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Root of it All: Fall Vegetable Pot Pie with Gouda Biscuit Crust

Nov 20, 2017 · 6 Comments

This is a sponsored post on behalf of Dairy Farmers of Canada.

Winter took its sweet time coming this year, but when it came, it came with a vengeance, complete with blustery winds and artic chill and snow flurries. Thank goodness those big oversized blanket scarves are still in fashion this year!

To compensate, I’m busting out the hardcore cold-weather comfort food, starting with these hearty vegetarian pot pies filled with toothsome chunks of roasted vegetables in a creamy sherry-spiked sauce.

And to make them extra-cozy, I’ve topped them off with the most deliciously cheesy biscuits you’ll ever have the privilege of putting in your mouth....

A-Maize-Ing Grace: Red Pepper, Corn and Bacon Risotto

Jul 27, 2017 · 8 Comments

It occurred to me the other day that it's been ages since I last shared a risotto recipe. And by ages, I mean nearly five freaking years, which is way way way too long, especially when you consider that I make risotto at least once a month.

Yeah, I know. Fancy lady makes risotto once a month. How faaaaaancy. La-dee-dah.

Just hear me out....

Berry Love: Grilled Strawberry Camembert Flatbreads

Jun 30, 2017 · 8 Comments

This is a sponsored post on behalf of Dairy Farmers of Canada.

There are so many things I love about June. There’s the extra-long days and late-evening sunshine, the warm (but not-too-hot) weather, the return of the little neighbourhood farmers market, and both my birthday and my wedding anniversary to celebrate.

This year, there was one more thing to love about June – our featured Canadian cheese for this month just happens to be one of my personal all-time favourites!...

No Bowl, Only Stick: Honey-Ginger Salmon Skewers with Cucumber Salad

Jun 2, 2017 · 11 Comments

This is a sponsored post on behalf of Litehouse Foods.

The last couple of days, I've been walking around with this really annoyingly catchy song stuck in my head, and no matter how hard I try to shake it loose, it just comes right back. I'm honestly starting to think it's going to be stuck in there forever.

I kind of feel that way about this recipe, too. This idea of beautifully glazed salmon skewers on a pile of lacy cucumber spirals has been stuck in my head ever since I saw these gorgeous Sweet Chili Salmon Skewers over on Killing Thyme. It's the kind of combination that's full of delicious contrasts - rich and buttery vs. fresh and crisp, hot vs. cold, pale coral pink vs. vibrant green....

Main Squeeze: One Pan Meyer Lemon Chicken Bake

May 19, 2017 · 4 Comments

There's something about this time of year that makes me crave roast chicken (case in point, this other one-pan spicy roast chicken I posted just over 5 years ago).

I guess it's because it feels like the perfect food to straddle the hearty comfort foods of winter with the lighter flavours of spring and summer.

This particular take on roast chicken feels like the perfect in-between dish for an in-between season.

There's plenty of crispy-skinned chicken and golden roast potatoes to help satisfying that comfort food craving, along with slices of Meyer lemon and whole asparagus for a pop of bright spring sunshine.

The kicker is a vibrant Meyer lemon and grainy mustard dressing that's drizzled on at the end to tie it all together. (Can't find Meyers? No problem... regular lemons are a perfectly fine substitute.)...

Melt With You: Cubano Grilled Cheese

Apr 26, 2017 · 8 Comments

This is a sponsored post on behalf of Dairy Farmers of Canada.

I don’t think I could ever pick a single favourite food, but cheese definitely rates high on the list - which is why I’m super-excited to be joining the Dairy Farmers of Canada’s new Canadian Cheese of the Month club, where I’ll be discovering (and sharing!) a new Canadian cheese each month.

While most people don’t necessarily think of cheese as an iconic Canadian food, we actually make some mighty fine artisanal cheeses, ranging from traditional options like brie or gouda, to less traditional cheeses that are as diverse as the cheesemakers who make them....

Mash Up: Guinness Beef and Mushroom Shepherd's Pie

Mar 14, 2017 · 18 Comments

Sometimes, the most wonderful things happen when you start with two great things and combine them together into one glorious whole that's so much more than the sum of its parts.

Take, for example, Johnny Cash covering Nine Inch Nails. Or Girl Talk's entire discography. Or Glittens. Or Breakfast poutine. Or Calculator watches.

OK, scratch that last one. Calculator watches are actually more lame than the sum of their parts, which are already pretty lame to begin with....

For Ariel: Roast Pork Tenderloin with Spicy Chickpea Stew

Feb 7, 2017 · 8 Comments

On January 19th, we said goodbye to Ariel, our scrappy little tabby cat.

Ariel first came into my life in 2003. She was already two years old by then, but so small and scruffy that I first mistook her for a kitten - a scant 8lbs of pure stubbornness, with a scrappy personality that far outweighed her tiny size....

