The Cook’s Kitchen

Weekends this winter have been unseasonably sociable… not that I’m complaining! Every invitation seems to bring with it a request to bring appetizers along.
I have assembled the following recipes using what I have on hand for last minute invitations; they are simple to make and are simply delicious:
Smoked Salmon Rolls
Makes 16 appetizers
1/4 cup spreadable light […]

The wind was howling and the snow was swirling sideways past the windows, but inside our family was feasting on a Sunday dinner of leftovers creatively reconfigured into new dishes.Following a Friday night casual kitchen supper for 10 friends (and… yes, I had been at work all day), I was left with an abundance of […]

Chocolate Pistachio Brownies ~ perfectly suitable for a take-along hostess gift, and easy to make

6 ounces great quality bitter-sweet chocolate
1/2 cup butter
2 eggs
1 cup white sugar
2/3 cup white flour
1-1/2 cups shelled pistachios
Line a 11 x 7 inch pan with parchment paper. Preheat oven to 375F.  Chop the chocolate, and cube the butter, and place in […]

Cranberries stashed away in the freezer from Thanksgiving make a comeback in Christmas baking. The flavour of these muffins is fuller if you bake them a day ahead, and they can be frozen.
These are ideal for last minute hostess or co-worker gifts, especially if you present them in a festive looking tin. Pair with interesting […]

At the end of a long day, I want something quick and delicious.  A few renditions of chicken soup follow that are perfect for a weekend lunch, or a simple and quick mid-week supper after a hectic day. Just add corn muffins, or a baguette. All the soups are ready in ten minutes!
Chicken and Lemongrass […]

A glut of rhubarb from the garden, combined with a pint of strawberries that had seen better days, forced me to come up with a mid-week dessert to satisfy my family. It was unusual to serve dessert on a Wednesday, but I knew no one in the house would stand for another batch of rhubarb-pecan […]

Soup isn’t something you normally associate with summer, but served cold or at room termperature, it can be a simple summer meal with a fresh baguette.  Recently, I had 8 guests for dinner after working all day (what was I thinking?), and served appetizer portions of soup in tiny Chinese tea cups.  The look was stunning […]

Soup isn’t something you normally associate with summer, but served cold or at room termperature, it can be a simple summer meal with a fresh baguette. Recently, I had 8 guests for dinner after working all day (what was I thinking?), and served appetizer portions of soup in tiny chinese tea cups. The look was […]

A glut of rhubarb from the garden, combined with a pint of strawberries that had seen better days, forced me to come up with a mid-week dessert to satisfy my family. It was unusual to serve dessert on a Wednesday, but I knew my kids wouldn’t stand for another batch of rhubarb-pecan muffins, delicious though […]