Christmas Dinners I Like!

Christmas New Years 2022. What plans have been made to celebrate have been altered to fit the New Mandate Covid rules. So, it’s going to be New Years at Home with my Sweetie. Nothing brings in the new year better than a Surf and Turf. When I was a cook at the Toronto Keg Mansion, knowing how to grill a good filet and broil a lobster tail was a job that over the years I’ve had lot’s of practise at. Next few days I will be picking out this years surf & turf recipe items. My first New Years back in Ontario after 25 years should be a special one Nothing...

Christmas Cookies

Christmas Cookies. My Aunt Marie taught me the way to bake. Growing up, each Christmas was another watch and learn session at my aunts. All my mom sisters were great bakers. Aunt Marie made a most scrumptious old-fashioned short bread sheet that would be used to do some free hand cookie cutting. Ingredients 2 cups butter at room temperature 1 cup icing sugar (powdered sugar) 2 tsp vanilla extract ½ cup corn starch 3 cups fresh all-purpose flour Maraschino cherries or baking gums for the centers, sprinkles and glitter festive colour rock sugar and what ever Xmas bling you...

Mushroom Veal Patty

1965 I Had my first wild mushroom patty. It was a veal mushroom and it was baked perfectly. A typical patty is made from salted bread dough, baked in an oven and is stuffed with different regional ingredient variations in pastry and can often include other ingredients that are normally associated with different pastry fillings from other countries. I like them deep fried but the wood fired ovens with a high temperature make the best. I also like it made from french pastry. I like mine stuffed with authentic sausage, mushrooms, olives sauce cheese, using a hand tossed...

Cheesy Buttermilk Scones.

Buttermilk Scones /Cheddar Cheese The first scone that I remember tasting was made by Guthrie’s Bakery in Hespeler and Galt. My mom either whipped up a batch or would send me for a quick run down to the bakery. This old fashioned British Isle styled bakery made the scones for years serving most of the founders of Hespeler Guelph and Galt Ontario. They were served with clotted cream or a small dixie cup filled with strawberry jam. At some restaurants they topped tuna or chicken salad or traditional with some fresh preserves and sided with a good cup of coffee or tea, they...

Coffee Crumb Cake with Apple and Rhubarb

            Coffee Crumb Cake with Apple and Rhubarb Some mornings especially when it’s cold and damp outside a little sweet pick me up is needed instead of the regimented yogurt, fruit and grains. Hey you got to live it up once and a while. My dad first got this recipe from a baker who worked in Toronto that he became acquainted with. Before I was born my father was working for the Recommended by Duncan Hines seal Hotels in the early 40’s at the Royal York, the Royal Connaught and the Iroquois. These old stellar hotels had many chefs working...

Rolled & Stuffed Spare Ribs

Dad’s Rolled and Stuffed Ribs Breslau Hotel Style.               Procedure: I learned how to do this recipe blindfolded before I was 15. My dad was in charge of some large Oktoberfest feedings at the Pennsylvania Kitchen and Rolled Ribs and Pig Tails were made by the thousands. At the old Breslau Hotel buffet it would be normal to do 500 portions on a Friday Night. Once you have 4 split racks of side ribs or baby back ribs depending on your budget. In my opinion the side ribs taste the best because of the fat seams and cartilage...