Site Archives Seasonal Celebrations

Jam Thumbprint Cookies


Baking cookies is the best way to placate yourself and your kids, and for me, it’s also a favorite pastime! What I love about cookies is that they can be simple and festive at the same time. I had thumbprint cookies on my mind for a long time. The name “thumbprint” comes from the fact […]

Pear and Almond Yogurt Cake (Low-Fat Cake)


As we herald spring in most parts of the country, seasonal fruits and vegetables can be seen in all their glory, and a trip to the farmer’s market can turn out to be a visually delectable experience! Oranges, pears, and strawberries are flooding the markets in California, and what better way to binge on the […]

Not Cross Buns: Cinnamon Scrolls


This would probably have been a better recipe to share before Easter, since now you can’t possibly make these for breakfast on Easter morning, as we did. However, since it’s an awfully nice recipe, I would say you shouldn’t wait for next Easter to make it. Tomorrow would be fine. 
Every year for about fifteen years now, I’ve […]

Baby Bluebird Cupcakes and Martha Stewart


Miss Martha. I know I am not alone in experiencing the unreliability of her recipes. One minute you are celebrating a culinary success, and the next, you are cursing her name when a recipe (or two… or three) lets you down.
I turned to a recipe for Baby Bluebird Cupcakes for my nephew’s baby shower a […]

Luck of the Eater


As St. Patrick’s Day approaches, an excitement fills the air. People are preparing their most impressive green outfits, planning meals of “traditional” corned beef and cabbage (bleh), and most importantly, stocking up on the libations. You don’t need much of an excuse to drink around here, but this holiday seems like the perfect reason to […]

Liquer-Infused Chocolate and Strawberry Hearts


Valentine’s Day is over, but the bonding of love is eternal. So it really doesn’t matter what time of the year it is for you to make sweet treats for your family! It also gives me a chance to practise my hand at a little culinary art, so this week I made my first edible […]

A Recipe For Love … Muffins


Chocolate in our household is a staple, not a luxury.  It seems like my husband needs hourly fixes of bite-sized dark chocolate, or simply a handful of chocolate chips.  In the past I have purchased him an assortment of chocolate for special occasions, but it really isn’t met with much enthusiasm, to him, chocolate is […]

Spumoni Cookies


I never made a big deal out of Valentine’s Day, and, really, I still don’t. My wife is just the same way. To us, it’s just a made up holiday, heavily marketed by Hallmark to make people feel guilty for being single. That doesn’t mean I don’t try to do something special for my wife; […]

Molten Chocolate Cupcakes with Raspberry Filling


The second month of this New Year has kicked in, and we all know that February is the month to celebrate love, as people all around the world have begun to plan for the Valentine’s Day. Love and chocolate go hand in hand, so its natural that I decided to practise my hand at some […]

Striking and Simple : Salmon en Croute with Currants and Ginger


Impressive centerpiece for dinner parties. Quick and simple to make, this is the perfect recipe for beginners. This is a dish often suggested for pre-Christmas parties, but served with a fresh green salad, we could almost imagine that spring has arrived. In fact, this dish is all about tremors of excitement and anticipation. At […]