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Fried chicken, that perfect, greasy, crunchy, juicy, savory comfort food that can make anyone in their right mind go weak at the knees...that is probably from the sheer exertion of keeping your body upright after filling it with so much greasy goodness. Despite all of its lovely qualities that make me swoon, making fried chicken at home comes with a cost...one very messy (and sometimes dangerous)
After moving into an apartment with my mom in November, with no balcony and zero green space, one of my biggest concerns (over and above how I'm going to eat my meals al fresco) is how I'm going to keep up my herb garden. As you may know from past posts, I was full-on obsessed with my herb garden. Now, when I say 'obsessed', I don't use the term lightly. I was so obsessed that I would use my herbs
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFTStonemill Bakehouse Country Rye - Last week I had the opportunity to attend the launch of Stonemill Bakehouse's Country Rye Bread at Jamie Kennedy's Gilead Café. Having been a fan of Stonemill Bakehouse for years thanks to their participation with sip & Savour Ontario, and recently picking up a bread, croissant, or pastry from their bakery in St. Lawrence Market at
Last year I had the opportunity to work with the Dairy Farmers of Canada on their Anyday Magic Cream Challenge, submitting a recipe for a Fresh Mixed Mushroom Mac & Cheese that was absolutely delightful. Having such a great time collaborating with them last year, I jumped at the opportunity to participate in their 2013 cream challenge! Unlike last year where bloggers were asked to recreate cla
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFTDairy Farmers of Canada Clam Chowder - It's plain to see from reading my blog over the past few months that I have been on quite the seafood kick, with images of salmon, oysters, monkfish, and more continuously popping up on my feed. With seafood constantly on the brain, you can imagine my delight at being chosen as one of the competitors for the Creamy Seafood category
Armed with a new julienne peeler given to me by the Easter bunny herself (didn't you know the Easter bunny is a pretty redheaded woman from Toronto?...who happens to be my mother) I was ready to tackle a slew of new healthy recipes that I had begun collecting that all require the snazzy tool. On the top of my "healthy recipes to make" list? Shrimp & Vegetable Summer Rolls, light and fresh rice
When faced with the challenge of creating a gluten-free, kosher-for-Passover dessert, I can't help but let out a long sigh...no, make that groan. Creating a kosher-for-Passover dessert is enough of a challenge already, throw in gluten-free and I'm out the door! Because I was only asked to bring two additions to our quickie Passover meal this year with my dad, my Zhada (who is celiac), and I, I fig
I have known Danielle from Baked Soap Co. and Sweet & Splendid Bakeshop for years now, but it wasn't until we got together for a macaron making day that we realized just how much we have in common. I love finding interesting new people to share my love of cooking with, and it seemed Danielle shared that same love. Before hugging each other goodbye after she had taught me to
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFTDanielle's Ravioli Making Day - I have known Danielle from Baked Soap Co. and Sweet & Splendid Bakeshop for years now, but it wasn't until we got together for a macaron making day that we realized just how much we have in common. I love finding interesting new people to share my love of cooking with, and it seemed Danielle shared that same love. Before hugging
Two weeks ago was my boyfriend Chris' 26th birthday. With this being our first birthday celebrated together, the pressure was on to make sure Chris felt extra special on his day...especially when I had been dropping sneaky hints about what I was arranging for his day for weeks (talk about digging yourself into a hole!). As I've mentioned before in my post on how to make French macarons, Chris
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFTPistachio Macarons - Two weeks ago was my boyfriend Chris' 26th birthday. With this being our first birthday celebrated together, the pressure was on to make sure Chris felt extra special on his day. As I've mentioned before in my post on how to make French macarons, Chris was the number-one supporter of my macaron making, signing me up for a Parisian macaron making cla
Hooray to sticking with my health kick! It's been a few weeks now of trying to adapt my diet to a healthier lifestyle, and I think I'm starting to finally get in the groove of things and find a good balance between naughty and nice dishes. My diet really hasn't changed all that much. I haven't eliminated anything from my diet at all, just reduced the volume in which I eat those naughty foods (caff
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFTRock Lobster Co. - I have written about my best friend Alex on my blog many times before thanks to our love of food! For as long as I can remember, Alex and I have been going out for catch-up dinners together, trying out new restaurants, chatting for hours (often being the last patrons in the restaurant or coffee shop) about just about every topic on the planet, and alw
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFTHappy Birthday Mummy! - Happy Birthday to the best mama a girl could ever ask for! Over the past three or so years, it seems to have become a tradition for me to cook my mom a special birthday dinner come February 13th, her birthday. With so many great meals in the past served to her on her special day, it's tricky to think of something that will top all previous years.
