All posts filed under: Sides

Shirazi Salad

Published by

While we still have a few more weeks of winter to go, I’m really craving light and refreshing spring/summer foods. However, during the winter months, fresh produce is not always the best quality here in Canada. But luckily in BC, we have lots of local greenhouses that sell fresh local produce year round! This simple, refreshing Shirazi Salad was inspired by these locally grown greenhouse veggies. Local BC Produce While winter tomatoes and cucumbers cannot compare to fresh summer ones, greenhouse-grown veggies are a great alternative in the winter months. We are lucky here in BC to have lots of local farmers that grow greenhouse produce year-round that we have access to. I really prefer to buy local in general to support local farmers and producers, but also because the produce tastes so much better than those that come from far away such as Mexico or New Zealand. I was lucky enough to find local greenhouse tomatoes and Persian cucumbers at my local grocery store, and I immediately jumped on them to make this delicious …

Easy Cauliflower Gratin

Published by

Cauliflower is all the rage these days and can be seen in everything from rice to pasta to pizza. While I love that this vegetable is so versatile and can be transformed into these low-carb options, my favourite way to eat cauliflower is in this Cauliflower Gratin. Topped with Parmesan cheese, panko breadcrumbs, and a bit of butter, this dish is sure to satisfy everyone! Plus, now that this cruciferous vegetable has now come into season (and will be around until December!), a great way to celebrate it is at Easter dinner! Just look at all those spring vibes! The Gratin Technique This is by far, the easiest gratin you will ever make. If you have never heard of a gratin before, it is simply a French culinary technique whereby a dish is topped with breadcrumbs and some type of cheese. The breadcrumbs and cheese become crispy when baked and offer a crunchy texture to the dish. Typically, gratins are made with thinly sliced potatoes that become softened during the baking process. Rather than taking …

Magic Green Sauce

Published by

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day! While people may be out celebrating with pints of green coloured beer, I’m celebrating with something a bit healthier. This Magic Green Sauce is healthy and 100% vegan– and it’s truly magical! So never mind that imaginary pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. This Magic Green Sauce is for real and anyone can enjoy it on just about anything! Creamy, fresh and a tad spicy- this Magic Green Sauce is great on anything! The Magical Ingredient(s) The magical ingredient in this Magic Green Sauce is…avocado! Everyone goes head-over-heels for this delectable fruit because it is so creamy. I use that to my advantage in this Magic Green Sauce to make the sauce super smooth. The avocado is also relatively neutral in flavour, so it can hold up to all the flavour that some key herbs are packing. I use the dynamic duo of parsley and cilantro to bring tons of flavour and vibrant green colour to this sauce. A little bit of jalapeño and garlic adds a nice …

Chive Mashed Potatoes

Published by

While I said in my past few posts that I cannot get through Thanksgiving without my Traditional Bread Stuffing or my Shaved Brussels Sprouts with Shallots & Pancetta, I am serious when I say that I CANNOT make it through Thanksgiving without mashed potatoes! They are creamy, fluffy and it’s the best vehicle to transport gravy! While a recipe for mashed potatoes may seem to be a bit excessive since there are so few ingredients involved in this recipe, I have lots of tips and tricks to share with you to get the best mashed potatoes ever. Just like these ones below… That butter pool tho…. First off, the type of potato matters. The best types of potatoes for mashed potatoes are russet or Yukon gold potatoes. Russet potatoes have a really high starchiness and are light and fluffy in texture when cooked. These types of potatoes are typically used for baked potatoes (also delicious!). Alternatively, Yukon gold potatoes are excellent as they are creamy in texture but they are a bit dense when cooked. …

Traditional Bread Stuffing

Published by

If you end up with a stale loaf of bread this time of year, don’t even think about throwing it away! Instead, you can make this delicious and hearty Traditional Bread Stuffing for your Thanksgiving table or for any Sunday night dinner this fall/winter season! This Traditional Bread Stuffing is the second recipe in my “Thanksgiving for Two” series. I know that I can’t let Thanksgiving pass me by without having some sort of bread stuffing. While I enjoy bread stuffing in any way it’s prepared (either baked inside a turkey or baked in its own casserole) I have a slight preference for the casserole style. I really enjoy the mix of textures to a baked stuffing—you get a nice crunchy top and a soft and juicy interior. I’m getting hungry just thinking about it! The trick to making a really good bread stuffing is to have a loaf of stale bread. Odd, I know, but the stale bread really soaks up the chicken stock and other delicious flavours that are added in this recipe …

