Fibre, Fibre, Fibre!
In January I stopped eating fresh vegetables, and my roommate quit his granola habit. We just didn’t feel like it anymore.
Recipes
What’s Up Yukon shares recipes from Yukonners, for Yukonners and with ingredients from the Yukon. We hope you’ll like and share them.
Roasted Beet and Carrot Salad
When I was asked to write a recipe for this issue of What’s Up Yukon, I decided to call in a real expert and asked local dietician…
Weeknight Sesame Peanut Noodles
These cold noodles can do no wrong—they’re a great light dinner and a great way to use up leftover pasta. They can also sit a few days…
Soup Season
Soup is just the best for the busy cook, especially in February when the light’s coming back and we’re rushing in from…
Preserved Clementines
Preserving citrus is a great way to make the most of the best part of winter produce. Salt-preserved clementines can be mixed…
OMG! They’ve Delisted Screech
I’ve had Screech in my cabinet for I-don’t-know-how-many years. I’ve replenished it regularly, and now I’m told that it doesn’t sell…
Sweet Potato Fries With Fancy Mayo
Sweet potato fries are fast and easy and feel vaguely healthy, which checks all the boxes for something you want to eat…
Finger Food For Dark Nights
The MI5 agents came into the house by stealth, wrapped in worn, crinkled purple tissue paper. The package nestled under the tree…
Fried Okra With Spicy Mayo
Okra can be polarizing. Some people are really turned off by the texture, which can tend towards slimy. But if you embrace the slime…
Turkey Salad with avocado
These types of Thai-inspired salads are also called larb or laap. They pair intensely-seasoned ground meat, with bright herbs…
Road Snacks For White Line Fever
On November 26, my sister and I pulled into the Husky gas station at Hope, just off the Trans-Canada Highway.
Cold As Ice
Nestled in the Niagara region of Ontario are many vineyards that produce some of the world’s best ice wines.
Honey-Roasted Kabocha Squash
Kabocha squash has a dense texture and a subtle, almost nutty flavour. When roasted, you can eat the exterior…
Fried Zucchini And Alfalfa Sandwich
Eating this sandwich feels hopeful for spring, and since winter just started, we need all the hope we can muster.
Final Suppers
My husband and I are on our last visit to my sister’s house in Parksville, on Vancouver Island. She is moving across the country…
Jammy Eggs, Anchovies and Bagel Toast
There isn’t a bad time for a soft, jammy egg. In a soup, on a salad, a bowl of steamy rice or on a bowl of cheesy noodles.
What came first, the egg or the nog?
The holidays are upon us, and what better way to welcome in another Christmas season than by enjoying a glass of eggnog?
Roasted Eggplant Sandwiches
Eggplant is often relegated to classic parmigiana, or baba ganoush. But it can be so much more! Take the time to salt and season it…
Apple Brown Sugar Grunt
Chances are you know someone from Atlantic Canada, you’re related to someone from Atlantic Canada, or you are from Atlantic Canada.
How To Cook A Moose
I want to share with you a success I had this weekend. But first, hands up anyone who has ever overcooked a moose roast.
Rice Paper Omelet
You may have seen this on TikTok, and while, in many cases, it is absolutely justified to roll your eyes at internet cooking.
Exploring a classic French champagne—Moët & Chandon
“Champagne is the only wine in the world that makes every woman beautiful,” a rather famous quote by a rather infamous mistress.
Chorizo, Paprika and Chickpeas
Chorizo and chickpeas—simmered in a paprika, spiked, and olive-oil hearty sauce—makes for a fantastic dinner.
Barley Converts
My old friend Julie called to me from the back of her car, where she’d just finished loading her groceries.
Tofu And Pork Ragu
This dish mashes together mapo tofu and classic ragu, and what you get is a spicy and savoury sauce worthy of any weeknight supper table.
Texas Tartine With Spinach, Poached Eggs and Lemony Yogurt Sauce
A tartine is a posh French open-faced sandwich; a Texas tartine is a tartine on Texas toast. If you’re looking for a more, double the recipe.
Taku River Sockeye Salmon and Atlin Lake Trout: Preserving the Harvest
Together we admired the colour and texture of trout and salmon, contrasting them with each other, enjoying handling this beautiful resource.
Crepes With Camembert And Fried Salami
Savoury, cheesy crepes: You can fully make this recipe a day ahead, then extend baking time to thoroughly melt the cheese.
A Lost Watch And The Last Of The Blueberries
Here are a couple of recipes for the last of the blueberries, with thanks to the blueberry buddies: J, N, M and, especially, G.
Single For The Weekend Rice And Eggs
Honestly, when left on my own it is more often packet Ramen and microwave Lean Cuisine than anything as flashy as rice and eggs.
Sausage And Apple Breakfast Stuffing
Stuffing is the best part of cold weather; some people think it’s soup. Or stew. Or crumble. But they’re wrong.
Pan-fried Fish on the West Coast Trail
West Coast Trail inspired Pan Fried Salmon & Baked Potatoe. Great recipes from Miche Genest, with an accompanying trail tail.
