Food in the News

Still popular! ... Poutine at weddings - Globe and Mail (picture is from The Globe and Mail)

Will microwaved water really explode? - CHOW

11 things restos do to rip you off - Toronto Star

The Cheese Boutique - like heaven on earth, but in Etobicoke - Toronto Star

Searing juice into meat = bullshit (now what will Food Network chefs talk about?) - CHOW

You're sure you like those California Rolls? - Eat Me Daily

Happy Canada Day!

It greatly upsets me when non-patriotic types declare that there are no foods out there that are specifically Canadian. I believe that my list of 100 Canadian Foods to Eat would definitely suggest otherwise.

On Canada Day, local blogs and papers have also taken some time to define what they believe to be their most loved Canadian delicacies.

Take a look:

Foodies discuss their favourite local dishes - Globe and Mail

Menu for a Canada Day Party - Maple Syrup and Poutine

Does Canada have a national dish? - Canadian Living

A recipe for Wilkie's butter tarts - National Post

Food in the News - It's all about the alcohol

My tendencies toward being a bit of a lush have been stopped in their tracks by this pregnancy. How I miss a cold glass of beer on a sunny day or a nice glass of wine with dinner, gin and tonic by the pool, a litre of sangria just because - you catch my drift.

Here is a round up of recipes and articles for all of you still able to imbibe:

Fancy Tequila cocktails - Globe and Mail

Italian reds under $10, just in time to kick off your summer - Toronto Life

How to have fun, when you are "too poor for drinks" - Chow

Brilynn's recipe for Sangria Bites - Jumbo Empanadas

Food in the News

How to make off-season tomatoes edible - CHOW

Why buying halal meat may be the most ethical choice - Toronto Life

The European Commission does not want ugly food - National Post

Some of the cutest aprons ever - Etsy

Foie without the guilt - Globe and Mail

What would you choose for your last meal? - Slashfood

Food in the News

Besides the Detroit Coney Dog, here are 5 hot dogs that will make you keel over - Al Dente

A debate, should you hide the veggies or just teach your kids healthy eating habits? - Epicurious

What makes a perfect taco, burger, pizza or pad thai? - 7x7 San Francisco

With only 1 weekend left before Labour Day, here is the perfect cottage meal - National Post

Something I want to join in on, an Underground Dinner Party - Globe and Mail

The gourmet comfort food trend is not over - rethinking the corn dog - National Post

Recipe Review

I usually save cauliflower for the fall, but I can't resist this fried recipe - Seasonal Ontario Food

Sliders are the best way to eat ground beef - period. Here's Chowhound's recipe - CHOW

If I've said it once, I've said it a million times - ice cream is my weakness and having an ice cream maker helps not at all. Here 947 recipes from Epicurious - Epicurious

Summer is time for canning all those gorgeous local fruits and veggies. The Globe shows you how - The Globe & Mail

Food in the News

Rob Feenie has continued his famed culinary feats at Cactus Club.

The verdict?

Not bad, not bad at all - Globe and Mail

10 helpful cookbooks for the beginner. Great gift ideas! - CHOW

It is always best to go for local ingredients and specialties on a menu.

Calgary impresses with their game meats - Calgary Herald

Fast food is going down the tubes. - Seasonal Ontario Food

Recipe Review

Homemade Ice Cream Drumsticks - I'm in! - Baking Bites

Balsamic Roasted Strawberry Ice Cream - sweet + tart = yum - Jumbo Empanadas

A healthy meat- Grilled Tuscan Style Rabbit - Globe & Mail

Adorable mini meatcakes - Meatloaf Cupcakes with Mashed Potato Frosting - Fine Furious Life

Eeew Gross!

As I may have mentioned before, I despise picky eaters - especially those that show up to another person's house and then expect their host to cook everything to their specifications.

I empathise with those that cannot eat certain foods due to moral, political, religious or health reasons. But those that refuse because they didn't like it when they were 7? Spare me...

AOL recently did a poll of 75,000 of their readers to find the top 20 hated foods among them. Some of the results are quite surprising.

An article presented by The Globe and Mail discusses how to get those picky eaters to chow down on the dishes that you prepare. There is definite truth in that you can train yourself and others to enjoy eating foods that they may have hated in the past. Just ask my husband.

Recipe Reviews

Cupcake Pops - absolutely adorable! - Bakerella (photo courtesy of this website)

Michigan Coney Sauce - but for the best Coney dogs you'll need to visit Detroit - CHOW

The best food for a Wii party! - CHOW

And for a couple of food challenges:

Nigella's version of Mac & Cheese - Always in the Kitchen

VS

The best Mac & Cheese Ever - National Post

How to make your own Tofu - CHOW

VS

How to make the perfect burger - Globe and Mail

Food in the News - The Drinking Edition

I seem to have gathered quite a few articles about drinking. Hopefully this only leads you to believe that I would like my beverages to enhance my meal and not that I am a full-on lush.

