by on April 12, 2021   •   1 Comment Recipes

The Best Asparagus Recipes

A helpful round-up of the best asparagus recipes to make this season.

Spring has arrived and I couldn’t be more excited.

I’m soaking in the sunshine and eagerly awaiting the first garden produce to finally make its appearance. My chives are up, in a deep green bouquet, and the peas and spinach shouldn’t be far behind.

Bundles of asparagus bring a much anticipated burst of green after a long winter. It’s delicious at its simplest: lightly steamed, grilled or roasted with a squeeze of lemon.

Asparagus is also a very versatile vegetable that adds a lot of nutrition to galettes, quiche, pizzas, and more! Today’s round-up of the best asparagus recipes includes plenty of inspiration for the whole spring season.

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by on March 15, 2021   •   7 Comments Desserts

Rhubarb Carrot Cake with Vanilla Mascarpone Frosting

A lightly spiced rhubarb carrot cake recipe with a creamy, dreamy frosting that’s perfect for any spring celebration.

This sophisticated snacking cake features winter carrots and the first rhubarb of the year in a marvellous merging of two seasons.

I’m so excited to bring you this recipe after many rounds of testing. Part spiced carrot cake and part rhubarb coffee cake, this is the springtime dessert mashup you need as winter melts away.

It’s scented with cinnamon and nutmeg and generously frosted with a decadent whipped mascarpone. But it’s those jammy nuggets of baked rhubarb inside that really make this carrot cake unique.

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by on January 18, 2021   •   4 Comments Breakfast & Baked Goods

A Great, Basic Crêpe Recipe

Beginners can learn how to make a basic crêpe recipe with this tutorial, including recommended tools and suggested toppings.

Before the days of sheltering in place, homemade crêpes were only a special occasion food in our home. Often requested as a birthday breakfast, these elegant, lacy pancakes were revered by my kiddos as the ultimate treat.

Our first lockdown last spring changed all of that, when we found ourselves with more time on our hands than ever before. My 8-year-old, Clara, showed a keen interest in learning a great, basic crêpe recipe.

She also brought a deft hand for swirling the batter and an attentiveness to the stove. Call it a homeschooling culinary lesson or call it cravings, crêpes made the menu once a week and have remained in our repertoire ever since.

Frying crêpes for a family of five is a true labour of love. There are no real shortcuts. I can, however, recommend acquiring an apprentice to join you in the kitchen. After all, two pans are better than one.

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by on January 11, 2021   •   6 Comments Soups/Stocks/Stews

Creamy Carrot Ginger Soup

A simple vegan recipe for Creamy Carrot Ginger Soup, bolstered by chickpeas and seasoned with a hint of warming Garam Masala. A winter staple.

In case you’re feeling like you haven’t found your groove in the new year yet, you’re not alone. I’m beginning to accept the fact that I may not ever get into an acceptable routine for 2021.

Amid the ongoing changes and global uncertainty, there are still some constants: the stability of the kitchen, the availability of root vegetables, and the comfort of homemade soup.

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by on December 7, 2020   •   9 Comments Snacks & Appetizers

The Best Roasted Beet and Walnut Dip

An easy winter recipe for a vibrant beet and walnut dip. Swirled with sour cream and topped with dill, it’s a luxurious and festive appetizer.

All winter long I’m never without a sack of beets in my cold room. I roast them up in batches about once a week and stash them in the fridge, where they keep for about 4-5 days.

A surplus of cooked beets is necessary to have around in the Simple Bites kitchen. Recipes like the kid’s favourite Chocolate Beet Snack Cake and today’s beet and walnut dip are in regular rotation all season.

I’ve been meaning to share this quick, do-ahead appetizer that I make every year around the holidays. The vibrantly coloured dip, paired with crisp winter vegetables, is exactly what I want to eat to balance out all the cookies.

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