Gnocchi is but one of many magnificent wonders to have come out of Italian cooking. For some reason, though, it seems these gems always come in second after pasta, which is a pity because if cooked right, these delicately soft silky-smooth Italian potato dumplings can send you straight to heaven. Believe me, I’ve been there! And this warm gnocchi and greens salad is definitely a good way to gnocchi self-indulgence. Truly, I could easily eat Italian food every day. I really love pasta, and Italian cooking is very honest. It’s filled with fresh ingredients and what you see is what you get. The only downside is that if I…
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Mini Sarah Bernhardt cakes
Mini Sarah Bernhardt cakes were my grandma Grethe’s signature cakes. Whenever she and her husband would have friends or family over for one of their lavish dinners, she would make these little mouthwatering sweet treats. She always served them after dinner with coffee and tea and chocolates, as if we hadn’t already stuffed ourselves with their delicious three-course dinner. But curiously, these little miracles always seemed to disappear before everyone had finished their coffee. And though I was only a kid, I always managed to get my share and gulp down at least a handful. Like the famous actress whom these cakes were named after, my grandma was a…
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Best crunchy creamy scones
Ever tried scones with Camembert and pumpkin seeds? Well, they won’t make winter go away, but they will bring lots of comfort if the cold forces you to stay cooped up inside. This weekend temperatures dropped to -10 F here in Toronto. My first instinct was to simply cuddle up in bed, feel sorry for myself and daydream about the Caribbean. However, I decided instead to use this as a perfect excuse to bake a nice treat for myself and my family. I’ve loved scones ever since my first encounter with them when I lived in England. The first ones I tried were the classic sweet ones with loads of…
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Crispy fresh chicken lunch
In Denmark we like to make different mayonnaise based salads that are served for lunch with bread and/or a green salad. This chicken salad with apples and celery is a particular favorite of mine and was created by accident one day when I ran out of curry. Classic chicken salads in Denmark typically include curry or asparagus, but since I didn’t have either, I tried something else and ended up with a salad I thought was even more yummy than the one I originally intended. For me it is a go to recipe because it uses ingredients I usually always have in stock. I simply need to buy chicken and…
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Something to keep you warm on a cold winter’s day
As a Dane Glögg (mulled wine) is an absolute must-have in December. With all it’s warm winter spices, sweetness, red wine and alcohol there is simply no other drink than Danish mulled wine, or glögg, that will get you into the real Christmas spirit like this one. It’s the perfect drink for when you return after a walk in the cold and you need a little something to bring warmth and comfort back into your body and bones. This recipe was passed down to me from my grandmother who sent it to me in a real old school handwritten letter when I was 19 and had moved to London. Though I…
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Warm winter comfort salad
For foodies like me the holiday season is truly a smorgasbord of culinary pleasures both to be cooked and to be enjoyed. So much so that while December is certainly a month when the foodlover in me revels in heavenly delight, it is also overwhelmingly easy to fill oneself with all the wonderful and sometimes fatty temptations that classic holiday cooking offers. This beetroot salad, however, is not only very tasty, it also counterbalances some of the very rich food you are, let’s face it, inevitably going to consume. Beets are an awesome and really very versatile, but often overlooked, veggie, and they are not only rich in fibre and…
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Nutty pears and a Brie
This recipe for baked Brie with brandy pears, almonds and tarragon is truly a celebration of this wonderful cheese! Brie has been one of my favorite cheeses since I was a kid. I think I first discovered Brie when I was about 7 years old, and I was immediately won over by its deliciously soft and creamy texture. In fact so much so that I often found myself snacking on Brie to the point where I would eat up a whole one…sometimes in less than an afternoon. Oh, how I miss being a kid before I knew anything about calories! The good thing though about cheese, Brie included, is that…
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A pot and a pumpkin
The other day I bought three pumpkins at the local supermarket. I guess that’s a perfectly normal thing to do this time of year if it hadn’t been for the fact that our porch and front steps were already packed with little orange, green and yellow pumpkin faces. But I simply couldn’t resist buying just a few more of these gorgeous little veggie heads. And the great thing about pumpkins is that not only do they light up your home and mood on cold and dark days, they make for wonderful food too. Now, I’m not a big fan of winter, but one of my great consolations this time of…
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Lasagna dressed for Halloween
Last week we celebrated Halloween, and what a fun night for kids and adults alike! While the kids of course are mostly focused on all the candy and treats they are going to haul in, it’s nice if the adults can look forward to being treated to some nice comfort food as a consolation prize after following the little munchkins around the neighborhood in the cold and the rain. If the little people have any appetite left for real food after stuffing themselves with candy, I find that traditional lasagna is a great option, as you can make it in advance and just heat it up, giving you time to…
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A little extra something for your cheese board
Up for a cheese feast? In our family we love cheese, and having guests over is the perfect excuse to serve a cheese board. Whether it’s a substitute or a supplement for dessert or something you want to do for a casual Friday night get-together with friends, it’s fun and easy to put together. Well, maybe it’s not so easy to choose between all the great cheeses at your local cheese dealer?! Well, ask them if they’ll let you taste and then choose your favorites. If they all turn out to be favorites, another good pointer is to choose a variety of mild and mature cheeses, to include both soft…
