My little old ladies soup was more of a chowder in flavour, but rich and creamy.  This has more of a Tex Mex savour to it, but is also rich and creamy.

I am a HUGE fan of potato salad, especially this time of year!  Its so perfect for the summer and for all those get-togethers we plan during these warmer months.  It makes the perfect carry along and picnic dish.  I confess . . .  I have even been known to eat it for breakfast!


I am also always looking for something different to do as far as salads go.  I have a motto, and it is this . . .  "There is no such thing as a boring salad!" 


 This salad is so far from boring that it is sure to become a family favourite, with two types of potatoes . . .  white and sweet . . .  and the surprise ingredient . . .  a tiny bit of butternut squash!


Add to that a punchy cider vinegar dressing with onion and zesty dry mustard along with the flavour and crunch of celery seed.  (I love celery seeds!)



With plenty of chopped parsley, this is a fabulous salad that will have everyone scrambling for seconds. Perfect with your grilled chicken and pork dishes, as well as salmon, this is sure to become everyone's favourite.  I guarantee you will be asked to bring it along to your next cookout!


a handful of chopped toasted walnuts (about 1/4 cup)


Cook the butternut squash cubes in a pot of boiling water until just tender, 3 to 5 minutes.  Drain well and allow to cool.


Gently mix both potatoes and the butternut squash in a large bowl wth the parsley. Fold in the dried cranberries, onion and chopped walnuts. Cover and chill.  Serve at room temperature.


I am koo koo for dried cranberries and nuts in anything, but I have to tell you they are quite simply beautiful in this delicious potato salad.  Somewhat reminiscent of a harvest type of salad that you might want to eat closer to the holidays, but don't wait til then.  Make and eat this now!   Heck, make and eat this all year round!  Bon Appetit!

 Happy Fourth of July to all my American readers and friends!

 
I was craving waffles yesterday and so I decided that I would make us some for our breakfast today.  (Saturday as I write this.)  But not just any waffles . . . Toasted Almond Waffles!


All winter long I wait for the summer months for good light, but for some reason I am not getting it.  Grrr . . .  sorry that these photos are so poor, lightwise.


These waffles are great, using both flour and ground almonds in the batter . . .  and not a lot of sugar, only a minimal amount  . . .


More almond flavour comes from the use of almond extract.  The ground almonds make  these nice and crisp edged . . .  


I love the wholesome texture that the ground almonds give as well . . .  and of course there is even more almond flavour from a sprinkle of toasted almonds scattered over the top.


I enjoy mine with a dusting of icing sugar, and some fresh raspberries . . .  so good . . .


Peaches are also nice . . .  or blueberries . . .  or a mix  . . .


They're just really, really good . . .  full stop . . . Todd of course enjoys his with lashings of syrup, maple syrup, but you can also make a raspberry syrup to enjoy with them if you wish.  I did not have enough raspberries to make it today, but you can find the recipe here.  It's good for all sorts.  I like it on ice cream.
 
 
Pour onto the heated waffle iron and cook according to the instructions with your waffle maker.  Sprinkle with toasted almonds and serve with your favourite fruits and syrup.


These are surprisingly quick and easy to make also.  I love my heart shaped waffle iron.  I also have one which makes fingers, but the heart shaped one is the one I use the most.  Happy Sunday and Bon Appetite! 

Happy Canada Day to all my Canadian family and friends, and Happy Independance Day (on the 4th) to all my American family and friends!  This is a really special celebratory year in Canada, marking 150 years of Canada being an independant country.


I can still remember the centenary celebrations of Canada's independance in 1967. I was in Grade six at school and there were all sorts of exciting things going on across the country throughout that year.


One activity which stands really out in my mind was the Centennial Train which made its way across the country, bringing  a taste of Canadian History to every town it visited.   We went en masse as a school to view it in Kentville where it was visiting and I can remember, in particular, learning about the role Canada had played in two World Wars, etc.


There was a Centennial Voyageur Canoe Pageant which saw 10 crews of canoe teams beginning a 104 day journey to replicate the fur trading route of the original Canadian Voyageurs, launching on the North Saskatchewan River at Rocky Mountain House, Alta. Competitors, representing eight provinces and two territories, traced a route through rushing rivers, along windswept lakes and across gruelling portagesas  a way of paying homage to the fur-trading voyageurs and explorers who opened up the country.


A great Centennial flame was lit by our Prime Minister at the time, Lester B Pearson, at the Parliament Buildings on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.  All school children were given a special Centennial coin to commemorate the year, and a fabulous Word Fair opened in Montreal, called Expo 67!


A a family we were quite keen to attend the Expo 67. We started off by visiting my father's family in Northern Quebec (where he was from), but while we were there some bombs exploded in the washrooms of the Expo, and my mother decided that we were not going to be going to the Expo after all, but instead would take a short trip down through the US to visit family there instead.   Good times!


