The Messy Baker

05/21/2013 03:02 PM

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Asparagus and Mushroom Tart with Red Wine Cheddar

I know better than to go shopping without a list. I have at least three iPhone apps to help me compile them. Pads of paper cling to the fridge simply so I can jot down items as I deplete their inventory. Lists prevent wastage, overstocking and second (even third) trips to the store. I advise [...]The post Asparagus and Mushroom Tart with Red Wine Cheddar appeared first on The Messy Baker.

The Messy Baker

05/18/2013 11:24 AM

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No-Bake, Dairy-Free Berry Pudding

One rainy summer day, unable to build blanket forts on the climbing bars or soar through the sprinkler on a tire swing, I decided my younger sister and I should do some baking. “Baking” meant raiding Mom’s pantry and dumping everything within reach into a bowl. Raisins, nuts, vinegar, flour, icing sugar, food colouring… There was [...]The post No-Bake, Dairy-Free Berry Pudding ap

The Messy Baker

05/16/2013 03:16 PM

5 views

Get Your Grill On – Four Books to Welcome the Summer

The long weekend is coming. Plant the annuals. Haul out the lawn chairs. And pull that dusty cover off the grill. Whether you’re not sure where to start, afraid you’ll reduce the chicken to ashes, or are bored to tears with burgers, solutions lie on the printed page. Diverse, inspiring and informatiave, these grilling books [...]The post Get Your Grill On – Four Books to Welcome

The Messy Baker

05/11/2013 02:27 PM

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Cherry Cointreau Truffle Puddles – A Modern Mother’s Day Gift

The first Mother’s Day gift I made was a card. It had a flower and stars and kittens on it because I was obsessed with flowers and stars and kittens. Mom was allergic to two of these, but I was young and unable to fully understand how my mother might not love everything I did. [...]The post Cherry Cointreau Truffle Puddles – A Modern Mother’s Day Gift appeared first on The Messy

The Messy Baker

05/09/2013 04:43 PM

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SIAL Canada 2013: A Round Up of Canadian Content

Last week I went to the SIAL Canada Show in Toronto. It describes itself as a “one-of-a-kind opportunity to set yourself apart from the competition as you learn about innovative ideas and breaking trends in the agri-food industry!” But you know me. I went for the food. I’m not interested in the prepackaged products like pasta [...]The post SIAL Canada 2013: A Round Up of Canadian

The Messy Baker

05/07/2013 01:47 PM

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Homemade Crackers and Baklava Crisps

Altogether now. On the count of three, “Ivy, you’re a genius!” Ivy Manning, author of Crackers & Dips: More than 50 Handmade Snacks (Chronicle ©2013), wasn’t always receptive to this praise. As a caterer, she found complex dishes like Pheasant Under Glass went virtually unnoticed. But when she brought out the basket of simple homemade [...]The post Homemade Crackers and

The Messy Baker

05/05/2013 11:09 AM

20 views

Crispy Chocolate Rice Squares

Swag. It used to mean some sort of garland or window dressing. But times have changed. Ignoring the Urban Dictionary’s profanity-laced first definition, I pieced together other entries and conclude it’s an overused term meaning one’s personal style or attitude. I think it’s the new “mojo”, but don’t quote me. I’m hopelessly square and can’t [..

The Messy Baker

05/01/2013 06:15 AM

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Mushrooms Rockefeller

I got myself into this and I’m going to get myself out. I did not, repeat not, acquire a one-trick pony of a pan. I could point you to the Indian, Thai, Korean and Japanese variations of the aebleskiver, but really, they’re all just spins on batter cooked into engaging little spheres. So, that ain’t gonna fly. [...]The post Mushrooms Rockefeller appeared first on The Messy Baker.

The Messy Baker

04/29/2013 11:57 AM

4 views

CookShelf App: A review and a Giveaway

I’m often asked to recommend cookbooks as gifts for someone’s mother-in-law, sister, aunt, neighbour, co-worker, friend visiting from far off foreign lands. I feel a bit like I’ve been asked to select a paint colour for their living room without seeing the house let alone knowing how many people live there. Sure, I could point [...]The post CookShelf App: A review and a Giveaway

The Messy Baker

04/24/2013 03:23 PM

5 views

Leftover Pastry Dough – The Roly-Poly

Being born at the height of The Depression, my mother never wasted food. When there wasn’t enough leftover pastry dough to top a chicken pot pie, she made a roly-poly. She made them so often and with such authority, I assumed the roly-poly was the natural conclusion for all such scraps. Turns out –once again — I [...]The post Leftover Pastry Dough – The Roly-Poly appeared