Shaved Brussels Sprouts with Shallot & Pancetta

Published by

Get your stretchy pants ready– Thanksgiving is here! Thanksgiving is one of my favourite holidays because it if 100% centered around food. Turkey, stuffing, roasted vegetables, and pumpkin pie are the traditional Thanksgiving comfort foods that everyone enjoys this time of year. And while I love eating all these foods, it is a lot of work if you are celebrating solo or with a special person–which is he case for many people across the country who perhaps travel home to be with family. So this year, I am planning a special Thanksgiving menu for two! These recipes are simple to make and can be adapted to accommodate small or large crowds. Plus, I am covering all the bases so that you won’t miss out on the traditional tastes of the season! I will be putting out once recipe every day this week to get you prepared (or inspired) for Thanksgiving Day on October 8th. I will also be adding in a bonus decor and planning post that will help you get ready for the big …

4 Easy French Recipes for Bastille Day

Published by

Get out your berets everyone, it’s Bastille Day! This French holiday, also known as “Le 14 Juillet” or “La Fête National” celebrates the beginnings of The French Revolution many years ago. The French typically celebrate this holiday by travelling, being outside (picnic anyone?) and of course, having a fantastic meal. I mean hey, you can’t start a revolution on an empty stomach! So here are four fabulously French recipes that are prefect to celebrate the day! Tartines Tartines are a classic French open-faced sandwich that are typically eaten at breakfast or lunch. I personally love to eat tartines no matter what time of day since they are so versatile in terms of flavour combinations! If there is one tartine that most of us have already been exposed to, its likely been Avocado Toast. While it may not be 100% French, the concept of an open faced sandwich is. Now, I have nothing against avocados on toast (maybe also topped off with an egg), but I feel that a proper tartine needs to be French-ified. A …

What’s In Season: A Guide to Steak

Published by

There’s nothing like chilling outside in the sun with an iced drink, listening to some funky music, and grilling up a fantastic meal. Luckily, as temperatures rise and the days get longer, we inch closer and closer to these days that I live for. I really enjoy this slow-paced, relaxed and somewhat primal form of cooking as it’s quite different from my every day kitchen-bound cooking. You get to hear different sounds, smell different mouth-watering smells, and feel different textures and sensations. Plus, barbequing is relatively effortless. All you really need is some good, high-quality ingredients to start out with and the grill will take care of all that intense flavour building. To kick off the start of barbeque season, I thought I would provide a thorough overview of how to make the most popular barbeque food: steak. There are so many ways to cook a steak, but in my opinion, grilling the steak is your best bet at getting that delicious, juicy, beefy steak flavour. But before we get into the cooking methodology, it’s …

Grilled Vegetables

Published by

You may think of firing up the grill for grilling up some ribs, hamburgers, or chicken this summer, but while you’re at it, why not make a side of these healthy Grilled Vegetables?! These RAINBOW grilled veggies are just perfect for Pride weekend here in Vancouver! I love the flavour that the grill gives to the vegetables- that smoky, charred taste is irresistible. And the way the veggies get all soft and juicy…ugh don’t get me started! In order to get perfectly grilled vegetables, there are a few tips that you should know when handling the grill. Tip 1 is to cook the vegetables on high heat. This sears the outside of the vegetables and gives an nice char. Tip 2 goes hand-in-hand with the former, do not move the vegetables around too much when you are grilling them. Once you place the vegetable on the grill, don’t touch it. Let it sit, sear and char up- that’s also how you get those prominent char marks! Vegetables such as bell peppers and mushrooms take 2-3 …

Perfect Guacamole

Published by

If you love Mexican food just as much as I do, you know that your meal cannot be complete without guacamole. Add it to burritos, tacos, nachos, anything and I’m there- heck, I will even eat it straight out of the bowl with a spoon. I’ve had some really good guacamole in my day and have tried many different versions and combinations of ingredients to achieve the perfect balance of flavour (with mostly delicious results). Today, I am proud to say… See recipe here!