Plum & Peach Crumble
Our local farmer's market has a good selection of early plums, and I snagged some Early Goldens and Damsons, both of...
Ratatouille
A Provencal classic, Ratatouille is the perfect vehicle for a mound of late summer produce. Tomatoes, summer squash,...
Squid Ink Linguine with Seafood
After discovering the Bains de Mer 19th-century French faience plates, I searched for a suitable dish to accompany the...
Dancing Hares Cake
It usually starts with a plate; I can't count the number of times a pattern has inspired a coordinating baked good,...
Watermelon Popsicles
It wouldn’t be summer without popsicles. As a child, I was all over the luridly-coloured, artificially-flavoured...
Lemon Blueberry Bundt Cake
Zesty lemony, buttery cake studded with tangy blueberries—a perfect afternoon pick-me-up or dessert. It could even...
Green and Sugar Snap Pea Salad with Prosciutto
The combination of sugar snap and English peas is crunchy and satisfying. Peppery notes of arugula with salty...
Ginger Spiced Plum Streusel Pie
Plums are the perfect fruit pie filling with their firm, tart flesh, easily separated from the delightfully small pit....
Black Cod with Olives, Tomatoes and Pine Nuts
As summer's heat begins to abate, light but substantial meals are welcome. Rich, hearty and tasty, this healthful fish...
Corn, Avocado & Tomato Salad
Tender corn, creamy avocado and tangy tomatoes come together in a bright summer salad, with just enough Romaine...
Chicken Club Pita
When it's too hot to even contemplate turning on the oven, a rotisserie chicken is a chef's best friend. Sliced and...
Strawberry Shortcake
The scrumptious combination of strawberries and cream was originally brought to us from a very surprising source: His...
Mixed Berry Tart with Lattice and Flower Crust
Fresh, local summer fruit is beginning to appear at the farmer's markets, but not fast enough to furnish a fruit pie,...
Succulent Strawberry Salad
Looking for a no-fail starter for a dinner party? This colourfully fresh salad pleases foodies and veggie-haters...
Cherry Biscuit Cobbler
Summer is approaching and with it, we will soon see cherries, cherries everywhere! What to do with all that abundance?...
Farro Salad with Asparagus and Grape Tomatoes
Easy to prepare and studded with colourful vegetables, this healthy salad is hearty enough for a summer main course....
Roasted Tomato Tart with Shrimp
I adapted this from a recipe I came across many years ago (20??) in an issue of Victoria Magazine. Don’t be daunted by...
Lemon Chiffon Cake
This light, velvety chiffon cake is a delectable marriage of a buttery yellow cake and lofty-light angel food cake....
Creamy Corn Crab Bisque
The arrival of fresh corn signals the waning days of summer, but oh, what a high note on which to end the season! This...
Mixed Berry Curd Tart
I'm always eager to use up the excess egg yolks that are the inevitable byproduct of making Swiss Meringue Buttercream...
Ice Cream Sandwiches
How much fun is it to make your own ice-cream sandwiches? A lot more fun than I anticipated! When I was home in Canada...
Rhubarb Tartan Cake
I’ve been intrigued with the idea of decorating a cake with thin strips of rhubarb since I saw Heather Baird’s...
Watermelon Cucumber Salad with Chèvre and Mint
The cool crispness of watermelon is one of the highlights of summer. There is nothing like sitting on the porch steps...
Cranberry, Pistachio & Orange Biscotti
Our virtual baking session just before Christmas produced more than Orange Chocolate Cake. My friend Leanne had...
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...
Can She Make A Cherry Pie, Billy Boy?
Oh, where have you been, Billy Boy, Billy Boy? Oh, where have you been, Charming Billy? I have been to seek a wife,...
Dried Cherry Panettone
I"m a glutton for slightly sweet bread. Not the super-sweet-sticky stuff like iced cinnamon rolls, but scones, date...
Lemon Honeycomb Cake
The honeycomb pan for this cake has been lurking in my cake pan cupboard for a couple of years, waiting for its debut....
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...
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...
Deconstructed Black Forest Cake
Birthday cakes don't always have to be in cake form. Our son, Adam, has a great fondness for Black Forest cake which...
Blackberry Orange Mousse Cake
This seems to be the year of the blackberry. We are enjoying Blackberry Mojitos, Blackberry Champagne Cocktails and...
Blackberry Champagne Cocktail
You've heard of a Kir Royale? Meet the Blackberry Champagne Cocktail. It's a sparkling summer cocktail, rich with the...
Blackberry Mojito
It's the summer of the blackberry. Inspired by a drink we had at The Glass Onion in Falmouth, we decided to try our...
Honeycomb Cake with Sponge Toffee Garnish
When searching for a suitable dessert to pair with my Sadek Blue Bees, I came across this gorgeous, but somewhat...
Asparagus, Tomato and Goat Cheese Frittata
This is one of our favourite weekend breakfasts. It comes together in minutes and uses up whatever leftovers we...
Blueberry Cucumber Salad
This versatile salad makes a great starter for an elegant dinner when served in a champagne coupe or martini...
Mixed Berry Scones
This recipe, very slightly adapted from Cook's Country, is a winner. The tartness of the berries is offset beautifully...
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...
Mushroom Strudel
The humble, earthy mushroom takes on a deeply savoury flavour and meaty texture when sauteed in olive oil and butter....
Heirloom Tomato and Peach Salad with Mint & Basil
A wonderful late summer salad with the unusual combination of peaches and tomatoes, with high notes of heady basil and...
Green Beans, Tomatoes and Kalamata Olive Salad
This salad has only a few ingredients and takes minutes to throw together. The flash-cooked and cooled green beans...
