The Cook’s Kitchen

 
Winding down at the end of a hectic week doesn’t have to mean settling for take-out in a cardboard container.  Instead, treat yourself to this ridiculously simple, yet luxuriously elegant dish.  Go on.  You’re worth it!
Smoky Seared Sea Scallops
1 lb. “dry” sea scallops*
3 tbsp butter
1 1/2 tsp sea salt salt
1 tsp ground black pepper
1 […]

Baby Greens with Grapefruit and Avocado

Every Monday, at the beginning of each work week, I tell myself that this is the day that I’ll start, once and for all, eating and living right. Of course, by mid-week, I’m like, “bacon is good for you, right?”
The citrus season is perhaps the most happy aspect of winter for […]

 
This is a hearty main dish that is both quick and easy to prepare. Also, its ingredients are very forgiving, and it can be modified to suit almost anyone’s dietary parameters. Vegetarian? Switch out the sausage and chicken broth for white beans and vegetable broth. Gluten-free? Use rice, spelt or one of the other many […]

I love salt and sweet together, and caramel is one of my favorite things in the world, so I wanted to mix the two worlds, and I made some fleur de sel caramels.

I got a basic recipe from Gourmet and then changed it a bit. The original recipe called for white sugar and unsalted butter; […]

Bò Kho is a Vietnamese beef stew that my mother made for us all the time growing up. Not as thick as American beef stew, it’s more like a hearty soup with carrots and spices. My husband says it tastes like Asian-y boeuf bourguignon. It’s quite possible to me that this dish has its origins […]

One snowy Valentine’s Day, I woke up and went to the kitchen to make breakfast. On the table, I found a beautiful postcard of a palm tree-lined Miami. The back of the card read, “Guess where we’re going?”
Early next morning, we were on a plane to Miami. It was my first trip to Florida and […]

When it comes to breakfast, I am a die-hard fan of McCann’s Irish Steel-cut Oatmeal. Its nutty flavor and toothsome texture are far superior than the quick oats that cook in 2 minutes. It’s oatmeal that actually gives your teeth something to sink into. I find a small cup of this satisfies my hunger in […]

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 […]

The year might have just finished, but there is still time for one last sugar rush before dieting begins….
Dark Chocolate, Toffee & Macadamia Bark
Yields 1 lb
½ box of graham crackers
¼ cup brown sugar
¼ cup sugar
½ lb butter (2 sticks)
3 cups dark chocolate chips (or your favorite chocolate bars, broken up in small pieces)
1 cup toasted & […]

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 […]