Yukon Chef Goes For Top Spot On National TV
Chef Chris Irving describes his life as a chef humbly “as a job.” Irving recently competed on Top Chef Canada (on The Food Network),
Berry Song, A Story For Us All
Berry-picking season is an amazing time of year. Sweet wild strawberries, Soapberries and Saskatoons are all summer-time treats.
Steak Tartare
If you have a sweetie and your sweetie eats meat, try making them a plate of steak tartare on your next evening in.
The Unexpected Joys of Fishing
I never thought that I would like fishing. In fact, as with many things our minds convince us of, I went through the better part of my life certain that I was very happy having nothing to do with piscine pursuits. I didn’t particularly like eating fish and I felt no need to try to catch one. And then I fell in love with a man who loves fishing.
Stewed Okra Rice
Okra is gooey (just accept that gooey is a nice quality and embrace it). This rice dish stews okra and rice, with bacon, and uses the goo to make a rich filling side that would go well with braised meats and any sort of spicy barbecue sauce.
Delicious, Healthy Fermented Beverages
While there is very little information on the origin of water kefir grains, some studies state they could come from Caucasia, as milk kefir grains were used by Russians, centuries ago.
Go Wild With Greens
There are few wild greens easier to enjoy than lamb’s quarters (Chenopodium album) also known as white goosefoot and, sometimes, pigweed. A member of the populous Amaranthaceae family, which includes amaranth, quinoa, beets and spinach, among thousands of other plants, the leaves can be eaten fresh or cooked and have a flavour somewhere between spinach and kale.
Summer Pea And Bacon Toast
In this Summer Pea and Bacon Toast dish, it’s freshly shelled peas that are the star.
Seared Onglet Steaks With Roasted Potatoes
Onglet is the French description of a hanger steak, a lovely little tab of meat that comes from around the lower belly of a cow.
The Bubble Life: Pretty In Pink
Rosé Prosecco was first launched on the market in 2020 and the alcoholic drink has gained popularity as a special occasion drink.
Preserving Veggies For (Brrrh!) Winter
In the Yukon, the growing season in summer is very efficient, with almost 20 hours of daylight but winters are tough for our food gardens.
Raspberry Fool With Wild Chamomile Shortbreads
Nothing is assured about wild food gathering. If you find butter & whipping cream try this dessert recipe.
Oxtails With Star Anise, Soy and Vinegar
Oxtails are so, so good. All of those tough, long simmer cuts of meat can become a meal you can have on a weeknight with a pressure cooker.
Rabbit Ragu With Bucatini
Rabbit (Ragu) has mild white meat but it has a bit more of a robust and meaty flavour than average grocery-store chicken.
Let the gardening and foraging begin!
The days are longer, the temperatures milder—it is time to prepare for gardening, planting and foraging. Some tips to get you started!
Time to Celebrate: Birch Syrup Season is Done
Shift from birch sap for syrup, to sap for beer. “Oh yeah, beer concentrate is fun and easy, relative to syrup, and the vibe is all beer,”
Potato Chip Spanish Tortilla
Spanish tortilla (or Spanish omelet) is made with eggs and sliced potatoes served at room temperature. This simple recipe uses potato chips.
Bacon-Wrapped Blue Cheese Stuffed Dates
These sweet, savoury bacon-wrapped bundles “Devils on Horseback” are a perfect snack to serve with almost any boozy beverage
Beef Cheek Hash
Slowly cooking a beef cheek for a simple hash like this is a set it and forget it scenario. Get your beef cheek at Tum Tum’s Black Gilt Meats
The mushrooms are coming, the mushrooms are coming!
You know it’s morel season when photos show up on social media. Try this Caramelized Onion and Morel Mushroom Quiche.
Fermentation: ‘Little Living Things’ in Our Food
Fermenting is transforming a food, usually in the absence of oxygen. Several types of fermentation exist: ethanol, acetic &lactic acid.
Twice-Cooked Lamb Heart Tacos
Twice-Cooked Lamb Heart Tacos, Cooking the lamb hearts twice gives the final product a satisfying texture.
Seasonal Recipes: Spiced Carrot and Feta Sandwiches
Sweet spiced carrots and salty brined feta make this a vegetarian sandwich that’s super satisfying served warm or at room temperature.
Gather: All The Spruce Tip Things
Spruce tip season is short. There’s anxiety about getting out soon enough. Once picked and processed, you can experiment with abandon.
Corn Pancakes
Corn pancakes walk that perfect line between sweet and savoury, This recipe makes an equally satisfying meal and side dish.
Chocolate ‘Poops’
Is it weird to lick your fingers making Chocolate poops? Use a dark high-percentage chocolate, ideally bean to bar chocolate if available.
Fibre Magic: Blueberry and Walnut Bran Muffins
There is something magic about a real bran muffin, the old-fashioned kind that our grandmothers and great-grandmothers made.
