Category Archives: Antipasti

Of all the months in the year, December is the one with the most parties. Sometimes it’s a relief when Christmas finally arrives because it means we can settle down to some beautiful meals and then … relax! Don’t get me wrong. I love the parties! I especially love the planning of the parties and  Continue Reading »

I’m going on vacation in a few weeks and I’m trying to work my way through as many cookbooks as I can because I have so many to tell you about! One of the blessings of having a food blog is the opportunity (the honour!) to have a peek at the amazing cookbooks that are  Continue Reading »

Growing up, chickpeas were a big part of our diet. While my mom would often make dishes with dried chickpeas that had been soaked overnight and reconstituted, she would just as often open up a can of chickpeas and use them in salads and soups, in particular. I was going through a pile of magazine  Continue Reading »

The 2010 February Daring Cook’s challenge was hosted by Michele of Veggie Num Nums. Michele chose to challenge everyone to make mezze based on various recipes from Claudia Roden, Jeffrey Alford and Naomi Dugid. Well I’m a few days late posting my February 2010 DC challenge but it’s not my fault. Between posting about how  Continue Reading »

And Magazine Mondays is back! I missed last week’s edition and I have a lot of entries this week so I’m anxious to get at it! But before I do, I want to share my own entry for MM: Eggplant Dip … or spread … depending on how you look at it! We had the  Continue Reading »

On the third day of the 12 Days of Cookbooks I give you Savory Baking by Mary Cech. Published this past summer, I bought this lovely book several months ago during one of my almost-weekly trips to my most favourite bookstore in the world. I’d never heard of author Mary Cech before, but I must  Continue Reading »

Disclaimer: Cream Puff will not be held responsible for the dramatic reduction in bookshelf space due to the purchasing of any cookbooks as a result of posts on this blog between December 1, 2009 and December 12, 2009, inclusive. I happen to believe that cookbooks make the very best Christmas gifts. Well, okay, maybe diamonds  Continue Reading »

Thankfully, I’m back to blogging. While I don’t mind taking planned breaks from my little bloggy, forced breaks never go over very well. My PC decided to be very naughty last week and caused me some grief. Happily, that is over. My PC decided to misbehave right after announcing the new Magazine Mondays logo. And  Continue Reading »

Welcome to the first edition of Magazine Mondays for 2009! Before I start attacking my magazine pile in this newly minted year, I must tie up a few loose ends left over from 2008. To begin with, I owe enourmous thanks to Wandering Coyote of the blog ReTorte. She has been a huge supporter of  Continue Reading »

I have a serious thing for olives. In fact, I don’t know very many people who do not, on some level, appreciate the olive. Wait a minute. Let me think. Yes. It’s true. I can say that I am not (knowingly) aware of anyone in my life who does not like olives. How can you  Continue Reading »

Talk about coming down from a high! I want to thank everyone for all of your incredible comments and support after my post about the cupcakes I baked for my coworker’s wedding. It was quite an experience and I’m looking forward to where it leads. As exciting as it was, it was also exhausting. I  Continue Reading »

One of my uncles likes to tease me with the story of how as a child, I would sneak into the refrigerator to take bites out of the butter. My love affair with the stuff clearly started early! While I won’t go so far as to say that I eat it on a daily basis,  Continue Reading »

Oh, January! Wherefore did thou go? I was just getting used to you and before I knew it I found myself in February. Alright, February. Gimme what ya’ got! The Super Bowl is up first, you say. Super Bowl XLI to be exact. Well. This is slightly problematic in that I don’t particularly care for  Continue Reading »

Chilling on the Italian terrace has been the recent activity of choice here in the House of Cream Puff. These past four days have surely been the most glorious days of this Toronto summer. The heat and humidity of July are but a distant memory as we’ve enjoyed leisurely meals on our little patio. A  Continue Reading »

Wanted:  A large Italian terrace graced with copious amounts of flowers and a breathtaking view. The terrace should feature an enormous table with seating for all my blogger friends. An open bar stocked with chilled Prosecco and San Pellegrino is a must. Please contact Cream Puff if you are in possession of such a terrace  Continue Reading »

"How beautiful it is to do nothing, and then rest afterwards." Spanish Proverb How I am hoping to truly discover the meaning of this proverb over the course of the next week! After a hectic beginning to 2006, I’m happy to say that I have a few days to myself. So today is a beginning  Continue Reading »

Hard day at work? Long day at school? Busy day getting the house in order? Don’t worry about it. Come in. Take your shoes off. Sit down and make yourself at home. Cream Puff’s house is your house. Here’s a cool glass of crisp Prosecco. And right here, in front of you, is a lovely  Continue Reading »

As we say goodbye to Day 5 of the 2006 Torino Olympics, it’s time to continue our journey in Piemonte. Having enjoyed our bagna caôda, there’s still room for another antipasto before we settle down for the first course. People often say that Piemonte is a region that demonstrates significant French influence both in the  Continue Reading »

Imagine, for just a moment, that you are a vegetable, washed and trimmed and waiting for what comes next. Imagine that you are a piece of the heart of a cardoon. Or the leaf of an artichoke, perfumed with lemon after having it rubbed across your skin. Or a ruby red strip of bell pepper,  Continue Reading »