@zimmysnook
Wedge Salad with a Gorgonzola Dressing. Damn, this was good! Cucumbers, bacon, tomatoes, radishes, chives, chive flowers and lotza Gorgonzola! This crisp and refreshing steakhouse classic is delicious and so easy to assemble. It’s the perfect side to any grilled meat or as is on its own. Steak is obviously a perfect pairing but adding…
Strawberry, Asparagus and Rhubarb Salad. Celebrate National Fresh Fruit and Vegetables month this June with these colourful and tasty foods. This fresh spring salad is a delicious combination of ingredients found at local farmers markets in early June, including asparagus, rhubarb and strawberries. The dressing pops with a burst of orange zest, making it a…
Pork Chops & Apple Slaw (with Creamy Polenta) True story… I grew up eating “Pork Chops & Apple Sauce.” It was one of the meals my dad would cook when mom wasn’t home. Thin boneless pork chops, pan fried until they were cooked right through! Unfortunately, this process left them quite dry and out of…
Grilled Chicken Skewers Chicken skewers, with plenty of veggies, rice, pita & tzatziki is my summer go-to recipe for a quick and delicious meal! My simple marinade includes these basics – fresh garlic, rosemary, oregano, zest of a lemon, Dijon mustard, white balsamic and olive oil. Watch the process video here Hope you enjoy this…
Fiesta Chicken Chili. Fresh vegetables, chicken thighs, butter beans and spices combine to create a light, flavourful meal, perfect for a midweek dinner, meal planning for lunches or taking on a road trip. Use the Crockpot™ Lunch Crock to enjoy a hot lunch at the office or on the road. Add cilantro, jalapeños, guacamole, and…
Sizzlin’ Smokies with Kimchi, Pickled Veggies & Crispy Shallots. Fire up the grill! Pour a cold beverage and take a few minutes to enjoy a good conversation, a few laughs and an incredibly tasty Sizzlin’ Smokie hot off the grill. Preparing the quick-pickled vegetables and crispy shallots ahead of time, will ensure a treat for…
Grilled Asparagus Caprese (inspired) Salad The asparagus was bathed in olive oil and balsamic vinegar before being grilled. The tomatoes are pan roasted, then combined with fresh mozzarella, basil, and a splash of balsamic.I have skewered the asparagus to make “rafts” which are easier to flip on the grill and are the perfect size for…
Slow Cooker Spring Risotto. Creamy, silky, flavourful risotto with asparagus, peas, green onions, parmesan and lemon. Risotto, the delicious Italian dish made by cooking a starchy, short grain rice with broth until it becomes creamy. The traditional technique to create this dish is to slowly ladle in warm broth to a pot full of rice,…
Herb Roasted Turkey. No, it is not Thanksgiving or Christmas… this is the meal that my dear sweet mother requested for Mother’s Day! I asked her what meal she considered to be a special treat and she responded, “a roast turkey dinner with mashed potatoes.” Growing up, her family only had turkey at Christmas, and…
Stir-Fried Black Rice with Fried Eggs & Parmesan Roasted Broccoli. Disclaimer… this is not your traditional take-out style, fried rice with eggs and broccoli! This is a meal perfect for date-night, a weeknight family dinner, or a Saturday evening with friends! Cook the rice the day before and even choose to throw together the salad…
Charred Green Onion-Jalapeno-Lemon Lamb Chops. A frenched rack of lamb, well seasoned or marinated, then seared over a hot grill until barely medium-rare, is one of my favourite treats. The charred bits of fat, the melt-in-your-mouth morsels of meat, combined beautifully on a bone, is my perfect lollipop! Now, when I cook a full rack,…
Niçoise inspired salad with oven roasted Coho salmon. The salmon was surrounded with asparagus, potatoes, cucumbers, celery, red onions, tomatoes, pickles, olives and hard boiled quail eggs. Served with a dressing of white balsamic, Dijon, honey, s&p and olive oil. Watch the salmon bake and sizzle here Niçoise Salad with Oven Roasted Coho Salmon: Frequently…
These Individual Ground Beef Wellingtons are made with ground beef instead of the traditional beef tenderloin. Making them a delicious yet cost effective way to serve a special meal to your family and friends this Easter (or any day you want an excuse to feel fancy!) The ground beef is seasoned well, topped with Duxelles…
Looking for a special brunch recipe? Everyone will love this savoury Everything Bagel Bake. A hearty combination of eggs, pancetta, sausages, spinach, provolone, smoked gouda, jalapeños, onions and spices. This crowd-pleasing dish can also be assembled the night before and baked the morning of. To create a festive Easter brunch, serve with a simple side…
Mexican Inspired Eggs in Sweet Potato Boats. “Fresh, flavour-packed little vessels of joy” Was the title for this recipe that I wanted to use, but my wife pointed out that it might be a little vague for an internet search. So, you already know that this delightful recipe includes, Mexican inspired flavours, sweet potatoes, and…
Crustless Quiche with Bacon, Mushrooms & Jalapeños. Breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner! Those are the meals that I enjoy a quiche! This crustless quiche recipe is so easy, versatile, and delicious that you can throw it together for a satisfying meal any time of the day! I stuffed this version with staples that are always…
Two-Ingredient Banana Pancakes. Two ingredient pancakes? Just eggs and banana? I too was skeptical! Would I end up with banana flavoured scrambled eggs? Not at all! The results are beautiful, thin, delicate, pancakes, which looked like and ate like, the more traditional flour-based breakfast treat. These pancakes are wonderful on their own, but even better…
Grilled Peruvian Inspired Spicy Chicken Drumsticks with Creamy Green Sauce. Shake things up on game day, spice up your next barbecue with friends or make family dinner something to remember. These charred Peruvian inspired drumsticks are perfect on their own but absolutely explode with flavour when coated with the spicy, creamy green sauce. Move over…
Easy Bolognese with a Spicy Twist. This Bolognese inspired sauce is the perfect way to spice things up with your special someone. The hot Italian sausages and crushed chilies build on the flavours of the classic Bolognese and bring joy to your tastebuds. For a meal requiring little preparation, you will be amazed how much…
Air Fryer Chicken with Buttermilk Waffles. Preparing this classic brunch combination in your own kitchen is easier than you may think. All it takes is a little planning, an air fryer, and a waffle maker, to turn your table into the hottest brunch spot in your neighbourhood. Serve with honey, hot sauce and a side…
No Bake Shakshuka (or Shakshouka), is one of our favourite comfort meals. Although we enjoy it year-round it is more commonly found on our table in the winter. This is not a “traditional” Shakshuka but is certainly inspired by it. I appreciate that a basic recipe can be adapted to use whatever you have in…
Mussels & Squid in a Spicy Tomato-Sausage Broth When it comes to “comfort food” this ranks right up at the top! A pot of rich, flavourful, somewhat spicy broth, hot fennel sausage, mussels, squid and fresh crusty bread. An easy, affordable meal that will warm your heart & soul, while satisfying your hunger and tantalizing…
Linguine and clams (or linguine alle vongole) is a classic worth revisiting, over and over! Simple, inexpensive ingredients, shown a little love in preparation will deliver a soul satisfying meal every time. Buy the freshest clams from a reliable source and look for an artisanal dried pasta… the rougher the surface texture the better it…
Apple Fennel Slaw. Move over pork chops with apple sauce, there is a new dish in town! I’ve elevated this classic dish with a slightly spicy apple fennel slaw and laid the chops on bed of creamy polenta. The variety of texture, the brightness of flavours and the tenderness of the chops are mouth-wateringly good…