Yoda Soda
Use any green soda to get a this Star Wars inspired “Yoda-looking” soda./ Vodka is optional, but highly suggested, when age appropriate.
Roasted sardines with tangerines and shallots
Roasted sardines with tangerines and shallots. Gut & scale them mostly frozen, and avoid most of the unpleasant smells and mess.
Bright Flavours for Spring
Lemon yogurt cake. With the addition of tangy low-bush cranberries, this cake will provide a burst of bright flavours
Whole-wheat Vegetable Pancakes with Arugula and Greek Yogurt
Whole-wheat Vegetable Pancakes with Arugula and Greek Yogurt. A breeze to put together & works well with any sort of pre-shredded kale salad.
Pyrizhky (or piroshky) is a Much Beloved Dish in Eastern Europe
I found comfort in honouring the people of Ukraine by making pyrizhky (or piroshky), a hand pie beloved in both countries.
Whole Wheat Pitas with Spice-roasted Eggplant, Tahini and Arugula
Eggplant is controversial. If you like it, you really like it. If you don’t, then pass this recipe over because it is all about eggplant.
Breakfast rice and eggs
This Breakfast rice recipe is cheap, and filling, and will take the edge off whatever you may have gotten into the night before.
The History of the North American Bison
The Yukon bison herd is said to be 1,400+. Learn a little North American Bison, it’s introduction into the Yukon and a great Bison recipe.
Deviled eggs with crisp salami
Deviled eggs are classic. Topping them with crispy salami adds some lovely texture and fatty flavor that pairs perfectly with a classic egg.
When Gatherers Become Gardeners
Mid-winter Potato, Kale and Cheddar Pie. A hearty, cheesy, main course that only needs a side salad for a satisfying mid-winter meal.
Seasonal Recipes: Kale and crisp tofu fresh rolls
Knowing how to cook tofu is a great tool in the kitchen. This crisp baked tofu can be used all over the kitchen
Feel good foods: Healthy Hot Chocolate?
Normally we think of hot chocolate as “junk food,” but this healthy hot chocolate recipe packs a serious health punch.
Pork tenderloin, arugula, and goat cheese tartine
Pork tenderloins are lean and cook fast. If you’re looking for a change from a boneless, skinless chicken breast this is a good cut to try.
Gather: No Trifling Matter
trifle—luscious, layered concoction of cake or cookies, fruit, custard, jam and whipped cream invented by the British and adored by everyone
Bucatini with walnuts, green olives and lemon
Bucatini, like a really long Kraft Dinner noodle. It can soak up all sorts of seasoning that a spaghetti noodle might lose.
Crispy roasted broccoli with homemade seasoning salt
This recipe makes roughly 4 servings of roasted broccoli, but 10+ servings of homemade seasoning salt. A quick and tasty vegetable side dish.
Soft noodles with cabbage and chicken
Having any sort of fresh pasta in your fridge in case of getting home late is a game changer, and most fresh pasta lasts at least a week
Parmesan and Spruce Tip Shortbreads
Ever eat from a package and think, “Huh. I could make that.” I sampled pricey Parmesan &rosemary shortbreads, I tried spruce tips instead.
Trout sandwiches with pickled jalapeno tartar sauce
Trout filets are perfect for sandwiches, they’re lovely and thin so they cook quickly and the skin is easy to crisp in a hot pan
A tall glass of Christmas treat: Gingerbread protein smoothie
Christmas is coming and with it, all the gingerbread-flavoured things! Try this delicious gingerbread protein smoothie recipe.
Healthy homemade guacamole: Get those good fats into you
A classic guacamole recipe made with fresh, colourful and nutrient-dense ingredients that can be enjoyed with corn chips, tacos, or even on salads or sandwiches. Looking for more healthy and delicious recipes?
Buttermilk, black pepper crepes with bacon and birch syrup
Buttermilk gives the crepes a lovely, fresh, slightly sour taste that plays off the salty bacon and the slightly bitter birch syrup.
Spaghetti squash and turmeric fritters
Spaghetti squash and turmeric fritters. Change up the spices! Garam masala would be delicious, or even some freshly grated ginger and garlic.
Nose to tail : Don’t overlook the offal when meal-planning this winter
Offal —literally “off-fall”— refers to those parts of an animal carcass that have fallen off during butchering. While muscles represent more than a third of the weight of cattle, by-products including side meats, bones, skin, and intestines constitute most of the animal body. The brain, the trotters (aka feet), kidney, liver, sweetbreads (pancreas) and tripe …
Nose to tail : Don’t overlook the offal when meal-planning this winter Read More »
Blackened sweet pepper with chilis and eggs
Cooking red bell peppers and onions until they’re soft and just beginning to blacken makes them sweet with a bit of char flavor. Tuck them into soft rolls with eggs for brunch, or a light supper.
Corn porridge with fried tinned lunch meat and jalapenos
Top this corn porridge with anything. Leftover pulled pork? Fried egg? Yup. SPAM makes a salty, crispy treat nicely cut by pickled jalapenos.
