RECIPES

Easy Duck Prosciutto (a nitrate-free recipe)

May 8, 2020 by Sylvia Rose 8 Comments

This easy duck prosciutto recipe will leave you wondering why you haven’t made this before now. Plus, there’s something so satisfying about slicing up charcuterie you cured yourself!

THE PERFECT CURING PROJECT FOR BEGINNERS

Before making this easy duck prosciutto recipe for the first time, I thought curing meat was a complicated process best left to the pros.

Michael Ruhlman and Brian Polcyn, the authors of Charcuterie: The Craft of Salting, Smoking and Curing, showed me I was wrong.

Their recipe, which is the one I’ll be sharing with you today, calls for three simple ingredients: kosher salt, a duck breast, and white pepper.

Other than that, you’ll need a non-reactive container (like glass), cheesecloth and kitchen string.

Oh, and a bit of time and a cool spot for curing.

You might not want to hear this, but you’ll need a minimum of eight days from start to finish.

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Foraging for Garlic Mustard and How to Use It

May 5, 2020 by Sylvia Rose 9 Comments

Garlic mustard is an invasive species that was brought over to North America by European settlers at the turn of the 19th century. Foraging for garlic mustard not only helps the native plant species in affected areas, but it’s fun to play with culinary-wise, too!

WHAT’S GARLIC MUSTARD?

If you’re new to foraging, garlic mustard is an invasive plant species that was introduced to North America at the turn of the 19th century.

The European settlers valued it for its medicinal and culinary properties.

Today, it’s seen as a weed and for conservationists, one that’s threatening native species.

In forests, garlic mustard is starving native plant species by robbing them of the soil fungi they need to thrive.

This is why conservationists are starting to encourage people to pick this plant.

Some other names that it goes by include Penny Hedge, Poor Man’s Mustard, and Garlic Root.

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Simple Seared Duck Breast & Arugula Salad

May 1, 2020 by Sylvia Rose Leave a Comment

Learning how to sear a duck breast is a kitchen skill every meat eater should master. Today we’re diving into how to cook a juicy medium-rare duck breast to top an arugula salad with a zesty French vinaigrette. Delicious!

WHY SHOULD I EAT DUCK?

If you’re a meat-eater, learning how to serve up a juicy medium-rare duck breast is a kitchen skill you will want to have in your arsenal.

Although duck is lumped under the poultry category, it is red meat and it is absolutely delicious.

Did you know that duck is healthy, too?

While duck skin is fatty, duck fat is rich in vitamin K, which is something we should all be striving for in our diets.

Overall, duck is a flavourful nutrient-dense protein that should be way more popular than it is.

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Asparagus and Cherry Tomato Sesame Salad

April 24, 2020 by Sylvia Rose Leave a Comment

This asparagus and cherry tomato sesame salad is as striking as it is flavourful. Tossed in an Asian-inspired vinaigrette, this summery salad aims to please.

THE BEST ASPARAGUS SALAD EVER

The idea for this salad probably would have slipped by me completely had I not worked in pastry.

For a couple of years, I worked for a boulangerie that not only sold bread and pastries, but also breakfast, lunch and dinner. This included hot meals, sandwiches, soups and salads.

One of these salads was this asparagus and cherry tomato salad with an Asian-inspired dressing that always knocked my socks off.

It was (and still is) my favourite salad in the whole wide world, but despite working there for two years, would you believe I never got the recipe?

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Pesto Tuna Melt Sandwich: an Easy Lunch Idea

April 17, 2020 by Sylvia Rose Leave a Comment

Whipping up a pesto tuna melt makes for a quick and easy lunch. A crusty baguette topped with pesto butter, pesto tuna salad, and melty mozzarella cheese.

PESTO TUNA MELTS: AN EASY LUNCH

Whenever I’m stumped on what to make for lunch, I know my pantry will have the answer.

That’s the best thing about a pesto tuna melt–or any tuna melt, for that matter. I almost always have everything I need to whip a couple up. Here’s what you’ll need!

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Perfect Scrambled Eggs (They’re So Creamy!)

April 14, 2020 by Sylvia Rose 2 Comments

Once you get a taste for how velvety and scrumptious scrambled eggs can be, it’s hard to go back. Perfect scrambled eggs can’t be rushed, but they’re so worth it!

Some of you might not want to hear this, but the secret behind making perfect scrambled eggs is time and patience!

To get flavourful, velvety eggs, you need to give yourself a bit of time.

There’s a reason why most restaurants don’t serve up perfect scrambled eggs: it takes too long!

The key is cooking them low and slow.

Are you ready to begin?

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