Recipes
Blueberry Buckwheat Waffles
I live for my weekends. For me, nothing could be more wonderful than sleeping in, snuggling under my pile of blankets. If I could be a fairy tale character, I would be cross between Sleeping Beauty who slept for 100 years and the Princess and the Pea, where I sleep...
3 Ingredient Chocolate Mousse (Dairy & Egg Free)
Do you prefer going out to eat or staying in? I love both. Sure it's nice to be waited on, and no clean up is always a good thing, but sometimes you just want something exactly the way you want it. And eating at home can definitely allow for that. You can make...
Emily’s Butternut Squash & Carrot Soup
It's kind of cold out there these days with no signs of an early spring despite what the groundhogs predicted. You know the cold I mean right? The kind where your organs feel like they're shutting down and liquids in your eyeballs feel like they're freezing over. ...
Roasted Fingerling Potatoes
Ever since the new year started, I've sort of been on a lucky cooking streak. New recipe attempts and even old favourites were turning out yummy. However, as of late, I have entered into a bit of a slump. Friday, my sticky rice came out bland, and well, not really...
Five-Spice Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Chinese New Year is this weekend and I'm new year prep mode. Unlike its January 1st counterpart, which is basically about a countdown followed by new years resolutions, Chinese New Year feels so much more celebratory. Typically, the weeks leading up to the new year...
Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes
Do you smile and get giddy like a 2-year old when you see a cupcake that is disguised as an ice cream cone? If you don't, you may want to check for a pulse, because I probably could have named this post 'happiness in a cone'. I first made ice cream cone cupcakes...
Tuscan Kale Salad with Currants and Parmesan
Have you ever ordered something in a restaurant and swooned with every delicious mouthful? And then wondered how they made it so delicious, even long after the meal was over. I bet that you have experienced this feeling, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't over a salad. ...
Best Post-Holiday Detox Recipes
It's that time of year during the holidays where we've probably indulged in a few lot of extra treats, and our bodies are starting to betray us. I know mine has. I'm suffering from a runny nose as I type and am craving comfort food that will help combat my cold,...
Top Breakfast and Brunch Recipes
During the holidays, we get to indulge a lot, and we can't forget about breakfast. Lounging around the table in PJs with loved ones has always felt like a special bonding time, especially during the holidays. Here are a few of my favourite recipes to try during these...
Mushroom Toasts
Have you ever been to Copenhagen? I was there on vacation this summer and loved the entire experience in the design-savvy chilled-out happiest city on earth. A few fun factoids that I learned while I was there: 1) People from Denmark are Danish, not Dutch, and...
Top Side Dishes for Entertaining
In my family, side dishes are just as important to the meal as the main course. An array of delicious sides can take a holiday meal from basic to basically amazing. Here's my list of top sides to serve at your next holiday meal that'll keep them coming back for...
Berry Stuffed French Toast
Sometimes you want to pamper your loved ones with something special to show how much you care. For me, it's often through food and this berry stuffed French toast is a personal favourite of mine. It's delicate, delicious, and decadent all at the same time. I've served...
Chocolate Dipped Marshmallows
Happy Halloween! Here are some spooky sweet treats to take to your Halloween party - these tasty tombstone marshmallows are heading to the office tomorrow. I made double whats in the picture in about 30 minutes and could probably have made a zillion more if I had to...
Buttermilk Biscuits
Depending on where you come from, a biscuit can mean two different things. In North America, they're little scone-like breads that are typically savoury while in the UK they're a cracker or cookie. The recipe here is for the North American version and they're super...
Roasted Asparagus Wrapped in Prosciutto
This is a recipe that's got a lot of endearing qualities, such as a) easy to make, b) tasty, c) great for entertaining and d) pretty. The lovely Giada De Laurentiis taught me how to make these via Food Network - my free (with cable) culinary school. TV hosts...
Potato Leek Soup / Seafood Chowder
The other night, we had a friend come over for dinner last-minute. I had already planned on making potato leek soup but wanted to step it up for our guest. So I took my simple potato soup and turned it into a seafood chowder by adding some baby clams, scallops and...
Golden Curry
How do you get through dinners through the work week? Takeout? Frozen TV dinners? Meals from scratch? I tend to rely on all of the above since I'm not a huge fan of leftovers (exception is yam mein and pizza). Hubby D likes making a big batch Sunday night meal and...
