Last week I went to the SIAL Canada Show in Toronto. It describes itself as a “one-of-a-kind opportunity to set yourself apart from the competition as you learn about innovative ideas and breaking trends in the agri-food industry!” But you know me. I went for the food. I’m not interested in the prepackaged products like pasta [...]
I’m often asked to recommend cookbooks as gifts for someone’s mother-in-law, sister, aunt, neighbour, co-worker, friend visiting from far off foreign lands. I feel a bit like I’ve been asked to select a paint colour for their living room without seeing the house let alone knowing how many people live there. Sure, I could point [...]
Wanted: Nouns As cooks, we have enough verbs – although whether or not we should use them is up for debate. Knife in hand, you can mince, chop, dice, slice, Julienne and pare. Got at spoon? Stir, beat, cream, fold or spread. Add some heat and the options seems limitless — brown, fry, sear, sauté, [...]
Step right up! Step right up! Don’t be shy. Nothing to be afraid of. Just a little numbers game. Everyone’s a winner. Every. One’s. A winner! Looking for that one food, that one special ingredient that will make you taller, smarter, lighter, brighter, wealthier and more good-looking? Well, look no further. I have something here [...]
These are not anemic raisins. Their botanic name is Physalis peruviana, but you can find them in health food stores under many different names — golden berries, Inca berries, cape gooseberries, or ground cherries to list a few. No matter what the manufacturer calls them, these harmless-looking berries should come with a flashing, neon warning label that [...]
Last year, instead of posting resolutions, I created a Culinary Bucket List. This guilt-free, inspiration-filled list was meant to push my boundaries while putting a few delicious dishes on my table. Then I got a book deal and swapped a deadline for the list. Despite my egregious miscalculations in time management, I’m claiming a triumph on [...]
The baking is done. The gifts are wrapped and the cat has gotten into the holiday spirit. I’m off to drink eggnog and visit with family and friends for the next few days. Until then, wishing you all a very safe, happy and love-filled holiday season. Google+
I had planned on ignoring the whole New York Times article with its provocative title “Cooking Isn’t Creative, and It Isn’t Easy.” Alex Halberstadt’s article profiles Christopher Kimball and gives a behind-the-scene look at Cook’s Illustrated. I was ignoring it. I had my La-La-La-I-Can’t-Hear-You fingers stuffed firmly in my ears, and was avoiding the Food [...]
At my parent’s 50th anniversary party, they shared the secret to their long and happy marriage: Never wallpaper together. I think those were simpler times. We don’t have a strip of wallpaper in the entire house, but require an elaborate and potentially expensive system to maintain marital bliss. It’s kept us going through a kitchen [...]
Do not adjust your screen. These eggs really are light blue. And ivory. And beige. And speckley brown. And yes, that big one in the middle is pointy at both ends. My cousin Jude and her husband brought eggs from their backyard coop when they came to celebrate my mom’s 80th birthday this past weekend. [...]
