Baking at the cottage: raspberry pie

Raspberries are special.

They’re intricate. Think of that hive of tiny, hair-studded spheres that slips off its torus when perfectly ripe.

They’re delicate. Eat them from your cupped palm, and streaky stains of their crimson juice will be left behind.

They’re luscious. Deeply flavoured with tart and sweet and floral notes all at once, they taste exactly what you’d ...
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Marmalade and dark chocolate tart

This recipe was born of necessity.

While recently reviewing a cookbook, I tried a recipe for Seville orange marmalade that, while extremely delicious, had the consistency of cement. (I suspect the recipe neglects to instruct followers to top up the water level after the oranges go through their first boil.)

Since it was clear that this marmalade ...
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Pastéis de nata (Portuguese custard tarts)

I say “natas”; you say “custard tarts.” We’re both right and they’re one of the simplest, most delicious pastries around. You’ll find a little history behind this popular sweet and tasting notes on natas from some Toronto bakeries in my “A Tart for All-Comers” piece published over at TasteT.O. this ...
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Lime tart with fresh raspberries

I know. I know! It’s yet another dessert post.

I’m just as surprised as you are, as I’ll gladly side with savoury over sweet every single time. But what can I say? There are worse things in which to revel than sweets, and revelling in them I have been indeed if my recent food writing is ...
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An old friend: lemon meringue pie

Lemon meringue pie and I go way back.

I have filmy, fragile memories of my mom making it in the kitchen of the house I lived in until I was eight. In those days there was Tenderflake lard for the crust, Shirriff mix for the filling, and after being amazed every single time that clear, viscous egg ...
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“Sweet tooth” graffito, Riverside District

Jess over at O Solo Mama would like you to know the seven weirdest things about me. Because I tend to be rather long winded (see? I’m admitting my problem. It’s the first step towards recovery), I’m only going to give you five. But to put a little twist on this meme affair, I will ...
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