Healthy honey mustard dressing
This honey mustard dressing is rich in heart-healthy, inflammation-lowering monounsaturated fats. It is super easy and quick to make.
Cranberry bounty
Old-fashioned jelly roll, made with cranberry jam, not jelly, and finished with whipped cream, Amaretto and toasted sliced almonds.
Chili ginger beef with rice and eggs
Processing all the aromatics to a paste is what makes this chili ginger beef with rice and eggs so delicious.
Pineapple bourbon rice pudding
Pineapple and bourbon make this simple rice pudding a bit more interesting. Try pouring additional bourbon on top of just before serving.
Whole wheat spaghetti with anchovies and broccoli rabe
A simple pasta dish gets punch from bitter greens, chili and anchovies. Whole wheat spaghetti with anchovies and broccoli rabe.
Feel Good Foods: Deconstructed egg roll
Make good food choices that improve your health. This recipe can help you make this process easier and less stressful.
Bucatini with chorizo and kale
The delicate winey, kaley, garlicky sauce gets into the noodles and lets the subtle flavors of the ingredients come through.
The secret to good rhubarb
Inspired by a couple of recipes we found online, we mixed and matched and livened up with our own combo of spicy aromatics
Seasonal Recipes: Cherry crisp
Cherries are everywhere right now, and when they’re in season, it can be easy to buy a few too many and end up with some sad, limp cherries in your fridge. A cherry crisp makes use of those sad cherries while still letting them be the star that they are this time of year. …
Cassava flour chocolate chip cookies
Soft and chewy, like you’d expect from a classic chocolate chip cookie, but without grains, gluten and dairy. They can’t tell the difference!
Birthday Pairings, Campground Treats
Jennifer’s (Free Pour Jenny) cocktail and an appetizer. The cocktail’s bright, sharp and tart. Something cheesy immediately suggested itself.
Bucatini with sardines and olives
Bucatini with sardines and olives is vaguely puttanesca-ish, but somehow even more simple. Try this recipe yourself.
Mango avocado salsa
A blend of both salsa and guacamole with fresh diced mango. Perfect with fish or beef tacos, or just with corn chips.
Potato gnocchi with crab, scallions & grapefruit
These gnocchi with crab, scallions & grapefruit gnocchi are paired with crab and grapefruit and make a filling meal without any heavy meat.
Healthy Cornbread
This cornbread comes out light, fluffy and golden-brown. Enjoy it with chilli, as a side dish to any main course, or just as a snack.
Dandelion season
Don’t hate them! Not only are dandelions beautiful, the bees love them and we should too! They are delicious.
Roasted brussel sprouts and aioli
Roasted vegetables may seem a bit of a cold weather food, but if you serve them at room temperature with a garlicky aioli they are perfect alongside grilled meat, or added as an element of a charcuterie board.
Creamed broccoli and macaroni
Creamed broccoli is simple and satisfying, as well as easy on the stomach and the wallet.
Peanut butter banana oat smoothie recipe
This peanut butter banana oat smoothie is a fast and nutritious snack or breakfast. It is high in calories, protein and fat so it won’t leave you feeling hungry soon after. It is also gluten-free, dairy-free/vegan and soy-free.
Bologna Pockets
Please make these adorable round sandwiches and fry them until they’re golden and gooey, then dip them in yellow mustard and ketchup.
A Hubbub of Rhubarb
Rhubarb is a good producer to just keep harvesting, resulting in a pile-up of chopped rhubarb in bags in the freezer. A hubbub of rhubarb!
Cucumber, feta, mint, and red onion salad
Crispy cucumber salads are ideal alongside any sort of grilled meat.
Foraging in local markets for cheese pie makings
A forage around town in supermarkets and small shops for local and locally available foodstuffs to bring home and play with
Broccoli and bacon salad
It’s picnic, BBQ and eating outdoor season – FINALLY. The dressing for this family favorite is based on donair sauce, so sweet and sticky with just a hint of garlic.
Thai green curry with shrimp
This Thai green curry with shrimp is quick, easy and nutritious. It is also gluten, dairy, soy and sugar-free.
Broccoli pancakes with garlic, oregano and chili flakes
Vegetable pancakes are a perfect side dish for grilled meat and fish, and can make a nice change from a tray of roasted veg or salad. You could dress these up with a poached egg, or a couple slices of smoked salmon for a veggie-heavy brunch.
Greens, eggs, and ham
Braised kale, soft onions and crisped ham on sourdough topped with soft eggs hits all of the flavors and textures that anyone would ever need in one bite.
Wild Strawberry jam
The berry season is still months away, but a close friend gave me a small jar of jam for Christmas. And so, I made cheesecake.
Garlic roasted broccoli with lemon
Broccoli can feel a bit drab – and while roasting it won’t magically turn broccoli into a perfect gooey, cheesy, pizza it will give it some extra pizzazz that is perfect for a simple weeknight meal.
The Easter Moose
Why not celebrate this time round with a feast that connects you to the landscape; that reminds you of where you live.
