Recipe: Southern Fried Chicken

It's winter - with all those layers on, no one will even notice you put on a few pounds of winter insulation.  Go ahead, have some fried chicken.... you know you want to!!

Recipe: Spicy Corn Chowder

Brrrr... It's getting cold outside, and what's warms you up better than a nice bowl of soup? Why, spicy soup of course!  Everyone seems to think making soup is complicated.  This soup require so little effort and time - and you will never find soup this good in a can!

Recipe: Bacon Mac n' Cheese

Bacon - it's like music for all my senses.  The sizzle, the smell, and best of all the taste!  Add it to a classic comfort food like mac n' cheese and miracles happen!  Just because you ate boxed cheesy pasta as a child, doesn't mean you need to continue to suffer with fluorescent powdered cheese as an adult!  We all deserve better!

Recipe: Chicken Liver Pate

Oscar Wilde observed that women are like sausages "If one is to thoroughly enjoy the experience it is better not to watch their preparation".  Ok, so these aren't sausauges... but cooking with livers should not be analyzed too deeply.   Just enjoy the results!  This is a very easy recipe (I know I always say that, but it's true!) and your guests will be very impressed.

Recipe: Oven Roasted Pulled Pork

The humble pig is one of my favourite animals to eat.  There are endless ways to enjoy it - with pulled pork, being arguably one of the best! Unless you are a barbecue pitmaster, the idea of pulled pork can be a bit intimidating.  This recipe is fool-proof and done in the oven.

Recipe: Spicy Quinoa with Black Beans and Tomatoes

Quinoa (pronounced keen-wah) - every one's new favourite (and gluten free!) health food.  Although it is often lumped into the "whole grains" category, it's actually not a true cereal or grain.  In fact, it's more closely related to spinach and beets! Weird, I know....

Recipes: Stuffed Bell Peppers

Stuffed peppers - another great comfort dish.  An edible container of meat and rice, smoothered in tomatoey goodness! Delightful (sigh..)  This is a super easy dish, and you won't complain about all the leftovers!

Recipe: Lean Italian Meatballs & Basic Tomato Sauce

What is it about meatballs? Every meat-eater, young or old, likes them.  Maybe it's the shape, maybe it's nostalgia... memories of your nona making them.... Well, my grandmothers never made them! Though I also didn't call her "nona"! Anyhow, here is a lighter version of a old classic - it's made with ground turkey!

Recipe: Hummus

Hummus, the popular  Middle Eastern dish.  The name is often spelled in various ways and comes from the Arabic word for chickpeas - and making it couldn't be easier!

Recipes: Guacamole and Salsa

Salsa and guacamole are two delicious and versatile Mexican sauces.  Great with tacos, quesadillas, chips - or just on a spoon! I love serving the salsa over some grilled meat or fish too.

Recipes: Souvlaki and REAL Tzatziki

When most people think of Greek food, they think of souvlaki with tzatziki - and why not?  Classic, simple, and delicious!  Don't eat this before a big date though! G-A-R-L-I-C....please don't come and breathe on me!

Recipe: Outside-In Mini Burgers (with Cheese & Bacon!)

So the long weekend is here, and what better to do than eat until you can't move?  And what is better to eat than burgers?!  These burgers are stuffed with bacon and cheese - which is always a wonderful surprise!

About a pound of meat with make about 8 thick mini burgers. If you are serving other food, 2 per person is more than enough.  Also, I do not suggest using lean ground beef.  A juicy burger needs some FAT!

psst... I have to confess, the picture on the left is not my actual burger - we ate them all before I could take a picture! Sorry.

Techinique: Pan Seared Fish

This technique works for just about any type of firm fish fillet.  Here I used halibut but it would work well with cod, bass, salmon, etc. 

Recipe: Chili

Chili - as the name suggests, this dish is packed with some heat!  If you haven't trained your taste buds and stomach to handle this type of fire yet, you can reduce the amount of chili pepper and powder. 

Recipe: Gnudi (Ricotta Dumplings)

Gnudi with Wild Mushroom Sauce

Yes, the "g" is silent - like gnaw, gnome, and gnocchi.... In fact, gnocchi and gnudi are close cousins - gnudi comes from southern Italy and replaces potato with ricotta.  This recipe is foolproof.  Sure you can get gnocchi from the grocery store, but these are on another level! Light and moist... like little clouds dancing across your tongue.  Say "No!" to dry, dense, rubbery pasta!

Recipe: Banana Pancakes

Banana pancakes.... they really do exist!  If you have your own pancake recipe or make your own pancakes regularly, this will be noticeably different - both while you're making them and when you finally eat them! 

Recipe: Rabbit Ragù

Confused by the title and the picture?  These fellas are so adorable but most people are okay with eating chicken.  So why are people so weirded out about eating rabbit?  Rabbit is a sustainable meat choice and also incredibly lean and healthly.  But enough with the lecture.... ragù is a meat sauce typically served with pasta. There are various different types based on region. This version uses rabbit, but lamb is also very delicious, and I won't hold it against you if you want to use beef. 

