Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Our family likes to have a family dinner on Sundays, and Ryan and I are normally in charge of desserts. A few weeks ago, we made a carrot cake. Ryan and I subscribe to a local CSA (community-supported agriculture) box from Cooper’s Farm. Through the winter we kept getting carrots. Massive carrots! This cake calls […]

Cheese and Crackers with Pesto

Cheese and Crackers with Pesto

This is a more grown-up version of regular old cheese and crackers. Adding a bit of pesto, like pesto Genovese or my lemon dill pesto, dresses up this little appetizer and adds a touch of colour and hit of flavour. You can use many types of cheeses for this simple but tasty appetizer. Here, from […]

Smoked Mackerel Pate

Smoked Mackerel Pate

When I used to eat meat, I loved smoked mackerel. There was a fishmonger in the town near our Oma’s village who would sell freshly smoked fish, still warm from the smoker. Buttery soft mackerel and Schillerlocken (dogfish) were my favourites, just eaten plain or on pieces of bread or crackers. I don’t eat fish any […]

Toronto Eats: Afternoon Tea at the Old Mill Inn

Afternoon Tea at the Old Mill Inn

Last Sunday, we took our cousin’s 6-year-old daughter to afternoon teatime at the Old Mill Inn. They don’t live in Toronto, so riding the subway and going to a fancy hotel for a dainty, civilized afternoon tea was very exciting for our little guest. Of course, Tomiko and I never pass up an opportunity to […]

Pink Macarons Filled with Vanilla Cream Cheese for Easter

I have to warn you: this is not a simple recipe. Macarons are one of the most delicate and finicky of baking adventures. The ingredients need to be precisely weighed with a scale and there is no room for improvisation. Having said that though, making this recipe is completely worth it! The pale pink pastry […]