by Helen Kain | Aug 14, 2026 | Cakes, Desserts, Summer Recipes
Bright raspberry and fresh lime turn a classic vanilla cupcake into something rather special. A spoonful of tart raspberry filling is tucked inside each tender buttermilk cupcake, then topped with silky Swiss meringue buttercream flavoured with lime zest and juice....
by Helen Kain | Aug 14, 2026 | Desserts, Entertablement Pantry, Sides
Intensely fruity raspberry filling earns its keep well beyond cakes and cupcakes. Spoon it over vanilla ice cream, panna cotta or cheesecake, swirl it through plain yogurt, or layer it with yogurt and granola for breakfast. It’s lovely with scones, crêpes, pancakes or...
by Helen Kain | Aug 14, 2026 | Amber, Fall Tablescapes, Green, Home, Recent, Summer Tablescapes, Terracotta, White
Several years ago, when Pier 1 was still among retail stores present and accounted for, I came across these wonderfully cheerful llama plates and was instantly smitten. There is absolutely nothing restrained about them. Each llama has its own expression and...
by Helen Kain | Aug 11, 2026 | Salads, Summer Recipes
Buttery, golden pears meet juicy blueberries, salty feta and crisp frisée in this colourful autumn salad. A drizzle of fig vinaigrette pulls everything together—sweet, sharp, creamy and savoury in every forkful. Print clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag...
by Helen Kain | Aug 9, 2026 | Afternoon Tea, Bread & Scones, Holiday
There are scones… and then there are proper English tea scones. Light, flaky and delicately buttery, these classic scones are the sort you’ll find served warm in village tearooms and country houses across Britain, ready to be split by hand and generously...
by Helen Kain | Aug 9, 2026 | Afternoon Tea, Fall Tablescapes, Home, Recent, Summer Tablescapes
Late Summer Inspiration Summer is truly at its zenith when my neighbour’s glorious purple hydrangeas reach peak perfection. Very generously, they allow me to raid the bushes, and I take full advantage. We pass their dozen or so hydrangea bushes every morning when we...
by Helen Kain | Aug 8, 2026 | Fall Recipes, Soup, Spring Recipes, Winter Recipes
As the days begin to cool, few things are more welcoming than a steaming bowl of potato leek soup. Velvety smooth, richly flavoured and wonderfully satisfying, it relies on just a handful of humble ingredients—leeks, potatoes, butter and good chicken stock—to create...
by Helen Kain | Aug 7, 2026 | Bread & Scones, Breakfast, Fall Tablescapes, Holiday, Summer Tablescapes
Every gardener knows the moment. One zucchini quietly becomes two, then four, and suddenly they’re appearing on neighbours’ doorsteps under cover of darkness. This Late Summer Zucchini Bread is one of the happiest ways to put that abundance to good use....
by Helen Kain | Aug 6, 2026 | Cakes, Desserts, Holiday, Summer Recipes
When summer plums are at their peak, they need very little embellishment. This elegant Plum Hazelnut Cream Cake celebrates their rich sweetness with tender hazelnut cake layers, lightly whipped cream frosting, and a crown of overlapping fresh plum slices finished with...
by Helen Kain | Aug 3, 2026 | Fall Recipes, Salads
Delicata squash is one of autumn’s small miracles. Unlike butternut or acorn squash, its tender skin becomes perfectly edible after roasting, so there’s no peeling required. A quick toss with olive oil, a drizzle of maple syrup and a hint of smoked paprika...
by Helen Kain | Aug 3, 2026 | Entertablement Pantry
These easy homemade apple chips are naturally sweet, wonderfully crisp and easy to make. How to Use Homemade Apple Chips While they’re delicious as a snack, homemade apple chips really shine as a pantry staple. Add them to cheese boards, tuck them into...
by Helen Kain | Aug 3, 2026 | Fall Recipes, Salads
Road trips have a way of lowering one’s culinary expectations. A ten-hour drive from Niagara Falls to Cape Cod sounds rather romantic on paper: colourful autumn leaves, winding roads and the promise of salt air at the journey’s end. In reality, much of the...
by Helen Kain | Aug 3, 2026 | Bread & Scones, Breakfast, Fall Recipes
Tender yeast dough is wrapped around a filling of apple butter, toasted pecans and warm cinnamon before being twisted into spirals tucked into a round pan and baked until golden. A final brushing of apple jelly gives the round loaves a gentle sheen and just enough...
by Helen Kain | Aug 3, 2026 | Fall Recipes, Salads
This is a salad that crunches — in all the best ways. Think of it as a cousin to panzanella: tart apples where tomatoes might be, toasted breadcrumbs in place of chewy cubes, and a lime-forward vinaigrette for a bright, slightly unexpected finish. It’s light but full...
by Helen Kain | Aug 2, 2026 | Antique glassware, Green, Home, Recent, Summer Tablescapes, White
The calendar has flipped to August and right on time, the limelight hydrangea has begun its annual transition, beginning with the delicate green for which it is named. As the month progresses, the blooms will gradually fade from green to creamy white before eventually...