I've got a case of the winter skin blues. Being a redhead, my skin has always been sensitive, but having a high acid count in my body hasn't helped matters at all. I can blame my inflamed and red skin on the wools and cashmeres that shield me from the cold throughout the winter months, and yes, they do play a role in my skin irritations, but I know that much of my skin troubles are a direct result
About 4 years ago I had my first french macaron experience. I had just gotten hired as a counter girl and barista at La Bamboche, a Japanese/French fusion patisserie known for their macarons. Despite the fact that I was working at one of the top places in the city to get the Parisian treat, I much preferred indulging in their fresh-baked croissants and lemon tarts, rather than the many flavours of
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFTShucking Virgins - Over the past year my friend Robin and I have discovered a new obsession that we both share, an obsession with the ultra-luxe seafood, oysters! With about 50% of our conversations drifting to oysters (with the other 50% about the crazy characters we encounter at the bar we both work at), it came as no surprise that after going out to restaurants
If you had a chance to catch my entry in November on the Ocean Wise Month Media Launch held at Mildred's Temple Kitchen, you what an enjoyable experience that was for me being able to learn about the importance of Ocean Wise, how to take part in the movement of sustainable fishing and consuming, and learning how to create delicious and striking Ocean Wise approved dishes in my own home. Of course
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFTPoached Eggs in Tomato Sauce - Everyone has their go-to recipes to turn to when they need a quick and delicious fix with minimal ingredients. One of the recipes that I turn to most is poached or fried eggs in tomato sauce. Quick, satisfying, versatile, and low on ingredients, this dish always leaves me with a smile. I love how simple it is to adjust the quantity of this
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFTBanh Mi Boys Kimchi Fries - I have been dying to go to Banh Mi Boys ever since I first began hearing all the buzz about their savory vietnamese sandwiches, but what always seemed to overshadow their namesake sandwich was their intriguing sounding kimchi fries. After some shopping along Queen West with my mom last weekend, we popped into Banh Mi Boys to thaw out from the
Nothing drives me more crazy than watching food go to waste. I can't help but feel overwhelmed with that same sort of guilt you feel after say accidentally hurting someone's feelings, lying to a loved one, or handing in an assignment you know you rushed through. It's something that most people don't even think about, but for me, can eat through my conscience and keep me up at night. Despite people
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFTMake The New Year Sweet - How do you ensure a sweet start to the new year? With the most indulgent of cookies of course! Despite the fact that I had to work at the pub on New Years Eve, I was determined to start the year off sweet! Before the dreaded New Years shift began, I quickly whipped up one of my favourite holiday cookies, Chocolate Crackle Cookies, to take along
It wouldn't be considered a proper start to the new year without the obligatory post-New Years healthy(ish) recipe post! Every year as the holidays wind down and life begrudgingly slips back into reality, I always seem to find myself in a very self reflective mood. I think about the year we just toasted to leaving behind, the mistakes that were made, the leaps of faith that were taken, the accompl
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFTUgly Christmas Sweater Party - For as long as I have known my best friend Robin, I have known her sister Jamie to be the hostess with the mostest! Jamie is one of those people who was born to entertain, host, and care for others (which is very fitting considering that she is a nurse!), throwing parties and get togethers all year round, always complete with the most deli
Thank you everyone who participated in the 12 Days Of Wine Country Ontario giveaway! Congratulations to Genevieve Anderson our lucky winner who will receive a gift certificate to the Shaw Spa for a relaxing Grape & Wine Exfoliating Treatment! I hope you enjoy your Wine Country Ontario experience! Please email me at GingerRoseFood@gmail.com with your home address so we can send you your gift ce
With only one week left until Christmas Eve, the pressure is building to grab hold of those creative last minute gifts for your friends and loved ones. I always say that as much as I adore unwrapping a gift, and making use of it as early as Christmas morning (nothing like cozying up in that new sweater while enjoying Christmas Day!) I appreciate the gift of 'experience' more than anything! I'm luc
