to say, this Chickpea Pita Salad with Sweet and Sour Date Vinaigrette was exactly what my overwrought nervous system wanted and needed.

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White Bean Chili Fries

White Bean Chili Fries
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French fries are beach food. At least, that’s how I see them. You might think of them as diner food or drive-through food or carnival food. But to me, they’re beach food. I used to get them, doused in vinegar of course, from beachside canteens in my youth. To this day, I can’t set foot on a patch of sand without craving fries. The craving only intensifies post-swim. These days, I’m not clocking much beach time. I’ve mostly been working on my snow shoveling technique. But I can’t help but fantasize about the warmer seasons to come. And it was during one of these daydreams that these White Bean Chili Fries wandered into my head.

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Warm Duck Citrus Salad with Blood Orange Glaze

Warm Duck Citrus Salad with Blood Orange Glaze
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I despise winter. But I’m sure you already knew that. And now that we’re nearing the end of February, I’m starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. But it’s still far too far away for my liking, it’s practically a pinhole, which is depressing, to say the least. So what else can I do in this scenario other than crank up my SAD lamp and start up a new kitchen project like this Warm Duck Citrus Salad? Kitchen projects are the perfect distraction and really, in my book, the only alternative to staring out the window and crying at yet another dump of snow.

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Apple Cheddar Lasagna with Spinach & Ricotta

Apple Cheddar Lasagna with Spinach and Ricotta
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Lasagna is one of those universally loved comfort foods. The classic Bolognese and bechamel pasta tower is a culinary force to be reckoned with. But I chose to reckon, I chose to play, and I chose to put apples in this classic. Some would call today’s Apple Cheddar Lasagna quirky, others would call it blasphemy, but I just call it a salty/sweet delight. So what are you looking at? Well, this lasagna features a mushroom and cheddar bechamel, shingles of Ontario-grown Honeycrisp apples, spinach mixed with ricotta, and a gooey melted mozzarella top. This lasagna is as delicious as it is offbeat. So let’s dig in.

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