Adaptive strategies
During this bizarre year of COVID constraints, home cooks have had to develop adaptive culinary behaviours to increase our success in the kitchen. Sometimes key ingredients for a recipe simply weren’t available, so we acquired new competencies. We became masters of substitution.
Brussel trout spring rolls
Deep frying is fun, but takes a lot of effort, follow-through, and clean up. These trout and sprout filled spring rolls are liberally brushed with oil and baked and achieve a super satisfying crunchy result without any of the mess.
Fried klik and sweet pickled cucumbers
Klik is basically SPAM from Ontario. Emulsified, salty, fatty, canned meat. If it’s something you’re into, you’re really into it. If you’re not, or if you’ve never tried it, this is a good first kick at the klik can.
Bloody good cocktails
Being that we can’t travel to a warm climate where oranges and lemons grow, it seems fitting to pay tribute to those lovely flavours now, during one of the coldest months.
Caffeinated!
In these recipes you may use any coffee roast you like—the effect will be different with each one–but be sure to use a fine grind. The coarser stuff can be unpleasantly gritty.
Linguine with parmesan, black pepper, breakfast sausage and eggs
While this recipe came from an admittedly empty fridge, it is nonetheless perfect for brunch or dinner. It’s inspired by two classic Italian pastas, cacio pepe and carbonara.
Post-holiday baking projects
I’ve wanted to make savoury thumbprint cookies forever, so once the spruce needles were swept up, the decorations put back in their boxes and the cookie tins fully emptied, I decided to give them a try.
Simple shredded duck with hoisin and scallion pancakes
This week is a treat of a meal, shredded duck with scallion pancakes!
Light and lovely
Need to go for something light. Try this simple recipe for January. I shall call a “Vodka & Soda That Doesn’t Suck.”
Simple shredded duck hash and eggs
This week is an easy brunch recipe for shredded duck hash and eggs, based on the previously published shredded duck recipe.
An old favourite with a smoky twist
Sometimes, in the midst of celebratory foods, we just feel like something simple. Like a melty, comforting, satisfying mac and cheese!
A simple weeknight duck fettuccine
Whole ducks in the frozen section of the grocery store are often overlooked, they seem like a project and that’s not always what you’re looking for when it comes to dinner. This week’s recipe is a weeknight duck ragu, best served with fresh fettuccine.
Duck, Boursin, and arugula sandwiches
This delicious meal builds on the recipe for simple shredded duck, which appeared in the Dec. 16 issue of What’s Up Yukon, and is available online.
Freezer candy
There is a famous vegetarian restaurant in New York City called Dirt Candy. Someday I will get there, but, in the meantime, I love the name. It perfectly captures the sweetness of the root vegetables that come up from the dirt in their jewel-like colours. At this time of year, I think of another jewel-like …
A Calling for Cocktails
Many took up drinking as a hobby during the pandemic, but for the amateur mixologist, it’s all about quality over quaffing. Lise Farynowski has been interested in the art of cocktails for more than a decade. Craft cocktails typically refer to drinks that include fresh ingredients, homemade syrups and small batch spirits (no margarita mix!). …
Cheers to a new year
This month’s cocktails are an eclectic bunch, but they’re all aimed at celebrating the season, in particular, the impending completion of 2020.
Simple shredded duck
For the next few weeks, there will be a new recipe outlining something to do with this simple shredded duck.
Christmas treats
I just can’t wait for Christmas to come around again and the kitchen abounds with the cooking smells of Christmas pudding.
American Chop Suey (a.k.a. Cheeseburger Casserole)
This recipe is commonly called American Chop Suey in New England, but can be found all over the U.S. under names including cheeseburger casserole, Johnny Marzetti, or American goulash.
Game on
One thing you know for sure about wild meat is that it hasn’t been loaded with chemicals and growth hormones to get it to market quickly. In general, it has feasted on wild plants and grasses. It’s about the most natural meat you could get. When hunting and harvesting wild game, you know the exact …
Tall tales and fish cakes
People who live and work on the water are good at tall tales. Fisher people don’t just tell whoppers about the whopper that got away, they tell ghost stories, stories with an element of magic, stories that strike a chill into the heart. The movie Jaws is one such tall tale. For me the two …
Warm Winter Drinks
Here we are, with the holiday season fast approaching, and it’s quite likely that you will want to celebrate with a few festive drinks. For me, winter with its cold makes me feel the need for warming ingredients such as ginger, cloves, molasses, and chocolate. The recipes that follow are full of these warm flavours.
Bucatini with red wine braised squid and pepperoni
If you’re new to cooking squid, or haven’t had them outside of fried calamari, this is a great way to give them a try. The squid turn out tender and mild, while the sauce takes on most of its flavor from the pepperoni and the red wine.
Linguine with herb battuto
This is a play on a classic Italian sauce (called battutto di erbe) and is similar to pesto. Linguine with herb battuto.
