get a fucking tastebud

month

July 2012

1 post

Strawberry Rhubarb Ginger Crumble Pie

This is proof that if I promise you pie for your birthday, you’ll get it eventually. Craig’s birthday fell during Sled Island so he had to wait a couple weeks but better late than never, right? (There was a meat pie, too. He’s really demanding.) And I’d say it was worth the wait. Recipe from Martha. Crust! 1 c flour 7 tbsp (just shy of a 1/2c) cold unsalted...

April 2012

2 posts

I don’t make Mexican food often enough. Maybe because it is food best for sharing, and I don’t want to put all the prep in just for myself. Whatever the reason, not smart because anytime I do I am reminded of how fucking good it is. Since I don’t know much about Mexican food, I clearly stole this recipe. 3 chicken breasts olive oil 1/2 red onion, diced 7 mid-sized...

Carrot Chiffon Cake

I know it’s my family saying this, so they are legally required to fawn over anything I make, but this really is one of the best carrot cakes any of us ever tasted. Since it’s a chiffon cake, all the heavy density of regular cake is gone. Which is good, since after a monster meal, you don’t want a really heavy dessert. Especially when there are two on the table (lemon meringue...

February 2012

1 post

Starting the day with baked goods straight out of the oven (I really wish this shot better captured the steam that is coming off this bad boy), is the fucking best. I know that sometimes every single extra minute in bed counts, but hit the snooze button two less times, drag yourself up, and have a perfect, still-warm-from-the-oven breakfast. 3/4 c flour 2/3 c graham flour 1 tsp baking...

December 2011

2 posts

This Year They Liked It

Last Friday marked my ninth annual Christmas party, which is kind of crazy when I think about it. But it was awesome and I love it and I love everyone who came and am happy that I didn’t get evicted or anything terrible like that. I was smart (read: lazy) this year and basically just did the same menu as last year. Tried and true, can’t go wrong. I guess a couple new things in the...

Vegetarian Chili

Strictly making veg chili goes back to those post college years when I thought the smell of ground beef was repulsive. But now I just like it more. A bit of vegetable crunch is way more delicious than sick kidney beans. olive oil 1 onion, chopped 4 garlic cloves, minced 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes coarse salt & pepper 2 carrots, chopped 3 celery stalks, chopped 1 green pepper, chopped 1...

November 2011

5 posts

Spice Brined Turkey

This was the fifth turkey I’ve ever done and I think it may have been the best. All that hoopla about brining your turkey to keep it nice and moist and flavourful? All true. This is based on what I think was a 15lb turkey. Brine 8 c water 4 c coarse salt 5 c sugar 1 head of garlic, halved crosswise 2 carrots, roughly chopped 2 celery stalks, coarsely chopped 1 onion, coarsely...

Big holiday meals really are the fucking best. This year’s Yanksgiving saw fifteen people crowded (literally) around my table. It was a really great group of old friends and new friends and some new traditions (oh hiiiii, pass the whiskey at the table) were born. The menu: Spice Brined Turkey Cognac Cranberries Mashed Potatoes Magical Buttery Oma Stuffing Apple Cranberry Walnut...

Chocolate Caramel Cake

Sometimes Martha makes me doubt her. Her proportions of water to sugar when making caramel seemed off, but I trusted her, and she was right. The cake isn’t really the best in the world, but oh … the caramel buttercream. Magic. Cake! 2 c + 2 tbsp flour 1 1/2 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp salt 4 oz unsweetened chocolate, chopped 1 1/2 tsp espresso powder 1 1/4 c boiling...

Chocolate Ginger Cookies

Triple threat, double trouble … that was what I was thinking when I started making these. Since chocolate and ginger are such best friend flavours, I figured the more they got to hang out the better, right? Hence three different types of ginger and a double hit of chocolate. 1/2 c unsalted butter, room temp 1 very generous tsp grated ginger 1/2 c brown sugar 1/4 c white sugar 1/4 c...

