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Giada’s Vegetable “Meatloaf” with Checca sauce
Hello everybody, So, how’s 2014 treating you so far? I don’t know if its because I am in my mid 30’s now but this holiday season really affected my weight and I know that I didn’t eat more than in previous years. I have surpassed my acceptable weight limit, broke the unbreakable barrier. If my scale could talk it…
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Think Sicily-Mini-Brioche Buns stuffed with homemade Espresso Ice Cream
Hey there! Welcome to 2014!!! Wishing you all the best, health, love, prosperity and delicious food – always. This recipe is so easy to make, but nobody will believe it. I served these babies on New Year’s day and my family loved them! I was inspired by a very popular treat native to Sicily,…
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Shepherd’s Pie with Parmesan and Chive mash
This is a light twist on the traditional Shepherd’s pie recipe. There isn’t any corn in this one…some of us can’t digest it 😉 I love corn but corn hates me. Also, there’s bacon in it – lovely gorgeous bacon. If that and the parmesan potatoes hasn’t sold you on this yet – nothing will.…
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Monkey Bread – Easy entertaining
Instead of passing the breadbasket for Christmas dinner, serve this fun pull-apart loaf! I fell in love with this idea after seeing it in the November 2013 issue of Food Network magazine. I had never heard of Monkey-bread before but it was love at first sight. I loved the idea of this pretty, multi-coloured and…
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“After a good dinner…
“After a good dinner, one can forgive anybody, even one’s own relations.” ― Oscar Wilde Ain’t that the truth! SM
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Apple Pie Pops
Holiday pot luck, cocktail party, kids’ party, Christmas Eve, Christmas day, bridal shower coming-out party and even a pitty-party…any party is an excuse to make these. People love things that are mini and do you know what they love even more? Mini desserts on sticks. People get giddy, its hillarious. Not only are these pies…
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Slow-Roasted Filet of Beef with Basil Parmesan Mayonnaise
Hello there, Vanilla-beaners! I have a few recipes to share in time for the holidays. This, my first and favorite, was found in my new cookbook, ‘Foolproof’ by Barefoot Contessa. Out of my vast library of cookbooks, when I have a dinner party to host and want to…
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Cabane a Sucre au Pied de Cochon
Cabane a Sucre au Pied de Cochon 11382 Rang de la Fresnière St-Benoît de Mirabel, Québec J7N 2R9 62$ per adult +tx and gratuity http://www.cabaneasucreaupieddecochon.com/index_e.html As stated in my last post, I have become a big fan of Martin Picard having been to his Montreal restaurant, Au Pied…
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Au Pied de Cochon – Montreal
Au Pied de Cochon – 536 Avenue Duluth Est, Montreal, QC – Tél: 514.281.1114 HELLO Vanilla-beaners! I had a couple of blog-worthy experiences recently and they all revolve around this man: Martin Picard – He is a local charachter…rough, raw, seemingly sweet and an utter culinary genius.…
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“Fancy” Pernod Shrimp (Quick and easy)
Fancy Shrimp With Pernod Shrimp in Pernod is now my favorite way to eat this crustation these days! My dad makes this once and a while; it’s his specialty. I found this recipe on my previous Vanilla Bean blog site, “Classic Vanilla” 😉 I thought, “oh, yeah…this was really good!” What is Pernod, you ask? Pernod is…
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Vanilla Bean 2012 – A year in review
Happy New Years Eve! I woke up this morning and groggily looked at my e-mails. I saw that WordPress, the site that hosts my blog, had compiled stats from the past year. It was so interesting to learn that in 2012, I got a total of 2800 hits! Also, people from !!!64!!! countries have stumbled upon…
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Restaurant L’Express, à Montréal
Restaurant L’Express http://www.restaurantlexpress.ca/ I am told that when this restaurant opened in 1980, it was a success from the get-go and it is obvious why. From when you walk through the door, you feel like you have walked into another era like the 40’s and in some other place…like Paris perhaps. Maybe its the classic…
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Falsi-fried Chicken Drumsticks
Hey guys! Hope you enjoyed the holidays. I did but unfortunately its time to eat a little healthier now. I totally lost freakin’ control! I had Kentucky fried chicken even though we had Christmas dinner just last night…..just out of control. My KFC did inspire good though. It gave me the idea to make healthy, ultra…
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Creamy Ricotta Scrambled eggs – low in fat
Good morning all! You know I always like to share the quick & easy recipes that are also delicious….and healthy. I like it even better when they don’t taste healthy. Admittedly these creations are seldom my own. Except today, I have created a spin-off on Gordon Ramsay’s method of making scrambled eggs. As with many…
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Le Lab, Comptoir à cocktails
LAB, Comptoir à cocktails 1351 rue Rachel Est, Montréal, Québec H2J 2K2 1 (514) 544 1333 Ouvert du Lundi au Samedi De 17h à tard… http://www.mixoart.com/lab/index.html I was invited to Le Lab, Comptoir a cocktails for my lovely cousin Josie’s 25th birthday. I enjoy a drink with a meal at a restaurant, never a…
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Kitchenette Restaurant
Kitchenette 1353, Rene-Levesque Est Montreal, Qc H2L2M1 514-527-1016 http://kitchenetterestaurant.ca/en Menu: http://kitchenetterestaurant.ca/assets/files/dinner_menu.pdf Kitchenette feels like a New York city resto. Built into an old building, small but roomy, casual setting with rough-looking wooden floor, modern tables and chairs. The open-kitchen allowed us to watch the chef busily and dutifully doing his thing. He looked so…
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Toqué!
Toqué 900 Place Jean-Paul Riopelle Montreal, H2Z2B2 http://www.restaurant-toque.com/en/ Valet parking available on certain nights. Hi Guys, I FINALLY went! I finally called and made a reservation at this Montreal institution. It was the Anthony Bourdain show called The Layover which prompted me to go. On the show, he was loving every minute, every bite…
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Roast Chicken with baby vegetables – by Gordon Ramsay
Hi again, I found an easy and delicious recipe for roasted chicken that I want to share. Its quick enough to make on a weeknight but looks nice enough to serve on the weekend. We often reserve the best looking and tasting meals for the weekend…
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Dominion Square Tavern – Montreal
Dominion Square Tavern 1243 Metcalf Montreal, Qc 514-564-5056 Indoor parking available just next door! http://www.tavernedominion.com/en/ Hello everybody! I want to tell you about a restaurant I recently tried but first I have…