Savoury Bacon & Corn Muffins with Aged Canadian Cheddar

I remember way back to a time when I was just a kid. I was young and small and the pencil marks that adorned the wall had a new line that indicated I was taller than a few weeks previous. I had probably grown but a finger or so but I was adamant it was time for another measurement. And I remember boldly exclaiming, "I'm a big boy now, mom!" Little did I know.

I cherish those memories and remember them as vividly as new ones created recently. I remember thinking how big I was yet still needed a boost when I dragged one of the kitchen chairs over by the counter to watch my mom work. Rinsing and prepping and cooking all under my watchful eyes. She would reach down and pick me up under my arms and fling me on the chair. And I would sit there and watch and watch until my attention span took me somewhere else, doing something else.

Off I went.

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Sunday Brunch: Smoked Salmon Sandwich with Asparagus Tartar

    
Sunday. Thank goodness for days like this. The alarm clock stashed away for another day, the coffee set to start later than usual and the calendar is empty. Blank. I usually put an X across these days because they're meant for slowing down and catching up. I take a zen-like approach to the day and do things when I feel like doing them. Simple Sundays.

We have our routines on weekends. Simple routines. They stay constant by changing. Coffee and pastry made the day before and talks about life and dreams. Both kinds. And when the morning light opens up for the day, I head to the market and shop. Groceries, fresh herbs and produce. Sunday love.
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Poached Egg Sandwich with Spinach, Tomatoes, Bacon and Parmesan

The alarm clock shot music through our room at 6 a.m. this morning, as if it was released from a cannon. It was too loud, too forgettable and persistent, fighting back every time I hit that large snooze button. I fought it. The song won.

My wife and I had a shoot to wake up for, hence the early wake-up call on a normally relaxed Saturday morning. She hurried off to start the coffee and pack the cameras as I drifted in and out of sleep for a few more minutes. A little bit longer. It was a losing battle but I was set on knocking out a few more zzz's. The alarm clock played the villain once again. 
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Lemony Eggs Benedict with Arugula

There was this fantastic spot for brunch in Toronto a few blocks from where I grew up.  It landed a couple of blocks from uptown, where money flows like water. We lived nearby, partly due to luck and part circumstance. Either way, we were surrounded by more options than one really needs. And every time a place lay claim to being the "in" spot, a new one appeared and took the title with a flurry. 


Oliver's, if the story is correct, was started by a man who used to deliver quality food to local businesses at lunch and his food was such a hit that he decided to open up a restaurant in the same area. Lucky us. The one downside of growing up in an area where people are seen to be seen, are the lineups that form outside one of these new hot spots. Nobody stood a chance with the aroma drifting from the front windows, which were usually swung open during the spring and summer. Any passerby was stopped dead in his tracks as soon as the scent of fresh baked goods hit them. 

Growing up I used to follow my parents whenever they went out for breakfast, brunch or lunch. This was one of the perks of being a kid. And when my parents said they were heading over to Oliver's for breakfast, I was at the door and ready in a flash. This wasn't the kind of breakfast I had at the local greasy spoon, this was elegance on a plate.


I remember the first time I slid into a booth and followed my mom's order with, "I'll have what she's having." It came out of my mouth fast and hard and for a moment I felt all grown up. The standard bacon and eggs, forever the heavyweight breakfast in my house, was about to be replaced. The "in" breakfast was about to have a new contender for the title. 

Eggs Benedict was delivered to our table and I probably stared at it for a good minute or two. It almost looked too pretty. The eggs sat atop the English muffins like a bird in his nest. Besides, poached eggs were new to me and I had never tasted real hollandaise sauce before.  After another moment or two I cut into the eggs with my knife and as soon as the yolk released all of its charm, I knew things were going to change. Move over standard breakfast fare.


The sauce was hypnotizing. The bacon crisp and salty and the eggs perfectly done. It was just the right combination of flavours all in one beautifully presented package. I probably ate it in record time and I could tell from my parents face that their brunch bill was about to be a bit more expensive each week. Another perk for the kid.


