Citrus Roasted Cornish Hens

Citrus Roasted Cornish Hens
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Every year, I try to come up with celebratory meal ideas for my small immediate family. And in turn I share with you, just incase you need a small but elegant menu. This might not sound like a rebellious exercise but it is. Everything surrounding the holidays tends to be a go-big-or-go-home situation. Whole baked hams? Plentiful. Multi-rib roasts? Ubiquitous. A nice reasonably sized and priced piece of meat that still feels splashy and lavish? Not so much. That’s why I’m trying to be the change. You don’t need to have in-laws to impress or multiple mouths to feed to make a special meal. And these Citrus Roasted Cornish Hens are proof of that. They look and taste special. But they won’t leave you stranded in the kitchen for a day and a half and they won’t saddle you with leftovers for the rest of your natural life.

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Crispy Roast Chicken with Spicy Plum Sauce

Crispy Roast Chicken with Spicy Plum Sauce
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I know we’re not quite in Sunday roast territory yet. It’s currently 30° C here and I’m happy to bask in it. I am by no means trying to show summer the door. But I am starting to feel the tug of the comfort foods I left back in April. You know, plates of pasta, rich aromatic soups, a simple roast with lots of mashed potatoes? So, I decided to brave the hot oven and make this Crispy Roast Chicken with Spicy Plum Sauce. See? I at least stayed seasonal with the plums. And if you’re not ready to roast a chicken yet, I get it. Go throw another burger on the barbie and live your summer fantasy. But trust me, fall is coming and when it gets here, you’ll be happy this chicken is waiting for you. 

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Chicken Souvlaki Burger with Whipped Feta

Chicken Souvlaki Burger with Whipped Feat and Pickled Red Onions
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While few things can compete with a classic cheeseburger, it’s hard not to play with the burger template. From bun to patty to condiments and toppings, there is so much to play with on a burger. The flavor combinations are quite literally endless. From peanut butter pork burgers to hot sauce-soaked tofu numbers, I’ve taken the burger to some strange (potentially blasphemous) places over the years. But, oddly, I’d never thought to take the burger in a Greek direction. This is particularly strange given that I grew up next to a Greek family that owned a diner. Hopefully, today’s Chicken Souvlaki Burger with Whipped Feta makes up for this glaring oversight. The only thing I could think when I bit into this beauty was “What took me so long”? So let’s not wait any longer. Let’s make these beauties!

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Smoked Duck Split Pea Soup with Swiss Chard

Smoked Duck Split Pea Soup with Swiss Chard
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Spring is here at long last, so why doesn’t it feel like it? Well, it could be in full swing where you are, but here in Canada we recently shoveled our way out of a snowstorm. I wish I could say this was a freak incident. It is not. If you grew up in Canada, you’ve had your heart broken by a late March blizzard. You’ve probably also been burned by the ever-charming April version as well. So if spring snow is par for the course for us hearty canucks, we should be fine with it, right?! No. We’re grumpy and impatient as all hell, or at least I am. The only upside I see to this bonus winter is the opportunity to squeeze a few more comfort foods into the season. Dishes like today’s Smoked Duck Split Pea Soup.

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