DIY Pumpkin Purée
Forget the canned stuff. Homemade pumpkin purée tastes pleasantly fresher and lighter. Use a halved pie pumpkin (for best results) or large chunks from a jack-o’-lantern pumpkin. Roast the pumpkin pieces until
Clean Rice is Nice
Rinse rice in a tilted pot. Put the rice in the pot, then lean the handle against one side of the sink. Adjust the faucet so that the water flows slowly into the pot near the handle, then gently spills out the other side. It’s a
Thick of Things
For the thickest, coldest shakes and smoothies, freeze the fruit in chunks, including the bananas. Freeze fruit on trays, so it doesn’t clump, then transfer to zip-lock bags to have it readily on hand. You’ll need a powerful
Staying Green
Avocados inevitably turn rusty brown once the flesh is exposed to the air, due to a chemical process called oxidation. Stave off the damage by mashing a ripe avocado with a couple of tablespoons of mayonnaise. Then
Rolls vs. Buns?
Generally speaking: Rolls are cylindrical or oval, buns round. Rolls are yeast breads, buns sometimes sweet. Speaking of rolls and buns, why do eateries persist in stashing veal parmesan into round ones? Given the shape
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). Scapes are milder
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 it out when thinning a garlic patch, or harvest it on purpose as a delicacy.
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 adjust a butter tart recipe. For runnier, silkier tarts, reduce baking time by
Pleasing to the Ear
Soak ears of corn 30 to 60 minutes in their husks before grilling. This prevents excessive charring before the kernels become tender, and keeps them moister and plumper. Recipe to try: Corn on the Cob #4