Beet Pickled Cauliflower Salad

Beet Pickled Cauliflower Salad
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I am slowly but surely embracing the coming fall. There was a chill in the air when I woke up this morning and I didn’t hate it. I felt awake and I got to wear my favorite leather jacket. People watching at this time of year is always so fun. There is literally no consensus on the proper seasonal attire. You might see one couple in jeans and turtlenecks and another in bike shorts and T-shirts. The in-between outfits are my favorite. Pairing a cable-knit sweater with flip-flops isn’t an easy sartorial feat but I’ve seen several people try. This is a season of transition. And today’s Beet Pickled Cauliflower Salad is the perfect transitional salad. It’s filled with earthy yet fresh flavors, seasonal produce, and nutty farro. It has weight and depth while still being a refreshing salad. So let’s get into it.

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Apricot and Olive Focaccia with Honey & Pistachios

Apricot and Olive Focaccia with Honey and Pistachios
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Summer may be winding down but I’m going to keep the picnic and patio food coming. As a Canadian, I am hearty when it comes to cold weather. I will gladly sit on a patio deep into November. And if apricots were in-season that far into the fall, I would happily eat this Apricot and Olive Focaccia while I did it. This bread is studded with fresh apricot wedges and Kalamata olives before being baked to golden perfection. It is then glazed with honey while it’s still hot and sprinkled with crushed salted pistachios. Focaccia may be traditionally billed as a starter but this focaccia eats like a meal. In fact, I ate half of this for dinner and it was a solid choice all around.

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Puttanesca Potato Salad

Puttanesca Potato Salad with Olives and Capers
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Today I bring you a briny, creamy hybrid of a dish, that I’m almost shocked worked out so well. Say hello to the Puttanesca Potato Salad. What you’re looking at here is tender baby potatoes dressed with a sauce of blistered cherry tomatoes accented with anchovy and dry vermouth and studded with black olives and capers. The salad is finished with a dollop of mayo and fresh parsley and dill. The result is a pitch-perfect mash-up of a rudely named pasta dish and a much beloved and indulgent BBQ side. This is such a good one, so let’s dive right in.

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Prosciutto and Brie Panzanella with Cornichons

Prosciutto and Brie Panzanella with Cornichon
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Spring has finally arrived in earnest. And in true Ontarian fashion, we’ve skipped spring and have gone straight to summer. Well, not quite. I’m sure we’ll take a quick dip back into depressing temperatures before summer truly arrives. But for the time being, my fellow Torontonians and I are enjoying plus 20°C weather as only sun-starved Canadians can. Pouring ourselves onto packed patios in deeply seasonally-confused outfits. As for me, this surprisingly hospitable weather has inspired some intense salad cravings. I know, not what you’ve come to expect from me. To be fair, I’m craving salads like today’s Prosciutto and Brie Panzanella, so I’m not completely off-brand here.

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