Pimento Dram, Day One

So allspice is pretty much the best spice ever, so imagine how excited I was when I found out an allspice liqueur existed. One catch: Pimento Dram (as it is known) is near impossible to find in Alberta (apparently it’s in a couple shops in Edmonton, a fact I will take advantage of when I head up next week). So I checked around and found a couple recipes to make it yourself. Here goes a boozy...

October 2011

3 posts

Roasted Tomato & Goat Cheese Risotto

Last night I told Mason I wanted to make out with this risotto. So good! My cousin posted a recipe recently for a dish of the same name, but since I am too stubborn to have the internet at home, I just jumped off the name and made it my way. A few minor differences, but for the most part the same. 1/2 pint grape tomatoes, halved sprig of rosemary drizzle of balsamic drizzle of olive oil 3 c...

Chicken Pot Pies with Herb Crust

Pot pies are perfect for laid back dinner parties. Which is good because I only gave myself two hours to make the dinner and dessert and clean my whole apartment. So no one cared that my table was still piled with cookbooks when they got there. This is essentially a Martha Stewart recipe. 1 1/4 c flour 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 c unsalted butter, cold and chopped into pieces 1/8 c cold water ...

Pumpkin Mousse Tart

Thanksgiving is the best. What can be better than too much food and too much wine with family and friends? Oh yeah, the turkey sandwich you get to have the next day which is very likely the best food ever made. Anyway. Here’s a pie recipe. The filling is from Martha. Chocolate Pecan Crust 3/4 c flour 1/4 c cocoa 1/3 c pecans 1/4 c sugar 1/4 tsp salt 1/2 c cold unsalted butter,...

September 2011

3 posts

Red Jalepeño Jelly

Let’s be clear up front: this recipe uses your standard green jalepeños, but by adding cranberries and red pepper it gets a whole lot prettier. This was my first time making jelly, so I stayed pretty true to this recipe. I don’t really get the whole pectin debate, but I’m always a fan of keeping things as basic as possible, so if I can find it naturally all the better. 9...

Golden Beet Borscht

3 large golden beets, peeled and diced 4–6 cloves garlic, whole 1/2 red onion, chopped good handful new potatoes, diced 1 apple, cored and diced 1 parsnip, peeled and chopped healthy drizzle of olive oil Coarse salt and pepper • Preheat the oven to 375°. • Throw all the veggies on a foil-lined baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and salt & pepper and toss. • Throw in the oven for about...

Brandy Apple Pie with Cheddar Leaf Crust

I like it when Club Club has photo shoots because it gives me a chance to put a little more effort into baking that otherwise rarely sees light outside of my apartment. AND I got to break out my rarely-used pastry cutters. Crust! 2 1/2 c flour 1 tbsp sugar 1/2 tsp salt 3/4 c cold unsalted butter, chopped 1 1/2 c grated cheddar 1/4 c + 1 tbsp cold water • Put everything except...

August 2011

3 posts

Bourbon Thyme Lemonade

Are you having a party? You should make this. 1 1/4 c sugar 1 c water handful of thyme sprigs 2 c fresh squeezed lemon juice (about 10–12 lemons) 6 c cold water 26oz bourbon 1 lemon, thinly sliced • Start by making some thyme simple syrup. Heat the sugar, water and thyme on medium heat until sugar fully dissolves, stirring often. Remove from heat and set aside to cool. • Get a...

Rainbow Chiffon Layer Cake

I don’t even know what to say about this cake without out coming off as a self-congratulatory nutcase, but c’mon, look at it … and this isn’t even iced. When you cut into it after it’s wrapped up in thick white meringue icing, it’s like “BET YOU WEREN’T EXPECTING THIS SUMMER COLOUR EXPLOSION OF AWESOME WERE YOU?” And then you need to shove...

July 2011

5 posts

Broiled Lamb and Summer Gratin

As I have been doing a terrible job of cooking at home this last month, I thought last night’s No Fucking Way Am I Going Anywhere dinner should be something worthwhile. Total flashback to this perfect dinner party from four years ago, but you know, just for me. Lamb! 3 lamb rib chops, about 1 3/4” thick 2 tbsp olive oil 2 cloves garlic, minced coarse salt and pepper • whisk...

