Saint Anthony Celebratory Sangria
**Photography by Vito Bruno June 13th is the feast day of Saint Anthony, patron of lost things. While almost every day of the calendar year is dedicated to a particular saint, Anthony is one I revere for several reasons. First, as already mentioned, he is invoked for finding things lost or stolen which I can […]
Carbonara: A Pasta that’s all it’s Cracked up to Be
Never mind cracking a few eggs to make an omelet, I’d paraphrase the old proverb, to say “you’ve got to crack a few eggs to make a carbonara”. Eggs, cheese (Parmigiano or Pecorino Romano specifically), guanciale or pancetta and black pepper are the simple ingredients that make up one of the greatest spaghetti dishes in […]
I Get by with a Little Help from My Friends: Shortcut Hand Pies
Just like John, Paul, Ringo and George turned to their friends for help, so do I from time-to-time in kitchen. While I love making things from scratch and have spent countless hours in the kitchen doing just that, I don’t always have the luxury of time and do take shortcuts in cooking and baking. As […]
Healthy Habits for Happy Bellies
Those who know me well, know that my two greatest passions are children and food. Six months ago, I got the opportunity to combine those two passions as I took on the role as the cook at a nearby daycare. I can honestly say that this has been one of the most rewarding experiences of […]
Fried Chicken in the Kitchen
The great poet Maya Angelou once said, “The best comfort food will always be greens, cornbread and fried chicken” and I must say that I’m inclined to agree, particularly after being part of an informative and interactive culinary workshop series presented by Canola Eat Well. I had the pleasure of taking part in one of […]
Of Course I Can!
The fleeting days of summer are always marked by canning rituals: tomato sauce; roasted peppers, pickled eggplant, fruit jams and pestos to name a few. It’s all about taking the bounties of the garden at their prime and preserving their vibrant colors and flavors to brighten up cold and dark winter day. This year I […]
Bauli Berries and Cream Breakfast Bake
“Il buongiorno si vede dal mattino” translation: “you can tell it will be a good day by the way it begins” and if it starts with a berries and cream breakfast bake made with Bauli vanilla custard croissant it will indeed be a buongiorno. These croissants by Bauli Canada are made using a lievito madre […]
Skillet Scallions and Eggs
*Photos courtesy of Frank Mazzuca Warren Buffet once said, “don’t put all your eggs in one basket” and he was right; you shouldn’t put them all in a basket but rather you should put them in a skillet and cook them up Calabrese style for a simple and delicious dish. Earlier this week I spent […]
Growing Photography Skills at the Farm
I had the wonderful opportunity recently to visit Plan B Organic Farms in Hamilton. I was there not to farm but rather, to take part in a photography workshop. A farmhouse kitchen might seem like an unlikely classroom setting but in the words of Elliot Erwitt “Photography is an art of observation…it has little to […]
Chiaccherie: What’s all the chatter about?
Carnevale, a time of celebration and indulgence, where masquerades and merriment take precedence and when the expression “fare due chiaccherie” takes on a whole new meaning. Many holidays in Italy are usually accompanied by culinary tradition, and Carnevale is no exception. During this mardi gras period in the peninsula, delightful sweet, crispy strips known as […]