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Smoky Bacon and Kale Gratin

Smoky Bacon and Kale Gratin

Marriage often requires compromise. After almost 10 years, Andrew and I have sorted out the domestic chores, bill payments, and even litter box duties. Yet despite impressive and extended negotiations, we remain deadlocked on certain foods. Andrew loves anything bacon and groans at almost anything 

I’m on CTV today

I’m on CTV today

If you’re at home or have a TV recording device (VCR, PVR, DVR, JFK LMONP or whatever) I’m in Kitchener today on CTV’s News at Noon. I’ll be saving the world (or at least South Western Ontario) from senseless cooking disasters. Tune in as I 

Cast-Iron Skillet Chicken

Cast-Iron Skillet Chicken

I’m filing this skillet chicken under “Why didn’t I think of this?” This dubious looking chicken is one of the best I’ve ever had. Moist, juicy and with an impossible crisp skin. It also won me over with its simplicity. I made this in between 

Making and Breaking the Culinary Rules

Making and Breaking the Culinary Rules

Barb Freda is my kind of cook. She has firm opinions about cast iron frying pans, loves to break long-held culinary rules, and spells my name right. What more could you want in a fellow food writer? Not much, except perhaps to be invited along 

My Mother’s Hands | Lemon Curd Recipe

My Mother’s Hands | Lemon Curd Recipe

These hands turn 80 this summer. These hands have picked strawberries, made jam, kneaded bread, rolled pastry. They have decorated birthday cakes, anniversary cakes and wedding cakes. They have changed diapers, washed clothes, sewn dresses, mended seams, darned socks, stitched buttons, ironed pleats. They have 

My French Rolling Pin

My French Rolling Pin

This is my French rolling pin. It doesn’t have easy-grip handles. It doesn’t have ball bearings. It isn’t made from cold, heavy marble. It’s just a smooth, tapered piece of hardwood. For years I wondered why anyone would choose this style over the comfy-handled version 

Moroccan Lemon Chicken with Preserved Lemons

Moroccan Lemon Chicken with Preserved Lemons

Some days you just have to take a deep breath and say, “Well, it tasted great!” The day I broken open my stash of  preserved lemons was one of those days. With bright yellow lemons and deep green mint, I thought I could turn out 

Tips on Cooking Fish and Kitchen Disasters App Winners

Monday. One of the most maligned days of the week. According to the Mamas and Papas, not only is Monday untrustworthy, it will leave you crying. All of the time. Now I can’t have that. So below is a list of the people who won 

Recipe: Butter and Maple Blondies

Recipe: Butter and Maple Blondies

According to my mother, I have loved butter ever since I was old enough to sneak a one-pound brick of it out of the grocery bag, quietly peel back the foil, lick off a good inch, rewrap the evidence and slip it back in the