Chocolate Banoffee Ice Cream Pie

So this really isn’t too crazy different from the tarts I made before, it just gets the ramped up awesomeness of being an ice cream pie. Check the recipe posted below for the original crust recipe (I used some ghetto shells leftover from last time), and for the magic of turning a can of condensed milk into delicious toffee goodness. 2 cups mangled pecan tartlet shells, thawed and...

Sesame Cilantro Corn on the Cob

I love corn on the cob. Anyone who has ever had braces will always cherish every bite they can take without having to cut it all off first, losing one of those special moments of summer. I am totally happy with a shit-ton of butter and some pepper, but this sesame oil mix turned it through the roof. 2 tbsp sesame oil 1 1/2 tbsp chopped cilantro 1 tsp jalepeno pepper, finely chopped 1/2...

Almond Rice Krispies Squares

The first time I tried Rice Krispies squares with almond it was a revelation. Yes, I was only 8 years old, but a revelation nonetheless. It was at an elementary school bake sale and they were made by Mrs Bishop (the Bishops were a big deal back home. They had eight kids and lived in this crazy huge house out on an acreage. They had an indoor pool and a football field and horses … one of the...

Red Cabbage Slaw

After two weeks of eating out too often, A good home cooked meal on Saturday was just what I needed: thanks to Katie and Jared for cooking up some awesome Dr Pepper pulled pork. I made up some red slaw to pile on top for some epic sandwiches. Red slaw doesn’t contain any mayo, and uses ketchup, which means the first time I made it Mason was disgusted by the thought of it. He’s a full...

June 2011

2 posts

Orzo Pasta (Salad)

So this year marks the first year in a few that I am fully committing to the Sled Island party train. In anticipation of eating out the next five nights I made a big batch of orzo to get me through lunches, so I can at least have something vaguely healthy to balance out the rest. Quantities are pretty flexible, forgive me for being vague. 1/2 bag orzo 1 pint grape tomatoes, chopped 2–3 garden...

Salsa (on awesome tacos)

Last night I made Gina’s Pork Tacos with Spicy Pepitas and they were pretty epic to say the least. A few change ups—I added some feta and avocado, and used corn tortillas—but stuck pretty true to what she has here. Nice and spicy and messy (with those little corn tortillas you can’t help but overfill them). Anyway. This is the salsa I made for them. It’s pretty basic, but fresh...

May 2011

9 posts

Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies

This is from Martha. She never steers me wrong (when it comes to cookies). 1 c unsalted butter, room temp. 1 1/2 c sugar 2 eggs 2 1/4 c flour 1/2 c cocoa powder 2 tsp cream of tartar 1 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp salt 1/4 c sugar 1/2 tsp ground chipotle chilies 2 tsp cinnamon • Preheat the oven to 400°. Prep your baking sheets with parchment. • Cream the butter and sugar...

Dinner for One (Salmon w/ Avocado & Grapefruit...

‘Dinner for One’ is the name a former coworker and I would always use for one of my staple solo dinners: some form of grilled / broiled / whathaveyou salmon on top of some form of salad. This is currently my favourite variation. 1 tbsp olive oil 1/2 tsp freshly grated ginger coarse s&p 1 salmon fillet big handful mixed greens ( I like a herb mix ) 1/2 pink grapefruit,...

I first tried Banoffee Pie on a visit to the Ace in Palm Springs when Katie and I went this past March. We had to go back and have it again. As we ate it, I started trying to think how I could go home and recreate it. Little did I realize that it was such a legendary British dessert. As always, I like desserts more when just for one, so I whipped up some tartlets instead of a big old pie. ...