Bourbon Cocktail with Lemon & Basil
Adam added a fabulous drink to our cocktails-to-try list with this surprisingly refreshing beverage, inspired by an...
Strawberry Trifle with Chocolate Mousse
This scrumptious trifle combines the intensity of rich chocolate cake and chocolate mousse with the creamy lightness...
Chicken and Pork Kebabs
Kebabs are a colourful and flavourful member of the grilling menu. Easy to throw together, they're infinitely...
Greek Salad
Colourful bell peppers and heirloom tomatoes jostle an English cucumber, Kalamata olives and Feta cheese in a lemony...
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...
Strawberry Rhubarb Torte
Strawberries and rhubarb are a classic combination for good reason. When strawberries are at their peak, their sweet...
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...
Raspberry Cranachan Parfaits
Raspberry Cranachan is a traditional Scottish dessert, though I would imagine it was made with bottled or preserved...
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...
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...
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,...
Tostadas with Shrimp & Guacamole
This easy appetizer can be prepared in advance with just a bit of last minute assembly. [gallery...
Mojito
When visiting us in the Cape, one of son Adam and son-in-law Mike's favourite occupations is concocting (and...
No-Bake Chocolate Mousse Pie
When it's 90 degrees in the shade and the mere thought of turning on the oven makes you shudder, it's time to break...
Raspberry Lime Rickey
We've had lots of family, big and small, here in the Cape over the last week. We were blessed with marvellous weather...
Mediterranean Vegetable Gratin
This marvellous combination of vegetables makes a beautiful side to accompany roast chicken or steak, or feature as...
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...
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...
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...
Spiced Plum Skillet Cake
This is an old-fashioned cake reminiscent of sticky gingerbread with pockets of jammy plums that melt in your mouth....
Summer Squash Succotash
It's been a very hot, dry summer here in Ontario, and our local summer squash crop has been, well, squashed....
Peach Cardamom Galette
Is there anything more succulent than a ripe peach? Freshly chopped atop a bowl of yoghurt and granola,...
Lamb Chops with Eggplant and Indian Spices
We were lucky enough to find some lamb chops whilst in the Cape, which is no small feat. They're not much into lamb in...
Summer Squash Carbonara
While my son Adam and I very much enjoy exploring multi-step, complex recipes during our vacation time, we are also on...
Barley Salad With Green Apples, Grapes & Cheddar
We are on a bit of a roll with grain salads these days. They're a very welcome change from typical vegetable salads...
Raspberry Galette
One of my relaxing pastimes whilst in the Cape is browsing old issues of Victoria Magazine. Their luscious...
Pork Chops with Peaches
When Adam and their family visit us in Cape Cod, it's our tradition to try a bunch of new recipes and this year was no...
Quinoa Salad with Pears and Dried Cherries
Grain salads are quick, easy to make and very nutritious. They're perfect to take to the beach whilst on...
Farro Salad with Asparagus, Sugar Snap Peas and Tomatoes
Grain salads are a wonderful option for summer meals, and this one is bursting with flavour and nutrition. I served it...
Braised Halibut with Fennel, Zucchini & Tomatoes
On a recent trip to New York, I fell in love with the Steamed loup de mer at Benoit's Bistro in Manhattan. It was...
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...
Cliveden 66 Cocktail
On one of our UK jaunts, we dined at Cliveden, a National Trust property which is also a wonderful hotel....
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....
Stone-Fruit Chutney
The urge to preserve overcomes me every year around this time. It's probably some primal holdover, or perhaps...
Lobster Risotto
Risotto is a traditional Italian dish made with starchy Arborio or Carnaroli rice, that give the dish a soft,...
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...
Braising and Baking the Best of Summer Fresh Ingredients
An almost imperceptible shift in weather, light and appetite begins in early August. As the farm stands overflow with...
Ricotta and Basil Ravioli
Is there anything more delectable than homemade pasta? Probably not, we concluded over dinner last night as we...
Shrimp Salad with Potatoes and Green Beans
Another Cape Cod weekend was upon us, and guests were arriving Friday night after a long, hot drive on the interstate...
Arugula with Red Anjou Pear, Stilton & Pecans
This simple salad of Arugula with Red Anjou Pears, Stilton & Toasted Pecans with a mustard vinaigrette is...
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...
Sweet Pea Soup with Early Chives
This soup is simple and quick to prepare. Light and delicate in taste, it’s the perfect start to a spring dinner. You...
Trout with Smashed Fingerling Potatoes, Peas, Prosciutto & Pistachios
I had a version of this dish at Mercatto in Toronto and attempted to recreate it, substituting crisp prosciutto for...
Cornbread with Fresh Corn, Red and Jalapeño Peppers
Looking through Weber’s Art of The Grill recently, I came across the recipe for Cast Iron Skillet Cornbread. It...
Succotash
We’re suckers for succotash in our house. As a kid, I loathed lima beans and anything that resembled them, so was...
Roasted Three Tomato Pesto Soup
This recipe is adapted from Whitewater Cooks by Shelley Adams. The soup is rich and hearty on its own, and makes an...
Paella
Paella is a gorgeous dish, the rice beautifully coloured with saffron and studded with delicious seafood, chorizo rice...
Shaker Summer Tomato, Celery and Corn Chowder
This light, yet flavourful soup, is excellent for those late summer days when corn and tomatoes are at their peak. It...
Porcini Mushroom Risotto with Sugar Snap Peas
Making risotto is really a matter of employing a method and using consistent proportions, rather than following a...
Tigger’s Pasta
Our marmalade cat, Tigger, considers himself to be human, although if asked, I’d bet he’d shudder at the thought of...
White Bean & Shrimp Salad
This wonderful salad makes a tasty starter course for dinner and works equally well as a main course for lunch....
