Squash Soup with Kale & Bacon

Mmmm...
A hearty fall soup with a sweet creamy squash broth, hearty kale and salty bacon. What more could you want?

Pie Crust

In the last year I think I've really honed my pie crust skills. 

Whats my secret to great pie? 

Well, I use Martha Stewart's classic Pate Brisee dough, I do my best to chill my ingredients and tools, and I practice, practice, practice.

I think that (like in bread making) you really need to get acquainted with the dough, and the whole process. It takes a while to not only get used to the feel and look of the right texture of the dough, but also to learn how to control it when rolling.

Flour Tortillas

This is only the second time I've made flour tortillas. 

The first time after eating one, I exclaimed "I'm never eating another store bought tortilla again!". 

Tonight after taking my first bite of a taco made with these tortillas I said "Yup. Still never going to eat another store bought tortilla ever again."

Mac & Cheese with Squash

Now I know what you're thinking. Why would I ever go searching for another macaroni and cheese recipe when I've already found the best one ever? Well, for starters I wasn't searching...it just sort of fell in my lap. But I'm quite okay with having two wonderful mac & cheese dishes up my sleeve, especially when they are worlds apart from each other.


Unlike my all time favourite, this dish gets lots of its creaminess from butternut squash. I think the balance between the cheese and the squash is just perfect. It doesn't taste like it's desperately trying to be healthy, hiding vegetables between cheesy noodles. It tastes like the squash has just as much of a right to be there as the cheese. Like it's been there all along and you've never even noticed.

Apple Muffins

Brussels Sprout Hash

This is one of those dishes you try on a whim, instantly fall in love, and can't wait to find an excuse to make it again. 

Quilted Pot Holder

AKA a mini quilt!

These were really fun, and I think I'm going to end up making many of these to try out patterns before starting a large quilt.
Can you tell the first photo was my second and most recent attempt at this project? Definitely improved drastically from my first pair in the second photo.

Interested in learning how to quilt? Check out "Quilts" by Denyse Schmidt. It's probably my favourite quilting book I've found so far.

Peanut Satay Dragon Bowl

Finally another dish from my already weathered copy of "Meet the Coup Cooks" cookbook! The famous dragon bowls are easily one of our favourite dishes at The Coup in Calgary, and was the first meal we cooked once back in Halifax after our visit to the west. 

This dish has such a great staple sauce, that it allows for much creativity with the rest of the ingredients. 

Quinoa? Rice? Millet? Soba Noodles? Whatever. 

Red pepper? Zucchini? Kale? Peas? Spinach? Whatever!

Cranberry Walnut Cookies

I have a weird habit.


Once a new fruit or vegetable season rolls around I spend far too much time searching my favourite websites and cookbooks for inspiration for that particular seasonal goodie. If you looked at my Epicurious recipe box, or my safari bookmarks you would see an amusing pattern forming.


Baby brussels sprouts with buttered pecans. Shaved brussels sprouts salad with fresh walnuts and pecorino. Brussels sprout slaw with mustard and maple glazed pecans. Mashed potatoes with turnips and roasted pear puree. Glazed turnips with scallions and parsley. Maple glazed turnips. Parsnip puree with sauteed brussels sprout leaves. Pear pie with maple and ginger. Vanilla roasted pears. Caramelized pears and red onion. Spinach salad with pears, cranberries, red onion and toasted hazelnuts. Cranberry guacamole. Apple cider, cranberry ginger punch. Cranberry vanilla coffee cake. Apple cranberry crisp.


See what I mean?

Mason Jar Pincushion

In an attempt to tidy up my crafting/sewing nook, I finally got around to making myself a pincushion that doubles as pin storage.

Oven Mitts

I've been borrowing lots and lots of sewing books from the library lately, many of which are too popular to renew enough times to try everything I want (good thing for amazon.ca). 

Squash & Caramelized Onion Pizza

This pizza was the result of a marriage between two of my favourite fall dishes: Squash & Caramelized Onion Galette, and Fennel and Caramelized Onion Tart.


Last year I made the squash galette more times than I care to count, and slowly felt more and more guilty for consuming so much buttery tart dough. After I experienced quite the obsession with pizzas this summer, I figured why not make my favourite tarts into one pizza?

Granola

After ordering oodles of dried goods from Speerville Flour Mill, I've been just itching to make granola, but have been putting it off as I finish up the box of store-bought granola I had in my pantry. 


For the last week or so, each morning that I ate the boxed granola I just couldn't help but dream about my own granola and how much more delicious it would be. You can probably imagine that my willpower failed and this morning (with a 1/4 full box of granola still in the pantry) I just couldn't wait any longer. 

Window Cushion

Since the first time I laid eyes on the big windows with deep windowsills in our apartment, I've always wanted to use them for seating. 


In the few months we've been living here, the windowsills have been full of plants, photos, and stacks of books. But with the threat of not enough seating for thanksgiving dinner, we decided now's a good a time as any to finally convert one windowsill into a seat. 

Whisky Sour

I'm sure many of you were hoping for a more seasonal recipe, perhaps something you can cook for thanksgiving dinner. But this recipe will come in handy this long weekend, don't you worry. 

When you're family is fighting, and the turkey's too dry, and your guests are being picky, and there's not enough food; have one of these.

In fact make some for your guests too (so they'll stop fighting and complaining, and maybe they won't even notice anything that went wrong with dinner) and be prepared to be bombarded with compliments.

Pillow Covers

I have been hiding some really ugly pillows in our bedroom for years now. You know those tacky pillows that accompany many new sofas? I just couldn't get rid of something so perfectly functional, but their appearance has been driving me crazy. 


So today I whipped up some simple and cute covers for them, using some old sheets. 

Apple & Bacon Slaw

So last fall I had a real hankerin' for some slaw, and I completely blame it on all the lovely slaws posted by Smitten Kitchen. However none of them were really scratching the itch, ya know?

So I did a little experimenting and came up with a bowl of two types of cabbage, carrot, green onion, bacon, apple, and cilantro with a light, tangy, yet slightly sweet and creamy dressing.

It was a hit. So much so, that weeks later when our friend Sylvie suggested we make a cheddar and apple croissant at our cafe, my husband couldn't help but deduce that adding bacon and green onion would only make it that much better.

Cinnamon Raisin Bread

Don't ask me why, but I just needed to make this bread this morning.

Rosemary Raisin Pecan Crisps

This lovely recipe was given to me by my dear friend Becky (who received it from an elderly neighbour). It was handwritten, sent through the mail, and has found a home stuck to my fridge door waiting for the special day when all of the ingredients are actually present in my pantry. And today was finally that day.

Vanilla Roasted Pears

Sometimes simple is best.
Like roasting pears in a vanilla laced sugar with butter.

Potato Leek Soup with Bacon and Corn

This creamy comforting soup is just what my body wants as soon as the temperatures drop and the winds pick up. It's rich and hearty but I feel like the corn adds some light crunch with a hint of sweetness. 

Rosemary Flatbread

This bread/cracker is so easy, so quick to make, and so yummy, I'm not going to say anything else about it, and you're going to go make it right now.