Recipe: Spicy Spinach Soup

by Charmian Christie on January 23, 2012

Email. Some days I love it. Some days I hate it.

And I was hating it something fierce  recently when my computer insisted it had to “rebuild” my inbox and in doing so resent random emails from March 2010. This elicited confused responses from the unintended victims recipients. I spent the weekend  cautiously checking email and wondering when the next “What’s going on?” email would arrive.

In an effort to keep the Universe in check, a stray email landed in my inbox the same week. [Read full article.]

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How to adjust pan size in baking

January 16, 2012
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What’s happening to me? The minute I went to photograph this dessert I thought, “Rats! I should have made the cobbler in a cast iron frying pan. It would have looked so much more rustic.” Great. It’s not enough that I’m criticized for being a food snob. Now I’m about to push myself into a [...]

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Recipe: Healthy Seed Bread

January 12, 2012
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One of the items on my culinary bucket list was granary bread. I wanted to create my own version of a seed-loaded hearth bread I used to get from a local bakery. Their bread was dense without being heavy — something you could sink your molars into and chew with satisfaction. The seeds crunched while [...]

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How to make perfect cakes

January 6, 2012
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If you read my 2012 Culinary Bucket List, you’ll see I have a lot of baking to do. In case a from-scratch cake is on your list, I thought I’d start the new year off with some baking tips I learned from Camilla V. Saulsbury, author of Piece of Cake and 750 Best Muffin Recipes. [...]

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My 2012 Culinary Bucket List

January 4, 2012
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It’s January. Has been for a few days. I know I’m a bit late with this but, oh well, here goes anyway… Every year I swear to myself I will post more often. I will get better at my photos. I’ll be a better blogger. These vague goals slip through my fingers like typos on [...]

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Last-Minute Christmas Gifts

December 23, 2011
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It’s almost noon on the day before Christmas Eve and I’m not finished my shopping. Not by a long shot. I’m going to go out on a limb here and guess  I’m not the only one who needs the born-of-fear adrenaline to face the holiday crowds. Or maybe you’re too disorganized busy to get it [...]

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Recipe: Gluten-Free Macaroons

December 15, 2011
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As a food writer, I’ve dabbled in the gluten-free world. I’ve bought guar gum and xantham, various rice flours, teff, sorghum and nutmeals. They’re taking up a lot of room in my spiffy new pantry along with the gluten-loaded all-purpose, whole wheat, cake & pastry, bread and unbleached flours. Since everyone in my house can [...]

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Recipe: Salted Orange Toffee Crisps

December 8, 2011
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Last year, due to circumstances beyond my control, I didn’t do any Christmas baking. Not so much as a single shortbread came out of my kitchen. But this year? I’m making up for the loss. The rumballs are rolled, the eggnog is chilling and now it’s time for some serious sugar. Luckily, Anna Olson recently released [...]

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Recipe: Homemade Eggnog

December 6, 2011
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I’m trying not to be resentful but a certain celebrity llama has more Twitter followers than I do. And his first name isn’t Dali. To be fair, the llama is a talented goat herder, so I can see the appeal. Why all the fuss over a shaggy camelid? Polka Spot belongs to the Fabulous Beekman [...]

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Recipe: Walnut Rumballs

December 5, 2011
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Walnuts are the hard-done-by, neglected middle child of the nut family. Between the mature and established almond, with its fancy frangipane and marzipan pastes, and attention-grabbing, TV-diva baby of a macadamia (I’m looking at you Roseanne!) walnuts are easily overlooked. Sure, you can find them huddled in a corner with the maple syrup, but have [...]

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How to Table Chocolate

December 3, 2011
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Last week I had the pleasure of taking a truffle and bon bon making course in Toronto with Marissa Scibetta at Bonnie Gordon College of Confectionary Arts. For two glorious evenings I was the proverbial kid in the candy shop, weighing, heating, mixing, spooning and dipping chocolate. My only complaint is I am no longer [...]

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