Category Archives: Flavour of the Month
All the Sweet Things
Written on September 5, 2011 at 11:36 am, by admin
As I take on the task of organizing the massive number of photos I took in Italy this summer, I find it’s taking a lot longer than expected and that it’s a lot harder than I thought it would be. This is mainly because every other photo, I pause to wistfully replay the scene captured Continue Reading »
Wrap Me in Cake
Written on February 2, 2010 at 12:30 am, by admin
I am a four-season child. By that I mean I have to live somewhere that has four distinct seasons. I can appreciate the allure of a place that is sunny and warm all year long, perhaps I might even visit said place for some rest or relaxation, but to live there permanently? Don’t think so. Continue Reading »
The 12 Days of Cookbooks: Day 6
Written on December 6, 2009 at 12:30 am, by admin
And on the sixth day of the 12 Days of Cookbooks, I give you Mario Batali’s Holiday Food. Published in 2000, this book has been around for almost ten years but I only discovered it earlier this year while perusing some titles on-line. I immediately snapped it up and haven’t been disappointed. Besides being the Continue Reading »
Oh, Noble Cookie!
Written on August 7, 2009 at 7:50 pm, by admin
When I first flipped through Urban Italian: Simple Recipes and True Stories from a Life in Food by Andrew Carmellini and Gwen Hyman, I of course started with the dessert section. And the recipe that made me stop was this one: Nero Cookies. At first I smiled because I thought “mmm … chocolate cookies … Continue Reading »
A Little Something for the Weekend …
Written on April 17, 2009 at 5:49 pm, by admin
I cannot believe April is more than halfway over and I have yet to even mention my Flavour of the Month: Lori Longbotham’s Luscious Lemon Desserts. I adore Lori. I love her recipes and all her cookbooks are just so good. I count them among my most treasured books. The warm weather has (finally) arrived Continue Reading »
Confessions of a Reformed Breakfast Skipper (Part 1)
Written on January 8, 2009 at 6:24 pm, by admin
So here’s my dirty little secret: For almost all of my 20s and part of my early 30s, I regularly skipped breakfast. And by regularly I mean, almost all the time. So there you have it. I don’t have a particularly good reason for being such a habitual offender beyond the most basic (and perhaps Continue Reading »
Olive Love
Written on December 13, 2008 at 6:31 pm, by admin
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 »
Bring on the Parties!
Written on December 1, 2008 at 10:56 pm, by admin
New month, new flavour! This month the Cream Puffs in Venice Flavour of the Month is Trish Magwood’s Dish Entertains: Everyday Simple to Special Occasions. I’ve owned this book for quite awhile now and as is the case with most of the cookbooks I own, I’ve never tried a recipe. It’s a good thing there’s Continue Reading »
Something To Munch On
Written on October 31, 2008 at 6:44 pm, by admin
What attracted me to Carol Field’s Italy in Small Bites was the idea of small snacks throughout the day to sustain me. Wouldn’t that be amazing … if at any time of the day you could bite into something tasty, yet not filling? I’ve spent most of October dreaming about what I’d try from this Continue Reading »
Fa-ri-na-ta!
Written on October 17, 2008 at 5:32 pm, by admin
It’s hard to believe that half of October has already passed and I have yet to talk about my Flavour of the Month for October 2008: Carol Field’s Italy in Small Bites. I’m a big fan of Carol Field. I have a number of her cookbooks and have always had great success with them. To Continue Reading »
Goodbye, Summer!
Written on September 21, 2008 at 1:01 am, by admin
It seems impossible but today is in fact the last day of summer. As I’ve been telling so many people lately, I feel like I just blink and suddenly two or three months pass me by. And to tell the truth, I still feel like I’m not fully back home, as though I’m straddling my Continue Reading »
Saturday August 2, 2008; 3:37 p.m.
Written on September 9, 2008 at 5:21 am, by admin
Saturday August 2, 2008; 3:37 p.m. That is the exact time that my vacation started. That is the time of the last e-mail I sent (to Lis, for the record). Right after that e-mail, I turned off my computer, and shortly thereafter left for the airport. And so began three weeks of computer-free living in Continue Reading »
See You in September … or Thereabouts
Written on August 1, 2008 at 11:31 pm, by admin
Happy August, my friends! This is a short post to let you know that I’m heading to Italy to visit my family for three weeks! I will be gone for almost all of August. While I am Canadian in every sense, I cannot deny the bond I feel with the country where my parents were Continue Reading »
A Thing of Beauty
Written on July 2, 2008 at 7:30 pm, by admin
One of my favourite ways to unwind at the end of the week is to stop by my local big-box bookstore on the way home from work. Once there, I have a strict routine that I follow each and every time. First, I peruse the food section of the magazine rack. From there I make Continue Reading »
Amaretti, Just Different.
