Orange Feta Focaccia

Orange Feta Focaccia
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Focaccia was the first bread I ever made. And there is a very good reason for this – it’s dead simple. I mean, of course, you can make focaccia complicated. You can obsess over minute details and tirelessly perfect the process, like a sushi chef trainee making batch after batch of rice. But in my perfectly imperfect daily life, quick and dirty but delicious focaccia is all I’m after. So that’s exactly what today’s recipe is. A chill approachable rendition of an almost universally loved bread. And if you’re new to the world of yeasted doughs, this is the perfect place to start. This Orange Feta Focaccia is a confidence-building recipe. 

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Pesto Shallot Cheese Buns

Pesto Shallot Cheese Buns
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It’s the end of February, only carbs and cheese will do. We had a bit of a snowstorm in Toronto this week. And while we’ve been enjoying a reasonably mild winter this year, this is always the point in the season where my patience begins to wear thin. The cold feels more insulting, the snow more cumbersome, and the road salt more disgusting. And as anyone Canadian will tell you, March offers very little respite from the winter weather. The calendar may announce the arrival of Spring but more often than not the forecast has other plans. So when I hit this weather-worn state while staring down the barrel of yet more winter, I like to make things like today’s Pesto Shallot Cheese Buns to help see me through. They’re a cozy and unabashedly indulgent ray of sunshine when there is very little to be found. So let’s make them! 

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Oysters Rockefeller – Overthinking Classics

Oysters Rockefeller
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The New Year is nearly upon us so it just makes sense to shuck an oyster. As far as I’m concerned, shucking an oyster is as iconic as popping a cork at midnight. And while you could serve your oysters with nothing more than mignonette, there is something to be said for Oysters Rockefeller. A dish so rich they name it after the richest man in America circa 1889. While it may seem like the height of sophistication and it is, it’s actually an incredibly simple recipe to pull off with plenty of make-ahead opportunities. But the simple preparation doesn’t detract from the overall impact of the finished dish. I promise your guests will be impressed. So let’s get to it.

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Jalapeño Cold Pack with Onion Bagel Chips

Jalapeño Cold Pack with Onion Bagel Chips
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Every year for the month of December I post a holiday menu centered around a particular theme. Last year was an ode to seafood, which was a celebration of my maritimer roots. This year I’ve decided to look back once again but in a more personal way. This year’s theme is nostalgia. And no, that doesn’t mean I’ll be posting a turkey with all the trimmings, not that there’s anything wrong with that. When I say nostalgia I mean personal nostalgia. Dishes from my past holidays were either memorable one-offs or treats enshrined in family rituals. But of course, this wouldn’t be Rhubarb and Cod if they were faithful recreations. Expect twists galore as always. First up is this Jalapeño Cold Pack with Onion Bagel Chips.

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