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Juicy Lime & Cilantro Chicken Thighs
This quick marinade containing Lime, garlic, cilantro and a touch of honey hits all the notes we want in a piece of chicken. It’s bright, garlicky, and fresh with a touch of honey for sweetness that also promotes more caramelization which means more flavour. What I like about this is that it pairs equally well…
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Easy Chocolate Oreo Ice Cream (no-churn)
Whenever I think of someone yelling “Ice creeaaaaam!!!” I can’t help but think of Eddie Murphy’s Raw and that makes me happy. Ice cream makes most people happy, in whatever form it is presented. This easy, no-churn chocolate Oreo ice cream so creamy and oh-so chocolatey and not overly sweet. It’s a taste and roll…
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Big Mac Smash Burger Tacos
Sorry, what now? Yup this recipe has gone viral on every single platform and because I like Big Macs, Smash Burgers and Tacos, I obviously had to jump on the bandwagon. The great news is that the hype was real! The recipe I have right here for Big Mac sauce tastes like the real thing…
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Nectarines,Serrano Ham and Blue Cheese with an Agrodolce Vinaigrette
A cheese and charcuterie platter or a salad you don’t need to toss? I say it’s a new member of the family! Fancy cured ham , funky cheese and and juicy delicious fruit with a pleasingly peppery – honey agrodolce dressing. All you need to make this salad amazing is to get the most fragrant…
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Crispy Zucchini Blossoms, stuffed with Mozzarella and Anchovies
Originally posted on vanillabeanonline.blogspot.com on Sunday, July 31st, 2011 Hello again I made the most awesome fried, stuffed zucchini flowers this weekend! They’re often prepared dipped in batter, deep fried and with a sprinkle of salt. That’s how my Grandmother, Nonna Rosina made them. They have a delicate flavour that goes well with just about…
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Sweet Chili Chicken Bites
This recipe was inspired by my new favourite restaurant in Miami called Uchi. Man, was it good and the stand-out menu item they had was the fried chicken bites, made with thighs, the best part in my opinion. They were drizzled with this sweet chili sauce and served with thinly sliced cucumber and pickled carrot…
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Clam Frites
& Lemony Old Bay Mayo Clams with Fries, the perfect recipe for your next cookout! The idea with this is that you steam clams with garlic, shallot, olive oil and white wine + a secret ingredient 😉 , which creates the most flavorful broth. Then you add a bunch of fries to the bowl of…
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Salmon Poke Bites
I love poke bowls but I think I like these poke bites even better! They’re basically fun-sized where all of best and tastiest parts of a Poke bowl get condensed into a mini size, and who doesn’t love that? They’re filling enough to eat about 3 or a 4 as a main, they make a…
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Andre’s Favourite Mushroom Pasta
This mushroom pasta is so perfect for summer. For one, It’s perfectly balanced; the mushrooms offer a satisfyingly meaty texture, you get loads of flavour (umami) from the few choice ingredients and a touch of creaminess from the sauce that coats and clings to every noodle. It’s totally addictive and scores every time! Oh, and…
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Hibiscus & Mezcal Pitcher Cocktails
Hey all! I’ve got your new favourite summer cocktail right here! I rarely share cocktail recipes so you know it’s gotta be good! It’s easy to make, it’s bright, a little sweet and tart with a touch of smokiness from the Mezcal. Plus, its got Tajin and raw sugar rim that compliments the flavours in…
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Sicilian Citrus Olive Oil Cake
This is the only olive oil cake recipe you will need! It’s bright with citrus flavour, with just the right amount of sweetness and will stay fresh for days! In fact, most often, if the balance is just right, an olive oil cake will taste even better the following day and the day after that;…
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Thai-Inspired Shrimp and Shiitakes in a Coconut-Lemongrass Broth
When you want to cook to impress, this must be your go-to and you won’t believe how quick and easy it is to prepare. Think elegant, flavorful, fragrant, vibrant and comforting. You can serve this as an appetizer or as a main with a side of rice. I love how the rice soaks up all…
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Ham Fried Rice
This easy ham fried rice is so good, you’ll forget all about the chicken 😉 and it can be thrown together within 20 minutes! I’m sure you’ve seen all sorts of fried rice on menus these days such as duck, cauliflower, short rib and even fois gras. Ham is tender, offering great texture and goes…
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Brown Sugar and Dijon Glazed Ham
Easter is approachin’ so I whipped out my usual go-to recipe for glazed ham! It’s sticky, sweet and crispy on the outside and juicy and tender on the inside. So lip smackingly delicious and satisfying that I am now asked to make it every year. If you’ve got leftovers, you can eat it cold or…
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Nonna Rosina’s Ciambotta
Nonna Rosina’s Ciambotta A Southern Italian Stew with Potato, Zucchini Stew & Poached Eggs Our version of this classic peasant dish from the province of Potenza in southern Italy where my mother’s side of the family is from. Growing up I loved to tear the thick crusty bread apart and dip it into the stew,…
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Mom’s Quick Poached White Fish with Peppers & Zucchini
You can’t get quicker than this when it comes to making a healthy home cooked meal from scratch. How does 20 minutes cook time sound with 5 minutes of prep? Sounds good to me. The fish is poached in a delicate tomato broth with peppers, onions and garlic. So simple and so flavorful! You can…
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Easy Salmon Onigiri
Onigiri are Japanese stuffed rice balls, usually pressed into a triangular in shape with a number of filling options like cooked salmon, raw salmon or tuna, canned tuna or mushrooms to name a few. I always have leftover roasted salmon so I decided to make them using that although I can’t wait to try making…
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Detroit-Style Pizza
This style of pizza, thick and pillowy on the inside with a golden crispy crust just isn’t as popular as it should be, especially here in Canada! Although, I have never been to Detroit, I know this pizza. I like to call it Nonna pizza because both my grandmothers and many other grandma’s I know,…
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Italian Wedding Soup
This meatball and pastina soup has made a major come-back on social media recently and I’m into it! The stand-out ingredients are mini meatballs and a leafy green like spinach or escarole. It was literally the soup served at every Italian wedding I attended as a child here in Montreal, so it’s not just a…
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Easy Lasagna Rolls with Spinach, Ricotta and Prosciutto
I love the creamy comfort of the béchamel & nutmeg, the contrast of the fresh tasting marinara sauce and the slight saltiness of the Parmesan cheese and prosciutto. So simple to prepare and can be made ahead. Freeze before baking and then cook from frozen the day you want to serve it or prepare it…