Written on June 27, 2008 at 7:45 pm, by admin
Mamma mia! What happened? June was supposed to be all Italian and then it whizzed by faster than a Roman teenager on a Vespa! Not that I can complain all that much, mind you. I’ve spent the month enjoying many wonderful meals and best of all, over the past ten days or so, I’ve also Continue Reading »
Italian June
Written on June 4, 2008 at 5:50 pm, by admin
I have decided that June is going to be an Italian month. So that would be Giugno. I have no particular reason for this decision other than the fact that a little over a month ago I purchased this delightful little book by Maxine Clark and fell in love with it. Seriously in love. In Continue Reading »
Paris on My Mind
Written on May 13, 2008 at 5:38 pm, by admin
I’ve had Paris on my mind of late. I suspect part of it is that I recently finished reading this lovely book. Not to mention that I kept seeing this other pretty little tome pop up all over the food blog world (who wouldn’t want to go to Paris after seeing that?). But part of Continue Reading »
Spring has Sprung!
Written on April 19, 2008 at 11:29 am, by admin
And just like that, the full force of spring hits us. We went from chilly, rainy weather to “where did I put my flip flops” weather in the blink of an eye. This morning I woke to the sound of birds singing and my Italian neighbours, two doors down, discussing the layout of this year’s Continue Reading »
Don’t Sneeze!
Written on April 1, 2008 at 8:53 pm, by admin
“On top of spaghetti, All covered with cheese, I lost my poor meatball, When somebody sneezed.” I really struggled to pick a cookbook from The Overburdened Bookshelf to feature as the Flavour of the Month for April 2008. As much as I love my baking, I wanted to focus on something other than sweets. The Continue Reading »
My Cookie Friends
Written on March 28, 2008 at 4:22 pm, by admin
One cannot choose a cookbook as the Flavour of the Month and then allow the whole month to pass without saying even one thing about said cookbook. That just won’t do. Especially when one has chosen such a special, pretty little cookbook as the Flavour of the Month for March 2008. As often happens in Continue Reading »
Pretty in Marble
Written on February 18, 2008 at 7:17 pm, by admin
I don’t have a Magazine Mondays post for you this week but I do have another example of what a great cookbook Maxine Clark’s Chocolate: Deliciously Indulgent Recipes for Chocolate Lovers is. This time it’s a pretty chocolate marble cake. Some cakes look pretty in pink. But some look even prettier in marble. I never Continue Reading »
Come Over to the Dark Side
Written on February 7, 2008 at 7:22 pm, by admin
There was a time in my life when I devoured books (no pun intended). But the long haul of university essays followed by a career where I spend a good part of my day reading and writing resulted in a long break in my pursuit of leisurely reading. Recently, though, I’ve felt the inner call Continue Reading »
Ambition, Thy Name is Chocolate!
Written on February 2, 2008 at 2:11 pm, by admin
Well, February certainly isn’t shy. She has announced herself with much snow and bluster around these parts, anyway. But I don’t mind. The weather has given all of us the perfect reason to hunker down and indulge in hot chocolate and cookbooks. As I perused The Overburdened Bookshelf for a book to feature as the Continue Reading »
See ya’, January!
Written on January 31, 2008 at 5:53 pm, by admin
January, it’s been fun! While I haven’t done all that much baking or cooking, I have been enjoying the lovely bean (thanks to my Flavour of the Month) and generally enjoying the first month of 2008. But January, it’s time for us to part ways. Before you go, I wanted to send you off with Continue Reading »
Chickpea Magic
Written on January 9, 2008 at 10:24 pm, by admin
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 »
I Love Christmas!