Do you believe in biodynamic wineries? - Globe and Mail

Robert Parker seems to be raising his ratings and lowering their relevance - CHOW

Call it ethical, green or organic; it is still vodka. - Globe and Mail

Wines for your patio party - Toronto Star

How to make your own beer liquer- National Post

Recipe Reviews

* As a gift, my husband took me to a Thai Cooking class a few years ago. Ever since we have been receiving updates about Healthy Gourmet Cooking Classes. Here are some of the recipes our instructor Arvinda has to share on her website.

* A recipe for Rob Feenie's Macaroni, Cheese and Lobster - yum!

* You can't screw up mashed potatoes! Or can you. Mark McEwan discusses how to make no-fail mashed potatoes.

Food in the News

The best places for breakfast in America - Details Magazine (picture credit goes to Details)

Is winter to blame for Canadian organic farmers lagging behind with products? - CBC News

Professional kitchen tools for under $10 - CHOW

I scored 12 out of 20 on this Chocolate Bar Identification Quiz - AOL

A discussion of the ever popular "Carnivore Chic" - Globe & Mail

Bacon that may even be good for you - Globe & Mail

Maple Syrup demand is growing. Sorry to those that missed out for this long. - CBC News

Waste Not, Want Not

I believe that we should all be doing our part to help the environment. This can include many simple things like turning off your car when idling for long periods of time or turning down your thermostat. In the Globe and Mail, Vikram Vij discusses how chefs can also be more conscientious in the kitchen. I think these tips also translate to the home cook. Here is how you can help in your own kitchen:

- don't buy what you won't use; having rotting food in your fridge is a waste

- put scraps (other than meats and fats) into a composter

- use food from sustainable, local farms as much as possible

- try to use each part of the food you buy (e.g. eat the chicken breast but use the bones for stock)

- don't buy overfished seafood and fish (e.g. Chilean SeaBass, Cod, Orange Roughy)

- the less processed the food, the more likely it is to have a smaller carbon footprint

- buy organic, but try to make it as local as possible

I'm sure these suggestions are just the tip of the iceberg. Please comment and add more ideas.

*Here is another article from TerraDaily, as well as one about Michael Pollan in the Toronto Star

Vegetarians Beware!!

There are a few people that I love that are vegetarians. As a food lover this is just not something I could subscribe to, though I do empathise with their reasoning, whether political or health related. Unfortunately for those people, I haved decided to dedicate this post to MEAT!

A recipe for Short Rib Meatballs - Globe and Mail

Who made the 222 lb. giant cheeseburger? - CNN

A Meat Ship (from the makers of Meat House) - Easy Jo

And just because I believe in being inclusive:

Do soy based meat products make the cut? - Washington Post

Food in the News

How to deal with those chronically late people in your life (admit it, we all have one) - Chow

Malcolm Gladwell discusses ketchup and mustard - Epicurious

How restaurants are failing Canadian children - Globe and Mail

Recipe Reviews

This week, it seems that the recipes I have gathered fall into two categories: junk food or Fall food. Sounds about right for this time of year.

Seared Venison Medallions with Pomegranate Curry - Globe and Mail

Southwestern Stuffed Acorn Squash - YumSugar

Squash Soup with Trumpet of Death Mushrooms - Globe and Mail

Gourmet Chocolate Bars - CHOW

Homemade McDonald's Chicken McNuggets - For the Love of Food

French Chocolate Macaroons - YumSugar

Food in the News

Oyster popularity is on the rise - Globe and Mail

Nougat? An in-depth look - Chowhound

Dealing with high-strung hosts - Chowhound

World's Most Expensive Tasting Menus - Forbes

Food in the News

The Toronto International Film Fest is starting to wind down. Read about all the amazing food that was consumed - Globe and Mail

Calories will not need to be reported on NYC menus - CBC News

Sears catalogue now carries Nova Scotia lobster? - CBC News

Meat prices may go the way of gas prices - CBC News

Food in the News

There is quite a bit to catch up on:

The memory of the smell of Za'atar on flatbread gives me such cravings... - Toronto Star

Exotic salts are becoming quite trendy. Fortunately I already have my Fleur de Sel, Pacific Sea Salt, Smoked Alder Salt, Hawaiian Coral and Brittany Gray Salt - Globe and Mail

Tomatoes are in season - Yay! Here are a few tasty recipes - New York Times, Globe and Mail

More and more frequently I read about how beer & food pairings are more complementary than

those with wine - The Boston Globe