SPECULAAS TRUFFLES

When winter starts to roll in the scent of cinnamony gingerbread is very appreciated. In the Netherlands the go to spice mix comparable to gingerbread is speculaas, a combination of cinnamon, ginger, cloves, coriander, anise, pepper, cardamom and nutmeg.

CHICKEN DUMPLING SOUP

The temperature just plummeted here in northern europe. It's gone low enough that I ran to the grocery store for chicken in order to make soup yesterday. Warm delicious soup to stave off the oncoming winter.

CINNAMON SUGAR CHURROS

Churros always take me Barcelona. And not just anywhere in Barcelona, the Barrio Gotico.

In the small winding streets of the old city there is a small Churreria painted vivid blue. It serves up warm and crunchy churros all day long. Though I am mostly lost in the city which is built like a maze, I always manage to get myself to the blue shop to buy a cone of sugared sticks.

I will not be going to Barcelona any time soon so I decided to bring a bit of it's taste to my home.

PEACH CHAMOMILE SORBET

Sweet, juicy, orange fleshed and with a slight floral taste, peaches in season are super good.

The peaches here in Ontario started popping up around fruit stalls recently. The waft you get as you walk past is out of this world. I picked up a bag of peaches the other day and decided to make another frozen treat... Another easy frozen treat.

MIXED BERRY FRO YO

Last week I got on a plane and came back to Toronto for a couple of weeks to escape the un-ending rain of Amsterdam.

It's really great to be back here, I like this city. When I come back I always find something has changed, often for the better. Streets get cleaned up, restaurants open, the west end (where my parents live) gets more and more interesting and the weather is always better than I remember. 

TOMATO STEWED GREENBEANS

Spent the past 3 days painting the balcony. Quite a fulfilling task. Small goals is where it's at!

A laborious 3 days on the balcony means less fun time in the kitchen. These quick stewed green beans are super tasty. I served mine as a side to salmon with a dollop of mustard mayonaise.

QUARK CAKE

A different take on a sweet cheesy treat. German style cheesecake, Quark cake!

Quark is a very fresh cheese with the consistency of yogurt and a slight cheesy tang. You can find Quark in the Netherlands and Germany but in France it's called fromage frais. I can't really say its a favourite straight out of the tub but it does bake up well and this cake is a testament to it.