At Home with Kim Vallee

ENTERTAINING, HOLIDAY entertaining | October 31, 2009

Last-Minute Recipes for Halloween

In case you are looking for more inspirations on what to serve at your Halloween party. + This Pumpkin Soup in a small pumpkin bowl is elegant. You could recycle the idea for Thanksgiving. Via Noob Cook. + Devilled egss are back in vogue. The Spooky spider eggs are a cute adaptation of the classic. The decoration [...]

OFF topics | October 5, 2009

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Gourmet Magazine To Fold

I read on the New Times this morning that Condé Nast plans to announce that it will close 4 magazines: Gourmet, Cooking, Modern Bride, and Elegant Bride. I told you last January about the fact that Condé Nast will need to consolidate its cooking magazines into one. With the current status of the magazine industry, Condé Nast [...]

COOKING tools, DINING | September 11, 2009

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Tulip Baking Cups

If you are looking for a twist of the typical muffin cups, look at these Tulip baking cups. They are designed to fit the standard 2-inch muffin pans. These four-petal cups are made of Swedish greaseproof white or brown paper. They come in three sizes. Make sure you get the tallest model (2 3/4) since it [...]

COOKBOOKS, DINING | September 6, 2009

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The Appeal of Home Canning and Preserving

Old cooking traditions are hot again. According to an article on the Globe and Mail, the younger generations enrolled in canning workshops. I feel that it is simply a continuation of the grow your own vegetable garden movement and the desire to eat better. My mother was running her own business when I was a kid [...]

DINING, FOOD + drinks | September 2, 2009

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What to Do with Fresh Tomatoes?

If you grow your own garden, chances are that you have plenty of tomatoes ready to be harvested. If you are out of ideas on how to use them, I got one cooking technique and two recipes for you. No-pain Crushed Tomatoes If the recipe called for a can of crushed tomatoes, make your own. On Gourmet, [...]

COOKING tools, DINING | September 1, 2009

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From Vintage Style to Modern at Cosas

A Spanish name for a Swedish retailer is a good clue that you are dealing with a creative crew. Cosas sell their own products or products manufactured in cooperation with designers and craftsmen. I like to browse their catalogue from time to time to discover what I consider to be the most interesting items. Bengt Ek Design [...]

DINING, FOOD + drinks | September 1, 2009

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Fourth Season of David Rocco’s Dolce Vita Premieres in 2 weeks

As a fan, I am happy to tell you that a new season of David Rocco’s Dolce Vita will premiere September 14th, 2009. The show will air each Monday on Food Network Canada at 8 am, 11:30 am and 7:30 pm. For the first episode, David throws a fall festa at his farmhouse for friends and [...]

COOKBOOKS, DINING | July 14, 2009

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Create More Delicious Meals with the Flavor Bible | Book review

Beside mastering cooking techniques, the best way to improve your cooking is by learning how to balance flavor. First, you need to know which ingredients complement each other. You also need to know how flavor develops. This book is filled with tips, guidelines and basic principles that you can use in your own kitchen. For [...]