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFTSweet & Splendid Wedding Cake - One of the things that I was most looking forward to this summer was the wedding of my friends Jamie and John. The most fairy tale perfect couple I could ever imagine, Jamie and John are the type of couple that legends are made of. Their fairy tale romance was the inspiration behind their wedding, with their beautiful cake takin
Dinner at the Orlando's - One of my best friends is my friend Alex Orlando. Alex has been given the title of 'the best' ever since we first met in grade four, and has remained the best thanks to the strange sisterly bond we have with one another that only seems to get stronger as years pass. With her family living right around the corner from my old house, we couldn't help but have spontaneou
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFTSurprise Cake Pops - My friend Mike is probably one of the most social people I know, with a super close core group of friends that he's had since childhood, as well as a slew of friends all over the province that he's met through his successful drumming career. When his girlfriend Vittoria sent out an invite for a surprise 25th birthday party for Mike, I couldn't help
With such a busy schedule, it can be really difficult to come up with interesting and unique recipes every night of the week. Sure, it's easy to come up with inspired meal ideas, but making them happen under time constraints is another story. On a weekly basis I find myself sacrificing the flavour and complexity of my meals due to my busy schedule, choosing to take shortcuts or tone down my r
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFTHoliday CHEERS with Steam Whistle - With the Holidays fast approaching, I can't help but worry over not having purchased any gifts for my friends and family, nor have I given any gift ideas for myself to the many friends and family members who have been asking. Now that my bedroom and closet are a mere fraction of the size they were only a few weeks ago in my old home,
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFTOcean Wise Chowder Chowdown - What better way to get through the mid-week hump than spending the evening at the Fairmont Royal York, chowing down on a dozen different chowders, and washing them all down with a dozen different craft beers! On Wednesday evening, with my best friend Robin in tow, I attended the Ocean Wise Chowder Chowdown. The competition event featur
Two weeks ago I had the pleasure of attending the Ocean Wise Month Media Launch at Mildred's Temple Kitchen. Ocean Wise has declared November as Ocean Wise Month, a month dedicated to drawing awareness to the many sustainable seafood varieties we are so lucky to have access to in Canada. Ocean Wise is a Vancouver Aquarium conservation program created to educate and empower consumers about the issu
Saying Goodbye - I knew this past week was going to be overwhelming with our big move happening on Tuesday, but what I didn't expect was having to say goodbye to more than just the place that I've called my home for 25 years. Bright and early at 8AM on Tuesday, the moving van loaded all of our furniture to take to our new apartment. With so much on my mind, not to mention just as much weighin
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFTSouthern Accent - Although we had already toasted to finding our new apartment after going to the viewing, it wasn't until all the paperwork was complete the following week that we felt we could really let loose and celebrate to our fresh start! The Friday after getting the "OK" from the landlord, my mom took my sister Justine, her boyfriend Duncan, and myself out for a
Cameron's Sirius Wheat Ale - In the midst of a hectic, stressful week, a delivery from Cameron's Brewery couldn't have come at a better time. Cameron's Brewery caught my attention with a single line: 'hand brewed by beer artisans', showing the great care they take in creating distinct and unique craft beers. Cameron's was kind enough to offer me a sample of their newest release, their Sirius
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFTRobin's Birthday - A mere week after my 25th birthday festivities, my best friend and partner in crime, Robin, hit the big quarter-of-a-century mark as well. To kick off her birthday another one of her besties, and one of my close friends, Rommi, was thoughtful and generous enough to book a hotel room for Robin and her boyfriend to begin our pre-drink at and to cr
