A classic plain scone like this can play many roles. It can be a slightly sweet sidekick with soups or stews, a tasty base for fruit shortcakes or a toothsome snack with tea or coffee. It's also delightful split and spread with jam at a holiday brunch, and the perfect starting point for three tasty variations (see below).
A bite here, a morsel there - before you know it, you'll have eaten quite a few of these sweet and tangy sausage pieces. You can substitute your favourite types of sausage, we recommend spicy Italian, fresh chorizo or gutsy garlic.
My inspiration is to advertise my favorite recipe meals of Classic Mexican Nachos to people who will enjoy as much as I would.
Preserving is one of the easiest make-ahead projects when it comes to making gifts, and cranberry sauce is welcomed because... what else would you serve with turkey? One batch makes enough for four households.
I like to prepare dishes for guests that allow me to enjoy their company. In order to do this, I select dishes that can be prepared before the guests arrive and are already cooking while we are enjoying their company. My "Sure to Please" Chicken Cacciatore is a prime example of this. Over time I have made several adjustments to enhance the flavour while at the same time using healthy alternatives (eg. skinless chicken thighs and breasts; I saute ingredients in extra virgin olive oil instead of butter). Because this dish has an Italian flare, so do all the other dishes that I serve before, during and after this meal. I serve an antipasta tray as an appetizer, and toasted garlic bread, a tossed green salad with an oil and vinaigrette dressing, whole wheat spaghetti, and the same wine that is in the cacciatore. For dessert I serve Tiramisu (also made ahead). As a result, most of my work is complete before company arrives. I have shared this recipe with women who say they do not cook and I have received rave reviews from all of them - their guests loved it so much that one man ate the leftovers for breakfast the next morning. I like to make this dish in the summer, when I can use fresh produce from my vegetable garden or from the local farmer's market. My inspiration for this recipe is that I love to cook and entertain. This recipe is full of flavour, easy to prepare and tastes like you were in the kitchen all day (what a bonus!).
Also known as pearl couscous, Israeli couscous is much larger than the more common North African variety, making it better suited to hearty salads. Look for it in the international section of grocery stores or substitute with barley or quinoa.
Whatever the shape, we'll always have room for double chocolate cake, especially one that's topped with the fluffiest frosting and colourful sprinkles.