by on November 24, 2021   •   2 Comments Gift Guides

Fall 2021 Cookbook Recommendations

The Simple Bites kitchen presents a list of cookbook recommendations for both cooking and baking at home.

It’s currently snowing – our first dusting! I’ve parked myself on the sofa under a heated blanket and surrounded myself with cookbooks. Is this my happy place, here by the twinkling Christmas tree? Most definitely.

I know you’ve been waiting for this post. My fall 2021 cookbook recommendations are based on hours of reading and days of cooking and baking (also my happy place).

These are the books that helped me get back into a preserving groove and opened up a whole new world of cookie baking. These books influenced my dinner plans, transformed my leftovers and gave me permission to do the bare minimum sometimes.

This post goes hand in hand with my 2021 Spring Cookbook Round-Up. Review both lists of cookbook recommendations before making your list for Santa!

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by on November 15, 2021   •   1 Comment Cooking School

How to make pretty garnishes for holiday desserts

A collection of simple tutorials to help you make edible garnishes for holiday desserts.

A swirl of cream, a spray of sugared rosemary, a scattering of pomegranate seeds – these flourishes capture the eye and stir the appetite.

Pretty garnishes for holiday desserts are more than just the finishing touch. They show that love and care has gone into a baking creation, and they entice us to reach for them on the sweet table.

Today’s post is all about how to make edible garnishes for holiday desserts that are festive and fun. Nothing is overly complicated, in fact, I’ve even included a list of ‘instant’ garnishes you probably have in your kitchen right now.

It’s a busy post, so let’s jump right in to my tips for creating a showstopper dessert!

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by on November 8, 2021   •   3 Comments Recipes

What to Cook and Bake in November

Frost on the windshield of the car or not, I’m still popping into my local farmer’s market early every Saturday morning and loading up on gorgeous seasonal produce.

I can see my breath in the crisp air as I move from stall to stall. From just-picked pears to newly pulled carrots, the harvest from this year continues to inspire.

From breakfast to dinner, here’s what to cook and bake in November. You’ll definitely want to chop up a pumpkin for comforting soup, roast beets for a vibrant dip, and peel carrots for a classic beef stew.

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by on October 19, 2021   •   3 Comments Desserts

Apple Cider Gingerbread Bundt Cake

If you love the lightness of an apple cider cake and the deep flavours of a gingerbread bundt cake, then you’ll appreciate that this bundt cake has the best of both.

Every autumn in the Simple Bites kitchen there is a window of time when no dessert but a simple snacking cake will do.

This sweet spot is nestled right in between the pie socials of October and the Twelve Days of Holiday Baking Projects in December.

During this cozy season at home, we’re craving neither pie nor cookies, but comforting cakes, served up in thick slices, any time of day or night.

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by on October 13, 2021   •   1 Comment Soups/Stocks/Stews

Vegan Borscht Recipe

Cook up a big bowl of comfort with this vegan borscht recipe. It’s untraditional, but truly celebrates the bounty of fall vegetables.

I frequently simmer a pot of borscht for dinner no matter the season.

Whether I have fresh baby beets and greens from the garden or merely a tired head of cabbage in winter, this soup is in regular rotation.

Borscht never fails to satisfy; I guess that is why it is one of my comfort foods. Also? My mother is Ukrainian, so I grew up on this vibrant beet soup and the cravings are real.

You won’t miss beef or kielbasa in this veggie-packed vegan borscht recipe. I make this version when the produce is fresh at my local farmer’s market and I want all the flavours to shine on their own.

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