My Holiday Kitchen Gift Guide After years of cooking and baking, my kitchen is pretty much well stocked. The cupboards and drawers are filled with baking pans, cooking pots and utensils of all shapes and sizes. The overflow is stored to a designated kitchenware area in the basement where my daughters go to ‘shop’ in case they find a kitchen item they might need.  Then, there is my collection of bowls made of glass, stainless steel and stoneware in different sizes. They’re an integral part of my cooking and baking rituals. Mason Cash Bowls And then I saw Mason Cash bowls being used in the Down ..read more

4 Best Preserving cookbooks The preserving season will be in full swing soon so I am sharing my 4 best preserving cookbooks. Each cookbook offers unique and creative recipes for preserving and information on equipment and different methods. Batch: Over 200 Recipes, Tips and Techniques for a Well Preserved Kitchen Batch: Over 200 Recipes, Tips and Techniques for a Well Preserved Kitchen written by Joel MacCharles and Dana Harrison of the Well Preserved website, Batch, is a comprehensive guide to expand your knowledge of preserving methods and a resource for all levels of preserving skills. Ga ..read more

The following post was written by Tanya Reda, my goddaughter, in memory of her mother, Connie.  Connie was my best friend since we both were 11 years old.  We shared so many experiences while growing up, including our passion for baking and cooking.  The Walnut Torta with Chocolate Whipping Cream Frosting was her signature cake. To honour her memory of her 16th year of passing, I am republishing a post that Tanya wrote sharing the history and recipe of her mother’s signature cake. Connie passed away at the age of 48 from breast cancer. Walnut Torta with Chocolate Whipped Cream Frosting Growin ..read more

Mother’s Day Cookbook Gift Guide The only gift my mamma wanted for Mother’s Day was to spend time with all her daughters which was not always possible as my two sisters live out of province. There was no Skype or FaceTime at that time, but she was just as happy to hear their voices when they called her that day. I would bake her favourite apple cake to bring to her with a large bouquet of flowers to celebrate Mother’s Day together. She is no longer with us, but I still bake a cake in her memory on Mother’s Day and remember the good times we shared on that day. Although my mamma was not a ba ..read more

Cooking with Nonna: A Year of Italian Holidays The Cooking with Nonna: A Year of Italian Holidays with 130 Classic Holidays Recipes from Italian Grandmothers cookbook by Rosella Rago lists delicious Italian recipes from regions all over Italy.  The life stories and holiday memories of the Nonne (grandmothers) are captivating.  Their cooking advice and tips are invaluable. Chapters and Recipes First, we’re introduced to the Basic Recipes such as Pastry Cream (Crema Pasticcera) and Fig or Wine Syrup  (Vin Cotto) which will be used throughout the cookbook. Italian Holiday Recipes  I’ve listed ..read more

Authentic Italian Desserts Authentic Italian Desserts: 75 Traditional Favourites Made Easy is written by Rosemary Molloy, author of the food blog, An Italian in My Kitchen.  Rosemary is from Toronto, Canada and has been living in Rome with her husband for the past 25 years.  She has embraced the Italian culture and shares her passion for Italian baking in her debut cookbook. She includes recipes for favourites such as Pan de Spagna (Sponge Cake), Cantucci alle Mandorle (Almond Biscotti), Ciambelline al Vino (Wine Cookies), Crostata Classica alla Marmellata (Classic Jam Pie), Torta di Mele (A ..read more

    Sweet Maria’s Italian Desserts The Sweet Maria’s Italian Desserts cookbook by Maria Bruscino Sanchez shares recipes for Italian and Italian-American casual and classic cookies, cakes and tarts.  I have made cookie recipes from this Italian desserts cookbook so far such as Orange Drop Cookies and Amaretti,   but the Fig and Walnut Biscotti recipe is one of my favourites. Traditional, Classic and Holiday Italian Desserts After the  Introduction to ingredients, equipment and basic baking techniques, there are chapters that include recipes for  Cookies, Cakes, Pies and Tarts, Pastry, Sweet Br ..read more

Five Top Preserving cookbooks Preserving season is in full swing so I am sharing my top five preserving cookbooks. Each cookbook offers unique and creative recipes for preserving and information on  equipment and different methods. Batch: Over 200 Recipes, Tips and Techniques for a Well Preserved Kitchen Written by Joel MacCharles and Dana Harrison of the Well Preserved website, Batch is a comprehensive guide to expand your knowledge of preserving methods and a resource for all levels of preserving skills. The Gardineria  is one of my favourite recipes.  I brought a jar to a barbeque and peop ..read more

The Cooking Ladies: Let’s Get Grilling cookbook by Phyllis Hinz and Lamont Mackay is a culinary travelogue that lists intriguing stories of the towns and people they met and delicious recipes of their travels across North America. There is a variety of recipes for grilling steak, burgers, sausage, fish, lamb, game, pizza, sandwiches, vegetables, sauces and even desserts. You will also find Hot Tips from the Cooking Ladies , an Internal Temperature Guide, and How to Turn a Gas Grill into a Smoker. One of my favourite recipes is the Rocky Point Shrimp Cocktail made with spicy clamato juice, cho ..read more

  In the French Kitchen with Kids: Easy, Everyday Dishes for the Whole Family to Make and Enjoy by Mardi Michels is the perfect cookbook to introduce kids and adults to French cuisine. Twice a week Mardi teaches French cooking at an all-boys school as part of their after school club program and discovered that kids can, and love to cook. Her passion for cooking shines through in her first cookbook. She is also the author of  the popular Eat Live Travel blog.   Chapters and Recipes Reading through the Introduction Chapter I learned that initially Mardi had organized technology-based programs a ..read more