Club Club made gnocchi last night! And it was super fun and easy. Recipe from simplyrecipes.com 3 largeish russet potatoes 2 egg yolks 1 1/3c flour pinch of salt • Prick the potatoes with a fork. Bake in a 350° oven for-fucking-ever. I was hungry so we opted halfway through to finish them in the microwave. • Let the potatoes cool slightly, then scoop the flesh out into a big bowl. Mash...

Carrot Cake Macarons

Spiced Macarons 1 1/2 c icing sugar, sifted 3/8 c almond flour / ground almonds, sifted 1 tsp cinnamon 1/2 tsp ground ginger 1/2 tsp allspice 3 egg whites, room temperature 5 tbsp fine sugar splash of vanilla 2 drops yellow food paste, 1 drop red candied ginger, thinly sliced • Sift together all your dry ingredients. Set aside. • Beat egg whites until foamy. Gradually add the sugar,...

When I first offered to make the desserts for Jenny’s 40th Birthday, I don’t think I fully realized what I was getting myself into. Make treats for a free, one-time-only Primrods show at the Legion? Why not? And four days before the party, when the requested count changed from 250 to 400? No big deal, only working every day leading up to it… . Honestly, I loved every part of...

Chipotle Chocolate Cake (gluten-free!)

recipe originally posted by Garrett McCord at simply recipes.com Jess hosted a Mexican theme dinner over the weekend and I figured this would be a nice finish. This is super rich, an awesome fudgey-moist-big ol’ brownie. It reminds me of the spicy brownie that they used to have (still do?) at Milk Tiger. And from what I remember, the recipe is pretty similar. 10 oz semi-sweet...

Red Pepper and Mint Chermoula

2 cloves garlic 1 tsp salt 1 1/2 tsp coriander 1 tsp paprika 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes 1 red pepper, roasted and skinned handful and a half cherry tomatoes 20 minted leaves, chopped juice of 1/2 a lemon 2 tbsp olive oil • grind up your garlic, salt, coriander, paprika and red pepper flakes with a mortar and pestle to make a sandy paste. • throw everything else in the food processor...

Summer Zucchini Salad

Yeah, it’s not summer yet, but yesterday was lovely, and I am enjoying it while I can. 4 baby zucchini juice from 1/2 a lemon sprinkle of oregano two handfuls grape or cherry tomatoes sprig and a half fresh basil leaves, chopped about 2 tbsp olive oil coarse salt & pepper • thinly slice zucchini lengthwise on a mandoline. You want long ribbons. (Obviously you can cut it however you...

April 2011

4 posts

Ginger Brownies

This is the easiest brownie recipe ever. If I want to throw some baking together fast when friends are over, it is more than often this. All you need is one pot, and one pan. 1/4 c unsalted butter 1 1/2 oz bittersweet chocolate 1/2 c sugar 1/3 c flour 1/8 c cocoa powder 1/2 tsp ground ginger 1/2 tsp allspice 1/8 tsp salt 1/8 tsp cinnamon pinch of cloves dash of cayenne 1 egg 1/2...

Cooking Cousins

I feel pretty fortunate to have a great relationship with my first cousins. At least once a year, we all get together for food, drinks and a general good time. And I still find it funny that even though we grew up separated by the Great White North, we still all share a shit-ton in common (seriously, never get into a Star Wars Trivial Pursuit game with the Wylie kids). Case in point: my cousin...

So I made butter last night. At home! In my food processor! I don’t really know why I never put it together that this is something I could make myself, but after reading this http://www.designspongeonline.com/2011/04/small-measures-with-ashley-homemade-butter.html, I immediately wanted to try it. And it worked out! I just used a cup of cream, and sure enough I ended up with a little more...

Steak and Arugula Salad

This is one of my favourite I’m hungry and want something delicious fast meals. Time from when I walk in the door to when I sit down to eat is less than thirty minutes. one fist sized steak, the better the cut the happier you’ll be. But no bone, please. olive oil coarse salt and pepper big handful of arugula juice of 1/4 lemon healthy shaving of fresh parmesan • heat your...

