Monday, December 26, 2011

Cheese Straws – Day 8 of the 12 Days of Canapés – 2011

I am sure there are very few of us who really feel like talking about hors d’oeuvres after the last two days of feasting BUT we are now on the countdown for New Year’s Eve and the cooking must continue!

To ease us gently back into the water I thought I would share a recipe that is so simple that it is hardly a recipe at all. If you have some puff pastry frozen in your freezer, a wedge of parmesan cheese, and a bit of salt and pepper then you have everything you need to produce a tray of these addictive straws. If you happen to have some fresh thyme leaves or rosemary then all the better. Continue reading →

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Friday, December 23, 2011

Bacon and Radicchio Tart with Gruyère Cheese and Thyme – Day 7 of the 12 Days of Canapés – 2011

This is a recipe that is brand new to my cooking repertoire but has quickly muscled its way to the top of my favourite hors d’oeuvres list.

I spotted this beautiful tart online over at Gilt Taste and I was pretty much hooked as soon as I saw the words: bacon + radicchio + cheese. There was also the word “easy” thrown around in the title which never hurts. The final clincher was that this is a recipe from Melissa Clark who is a food columnist for the New York Times and has authored or co-authored 32 cookbooks. After you have written 32 cookbooks I am sure you’ve got a pretty good idea of what makes for a good recipe. Continue reading →

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Thursday, December 22, 2011

Roasted Red Potatoes with Stilton Cream and Candied Walnuts – Day 6 of the 12 Days of Canapés – 2011


Day 6! We are officially at the half way mark! Three days until Christmas! Nine days until New Year’s Eve! Six more recipes to go! I am not sure whether those exclamation marks signify enthusiasm or fear. I do know I am amazed at how quickly this month is moving. Continue reading →

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Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Chicken Liver Pâté with Port and Thyme – Day 5 of the 12 Days of Canapés – 2011

Rustic yet rich, and perfect with a glass of champagne.

Here is a recipe that is wonderful in so many ways. It transforms the lowly chicken liver into something flavourful, decadent, festive and special. The holiday season always seems like the perfect time for pâtés and somewhat surprisingly they couldn’t be easier to make at home. Continue reading →

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Saturday, December 17, 2011

Grilled Shrimp with Anchovy Butter – Day 4 of the 12 Days of Canapés – 2011


Every December, it is always the same. The month starts out so bright and full of promise. This will be the year that the stress will be held at bay, that the calendar will not be over-scheduled and that there will be plenty of time for walks, cups of tea while gazing at the tree, and cozy, low-key dinners with friends.

And then it happens. There are cookies to bake, and parties to host and attend and gifts to buy and festive dinners to plan and execute. There might even be a blog that needs to be written and 12 recipes for canapés that must be cooked and photographed. Continue reading →

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Sunday, December 11, 2011

Polenta Squares with Salsa Verde and Crisped Prosciutto – Day 3 of the 12 Days of Canapés – 2011

Photo courtesy of Pink Monkey Studios

First up I want to send out a huge thank you to everyone who came by for our Food Bank Fundraiser last night. We had over fifty people show up to mix, mingle, enjoy some wine and and hors d’oeuvres and spend a bit of time in the kitchen as we demonstrated some party canapés for the holiday season. The very best news is that we raised $1360 for the Vancouver Food Bank! I was so inspired by people making the time during the hectic holiday season to come out and raise some money for a great cause. Thank you all for your generosity! Continue reading →

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Friday, December 9, 2011

Lemongrass and Chilli Chicken on Endive – Day 2 of the 12 Days of Canapés – 2011

Photo courtesy of Pink Monkey Studios

Just a quick post to share an hors d’oeuvre recipe that is simple, quick to make, full of big flavours and is easy on the pocketbook to boot. It also has the added bonus of being relatively light and healthy in a season that is filled with rich and heavy dishes. Continue reading →

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Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Choux Puffs with Tarragon Shrimp – Day 1 of the the 12 Days of Canapés – 2011


Welcome to the second annual “Twelve Days of Canapés” here at Kitchen Culinaire. I have been meaning to get started on this much earlier in the month but here we are on the 6th of December with my first post, so there you go. I am sure there are plenty of you out there that can relate to the fact that time somehow speeds up during this crazy, festive month… Continue reading →

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