Traditional Recipes

How to Make Madeleines: a Classic French Recipe

December 13, 2019 by Sylvia Rose 4 Comments

Madeleines are delightful buttery little cakes with endless flavour possibilities. Learn how to make these classic treats to go with your cup of coffee or to share with a friend.

MADELEINES IN THE TRANSPORTER

Madeleines may have never come across my radar until later in life had I not watched The Transporter back in 2010.

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This action-packed Jason Statham film includes a scene involving these buttery little cakes that are baked in special seashell moulds.

Ever since then, I’ve been obsessed, much to my husband’s (Big Papa’s) confusion. He doesn’t understand how I can be over the moon with something so simple.

That’s what I love about them though.

There’s beauty in simplicity, and often, I find, the simplest recipes are the most delicious. By the way, here’s that Transporter scene I’m talking about:

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A French Canadian Tourtière Recipe

December 6, 2019 by Sylvia Rose 4 Comments

This French Canadian tourtière is the taste of the holidays for many Quebecers. A flavourful beef and pork filling wrapped in a flaky pâte brisée pie crust, how can anyone go wrong?

There’s a region in Québec that’s a couple of hundred kilometres north of the famous St. Lawrence River, up the Saguenay River, called Lac St-Jean. I have family who live there and if they hear someone call a meat pie that isn’t from Lac St-Jean a tourtière, they are quick to disparage it.

There are tourtière recipes out there that are branded as Lac St-Jean style, but really, everyone’s recipes are so different that it’s hard for me to understand what makes that a tourtière, and my tourtière a meat pie.

By the way, here’s some food history for you. The name tourtière comes from the cooking dish these pies used to be prepared in, and the dish itself is of French origin.

Oh, and just so you know, this is not a tourtière from Lac St-Jean, nor is it in that style. It’s a French Canadian tourtière. The family can flay me later.

RELATED: Bacon and Sauerkraut Quiche

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Victory Borscht: An Easy Oil-Free Wartime Recipe

September 27, 2019 by Sylvia Rose 8 Comments

Victory borscht is a winner in more than one way. This jewel coloured beauty of a soup is rich in flavour and completely oil-free. Learn how to make this simple wartime recipe for yourself!

Let’s rewind back to another era. An era that’s often glamourized for the styles, gallantry and grace.

Where I am in the world, there’s abundance at every turn. There’s also so much waste that our great grandmothers would cringe. Unfortunately, many of us were simply never taught the art of being frugal.

Frugality has a negative connotation to it, doesn’t it? We know it’s a virtue, but we’re scared of how it would cramp our style.

The women who lived and worked through World War II had no choice but to be resourceful. They were self-sufficient and creative, and we can learn those skills again, too.

RELATED: WWII Food Rationing Tips

VICTORY BORSCHT RECIPE VIDEO

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Quick and Easy Escargot Appetizers

September 20, 2019 by Sylvia Rose 6 Comments

Whether you love them or hate them, there’s no denying that escargots are a classic appetizer. If you’re a fan of cheesy garlic slugs, then you’ll want to learn how to make these quick and easy escargot appetizers!

LOVE AT FIRST SNAIL

The first time I ever had escargots, I was four.

I didn’t understand that they were snails, but even if I had, I wouldn’t have cared a stitch. They were cheesy, garlicky, chewy and delicious. What wasn’t to love?

From that moment on escargots were my favourite appetizer, but they were hard to come by for a German-Canadian child. Because there was a paucity of snails in my youth, I elevated them up in my mind as something to be sought after.

There’s something elegant about being served escargots, don’t you think? After all, they’re a delicacy!

EASY ESCARGOT RECIPES (A VIDEO)

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Easy German Currywurst for Oktoberfest

September 10, 2019 by Sylvia Rose 2 Comments

German currywurst recently marked its 70th anniversary, and it’s no small wonder why! This convenient and delicious street food can be found everywhere you go in Germany. No Oktoberfest party should be without it!

Eating German currywurst with chopsticks

MEET MY SPECIAL GUEST!

If you caught the video for this post or for my spätzle post, then you’ve already met my mother. That’s her in the picture below! Isn’t she radiant? Her name is Petra and she’s taught me everything I know about German food.

I didn’t think I would need her expertise in making currywurst, because it’s such a basic preparation, but as it turns out, I was wrong.

She’s been enjoying German currywurst since the ’70s and has curry ketchup in her blood. I was foolish to think I wasn’t going to learn something from her!

When most people reach for the ketchup, relish and mustard to dress their sausages, she’s the outlier with her currywurst.

Presenting German Currywurst for Oktoberfest

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German Spätzle Noodles Recipe (with bacon and toasted breadcrumbs)

September 6, 2019 by Sylvia Rose 4 Comments

German spätzle noodles are easy enough to make, but need a bit of time and elbow grease. Learn how to make this traditional German recipe with buttery toasted breadcrumbs and crisp bacon.

German spätzle noodles with toasted breadcrumbs and bacon

WHAT’S SPÄTZLE?

German spätzle noodles are a type of pasta made with fresh eggs. Spätzle is found in quite a few European countries apart from Germany, like Switzerland, Austria, and Hungary. These noodles are something I was fortunate enough to grow up with and are high up on my list of comfort foods. They made an appearance on special occasions and were usually served with beef rouladen, schnitzel, or a potful of goulash. Of course, when my mom cooks, she cooks to feed an army, so my brothers and I would be eating spätzle leftovers for days. More about what to do with spätzle leftovers later, that is, if you even have them!

SIMPLE SPAETZLE RECIPE VIDEO

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