Posts tagged ‘books’
Tomato and tarragon soup
Tarragon is a new ingredient in my kitchen. It’s a leafy green herb that reminds me of the licorice-like taste of fennel combined with the strong, verdant aroma of fresh basil. After tasting it in this creamy tomato soup I will definitely search it out for the kitchen garden we’re planning for our new patio.
This recipe is adapted from Rebar Cookbook. It’s easy to make and relatively quick – everyone at our dinner table loved it. If you don’t have tarragon I’d recommend fresh basil or chives as a substitute.
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, chopped
6 cloves garlic, minced
4 bay leaves
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon red chile flakes
1/2 cup tarragon, sliced
4 cups vegetable stock
2 cans (28 oz) whole tomatoes with juice
1 cup whipping cream
Saute onion in oil for about five minutes until onions soften. Stir in salt, garlic and chile flakes and saute for another five minutes. Stir tomatoes and half of the tarragon into onion mixture. Break up tomatoes, add stock and simmer for another 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool slightly. Remove bay leaves, blend soup in batches and return to pot. Stir in cream and remaining tarragon and serve.
To The Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf
Since summer I’ve been re-reading books by some of my favourite authors, including Carol Shields, Alice Munro, Patrick Lane, Sharon Butala, Isabel Huggan, Jan Zwicky and Marilynne Robinson. Now I’ve come to one of the best yet: Virginia Woolf.
I read Virginia Woolf’s books when I studied English in university, and To The Lighthouse is the one I would recommend most. It’s about the fleeting moments of happiness that spring up in our lives, experiences that may last only for a short time but linger on as memories that shape our lives and perspectives for much longer. In the case of this book, that moment is a dinner party where the main character is surrounded by family and friends. Appropriate for readers of food blogs I’d say! (more…)
Homemade pizza
Homemade pizza is a beautiful thing. It tastes so good. It’s infinitely customizable. It’s the perfect food to find leftover in the fridge at the end of a long day or when you’re looking for an agreeable and easy lunch. I’ve become an even bigger fan of homemade pizza since finding a quick and easy recipe for pizza dough. It can also be frozen to keep you a step ahead of the game, so be sure to make a double batch next time if you find you like it as much as I do.
The recipe below is adapted from Blue Eggs and Yellow Tomatoes. I’ve added in some dried herbs and flax seeds to increase flavour and health benefits.
Lemon poppyseed muffins
Most of the food I make has a strong bias towards being healthy. This recipe is an exception to that rule. It’s probably only good for your soul. Lots of butter, lots of sugar and white flour. Still, they are very good: lemony with a perfect poppyseed crunch. I’ve added a few fresh cranberries and a sprinkle of raw sugar on top. (more…)
Risotto torte
This is a recipe from “New Vegetarian,” by Celia Brooks Brown. It’s an excellent book, and this is recipe has quickly become a favourite in our house. It’s vegetarian, gluten-free, easy, a bit fancy and so tasty! We have a gorgeous, brightly-coloured serving plate that was given to me as a house-warming gift several years ago by one of my stylish uncles (I’m fortunate enough to have several!) and I love it for this dish. (more…)