March 2011

3 posts

Once Club Club started working on our own community cookbook, I pulled out the very first one that I ever had: the Pine Street Elementary 25th Anniversary Cookbook. I was only six when this was made, but you better believe I had a recipe in there, and this is it. I can confidently say that little kindergarten me never actually cooked this myself, and until last night I probably never made it at...

Wizards on Horseback

If you look up a recipe for Devils on Horseback, you’ll come up with a million variations of something in a date, wrapped in meat. Same goes for Angels on Horseback. I don’t have the patience to track it back to which one really, truly is the original Devil. And in order to make things easier in my mind, I am dubbing mine Wizards on Horseback. No confusion here. pitted dates goat...

Mushroom Risotto

My mushroom risotto has a new best friend and his name is cognac cream. COGNAC CREAM. If that doesn’t start to make your mouth water, I don’t really know why we should be friends. 2 tbsp butter about 1/2 c minced onion s + p 1 c arborio rice 1/2 c white wine 2 c chicken stock + 1 c water 1/2 c grated parmesan 2 tbsp butter 2 tbsp butter about 1 c sliced mushrooms (any kind) s + p...

February 2011

3 posts

Pork Tenderloin with Apples and Leeks

This is my go to pork tenderloin recipe. Fast, easy and cheap. You can do just the tenderloin, or add whatever you want for the roasting. about 1 1/2 c new potatoes, cut bite sized 1 apple, cored and chopped 1 leek, green removed, chopped 1 smallish pork tenderloin 2 clove garlic, thinly sliced s + p 1/4 c butter 1 tbsp honey • Heat your oven to about 400°. • Toss your potatoes...

Halibut & Fettucini with Mushrooms, Sage and...

This recipe is a blend of two dishes I love: Mark’s pasta with brown butter, sage and mushrooms and the perfect ravioli I had at Rao’s on the last trip to Vegas. The latter is when I discovered that adding dried cranberries blows the shit out of it. So good. Word of warning though: the amount of butter I used borders on obscene, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. 1/4 c...

In the early 2000’s I went through about a five year period where I hated cooking meat. I was fine eating it, and would happily cook up fish or chicken, but when it came to red meat I just couldn’t deal. In part it was the smell, and I’m sure the rest was a post-art school over sensitivity to handling the remains of a dead mammal. I find it funny now since I’ll sear up...

January 2011

4 posts

Buttercream Breakthrough!

I make shitty buttercream icing. Always have. It always breaks, and I never know if it is due to butter temperature, or overmixing or undermixing … so I tend to make cream cheese icing all the time. Saves me the hassle and oh so delicious. But last night I made two—TWO!—seemingly perfect buttercreams. Nice texture, nice flavour, all good. I’ll post recipes later this weekend. In part...

Chocolate Cocoa Nib and Lime Cookies

These are more of a summertime cookie, in my opinion. But when you have a bag full of cocoa nibs staring at you in the cupboard, you might as well put them to use. You can find them at Community Natural Foods, or whatever natural food store you frequent. 1 c butter 3/4 c sugar 3/4 c brown sugar 1 egg 2 1/2 tsp heavy cream 1 tsp vanilla 2 c flour 1/2 c cocoa powder 1/2 tsp baking...

This is an update on a recipe that I had on the old site. I still maintain that is the best borsht I have ever had (I have only had borscht a handful of times. I still don’t thinks that discounts the quality of this). 1 carrot, peeled and chopped into 3/4” chunks 3–4 new potatoes, chopped into 3/4 chunks 2–3 mid-sized beets, chopped into 1/2” chunks 3–4 garlic cloves 1/4 c red...

Champagne Layer Cake

The best part of making this cake is that you have an open bottle of champagne you get to show some love. Even though the cake is fairly dense, it’s very light in flavor. Perfect for New Year’s. Good riddance, 2010! The Cake! 2 1/8 c flour 2 tsp baking powder 1/4 tsp salt 10 tbsp unsalted butter, room temp 1 c sugar 2/3 c champagne 5 egg whites • Preheat oven to 350. Line...