Autumn
Better-Than-Crack-Brownie Cake
Another joint birthday has come and gone. My youngest daughter, Lauren, and I both have birthdays in February, only...
Rosemary Spiced Bourbon Old-Fashioned
Enjoy this spicy twist on one of the most venerable drinks in the cocktail kingdom. Homemade rosemary spiced simple...
Classic Sticky Gingerbread
Moist and spicy, this toothsome concoction is a wintertime delight. Enjoy it sitting by the fire with a hot cup of tea...
Gruyere-Stuffed Crusty Bread
Can anything be more tempting than the aroma of fresh crusty bread? You bet! Add some tantalizingly melted cheese to a...
Paris Bistro Soup
A colourful mixture of heirloom beans is the base for this light yet hearty soup. Zursun's Paris Bistro Blend contains...
Phyllo Tart with Chicken, Spinach, Feta and Pine Nuts
Spanakopita was a mainstay at neighbourhood get-togethers back in the day, and the offerings ran the gamut from soggy...
Cranberry, Pistachio & Orange Biscotti
Our virtual baking session just before Christmas produced more than Orange Chocolate Cake. My friend Leanne had...
Chicken Pot Pie
Claridge's Hotel has been providing luxury accommodation in the heart of Mayfair since the 1850s; Martyn Nail,...
Chocolate Cupcakes with Silky Peanut Butter Frosting
I had completely forgotten about the package of Halloween cupcake liners and toppers that had followed me home last...
Fall Brodo
A short list of ingredients and a whole lot of flavour. What's not to love? This delectable soup hits all the...
Roasted Beet and Squash Salad with Gorgonzola Cheese
Squash and pumpkins abound. They're piled up everywhere in farmer's markets, a sure sign of fall. Technically, they...
Peach Cornbread Skillet Cobbler
Six luscious peaches beckoned from the kitchen counter early one morning, on a day that threatened imminent rain....
A Jewel-Toned Table with Roasted Plum Tart
"Apples, Peaches, Pears and Plums, tell me when your birthday comes!" Does anyone else remember jumping rope to...
Dried Cherry Panettone
I"m a glutton for slightly sweet bread. Not the super-sweet-sticky stuff like iced cinnamon rolls, but scones, date...
Baklava Pull-Apart Bread
Baking is a very soothing activity. Baking bread with scads of butter, sugar, cinnamon, and nuts is the epitome of...
Poached Pear Pistachio Tart
Earlier this month, we invited some friends over for dinner at the Cape, and I wanted to make a dessert that was...
Sticky Toffee Trifle
I've always been a fan of Sticky Toffee Pudding with its dense cake and luscious caramel sauce, so I was eager to try...
Pumpkin Cake with Pineapple Flowers
Taking a cue from Claire's recommendations on cake decorating from Bon Appetit's website, I was excited to come...
Monkey Bread
When I was planning the table setting Monkeying Around, I discovered Monkey Bread. Where has it been all my life? It's...
Spinach, Fennel, Leek and Pine Nut Pinwheels
These pinwheels make a wonderful canapé for a dinner party or one of the savoury pieces of a hearty afternoon tea....
Cheese Scones
A savoury version of the traditional scone, these are perfect accompaniments to a bowl of hearty soup. The recipe can...
Spicy Orange Ginger Cookies
We have my friend Leanne of the Apple Bundt Cake to thank for this recipe. It's adapted from Laurel Kreuger's...
Apple Pie with Oatmeal-Almond Crumble
This dessert is the perfect answer to that apple season conundrum: should I make an apple pie or a crumble? You can...
Pumpkin Tarts with Salted Caramel Nuts
If you love all things pumpkin, add these elegant tarts to your baking repertoire. The crisp pastry shell contains a...
Herbed Goat Cheese Crostini with Caramelized Peppers
Easy to whip up and not too filling, this colourful appetizer is a crowd-pleaser. Perfect for a little nosh before...
Gingerbread Muffins
Spicy gingerbread meets breakfast fare; a moist, flavorful muffin that warms the cockles of your tummy. [gallery...
Mushroom Strudel
The humble, earthy mushroom takes on a deeply savoury flavour and meaty texture when sauteed in olive oil and butter....
Sweet Bread with Raisins & Candied Citrus
I have a terrible weakness for sweet bread. Not the sticky-sweet-cinnamon-roll kind, but the yeasty, nectarous...
Apple Cinnamon Scones with Fresh Apple and Golden Raisins
The smell of cinnamon and baking apples is pure heaven on a crisp fall day, especially when scones are in the offing....
Mushroom & Smoked Mozzarella Foccacia
Until recently, I've been a yeast-avoider. Beguiling pictures of rising bread caught my attention,...
Skillet-Baked Eggs with Spinach
Eggs baked in a skillet atop smoothly melted leeks and tasty spinach for a weekend brunch. Such a healthy and virtuous...
Sultana Tea Bread
I spotted the picture for this recipe in Tea Time Magazine, and just had to try it. More cake than bread-like, it has...
