Countdown to New Years

Happy New Year, bonne année, kali chronia

As we draw to the close of another year we pause to reflect on what we have learned in 2010, the new dishes we have conquered, the friendships we have forged and the local food trends we have embraced. I hope that the holiday season met all of your expectations. This year I was embraced by my future son-in-laws family and flew to a city north of here. I came away with many new culinary ideas for this blog celebrating the Portuguese culture which I will share here in the months to come.

feliz año nuevo, buon anno, akemashite omedetô

The holiday was marred by the fact that L'il Burnt Toast was assaulted while riding the bus in downtown Vancouver before they caught their flight, a story which is long and too disheartening to go into here. Thank goodness she is alright as the bruised eyes and lumps and bumps have healed. Young people are so resilient!!!

But since this is a blog about food and not about the trials and tribulations of today's society I want to share some of my favourite dishes I discovered here at More Than Burnt Toast in 2010. A heartfelt thank you for joining me on my culinary journey throughout the year, for your undying support and kindness. I hope we continue to share a kitchen in the years to come.

selamat tahun baru, szczęśliwego nowego roku, feliz ano novo

A Christmas Thought

Each comment on this blog stands for someone who has crossed my path sometime. And while you may not be aware of any special link, just meeting you has changed my path, a lot more than you could imagine! Whether I have known you for many years or a few hours, in some way you have been a part of shaping things I do here on More Than Burnt Toast. Now that Christmas has come, I realize anew, the best gift life can offer is meeting people like you.

Have a wonderfully joyous holiday season whatever it might bring.

They'll Think You Hired a Caterer but it's Presidents Choice

Even if I don't prepare the menu on the BIG day that doesn't mean that I don't do my share of holiday entertaining. The holidays are here and as much as I love being in my domain Presidents Choice wants to get you out of the kitchen and into the party so you can enjoy your time with friends and family this holiday season. They have literally hundreds of ways to help you entertain, including everything from hors d'oeuvres to delicious desserts to ring in the festivities in style.

First and foremost I would like to thank Laura of Hill and Knowlton who pulled off this journey with Presidents Choice from beautifully gift-wrapped gifts for each day of the week, to packages delivered in dry ice, to luxurious chocolates. The logistics of sending these products all over Canada is a logistics nightmare handled with patience and professionalism. I am sure there were a few fingers and toes crossed when shipping the frozen goods!!! November 16th started the ball rolling. I was lucky enough to receive 3 shipments of gift wrapped goodies from Presidents Choice from chocolate covered jellies to chicken wings, from butter tart mixes to a gorgeous fresh wreath to grace my door. It was what I like to call the beginning of the holiday season 2010!!!

If I were Making Christmas Dinner......and Wanted to Break from Tradition

Turban Squash for recipe below

In the past 6 years I have not made a single Christmas dinner.  From a self proclaimed "foodie" that is a rather large statement. Not being the matriarch of my own family, who happen to live over 3,000 kilometers on the other side of the country, has forced me to think more deeply about the importance of family and about my place beyond the stove.  Since the holidays do revolve around food it is sometimes hard to relinquish the main event but the biggest challenge to overcome would be the lack of leftovers!!

Never does food become as important as it is during the holiday season when we are faced with an overwhelming variety of food related events and family get-togethers. For the past several years I have been "farmed out" to friends homes for the "BIG" day. I appreciate, more than our hosts will ever know, being part of each and every one of their families even if it is just for this one day. They have always made L'il Burnt Toast and I feel an integral part of the family unit  from the pomegranate seed spitting grandmother, to the shiny, smiling faces of grandbabies to the heartwarming fires and generous hearts.

The winner of the Tate's Bake Shop 3-cookie trio and the cookbook is Michelle of All Wordy and Junk.

Win, Win, Win...A Taste of New York from Tate's Bake Shop and Their Signature Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

Have you ever wanted to try something so much that it became an obsession? When I heard about Tate's Chocolate Chip Cookies in magazines, newspapers and on television I had to try them. A rich, buttery, crispy chocolate chip cookie is one of my ultimate comfort foods.  Imagine my excitement when I was contacted by Tate's Bake Shop and given the opportunity to share these world class award winning treats with one lucky reader.

You can win a taste of New York by receiving a selection of baked cookies from Tate's Bake Shop as well as your very own copy of their new cookbook to bake your own renditions at home. Ina Garten, the Barefoot Contessa herself, has written the foreword for Kathleens cookbook. I can't wait to try more recipes from this baking-packed cookbook!

Just follow the instructions below. The givaway is open until midnight Sunday, December 12th so get your comments in to receive your package just in time for the holidays!!

I will announce the winner on the Monday.

Limoncello Tiramisù is a Grand Ending for our "Bucket List" Challenge

Limoncello Tiramisù

You know that dessert was coming! If you have been following More Than Burnt Toast you will know that I have been creating personal challenges based on a theme to infuse new life into my cooking adventures. Even every day food should be an adventure either with new ideas, or experimenting with a new cuisine. Every day we should be excited about what we are eating even if it just means making use of a wonderful find at our local farmers market for our favourite comfort foods.With these personally imposed challenges my own culinary skills have been rejuvenated and back on track and I am once again inspired. With the holidays coming this is the perfect time of year to pump up our kitchens into high gear!

Two Sides for my Bucket List Menu

 

Brown Butter Mashed Potatoes

We all have a bucket list of recipes we want to try from magazines, cookbooks, our blogging friends or wherever you find your inspiration. If you're like me you will have an infinite list of recipes in the wings. This week I have tried to put a small dent in "the list" by recreating a few of these dishes that have been waiting patiently for their moment to shine.

If you have been following More Than Burnt Toast you will know that I have been creating personal challenges based on a theme to infuse new life into my cooking adventures. Even every day food should be an adventure either with new ideas, or experimenting with a new cuisine. Every day we should be excited about what we are eating even if it just means making use of a wonderful find in your culinary exploration. With these personally imposed challenges my own culinary skills have been rejuvenated and are back on track and I am once again inspired. With the holidays coming this is the perfect time of year to pump up our kitchens into high gear!

For the past few days I have been sharing with you a menu from beginning to end.. from starters to dessert... from my "bucket list".  We started off with an hors d'oeuvres that made our tastebuds sing with citrus notes...Crab Cake Sliders with Lemon Remoulade. Following that was the piece de resistance, a classic Roast Chicken with Thyme Gravy. By chance the recipe chosen for our Cooking Light Virtual Supper Club fit right in with my menu with a  nutty, almost smoky flavoured Wild Rice Dressing with Roasted Chestnuts and Cranberries.

Cooking Light Virtual Supper Club Celebrates the Holidays with Wild Rice Dressing with Roasted Chestnuts

Wild Rice Dressing with Roasted Chestnuts and Cranberries

We are taking a brief break from my "Bucket list " menu to bring you our monthly event. We are so glad you have decided to join us once again for our Cooking Light Virtual Supper Club. This is a monthly event where 5 ladies in two neighbouring countries get together to create a delicious meal with a theme in mind. We are now in our second year and continue to share a love for Cooking Light magazine which has an emphasis on healthy eating and living. This is a team effort where we combine what Cooking Light readers like best...good food with great company!!! Every month millions of readers turn to Cooking Light for recipes, advice on nutrition and fitness.