Written on December 2, 2007 at 5:58 pm, by admin
I love Christmas! Only 23 days to go. Just 23 short days to Rudolph and Santa and the tree and the gifts and the food and the weight gain. I love it!!! And how will the Cream Puff be spending the next 23 days? The next few days will be spent trying to finish a Continue Reading »
Finding Comfort in the Kitchen
Written on November 7, 2007 at 8:19 pm, by admin
November is a hard month for me. Ever since I was a child I’ve also felt that November is a creepy month. Maybe it’s the lingering Halloween effect or just the fact that it’s dark so early in the day. The cheery fall weather of October begins to move determinedly towards winter. You can pretend Continue Reading »
The Memory of Food
Written on October 25, 2007 at 7:25 pm, by admin
I sometimes find myself looking at the calendar in astonishment after I realize how quickly the months slip by. Is it really two months until Christmas? And is October really almost over (already) without my having written once about my Flavour of the Month, Father Giuseppe Orsini’s Italian Baking Secrets? Of course I’ve mentioned this Continue Reading »
World Bread Day, 2007: Just a Little Late!
Written on October 20, 2007 at 6:18 pm, by admin
While I would never describe myself as being very organized, I do pride myself on doing a reasonably good job of keeping track of food blog events that I want to participate in. Well, you know what they say … pride before the fall. I was very disappointed to realize that I had missed the Continue Reading »
The Long Garden Goodbye
Written on October 3, 2007 at 9:46 pm, by admin
As much as I love the fall, I inevitably find myself shaking my head at this time of year as I find it harder and harder to believe that it actually is the fall. True, the leaves are slowly changing colour and the nights are noticeably cooler, but the days are still warm and for Continue Reading »
Letting Go
Written on August 7, 2007 at 9:02 pm, by admin
My apologies for the lack of posts around here. It’s not that the Cream Puff has abandoned you or anything. It’s just that in all the recent heat and steam we’ve been experiencing lately, I’ve barely been able to muster the energy to lift a glass of iced tea to my lips. Yes, it’s been Continue Reading »
Farewell, My Beauties!
Written on July 21, 2007 at 8:06 am, by admin
The glory of strawberry season is profound, yet so fleeting! Just as quickly as the lovely red berries make an appearance, they’re gone, leaving behind a deep longing that will last for another year. Several years ago, I began cultivating a strawberry plant in our backyard garden. Happily, that one plant has now multiplied into Continue Reading »
Adrift …
Written on July 13, 2007 at 10:33 pm, by admin
… in a sea of blueberries! And I can’t imagine a better place to be. I’m off to Montreal for a few days but I leave you with this incredible blueberry tart. I hope it helps get you through the weekend. Naturally, it’s from Lori Longbotham’s must-have cookbook: Luscious Berry Desserts. Bon weekend! Ciao!
Introducing …
Written on July 4, 2007 at 8:16 pm, by admin
… the Flavour of the Month for July 2007 … Lori Longbotham’s Luscious Berry Desserts! Applause! Clap … clap … clap! First of all, let me wish all of my American friends a very happy Fourth of July! After a lovely long weekend wherein we Canadians celebrated our country’s 140th birthday on July 1st, it’s Continue Reading »
You Most Definitely Can Win Friends with Salad!
Written on June 25, 2007 at 5:17 pm, by admin
I love The Simpsons. Love them! I am one of those people who shares the belief that there are lines from Simpsons episodes that can be applied to virtually every event in life. One of my very favourite Simpsons episodes happens to be “Lisa the Vegetarian” from the series’ seventh season. And for me, the Continue Reading »
For Jasmine
Written on June 19, 2007 at 8:50 pm, by admin
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, the greatest benefit of blogging is the chance to meet so many wonderful people. Shortly after I began blogging I had the good fortune to meet Jasmine of Confessions of a Cardamom Addict and Sensual Gourmet. Intelligent, warm, witty, sexy, sweet, beautiful – these are all Continue Reading »
On Airports and Puffy White Clouds
Written on June 6, 2007 at 9:37 pm, by admin
When I was a very little girl, I had a fascination with the airport. My parents would take me to Toronto’s Pearson International Airport and park on the top level so that I could watch the planes take off. Maybe it’s because our house is so close to the airport, but I always loved looking Continue Reading »
Back to Tea
Written on May 25, 2007 at 9:06 pm, by admin
I’d like to thank everyone for all the kind words and comments you’ve left about the redesign of my blog. This was a big step for me and I’d be lying if I said that I wasn’t nervous as to how the new design would be received. There are still a few little issues to Continue Reading »
Anyone for a Cup of Tea?
