Pork Pies
Pork Pies are a staple in the Ploughman's lunch, usually served alongside Cheddar and Stilton cheeses, Branston...
Doughnut Hole Croquembouche
Swirls of spun sugar surround a tower of delectable treats, in this case, old-fashioned doughnut holes! Traditional...
Beef & Mushroom Raised Pie
We are big fans of hot, savoury pies in our house. There is something deeply comforting about a gravy-laden pastry and...
Lemon Blueberry Bundt Cake
Zesty lemony, buttery cake studded with tangy blueberries—a perfect afternoon pick-me-up or dessert. It could even...
Lemon Soufflé Pudding
A silky smooth, tangy lemon sauce sits below a light-as-air soufflé. What could be more delightful? Easy to make, this...
White Lasagne with Swiss Chard, Spinach and Gruyere
Who could resist such a gorgeous display of Swiss rainbow chard? Not me! It was in my grocery basket before I had time...
Arugula and Radicchio Salad with Apple and Parmesan Crisps
Winter darkness calls for bold flavours. The bitter notes of arugula and radicchio are tempered with the sweet-tart...
Cranberry Oat Bars
Cranberries and Christmas are practically synonymous. These buttery, crunchy, nutty bars showcase the tart flavour of...
Hazelnut Biscotti with Chocolate Drizzle
A traditional Italian pastry, biscotti owe their dry, crunchy texture to the twice-baked method. First, the dough is...
White Chocolate Cranberry Orange Cheesecake
What could be more suitable for the holidays than a creamy, rich cheesecake with a crisp gingersnap crust and a tangy...
Roasted Buttercup Squash Stuffed with Wild Rice, Chestnuts and Cranberries
Fall brings us a wonderful variety of gourds in every shape and size. Visiting one of our local farm shops, I was...
Sausage Sheet Pan Dinner
Living so close to our various family members, impromptu mid-week meals are fairly common. I usually have a few pounds...
Chèvre Soufflés with Mushrooms and Red Peppers
Soufflés sometimes get a bad rap—fussy, intimidating and altogether too much work. Nothing could be further from the...
Crispy Potato, Vegetable and Egg Skillet Breakfast
This skillet breakfast brings an entirely new meaning to "home fries". It starts with a hearty dose of crispy, skin-on...
Lemon Squares
If you love lemon meringue pie and lemon curd, you'll adore lemon squares. They're a cinch to make, but don't neglect...
Lamb Ragu and Mint with Pappardelle
Lamb shanks are the intended cut of meat for this dish, but I had purchased a partial leg of lamb from Whole Foods for...
Better-Than-Crack-Brownie Cake
Another joint birthday has come and gone. My youngest daughter, Lauren, and I both have birthdays in February, only...
Raspberry and White Chocolate Scones
Raspberries are intensely flavourful, but their fragility makes them a tricky fruit to employ in baking scones, Too...
Red Currant Cream Cheese Tea Sandwiches
Boston Brown bread is the traditional accompaniment to baked beans, but it's equally delicious with smoked salmon or...
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...
Winter Sidecar
As promised in the Dreamy Wedgwood Style Fruitcake, here is the recipe for a Winter Sidecar, courtesy of Craft...
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...
A Dreamy Wedgwood-Style Fruitcake
A few years ago, visiting the Chatsworth Farm Shop during the Christmas Market reignited my love affair with...
A Valentine’s Day Table with Chocolate Raspberry Heart Cakes
Chocolate and roses are traditional Valentine's Day fare. Combining them in a cake is the best of all possible worlds...
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,...
A Festive Chocolate Orange Cake
This cake is the result of a happy collision of ideas. First, the plates (as so often happens around here). They're...
Winter Vegetable Chili
The weeks leading up to Christmas are fraught with opportunities for overindulgence. This vegetable-packed chili is a...
Gingerbread Village Spice Cake
When I was little, a crisp, spicy gingerbread cookie adorned with crunchy icing was the tantalizing reward 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...
Winter White Cupcake Wreath
Ever since I laid my hands on "Hello, Cupcake!", Irresistibly playful creations anyone can make, by Karen Tack...
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...
Monkey Bread
When I was planning the table setting Monkeying Around, I discovered Monkey Bread. Where has it been all my life? It's...
A Scottish Themed Tea with Paisley and Spode
For the Scots, Hogmanay, or New Year, is a much bigger celebration than Christmas and is marked by much feasting,...
Deconstructed Scotch Eggs
This healthier version of Scotch eggs is a marvellous "proteinious" snack. Traditional Scotch eggs are a soft-boiled...
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 recipe...
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...
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...
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...
Our Video for “Come and Dine” at Highclere is here!
The video is here. Please enjoy, and let me know what you think. Making the video was a fascinating process. I'm...
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...
Flageolet Bean, Ham Hock & Chorizo Soup
Brrrrr. It's freezing out! Time to make a stick-to-your ribs, hearty bean soup with lots of vegetables, tasty chunks...
Small Gingerbread Houses Made Easy
Christmas baking is a time honoured tradition, even among the culinary-wary. People who normally would not be caught...
Broccoli Soup with Mustard Seeds
This recipe is adapted from Sarah Lee Chase's Cold Weather Cooking and is absolutely delicious. She in turn caged the...
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...
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...
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...
Roasted Root Vegetables with Almonds & Parmesan Cheese
This recipe came from an advert for Grand Padano cheese in the December 2016 issue of Fine Cooking. It was illustrated...
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....
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...
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,...
French Apple Tart
While trolling for ideas, I immediately fell for this French Apple Tart on appearance alone. Cook's Illustrated...
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...
Danish Butter Cookies
This recipe is from Glenn's mother, who began selling these cookies to neighbours and friends when Glenn's Dad...
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...
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...
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...
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...
