Gluten free, dairy free, refined sugar free and bursting with late summer blackberries. These are not your usual flour filled, sugar laden muffins. More dense, less cakey and equally as satisfying.
Mixed Berry Crisp
This crisp is exactly what I crave in the middle of winter. Naturally sweetened with maple syrup, gluten free, dairy free, and packed full of berries bursting with juicy deliciousness. A crunchy topping of toasty nuts and rolled oats sits on top of last summer’s berries that were stashed away in the freezer for moments like this.
Almond Pear Crisp
Crunchy almonds, warming cinnamon and a hint of coconut… this pear crisp just might be the most delicious crisp E V E R. As it bakes and bubbles in the oven, the most delectable scent permeates through the entire house. I can’t even describe how good it smells… so make it for yourself and see!
Orange Pistachio Raspberry Cake
Today we have cake! With just two of us in the house it’s hard to make any sort of treat that we actually finish. Neither of us are regular sweet eaters, so when we do crave a little treat it’s nice to have a bit of citrus and a handful of tangy berries to balance things out. This cake is moist, flavourful and the perfect size for the twos of us — not too big and not too small.
Mushroom Pâté
I love pâté, all kinds of pâté, but last year I tried a new to me pâté. At my friends wedding she had these amazing picnic baskets set out for all of the guests. Each was filled with an assortment of goodies and treats among which was a delicious mushroom pâté. Why hadn’t I thought of that before? This version was such a fantastic alternative to the traditional liver based variety. So I went home and thought, why not try and make it myself?
Garlic Pizza Knots with Marinara
These garlicky knots of pizza dough make a great snack or appetizer. I love eating these when I’m cozied up on the couch watching a good movie. These are WAY better than popcorn, in my opinion. No bits of popcorn seeds getting stuck in your teeth, or dry bits of popcorn nearly choking you to death. Nope these are pillowy soft and the perfect vessel for flavourful marinara sauce (or even honey if sweet and salty is what you crave).
A Confession of Bagel Love
I love bagels.
After having lived in Montreal for several years, I make a point of bringing back bagels each time I visit. I have even been known to have an empty suitcase in tow for the sole purpose of bringing back the amazing St.-Viateur bagels. Dense and chewy with a faintly distinct sweetness Montreal bagels are always cooked in a wood fire oven. Although there are a handful of Montreal-style bagelrys here on the west coast, nothing compares to a true Montreal bagel hot out of the fire torn apart and dipped directly in cream cheese.
Onion Pakoras
I am definitely lover of nearly anything that’s crunchy and salty. When I feel hunger setting in, rarely do I reach for the chocolate stashed in the fridge (hidden from my chocolate fiend partner), but rather it’s the chips that call my name, and well anything salty really. So when I go out for Indian food I almost always order pakoras, not even realizing how easy they are to make at home. The perfect balance of texture and taste.