Chorizo This Time But Most Any Fresh Sausage Works This recipe has been part of my culinary DNA for decades. It started life as Mum’s interpretation of a ‘back of the 1970s lifestyle magazine’ casserole and honestly hasn’t changed much since. It’s an easy way to fill a big pan to feed a crowd which is its main objective but you get delicious in … Read More →
Slow Pork & Quick Pickles... onnabun braise (brāz, transitive verb): To cook meat or vegetables by browning in fat, then simmering in a small quantity of liquid in a covered container. Sounds easy, right? That’s because it is. And it’s perfect for cheaper ‘rough’ cuts of meat that conveniently have more flavour in most cases. Which liquid you choose defines the … Read More →
Begging To Be Filled Chinese buns in their many forms, known collectively as “bao”, are a delight. Baked golden brown, steamed baozi, filled with crispy charred pork belly, stuffed with sticky sweet bar-b-que (char siu bao), made springy with alkali water, pure white mantou, covered in toasted sesame, or a crispy sweet ‘pineapple cookie’ atop bolo bao… there are … Read More →
Just Say No To Hamburger Helper In my ongoing joust with the scourge of ‘convenience’ food, I was inspired to prove that a simple meat and potatoes gratin could be made from scratch pantry staples just as simply and just as quickly as ready-made ‘Hamburger Helper’ style boxes. My choice in the moment was pork and potato but it could just … Read More →
It's Winter, You Need Comfort Food If you’ve ever been stuck for a winter comfort food menu idea, it’s likely you’ve landed on old-fashioned meat loaf a time or two. It’s about as homespun as food gets in North America and requires only basic ingredients to get dinner on the table without a lot of tending. Whack it in the oven … Read More →
Control What Goes In & What Comes Out Is Better Pre-ground meat, “mince” or simply “hamburger” as it’s known in various parts of the world, has become the default setting for a large majority of home cooking. It’s a cheap, flexible, and widely available protein. Problem is, it doesn’t usually taste very interesting when compared to other options. I had a laundry list of concerns … Read More →
Ham. Pineapple. Fresh Chiles. You Can't Go Wrong On New Year's Day. A celebration of any size on New Year’s can be difficult for the cook. Unlike the steeped-in-tradition Thanksgiving and Christmas feasts, your guests rarely sit at one table simultaneously for this event. Add in the cocktails and countdowns and managing a menu to satisfy everyone can be a challenge. With a large ham for a … Read More →