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFTSara's Goodbye - Working at a pub this summer we saw a lot of staff come and go, but none was as significant and as bittersweet as Sara's goodbye. Sara was one of the most loved bartenders at the pub, and the one I was lucky enough to enjoy working with every Friday. I had so much fun gossiping about regulars, gushing about boys, talking about great food and musi
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFTPorter Lounge - On Saturday morning my mom and I escaped Toronto and our troubles for a pre-25th Birthday New York City getaway! Back in the Spring after returning from Israel and itching for another trip, my mom and I had found an incredible deal for flights to New York. Too good to not take advantage of, we booked a 3 day, 2 night trip to New York! It was our fi
Things have been so busy, crazy, and stressful lately that it's been hard to keep track of the little things, including using up food in the fridge. Only 2 days before my mom and I fled Toronto for a NYC early- 25th bday weekend escape, I noticed that there was a completely untouched package of figs in the fridge, about to hit their final day. Just a little too ripe, I wanted to come up with a way
The Ultimate Local Wine & Food Experience!The Best of Ontario Locally Grown Food and Gourmet Cuisine, Paired with Ontario VQA Wines28 Ontario Wineries - 2 Gourmet Food Trucks - 6 Celebrity Chefs - 3 Culinary Demonstrations, including contestants from Top Chef Canada Season 2Award-winning Ontario VQA wines will be paired with elegant and delectable offerings of regional cuisine inspired by loca
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFTLEGO Cupcakes - Every year as that September chill begins to permeate the air, my sister begins brainstorming the perfect birthday theme for her boyfriend Duncan. In the past Duncan has been thrown everything from a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle party, a Baller party, to this years LEGO party! Despite turning 27 years old, Duncan still has a great appreciation for the sim
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFTBig Foot: I Not Dead - One of my favourite things to do is hang out at my sister Justine's and her boyfriend Duncan's apartment. Not only do I love hanging out with my sister and her boyfriend, who I now consider to pretty much be my brother in law, I love that entering their tiny apartment always feels like a bit of a treasure hunt. There's always some new piece of fur
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFTThe Last Pool Party: Salsa Verde - As the summer days dwindle down it's become painfully clear that our time in our beautiful home is coming to an end. Although it will be most certainly be with a heavy heart that we say farewell to the place I've called home my whole life, my sister and I wanted to send it off with a smile (and alcohol) by hosting a pool party in
I am very lucky to have a lot of people in my life that I care deeply about. These are the people that I would do almost anything for, but there are a special select few in that group of people that I would literally do ANYTHING for. We're talkin' going to the moon and back, taking a bullet, above and beyond, I would do anything. Two of the people who have been in this "I would do anything for you
Agarian Cheese Market & Speakeasy - On Monday my mom and I decided to take a mini road trip for the day to Prince Edward County. We had such a nice time driving around and checking out the scenery, but, of course, our favourite part of any trip is the food. Rather than spending a fortune on lunch at a winery restaurant, we decided to make a quick stop at a cute looking cheese store to grab som
Dr. Laffa - One of the saddest things about coming home from Israel this May was knowing that I would never have a falafel that tastes even near as delicious as the ones I had in Israel. Nervous about even ordering a falafel anywhere in Toronto, fearing the inevitable disappointment, I've found myself shying away from any Middle Eastern restaurants for the past few months (that is unless they have
After finally checking out the Evergreen Brick Works Farmers Market about a month or so ago, I haven't been able to stop day dreaming about the endless possibilities for fillings for savory Crepes! Fascinated by a crepe station set up at the market, serving made-to-order Crepes filled with all sorts of grilled and raw veggies, herbs, and spices, I've been wanting to try my hand at making my own de
Burger's Priest - Unless you've been living under a rock for the past year, you've gotta know that the Burger's Priest has become one of the most talked about burger joints in Toronto! With their commitment to fresh produce and delivering a great product, the Priest has quickly won over the east end with their little location in the Beaches, to now taking on the Uptown families with their rec
