First We Eat Archives - Page 7 of 11

Some of my bottles hold self-infused vinegars — my own fruits, berries and herbs stuffed into jars of cider or wine vinegars.

Back to basics: vinegar

First We Eat: Vinegar has come a long way from being a staple used to make pickles

By dee Hobsbawn-Smith March 5, 2021

I was thrilled to recently read about Alchemist Vinegar, artisanal vinegars made by Paul Poutanen, owner of Tippa, a distiller in Okotoks, Alberta. I promptly ordered a sampler and am awaiting its arrival. I love vinegar, and six open bottles occupy prime real estate on the butcher block beside my stove. They offer testament to […] Read more

FarmLife

How can you get your kids to care about food?

First We Eat: Try these tips to get them thinking and talking about what they eat

By dee Hobsbawn-Smith January 29, 2021

When my millennial kids were young, on the last Friday of each month I showed up at school early, having first made a trip to the recycling centre to return our household’s contributions. “Noon dismal,” my kids called it, that early discharge. We made it into a family ritual by going out for Vietnamese pho, […] Read more

FarmLife

Helping kids learn to cook

First We Eat: By creating a fun and safe environment even a young child can help out in the kitchen

By dee Hobsbawn-Smith January 19, 2021

The knife was small, with a curved tip and serrated blade. As knives go, it looked safe. But that didn’t prevent my anxiety the first time I put it into my child’s hand. He was four, and stood on a sturdy chair. He used that knife to saw up carrots and celery, spuds, an apple. […] Read more

Spread out the work over the day to make assembly a quick job. Makes four rounds or two large rectangles.

FarmLife

How to share food with people outside of your household

First We Eat: Dropping off a meal is still one of the best ways to show you care

By dee Hobsbawn-Smith December 18, 2020

Worrying about food is part of the times, especially for those of us who feel responsible for others — our elderly friends and relatives, new moms with a babe in arms, immune-compromised cousins, kids at university or on a tight budget. Drop- ping off a meal is still one of the best ways to administer […] Read more

FarmLife

Anything for dessert — as long as it’s chocolate

First We Eat: If you love chocolate try this sourdough cake recipe

By dee Hobsbawn-Smith December 4, 2020

My family recently marked the first anniversary of my dad’s death. I miss him. He and Mom lived fairly close by, and Dave and I visited them weekly for movie night with our dog Jake, sometimes with dessert in hand. Like a good chocolate, Dad had a soft heart within a crusty exterior. Chocolate was […] Read more

FarmLife

Classic cheese fondue

First We Eat: Now is the perfect time to enjoy a leisurely fondue as we continue to stay closer to home

By dee Hobsbawn-Smith October 30, 2020

Life in a pandemic takes its toll in many ways. One of the noticeable changes is how we spend our leisure time. No trips this year — not that I was actively planning, and not that I go often, but I’d love to see Europe again. I want to see Asia, too, and Australia, Africa, […] Read more

FarmLife

M.F.K. Fisher and me

First We Eat: This food-writing author was an early influencer

By dee Hobsbawn-Smith October 9, 2020

I’ve been thinking rather a lot about M.F.K Fisher. That is unsurprising — she’s been one of my food-writing, writing candles in the night for decades, ever since I read her small and elegant book, A Cordiall Water. I went on to acquire everything Fisher wrote, including her wartime response to food rationing, How to […] Read more

Farm Life

Embellishing everyday foods

First We Eat: Add a puff pastry topping to a common stew and it suddenly elevates the meal

By dee Hobsbawn-Smith September 18, 2020

Mom doesn’t like to cook. I hardly blame her — she’s 84, after all, and spent decades feeding five kids and my dad. When Mom had double knee replacement surgery seven years ago, Dad stepped into the kitchen. Mom was relieved, and after her knees healed, she didn’t return to cooking, but ate whatever Dad […] Read more

Farm Life, FarmLife

Who doesn’t love spuds?

First We Eat: No matter how potatoes are served, most would agree, they are a favourite veggie

By dee Hobsbawn-Smith August 14, 2020

As a dedicated spudnut, I save potatoes for seed. This year I planted Pink Fir Apples, Amarosas, Kennebecs, German Butterballs, Linzer Delikatess, Yukon Golds, Norlands and Purple Vikings. When I dig the first crop, it’s a sign that we’ll be eating spud dishes of all sorts: boxty, champ, shepherd’s pie, colcannon, kugel, latkes, Parmentier, rosti, […] Read more

Farm Life, FarmLife

Changing weather means changing diet

First We Eat: As the weather warms up it’s time to get out the ice-cream maker

By dee Hobsbawn-Smith July 10, 2020

When my dog Jake brought the season’s first tick into the house, I knew for certain that the weather had changed, and spring had arrived. But there’s an upside. That break in the weather means it’s time to eat ice cream. Dave eats ice cream year round, or claims he does. But what I know […] Read more

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Tag Archives First We Eat

Back to basics: vinegar

How can you get your kids to care about food?

Helping kids learn to cook

How to share food with people outside of your household

Anything for dessert — as long as it’s chocolate

Classic cheese fondue

M.F.K. Fisher and me

Embellishing everyday foods

Who doesn’t love spuds?

Changing weather means changing diet

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