Jerk Chicken Tacos with Sweet Mango Pepper Salsa
*Jerk Alert* These are not your typical tacos. I heard about this amazingly unusual food truck in LA that does Korean BBQ tacos (think short rib tacos and kimchi quesadillas) and a lightbulb went off. Tacos, like pizza and sandwiches, can be topped with just about...
Zucchini Muffins
Do you ever stand in line at a coffee shop and get tempted by the bountiful displays of baked goods only to end up leaving with some crazy awesome donut/danish/cookie/muffin you didn't plan on getting? I guess one of the blessings/curses of being gluten-free is that...
Asian Glazed Chicken Thighs
Summer is here and so is barbecue season. Sadly, I don't have access to a barbecue at home - our condo is patio-less. But before you start feeling sorry for me, I DO have a trusty little toaster oven. This essential piece of kitchen equipment makes me feel like I...
Mexican Salad with Honey Lime Dressing
Happy Cinco de Mayo! The fifth of May is a day of celebration and reminds me of all the fun times I had living in Arizona, enjoying all the benefits of living in a mucho Mexican-influenced town. This salad is so fresh and flavourful, yet hearty and packed with...
Fast Flatbread Pizza
Everyone loves pizza. It's the ultimate comfort food and I dream about the amazing pizzas of my gluten-eating past. Specifically, Neapolitan pizza with its thin, slightly charred crust, San Marzano tomatoes, and cheesy topping, these pizzas are a fond yet distant...
Thai Shrimp Skewers
I'm always on the hunt for recipes that are a) simple/fast b) delish and c) healthy (and of course gluten-free) and these Thai shrimp skewers get top points in all categories. You can easily make these skewers after a long day of work and commuting (like I did today)...
Inside-Out Stuffing and Simple Roast Chicken
Happy Anniversary to me! It's been one year since the launch of freshnessgf.com and I'm so delighted with the end result - an online food journal full of recipes, stories, and photos. Honestly, my biggest thrill is when people tell me that they a) checked out my site...
Mushroom Soup
As a brat kid, my favourite soup wasn't any of the amazing homemade Chinese soups my mom made from scratch every night. Not the cream of corn or egg drop, or the other dozen or so in the rotation. Nope, none of those could top my true love for canned cream of...
Cereal Treats
Sometimes you just want to feel like a kid again. Simple pleasures like these homemade cereal treats can be whipped up in minutes and packed in lunch boxes or purses alike. Using a variety of gluten-free cereals can keep this treat interesting and exciting - these...
Chili Lamb Chops
Word on the street is that lamb is a challenging type of meat to cook. I used to think so too until I found a few recipes that really proved how easy the tender meat is to work with. This recipe is amazing, simple, and full of flavour. I've done it here with lamb...
Miso Soup
Miso soup can easily be transformed from a restaurant starter into a full meal that's low in calories and high in comfort. I'm not sure if this is a traditional way to consume miso soup, but for me, it's a convenient and healthy way to get a lot of veggies and tofu in...
S’mores Brownies
Smell ya later winter - summer is around the corner. Days are getting a wee bit longer and that extra bit of daylight lingering in the early evening is such a treat. I find myself daydreaming about all the fun times that the upcoming warmer months will bring. And...
Sweet Chili Fried Tofu
Weeknight routines can be hard, right? Prepping dinner after a long day of juggling work is a challenge for most of us. Truthfully, I've had it easy for the last year, but I started a new job a few weeks ago and boy-o-boy, getting used to the grind of commuting and...
Triple Chocolate Torte
Valentine's Day is around the corner and whipping up this luscious triple chocolate torte is a sure-fire way to show your sweetie that you care. It's undoubtedly a show stopper, covered in a glossy dark chocolate ganache and enrobed in white chocolate slices. Not...
Mexican Tortilla Soup with Shrimp
This dish is hearty, deliciously satisfying, and super easy to make - it's a variation of traditional Mexican tortilla chicken soup. Suprising, even though I lived in Arizona where Mexican food is amazing and bountiful, I didn't make this soup until I got back to...
Sweet Potato Wedges
This is possibly the easiest side dish to whip up - a total of only five ingredients and ready to bake in five minutes. The combination of spices always leaves my guests wondering what I put in there to make them so yummy and I've promised to share the recipe many...
All Natural Red Velvet Pancakes (Gluten-Free)
'Red Velvet' anything makes people go bananas. To be fair, the 'Red Velvet' name itself is so luscious and enticing, that it just lures you in - brilliant marketing for basically a combo of cocoa powder and red food colouring. Personally, I'm kind of grossed out by...
