French fries are beach food. At least, that’s how I see them. You might think of them as diner food or drive-through food or carnival food. But to me, they’re beach food. I used to get them, doused in vinegar of course, from beachside canteens in my youth. To this day, I can’t set foot on a patch of sand without craving fries. The craving only intensifies post-swim. These days, I’m not clocking much beach time. I’ve mostly been working on my snow shoveling technique. But I can’t help but fantasize about the warmer seasons to come. And it was during one of these daydreams that these White Bean Chili Fries wandered into my head.
Warm Duck Citrus Salad with Blood Orange Glaze

I despise winter. But I’m sure you already knew that. And now that we’re nearing the end of February, I’m starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. But it’s still far too far away for my liking, it’s practically a pinhole, which is depressing, to say the least. So what else can I do in this scenario other than crank up my SAD lamp and start up a new kitchen project like this Warm Duck Citrus Salad? Kitchen projects are the perfect distraction and really, in my book, the only alternative to staring out the window and crying at yet another dump of snow.
Apple Cheddar Lasagna with Spinach & Ricotta

Lasagna is one of those universally loved comfort foods. The classic Bolognese and bechamel pasta tower is a culinary force to be reckoned with. But I chose to reckon, I chose to play, and I chose to put apples in this classic. Some would call today’s Apple Cheddar Lasagna quirky, others would call it blasphemy, but I just call it a salty/sweet delight. So what are you looking at? Well, this lasagna features a mushroom and cheddar bechamel, shingles of Ontario-grown Honeycrisp apples, spinach mixed with ricotta, and a gooey melted mozzarella top. This lasagna is as delicious as it is offbeat. So let’s dig in.
Black Coffee Cake with Cappuccino Mousse

Happy Saturday, friends! It’s a long weekend here in Canada, so I thought this would be the ideal time to trot out a cake, and what a cake it is. This Black Coffee Cake with Cappuccino Mousse certainly puts the “coffee” in the term coffee cake. The cake is dense, chocolaty, and packed with coffee-soaked prunes resulting in a deep almost molasses-esque flavor. The cake is topped with a mountain of airy cream cheese and white chocolate mousse accented with yet more coffee and finished with chocolate-covered espresso beans. It’s an eye-opener and show-stopper all rolled into one. So let’s get into it.