Leftover Pastry Dough – The Roly-Poly

Leftover Pastry Dough – The Roly-Poly

Being born at the height of The Depression, my mother never wasted food. When there wasn’t enough leftover pastry dough to top a chicken pot pie, she made a roly-poly.  She made them so often and with such authority, I assumed the roly-poly was the natural 

Rum Vanilla Extract and Butter Rum Shortbread

Rum Vanilla Extract and Butter Rum Shortbread

The vanilla extract on the left is full of seeds and has a whole pod in the bottle. The vanilla beans on the right are fresh, fragrant and supple enough to knot. Both products are Really Horrible. Seriously. They’re from Really Horrible Enterprises located in Ottawa, ON. 

Classic Snacks Made from Scratch – Graham Crackers

Classic Snacks Made from Scratch – Graham Crackers

These quotes wrap around the bulkhead in Casey Barber’s kitchen. I like that she’s not afraid of orange, or irreverence, or figuring out how to get the cream filling inside a homemade Twinkie®. Her book, Classic Snacks Made from Scratch: 70 Homemade Versions of Your Favourite 

Rosemary Almond Crackers

Rosemary Almond Crackers

So-and-so can’t touch gluten. Whatshisface is allergic to eggs. Dairy gives Thing-gummy a rash. And Hoojicky? Garlic sensitivity. Happy Holidays, indeed. I feel for you. I do. Having been on both sides of this equation (I have played the role of allergic guest and accommodating 

Words of Wisdom from Chef Michael Smith and Bacon Candy

Words of Wisdom from Chef Michael Smith and Bacon Candy

Eleven minutes and ten seconds into our half-hour interview, Chef Michael Smith uttered the most honest, excuse-free cooking advice I’ve heard in a long time. I don’t have much patience for those who say they can’t cook. A hundred thousand generations have cooked. It’s a 

Hazelnut Sandwich Cookies

Hazelnut Sandwich Cookies

Hazelnuts. Filberts. Cobnuts. This tasty kernel goes by many names. I’m going to add one more to its repertoire and dub it the “hasselnut.” Because of the bitter skin, hazelnuts require a bit more work than pecans or walnuts. They need to be roasted and 

Fig and Olive Tapenade

Fig and Olive Tapenade

I almost feel like I’m cheating on this one. It’s far too easy to be this tasty. But on second thought, it’s a perfect illustration of Eric Akis’s approach to food. It delivers what he calls “obtainable goodness”, is suitable for all levels of cooks, 

Canada’s Favourite Recipes

Canada’s Favourite Recipes

I could tell you I have always dreamed of being invited to Elizabeth Baird’s home, but I’d be lying. The thought was simply too grand to have ever occurred to me. Seems I have been thinking small without knowing it. Last week, I had the honour 

Instant Strawberry Frozen Yogurt

Instant Strawberry Frozen Yogurt

This frozen yogurt has four ingredients. Four healthy ingredients. Yet it tastes like something you’d treat yourself to after a hard afternoon of gardening. Or in my case, after a hard night’s sleep. I had it for breakfast the other day instead of my usual