Carrot Ginger Cupcakes (Gluten-Free or Not/ Dairy-Free or Not)

This gluten free carrot cake recipe was inspired by the classic carrot cake recipe that I grew up eating in the late 70’s and early 80’s.  My family favoured the super moist carrot cake topped with a not very sweet creme cheese icing (or no icing at all) from Susan Mendelson’s excellent cookbook Mama Never…

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…

Bittersweet Side Dish- Broccoli Rabe and Roasted Yams

I have been a little distracted by the storms hitting New York City lately.  However I wrote this post a while back and never got a round to publishing it.  Enjoy! I crave bittersweetness…..dark chocolate, chinotto soda, Seville Orange Marmalade, Italian aperitif, very strong black tea with milk and sugar.      It may all…

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…

Quinoa Tabbouleh

I am very pleased with this dish.  I like tabbouleh, but it is usually made with cous cous, which I cannot eat.  Quinoa agrees with me very well and it is a very successful substitution.  In addition to taking all kinds of seasonings very well, quinoa is really, really nutricious and probably the easiest grain…

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…

Bresaola and Arugula Salad

When people have to give up gluten, they usually go through a lot of grieving over the loss of bread…good bread.  I have to admit that bread was not that hard for me to give up.  It had given me a tummy ache for my entire life, so I think even before giving up gluten…

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…