Recipe: Veal Goulash

Goulash is a Hungarian meat stew seasoned by paprika.  There are many different varieties of parprika and substituting here will really change the flavour.  In Hungary, or at least so I'm told, they use "parprika cream" which comes in a tube and is a puree of paprika and bell peppers.  So unless you are a frequent visitor of the eastern European country, we will have to make our own paprika cream here!

Recipe: Perfect Mashed Potatoes

Sure, I know what you're thinking - Who can't make mashed potatoes?  But these aren't ordinary mashed potatoes.  Really good mashed potatoes are more than just the literal definition of the name, sort of like scrambled eggs (and haven't we all had some bad scrambled eggs?) 

Recipe: Roasted Beet Salad with Goat Cheese

Woah!  Have I been having a lot of fried food lately.  I need to give my arteries and my waistline a rest!  This is a simple but elegant way to enjoy roasted beets.  The sweetness of the beets, the creaminess of the goat cheese, and the peppery arugula are a perfect combination!

Tip: Beets can be dressed in the vinaigrette in advance. Avoid assembling the salad until the last minute to prevent the arugula from wilting and staining the goat cheese.

Techinique: Roasting Beets

Beets - they get a bad wrap.  Poor things.... A lots of people have bad memories of their parents forcing them boiled or pickled beets as a child.  But beets can be delicious, especially when roasted.  Roasting concentrates their flavour and brings out their sweetness.

Recipe: Fried Noodles With Pork

This is a variation of Moo Shu pork which is traditionally wrapped in pancakes, similar to Peking duck.  In North America, crisp lettuce leaves are often used.  Feel free to omit the noodles from my recipe and enjoy it the classic way  - or substitute the pork for any protein you like (chicken, beef, seafood, tofu!).  I don't always follow recipes exactly, so why should you!

Recipe: Mushroom Risotto

Did you know mushrooms are low in calories and high in dietary fiber, protein, and vitamins? Aside from their health benefits, they have a rich, earthy flavour - and packed full of umami for my meat-adversed friends (Hello Anna S. and Audrey!). Proper risotto isn't difficult to make but it does take some time. You can't rush it; which is precisely why I never order risotto in a restaurant. You'll need about 30 mins. Grab a glass of wine and maybe a magazine to flip through. Make a little extra and use the leftovers for arancini di riso!

Recipe: Beer Battered Fish

So for those of you that have read some of my previous posts, you will know that I was not joking when I said I was addicted to my deep fryer.  Today, the classic - beer battered fish.

Recipe: Pork Spring Rolls

Ah spring rolls... fried, crispy tubes of pork goodness. What's not to love? I like to make small rolls to discourage double-dipping and they're also extra cute in minature size! Yes, there are a lot of ingredients but the complexity of flavours and texture is what makes these spring rolls so special. Also the recipe makes 50 small rolls and they freeze very well. So a little bit of work results in many tasty snacks down the road. It's well worth the effort.

Recipe: Arancini Di Riso (Risotto balls)

Ok, I have a confession to make. I, Anna, am addicted to my deep fryer... But if you are reading this post, I am sure you can relate!

Technique: Searing Duck Breast

So this isn't really a recipe, it's a technique. I've recently served some duck breasts to some friends and family and realized this isn't something most people know how to do. There seems to be a belief that duck is a luxurious ingredient or that this is a complicated dish. It's neither!

Recipe - Jamaican Jerk Marinade

Before you ask - No, I don't know the why it's called "Jerk". I mean I've heard a few stories on the history of the name, but they're all unconfirmed.... And for those of you in the know, yes I'm well aware that a traditional jerk marinade is a dry rub; but I never said this was a traditional recipe! All I can promise is an easy recipe with amazing results. That's right, AMAZING! The marinade tenderizes the meat and is packed full of flavour.

Recipe - Tandoori Chicken

Tandoori chicken is one of the most popular Indian dishes, but Indian food can be very intimidating to cook - unfamiliar ingredients, names that aren't always the most logical (psst.... butter chicken is actually made with very little butter!). This marinade makes the chicken so tender. This is also a great introductory dish to Indian cuisine. Only mildy spicy and flavours that aren't too intense - you will LOVE this easy recipe.

Top 3 Ways To Use Pesto

Grilled Pesto Scallops with tomato risotto

Good pesto is packed with so much flavour and goes well with so many foods. Here are a few of my favourite ways to enjoy it!

Recipe - Arugula Pesto

When you hear the word "pesto", most people think of the classic Genovese pesto with basil and pine nuts. Delicious! But lately, I've been mildly obsessed with arugula pesto. Arugula has a great peppery taste and none of the anise undertones of basil.

The Perfect Birthday Meal

So my birthday is fast approaching and it has me thinking - What would be the perfect birthday meal?

This is a difficult question! Ok... so maybe not as hard as deciding a Last Meal, but a close second! I LOVE so many different foods! I can't think of anything specific at the moment. I suppose a meal with foods that are comforting, but also something new and different, great for sharing with friends. I hope to do just that at The Drake Hotel this weekend and will update you soon. I hear they have great poutine. Mmmmm... Can't wait to try it!