Written on May 4, 2007 at 12:43 am, by Ivonne
I would be lying if I didn’t say that the tea party holds a very special charm for me. As with so many little girls, I loved "hosting" pretend tea parties and insisted that all my dolls and stuffed toys attend. Once I was grown, my very first experience hosting an event on my own Continue Reading »
Pie of Comfort
Written on May 1, 2007 at 12:16 am, by Ivonne
During the winter, I wrote a post about rice pudding and how I find it one of the most comforting dishes imaginable. A mere spoonful of rice pudding will cure whatever ails me and I suspect that it’s the same for so many other who enjoy this dish. For this reason, as I looked through Continue Reading »
Mushrooms on the Side
Written on April 23, 2007 at 10:22 pm, by Ivonne
Jamie Oliver is driving me batty! In a totally good way. As much fun as I’ve been having reading Jamie’s Italy, I’m frustrated by the fact that there are so many recipes I won’t be able to try until the bounty of summer fruits and vegetables begins to find its way into our kitchen. My Continue Reading »
Fishing on Friday
Written on April 6, 2007 at 8:23 pm, by Ivonne
I’ve heard rumours that the Easter Bunny has been seen hopping around our neighbourhood. Perhaps. What I do know, is that it’s Good Friday and that means fish and seafood in our household. I’m often asked why it is that we eat fish on Good Friday and to be honest, I don’t know the precise Continue Reading »
… Hello April!
Written on April 2, 2007 at 1:06 am, by Ivonne
Hello, April! I see you’ve brought a new Flavour of the Month with you: Jamie’s Italy. I received a copy of this book to review and as soon as I picked up, I knew I’d like it. Who wouldn’t want to be sitting in Italy with a plate of pasta and a glass of wine? Continue Reading »
Goodbye March …
Written on March 31, 2007 at 3:56 pm, by Ivonne
Goodbye March! You were a busy month. You whizzed right by me with almost no opportunity for me to bake. But it’s time for you to go now. April is knocking at the door and I see she’s bringing flour and eggs and baking pans. But before you go, March, I wanted to thank you Continue Reading »
The Gift That Keeps on Giving
Written on March 29, 2007 at 9:03 pm, by Ivonne
Beth Hensperger’s Bread for Breakfast has been the gift that keeps on giving in the Cream Puff household this month. I can’t believe this lovely cookbook sat on my shelf for years without being touched! What the heck was I waiting for? Besides the Orange Bread that I made earlier in the month, I’ve made Continue Reading »
Comfort Me with Apples
Written on March 16, 2007 at 8:28 pm, by Ivonne
I blame Mary. I was doing alright. I was dealing with the fact that work has kept me out of the kitchen and away from my beloved baking. I was coping. And then I saw Mary’s Almond Apple Bars and broke down. And it wasn’t graceful either. It was a temper tantrum worthy of any Continue Reading »
Colour Me Orange
Written on March 12, 2007 at 11:05 pm, by Ivonne
I’ve often heard people say that their least favourite months of the year are November and February. Myself, I’ve always had a challenge with March. Granted there are some highlights like my mother’s birthday and the gentle promise of spring, but overall, for me it’s always a bit of a tricky month to get through. Continue Reading »
The Flavour of the Month, Some Recipes and Some News
Written on February 5, 2007 at 9:06 pm, by Ivonne
The Flavour of the Month for February 2006 A new month means a new flavour to enjoy. I said farewell to Patricia Wells’ Trattoria and hello to Matt Kramer’s A Passion for Piedmont. I can hardly believe that it’s already been a year since the Olympics in Torino. I had such fun learning about the Continue Reading »
Food Blog Awards and the Flavour of the Month!
Written on January 4, 2007 at 8:30 pm, by Ivonne
The nominees for the 2006 Food Blog Awards have been released and to my great surprise, I have been nominated for the Best Food Blog – Writing category! When I started this blog in December 2005, I did it so that I could have a place to share my passion for baking and cooking. And Continue Reading »
The Mighty Thumb
Written on December 23, 2006 at 6:48 pm, by Ivonne
Now that I’ve had a few days to recover from the jet lag, I’m ready to turn my attention to the impending Christmas festivities. Berlin, Prague and Vienna are still floating around in my mind, but I’m also beginning to anticipate the eating fest that will begin very shortly. When I first posted about my Continue Reading »
December … You’re Such a Cookie!
Written on December 1, 2006 at 11:34 pm, by Ivonne
December has arrived with a vengeance here in Toronto. The relatively warm weather we’d been experiencing is gone and in its place we have the beginnings of winter. I don’t mind. I love the snow and the cold and how it makes us all want to run into the kitchen and bake. December 1st, for Continue Reading »
Have Some Rum While Minding Your Bananas!
