Rooted In Canada
Caribbean Chicken — A Toast to Bacardi Man
A story about a father nicknamed Bacardi-Man, a rum I finally learned to love, and the Caribbean chicken skewers that became my go-to for feeding friends.
Kind Deeds, and Janie’s Double Chocolate Chip Cookies
A story about back spasms after my youngest was born, the church women who carried my family through it, and the chocolate cinnamon cookies my friend Janie always seemed to bring.
Summer Salads: Silvana’s Curried Rice Salad
A potluck salad that started with a doctor's wife and a barbecue invitation — now Sue's go-to for every summer gathering. Sweet, savoury, and better the longer it sits.
Peasant Bread and Cottage Baking
A borrowed library book, warm water and yeast, and a father who punched the dough like he knew what he was doing. The cottage bread that started it all — and the no-knead peasant loaf that brings it back every time.
Rhubarb Pie and the most neglected plant in the garden
A backyard hedge, a bowl of sugar, and a rhubarb plant nobody could kill — the memories behind a pie that's anything but the typical strawberry-rhubarb.
5-Star Chocolate Chip Cookies
A classic chocolate chip cookie recipe shared between lifelong friends. Crispy edges, chewy centres — and just as good with mini eggs, pecans, or caramel.
Spiced Blueberry Jam
A small-batch spiced blueberry jam with cinnamon and cloves. Sue's favourite for over 20 years — spread on toast with cream cheese. Recipe inside.
Grandma's Kitchen: Piccalilli & (Almost) Grandma's Sweet Chili Sauce
A story about a grandmother who cooked for a lumber camp, crystal pickle dishes on a dining room table, and the preserves I've spent decades trying to recreate.