Rhubarb and Cod

Four Mushroom Saffron Pici

March 23, 2023 1 Comment

The calendar may say spring but the weather is giving me undecided. I will admit that early spring is a step up from winter but, I mean, is it really all that hard to be better than winter? My point is this, with the weather still flip-flopping, patio season is still on hiatus. So I will not be posting sun-soaked patio snacks until you can actually make them and enjoy them with your friend without digging out your thermals. Instead, I have today’s Four Mushroom Saffron Pici. Thick rustic strands of hand-rolled pasta dressed with a simple four-mushroom sauce spiked with dry vermouth and finished with a sprinkling of shredded Parmigiano Reggiano. And yes, I did say “hand-rolled”. You’re looking at a cozy kitchen project designed for those chilly mixed precipitation spring days. So let’s get into it!

Confections, Dessert

Citrus Punch Pavlova

March 16, 2023 No Comments

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It’s March Break in my neck of the woods, which means everyone and their dog is on vacation. Basically, all my social feeds are flooded with pictures of palm trees, tranquil seaside sunbeds, and carefree shots of delectable beach snacks and ice-cold bottles of beer. None of these photos belong to me. I’m still in frosty Toronto thanking my lucky stars that spring snow rarely accumulates. Yes, that’s what I’m currently reveling in. This is why Canadian dig out their cut-off jean shorts the moment the temperature hits 10°C. But just because I’m not sunning myself on a beach somewhere doesn’t mean I can’t manifest the tropics in my own backyard or kitchen, in this case. Today’s Citrus Punch Pavlova is a sunkissed sugary delight. Filled with a bright and sunny Five-Alive-inspired curd, this dessert will instantly transport you to sunny shores.

Fish & Seafood, Soups & Stews

Miso Clam Chowder

March 9, 2023 No Comments

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Today’s recipe is a little riff on a family favorite. I, like most people who grew up on the East Coast of Canada, grew up eating fish and seafood chowder. My grandmother always made a huge pot whenever and wherever the entire family congregated. Naturally, the chowder was always accompanied by a fresh batch of tea biscuits. I often say that this combo would be my preferred last meal. It is perfect, so why mess with it? Well, because I can’t help it. It’s not in my nature to leave well enough alone. Today’s Miso Clam Chowder is not an improvement of a childhood favorite because you can’t improve upon perfection. This is not an attempt to elevate, this is playtime. Delicious playtime, I might add.

Grains & Legumes, Pork, Salads

Warm Barley Salad with Kielbasa

March 6, 2023 No Comments

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Salads can be a tough sell in the winter. The weather is depressing so cozy comfort food is all we really want. And “cozy” doesn’t generally apply to a salad. And the ingredients required for a salad? Well, let’s just say there’s a reason winter produce isn’t particularly celebrated. But if your definition of the word “salad” is lenient, and it really should be because “salad” is a surprisingly broad term, you can in fact make a cozy salad. And today’s Warm Barley Salad happens to be a prime example of that fact.