Shepherd’s Pie
LEFT BRAIN: Everyday Shepherd’s Pie This is not a pie nor is there any shepherd involved, but instead it’s a homemade North American casserole. Hearty comfort food is most enjoyable when swirling snow or...
Author: Joanna and Marilyn
Christmas Cookies
LEFT BRAIN: American Sugar Cookies Sugar cookies adapt to various holidays merely by varying the cutter to suit the occasion. My cookie cutters have accumulated over the years, however the truly treasured ones are...
Festive Nuts: Sugared & Ginger Almonds
LEFT BRAIN: Sugared Almonds This will likely become one of your signature hostess gifts. A candy thermometer produces perfect results every time, but I have given the less reliable non-thermometer method below too. The...
Cranberry Recipes
LEFT BRAIN: Apple Cranberry Croustade A few lonely apples sat on the cutting board waiting to be used in some manner – plus some leftover fresh cranberries. Rummaging in my freezer, a black hole...
Two Tomato Soups
LEFT BRAIN: Fresh Tiny-Tomato Soup Bite-size tomatoes are sweeter and have a thinner skin than their larger cousins. Early autumn’s profusion of red pear, orange cherry, red cherry, and tiny currant tomatoes from my...
Summer’s Best Herb
Joanna and Marilyn like to “freeze summer” in the form of basil pesto. In late summer our plants are full of large bright green leaves, ready for harvesting. Here’s a recipe from each of...
Rhubarb rhubarb
LEFT BRAIN: Strawberry Rhubarb Pie One of the first plants to emerge in the spring garden is rhubarb. Prairie women call it “pie plant” as indeed it is the first fresh ingredient for pies...
Two Spicy Potato Salads (but not too hot)
LEFT BRAIN: North African Potato Salad This lemony potato salad is slightly spicy, yet not so hot that the other flavours are overpowered by chili heat. It is very characteristic of North African cuisine...
Asparagus Tart / Spring Garden Soup
LEFT BRAIN: Asparagus Tart The crisp golden crumbs nicely set off the smooth cheese-flavoured custard of this sophisticated pastry. It is a fine entrée with salad and bread for brunch or lunch, however it...
Oh, Crumbs!
Thrift may motivate us to use up leftover bread, cake and chips by making crumbs, however crumbs make food delicious too, providing a crispy coating or soaking up delicious juices. Simply whirl cubes of...