I must have ordered Eggs Benedict every time I followed my parents out for breakfast after that moment. And that has followed me long since that restaurant closed down. Eggs Benedict is sinfully good and one my most cherished ways to spend a weekend morning. I make it slightly different than the one I first tasted, but the feeling that sweeps up over me is the same every time. 


Happiness.


From my kitchen to yours, happy eating!

Lemony Eggs Benedict with Arugula


The Goods:

• 2 large egg yolks
• 1 tbsp. lemon juice
• 1 tbsp. water
• kosher salt and cracked pepper
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
• small handful fresh arugula
• 4 thick slices of bacon, cut in half
• 2 English muffins, split in half
• 4 poached eggs

Prep:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Place the bacon on a parchment-lined baking sheet and cook for about 6 minutes a side, until slightly crispy. Transfer to paper towels to drain.
2. Using a blender, make the hollandaise sauce first. Combine the egg yolks, water, lemon juice and a pinch of salt. In a small saucepan or microwave, melted the butter. Start up the blender and while it's running, slowly add the butter through the vent at the top and continue to blend until the sauce is thick. Season to taste. Pour the sauce into a bowl and cover and set aside.
3. Poach the eggs and keep them warm in hot water.
4. Toast your English muffins and then place 2 halves on a plate. Top each with some fresh arugula, 4 bacon halves and a poached egg. Spoon a couple tablespoons of hollandaise sauce on each and serve.
5. Serves 2.

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Leek, Potato & Bacon Soup

It was early afternoon and the wind outside was cold and gaining momentum. I heard a loud noise that was quickly followed by another. Some of our chairs were toppled by the strength of the wind. The air was equally cold and quickly turned the remaining snow in our driveway into a hard patch of ice. It was a day meant for staying inside huddled by the fireplace. It was the perfect day for soup.

I told my wife that I was going downstairs to make a batch of soup to keep us warm. I opened up the kitchen curtains to shine some light in and quickly started peeling vegetables. Making soup takes time and can't be rushed. It's as much about the process for me as it is the food. Stripping and washing the vegetables and chopping in an almost rhythmic beat.
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Sweetcorn Fritters

Saturday mornings get off to a slow start in this household. Maybe it's the end of the work week and the first opportunity to sleep and recharge the batteries or maybe it's the longing for childhood when sleeping in was a right of passage. Either way, some Saturday mornings end up being Saturday afternoons before the coffee has stopped percolating.

On days like today, my wife and I are looking for something to calm the children. And by children I mean the noises coming from our stomach. They're relentless and they grow louder with each passing minute. We need something easy and fairly quick. The coffee can hold off the troops, but only for so long.
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Lazy Sunday: Baked Dippy Eggs

Yesterday I had a healthy breakfast when I made my Ultimate Granola, so today called for some salty breakfast goodness. I wanted a different take on the classic bacon and eggs so I grabbed all the mouth-watering flavours from my fridge and chopped and layered my way to Baked Eggs. The best lazy Sunday breakfast imaginable.

This is a brilliant option if you have guests dropping by for brunch and want an easy answer to entertaining. This is also the perfect recipe for the weekend morning when everything is moving in slow motion and you want a fuss-free, flavourful breakfast to wake up your senses. This is the best alarm clock I know.
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Holiday Party Bites: Smoked Salmon Spread and Bacon-Wrapped Stuffed Dates

During the holidays we're all pressed for time. Each day seems to be busier than the last and we're torn in a thousand directions. That applies to holiday parties, especially the ones we're hosting. With commitments extended deep, sometimes we're left with a brief window of opportunity prior to our guests arriving. That window is drawing tighter and tighter.


If it's one of the lucky nights we merely need to freshen up and head out for a night of holiday festivities and banter at a friend's house. And yes, they'll be plenty of moments just like this in the next couple of weeks. But what if you have a few people dropping in for a cocktail and snack and you only have an hour to spare?

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