As a people Canadians pride themselves on their ability to bundle up against the winter elements and head out into the wildest of weather to brave whatever Mother Nature throws our way. I can't recall ever cancelling plans or changing my agenda because it was too cold, or the snow was falling too hard to head out. Hockey in a winter storm: off I go. Shoveling in minus 40: sign me up. Sunday morning run in sleet and ice: giddy up. So you won't be surprised to hear that I grill year-round. It does require some planning and a few changes to the way you deal with food on the grill.
My kids love this dish because it's delicious. I love it because I can make it in the morning by just throwing all the ingredients straight into the pot. The beef is melt-in-your-mouth tender and the sauce reminds me of the gravy served up at the old neighbourhood deli my grand-dad used to take me to as a kid.
I serve them up on egg noodles which cook up in just a few quick minutes. That way we can walk in the door on a cold day and be sitting down to a delicious meal within minutes.
Give it a try and let me know what your crew thinks!
There is nothing cozier than coming home to a slow cooker dinner on a cold, dark day. There is something nearly magical about throwing ingredients in a pot on your way out the door in the morning, and being welcomed home by the aroma of a piping hot, delicious dinner on your arrival later that evening. Some of my fondest childhood meals were slow cooked meals. Stews, soups, sausages...the options are really as plentiful as your imagination allows.
There are so many coffee makers on the market these days. Automatic systems trying to force pods, cups, and capsules on you; espresso systems that run the gamut from fully automatic to completely manual. Buying coffee makers for your kitchen can be a difficult and expensive process. The range of technologies and the associated price ranges are vast and confusing. I get a ton of questions on the options available and thought I'd give you a peek at what's in my kitchen.
I'm a huge fan of Ontario micro-brewed beers and spent most of this summer with a fridge full of one craft beer or another. I've converted most of my friends over to the micro-brewed beer scene and can very often be heard arguing the virtues of drinking locally-produced beers over larger, imported brands.
In a lot of homes September means back to school, cooler mornings and leaves to rake—in my home it's always meant great food, time with family and the start of a new year. Wait, what? That's right—a new year. Rosh Hashanah, the start of the Jewish year falls in September/October every year. Aside from a day full of prayers in synagogue it generally means gathering all the family around for some giant meals and festive eating.
Getting kids to eat a delicious and nutritious breakfast before they head out the door is a great way to start off any day. My kids have fallen in love with this simple and fun way to prepare poached eggs in a potato and cheddar basket alongside fruit birds - an irresistibly fun breakfast! They love using their forks to split the poached eggs in half and watch the yolk run all over the crunchy and flavourful potato-cheddar nests.
I made this video to show you just how easy it is to make simple poached eggs for your kids without any fuss or muss.
Buying pots and pans can be a harrowing experience if you don't know what you should be looking for. The range of technologies and the associated price ranges are vast and confusing. I get a ton of questions on the options available and thought I'd give you a peek at what's in my kitchen.
My children's nanny is from the Philipines and prepares some absolutely delicious dinners for us whenever we ask her. However, ask as I might, she keeps these recipes close to the vest and just laughs whenever I ask her for a recipe or how she makes anything. I took it upon myself to make her an equally delicious chicken dish I thought she may enjoy. Tangy and sweet, savoury and delicious, it was hit with the whole family—and you know I'm not giving her the recipe!
If you’ve never put pizza dough on the grill—it’s a must-do. After brushing the dough with olive oil you can place it directly on your cooking grates. After a few minutes on each side you end up with some of the best eats you’ve ever pulled off the grill. Similar to wood oven pizza it has an incredible crunchy exterior, with a deliciously soft middle, and a fantastic smokey undertone.
While this warm weather means that many households turn their attention to baseball, soccer and other classic summertime sports—in our house ice hockey is always in season. I play twice a week throughout the spring, summer, winter and fall. But if hockey is off your radar this time of year, the amazing contest Dove Men+Care is running should bring it back. A $15,000 backyard rink with a hockey legend dropping the puck at your first game—I'm just mad I don't qualify to win!
If I'm going to make dessert it has to be really easy and really delicious. This take on the iconic s'more in the form of a pie fits the bill. Easy to make, creamy and delicious. It has a graham/nutella crust, chocolate pudding filling and a homemade toasted marshmallow fluff topping. In our house it disappeared just as soon as it hit the table. You've got to try this one out!
I don't get excited by side dishes very often. It turns out that two of my absolute favourite side dishes are both recipes by Bobby Flay and are served in his Mesa Grill restaurant.
My kids love it when I let them help out in the kitchen. It doesn't matter if we're baking, barbequing or roasting, if they can be involved they're thrilled. Of course this also means there's a lot more cleanup for me along the way. Lots of little hands pouring, measuring, stirring, and transferring means more spills, drips, and general oopsies.
These massive slabs of beef ribs start out with a flavour-packed spice rub and are then mopped with a sauce which includes beer and maple syrup. I wanted to make something that was a tip of the cap to the Great White North, so—obviously—I began with picking up a case of Molson Canadian. Outstandingly delicious and…mission accomplished, eh?
Nestled between the California mountains and the Pacific Ocean with pleasant weather year-round, Santa Barbara is as appealing a destination as you can find. While droves of tourists flock to this region for its wineries and vineyards, a quiet revolution is taking hold in wine country. Popping up throughout the Santa Barbara region some formidable microbreweries have been building a loyal falling of beer aficionados throughout the state.
There are few places I feel as comfortable as I do in front of a grill. It's what I know. It's what I do well. It's just me and the fire and the meat. It's this passion for grilling that lead me down the culinary path I've been on for the past 20 years or so. Sure I cook recipes in the kitchen all the time, but it's outside with tongs in hand that I'm cosmically happy.
The store shelves are full of gifts for dad right now. From desk weights to silk ties, finding the perfect gift for Father's Day can be quite the overwhelming task. In our house an easy way to dad's heart is always getting something for the grill. Weber has put out some pretty neat grilling accessories this year that you know dad will just love to open up and use on Father's Day.
With its recent resurgence, the tea-craze is in full swing in North America. Specialty tea shops are popping up in malls with retailers offering dozens of niche flavours and tea paraphernalia. As a foodie I get a lot of questions online and from friends about how to make sense of this whole tea-volution. What are the different types of tea? How should they be prepared at home?
