Recipes

A bowl full of freshly made corn polenta is one of the world’s great grain dishes. Polenta is a traditional Italian pudding thickened with cornmeal. Freshly made, it has a soft, creamy, addictively delicious texture. It can also be served by cooling and hardening it, then slicing it and grilling or pan-searing it until it forms a beautiful crispy crust with a creamy interior.

Every kitchen needs a gold standard recipe for chocolate chip cookies. This one has earned its stripes under fire, over many seasons, through countless licked spoons, spilled vanilla and extra chips in the batter. Its quick baking time is the key to addictively chewy cookies that friends and family won’t be able to resist.

There are as many ways to flavour mashed potatoes as there are cooks. These are my gold standard. They’re simple, with a twist: brown butter. You won’t believe how much flavour is locked into a stick of butter, but you will believe these are the best mashed spuds you’ve ever had.

Brining is one of the oldest kitchen techniques in the world; it’s a very common way to preserve food with salt. It’s also an amazingly simple way to make the juiciest chicken you’ve ever had!

A well-crafted smoothie tastes so good you’ll forget it’s good for you! It’s one of my favourite ways to fill a glass with energy, nutrients and flavour. Use it to kick off your day - everyday - with the goodness of fruit. At heart, it’s just flavoured fruit puree so it’s easy to make. It’s also easy to jazz up with other healthy goodies like flax seed oil, yogurt or berries.

Roasting adds flavour to just about anything - including mellow potatoes headed for a salad. The sharp flavours of capers, mustard and vinegar really perk them up. This is a popular dish at my family summer beach picnics but it’s great in the middle of the winter too!

A grilled vegetable skewer is one of the best ways I know to get kids to eat vegetables - especially when they’re marinated in a tasty herb vinaigrette. Just about any veggie will grill nicely, so use your imagination and get ready for empty plates.

A bowl of homemade chicken noodle soup is one of the most comforting foods you can place on your table. It’s a great way to show off the hearty goodness of homemade chicken broth. It’s also a great way to show off your creativity by personalizing the flavour whichever way you want.

Homemade Brown Sugar Ice Cream

An individual chocolate cake with a molten runny centre is the ultimate dinner party chocolate treat. Slightly underbaking the batter makes each cake come out with its own special sauce hidden inside.

In Italy the biscotti reigns supreme. They’re a crunchy treat custom made for dipping in coffee.

Chocolate has long been used in savoury dishes. The earthy bitterness of cocoa is a natural in rich meaty dishes like beef stew.