Avocado BLT Fresh Rolls with Warm Bacon Nuoc Cham

Avocado BLT Fresh Rolls with Bacon Nuoc Cham
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It seems I can’t let a summer pass without making fresh rolls – a couple of rounds at least. And because I am a weirdo, I am incapable of making any of the traditional versions. Don’t get me wrong, I love the rice paper rolls from my local Vietnamese place and I have enjoyed a shrimp roll or two in my day. But as far as I’m concerned, these classic rolls are best when they’re made by seasoned hands. My lemongrass chicken rolls will never approach the perfection I get from Pho Challenge up the street from me. So, I mess with the fillings and what I have learned from my experiments is anything you can put in a sandwich you can put in a rice paper roll. And these Avocado BLT Fresh Rolls are further evidence of my findings.

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Raspberry Margarita Icebox Pie with Coconut Granita

Raspberry Margarita Icebox Pie with Coconut Granita
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The sun has been eluding us lately. Aside from this past Saturday, it’s been nothing but cloudy skies and the occasional downpour. I’m not necessarily complaining. It’s far more favorable than the untenable heat and dry conditions affecting the country’s west coast. But still, long stretches of grey can make even the most optimistic of souls a little blue. And it’s July, the month I wait for all year. So to have crap weather at this point feels almost personal. But I refuse to feel hard done by. It’s a waste of energy especially when you can make your own sunshine in the form of this Raspberry Margarita Icebox Pie.

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Molasses Glazed Pork Chops with Fava & Fingerling Hodge-Podge

Molasses Glazed Pork Chops with Fava and Fingerling Hodge-Podge
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I’m two weeks deep into my fully vaccinated life and I’m starting to feel the rush of familiarity. I ate on a patio this past Monday and I just booked my tickets home at long last. The everyday joys of my pre-pandemic life are creeping back in. And bigger ticket items, like travel, are no longer flights of fancy – pun very much intended. So in honor of my approaching return to Nova Scotia, I present this plate inspired by my beloved home province – Molasses Glazed Pork Chops with Fava and Fingerling Hodge-Podge.

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Tirokafteri Pasta Salad with Crushed Pita Chips

Tirokafteri Pasta Salad with Crushed Pita Chips
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Of all the things to love about summer, pasta salads easily make my top 10. I think they are the perfect food. They have all the carby comfort of a hot bowl of mac and cheese in February. But they are also capable of being as crisp and refreshing as a bowl of coleslaw. And pasta is just as versatile in a salad bowl as it is in a skillet. It can take on any fruit and veggie you throw at it. Soak in any dressing your imagination can dream up. And cozy up to any main event on your dinner plate. Or, if your me, pasta salad can dominate your dinner plate. Today’s Tirokafteri Pasta Salad is capable of delivering a full-meal-deal experience but it can also play nice with others.

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