How to Freeze Leftover Lobster

Having a plethora of excess lobster meat isn’t exactly a typical problem around our house (though I wish it were) but it has happened on occasion.  Oddly, one of the most frequent questions I’ve heard about lobster is, “Can I freeze leftovers?”

How to Freeze Leftover Lobster Lobster [Read more...]

Super Reduced Stocks Make for Easy Storage and Cooking

This is two pictures of the same thing – roughly 10 liters of stock reduced A LOT:

Super Reduced Stocks Make for Easy Storage and Cooking goodpic Cooking Recipes Bones [Read more...]

Preserving Roasted Red Peppers – Preserving Summer Bonus Post

For those of you following along with our series, you`ll be expecting a post on what many consider the holy grail of dinner preserves – the almighty tomato.  If you`re expecting that today, you`ll have to come back tomorrow – we`re throwing a bonus in; a quick piece on preserving roasted peppers.

Roasted red peppers are one of the great secrets of our tomato sauce – they are added at time of cooking and one of the easiest things to preserve in the world.  I adore how fast they are to process and that I get to use a BBQ in the process.

Preserving Roasted Red Peppers   Preserving Summer Bonus Post Preserving Recipes Peppers (Bell) Bell Pepper [Read more...]

Freezer Pesto

I don’t know if you are tiring of hearing of the woods and the traditions we hold dear in the north – let’s take a break and head to the kitchen for some of the easiest preserving (and most practical) known to man, woman or child.

Do you have a selection of herbs that you are afraid may turn the corner of freshness?  Are you worried about losing a fridgefull – or even a garden full – of them?  When we run into this, we make pesto and whatever we don’t use we freeze in cupcake liners.

These handy little packages freeze well from 9-12 months and can be added (sans paper) to soup, stew, dips, sauces or other meals as needed.  They are a wonderful flavor boost that we use through the winter to remind us of summers bounty and hold us through to the next year.

Preserving the main harvest finally slows down…with roasted red peppers

Local preserving season is slowing down with the quieting of the harvest.  One can still pickle onions, beets, garlic and other cellared delights but the variety is not as boundless as early autumn.

Preserving roasted peppers typically mark the closing of the harvest for our family.  They are the easiest batch of preserving we do in a year and one of my favourites through the winter.  We usually use Sheppard peppers (which are long and red) and/ or hot peppers (often processed separately) but anything fresh and local will do.

Preserving the main harvest finally slows down...with roasted red peppers Preserving Recipes Peppers (Bell) Bell Pepper [Read more...]

How to preserve crab meat

Let us just suppose that you find yourself in Nova Scotia one day soon.  Let us pretend that you are visiting family.  Let us imagine that they are wonderful and, to boot, they have access to very affordable seafood.  By very affordable, let us imagine that you can purchase almost 100 pounds of live crab for $80 Canadian.  What is one to do…

Look closely at the picture below – the large bowl in the front is wider than the back of the chairs at the table.  We estimate the total weight of meat below to weigh almost 40 pounds.

How to preserve crab meat Preserving Recipes Crab [Read more...]

Pickled Garlic Scapes and Pesto

Another wonderful weekend.  We`ve been noshing on leftovers from last week (Dana made a wonderful pasta and some asparagus soup made with our leftover asparagus ends from the pickled asparagus we made last weekend), connecting with more great food people and exploring our city.  We even had a quiet date night with a slow dinner on the Danforth last night and a visit with friends on the beach in Toronto on Sunday.

We had another great visit to the Brick Works farmers market again.  The growing season is really revving into full gear and variety is starting to fill the tables and some wonderful offerings.  We were there in the early afternoon which limited selection but gave us a relaxed tour and plenty of time to visit with some old friends.

Pickled Garlic Scapes and Pesto Preserving Recipes Garlic Scape [Read more...]