The Best Gift

Are you looking for a gift that satisfies?
Are you looking for a gift that's memorable?
Are you looking for a gift steeped in tradition?
Are you looking for a gift...

Give the gift of food and you are bound to hit all your targets. Give the taste of home to someone who can't make it home this year. Give the gift of a favourite meal. Whatever the reason, your gift of food will be cherished. Read this week's column for suggestions and ideas as to what food gifts you can create to share with your family and friends. When you're done, check out Zu's Spoonful of Christmas event in which many of us took part in 2007 for more food-gift ideas.

I had made flavoured salts and continue to get requests from my friends throughout the year for refills :) Click here for the recipes at the end of the column. Be sure to check out the flavoured sugar recipes as well.

Top left: Cumin Salt; Top right: Chili salt; Bottom: Rosemary Salt

This Pumpkin Pone is bound to be a hit with all pumpkin fans. Fresh coconut, pumpkin and spices come together for celebration that's bound to delight. See the recipe here.

The gift of food is priceless and moreso when given to those in need; let us remember this as we gaze at the bounty spread across our tables.

This is going to be my last post for 2009. My next post, all things being well will be on January 9, 2010. However, I'll be around to check out what you are up to as you cook up a storm :)

As I look back on this year, I will remember it always for it brought me huge challenges and battles unexpected, however, the year is ending on a high and for that I am truly thankful and feel immensely blessed. Thank you for all your love, support and guidance. I pray that you and your loved ones will have a joyful, blessed, safe and peaceful holiday. May the New Year bring you all you wish for, especially good health and happiness.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

AND

A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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Khichri & Kedgeree - Good at Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner!

Khichri - a dish with it's origins in India has travelled to England, to the Caribbean and I am sure to other places where there are large populations of Indian migrants. In this week's column, read about the dish re-interpreted in England and it's place in the Caribbean.

Both dishes have their stars, for Khichri it is lentils and for Kedgeree it is smoked fish

Here's a more traditional-original version

Recipe

Check out Sailu's version.


Here is Kedgeree a well-known breakfast meal in England.

Recipe

Check out Nora's version.

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It's all about The Sides

They can make or break a meal. Very often, they are the most memorable things about a meal; without them, let’s just say that your meal will be average. The entrees will just sit there alone. Lonely. Side dishes are headliners in their own right. Click here for this week's column and recipes to the two potato sides dishes featured: Duchess Potatoes (Pommes Duchesse) and Potatoes Anna (Pommes Anna).

Check out Susan's and Jackie's Duchess Potatoes as well.


Here's another dish that's great for all meat and potatoes lovers, Potatoes Anna! Use a mandoline or your food processor fitted with a slicer.

A cast iron skillet makes excellent work of this but you can definitely use a pie plate. Oh the baked brown bottom is simply outstanding. You'll be saving that for last so that you can savour it.

Remember that you can get both recipes in the column. Click here.

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