Written on November 30, 2006 at 11:32 pm, by Ivonne
Based on your responses to my last post, it seems that banana bread and banana cake are blogger favourites! Now that I know what you like, allow me to suggest an accompaniment to your bananas: rum. I’m fairly late to the world of rum admirers. To be honest, until I started baking this butter cake Continue Reading »
The Month of Bread: Beautiful Challah
Written on November 12, 2006 at 1:25 am, by Ivonne
I am seriously behind with my posts about baking class. I promise I’ll catch up soon, but I’m just having too much fun baking and blogging about bread! Several weeks ago, in bread class, we were scheduled to make challah. Unfortunately, work commitments meant that I had to miss that class and I was more Continue Reading »
The Month of Bread: Fragrant Focaccia
Written on November 1, 2006 at 11:07 pm, by Ivonne
I am officially declaring November "The Month of Bread." Now that I have one bread course under my belt and will soon be completing my second bread course at George Brown College’s Culinary School, I really have no excuses for not putting my newly learned schools to good use. In a further bit of excellent Continue Reading »
Farewell, October!
Written on October 31, 2006 at 9:42 pm, by Ivonne
The tricks and treats are done. Plenty of mini pumpkins, princesses, ghosts and goblins came to my door this evening, one cuter than the next! And now that the candy is all gone, it’s hard to believe that October comes to an end this evening. My favourite month of the year, it arrives with so Continue Reading »
A Very Pumpkiny Cheesecake!
Written on October 26, 2006 at 9:11 am, by Ivonne
October’s trip through Tish Boyle’s The Cake Book has been most enjoyable. I’ve rarely come across a cookbook where virtually every recipe begs to be tried as soon as possible. The fun intensified when I discovered that my dear friends Kate of Pie in the Sky, Mary of Alpineberry and Peabody of Culinary Concoctions Continue Reading »
Busy Days and Sweet Nights
Written on October 12, 2006 at 10:25 pm, by Ivonne
These are busy days, my friends. Work is overwhelming at times. And on the personal front, family commitments and baking class seem to take up any extra time I have. Sometimes it’s all a bit much. I suspect this is why I have been enjoying baking again so much. I survived without an oven during Continue Reading »
The Apple of My Eye
Written on October 10, 2006 at 9:09 pm, by Ivonne
At this time of year, I’m sure I could bake an apple-based dessert every day of the week and not come close to trying even a fraction of the recipes for apple desserts out there. Everywhere I turn I see recipes for apple pie, apple cake, apple muffins, apple cookies … and the Continue Reading »
Chocolate Friday
Written on October 6, 2006 at 8:34 pm, by Ivonne
Over a month ago, I was in despair after Black Friday and the realization that I wouldn’t be able to bake for quite awhile. How the times have changed! Our new oven is a blessing and we are looking forward to putting it through its paces this coming Thanksgiving weekend. I have many wonderful things Continue Reading »
Cream Puff Bakes Again!
Written on October 3, 2006 at 8:54 am, by Ivonne
Hello, Autumn! Hello multi-coloured leaves and brisk fall days. Hello warm sweaters and tea by the fire. Hello rosy cheeks and scarves. Hello hockey. Hello apples and chestnuts. Hello Flavour of the Month for October 2006: The Cake Book by Tish Boyle. Hello brand new stove that finally arrived. Hello baking. Hello Vanilla-Flecked Chiffon Cake Continue Reading »
Panini Mania: Hot Sorpressata and Fontina Panini
Written on September 30, 2006 at 5:01 pm, by Ivonne
Goodbye lazy summer days. Goodbye backyard barbecues and farmer’s markets. Goodbye open-toed shoes. Goodbye iced lattes. Goodbye sitting outside until midnight. Goodbye Flavour of the Month: Simple Italian Sandwiches. Goodbye, September! Ciao! Hot Sorpressata and Fontina Panini Adapted from Simple Italian Sandwiches by Jennifer Denton and Jason Denton. Note: Sorpressata is a type of Italian Continue Reading »
Panini Mania: Prosciutto Cotto, Fresh Mozzarella and Hot Mustard Panini
Written on September 29, 2006 at 11:13 pm, by Ivonne
What a week! It seems that the arrival of Autumn has brought with it busy days and busy nights. As a result, I’ve been a bit neglectful and I apologize. But never fear. I shall catch up on missed posts and unanswered e-mails as soon as possible. In the meantime, I’m sending this panino to Continue Reading »
Sugar High Friday #23: The Surprise Inside
Written on September 22, 2006 at 4:53 pm, by Ivonne
