This blueberry version of Pouding Chômeur is sure to brighten up a gloomy day! Blueberry pudding cake • Photography © Bottle and Brush Studio 2021 A pudding cake is a simple recipe and only requires staple and affordable ingredients. The traditional Québéc dessert “ Pouding Chômeur ” (unemployed pudding) wears its name for that reason. There are many variants, like my Berry Picker Pudding Cake . This one is a bit lighter (with milk instead of cream) and cheaper (with brown s

A simple and classic holiday treat from Québec that never fails to bring joy and laughter! Pets de soeurs • Photography © Bottle and Brush Studio 2021 Okay... let's just start with the words "pets de soeurs". It means nuns' farts. Don't worry; they smell and taste pretty good! This is another funny French Canadian dish named with a vague origin. Most sources say that Québec and Acadian nuns used to prepare them with leftover pie dough. When the classic " tourtières " (meat p

Enjoy the rich pork belly taste with a perfect blend of festive and seasonal flavours. Pork belly is a very popular cut of fatty pork in...

A variation of the humble Québec-style shepherd’s pie with freshly harvested vegetables. Garden version of a Québec-style shepherd's pie • Photography © Bottle and Brush Studio 2021 A shepherd's pie is an old and typical dish to people from many countries of Europe, North America and Oceania... but there are recipe variants and ways to name it depending on where you come from. In most English-speaking countries, a shepherd's pie is made with lamb and a cottage pie with beef.

Here is an excellent tuna cake recipe made with pantry staples and garden ingredients. When summer is almost over and you are growing...

This combination of elephant garlic and bushspices with parmesan on bread is so worth trying! When I discovered that the perennial...

A chicken roasted with a bouquet of herbs and garlic, a perfect recipe for a cloudy summer day. I really love a roast chicken from time...

A recipe with miniature eggs and buns, inspired by the Québec traditional "guédilles". A Québec-style guédille is a roll with a grilled...

A quick way to use all those little tomatoes popping out from the garden at the speed of light! When the garden is overflowing with...

There is no better way to preserve abundant zucchinis than some good jars of pickles! Any backyard veggie growers know that all varieties...

Inspired by the French Canadian traditional “Pouding Chômeur”, made with frozen berries. Berry sweet version of the Canadian "Pouding chômeur" • Photography © Bottle and Brush Studio 2020 “Pouding” means pudding, and “chômeur” means unemployed worker. “ Pouding chômeur ” is a Québec traditional dessert created during the Great Depression and was initially made with affordable ingredients like flour, butter, milk and brown sugar. This pudding cake is a sweet, syrupy sauce topp

Discover the rich, complex flavour of birch syrup in this woodland-inspired pork dish! Birch syrup marinated pork dish • Photography © Bottle and Brush Studio 2019 Trees and forests have always inspired me, and learning to cook with ingredients gathered from the landscapes of both my native Canada and adoptive Australia has opened up many delicious new ideas. I first discovered birch syrup during a visit to Québec a few years ago. To my surprise, I had never tasted it while l

This Australian native greens and bush tomato scone is absolutely delicious and a real winner! Warrigal Greens is a wild spinach native...

The taste of a summer garden captured in a jar of homemade seasoning! This salt blend is a homemade version of the old “herbamare”. With...

Elevate your party snack platter with these crunchy treats. Roasted pecans and macadamias with maple syrup and spices © Bottle and Brush Studio 2021 Here is a superb snack recipe that most people go “nuts” with when served as a nibble or as part of a party platter. But beware, these babies are so good they will call you for more…! The combination of pecan and macadamia has a lovely contrast in shape, colour and texture. Still, this recipe can also be made with other varietie

An excellent way to preserve fresh culinary herbs, inspired by the Québec “Herbes Salées”. Freshly made Salted Preserved Herbs • Photography © Bottle and Brush Studio 2020 The term “herbes salées” (salted herbs) comes from the French province of Québec and is a traditional condiment for seasoning. My friend Geneviève-Amélie, born in the region that created and produces the classic blend of Herbes salées du Bas-du-Fleuve, introduced me to this method. Many herb varieties can b

Spring in the garden means a marathon of leaves, but nothing is wasted with green pesto! There is no need to wait until the basil is...