Smashing Pumpkins
Forget the canned stuff. Homemade pumpkin purée tastes pleasantly fresher and lighter. Use a halved pie pumpkin (for best results) or even large chunks (skin and all) from a jack-o’-lantern pumpkin. Roast the
Fluffy Rice is Nice
Make a rice fountain. Put your rice in a pan. Lean the handle against one side of the sink so that the pan is tilted. Adjust the faucet so that the water flows slowly into the pan near the handle, then gently spills out
Thick of Things
For the thickest, coldest shakes and smoothies, freeze the fruit in chunks, including the bananas. Freeze fruit (whole, sliced or diced) in a single layer on a tray or baking sheet, so it doesn’t clump. Then transfer
Staying Green
Avocados inevitably turn rusty brown once the flesh is exposed to the air, due to a chemical process called oxidation. There are a number of ways to stave off the damage. For instance, if you’re using your avocado
Rolls vs. Buns?
These terms are used interchangeably, but . . . . Very generally speaking: Rolls are cylindrical or oval, while buns are round. Rolls are usually yeast breads. Buns are sometimes sweet. Speaking of rolls and buns, why do
Feeling Groovy
Make your cupcakes psychedelic. I borrowed this technique from Betty Crocker: Divide white frosting among three bowls. Dye one blue, one yellow, one red. Alternating colours, dollop heaping teaspoonfuls into a
S is for Scapes
The flower stalks of garlic bulbs are called scapes. They look like chives on steroids. Scapes are sometimes called garlic flowers (although they have no actual flowers) or garlic whips (because they are curly). Do not
G is for Green Garlic
A garlic plant starts out as a wee bulb with a green shoot. This is green garlic, a.k.a. young garlic, spring garlic or baby garlic. A farmer may pull this out when thinning a garlic patch, or harvest it on purpose as a
Runny vs. Firm?
The butter tart debate is as Canadian as the tarts themselves: Should they be oozy, or firm enough to hold their own once you take a bite? You can’t stop that particular food fight, but you can adjust a butter tart
Pleasing to the Ear
Soak ears of corn in their husks for 30 to 60 minutes before grilling. This prevents excessive charring before the kernels become tender, and keeps them moister and plumper. At the end of the barbecue time, I