Lancashire Beef Hot Pot
This hearty one-pot stew is traditionally made with lamb, but is every bit as good with beef. The layer of potatoes...
Celeriac Soup Garnished With Duck Confit
Celeriac is an odd-looking vegetable with a gnarled root system protruding from the bottom of its bulbous form. Also...
Cock a Leekie Soup
Chicken and leek soup is a Scottish staple, and there are as many variations on the recipe as there are Scots, it...
Raspberry Cranachan Parfaits
Raspberry Cranachan is a traditional Scottish dessert, though I would imagine it was made with bottled or preserved...
Scottish Tart
A delicious whisky laced, dried fruit and nut filled flan. It's kind of like the best possible buttertart-fruitcake...
Beef Stew Braised With Guinness
Meltingly tender chunks of beef with toothsome potatoes, turnips, carrots and peas in a deep, rich gravy. Yum! Just...
Pumpkin Cake with Brown Butter Cream Cheese Icing
This glorious pumpkin cake features several layers of flavour: a delicately crumbed cake with nutty undertones of...
Chocolate Clementine Bars
Holiday baking is one of the joys of the season. It's also an exercise in selectivity - in terms of caloric budget and...
Mac and Cheese with Ham and Red Pepper
Is there anything more comforting than a dish of hot Mac & Cheese on a cold, wet night? Or at anytime, really......
Apple Sponge Cake With Custard
When I was growing up, Sunday dinner was invariably a roast of some sort. If we were very lucky, it was roast pork...
Gingerbread Leaves
Earlier this year when my friend Leanne (of the Leanne's Apple Bundt Cake with Apple Butter Bourbon Glaze) was...
Lemon Curd
My daughter Kirsten and her husband Mike had invited us over for dinner one evening, and I decided to bring a Tarte au...
Braised Vegetables with Pan Roasted Pork Chops
Braised vegetables are among my very favourite, especially when they're done on the stovetop while quickly searing a...
Pumpkin Pie With a No-Roll Crust
What would Thanksgiving be without pumpkin pie? While it's not universally popular in our house, the Pumpkin Pie...
The Churchill Cocktail
It's always such a treat to visit Cliveden, a country house hotel in England, and it's an even bigger treat when the...
Leanne’s Apple Bundt Cake with Apple Butter & Bourbon Glaze
As I mentioned in my previous post on Apple Spice Cakelets, when our friends John and Leanne visited us in the Cape...
Stacked Waldorf Salad
Apple season is upon us, and while I love all the braised, rich dishes that come with fall, a tangy, crunchy and fresh...
Basil Pesto
It's that time of year when basil plants are at their fragrant peak and visions of pasta ribbons festooned with pesto...
Apple Spice Cakelets
Last summer in the Cape, our friends John and Leanne came to visit, Leanne is quite an accomplished cook and baker;...
Peach Plum Cobbler
It's Labour Day weekend. After visiting Nana & Poppa and taking them a Spiced Plum Skillet...
Purple Plum Torte
This delectable cake has a venerable history. When Amanda Hesser, former editor of the New York Times food section,...
Pear and Cranberry Tart with Walnut Crust
The subtle nutty flavour of the delicious crust adds a certain something to this tangy and colourful tart....
Mediterranean Vegetable Gratin
This marvellous combination of vegetables makes a beautiful side to accompany roast chicken or steak, or feature as...
Pappardelle with Pork Ragù and Burrata
This recipe was illustrated on one of Williams Sonoma's recent flyers and I was instantly smitten. Rich sauce...
Tagliatelle with Artichokes and Prosciutto
There is something decadent about the humble artichoke. Combined with thin slices of salty prosciutto, tossed in...
Gingerbread Pear Cobbler
We are into pear season now, and what better way to enjoy them than in a cobbler? Pears are an exceptionally juicy...
Roasted Beet, Blue Cheese and Pecan Salad
Roast beets are colourful and delicious. Incredible simple to make, they can be tossed in alongside whatever else...
Spiced Beef Brisket with Dried Apricots and Cherries
When the weather turns nippy, my thoughts greedily shift in happy anticipation of braised dishes. Osso bucco,...
Fusilli with Ricotta and Spinach
I'm always on the lookout for simple pastas for weekday meals. This dish is essentially a deconstructed version of a...
Prosciutto-Wrapped Pears with Blue Cheese and Pecans
I was looking for an appetizer that featured the best of fresh fall ingredients, and came across this recipe...
Apple Cornbread Skillet Cobbler
Everyone loves apple cobbler, and it's even better when it features cornmeal. I made this recipe using...
Pumpkin Soup with Spicy Pepitas
Squash and pumpkin soups are a mainstay in the fall, and for good reason. They're both gorgeous and delicious. This...
French Apple Tart
While trolling for ideas, I immediately fell for this French Apple Tart on appearance alone. Cook's Illustrated...
Slow Roasted Leg of Lamb with Heirloom Carrots and Snow Peas
This dish was inspired by one we enjoyed at Les Papilles, a very small restaurant in the Latin Quarter of...
