Close-up of a plate with sweet and sour meatballs with steaming rice and a green side of peas or fresh lettuce and some pickled beets.

Delicious food can help bring renewal to long winter days

We are now well into the New Year. I like to think of this time of year as a chance to make small simple changes that will bring renewal to our long winter days. Use delicious food to help with this restoration time. Chilled lemon flush This drink combination has such a unique and addicting […] Read more

A Croque Monsieur is a fancy name for a grilled ham and cheese sandwich smothered in bechamel sauce and then browned under the broiler.  |  Sarah Galvin photo

There are lots of ways to make the most of leftover ham

Christmas leftovers make nice meals in the new year. With ham, freeze the leftovers in labelled packages — thinly sliced, thickly sliced, small chunks, large chunks and finally, the meaty ham bone. Then you can pull out the cut that best suits your intended use. Croque Monsieur Croque Monsieur is simply a glorified grilled ham […] Read more

Mise en place is essential when making Asian meals. This means that all ingredients and tools are prepared and organized before cooking. | Sarah Galvin photo

Eating an Asian meal does not require trip to a restaurant

After the hustle and bustle of Christmas cooking, it is nice to have fun in the kitchen with new recipes. It is essential in Asian cooking to have all the ingredients prepared and sitting on the countertop ready to be added as needed. This is called mise en place. Substitutions are perfectly fine. Use what […] Read more


Cut-out cookies are so fun to make for the holidays. | Jodie Mirosovsky photo

Food traditions make for emotional family memories

My children are all grown up, but they still expect certain things over the holidays. Most important is food that has become traditions. Holiday recipes are emotional, evoke memories, deliver taste and provide visual satisfaction with vibrant colours such as glistening red. The regularly requested recipes often contain seasonal food such as cranberries, cherries, orange, […] Read more

Pan de Jamon is a sweet and savoury Venezuelan bread filled with ham and olives. | Sarah Galvin photo

Christmas around the world offers up new recipes to try

The Christmas season is a favourite travel time for many. Traditions and food vary, of course, making it even more interesting. For example, countries in Europe, Latin America and South Africa have the big feast on Christmas Eve. Serving the big dinner on Christmas Day is mainly a North American tradition. Oranges at Christmas time […] Read more


Mincemeat tarts are a traditional holiday favourite. Serve warm alone or add a scoop of ice cream.  |  Betty Ann Deobald photo

Fruity Christmas traditions make for lasting memories

Christmas desserts in my childhood home always had two fruity treats — Christmas pudding and mince tarts. The warm, fruity pudding was a must as far as my dad was concerned. He could hardly wait to get the main course over so we could enjoy the Christmas pudding with lots of rich vanilla sauce. Both […] Read more

Keep these pumpkin scones in mind when planning Christmas baking.  |  Getty Stewart photo

Pumpkin and squash can be turned into variety of dishes

Squash and pumpkins can be used to make a variety of dishes, which will be particularly welcome as Christmas arrives. Pumpkin scones Use your pre-made puree to whip up these delicious scones. Makes eight scones. Scones Glaze Preheat oven to 400 F (204 C). Lightly grease baking sheet or line with parchment paper. In large […] Read more

Apples are abundant at this time of year. So sweet and crunchy, this fruit is delectable in baked offerings. There is always a bowl of apples on the countertop.  |  Jodie Mirosovsky photo

Come in from the cold to a menu that warms the insides

I love this time of year in the kitchen. There is more time for cooking because the outside work is done and we can spend time indoors, on a yard work sabbatical. With cooler temperatures, we crave warming menus that offer flavour and sweets that deliver sugar and spice. Over the years of doing this […] Read more


Duck breast on crostini feels festive and it only takes a few minutes to make.  |  Sarah Galvin photo

Appetizers make Christmas entertaining more informal

Informal entertaining has taken over from the painstaking dinner parties I have always hosted. Now it is usually happy hour and most often it is potluck. There is enough stress in the holiday season already. Make entertaining easy. Simple cheese and fruit plate There is no need to make it complicated. A few simple, good […] Read more

Package cookies separately for an Advent calendar.  |  Sarah Galvin photo

Spice up Christmas cookie exchange with Advent calendar

Cookies are a delicious Christmas tradition, but they weren’t always a Christmas thing. Families were not leaving cookies and milk for Santa Claus until the 1930s. In those difficult times, parents wanted to show the children a kinder way. And thanks to Queen Victoria, gingerbread cookies became associated with Christmas. Christmas cookies are small bites […] Read more