Swiss chard

Rooftop to table: spaghetti with roasted swiss chard, eggplant, tomatoes and carrots

Roasted veggies, picked from U of T's rooftop garden. (Recipe at the end of this post.) Downtown Toronto may be known as a concrete jungle, but the University of Toronto campus is blessed with lush pockets of greenery -- towering walls of ivy, manicured beds of perennials and even a tropical bamboo garden. Every day this … Continue reading Rooftop to table: spaghetti with roasted swiss chard, eggplant, tomatoes and carrots

baked French toast with blueberries, figs and maple syrup

Baked French toast with fresh figs and berries

After a long, steamy summer in Toronto, it feels like Mother Nature declared tropical season over with a dramatic wave of her arm. To help ease the transition into autumn, let's shift our appetite to French toast. Baked in a sweet, creamy batter. Topped with oats, almond slices and coconut flakes, and a sprinkling of … Continue reading Baked French toast with fresh figs and berries

pineapple rice bowl

Pineapple boat with spicy fried rice

This summer I'm having so much fun dishing up food in bowls made from food, like this vodka watermelon slush last week. Here, pineapple is sure to impress the party as a vessel for Thai-style fried rice. It's also ideal for noodles, salads, fruit, smoothies and yogurt bowls. When you're done, don't toss the leafy crown—the … Continue reading Pineapple boat with spicy fried rice

vodka watermelon slush bowl

Vodka watermelon slush

Summer's quintessential fruit makes a cool cocktail when vodka enters the scene. Refreshingly sweet and tangy to keep you hydrated during a heat wave, it's even more fun when the slush is served up in a watermelon bowl. Prep time: 10 minutesBlending time: 10 minutesTotal time: 20 minutes 1 medium watermelonjuice of 1 lime1/3 to … Continue reading Vodka watermelon slush

eggplant black bean tacos

Eggplant tacos with spicy black bean sauce

The Chinese eggplant — smothered in a thick black bean sauce, loaded with ginger and garlic — is a staple of Sichuan cooking and versatile with rice and noodles. Here, the classic dish is reimagined as tacos. Pungent, salty and slightly sweet at the same time, it's a lip-smacking, greasy way to spice up your … Continue reading Eggplant tacos with spicy black bean sauce

savoury French toast

French toast with portobello mushrooms, roasted garlic and thyme

The classic French toast recipe—cooked in butter and cream, drenched in maple syrup and sprinkled with cinnamon—is adapted here into savoury bliss on a plate. This vegan version calls for thick slices of bread dipped in a chickpea flour batter, fried in coconut oil, spiced with turmeric, thyme and roasted garlic, and topped with sautéed … Continue reading French toast with portobello mushrooms, roasted garlic and thyme