Curried Chicken Soup

Here's a quick curry soup. Although curry may evoke images of India, apart from using curry, I am not sure this would get a lot of check-marks as an Indian dish - but it's still yummy!

The original recipe used the term "madras curry",  however, "the name 'Madras Curry' is not used in India, but was invented by restaurants in Britain." (Wikipedia) I use my own curry mixture - try it! - and add more heat if you wish.

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Mushroom Barley Soup

Mushrooms are popular in the KB kitchen - versatile, in so many dishes. As I add this to the site, it's nearing the end of Winter and we all feel sun-deprived - thus possibly low on Vitamin D. Did you know mushrooms are a source of vitamin D, fibre, minerals and B complex vitamins? 

This soup not only tastes great, but is a beautiful sight to behold with rich, deeply coloured broth.

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Hungarian Bean and Smoked Sausage Soup (Bableves)

Temperatures today were in the double digits, but as long as it is still officially winter go ahead and make this hearty soup.

This continues the theme of a Hungarian bean soup where the flavour of paprika mingles with smoked meat - except in this case it is smoked sausage. These are easy to find in local delicatessens.

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Mostaccioli: Italian Cookies

Here's a new addition to my quest to master Italian Cookies!

We don't often think of spices when we imagine cookies. These feature cloves. Does cloves in cookies sound odd? Keep in mind that cloves make a minor appearance in many gingerbread recipes. Here, although combined with cinnamon, it is the flavour of cloves that shines through for a startlingly yummy eating experience – of course there is chocolate as well...

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Hungarian Ham and Bean Soup

Though the Winter has been mild, we still crave hearty soups this time of year. This rustic soup is guest- or even restaurant-worthy to those who are open to "country style" food. With hunks of hearty brown bread (and beer) you'd be satisfied and have no room for dessert! 

It absolutely captures my memory of a smoked ham bean soup. If you have about two hours, cozy up reading while the aroma of this soup fills the house.

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Almond Rings

My local deli sells a puff pastry almond ring and every once in a while I cave in and buy one for myself as a treat.  When a store sells a nice treat, we should perhaps just "go with it", but I recently became a bit obsessed with trying to replicate it. 

I served it to a gathering of high school friends. This got a thumbs up from all and BFF rated it better than the one sold at the deli - blush! (That doesn't mean I will stop buying them.)

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Curried Cauliflower Soup

This recipe is from TLC - The Looneyspoons Collection.  Part of the Podleski Brand is a divine sense of humour. Technically, they call this recipe "Melancauli Baby". 

As I write this, the cost of cauliflower is through the roof(!) but if you splurge and buy one, you can make this fabulous soup (8 servings, 142 calories each). You won't regret it. (For a full meal, add cooked chicken or turkey.)

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Broiled Pork Tenderloin

This is a ridiculously fast and easy way to prepare pork tenderloin. If you are used to the approach of searing the meat and finishing it in the oven, this method may sound odd, but it works! Or, if you have tried making a pork tenderloin and ended up with dry, tasteless results, then get ready for a treat! Pork can be combined with so many sides, it can be a different meal every time!

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Mini Potato Gratin

These look so lovely and appetizing - and in fact they disappeared so quickly, I took this photo of the last one just in the nick of time. If serving family style, just watch the quick disappearing act as everyone dives in. For plated meals you may serve one or two per person. The original BBC Good Food recipe used only white potatoes, but I like to add some colour with sweet potatoes.

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Italian Anise Cookies

As I have mentioned before, I have a wee obsession with Italian cookies and these are stars in my repertoire - especially at Christmas. 

Italians call these cookies "angeletti", and like all Italian cookies you can find thousands of recipe versions online. It is one of those great cookie recipes that comes together fast in a food processor - and they store well!

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Italian Tarrone

I became a fan of these goodies when someone brought them to a xmas gathering, but it was years later - when they magically appeared on the glorious Italian Cookie tray of AC - that I finally got the recipe! 

For three years now they have been part of my xmas cookie repertoire (who knows why I only make them once a year...) Not only do these come together ridiculously quickly - you actually have to work quickly for best results. 

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Almond Clusters

I may one day blog about my past as a Xmas Grump. Each year, the one thing that could change my spirit was end of term food sharing which tended to involve sweets. With a multi-cultural group, some amazing treats appeared and I used to beg for recipes. These almond clusters appeared more than once and with different cultural roots - Portuguese, Russian, Polish... I have no idea about their origin, but they are fab and a now a KB holiday staple!

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Sweet and Tangy Lemon Cookies

I have always wanted a good lemon cookie recipe and have long been motivated to find one as a treat for my BF who is crazy for lemon. (She loved these! She "hid" them in the freezer and declares they actually taste great right out of the freezer - haha!) I used a recipe from Merry About Town - a blogger I met recently at the Food Bloggers of Canada Conference, but modified the glaze. 

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Potato Leek Soup

Am not sure who decides these things in the media, but just lately I keep bumping into articles stressing how great leeks are for our health - so I dusted off this Julia Child recipe. Much of the creaminess of this soup comes from the potatoes - though it can be enhanced with cream.

This is easy, fast, tasty and nutritious! Make it a winter staple!

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Apple Clusters

I don't have an "apple family classic" to add to this "legacy collection" so I was attracted to something new.  What could be healthier than "apple pie" without the pastry?

Here is a terrific and easy recipe from a talented fellow blogger I met in Montreal. Try this! You'll like it!

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Chocolate Kiss Cookies

These appeared in Chocolatier 1 (2) 1984. I loved that magazine and those I have survive every magazine purge. They cookies have a shortbread texture with a surprise chocolate filling. We are weeks away from Xmas and if you start your baking ahead of time note that these can be frozen or kept in a tin in a cool location for several weeks.

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Olive Oil Potato Gratin

Ever have a craving for tasty scalloped potatoes, but the thought of all that cream and cheese (and calories) is a turn-off?

This recipe comes to the rescue. Featuring caramelized onions, it is amazingly yummy, and can be prepped - or even baked - the day before - or earlier in the day for an evening meal with family or guests.

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Sister Salad

This red leaf lettuce salad recipe entered my life from a picket line. It is popular at family events and there are never left overs. It comes from "Sister Laura" a great colleague and picket line "sister". It's an easy prep-ahead that makes big family events just a bit less stressful.

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Shrimp Salad

From Ina Garten - a tasty, crunchy salad using low calorie shrimp, and accented with dill. Great for a picnic, as an appetizer or a main course salad. Have always thought they'd look nice served in little lettuce cups.

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Black-eyed Pea Salad with Peaches and Pecans

This recipe comes directly from ATK's recently released "Cooking Fresh". With the markets still overflowing with fresh peaches as I post this - no better time to enjoy such a satisfying, nutritious and seasonal dish! Off season, I am betting it would taste great with pears or apples.

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