Pancakes
I come from a time when tradition dictated that Friday was Pancake Friday. That meant we had pancakes for supper on Fridays. At the time, we didn’t make pancakes from a box of ready-made, store-bought mix. I’ve dug back into the 1930s, 40s and 50s to pass along some of those good old-fashioned recipes. To …
Spookily-delicious Halloween cocktails
Halloween-inspired cocktails: a grown-up pumpkin spice smoothie, a blood-red warming toddy and drinks that put extra treats to good use. Boo!
Turmeric and chili turkey meatballs with coconut milk
No searing, no baking – these spiced turkey meatballs are poached in coconut milk seasoned with fresh ginger and garlic.
Juniper—Not Just for Gin
Juniper is used to flavour gin and game dishes; crushed berries are excellent in rubs for hot-smoked salmon or braised or roasted meats – Photos: Miche Genest In my Yukon world, ‘Juniper’ is a name that has been given to kittens and new babies; in the world of musician Donovan Leitch it is affixed to …
Chicken with cilantro and ginger
Cold weather recipes that still feel bright and light are hard to come by in a world of rich stews and heavy casseroles.
Crisp, colourful autumn cocktails
Challenged to create cocktails with the obscure bottles in the back of a liquor cabinet. That social media challenge became a monthly recipe.
Chicken a la king, fit for a king
Chicken a la king Ingredients 4 ounce medium noodles 1 can condensed cream of chicken soup 16-oz can Carnation evaporated milk 1 tsp salt 1-1/2 cups shredded Velveeta cheese 2 cups of diced chicken 1 cup celery slices 1/2 cup diced green peppers 1 cup slivered blanched almonds ( toasted) Instructions Cook the noodles in …
Blueberry Pilgrims
I don’t believe I’ve ever seen so many berry pickers as this year in the White Pass near Fraser, B.C., southern Yukon’s favourite place to find blueberries. The pandemic was driving us out into the stunning moonscape of small lakes, rock, balsam fir, lichen, alder and dwarf birch from Log Cabin to Summit Creek in …
Smashed cucumber salad with ginger
Fresh, crisp cucumbers are perfect at any summer meal. They add texture and contrast when paired with grilled meats. This version can be served as a salad, or as a garnish, next to pretty much anything you’d throw on a grill.
Tasty Soups and Salads
Many people are doing more cooking and baking at home right now, and as well leaning more towards vegetables than meat. This week we will pass on some tasty salads for you to try. Salads TASTY MACARONI SALAD 2 cups spiral macaroni 2 cups chopped tomatoes 1 green onion 1\2 chopped cucumber 1 chopped green …
All About Bubbles
In March, I challenged myself to publish a cocktail recipe every day, for 14 days, on social media – the challenge was that I had to use spirits I already had at home, and that I could not make any extra/unnecessary trips to the grocery store for mixer, etc. This challenge became Free Pour Jenny’s …
Currant-ly Available
Blackcurrants do grow wild in the Yukon, sparsely. You may find Ribes hudsoniam in damp forests at the base of mountains, like for example on the King’s Throne hike in Kluane National Park.
Gin, Gin, Gin-ity Gin
This selection of cocktails is, you guessed it, inspired by gin, but really, it’s inspired by the Prohibition era cocktails of the Roaring Twenties.
Sage Advice
I find one of the best ways to calm the spirit and focus the mind is to go out foraging. When foraging for wild plants we enter the landscape on an intimate scale, we’re down on our knees, looking, exploring, paying attention, the microcosm engages us and the macro shrinks away.
Casse-croûte sandwich
Toasted stale bread drizzled with whiskey and topped with bacon, eggs, and cheese.
It’s Spruce Tip Season!
For those as yet uninitiated, spruce tips are one of those truly magical wild northern foods. They’re packed with Vitamin C and have been used by Indigenous people to soothe sore throats and combat flu for centuries.
Student noodles
These noodles are perfect for students, or those of us who let their pantries get down to pretty much nothing before venturing out. Which is pretty much all of us these days.
Spruce Tip Jelly
Serve spruce tip jelly on toast with butter; in thumb-print cookies; on a charcuterie platter; with smoked salmon and cream cheese; or to accompany any wild meat or fish, whether braised, grilled, roasted or fried.
Creamy pasta shells with roasted cauliflower
The secret to this recipe is the cream sauce that is just quickly buzzed together in a blender or food processor.
Muddling Our Way Through May
Here are a couple of recipes here that are, quite literally, muddled. What is muddling, anyways?
Bacon-wrapped rice
Bacon-wrapped bundles of sticky, glutinous rice are a great substitute for your weekend brunch plate when toast or potatoes start to feel a bit monotonous.
Quarantinis: Or, When Life Gives You Lemons
I recently challenged myself to publish a cocktail recipe every day, for 14 days, on social media – the challenge was that I had to use spirits I already had at home, and that I could not make any extra/unnecessary trips to the grocery store.
Old Fashioned
One can never go wrong with an Old Fashioned, and you can make one with just about any type of whiskey – it’s really up to you. I prefer bourbon, but you can use rye.
