Sunday, May 9, 2010

Palmier Cookies for Max

On Friday it was “Crazy Hair Day” at the sweet, little annex school that Max attends. The school is six blocks from our house and has about 120 kids from kindergarten to grade 5. It is a wonderful school with caring teachers, a great group of kids and very involved parents from our neighbourhood.
It is the type of school that if I happen to be running late, caught in traffic or at the bank, I have more than a handful of other parents I can call, to collect Max with their child, or stay and hang out while the kids run around the playground, shrieking and laughing until I arrive. A true community school that I feel lucky to be a part of. Continue reading →

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Thursday, May 6, 2010

A Tale of Fish, Fennel and Friendship

Our dear, sweet, funny friend Jeannot is in town this week. Jeannot was born in Paris and now splits his time between Los Angeles/Vancouver for work and London where his beloved family resides.

Usually, when he is in town, he is in full work mode and so we have to sneak in a dinner or two around a very hectic schedule. This week, however, he was here purely for pleasure before he heads off to spend his summer vacation with his family in Europe. Continue reading →

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Monday, May 3, 2010

Rhubarb Galette with Thyme Ice Cream

I raided the first growth on my rhubarb plant this weekend. I always have trouble doing this as I love the way the plant leafs out and takes over one corner of my herb garden. The huge green ruffled leaves and the rosy stems look so beautiful and signal spring and I hate to mess with that. But those first, thin reddish- pink stalks are so delicious the sacrifice must be made.

I love to make a simple compote with the first tender stalks, sugar and vanilla to stir into my yogurt in the morning. Or build on it by adding some dried cherries, diced shallots and a splash of white wine to serve with roasted pork loin.  But I love the early spring rhubarb best in this free form tart. Continue reading →

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Thursday, April 29, 2010

Roasted Queen Charlotte Halibut with Spring Vegetables and Herb Pesto

A couple of years ago I had the opportunity to test recipes for local writer Jill Lambert who was publishing her first cookbook.  Jill was a book editor for many years, worked as a co-author on other people’s ventures (including the Lesley Stowe Fine Foods Cookbook) and decided that she was ready to put out her own book.  As she descends from a long line of fishermen she decided that her cookbook, A Good Catch, would offer a collection of fish and seafood recipes from Canada’s top chefs. Jill, however, was not just into delicious recipes and all-star chefs. Continue reading →

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Monday, April 26, 2010

Sunday Night Garlic Pasta

I love this pasta. This is a dish that makes me feel relaxed when I’m cooking it and nurtured when I am eating it. It is one of the simplest pasta dishes to make but also one of the most satisfying. It tastes a bit different every time I make it, depending on my mood, what I have on hand and the substitutions I make. I’ve made it for a crowd and just for myself and I always seem to have the ingredients on hand. It’s just…easy.

Perhaps that is why I love to make this pasta for dinner on Sunday nights. Whatever the day may bring, I know that I will have in my pantry some dried pasta, a head of garlic, olive oil, some chiles, (dried or fresh) a lemon to zest and squeeze, a bit of parsley from the herb garden to mince and a hunk of parmesan to grate. Both Max and Glen love this as well and it feels easy on my mind, conscience and pocketbook. Continue reading →

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Monday, April 26, 2010

Photos From My Garden

Leaf burst on grape vines

The last ten days have been hectic. Luckily, they have been hectic with cooking which I love but unluckily, they were so hectic that not a single photo was taken to be shared.

On Thursday night I hosted a dinner here at our house for Glen’s camera crew. The TV show that he works on takes a hiatus for a few months each spring and Glen really wanted to do something special for the guys who work so long and hard with him each season before the break. We talked about going out to a restaurant but decided it would be more personal and more fun to have everyone here. Invites were extended, the menu was set, flowers, wine and food were purchased and I called on some dear friends (plus my sweet Dad) to help plate and serve the food and wash dishes. We ended up with 22 people for a six course, sit-down dinner. It was lots of work but tons of fun and there is something so wonderful about opening up your home to people that you care about. Continue reading →

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Friday, April 16, 2010

Seared Qualicum Scallops with Morel Mushrooms and Asparagus

Here is a dish that sings of spring! So many people have their favourite way to cook morels and asparagus. Here is mine. I add some seared local scallops, a hint of garlic and thyme and a touch of white wine and cream. Simple, decadent and delicious! I’m using Qualicum scallops but feel free to use sea scallops or a whitefish such as turbot or halibut or black cod.

Here in Vancouver we are just beginning to see the first of the local morel mushrooms as well as the first stalks of local asparagus poking their heads up through the dirt. Continue reading →

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Thursday, April 15, 2010

Chicken Noodle Soup with Lemongrass and iphone Photos

When I started this blog 3 months ago one of my biggest concerns was about taking the photos. I am personally drawn to cooking blogs with beautiful photographs that inspire me to get into the kitchen to cook something new. But making something look good on the plate is one thing and successfully capturing it on film is quite another. Continue reading →

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