sheet pan kofta

February 4, 2026

Hungry sports fans coming over for game night? This sheet pan kofta delivers big, bold flavours with minimal effort, so you won’t miss a single play.

gnocchi à la parisienne

January 22, 2026

Making Parisienne gnocchi was a first for me. Instead of potatoes, the dough starts with pâte à choux (choux pastry). And let me tell you the flavour profile is off-the-charts délicieux!  Years ago, I made profiteroles using choux pastry, but I never imagined the dough could work so beautifully in a savoury dish.

winter salad

January 16, 2026

Deep in winter, I start craving lighter meals and longer days.  When a salad looks this pretty, it feels like the first whisper of spring.  Salad in winter tends to get sidelined in favour of hearty,

homemade shawarma

December 10, 2025

Shawarma is a traditional Turkish dish (originating in the Ottoman Empire) in which the meat is slowly roasted on a spit, then shaved off and wrapped in pita bread.  In Canada, especially in Nova Scotia, it’s called a donair.  While donairs are topped with a sweet, tangy sauce, a shawarma is typically topped with tahini.…

boursin holiday cheese log

December 4, 2025

Cheese logs are a nostalgic holiday classic.  They were wildly popular in the ’50s and ’60s and still beloved today. My mom used to make hers with mixed cheeses, a splash of Worcestershire, shaped into a log and rolled in nuts and herbs.

goat cheese & bacon dip

November 24, 2025

Who can resist a great dip? Whether it sets the stage for the meal or mingles alongside other nibbles.  It opens the evening with a burst of flavour, guests hover happily, conversation sparks, and the main course gets plated without a single anxious glance at the clock.

roasted brussels sprouts on the stalk

October 17, 2025

Autumn bursts with locally grown produce; a time when markets overflow with colour and flavour. It’s the perfect season to load up on your favourite veggies, and for me, that means Brussels sprouts. I adore these little green gems… though it wasn’t always that way.

basil salt

October 3, 2025

Finishing salts are a chef’s secret touch—added at the very end of cooking to heighten flavour, texture, and presentation. Unlike everyday table salt, these delicate salts bring subtle layers of taste and aroma, enhancing a dish rather than overpowering it. What I love most is their versatility: one simple recipe opens the door to endless…

corn chowder

September 10, 2025

Local corn is everywhere this time of year, from farmers’ markets, roadside veggie stands, and grocery stores.  Every town proudly claims its corn is the best. In Alberta, that title goes to Taber corn. What makes it so special? The long, sunny days heat the soil, while cool Alberta nights coax out the natural sugars.…

frozen grape granita

August 22, 2025

For the longest time, my eldest grandson loved purple grapes. They were his go-to snack after nap time, while green grapes never stood a chance. Then, two Sundays ago, he looked at his little bowl and simply said, “I don’t like them anymore.” Just like that. Suddenly, I was left with a bowl of untouched…

not your grandma’s coleslaw

July 25, 2025

Cabbage might not be the flashiest vegetable, but it’s one of the most enduring. According to Wikipedia, it’s been cultivated in Europe since around 1000 BC. And coleslaw? That crunchy, creamy side dish has Dutch roots and has been around since the 1800s.

peach tomato salad

July 22, 2025

Summer is a season of abundance when the markets overflow with produce and flavour comes effortlessly. Juicy tomatoes, sun-ripened peaches, and lingering dinners on the patio make these months some of my favourites. It’s a time to celebrate simplicity, savour the season, and connect over good food.  In our family, salads are a staple, and…

the real spaghetti bolognese

July 8, 2025

Contrary to popular belief, the true traditional dish of Bologna isn’t meat ragù, but spaghetti with tuna and tomato. Yes, you read that right. Spaghetti Bolognese as we know it today—a dish of spaghetti topped with a meat-based sauce—is not a traditional Italian recipe and does not originate from Bologna. Instead, it’s largely a product…