cup & carry

Pesto

Miranda McMurray — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 18:33:22 +0000

Well, hello again! It feels like quite a while since my last post, and it certainly has been as long as it seems. The end of summer turned into a lot of time spent moving, being outdoors and getting settled in our new place. I took a little break that turned into a longer break, [...]

Cherries!

Miranda McMurray — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 17:14:24 +0000

We recently lucked out with a major score of fresh Okanagan cherries. Normally I visit Penticton and the surrounding area mid-way through the summer, in perfect time for the middle of cherry season. I can never resist picking up a flat of cherries (and peaches, and apricots, and … well, you have already heard of [...]

Summer salad with blackened chicken

Miranda McMurray — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 18:25:47 +0000

We have a bumper crop of basil growing in wine crates on our patio and in a pot on our windowsill. That might imply that I have a fantastically green thumb, but really I take credit for the indoor plant only. The outdoor bounty is a result of buying a couple of huge plants from [...]

Lavender Earl Grey Tea

Miranda McMurray — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 00:20:45 +0000

There’s nothing like a good cuppa to perk up a morning, afternoon or evening. I thoroughly enjoy all manner of adult beverages, but my heart has always belonged to tea. To me tea is comfort, relaxation and decadence rolled into one. Maybe not when you haphazardly dunk a Red Rose teabag into a cup of water on [...]

Mediterranean Quinoa Salad

Miranda McMurray — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 19:38:51 +0000

Summer seems the perfect time to take a fresh look at the food we eat. We’re surrounded by local abundance – fresh fruit, veggies, farmers markets and traveling opportunities to broaden our culinary horizons. BBQ season provides ample opportunity to get outside, lighten up and leave the rich sauces behind for the season. I’m trying [...]

Strawberry rhubarb crisp

Miranda McMurray — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 04:25:37 +0000

Growing up, I knew one kind of crisp: apple. It was always a favourite, and being “only” apple didn’t diminish my love for it at all. In fact it was always one of those perfect indications that fall was in full swing. The smell of apples and oats warming the kitchen, the soft scent of [...]

Raspberry Peach Jam

Miranda McMurray — Sat, 07 Jul 2012 00:36:00 +0000

For someone who doesn’t eat a lot of bread, I happen to adore jam. I’ve been making it annually since I was about 18, and after all this time I’m not sure what I like more: the process, the fruit, the packaging or the delicious results. There’s something delightfully rustic about making jam, something that [...]

Cherry Cheesecake

Miranda McMurray — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 15:58:41 +0000

Summertime is the perfect time to simplify in the kitchen. Time to fire up the grill, eat fresh and enjoy drinks that come by the pitcher. It’s also likely hot where you live, if you live anywhere other than Vancouver, and in the heat of summer turning on the oven seems sacrilege. Time to turn to [...]

The Porch Crawler

Miranda McMurray — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 23:15:36 +0000

Now that Canada Day is quickly approaching, it’s time to start breaking out the summertime staples. The Porch Crawler is just one of those. Along with shorts and sprinklers, it’s a perennial crowd-pleaser, a potent and seemingly awkward combination of elements. As far as the drink goes, it’s simple stuff – cheap beer, vodka and [...]

Maple syrup mini doughnuts

Miranda McMurray — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 16:07:07 +0000

When asked to describe “Canadian” food, I’m always at a loss. From coast to coast and in between there are so many regional specialties and delectibles, but to think of one food that is representative of the whole is a challenge. At the risk of feeding into a well-established stereotype, there’s one item that always pops up [...]