Dude Food: Root Beer Pulled Pork Sliders (Slow Cooker or Instant Pot)

Jan 13, 2017 · 14 Comments

Happiness comes in many forms for me. Sometimes it's the simple stuff, like a page-turner of a book with a really satisfying ending, or that one sip of coffee that's just the right temperature. And sometimes it's the big stuff, like spending a week in Paris eating all of the cheese and drinking all of the wine, or finally getting a big project ready to go at work.

When it comes right down to it, though, my biggest source of happiness is all wrapped up in one person. The one guy who still makes my heart go pitter-patter after more than 10 years.

Sure, he has a bad tendency to lose track of time, he loads the dishwasher all wrong, and he doesn't have six-pack abs... but he's still perfect to me. He's patient and kind, he tells wonderfully terrible jokes, and he's pretty much the only thing that's kept me sane through the crap life has thrown at me these last few weeks....

A Meating of the Minds: Never-Fail Eye of Round Roast

Dec 23, 2016 · 63 Comments

This is a sponsored post on behalf of Ontario Corn Fed Beef. Thanks for supporting the brands that help to keep the Crumb test kitchen running! All opinions are entirely my own, as always.

Once upon a time, long long ago, there was a girl who had no idea that not all steaks are created the same.

So she decided to buy a package of cheap eye of round steaks (half the price of ribeye = twice as much beef... perfect for a hungry yet impoverished student!) and proudly cooked them up to a perfect medium-rare... only to have to spend a good 5 minutes chewing a very tough first bite.

That girl has since learned that ribeye and strip loin are best for quick grilling, while eye of round requires a little more TLC.

That said, it's a cut of beef that's well worth making friends with, because it's both lean and flavourful. Not to mention it's conveniently easy on the budget, too!...

Short and Sweet: Soy-Braised Korean Short Ribs

Dec 14, 2016 · 6 Comments

This is a sponsored post on behalf of Ontario Corn Fed Beef. Thanks for supporting the brands that help to keep the Crumb test kitchen running! All opinions are entirely my own, as always.

Winter took its sweet time coming along this year, but come it did, all snowy and blustery and cold.

And according to the 5-day forecast, it's about to get even colder. Like, the kind of cold that will have me seriously considering quitting my job so I can move to Mexico for the next few months....

Takeout Fakeout: Healthier Ginger Beef Stir Fry

Nov 30, 2016 · 9 Comments

This is a sponsored post on behalf of Ontario Corn Fed Beef. Thanks for supporting the brands that help to keep the Crumb test kitchen running! All opinions are entirely my own, as always.

I have many vices. I drink too much coffee, I own too many shoes, I read horribly trashy books... and I have a bad habit of ordering Chinese takeout when I'm not in the mood to cook.

The only problem with ordering takeout is that it's not particularly good for my pocketbook or for my waistline....

Jalapeno Business: Chunky Chuckwagon Chili

Oct 21, 2016 · 11 Comments

This is a sponsored post on behalf of Ontario Corn Fed Beef. Thanks for supporting the brands that help to keep the Crumb test kitchen running! All opinions are entirely my own, as always.

Every season has its rituals.

Spring is all about rediscovering fresh local produce after a long winter, and eating as much rhubarb as I can stand. Summer is about barbecues, corn on the cob, juicy ripe tomatoes and peaches, and big fat salads. Winter is about slow braises and hearty soups simmered for hours on the stovetop while the cold wind blows outside.

And fall? For most people, it might be about apple cider or pumpkin spice... but for me, it's not really fall until I've made my first pot of chili....

Bird is the Word: Citrus and Herb Roasted Turkey Breast

Oct 12, 2016 · 5 Comments

Thanksgiving totally snuck up on me this year.

Maybe it’s the fact that it’s been so unseasonably warm, maybe it’s the fact that baseball season went into October, or maybe it’s the fact that lately my life has been even more hectic than usual, but I totally forgot the long weekend was on its way until the very last minute....

Have a Cow, Man: Southwest Steak Cobb Salad

Sep 25, 2016 · 14 Comments

This is a sponsored post on behalf of Ontario Corn Fed Beef. Thanks for supporting the brands that help to keep the Crumb test kitchen running! All opinions are entirely my own, as always.

And just like that, it's fall. At least, that's what my calendar says, though I'm still refusing to accept that summer is well and truly over.

Sure, I may have packed away my light summer dresses and put on a pair of socks this morning for the first time in months, but it's going to be strawberries and peaches and corn in my kitchen for at least a week or two before I'm willing to finally move on to squash and apples and pears....

Chop It Like It's Hot: Indian-Spiced Lamb Lollipops with Mint Pesto

Sep 17, 2016 · 9 Comments

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Loblaws Companies Inc.. All opinions are 100% mine.

Poor lamb. It gets such a bad rap because so many of us first experienced as a gamey overcooked hunk of meat with nothing to enhance its flavour besides a blob of suspiciously emerald-green mint jelly. Ugh.

It doesn’t have to be like that, though. When it’s treated just right, lamb is a wonderfully flavourful and tender cut of meat.

All you need to achieve a perfect result is a boldly spiced marinade, the right cut of lamb, and a really hot grill. Easy peasy.

