Spaghetti Carbonara is a quintessential Roman dish that has become a staple of Italian cuisine. This classic recipe is known for its rich, creamy texture, achieved without using cream. Traditionally, Carbonara is made with guanciale (cured pork cheek), egg yolks, Pecorino Romano cheese, and freshly ground black pepper. While guanciale is the traditional choice for... The post Spaghetti Carbonara appeared first on Kelly Neil ..read more

If you’re looking for a recipe using fresh summer strawberries, make this strawberry cobbler cake! I live in Nova Scotia, Canada’s blueberry capital, and we’re pretty famous for our wild blueberries (especially Nova Scotia blueberry grunt). But let me tell you, Nova Scotia summer strawberries are everything you would ever want in a berry. Small, sweet,... The post Strawberry Cobbler Cake appeared first on Kelly Neil ..read more

These blueberry blondies are a fabulous way to use up frozen or short-lived fresh wild blueberries. I tend to bake with wild blueberries over larger high-bush berries because I live in Nova Scotia. If you aren’t familiar, Nova Scotia is the wild blueberry capital of Canada! Of course, you can substitute larger berries if that’s... The post Blueberry Blondies appeared first on Kelly Neil ..read more

If you’re a fan of homemade biscuits, you will LOVE these cheddar chive biscuits. This recipe originally came from my Aunt Sharon, and honestly, her version was perfect as is. Over the years, I’ve made adjustments to make them bigger and cheesier, but other than that, the recipe is the same. Adding fresh-cut garden chives... The post Cheddar Chive Biscuits appeared first on Kelly Neil ..read more

Traditionally served with fish and chips, tartar sauce is one of my favorite dipping sauces. When I began to eat seafood as an adult, I loved those little blue Kraft packs with their bright yellow creamy sauce! These days, I prefer to make my own homemade tartar sauce. This is not a long post because,... The post Homemade Tartar Sauce appeared first on Kelly Neil ..read more

I feel like I’m tempting fate by sharing my recipe for a Nova Scotia lobster roll. People who live here are very particular about how they like them. Where I would normally want at least a little Dijon mustard and lemon juice, my recipe research unanimously screamed, “No, don’t do it!!!” So I dialed back... The post Nova Scotia Lobster Roll appeared first on Kelly Neil ..read more

Today, I’m sharing a straightforward recipe for creamed lobster, a celebrated dish in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. This recipe heightens the lobster’s natural flavors with only three other simple ingredients: butter, white vinegar, and cream (okay, well, salt and pepper, too). A friend of mine is from Digby Neck, Nova Scotia; her father is a lobster... The post Creamed Lobster (Yarmouth-Style) appeared first on Kelly Neil ..read more

These lobster cakes elevate the classic fish cake with chunks of sweet lobster. This recipe balances the rich meat with buttery cracker crumbs, bright lemon, fresh basil, and a touch of Old Bay. Unlike some fish cake recipes that call for egg wash and a coating of breadcrumbs, I prefer a light dredge in all-purpose... The post Lobster Cakes With Basil appeared first on Kelly Neil ..read more

Today, I’m sharing my recipe for Oreo red velvet cookies, a blend of classic flavors with a twist. The nostalgic flavor of Oreo cookies, combined with cocoa powder, no-taste red food coloring, and buttermilk powder, elevates a traditional chocolate chip cookie into something special. Red velvet cake, the inspiration behind these cookies, has a rich... The post Oreo Red Velvet Cookies appeared first on Kelly Neil ..read more

This smoked salmon puff pastry tart is a simple yet delicious dish that I make every Christmas Eve and often for Sunday brunch. With its combination of rich smoked salmon and crisp buttery puff pastry, everyone who tries it loves it. Living in Nova Scotia, I’m lucky to have easy access to quality cold smoked... The post Smoked Salmon Puff Pastry Tart appeared first on Kelly Neil ..read more