The Messy Baker

04/22/2013 09:15 AM

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Wanted: Collective Nouns for the Kitchen

Wanted: Nouns As cooks, we have enough verbs – although whether or not we should use them is up for debate. Knife in hand, you can mince, chop, dice, slice, Julienne and pare. Got at spoon? Stir, beat, cream, fold or spread. Add some heat and the options seems limitless — brown, fry, sear, sauté, [...]The post Wanted: Collective Nouns for the Kitchen appeared first on The Messy Baker.

The Messy Baker

04/19/2013 12:21 PM

12 views

Lemon Meringue Pie

There were no party hats. No streamers. No banner saying “Greaty at Eighty!” There wasn’t so much as a candle. There was, however, pie. Simple, classic, 100%-from-scratch lemon meringue pie. Yesterday, my father turned 80. He marked the day by going about his business as usual. This is typical. He doesn’t need recognition. He doesn’t want us to [...]The post Lemon Mer

The Messy Baker

04/17/2013 01:52 PM

6 views

Why I Don’t Post Nutritional Data

Step right up! Step right up! Don’t be shy. Nothing to be afraid of. Just a little numbers game. Everyone’s a winner. Every. One’s. A winner! Looking for that one food, that one special ingredient that will make you taller, smarter, lighter, brighter, wealthier and more good-looking? Well, look no further. I have something here [...]The post Why I Don’t Post Nutritional Dat

The Messy Baker

04/15/2013 12:16 PM

46 views

The Margarita Chicken Compromise

Andrew and I are mature, level-headed adults. We can easily discuss our budget, the laundry schedule, and who goes where at Easter. We listen to each other, see the other person’s point of view and devise workable action plans. We use terms like “action plan,” or “feduciary.” We do regular check-ins on newly devised systems. [...]The post The Margarita Chicken Comprom

The Messy Baker

04/10/2013 11:06 PM

9 views

Nigella’s Green Beans with Pistachio Pesto

To paraphrase from Nigella Lawson’s latest book Nigellissima: Easy Italian-Inspired Recipes, this dish is “verdiglorious.” Green basil, green beans, and green pistachios all come together in a “riot” of a pesto dish. What it lacks in authenticity, it more than makes up for in colour and flavour. As easily as Nigella breaks from the traditional [...]The post Nigella

The Messy Baker

04/08/2013 03:16 PM

8 views

Lox and Cream Cheese Ebelskivers

I’m not sure how many recipes Camilla V. Saulsbury has created over the years but it’s more than I can count before losing track, and just slightly less than the number of stars in the night sky. She’s prolific to say the least. When I interviewed Camilla a couple of year ago, she admitted her [...]The post Lox and Cream Cheese Ebelskivers appeared first on The Messy Baker.

The Messy Baker

04/04/2013 11:39 AM

34 views

Cumin Carrots with Cilantro Vinaigrette

Fool me once, shame of you. Fool me twice (a dozen times), shame, shame, double-shame on me. It took years, but I learned my lesson. No Newspaper Recipes. None. Do not clip them for me. I will throw them out. Do not make them for me, I will show no mercy when they (inevitably) fail. [...]The post Cumin Carrots with Cilantro Vinaigrette appeared first on The Messy Baker.

The Messy Baker

04/01/2013 11:12 AM

8 views

Easy Leftover Smashed Potatoes

I seriously miscalculated the potato requirement for last night’s dinner. Maybe I was distracted by the dishwasher that kept telling me the intake/drain needed my attention. Maybe I got a little pre-occupied trying to remember where I had hidden Andrew’s birthday present. Either way, I ended up with eleven leftover baked potatoes — there had [...]The post Easy Leftover Smashed Potatoes

The Messy Baker

03/29/2013 02:49 PM

8 views

Chocolate Recipes for Easter (or anytime)

Easter chocolate is like the The Phantom Menace. After plenty of hype and lots of waiting you’re all set for something dark and intense, but the final product is just a disappointing merchandising opportunity. Take the classic chocolate rabbit. Tall ears, a basket on his back and a big fat tail. This guy should deliver [...]The post Chocolate Recipes for Easter (or anytime) appeared first on