I just love surprises! The thrill. The anticipation. The agony of wanting to know. When Alanna of A Veggie Venture announced that the theme for SHF #23 would be "The Surprise Inside", I smiled. I smiled a secret, Mona Lisa smile. And then I began to plan. This particular SHF was most challenging for me Continue Reading »
Panini Mania: Pesto, Artichoke, Prosciutto and Asiago Panini
Written on September 12, 2006 at 4:10 pm, by Ivonne
When hunger strikes, strike back with a panino filled with pesto, arugula, artichoke, Prosciutto di Parma and Asiago cheese. May the panini force be with you! Ciao! Pesto, Artichoke, Prosciutto and Asiago Panini Inspired by Simple Italian Sandwiches. 2 ciabatta buns, halved 2 tablespoons basil pesto (click here for a basil pesto recipe) a handful Continue Reading »
Not a Happy Cream Puff
Written on September 3, 2006 at 5:42 pm, by Ivonne
I am not a happy Cream Puff. As the end of August approached, I began to scan The Overburdened Bookshelf for the next gem to pluck and feature as a Cream Puffs in Venice Flavour of the Month. I remembered that earlier this year, I’d made a promise to myself (more of a challenge, rather) Continue Reading »
Chillin’ on the Terrace
Written on August 13, 2006 at 12:26 pm, by Ivonne
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 »
Searching for An Italian Terrace of My Own
Written on August 1, 2006 at 7:39 pm, by Ivonne
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 »
The Colours of Summer
Written on July 18, 2006 at 8:19 pm, by Ivonne
Every season has its colours. For me, winter is silver and white. Spring is yellow and green. And my favourite season of all, autumn, is pure blazing gold. But what are the colours of summer? They’re the blues of the wildest blueberries and the deepest purple of eggplant. They’re the orange-red of ripened tomatoes and Continue Reading »
A Moment of Clarity
Written on July 3, 2006 at 10:10 am, by Ivonne
While I am mostly a good-natured and optimistic Cream Puff, I definitely have an impatient streak that pushes me to rush things. I’m usually the one peeking in the oven and muttering, "Hurry up and bake already!" Lately, however, I’ve noticed that this impatient streak has given me a harsh edge. It’s not like me Continue Reading »
And They Ate Happily Ever After …
Written on June 29, 2006 at 3:34 pm, by Ivonne
As fairytales do, this one has come to an end. June bids everyone adieu as July waits impatiently to be the star of the show. Of all the months, July is my least favourite. I know many people will nominate the oft-gloomy November or the very unpredictable March as the months they can do without. Continue Reading »
Berrify Me!
Written on June 26, 2006 at 8:57 pm, by Ivonne
Finally! Finally the berries are arriving! Winter is but a memory here in Ontario and spring has waved goodbye. Summer is in full swing and with her she brings all the glorious berries that Ontario has to offer. Those plain, uniformly perfect, bland supermarket strawberries are a thing of the past. They’ve been replaced by Continue Reading »
A Rat-tat-tat-tat-touille!
Written on June 22, 2006 at 4:27 pm, by Ivonne
Lest you get the impression that I only eat sweets, I’d like you to know that this Cream Puff also eats her veggies. Of course it helps if they’re roasted with lots of garlic, basil and olive oil, enrobed in a custard of cream and egg, and then baked in a golden tart. Not that Continue Reading »
Once Upon a Roasted Red Pepper Tart with Olive Tapenade …
Written on June 21, 2006 at 1:05 am, by Ivonne
So there I was, happily navigating the Cream Puff Highway when out of the blue … computer woes. Talk about getting kicked in the pâte à choux! June was supposed to be a fairytale, but it’s turned into a bit of bad dream with my inability to post regularly. Admittedly, I’ve felt somewhat lost and Continue Reading »
Help!
Written on June 10, 2006 at 1:28 pm, by Ivonne
I seem to have misplaced my lemon tart! How very embarrassing. Should you find it anywhere please let me know. I miss it desperately! Ciao! Lemon Tart Adapted from Once Upon a Tart … by Frank Mentesana and Jerome Audureau. For the tart crust: Follow the same recipe as for the Alsatian Apple Tart. In Continue Reading »
A June Fairytale
Written on June 4, 2006 at 11:44 pm, by Ivonne
It is the month of June, The month of leaves and roses, When pleasant sights salute the eyes, And pleasant scents the noses. – Nathaniel Parker Willis, "The Month of June" What is that in the air? Do you smell it? Close your eyes and breathe in deeply … there it is … the soft, Continue Reading »
“Enjoy With Reckless Abandon!”