Apple, Pear & Dried Cherry Pie
This recipe is adapted from one from Fine Cooking, The original is intended to be made ahead and frozen, which is what...
Rustic Tomato Sauce
The tomato bounty is overflowing everywhere, prompting an urge to preserve their juicy perfection. I've used a food...
Tagliatelle with Prosciutto and Fresh Peas
We got the last of this season's fresh English peas from Picone's, our local family-owned green grocer. I'd used most...
Corn, Mushroom, Leeks and Pancetta
We were having close friends over for dinner the day following our long drive back from Cape Cod. After being...
Cassoulet
Cassoulet is an incredibly rich and flavourful dish, and one of my favourites when we go to Le Select Bistro in...
Duck Legs Braised in Red Wine and Dried Fruit
Duck confit is probably my favourite preparation of le canard, but it involves a lot of fiddling around with copious...
Better-Than-Crack Brownie Parfaits
Since the kids were babies, our family birthday cake of choice has been Devil's Food cake with French Vanilla Icing...
Pumpkin Ravioli with Sage Butter
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...
Sausage Stuffing with Celery, Cranberries and Apple
This is the stuffing I traditionally make for our Christmas Eve dinner. This year, I finally took the time to...
Endive with Ricotta Cheese, Candied Ginger & Golden Raisins
Mid-week entertaining can be a bit of a challenge, especially in the jam-packed weeks leading up to Christmas....
Prosciutto Wrapped Apricots with Sage
In my quest to discover some easily prepared appetizers, I found Real Simple's Quick 20-Minute Party Appetizers. They...
Black Walnut Manhattan
The Glass Onion is one of our favourite restaurants on the Cape. They don't accept reservations, Update 2020:...
Cannellini Bean Soup with Chorizo and Kale
As the cold weather sets in, a soup hearty enough to stand on its own for dinner is always welcome. This combination...
Penicillin
On our recent trip to Edinburgh, we decided to walk the 20 minutes to The Castle Terrace for dinner. It was a...
Tomato Soup with Dill
On a chilly day, sometimes you just want something hot, but not particularly filling. This tomato soup fits the bill...
Date & Nut Loaf
After a long walk with the dogs, we like nothing better than to curl up with a book, a cup of tea and a fire in the...
Weekend Breakfast: Tomato, Mushroom & Spinach Omlette
Like most people, we tend to have a fairly quickly prepared breakfast throughout the week, but indulge in a more...
Roasted Vegetable Soup
This delicious soup can be made in a number of different ways, so don't be afraid to add whatever extra vegetables you...
Ginger Roast Chicken and Elbow Macaroni With Tomatoes and Pan Sauce
All About Roasting by Molly Stevens is a wonderful cookbook, chockfull of helpful advice and wonderful recipes....
French Onion Soup
When winter storms hit, I'm loathe to leave the comfort of the fireplace to venture out into the cold, so I scrounge...
Butternut Squash Risotto
Risotto is a favourite in our house. We make it throughout the year, especially in the fall when the weather just...
Cranberry Chutney
Preparations for Thanksgiving dinner have begun! In the spirit of trying to get as much done ahead of time as...
Summer Dinner For Ten
The remainder of the family was flying in late that evening, and with their arrival, our numbers would swell to 10...
Linguine with Clams
I'd always loved this dish, and then I had it in Venice and became spoiled for life. Linguine con Vongole, as it's...
Butternut Squash Soup with Apple, Sage and Bacon
Not just for fall, this soup is a perennial favourite in our house, so I usually double the recipe. The apple adds a...
Creamy Potato Leek Soup with Stilton & Sautéed Pears
This soup is at home at the most elegant dinner party or served in thick mugs alongside crunchy crudités, paté and...
Arugula, Fennel & Apple Salad with Toasted Hazelnuts
Thin slices of fennel mixed with peppery arugula support chunks of apple and toasted hazelnuts in this salad—perfect...
Pasta with Roasted Broccoli, White Beans and Tomatoes
This is a recipe I found years ago in The Nantucket Table by Susan Simon and Tom Eckerle. The broccoli takes on a rich...
Cauliflower Soup with Crispy Prosciutto and Parmesan
This recipe from Sunday Soup by Betty Rosbottom is fabulous. As described, “it is a luxuriously smooth soup with a...
Osso Bucco
A traditional, much loved Italian dish, "Osso Buco" means "hole of bone" because the marrow provides the rich flavour...
Red-Wine-Poached Pears with Vanilla Ice Cream and Chocolate Lace
Astonishingly simple to make, poached pears form an elegant finale to any meal, humble or sophisticated. Here they are...
Split Pea Simmer
This hearty, thick soup is a family favourite. Served with crusty bread, a little cheese and some fruit, it's a...
Chicken Pot Pie – With A Twist
Last Sunday we had the family around for dinner. The weather was "brisk" to put it kindly, so I wanted to serve...
Turkey Stew
We recently enjoyed an Apple-Brined and Hickory-Smoked Turkey on the BBQ. Not only is the cooking process fast and...
