25 February 2024

My Favourite Spicy Lemon Pasta



Spicy Lemon Pasta

**Spicy Lemon Pasta **


1/2 lb. spaghetti, bronze cut
2 tablespoons butter
4 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 shallot, chopped
1 teaspoon crushed red chili pepper
Juice of 1-2 lemons
1 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon lemon zest
1/2 cup Parmigiano Reggiano, finely grated
2 tablespoons Italian parsley, finely chopped


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14 February 2024

Gnochetti Sardi with Pesto and Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Gnochetti Sardi with Pesto and Sun-Dried Tomatoes 


When I saw these cute little gnochetti sardi at our favourite pasta shop on the west side I knew what would be in my basket. I asked our friend Jerry if he had any ideas and he sent along a recipe he has his eye on. ðŸ˜˜The recipe called for pancetta but the Italian way is to use what you have available. I substituted sun dried tomatoes. The sauce was creamy with liberal amounts of Parmagiano thrown in with toasted pine nuts, basil pesto, 30% cream, and garlic. 

Gnochetti Sardi also known as Malloreddus with sun-dried tomatoes and pesto is a deliciously creamy pasta dish tat's perfect as a quick and easy midweek meal. Lunch in 10 minutes. This creamy pesto pasta recipe is comfort food at its best. Fresh pasta for the win. 


**Gnochetti Sardi with Pesto and Sun-Dried Tomatoes**

1/2 lb short pasta (250 g) gnochetti, orecchiette, fusilli or any short pasta
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium shallot, finely diced
7 oz (200 g) sun-dried tomatoes, slivered
2 large cloves garlic, finely chopped
3 tablespoons basil pesto
1/2 cup heavy cream
6 - 8 basil leaves, roughly shredded
2 tablespoons (20 g) pine nuts, toasted
1/3 cup (30 g) grated Parmesan, or more. Be generous!
Salt and pepper to taste
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13 February 2024

Retro Chicken Stew

Retro Chicken Stew

When the temperatures dip well below zero your home becomes a warm and cozy sanctuary from the elements. Nippy weather has me dreaming of comfort foods from my childhood. Nostalgic recipes resurface that remind me of growing up in Southern Ontario. As a child we used to take a Sunday drive to the historical town of St. Jacobs and have lunch at The Stone Crock. There was always a wait but the fact that there was something for every member of the family made it worthwhile. I remember the Chunky Cheddar Cheese Bread that I could also find next door at the bakery or on Thursdays and Saturdays baked by the loving hands of the local Mennonite ladies. This recipe is a little sweeter than I like personally but with a little tweaking it will be "the one". Will it ever be delicious toasted or made into an enviable grilled cheese sandwich. The chicken stew is a riff on what came in a can in my childhood home but it also brought back fond memories. It was livened up by dried herbs crumbled in from the rooftop garden of my friend Dina. A reminder of warmer days to come.

**Retro Chicken Stew**

4 chicken breasts, approximately 1-1/2 lbs, diced
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 carrots, sliced
1 small onion, diced
2 celery stalk, diced
5 tablespoons flour, divided
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1/3 teaspoon sage
salt and pepper to taste 
1-1/2 cups potatoes, peeled and diced
1/4 cup white wine
4 cups good quality chicken stock or broth
1 cup green beans 
1/2 cup heavy cream
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1 October 2015

Making Cinguli with the Locals in Calitri - the Italian Town You Dream Of


Calitri and surrounds

Friends have described my trip to Italy 3 years ago as "the trip that keeps on giving." In many aspects they are quite right. Since this is a blog mainly about food there were many memories made in and out of the kitchen.  Anywhere I travel, even if it is just an outing to the local farmers market, I feel the need to immerse myself and dive head first into the food and culture of the area and then share it in every way possible.

My first conscious memory of this type of travel was at a cooking school on the island of Keaa small island in the Aegean Sea off the coast of Greece. This was a life-changing vacation that altered my perception of food and how it should be enjoyed on a daily basis. Travel helps us to better understand and appreciate other people and their cultures. Nothing is more intimate, or more effective at breaking down cultural barriers, than cooking and sharing meals together.


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19 September 2015

Celebrate the Salmon's Return with "Oceans to the Okanagan"



Covert Farms Oceans to the Okanagan Collaborative Dinner
I hope you never tire of hearing about a small portion of the amazing events available to locals and tourists alike here in the Okanagan Valley. This weekend found me sharing a table with kindred spirits at Covert Farms, a completely organic farm and winery located 8 kilometers north of Oliver in the southern reaches of the Okanagan Valley. Besides offering a stunning landscape, a myriad of organic produce, and very hospitable people it was the muse a few weekends ago for a very special collaborative 5-course dinner where a portion of the proceeds went to support the Salmon Habitat restoration in the South Okanagan. I bumped shoulders with people from the Okanagan Nation Alliance, Ocean Wise Vancouver Aquarium, and Salmon-Safe B.C while enjoying an innovative menu and wines from Tinhorn Creek Vineyards. I am told I was the very first person to sign up and show my support for this special event with an opportunity to learn more about the story of the Okanagan salmon and enjoy a very special menu highlighting the region.

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17 September 2015

Celebrate the Season with an Heirloom Tomato Jam at The Second Annual Tomato Festival



Walking through the farmers market this time of year, you can't help but realize that tomato season is still in full swing. Tomatoes are available all year round but it’s not until mid summer that they really come into their own. With the threat of frost in September the season is fleeting as we savour the last few days of summer and all the bounty it has to offer. The weather begs to differ with hot, sultry days and cool nights but things can turn on a dime.


What better way to celebrate my absolutely favourite fruit than with a Tomato Festival. When I mentioned to my worldly travellers where I was headed this past Sunday they had visions of La Tomatina in Spain . Although it is on my bucket list, this was a celebration of a different colour.  And celebrate we did with an array of delicious and innovative little bites topped off with the piece de resistance  a variety of freshly baked pizzas from a wood fire oven for the second annual Tomato Festival at Sunshine Farms.

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