Written on May 31, 2006 at 12:24 am, by Ivonne
"Enjoy with reckless abandon …" These are the words that are written on the first page of my copy of Donna Dooher and Claire Stubb’s Out to Brunch, the Cream Puffs in Venice Flavour of the Month for May 2006. How did I come by this autographed copy of such a wonderful book? Let me Continue Reading »
A New Dessert Category
Written on May 28, 2006 at 7:33 pm, by Ivonne
Ladies and gentleman, I am here today to announce an exciting discovery in the dessert department. Up until this point in my life, I’ve defined desserts and sweets as cakes, cookies, bars, squares, custards, puddings and so on. It’s been a blissful existence investigating the possibilities of each and every one of these definitions. How Continue Reading »
Let There Be Fried Dough!
Written on May 24, 2006 at 11:25 pm, by Ivonne
I will keep this post short and "sweet". If I ever started my own religion, it would be based on the belief that in every life there should be some fried dough covered in sugar. This idea was brought into focus awhile ago when I visited Orangette and read Molly’s post about fritters. So true! Continue Reading »
A Hole in One
Written on May 22, 2006 at 10:36 am, by Ivonne
The more observant among you may have noticed that I like sweets and that I like to bake. Hope I wasn’t too obvious about it! As I lazed about in true Cream Puff fashion wondering what sweet to make next, I realized that I haven’t spent any time on savory dishes from the Cream Puffs Continue Reading »
Blueberry Buttermilk Pancakes for My Mommy
Written on May 14, 2006 at 10:32 am, by Ivonne
When I was a very little girl, my mother would get up extra early on weekend mornings and make pancakes. Her pancakes, as with all the food she cooks, were perfect. They were golden rounds of puffed up goodness that I would happily drench in maple syrup. No matter what was happening in our household, Continue Reading »
Mildred’s Scones
Written on May 11, 2006 at 3:30 pm, by Ivonne
Mildred’s daughter Veda has a message for you. She wants you to eat her mother’s scones. And she wants you to make sure that you smother the scones in copious amounts of double cream and jam (preferably strawberry). Why should you do what Veda says? In a review of the movie Mildred Pierce on www.dvdtalk.com, Continue Reading »
A Decadent Granola
Written on May 9, 2006 at 6:13 pm, by Ivonne
So who exactly is Mildred Pierce? Well, imagine this. Imagine Hollywood, in the late 1940s. Imagine a woman with dark hair and fiery red lips. She’s passionate. She’s flawed. She’s gorgeous. She’s the jilted wife. The long-suffering mother. Her life is a drama fit for the silver screen. But you can’t get just anyone to Continue Reading »
Canadian Blogging by Post: A Letter to my Mailman
Written on May 4, 2006 at 9:34 pm, by Ivonne
Dear Mr. Mailman: I trust that you are well and that this lovely May weather has made your duties all the more pleasant to carry out. The very first edition of Canadian Blogging by Post has inspired me to write you this missive to express some thoughts that I have always meant to express to Continue Reading »
A Full Plate
Written on May 2, 2006 at 9:19 pm, by Ivonne
Hello my friends! Welcome to the month of May and all the good things that lie ahead. There’s much news to discuss so let’s get right to it … enjoy the meal. Cream Puff Goes to School: Week 3 Saturday’s class was all about muffins and tea cakes. We continued to focus on one of Continue Reading »
Cin Cin!