The Messy Baker

03/25/2013 09:04 AM

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Roasted Cauliflower, Pomegranate & Hazelnut Salad

This roasted cauliflower salad serves as my reminder that good recipes are flexible. Good recipes invite experimentation. They serve as helpful guidelines, not rigid rules. With titles like “The Best This” or “The Ultimate That” it’s easy to forget no one recipe has a monopoly on the “right version.” Palate, mood, seasonal variations and product [...]The p

The Messy Baker

03/22/2013 10:05 AM

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Rum Vanilla Extract and Butter Rum Shortbread

The vanilla extract on the left is full of seeds and has a whole pod in the bottle. The vanilla beans on the right are fresh, fragrant and supple enough to knot. Both products are Really Horrible. Seriously. They’re from Really Horrible Enterprises located in Ottawa, ON. I rarely review food products but couldn’t resist the product [...]The post Rum Vanilla Extract and Butter Rum Short

The Messy Baker

03/20/2013 03:38 PM

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How to reduce salt and not feel deprived

When I was a kid there were three kinds of salt in my little world: Rock, kosher and table. That was it. The only specialty salt was Morton’s. Their slogan —When it rains, it pours.— gives you an idea of how simple life was back then. We got excited over salt that wouldn’t clump in humid [...]The post How to reduce salt and not feel deprived appeared first on The Messy Baker.

The Messy Baker

03/14/2013 05:28 PM

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How to Organize Your Bookshelf

I am capricious. One day I’ll view a certain cookbook as General Cooking and file it away as such. Then after using it for a while, I realize I’m drawn only to its dessert section and stick it in with the baking books. Only it’s not a baking book, so I forget I did this. [...]The post How to Organize Your Bookshelf appeared first on The Messy Baker.

The Messy Baker

03/14/2013 05:28 PM

12 views

How to Organize Your Bookshelf

I am capricious. One day I’ll view a certain cookbook as General Cooking and file it away as such. Then after using it for a while, I realize I’m drawn only to its dessert section and stick it in with the baking books. Only it’s not a baking book, so I forget I did this. [...]The post How to Organize Your Bookshelf appeared first on The Messy Baker.

The Messy Baker

03/11/2013 02:09 PM

3 views

Classic Snacks Made from Scratch – Graham Crackers

These quotes wrap around the bulkhead in Casey Barber’s kitchen. I like that she’s not afraid of orange, or irreverence, or figuring out how to get the cream filling inside a homemade Twinkie®. Her book, Classic Snacks Made from Scratch: 70 Homemade Versions of Your Favourite Brand-Name Treats (Ulysses Press, ©2013) lives up to its title. [...]The post Classic Snacks Made from Scratch

The Messy Baker

03/11/2013 02:09 PM

9 views

Classic Snacks Made from Scratch – Graham Crackers

These quotes wrap around the bulkhead in Casey Barber’s kitchen. I like that she’s not afraid of orange, or irreverence, or figuring out how to get the cream filling inside a homemade Twinkie®. Her book, Classic Snacks Made from Scratch: 70 Homemade Versions of Your Favourite Brand-Name Treats (Ulysses Press, ©2013) lives up to its title. [...]The post Classic Snacks Made from Scratch

The Messy Baker

03/07/2013 08:15 AM

8 views

Soup Sisters: Spread the Love

When is a bowl of soup not a bowl of soup? When it’s a community coming together in support. Soup Sisters is a registered not-for-profit organization with 12 chapters across Canada. Through the help of their volunteers, they have delivered more than 100,000 containers of hot, homemade soup, and an immeasurable amount of support to [...]The post Soup Sisters: Spread the Love appeared first on

The Messy Baker

03/07/2013 08:15 AM

3 views

Soup Sisters: Spread the Love

When is a bowl of soup not a bowl of soup? When it’s a community coming together in support. Soup Sisters is a registered not-for-profit organization with 12 chapters across Canada. Through the help of their volunteers, they have delivered more than 100,000 containers of hot, homemade soup, and an immeasurable amount of support to [...]The post Soup Sisters: Spread the Love appeared first on

The Messy Baker

03/04/2013 10:42 PM

5 views

Homemade ghee

This is jar of freshly stained homemade ghee – pronounced GEE. It’s clarified butter pushed to the edge. Done right, it will reward you with golden brown, nutty goodness. Done wrong? Both you and the butter will end up weeping into the compostable waste bin. But don’t be intimidated. Homemade ghee just requires a keen [...]The post Homemade ghee appeared first on The Messy Baker

