This past week has been pretty nuts at my house. And I mean that literally. On Friday, I received a delivery 475 pounds of nuts and dried fruit, which some friends and I spent the evening sorting out and sharing amongst ourselves. It sounds pretty nutty (read: mentally unhinged), doesn’t it? Well, once you have tasted
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December 1, 2012
The Great Rancho Vignola Giveaway!
March 7, 2012
Chile con Carne del Congelador*
*Title Translation: “beef chili made from freezer finds” I came home from work last Thursday with a burning determination to continue my New Year’s resolution. With hardly a hello to my family, I began ruthlessly pulling stuff out of the freezer to thaw. “Use it or lose it!” I told myself, even when the pile became
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January 17, 2012
Operation Freezer, Week Two: Roasted Chicken and Raspberries in Syrup
This has been a red-letter week in Operation Freezer. I managed to use up freezer items for at least three delicious meals, and to dispose of one sad lonely pork loin chop that has been making me feel guilty every time I open Freezer One. However. I have been thinking. I’ve decided that my Freezer Issue isn’t
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January 9, 2012
Operation Freezer: the Best and Worst of Week One (with bonus recipe)
I have a problem that I like to call my Freezer Issue - I put food in my freezer but almost never take it out again. So, trips to my freezer are more archaeological expedition than simple food-grab. Like New Year’s day when I found a bag of blackberries, circa 2009, on top of a pile of other things I’m too
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December 31, 2011
Favourite Food Memories of Italy
Before the year is out, I want to round up the chronicles of my European trip. I had imagined that I would have luxurious amounts of time while I was travelling to blog about the trip, but I didn’t. I’ve had even less time since I’ve been back home. But it would not feel right
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August 30, 2011
Fresh Methi, aka Fenugreek Greens
One thing I have been quietly excited about all summer is that I have been able to buy Methi, FRESH, by the bunch, whenever I feel like it. At the grocery store! You have to understand that, until this year, methi (aka fresh fenugreek) was the Indian ingredient I was most unlikely to find, ever.
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August 20, 2011
Camping Food, Post Two: Tandoori Chicken
I first mentioned this recipe here last summer, after a camping trip with my sister and all of our children. I’m almost ashamed to say that I referred to it as the “tandoori chicken debacle”. My love of drama had gotten the better of me - the tandoori chicken was not a debacle. The chicken was divine,
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July 12, 2011
Cilantro Root Season
Of all the wonderful fruits and vegetables that are coming into season, cilantro root is the one that I am most excited about right now (sorry, dear cherries). Cilantro Root has a delicious herbal flavour, packs a powerful cilantro punch without being too cilantro-y, and is an essential ingredient in all kinds of Thai recipes. And it’s in season
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June 5, 2011
How to Make Ghee (Indian Clarified Butter)
I make ghee in at least half of my cooking classes, and not just the Indian ones. But, although my cooking class students always get to taste the delicious results, they never get to see the process. Honestly, I’m not a negligent culinary instructor – I just need the ghee right away in class.
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April 26, 2011
(Not my) Pantry of Shame
Only the promise of new friends convinced me to share a picture of my pantry with the world. No one needs to see, or should see, my pantry. I barely look in there myself. That is possibly why it is such a mess. But since I hit the ‘send’ button on my picture of shame, I am in
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