...

Sock It To Ya: Sockeye Salmon Patties with Green Goddess Aioli

Jul 15, 2016 · 10 Comments

I often like to joke that salt cod runs through my veins, but the reality is that I actually don’t make fish at home all that often.

Not because I dislike it (quite the opposite, in fact), but rather because I always seem to forget to swing by the fish counter when I'm doing my grocery shopping.

These tasty little fresh salmon cakes have me changing my tune, though. They're made with fresh sockeye salmon, one of my favourite options for fresh, sustainable fish....

Easy Peasy: Early Summer Frittata with Peas, Garlic Scapes and Shiitakes

Jun 21, 2016 · 8 Comments

Every time I make a frittata, I find myself wondering why in the heck I don't make frittatas more often.

I mean, what's not to love? They're stupidly easy to make, they don't require any fancy ingredients or techniques, and the leftovers taste just as good (if not better) the next day.

And best of all, once you've mastered the basic recipe, you can pretty much throw in whatever odds and ends you've got kicking around in the crisper.

Honestly, the hardest thing about frittata is getting the spelling right. (Am I the only one who puts the double-t in the wrong place every. freakin'. TIME?)...

Kick Some Asparagus: Brown Butter Gnocchi with Asparagus and Peas

Jun 14, 2016 · 14 Comments

After the long, boring stretch of root vegetables and storage apples that is winter produce in Ontario, it’s always a lovely day when I spot the first of the local asparagus. It’s the surest sign that spring is officially upon us, and that summer’s bounty isn’t far behind.

The tall green stalks might just be one of my favourite of all the seasonal spring vegetables.

Left to my own devices, I could happily eat them for breakfast, lunch and dinner until the season is over without ever getting bored. (And thankfully, asparagus is versatile enough that I could probably get away with three meals a day, too!)...

The (Lemon)grass is Always Greener: Lemongrass Tofu Banh Mi Sandwiches

Jun 10, 2016 · 8 Comments

One of my favourite things about living in Toronto is the mind-boggling variety of authentic ethnic restaurants that is available to us.

From Ethiopian injera to Trini doubles to Japanese ramen to Portuguese custard tarts to Korean barbecue, you can travel around the world without ever leaving the city limits (and in some cases, all in the same neighbourhood!)

Vietnamese food, in particular, makes regular appearances on the rotation, and not just because some of the best pho and banh mi joints in town are a short downhill bike ride away.

(Though, to be honest, I'd probably go even more often if it wasn't for the fact that the short downhill ride there means there's a much longer uphill ride home, which feels extra-long when you've got a belly full of pho.)...

Say Cheese: Savoury Herbed Ricotta Waffles

Feb 26, 2016 · 9 Comments

I know what you're thinking. Don't savoury waffles kind of defeat the purpose of making waffles in the first place? Waffles are just a means to convey large amounts of maple syrup into your belly, right?

(OK, maybe that's just what I'm thinking.)

The thing is, it's worth taking a walk on the savoury side sometimes. I promise, these here waffles are so tender and fluffy and downright delicious that you won't miss the syrup one bit....

Twist and Sprout: Brussels Sprout and Bacon Pizza

Nov 24, 2015 · Leave a Comment

It's often said that the ability to compromise is essential in a relationship.

However, like most other essential things in life (including flossing every day, paying bills on time, filing your taxes, making your bed, and calling your mother every once in a while because she worries), it's often easier said than done.

Thankfully, the compromises between me and the Mister have been few and far between, especially in the food department. I humor his weird obsession with street meat (as Torontonians fondly call the grilled hot dogs you can buy from vendors on the street), and he humors my belief that oatmeal is a delicious breakfast food as opposed to a good substitute for spackle....

Wrap Star: Moroccan-Spiced Grilled Lamb Wraps

Aug 31, 2015 · 14 Comments

Well, heck. How is the end of August already?

I know that some people think the end of August is also the end of summer, but I'm not really to give up just yet.

There just haven't been enough of those must-have summer moments.

Not enough long bike rides to nowhere in particular, after-work drinks on streetside patios, or lazy weekends lounging in the backyard while the cicadas buzz in the background. Not enough impromptu watermelon seed spitting contests, or tall glasses filled with iced tea and clinking ice cubes.

And most of all, definitely nowhere near enough barbecuing....

Fell In Love With a Grill: Jerk Pork and Pineapple Skewers

Jun 17, 2015 · 4 Comments

There's something beautifully ironic about hovering over a hot barbecue in the middle of winter, but that's exactly how I spent a cold, blustery February evening earlier this year.

No, I'm not one of those crazy year-round grillers, though plenty of my countrymen (and women) will happily light up their grills even when we're knee-deep in snow.

However, thanks to the Weber Grill Academy, I got to experience the joys of winter grilling in their state-of-the-art indoor training facility. It's basically a barbecue enthusiast's dream come true, filled with a dozen or so gas grills, charcoal grills, and even a couple of Smoky Mountain drum smokers....