The Messy Baker

03/04/2013 10:42 PM

7 views

Homemade ghee

This is jar of freshly stained homemade ghee – pronounced GEE. It’s clarified butter pushed to the edge. Done right, it will reward you with golden brown, nutty goodness. Done wrong? Both you and the butter will end up weeping into the compostable waste bin. But don’t be intimidated. Homemade ghee just requires a keen [...]The post Homemade ghee appeared first on The Messy Baker

The Messy Baker

03/01/2013 06:51 PM

7 views

Eager for Aebleskivers

These Danish treats are aebleskivers (or aebelskivers or ebleskivers or ebelskivers). Their pronunciation is equally elusive. Some say “able-skeever” while the Danish pronunciation is more “able-skewer” with a lilt I can’t nail down. Literally translated, the word means “apple slices” since the traditional form has a piece of apple cooked into the middle.

The Messy Baker

03/01/2013 06:51 PM

8 views

Eager for Aebleskivers

These Danish treats are aebleskivers (or aebelskivers or ebleskivers or ebelskivers). Their pronunciation is equally elusive. Some say “able-skeever” while the Danish pronunciation is more “able-skewer” with a lilt I can’t nail down. Literally translated, the word means “apple slices” since the traditional form has a piece of apple cooked into the middle.

The Messy Baker

02/28/2013 05:45 AM

5 views

The Messy Baker Inaugural Post and a Giveaway

Well, I did it. The Messy Baker is officially out of the box and sitting on the living room table for everyone to see. Christie’s Corner is neatly packed up and on a shelf in the scary basement. I still have some silver polishing to do, and boy, are my fingers sore. I see why [...]The post The Messy Baker Inaugural Post and a Giveaway appeared first on The Messy Baker.

The Messy Baker

02/28/2013 05:45 AM

9 views

The Messy Baker Inaugural Post and a Giveaway

Well, I did it. The Messy Baker is officially out of the box and sitting on the living room table for everyone to see. Christie’s Corner is neatly packed up and on a shelf in the scary basement. I still have some silver polishing to do, and boy, are my fingers sore. I see why [...]The post The Messy Baker Inaugural Post and a Giveaway appeared first on The Messy Baker.

The Messy Baker

02/14/2013 10:37 AM

10 views

Messy Valentine’s Day

Pin ItThe astute among you will notice the subtle change in the header. Although the domain name remains the same, Christie’s Corner has been replaced by The Messy Baker. Baby steps, Charmian. Baby steps. The new domain name and layout are coming. Just slowly. There’s a lot of tech involved and that always takes more time [...]

The Messy Baker

02/14/2013 05:37 AM

3 views

Messy Valentine’s Day

The astute among you will notice the subtle change in the header. Although the domain name remains the same, Christie’s Corner has been replaced by The Messy Baker. Baby steps, Charmian. Baby steps. The new domain name and layout are coming. Just slowly. There’s a lot of tech involved and that always takes more time and [...]The post Messy Valentine’s Day appeared first on The Me

The Messy Baker

02/14/2013 05:37 AM

3 views

Messy Valentine’s Day

The astute among you will notice the subtle change in the header. Although the domain name remains the same, Christie’s Corner has been replaced by The Messy Baker. Baby steps, Charmian. Baby steps. The new domain name and layout are coming. Just slowly. There’s a lot of tech involved and that always takes more time and [...]The post Messy Valentine’s Day appeared first on The Me

The Messy Baker

02/04/2013 02:00 PM

5 views

Denial

Pin It These are not anemic raisins. Their botanic name is Physalis peruviana, but you can find them in health food stores under many different names — golden berries, Inca berries, cape gooseberries, or ground cherries to list a few. No matter what the manufacturer calls them, these harmless-looking berries should come with a flashing, neon warning [...]

The Messy Baker

02/04/2013 09:00 AM

3 views

Denial

These are not anemic raisins. Their botanic name is Physalis peruviana, but you can find them in health food stores under many different names — golden berries, Inca berries, cape gooseberries, or ground cherries to list a few. No matter what the manufacturer calls them, these harmless-looking berries should come with a flashing, neon warning label that [...]The post Denial appeared first on Th

The Messy Baker

02/04/2013 09:00 AM

3 views

Denial

These are not anemic raisins. Their botanic name is Physalis peruviana, but you can find them in health food stores under many different names — golden berries, Inca berries, cape gooseberries, or ground cherries to list a few. No matter what the manufacturer calls them, these harmless-looking berries should come with a flashing, neon warning label that [...]The post Denial appeared first on Th

The Messy Baker

01/28/2013 01:08 PM

4 views

Pampered

Pin It If I come back as a vegetable I want to be kale. Ruffly, versatile, pretty kale. Not only would I be my favourite colour (green), I’d finally have unstoppable curls — something I can’t achieve even with hot rollers and a perm. But I’d be more than just another pretty edible. Unlike with [...]