Chocolate Pear Muffins
I propose that 'high coffee' be the new 'high tea.' On new year's day, my parents treated my hubby, sister, and me to a lovely high tea. Full of delightful pastries, finger sammies, and fancy teas, it was a luxurious and decadent way to ring in the new year. ...
Roasted Tomato Chipotle Salsa
Do you make new year's resolutions? I've been pretty much making the same resolutions every year for a while now: eat healthy/drink water, work out, save money, get organized, be happy. Simple, unoriginal, and challenging all the same. I love the idea that everyone...
Most Popular Posts of 2011
I hope everyone had a happy holiday and enjoying the new year. I'm excited to start 2012 off with some great new recipes that I'm cooking up but in the meantime, here's a round up of the top recipes from 2011. Thank you to everyone who's ever visited my blog, tried a...
Chocolate Crinkles
I love the holidays. For the first time in a long while, I've been home for the holidays and fully able to enjoy the prep - baking, gift wrapping, decorating, and entertaining. We got a tree (fake), centerpieces (leftover wedding + dollar store), cool wrapping paper...
Apple Crumble
So the holidays are here. It's official - Movember is over, holiday party invites are streaming in, and tis the season for baked goodies, egg nog, and shopping until you drop. Many of us are hosting parties and attending potlucks (or like me, doing both this...
Goat Cheese Fundido
It's getting cold out and that means it's time to stay inside a little more. More sofa nights, more friends coming over for dinner or drinks, plus a solid fall season of prime time TV. And time for more delicious cheesy appetizers. This one is very different from...
Baked Brie and Artisan Crackers
Gooey brie with a caramelized brown sugar walnut topping is a decadent and delicious appetizer that will disappear in moments. That's what happened when this appetizer appeared at my cousin Amy's bachelorette dinner in Blue Mountain. A member of her bridal party...
Crispy Potato Roast
Thank goodness potatoes are gluten-free. I love Love LOVE potatoes and zoom in on them on restaurant menus since they're an easy and obvious GF option. I've had my fair share of potatoes, and am always on the lookout for new ways to enjoy them. So when I found this...
Baby Bok Choy with Garlic
I had a special request from a friend who loves baby bok choy and wanted to learn how to make it. Growing up in a Chinese household, I take for granted that I sort of learned how to make this just by lurking around the kitchen during dinner time. Some variation of...
Baked Veggie Chips
Confession: I had to stop buying bags of chips because in my hands (and stomach) entire bags of chips would disappear in like a day, and I'd suffer from a major chip hangover afterward. You know the feeling - bloat from the salt, greasy taste in your mouth, tighter...
Chocolate Chip Cookies a la Neiman Marcus
Some folks look for new ways to jazz up their Thanksgiving spreads, but personally, I'm a traditionalist. I like everything about Thanksgiving just as it is. In my family, this means the juiciest turkey on the planet, creamy mashed potatoes, stuffing, and gravy. ...
Potato Crusted Quiche
One of my earliest posts was about having an elegant and delicious go-to recipe that would wow your guests without stressing you out. I also believe that this applies to brunch - having a couple of recipes up your sleeve to make your guests feel honoured and that you...
Tuscan Tomato Soup
I don't know about you, but chilly rainy nights make me want to snuggle under the covers in my cozy and embarrassingly ugly sweatpants. Mine are a men's pair that have ratty hems and are huge. Like TLC's "don't go chasing waterfalls" huge. Why? I was going...
Peach and Blueberry Crumbles
This past weekend was perfect for strolling through Evergreen Brick Works Farmer's Market. An early start meant lots of parking and first pick of the goods. It was my first successful visit; my original failed attempt was due to the psychotic parking situation...
Spiced Samosa Potato Salad
Samosas are little pastry pockets of potato-y goodness, spiced with Indian flavours, deep-fried, and served with refreshing cilantro chutney. My samosa-eating days came to a screeching halt when I went gluten-free and my mouth would water with envy as my family and...
Pesto Eggplant Brie Pizza with Truffle Oil
On my way back from Montreal, I stopped by the airport bakery cafe MBCO where I always go to pick up a dozen Montreal style bagels for my dad. I love that bakery - it's always full of lovely and tempting goodies including gorgeous fresh breads, sammies, and wraps. ...
