Starters Archives - Page 6 of 12

Jalapeño Cold Pack with Onion Bagel Chips

December 5, 2022 No Comments

Every year for the month of December I post a holiday menu centered around a particular theme. Last year was an ode to seafood, which was a celebration of my maritimer roots. This year I’ve decided to look back once again but in a more personal way. This year’s theme is nostalgia. And no, that doesn’t mean I’ll be posting a turkey with all the trimmings, not that there’s anything wrong with that. When I say nostalgia I mean personal nostalgia. Dishes from my past holidays were either memorable one-offs or treats enshrined in family rituals. But of course, this wouldn’t be Rhubarb and Cod if they were faithful recreations. Expect twists galore as always. First up is this Jalapeño Cold Pack with Onion Bagel Chips.

Snacks, Starters, Vegetarian

Curried Pumpkin Croquettes with Mint Chutney

November 17, 2022 No Comments

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I adore appetizers. It’s probably because I have the attention span of a gnat. I love small bites of many things. Committing to a full serving of anything sort of feels like settling. Especially when you have plenty of choices in front of you. I would rather order the full run of starters on a menu than a solitary main. And yes, I realize this is far from sane. Most people would rather have a ribeye than a side order of focaccia. But that’s not important. What is important is I love to design appetizers. From dips and canapes to sliders and skewers, tiny food is when my heart is. And today’s Curried Pumpkin Croquettes with Mint Chutney are some of my best work.

Curries, Snacks, Starters, Vegetarian

Curried Red Lentil Hummus

October 17, 2022 1 Comment

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Hummus is a staple food in this house. My fridge feels naked without it, truth be told. And no, it’s not always a from-scratch gourmet situation. I’m not above grabbing a tub at the grocery store, particularly when I make the mistake of shopping while hungry. But when my stomach isn’t roaring and I have the gift of time and forethought, I prefer to make my hummus from scratch. And if I’m feeling adventurous, I like to fiddle with it quite a lot. Not all my hummus adventures are noteworthy. Some of them are noteworthy for less than positive reasons. But today’s Curried Red Lentil Hummus is a winner through and through. So let’s jump right in!

Breads & Rolls, Sides, Snacks, Starters

Apricot and Olive Focaccia with Honey & Pistachios

August 18, 2022 1 Comment

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.