In any case, I wanted to do something special to mark this very special Canadian Anniversary, and of course the 4th of July as well, which follows close on Canada's heels!  Its a fact that most Canadian towns that border on the American border celebrate both holidays together most years with four days of activities and celebrations, and the fourth of July has also become somewhat of a celebration here in the UK (although not a holiday) as there are quite a few Americans living here now.


Everyone loves Butterfly Cakes.  A Butterfly Cake is a type of cupcake that has a cone shaped piece of cake cut out of the top, and is filled with jam and buttercream, and then the cone shape is cut in half  and placed back on top of the buttercream, resembling butterfly wings!


For the holidays I added a patriotic touch of colour with fresh  bright blueberries and red raspberries!  You could of course use freshly whipped cream instead of the buttercream icing if you wished.  The buttercream is nice however, and works well against the contrasting tart sweetness of the fresh berries.  Altogether these are lovely and will be quite welcome at your traditional holiday cookout!


 I asked my daughter if she was going to be going to the fireworks where she lives and she told me that they don't do fireworks anymore in her town, they have to travel further afield to see fireworks and as they don't have a car they won't be seeing any fireworks.  I can only assume that there will be celebrations of some sort on the telly.  In any case, Happy Canada and Independance Days!

Makes about 12

These are simple to make and so very cute when they are done.  Not only that, but they are quite delicious.  Food for the eyes and the soul, and the perfect way to say . . . I love you!

For the cakes:
125g softened butter (1/2 cup)
115g caster sugar (1/2 cup plus 1 TBS)
2 large free eggs
115g self raising flour (3/4 cup plus 2 TBS)
1 tsp baking powder

For the Icing:
170g softened butter (1/2 cup plus 4 TBS)
240g icing sugar, sifted (2 2/3 cups)

To Decorate:
strawberry preserves
fresh blueberries & raspberries
icing sugar for dusting




Pre-heat the oven to 200*C/400*F.  Line a medium sized muffin tin with paper cupcake liners and set aside.


Tip all the cake ingredients into a large bowl and beat well with an electric hand whisk for two to three minutes, until well blended and smooth.  Spoon into the paper lines cups, filling each one half way. 


Bake in the heated oven for 15 to 20 minutes, or until well risen and golden brown and a toothpick inserted into one comes out clean.  Remove from the oven and the tins, placing on a wire rack to cool completely before proceeding.


Make the icing by beating the butter and icing sugar together until smooth and well blended.  You may think it is never going to come together when you start, but be persistant, it will . . . just like magic.


Cut a small slice from the top of each cake with a sharp knife, cutting down into it a bit, like a small cone.  Cut this slice in half so that you have two wing shaped half moon pieces. Spoon a bit of strawberry jam into the hollow that has been left ineach cake. Top the jam in each with a healthy dollop of buttercream. Place the half slices of cake into the icing at the curved edge fanning them out a bit to look like wings. Place a few berries down the centre of each. Dust the completed cakes with some icing sugar to finish.


Sit back and wait for the applause.



I broke one open so that you could see the lovely texture of these cakes.  It was originally a Mary Berry recipe and used all margarine.  She says in her recipe that it makes 18, but I have only ever gotten 12 at a stretch.  I adapted it to use butter and of course added the jam and the berries.  I also added vanilla because I think a bit of vanilla makes most tasty cakes even tastier.  Bon Appetit and Happy Holidays!  Let the summer begin!

I think of all the fishes in the sea . . .  cod is my absolute favourite.  It has a lovely mild almost sweet flavour, not too strong . . .  and a delicate texture when cooked properly. It is a fish which lends itself to a wide variety of preparations.





Almost anything goed with it.  Today I created a simple sauce using some white wine, lemon juice . . . 

the juice and zest of a lemon, chili flakes with fresh cherry tomatoes and basil . . .


 The flavours are fresh and punchy and go so well with this fish.  It is also a sauce that cooks up very quickly and its also a great way to use up any lacklustre cherry tomatoes you might have in the larder  . . . it does wonders for them, but  . . .



Basil goes very well with both tomatoes and fish. In the winter months I rely on store bought fresh basil and I try to use it all up right way, because it is not a great keeer, but in the summer months . . . I grow my own basil in the garden and I just can't get enough of it.  I just love the stuff!!

For the fish, dust lightly with salt and pepper and black pepper.  Heat the oil in a clean skillet until hot.  Add the cod, presentation side down.  Cook for about 2 to 3 minutes until golden brown. Flip over and continue to cook for a further 2 to 3 minutes until cooked through.  It should flake easily at the edges when prodded with the tines of a fork.  Place onto two heated dinner plates.  Spoon a portion of sauce over each, garnish with a bit of chopped basil and serve immediately.