Chicken salad sandwiches! In my life as a corporate chef and caterer, I can’t tell you how many different kinds of chicken salad sandwiches I’ve made! I love them all but have narrowed it down to three. It was like being a judge on American Idol! The easiest way to cook the chicken is to […]
Tag: YVR
Fancy Tea Sandwiches, Cheese & Egg Fillings
Afternoon tea is something I absolutely love! Here’s a selection of my own favourite fillings. You will likely need to pre-order a few days ahead from your favourite bakery. They may ask if you want double of single loaves. If you want to make pinwheels you’ll have to order that too. That it will depend […]
Victoria Sponge Cake
I made this quintessential English cake for my birthday last year…it’s the bomb and from now on “The Birthday Cake.” It’s not difficult to make and just plain awesome! This version of Victoria Sponge comes from Mary Berry. For the Cake: 8 oz. butter, room temperature 8 oz. berry sugar (Rogers make it) also known […]
Banana Nut Muffins
Just like banana bread, these tender, moist morsels are so appealing! I know you’ll like them! Makes 10 Large or 12 Medium Size Muffins 1 ½ cups unbleached flour, (or substitute 1/2 cup wholewheat flour for the unbleached) ¾ cup sugar ¾ cup chopped walnuts or pecans 1 ½ tsp. baking soda ¼ tsp. salt 1 […]
Braised Beef With Star Anise
Chunks of beef chuck enrobed in a garlicy, gingery, star-anise sauce, sounds amazing right? You can serve the stew with either steamed rice or Chinese noodles cooked al dente then fried in a bit of oil until hot, making a sort of noodle pancake then top it with the stew. When cooking an Asian meal, […]
EVO, Salt And Other Musings
One of the many delights of traveling around Italy is having many opportunities to taste wonderful Extra Virgin Olive Oil. I have a fondness for the oils of Umbria. They differ in taste from Tuscan oils. Both are delicious. I fell in love with and brought home, an oil from that year’s harvest referred to […]
Huevos Rancheros (Mexican Eggs)
One of our favourite breakfast or brunch plates! For sure, it gets you going! Perhaps for a weekend brunch, with or without guests. And maybe a Caesar to kick things off? Makes Approximately 4 Servings For the Beans: 1/2 cup dried black beans, soaked overnight, or used drained, rinsed tinned beans 4 Tbsp., approximately, EVOO […]
Braised Oxtails With Chorizo
Unctuous oxtails with a Spanish twist. I think of them as Matador oxtails and wonder if the Spanish eat oxtails, considering. A saffron scented rice would go very well with the oxtails, or if you are feeling lazy, then some crusty bread would be perfect! Makes 3 or 4 Servings 3 lbs. (2 – 3” […]
Bacardi Birthday’s
It’s getting to be that time of the year again! My husband will be celebrating his birthday very soon and when I asked him if he would like a special dessert he said “not really”. Then I said I’m thinking about making that Bacardi Rum Cake for your birthday cake. “Oh well…that’s different and yes, […]
Mushroom Filled Ravioli
Ahh…ravioli, a labour of love filled with mushroomy goodness accented with a bit of prosciutto, finished with a butter-prosciutto sauce and a sprinkling of Parmigiano Reggiano. Makes Approximately 36 Ravioli One 3 egg batch of homemade pasta dough (see below) For The Filling: 3 Tbsp. unsalted butter ¾ lb. Cremini mushrooms, finely chopped 2 oz. […]