Smoky Duck Breasts on a Charcoal Grill (with Charred Tomatoes)

Smoky duck breasts, seasoned with herbes de Provence and grilled over charcoal, combine tender meat, crisp skin, and the aroma of open-fire cooking. Grilled tomatoes add a sweet, charred balance over fresh arugula and soft mozzarella. Top with freshly grated Parmesan and a drizzle of olive oil for a simple yet elegant dish where smoky, savoury, and fresh flavours come together beautifully.

Pan-Seared Veal Cutlets with Za’atar

Friends introduced us to the za’atar spice during a salsa and mango chutney canning session. The enchanting aroma of this Middle Eastern spice is earthy and herbal, with a touch of citrus. When I smell it I think of a warm bread coming from the oven. Za’atar can be used to season vegetables, added to…

Potatoes baked in chicken stock

Ralph can’t remember where his inspiration for this starchy side was from but just remembered that the potatoes were somehow baked in chicken stock, which infuses the potatoes with rich flavour. He tried to keep this first try simple, especially since we are using our own homemade stock. You can add in crushed cloves, onions…

Spargel (white asparagus) with Hollandaise and potatoes

It’s Spargelzeit ‘asparagus time’ in Germany! Spargel is very popular here. Full menus are dedicated to this white gold of vegetables, and Germans have no problem paying the high price when first available in the season. White asparagus is grown under mounds of dirt to allow them to thicken and not produce chlorophyl before picking….

Seafood Lasagna with Ricotta

This recipe is Ralph’s sea treasure version to our Meaty Cheesy Lasagna. He made the lasagna noodles and fresh ricotta from scratch, but to save time you can replace both with store-bought alternatives. Ralph likes to use fresh tomatoes for added moisture, even though in winter they don’t have much flavour. He also prefers ricotta…

Meaty Cheesy Lasagna

Nothing says comfort food like a lasagna. This is a great dish to make a lot of, so you can freeze smaller portions for a quick reheated meal during the week. You can make lasagna anytime of the year, but I find winter is best to warm up your kitchen and fill your house with…

Air Fryer Shrimp & Turkey Spring Rolls

Buying an air fryer was not my idea; it was my son’s. I didn’t agree with it, as I didn’t know anything about them and thought it was just one more appliance to clutter up our kitchen. I told him that if he wanted it, he would need to buy it. So he ordered it….