I have been very attracted lately to soup recipes that are made rich by the addition of nuts rather than cream. Last winter I made two soups that were enriched with cashew cream (curried broccoli soup and cream of mushroom soup). I have plans to try a hazelnut mushroom soup and potato almond soup in…
Tag: autumn
Roasted Cauliflower with Hazelnuts and Pickled Celery
When I was about 9 years old I received as a gift a beautiful set of Nijinsky and Pavlova paper dolls which depicted all of their costumes from the Ballet Russe. I was so taken with these costumes that I did research about the life of Anna Pavlova at the library. I learned that she…
Whipped Pear and Parsnip Side Dish (better than pie)
This side dish was discovered while my friend Bethany and I were making a new pie recipe at Thanksgiving. It was a pear parsnip pie from The Nantucket Open-House Cookbook by Sarah Leah Chase. The pie was good. It was a more delicate cousin of a pumpkin pie. But Bethany and I both agreed that…
Chestnut Gnocchi with Squash, Mushrooms and Rosemary
I am having a serious love affair with chestnut flour. It is sweet and nutty and has a fine texture that makes it easy to work with. The one persnickity thing about chestnut flour is that it does not keep. It is produced in October and should be consumed in November or December. SO if…
Braised Red Cabbage with Fruit and Fennel Seed
Last summer a dear friend of my parent’s let me go through his recipe note-book. I have written about this family friend before because he has been a food hero of mine since my childhood. For a story about the time that Keith served me quiche on his boat when I was little click…
Creamed Parsnip and Apple Soup with Mushroom Dill Garnish
I am a lover of parsnips. They are sweet and have a lovely smooth texture when cooked. I just learned that they have similar nutritional value to potatoes but do not require very good soil. They are a humble, overlooked, industrious vegetable. This soothing, fortifying soup is simple to make and really captures the…
Tuna-Dill Tomato Sauce
I’m really happy with this sauce. I have consumed immense quantities of tomato sauce in my life but it’s not something that I’ve ever gotten into making. That just means I have opinions about the subject and know what the good stuff looks like when I see it. Cockiness aside, this is a really flexible…
Home-made cheap thrill sauce- Ajvar (or Ljutenica)
Ajvar (or Ljutenica) is one of my favourite store-bought condiments. It is a relish made from sweet red peppers, eggplant and tomatoes. Some brands are spicy and some are not. It is a beautiful bright orange-red color. It makes simple, cheap food taste thrillingly gourmet and it is astonishingly inexpensive, which is why I always refer…
Cheap Eats! Vegetable Jambalaya
This is the lean time for me. I am a freelancer and, in my field, there is not much work in August or September. Don’t cry too many tears for me. I could buckle down and live within my means for my two months of underemployment, but I usually travel and have fun cooking food…
Anise Pavlova with Plum Preserves and Almond Cream
So, I have to confess to never, ever having eaten a pavlova made by a real pastry chef. Once, my friend Helena took me to a fancy market when I was visiting her Vancouver to show me the beautiful pavlovas that they made there, but we just admired them. My point is that I think…
Big Sis Little Dish 