Posted by Billie-Jean | Jun 6th, 2011

Meat and Bread

Lately I have been in a season of eating more than cooking.  One of my favorite things about living in Vancouver is the abundance of excellent food that we have.  What is really amazing is that we can eat some of the best food world-wide for very cheap.  I have a very hard time paying a lot of money for food unless the product itself is expensive to buy.  My eating journey in Vancouver is based on those little...

Posted by Billie-Jean | Jun 1st, 2011

Dribble Monster Cupcakes

My little cupcake queen has made yet again some delightful cupcakes.  I love these especially because they are easy to make with small kids and allows them to really get in there with their hands and creativity.  Again, the fun of these are the simplicity.  We are not talking about perfection but tasty and fun.  My daughter and her friend walked to the store and bought a boxed cake mix and a tub of white icing...

Posted by Billie-Jean | May 23rd, 2011

La Taqueria

There is nothing in this world like an authentic Mexican taco. I have been to many Mexican restaurants in Vancouver but this one tops any taco I have eaten here. I was in Cabo San Lucas in March and this definitely compares to some of the taco stands there. The quality, freshness, staff and locale all make me grin. I just had to blog about it. The menu is simple and affordable. You can buy 4 tacos for 9.50 and...

Posted by Billie-Jean | Apr 28th, 2011

Italian Muffaletta

It is Spring, officially picnic season.  I thought of doing an Italian picnic so  I began doing some research and got an idea that has always piqued my interest every time I see it in photos or cookbooks.  So I decided to make a  muffuletta.  It originated in New Orleans and was made for the working class as a way to put all the specialty Italian meats and cheeses into one big sandwich instead of eating...

Posted by Billie-Jean | Apr 21st, 2011

Honey Lemon Crock Pot Chicken

My house smells heavenly right now.  It is filled with lemon, thyme, honey and garlic.  The best part is that all the work is done at 10am in the morning and my chicken dish can cook all day long creating layer upon layer of flavor.  A couple of years ago I made Gordon Ramsay’s Sticky Lemon Chicken and my kids LOVED it.  I decided to try another variation on this and the result was biblical goodness. The...

Posted by Billie-Jean | Apr 18th, 2011

Hawaiian Pizza Epiphany

I had an epiphany today.  A moment where my personal truth intersected with my desire to be creative.   I was thinking about all the unique and different ways I could make pizza and even ways I have already tried.  I thought of butter chicken pizza, Thanksgiving pizza (turkey, cranberries and stuffing on pizza), tuna and fried egg pizza (a nod to my time in Italy), scallop and prosciutto pizza (which I am...

Posted by Billie-Jean | Apr 15th, 2011

Marshmallow Mermaid Pie-The Waitress

One of my favorite movies is ‘The Waitress” with Keri Russell.  There was not much buzz about it back in 2007 but if you are a lover of pie, it is a MUST see.  This movie has inspired me to cook from my gut and from who I am.  There are a whole list of pies she makes in the movie, some with a recipe and some without one.  I made the pie she invented when she was 9 years old (in her mermaid phase). ...

Posted by Billie-Jean | Apr 13th, 2011

Bodacious Beets

    I place beets, like turnips and leeks, under my personal heading of ‘unsung hero’.  Sure pickled beets have made their mark, but what about that pile of earthy, red, misshapen globes that you see at farmer’s markets and grocery stores?  We walk by them and snub them like they only belong in borscht or as an adjective for the color of ones face.  But did you know that the beet  has...

Posted by Billie-Jean | Mar 22nd, 2011

Fresh Minted Green Pea Puree

This dish will make you very happy.  It is a delightful side to any protien.  I served it along with a nice baked sablefish. I wish I had taken pictures of the meal together.  The pea puree is light, and incredibly fresh tasting.  It is like spring on a plate!! Ingredients 2 cups fresh or frozen spring green peas 4 tablespoons heavy cream 14 fresh mint leaves, finely chopped pinch of sugar salt white...

Posted by Billie-Jean | Feb 21st, 2011

Beef Carpaccio with Parmesan and Dijon Vinaigrette

I am going to a dinner soiree this evening and am in charge of the “lavish” appetizer.  I was wondering what to make and then thought of what I would normally order in a restaurant.  The last time I had beef carpaccio I was quite delighted with it.  I began researching how to make it at home and came up with a million and one different methods.  The most common was to freeze it, then slice it, then...