Elle Republic

I never knew what these strange flat peaches were called. I bought them and ate them, that was it. They are called Saturn peaches, or Donut (Doughnut) peaches. So how do they differ from regular peaches? Well first of all, they are flat. Okay not so flat, but not so circular either. Flattish. Their skin is yellow and red, and they are usually less fuzzy than ordinary peaches. Their flesh...

Have you ever heard about Padron peppers? Padron peppers or pimientos de padrón, are small, Spanish green peppers with a sweet mild taste. The "Spanish roulette"of peppers, have been know to go rogue and occasionally sport an unpredictably spicy kick. Though this only occurs in less than 10% of those harvested. They make for a delicious and quick snack. Just blister them quickly in a little olive oil and...

Luckily, we have one child that absolutely loves broccoli. Another is very lukewarm about the prospects of eating it, while the third, I had to make a deal with him that he could eat carrot sticks instead of steamed broccoli. So how do you get kids and adults alike to eat more of their greens? Pesto is a good trick. Okay, perhaps not with the volume of garlic I...

Buttermilk Red Currant Muffins. Because I absolutely love red currants. Native to Asia and Western Europe, these little gems were thought to be among the original foods consumed by the Palaeolithic people. Yes, they've been around forever! Being a fan of tart fruits and berries, I don't actually recall seeing currants all that often in my years of living Vancouver. Or perhaps I was blind to them. Whatever the case,...

These muffins are bursting with blueberries and lemon flavor! The great thing about this recipe is that you can easily use the batter to make blueberry, raspberry or mango lemon muffins. All delicious! This fabulous recipe uses whole wheat pastry flour, which gives you the whole wheat without weighing the muffins down. Whole wheat pastry flour is milled to a very fine texture and is also lower in protein and...

French cucumber salad with crème fraîche and fresh dill. Mmmm, it reeks of summer. One of the best smells of summer is fresh dill. And why not add the fresh watery crunch of cucumber. Perfect for a hot summer day. Crème fraîche adds a creamy richness with a hint of tang to this crispy and refreshing cucumber salad. Serve it on it's own as an elegant side dish with hearty...