When Life Gives You Lemons
We are all feeling this way at the moment, and because the lemons are so lovely now, and in the same springy theme, I give you a refreshing, sassy, and springy gin sour!
Five Spice rubbed Gravlax
Gravlax is one of the simplest, kinda luxurious foods you can make at home. Just a few ingredients and some patience and you’ve got a beautiful cured salmon that will impress any guest.
Salmon, twice as good
It’s hard to say which of these two salmon recipes is the best because both are delicious. The bonus is that each one is pretty simple to prepare.
Chipotle sauce
Chipotle peppers canned in adobo are the base for this simple sauce. These peppers are hot, and smokey and puree to a lovely thick sauce.
Garlic roasted cauliflower
Garlic roasted cauliflower can be a quick and easy side dish, but toss it with some pasta and grated parmesan and you’ve got a fast dinner.
Pork trotter with star anise and soy sauce
Trotters are all about texture—chewy tendon, soft braised skin, tender bits of meat.
Braised goat and mandarin orange on toasted baguette
We have a local farm that raises goats with lovely meat, which makes cooking it well a very simple task.
Quit loafing around
Try your hand at baking bannock. All it takes is two cups of flour, less than a tsp of salt and about a tsp of baking powder.
Eggy bacon rice wrap
Eggs cooked two ways folded into gooey cheesy rice studded with soft onions and jalapenos then folded into a toasted flour tortilla.
Linguine with breadcrumbs, parsley, lemon and anchovies
Yukon Recipes Linguine with breadcrumbs, parsley, lemon and anchovies
Salmon tacos with chili honey
While this recipe is written for a single person, it’s easily scalable to however many people you have in your household.
Simple pork belly for sandwiches
Pork belly is rich and fatty and a real joy to serve. Many shy away from it due to its reputation of being a hard ingredient to execute, thankfully that reputation is greatly exaggerated.
Quick pickled jicama
Jicama is a funny looking root vegetable. They are commonly eaten raw and have a lovely crunchy texture and mild flavor. This quick refrigerator pickle is an easy introduction to this unusual vegetable.
Moose sausages
A step by step to learn this moose sausage recipe to serve family and friends just in time for the fall season.
Getting the best out of wild meat
Murray Martin with his first ever moose, shot with a bow and arrow in 1963. It was recorded in the Pope and Young World Records. Shot with a 70 pound recurve bow at 30 yards There is a right way and a wrong way to cook your wild meat, but there is one other thing …
Homemade salads
Murray shares a variety of salads and dressings to make at home… Let me take you back to the 1940s when Mom did not rely on buying her salads from the local grocery stores. These were the days you knew where the products came from and mostly it was Dad’s garden.
Weeknight crepes
Crepes make a great light dinner. They are somewhere between a ‘breakfast for dinner’ type meal and making dessert the star of the show.
Beet and potato galette
We’re heading into root vegetable season, and with the local school vegetable fundraiser on our doorsteps again, here’s a quick easy way to use up some of your potatoes and beets that feels a bit fancier than just a simple roast.
For the sweet tooth
Cranberry bread I love old-fashioned toasted raisin bread, but digging into some old recipes, I came across one for cranberry bread. Checking our cupboard, the only thing missing was the cranberries, but you could experiment with just about any berries. Ingredients 2 cups flour 1 tsp salt 1 cup white sugar 1 tsp baking soda …
A stew to go hunting for
This is one stew recipe that I picked up more than 30 years ago. It has yet to be outshone by any other wild game stew I’ve made.
Moose and corn turnovers
Anyone who hunts knows that when you harvest an animal you’re always going to end up with a ton of ground meat. These turnovers are great with any sort of ground and make a fantastic snack to have with a few cocktails, or even a light, quick lunch. They also freeze really well after they’ve …
Deer hunting recipes
With hunting season once again upon us, it’s time to attempt to read those hurried, scribbled-down notes of some great wild-game recipes that I have received from many of the big-game hunters I have met, or hunted with, over the years.
Roasted tomato panzanella salad
Panzanella is a traditional Italian way of using old bread and lovely fresh tomatoes. While the original version uses crusty Italian bread, this version is geared more towards using up leftover rolls from summer parties with friends.
Affordable harvested fish recipes
Murray serves up a number of cost-saving recipes for your harvested fish, including multiple chowder recipes Fish are one of the most healthy foods you could eat. Growing up in the 30s and 40s, it was a lot cheaper to put food on the table by fishing and hunting than by buying it at the …
They’re never “just desserts”
Some kids eat their meals just to get to the desserts. I can well remember when dear old Mom would tell me to eat my supper because it was good for me. My eyes were on the grand finale aka the dessert that only came once I had finished the main event. Often, I would …
Meatball subs with simple marinara
Savory balls tucked into crispy bread and dripping with gooey cheese. This classic sub shop favorite is easy to make at home.
Honey ginger chicken feet
Chicken feet may be a lot for some, but this recipe is for those few people I know who just love gnawing on these gooey talons at dim sum restaurants down south.
