Chestnut Stifado
If you’re familiar with Greek cuisine, then you’ve heard of Stifado. It’s a slow cooked dish usually containing lots of onions, spices and either rabbit or hare. In modern Greek cooking, beef or veal have also become a favourites. Like many cuisines, there are regional differences and such is the case with this Cretan inspired […]
Feta Brined Turkey Breast, Chestnut Stuffing and Make Ahead Gravy
American Thanksgiving is coming up this Thursday and Christmas is just over a month away. Both dinners center around a roast turkey plus whatever fixins’ and sides you may prepare plus some ethnic dishes that your family likes to serve on special occasions. Our holidays will be different this year – smaller gathering and that […]
Not So Secret Burger Sauce
If you love burgers, you’ve probably had a Big Mac or if you’ve been to California, an In N’ Out Burger. This sauce is more like the latter, a fave when I’m making burgers at home. Not So Secret Burger Sauce 1/2 cup mayo 2 Tbsp. relish 3 Tbsp. ketchup 1 1/2 tsp. sugar 1 […]
Banana Bread French Toast
Earlier this week, I shared my mom’s Banana Bread recipe and many have already made it…and love it! Like any breads, they can get a little stale but no fear – French toast is here for the rescue. I’ve seen many diners offer up a banana bread French toast and if you haven’t tried it […]
Jerk Pork
About 10 years ago, here in Scarborough (east Toronto), there was a Jamaican take- place that served Jerk chicken and many of the other usual offerings. What set this eatery apart from the others was that the guy served Jerk Pork….not all Jamaican eateries offer this. This joint was owned/operated by a Chinese-Jamaican gent and […]
Slow Cooked Succulent Salmon
I love fish and seafood. Here in Canada we have a good selection of local lake fish, then fish from the Atlantic and Pacific. Found all around the world, we also have wild-caught and farm-raised salmon. Pound for pound, fish cooks quicker vs. meat so it’s important not to overcook fish. Last year I discovered […]
Sea Urchin Pasta
This first time I saw sea urchins was in Halkidiki (where our family’s summer home is), clinging to rocks under the sea. Another sea urchin memory was eating them on the half-shell with a squeeze of lemon juice in Mykonos (summer ’92). Fast forward to 2009, first visit to Crete and I have a big […]
Politiko Baklava
I’ve been making this version of Baklava for a few years. There are many styles and varieties but this one is my favourite. A round tray is used, I have a diagram below that demystifies how to cut the baklava pieces into diamonds and when you look at the whole pan, it looks like a […]
Banana Bread
Old time mama recipe here…taken out her hand written recipe book. You know it has to be good! This is a straight-forward recipe, comes together in the time it takes your oven to pre-heat. If you’re a novice baker, these types of recipes are the ones you try out as there is no yeast and […]
Creamy Scalloped Potatoes
You know a side dish is a winner when you can eat it like a main courser. Such is the case with Scalloped Potatoes – I love them! My earliest memory of scalloped potatoes was when my relatives in Hamilton, Ontario purchased a Banquet Hall/restaurant complex. There was a restaurant, many banquet halls and even […]