The Messy Baker

01/28/2013 08:08 AM

4 views

Pampered

If I come back as a vegetable I want to be kale. Ruffly, versatile, pretty kale. Not only would I be my favourite colour (green), I’d finally have unstoppable curls — something I can’t achieve even with hot rollers and a perm. But I’d be more than just another pretty edible. Unlike with cream puffs [...]The post Pampered appeared first on The Messy Baker.

The Messy Baker

01/28/2013 08:08 AM

6 views

Pampered

If I come back as a vegetable I want to be kale. Ruffly, versatile, pretty kale. Not only would I be my favourite colour (green), I’d finally have unstoppable curls — something I can’t achieve even with hot rollers and a perm. But I’d be more than just another pretty edible. Unlike with cream puffs [...]The post Pampered appeared first on The Messy Baker.

The Messy Baker

01/24/2013 04:10 PM

3 views

Site Under Construction

Don’t peek just yet. The bread’s still rising, the ice cream hasn’t set and I’m still trying to find a spot for all my baking pans.The post Site Under Construction appeared first on The Messy Baker.

The Messy Baker

01/21/2013 05:40 PM

7 views

Improvisation

Pin It I think I’ve created a new, never-heard-of-before dessert. Bundt Trifle. Not because I’m trying to be different or start the next food craze, but because my imagination plays tricks on me. I had wanted to make a trifle in one of those clear, straight-sided dishes that shows off all the layers. I knew my [...]

The Messy Baker

01/21/2013 12:40 PM

3 views

Improvisation

I think I’ve created a new, never-heard-of-before dessert. Bundt Trifle. Not because I’m trying to be different or start the next food craze, but because my imagination plays tricks on me. I had wanted to make a trifle in one of those clear, straight-sided dishes that shows off all the layers. I knew my mother had [...]The post Improvisation appeared first on The Messy Baker.

The Messy Baker

01/16/2013 03:57 PM

11 views

Another Breakfast Soup

Pin It Soup for breakfast is working. Sort of. But after a couple of weeks of savory Asian Chicken and Quinoa Soup, and a gentle Lentil & Lemon Soup, I’m wanting to start my day with something sweet. While I crave a raspberry danish or waffles dripping in maple syrup, I am saving these desserts-in-disguise [...]

The Messy Baker

01/16/2013 10:57 AM

3 views

Another Breakfast Soup

Soup for breakfast is working. Sort of. But after a couple of weeks of savory Asian Chicken and Quinoa Soup, and a gentle Lentil & Lemon Soup, I’m wanting to start my day with something sweet. While I crave a raspberry danish or waffles dripping in maple syrup, I am saving these desserts-in-disguise for special [...]The post Another Breakfast Soup appeared first on The Messy Baker.

The Messy Baker

01/11/2013 01:01 PM

9 views

Pushing Boundaries

Pin It I did it. Despite containing three ingredients I’ve never used before, I made onion bhaji. And I pronounce them to be good. Make that “very good.” Andrew, who inspired the selection, claimed they were “delicious” and “as good as the restaurant’s.” So, with a flourish of my typing fingers, I am proudly striking [...]

The Messy Baker

01/11/2013 08:01 AM

4 views

Pushing Boundaries

I did it. Despite containing three ingredients I’ve never used before, I made onion bhaji. And I pronounce them to be good. Make that “very good.” Andrew, who inspired the selection, claimed they were “delicious” and “as good as the restaurant’s.” So, with a flourish of my typing fingers, I am proudly striking the first [...]The post Pushing Bounda

	The Messy Baker
	I'm a food writer, recipe developer and soon-to-be cookbook author. My first book, The Messy Baker, is due on shelves in Spring 2014 via HarperCollins in Canada and Rodale in the US. Forget the raffia bows and sprinkles. I'm all about the filling. My motto: Real food. Real life. It ain't always pretty.

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