Summer's practically on our doorstep, and to celebrate its arrival and winter's departure, I combined winter apples with summer strawberries in a delicious fruit crumble. Super easy recipe, very little mess, and mouthwatering results.
Rhubarb and Strawberry Compote with Cardamon by CaitlinThis is an original recipe created in the heart of summer as a alternative to cake for my mom's birthday. I made it again last week with a bag of frozen rhubarb (saved from last spring in the freezer) and it was just as good as I remembered. When you get to the point of the year when you can practically pick fresh rhubarb, it's time to use up the frozen, and what a compote to use it up on! Cardamon goes wonderfully with rhubarb, and in this recipe it is a subtle but inspired addition. I think that some ginger might also be nice in this recipe, but I'll leave that for you to experiment with.
Rhubarb Compote is a delicious treat served on its own or with yogurt. It's even better with vanilla ice cream, and a divine dessert when a small finger of rich shortbread is added to the bowl. When I made the birthday edition of this dessert, the shortbread was chai spiced, bringing out the delicate cardamon flavour in the rhubarb in the most delightful way. Feel free to serve it any way you like, I've been eating it plain out of the jar all week. Marinated Portabello Mushroom, Spinach, and Radicchio Salad with Creamy Feta Dressing by CaitlinThis is a bright, hearty (and very indulgent) salad that is perfect for the end of winter and start of spring. As I look out the window and see a giant snow storm, this is the way I want to eat my vegetables... Spinach, slightly bitter radicchio and tender marinated portabello mushrooms topped with a creamy buttermilk, feta, roasted garlic dressing. You can make a meal of this salad at lunchtime or serve it (like I did) with risotto for dinner.
This is a quick, hearty and easy dinner to prepare, using a technique similar to my Doro Wat recipe. Juicy tasty chicken, delicious healthy flavorful root vegetables...... perfect chicken dinner in my opinion. I needed inspiration one night, checked the fridge, saw half a celery root and half a purple turnip, and luckily I had a bunch of sweet potatoes on hand. Sautée a couple of onions, add the cubed veggies, chicken, some secret ingredients and everyone is amazed!
Caramelized Spiced Carrots and Parsnips CaitlinThe bar is always high for my husband's birthday dinner and these caramelized spiced carrots with honey and orange were a perfect side dish for lamb chops with port glaze (from a cooking blog I often consult) and roasted Brussel sprouts that made up the rest of the meal. These carrots are a new recipe for me and they are going to be a 'keeper'. Usually when company comes for dinner I don't try new recipes, but the pressure to create something that is over the top delicious, for this one meal of the year, makes me hunt far and wide for recipes that might make the grade. This one passed the test, and I hope you'll enjoy the tantalizing combination of honey, orange, sweet root vegetables, and aleppo chili in this dish as much as I did.
Happy to report the eggrolls were a success! Everyone had seconds and some even had thirds when I served them. They went so fast I barely managed had time to save a half of one for a picture! They smelled so mouthwatering when I fried them up, my 5 year old niece wanted to have one right then and there! I told her she had to wait for the meal. The dipping sauce is delicious and esthetically pleasing, in my opinion. Diced red onion, orange juice, fresh ginger, potato starch to thicken... perfect. Refrigerates well.
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