T’was the night before Christmas and all through the house, this creature was stirring….and chopping and mixing and stuffing! Yes, it’s that time of year again to gather everyone around the table for what seems like a never ending procession of food. If I’m not cooking for my classes then I’m in my own kitchen trying to meet the demands of cookie exchanges, class treats, baked gifts and stocking up the freezer with nibbles for those impromptu invites for a glass of Christmas cheer (now those I don’t mind prepping for!). To help make all of this shopping and chopping go smoothly there are a few kitchen tools that I couldn’t live without. Well okay I could but you’d have one grumpy cook in the kitchen and we all know that’s never a good thing! So to help fill your Christmas wish list and hopefully your stocking, here are a few of my favourite things!

1. A good sharp knife—it doesn’t have to be the most expensive knife, just the sharpest. In fact I purchase used Chef’s knives at Nella Cutlery for around $20 each and make sure I get them professionally sharpened every 6 months or so.

2. Microplane—Before these became popular I used to buy wood rasps in hardware stores. They are fast and easy to use for grating anything from lemons to butter to chocolate.

3. Industrial Grade Large Cutting Boards—in at least 4 different colours. I reduce the chance of cross contamination and multi-task without constantly cleaning and drying the same board.

4. Cast Iron Grill Pan—when I’m too lazy to fire up the BBQ, the grill pan makes an ideal indoor substitute and gives me those perfect grill marks every time.

5. Someone to clean up after me. Indispensable. Thanks honey!

Hope your holiday meals are stress free, full of laughter and delicious too! Happy Holidays to you and your family. Bon Appétit.

Wild Hibiscus Flowers in Syrup

These little gems are a garnish for sparkling wine. The little flower sits in the bottom of your glass, all the bubbles stream off and slowly open up the flower. At the end of the drink you can eat the flower which has a delicious raspberry and rhubarb flavour. I picked up a huge jar of these in Australia and if you want to sample them you’ll just have to book a cooking class!

T’was the night before Christmas and all through the house, this creature was stirring….and chopping and mixing and stuffing! Yes, it’s that time of year again to gather everyone around the table for what seems like a never ending procession of food. If I’m not cooking for my classes then I’m in my own kitchen trying to meet the demands of cookie exchanges, class treats, baked gifts and stocking up the freezer with nibbles for those impromptu invites for a glass of Christmas cheer (now those I don’t mind prepping for!). To help make all of this shopping and chopping go smoothly there are a few kitchen tools that I couldn’t live without. Well okay I could but you’d have one grumpy cook in the kitchen and we all know that’s never a good thing! So to help fill your Christmas wish list and hopefully your stocking, here are a few of my favourite things!

1. A good sharp knife—it doesn’t have to be the most expensive knife, just the sharpest. In fact I purchase used Chef’s knives at Nella Cutlery for around $20 each and make sure I get them professionally sharpened every 6 months or so.

2. Microplane—Before these became popular I used to buy wood rasps in hardware stores. They are fast and easy to use for grating anything from lemons to butter to chocolate.

3. Industrial Grade Large Cutting Boards—in at least 4 different colours. I reduce the chance of cross contamination and multi-task without constant

ly cleaning and drying the same board.

4. Cast Iron Grill Pan—when I’m too lazy to fire up the BBQ, the grill pan makes an ideal indoor substitute and gives me those perfect grill marks every time.

5. Someone to clean up after me. Indispensable. Thanks honey!

Hope your holiday meals are stress free, full of laughter and delicious too! Happy Holidays to you and your family. Bon Appétit.

“Christmas is for kids. Christmas is for kids. Christmas is for kids.”

This is the mantra that I will silently be chanting over and over again this holiday season as I curb the urge to decorate the house straight out of a Dickens novel. In year’s past I’d spend hours hand tying bows (colour coordinated to my place mats), readjusting the pine branches so they sat just right (even on the trees outside!!), made sure each wrapped present matched the one sitting next to it and of course decorating the Christmas tree so that it was evenly balanced with light, colour and texture! Last year as I hung precariously off the kitchen bar stool trying to reach one of the silver bows that wouldn’t bend at an exact 45 degree angle, my husband snidely commented to me that perhaps our children might like to have a go at adding a few decorations. I rose my eyebrows and asked my 5 year old if he would like to add a decoration to my (ooops, our) Silver Bells themed tree. “Really?” he asked in astonishment. “Sure”, I said. “After all it is the family tree.” And with that he pulled out the Transformer Santa Claus puppet that he made at school and stuck it right smack dab in the middle of the tree blocking the hand blown glass ornament I had picked up in New York one year. As I reached over to start to re-position it, I heard dear hubby clear his throat and start to hum “Peace on earth, good will to men”. I withdrew my hand, ruffled my son’s hair and told him that now the tree was complete with good old Optimus Prime Santa and silently suppressed a cringe.

This year I’m letting the kids do the tree decorating (my husband tells me it’s good therapy for me!) and to help keep me out of the way, I’ll be in the kitchen. We’re having a Tree Trimming Party with all the works so while I’m whipping up fragrant Mini Tourtière Tarts, the family tree will be made over into a Bob The Builder/ Transformer/Spiderman evergreen extravaganza! The boys are excited, my husband can’t stop chuckling every time he thinks of it and I am secretly contemplating decorating the master bedroom with every single bow and ball I own just to get even!
Whether you’re having a tree trimming party or just looking for a holiday inspired meal, try these open faced Mini Tourtière Tarts. The spices will have your home smelling like Christmas even if your tree might not look like it! Enjoy and Happy Holidays to you and your family.

Mini Tourtière Tarts
Makes 20 tartsPreparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 40 minutes

Notes: Tourtière is a French Canadian meat pie that is traditionally served on Christmas Eve so these little open faced appetizer size tarts are easy to make thanks to frozen mini tart shells. Serve them with your choice of side vegetable or salad and you have a satisfying and aromatic meal that will get you into the holiday spirit.

Ingredients:
1 onion, finely chopped
2 tablespoons water
450g ground pork
2 teaspoons parsley
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1/4 teaspoon cloves
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon sage
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
1 egg, lightly beaten
3/4 cup sour cream
20 frozen mini tart shells

1. Preheat oven to 425F.

2. In a medium saucepan, combine onion, water, pork, and seasonings. Cook over medium heat for about 15 minutes, stirring often, until pork is cooked through and onion is soft. Drain any excess fat.

3. Combine egg and sour cream together. Stir into the meat mixture.

4. Arrange tart shells on a baking sheet. Spoon a heaping tablespoon of the meat mixture into each tart shell.

5. Bake at for 8 minutes at 425F, reduce oven heat to 350 degrees, and bake for about another 14 minutes, until the pastry is golden. Serve immediately.