How To

How to Cook Dried Beans and Legumes Pre-pandemic, the main objection I heard regarding cooking dried beans was, "But it takes soooo long!" Well, now that many of us have a bit time, I thought I'd revisit the topic with an updated post. Even if you're...

Buttermilk scones are easy to make and endlessly versatile. They are unique in the quick-bread world since they are actually a pastry. But don't let that scare you. They're very easy to make. I share variations of this basic recipe in many of my classes,...

As I stand at the counter during cooking demos, hands coated in flour and bits of dough on my apron, someone inevitably asks about gluten-free baking. They have a family member, friend, or colleague who can’t/won’t/doesn’t want to eat gluten and they’ve no idea what...

I often have a box of phyllo in the fridge - “just in case” I “need” to make appetizers. When I do,  I fold them into triangles, roll them into logs, and even stuff them into muffin tins for little “bundles”. When I’m too lazy to...

I've decided to change the idiom from "watching paint dry" to "waiting for sugar to caramelize". It doesn't roll off the tongue, but it's a fair description of the process. This recipe for Burnt Caramel Nut Brittle calls for deeply caramelized sugar. While it doesn’t...

In June, Amy Bronee came to town for a book signing at The Bookshelf. If her name is familiar, she’s the author of The Canning Kitchen and writes the Family Feedbag blog. While I had only to stroll a few blocks from my home, several food bloggers drove from out...

I’m on CTV News at Noon today, making Deep Dark Cherry & Chipotle Brownies and hopefully not too big a mess. This recipe graces the cover of my book and is a hit with people who love a bit of heat with their chocolate. That...

Phyllo is that shattery pastry found wrapped around many Greek and Middle Eastern treats. Thin as tissue paper, it’s notoriously hard to make from scratch. While it has a reputation of being finicky to work with, it’s surprisingly co-operative if you treat it graciously. I didn’t...

Not everyone reads the comments section, so I thought I'd start a separate post to share the conversation I've been having with Barbara about chicken stock. Barbara has moved to a small apartment and is re-learning to make stock without $7 stewing hens and a...

Avgolemono soup might be hard to say but it's incredibly simple to make. It's so easy, you can make it when you're sick and wobbly and barely able to stand without sneezing so hard you knock yourself over. I proved that the other day. Being on...