This weekend the chef in my life whipped up a batch of Macaron Hollandais, as easily as I might knock off a dozen chocolate chip cookies. He has a way of making even the most daunting of recipes appear effortless, as I sit wide-eyed soaking up every nuance, asking stupid questions (so you don't have to). Here's his best tips for success...
Brandied figs, they became an addiction last fall; sweet, juicy, boozy. We've played with them in a vinaigrette, against foie gras, in a roasted sweet potato treat and now we give you Brandied Fig Tapenade. Salty and sweet, this the last in our series of condiments with great Canadian cheese.
Herbed Mushroom Truffle Paté, an earthy accompaniment to a smooth cheese; it makes a wicked canape or two, greatly improves a pizza and is a short cut to a simple sauce.
Autumn fruits fill the aisles, how can you possibly resist the shapely pear? So smooth, so ripe, so bottom heavy, and perfectly delicious with a bit of blue cheese as Cardamom Pear Butter.
Créme Caramel done well is rich, creamy and smooth. When inverted, a sweet layer of liquid caramel oozes over the sides and runs on to the plate to form the perfect puddle of sticky goodness to counter the cool, sweet custard. It might be a bit of a daunting dessert to try - until now. All you need are a few simple steps and a little respect for the boundaries of this delicate flan.
Having a ball in the big shiny kitchen, in the last couple of weeks I've tied about five hundred of these adorable little vegetable bundles for weddings and swanky gala events. A great idea for easy entertaining.
Rosemary Apple Glazed Chicken with Dried Cranberries and Bacon Polenta. Perfect on a dark & stormy early autumn evening, as temperatures drop and comfort food comes to mind.
A little twist on a French classic, Cherry Clafoutis with White Chocolate made with the last of the summer cherries, the swan song of summer. It won't be long before we're awash with pumpkins and apples as the kids head back to school and sweaters emerge from storage. But let's not talk about that, let's stay with summer a little bit longer and chat about cherries.
Reviewing the cookbook Grace's Sweet Life this week, we did a quick recipe test of Grace's Raspberry, Blueberry and Pistachio-Almond Crumble or as one might say in Italian: Crumble di Lamponi e Miritti con Pistachio e Mandorle. Which, let's face it, sounds a-mazing.
Adding to our essential sauces of the barbecue season with a tangy Chimichurri Sauce from South America. In it's native Argentina it is the quintessential condiment for grilled meats, an Argentine pesto if you will, combining parsley, garlic, onion, olive oil, and vinegar for a powerful punch.
This week's hot, humid weather has seen us worshipping the air conditioning as temperatures climb. What better way to beat the heat than with a frozen treat for adult tastes? The Lemon Blood Orange Float reminds me of a the melting creamsicles of my childhood; creamy citrus, in a glass.
Our barbecue essentials list continues with a wicked Smokey Jack Daniels Ketchup and a bit of Jack Smoke that gave our Father's Day barbecue a whole lot of Kentucky kick.