When home cooking wasn’t frozen in a box
Murray shares some “instant meals” for families from the 40s and 50s that don’t come from a box Chili con carne Now we are going back in time to the 1940s, before the days of questionable, pre-cooked contents in a box. The meal of the day was chili con carne. We had a big family, …
Forgotten meals
Here are some old and mostly forgotten meals that still linger on my taste buds and I, once again, long to dig into the good ol’ days with some of these home-cooked meals. Barbecued wieners INGREDIENTS 8 wieners, slit lengthwise Cheese, sliced (enough to fill slits) (Sauce) 1 tsp. dry mustard 2 tsp. vinegar 1 …
Fish for dinner
Now that we’ve caught the fish, what do we do? Throw away the fish chain, remove the fish to a waterbox to keep the fish alive and replace it with an ice box.
Extra cheesy diner-style omelette
Some people think that omelettes are light. With the addition of some toast and a light salad though, this hearty omelette could make for a filling supper.
Vegetable pancakes with sesame seeds
Almost like a fritter, these pancakes can really be a mix of any gently sautéed vegetables brought together in a batter. They make a great light lunch or a side for grilled meat or fish.
Cream of curried cauliflower soup
You can also beef up this soup by adding all sorts of hearty vegetables—think carrots and cabbage rather than bell peppers or zucchini.
Yukon dining on the wild side
What do you wear to an outfitters ball? The two terms seem to be in contradiction to each other.
There’s no cookin’ like home cookin’!
Murray’s old big stone house, back in St. Marys, Ontario, where cookies cooled on the window ledge every Saturday There is no dessert like a home cooked dessert. My mother baked cookies every Saturday and put them on the window ledge in our big stone house (now designated as Canada’s Baseball Hall of Fame), back …
Bacon wrapped mushrooms with maple garlic glaze
This super-fast bacon-wrapped mushroom can be executed with seasonal beverage in hand, giving you and your favourite people even more time to spend enjoying each other’s company.
Sweet potato and goat cheese omelette
An overstuffed, browned omelette can be a thing of real beauty. This goes against all the teachings of the high-strung French culinary instructors of the world; and yet, a lovely diner-style omelette is a fast and comforting meal at pretty much any time of day.
Cake recipes from the 1940s and ’50s
When you bake using basic ingredients, you know where they come from. Jump back 1/2 century and try your hand at these home-baked cakes.
Mushroom galette
Galettes are a cross between a pie and a pizza. They come together super fast and have a lovely, rustic appearance that’s perfect for a holiday party. If you’re not the type of person who has lots of pie crust stashed in your fridge, try grabbing some sheets of puff pastry from the freezer section …
Roasted carrots with maple and garlic
Holidays are coming, and having a few simple crowd-pleasing recipes ready to roll will help out anyone who is in charge of feeding the crowd. These are also delicious at room temperature, so the leftovers are a great addition to a fancy salad or a healthy sandwich.
Preparing those tasty fish treats
Most Yukoners like to eat fish, but sometimes people want a different taste sensation. Here are some fairly simple options to try: Tasty Fish Treat #1 Ingredients Arctic grayling, filleted and cut into 1-inch squares Shake ’n Bake, for coating Oil, for deep frying Method Shake the fish in a ziplock bag with old-fashioned Shake …
Bourbon-marinated steak with mushrooms and thyme
Cooking steak and mushrooms in a cast iron skillet is a fast, one-pan, weeknight meal that feels a bit decadent. And any time you get that indulgent feeling from a meal that’s relatively healthy, it is bound to become a household staple.
Marbled tea eggs
Tea eggs are a bit like a pickled eggs in that they are a hard-boiled egg soaked in seasoning, so that they take on the flavour of the seasoning liquid. These make a great addition to a spicy noodle soup, or as a quick snack on their own, but I like them for breakfast, sliced …
Old-fashioned tasty pancakes
As promised, this week’s recipe is from my Grandmother’s Kitchen and is on great pancakes of the 1920s. Remember, these are not ingredients from a box, so follow the directions to a T. True, old-fashioned pancakes were baked (not fried) in cast iron pans. My wife Lisa and I still have iron pans that we …
Old-fashioned breads, old-fashioned taste from the 1920s
Bread recipes from the 1920s. Home-baked bread from Grandmother was a natural thing and you always knew what the ingredients were.
Squid and salami spaghetti
Squid is an inexpensive, sustainable and awesome little cephalopod that should be part of everyone’s diet, beyond fried calamari at the bar (an awesome little appy as well, don’t get me wrong). If you’ve never cooked squid, go grab a bag of frozen rings at the grocery store and give this recipe a try.
Ginger and soy braised tripe
A few weeks ago, a local association called GoOFY (Growers of Organic Food Yukon) held an event about nose-to-tail eating—eating every bit of an animal that is harvested. Which is not only sound ethical practice, but a really sustainable and delicious way to live and eat. In the spirit of that event and nose-to-tail eating, …