by Helen Kain | Feb 1, 2016 | Antiques, Blue, Spring Tablescapes, White, Winter Tablescapes
Who doesn’t love the Gibson Girl? Gorgeous, elegant, and assured, she was the emblem of a rapidly expanding middle class at the turn of the 20th century. Along with the Gibson Man, she was the creation of Charles Dana Gibson, whose pen-and-ink satirical...
by Helen Kain | Jan 19, 2016 | Antiques, Blue, By Season, Winter Tablescapes, Yellow
I’m into a deep blue and white theme this January, and Provence by Williams Sonoma is a stalwart ally. Cheerful and colourful, it’s one of their more enduring patterns. The shallow bowls are perfect for braised dishes and soups as well as pasta....
by Helen Kain | Jan 19, 2016 | Fall Recipes, Mains, Pasta & Rice, Recipes By Type
Son Adam and I enjoy making pasta from scratch and have got it down to something of a smooth process. We don’t make it frequently enough for it to be completely glitch-free, but we manage pretty well. Since acquiring an Ankarscrum mixer, which is specifically...
by Helen Kain | Jan 18, 2016 | Breakfast, Recipes By Type
A couple of years ago I became very conscious of the number of ways in which packaged food is enhanced to strike the bliss point of taste – that perfect intersection of fat, sugar & salt, that sets us up to crave ever saltier, sweeter and fattier foods,...
by Helen Kain | Jan 12, 2016 | Mains, Poultry, Recipes By Type
Winter arrived with a bang this week and I was scrounging around for a slowly cooked meal that would wreath the house in delicious smells. Fine Cooking’s latest edition provided lots of inspiration. They’re featuring duck this month, and...
by Helen Kain | Jan 9, 2016 | Lamb, Mains, Recipes By Type, Sides
We’ve been incredibly lucky with a fairly mild winter so far here in Ontario, but the desire for fall-off-the-bones-tender meat still runs strong. We were planning a casual family dinner for an undetermined number of people over the holidays — a familiar...
by Helen Kain | Jan 5, 2016 | Blue, Spring Tablescapes, Winter Tablescapes, Yellow
Tableware themes spring up from all kinds of places. Glenn and I were shopping for vegetables and cheeses for our Christmas Eve dinner when we passed The Elegant Garage Sale on Bayview, in Toronto. They had a couple of sets of china in the window that caught my...
by Helen Kain | Jan 3, 2016 | Green, Spring Tablescapes, White, Winter Tablescapes
It’s been a marvellous holiday season, and the time has come to denude the house of its festive decor. I often turn to a fairly stark black & white theme in January as a respite from the glorious excess of Christmas, but this year I wanted something...
by Helen Kain | Dec 29, 2015 | Breakfast, Fall Tablescapes, Recipes By Type, Winter Tablescapes
This flavourful combination of vegetables and peameal bacon is a family favourite for weekend or holiday breakfasts, particularly with freshly baked croissants. This year, daughter Lauren got up at some ungodly hour on Christmas morning to proof and bake both...
by Helen Kain | Dec 24, 2015 | Cookies & Bars, Desserts, Winter Recipes
This recipe is from Glenn’s mother, who began selling these cookies to neighbours and friends when Glenn’s Dad was laid off work one year just before Christmas. The cookies proved so popular that she continued the practice, selling thousands...
by Helen Kain | Dec 21, 2015 | Fall Recipes, Recipes By Type, Winter Recipes
This is the stuffing I traditionally make for our Christmas Eve dinner. This year, I finally took the time to measure the proportions rather than just plough ahead and make it by instinct, as is my wont. Its longevity on the family favourites list is likely...
by Helen Kain | Dec 17, 2015 | Christmas, Winter Tablescapes
It’s always a bit startling to us how quickly Americans make the transition from Thanksgiving to Christmas decorations in the last week of November. One day it’s all cornstalks and pumpkins, the next day – bang! Lights everywhere. On our last...
by Helen Kain | Dec 17, 2015 | Appetizers, Fall Recipes, Recipes By Type, Winter Recipes
Mid-week entertaining can be a bit of a challenge, especially in the jam-packed weeks leading up to Christmas. Our new neighbours were dropping by for a drink and a few nibbles and I was fresh out of ideas and time. Thank heaven for Google. I...
by Helen Kain | Dec 17, 2015 | Appetizers, Fall Recipes, Recipes By Type, Winter Recipes
In my quest to discover some easily prepared appetizers, I found Real Simple’s Quick 20-Minute Party Appetizers. They had one for Bacon-Wrapped Apricots that sounded intriguing. The reviews complained about the bacon taking a long time to cook and producing too...
by Helen Kain | Dec 3, 2015 | Black, Christmas, Green, Pink and Red, Winter Tablescapes
I already have several sets of Christmas themed tableware, but I couldn’t resist adding the very reasonably priced mugs, dessert plates and large square platter of Winter Village to my collection. The mugs are perfectly sized for a latte,...