Written on April 30, 2006 at 5:57 pm, by Ivonne
And so the end of the meal has arrived. This glorious feast that has been the month of April has reached the finale. I bid adieu to the month of lemon and to Lori Longbotham’s Lemon Zest. Having never made anything from this cookbook, I didn’t know what to expect when I selected it as Continue Reading »
Lemony Crab Cakes
Written on April 26, 2006 at 6:25 pm, by Ivonne
April is flying by and my opportunities to continue to entice you with recipes from Lori Longbotham’s Lemon Zest are quickly coming to an end. If April had 100 days I could easily fill each one with a recipe from Lori’s book. It’s that good. And you know Cream Puff would never lie to you! Continue Reading »
An Affair to Remember: I Carciofi
Written on April 19, 2006 at 10:09 pm, by Ivonne
I wasn’t planning on posting this evening, but I had no choice. I am enjoying Lemon Zest so much and I realized that I don’t have many days left in April to post about this cookbook. Having prepared a dish that features one of the vegetable loves of my life, I just had to come Continue Reading »
WCC #4: Lemony Bread-Pudding French Toast
Written on April 17, 2006 at 10:55 pm, by Ivonne
What is that glorious scent? Something warm and eggy in the air is pulling me out of a deep sleep. It’s calling me, more and more forcefully, urging me to wake up and make my way to the kitchen. Incredibly I resist wakefulness. I’m so tired. I went to bed at 3:30 a.m. after baking Continue Reading »
A Plate of Lemon Happiness
Written on April 13, 2006 at 10:30 am, by Ivonne
This is the recipe for a plate of lemon happiness: Cream. Lemon zest. Butter. Parmigiano Reggiano. Fettuccine. So what are you waiting for? Ciao! Creamy Lemon Fettuccine Adapted from Lemon Zest by Lori Longbotham. 1 cup heavy cream (35% cream) 2 tablespoons finely grated lemon zest 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmigiano Continue Reading »
A Zesty Beginning
Written on April 11, 2006 at 4:03 pm, by Ivonne
"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 »
May I Offer You an Olive?
Written on April 4, 2006 at 8:01 pm, by Ivonne
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 »
The Month of Lemon
Written on April 3, 2006 at 12:15 am, by Ivonne
And so begins the month of April. I love this month and with good reason. For starters, so many people that I love and care about were born in this month. My parents were married in April. Even though spring officially comes in March, here in Toronto, its first signs are usually visible in April. Continue Reading »
Beautiful Indeed … Cream of Tomato Soup
Written on March 31, 2006 at 11:07 pm, by Ivonne
March 31st already! It’s been a great month of cooking and baking. I’m so very happy with my choice for Flavour of the Month: Paulette Mitchell’s A Beautiful Bowl of Soup. With Mitchell’s fantastic recipe, I learned how to make something new. Something I’d never tried before: an incredible vegetable stock. Hands down, that is Continue Reading »
Pass the Onions
Written on March 28, 2006 at 9:58 am, by Ivonne
Whenever people ask me how many cookbooks I have, and I give the usual noncommital reply, the next question is always, "Why do you have so many?" I’m not exactly sure why, to be honest. All I know is that when I come across a cookbook that I like, I feel an almost immediate bond Continue Reading »
I Dream of Red Lentils
Written on March 19, 2006 at 6:34 pm, by Ivonne
There is a scene early on in the charming French movie Le Fabuleux Destin d’Amélie Poulain, where the main character plunges her hand into a sack of green lentils. As her hand slides into the cool mound of lentils, the camera cuts to her face, which is glowing. You can almost feel her sense of Continue Reading »
Taking Stock
Written on March 7, 2006 at 11:32 pm, by Ivonne
"Memory … is the diary that we all carry about with us." (Oscar Wilde, 1854-1900) These days, it seems that thoughts of food are never far from my mind. Whether it’s the long subway ride to work and back, a quiet moment or two during the the work day, or those still moments just before Continue Reading »
Taking Care of Business
Written on March 1, 2006 at 7:19 pm, by Ivonne
What happened to February? Between immersing myself in the delights of chocolate and then quenching my Olympic thirst, the month just flew right by me! And what a month it was! As March begins, I decided it was time to take care of some unfinished business and wrap February up so that I can properly Continue Reading »
Chocolate Love
Written on February 14, 2006 at 12:16 am, by Ivonne
I love you. Je t’aime. Ti amo. æˆ‘çˆ±ä½ Ich liebe dich. Aloha wau i’a oe. Eu te amo. Innibig kita. Ya tebe kokhayu. Jeg elsker dig. Konoronhkwa. Te quiero. Ja tebe volim (This one is for Jenny of de Arte Coquinaria!) However you say it. In whatever language you say it. Today is the day Continue Reading »
Literally, A Chocolate Feast
Written on February 9, 2006 at 1:48 pm, by Ivonne
During the month of February, we celebrate the ideal of romantic love. But for me, all love should be celebrated, including the love of food and the love of words. So when Patricia of P.A. Moed invited me to participate in a literary feast … well … how could I say no? Patricia’s idea was Continue Reading »
White Chocolate Coconut Cream Bars
Written on February 7, 2006 at 7:48 pm, by Ivonne
"Is it February 4th already?" That was my first thought when I glanced at my calendar on Saturday morning. My second thought was, "What happened to January?" And my third thought was the realization that I was experiencing my very first episode of a little syndrome I like to call Food Blogitis, which I define Continue Reading »
