Cooking with Eric

Eric Akis

Eric Akis

Eric Akis is the author of eight cookbooks. His latest is The Great Rotisserie Chicken Cookbook (Appetite by Random House).

  • Eric Akis: Get happy with halibut

    A Times Colonist reader, Kevin, sent me an email asking if I had any recipes not requiring ingredients that are consistently out of stock at grocery stores during the pandemic. Those ingredients . . .

    Eric AkisApril 5, 2020

  • Eric Akis: Knead away stress with a rustic French loaf

    Judging by how little flour I saw for sale at supermarkets last week, it appears many people have stocked up. That’s not surprising, since folks staying close to home have time on their hands and . . .

    Eric AkisApril 1, 2020

  • Eric Akis: A back-to-basics pasta meal

    Nancy, a Times Colonist reader, asked if could do some columns that offered basic cooking skills and tips using simple ingredients, items you can likely find easily in grocery stores during the . . .

    Eric AkisMarch 29, 2020

  • Eric Akis: Share the joy of baking with kids

    Kids are off school, and if you’re looking for an activity, baking something together can be tasty fun. The adult can run the operation, while the kids help with such things as fetching ingredients. . .

    Eric AkisMarch 25, 2020

  • Eric Akis: Fear not, comfort of chicken and dumplings awaits in a bowl

    With all the worry and concern about COVID-19, this seems a good time to offer a recipe for a comfort food — something simmered that fills your home with a wonderful aroma, a welcoming dish grandma. . .

    Eric AkisMarch 22, 2020

  • Eric Akis: Apple turnovers bring back childhood memories

    When I was a kid, my family had a Saturday tradition where we would all pile into the car, go to the supermarket and do our grocery shopping for the week ahead. If my brothers and I behaved well, . . .

    Eric AkisMarch 18, 2020

  • Eric Akis: Classic potato tots, made from scratch

    For economic, ethical and other reasons, finding ways to use vegetable scraps — rather than simply tossing them out or composting them — has been a trend the past few years. Books have even been . . .

    Eric AkisMarch 4, 2020

  • Eric Akis: Welsh rarebit a fitting way to toast St. David

    If you’re of Welsh descent you’ll know that today is St. David’s Day, a celebration of St. David, the patron saint of Wales. St. David is believed to have died on March 1, 589, or slightly later, . . .

    Eric AkisMarch 1, 2020

  • Eric Akis: Cabbage rolled into a hearty soup

    If you have a craving for cabbage rolls, but don’t have time to make them, shorten the preparation process and make a fairly simple soup that tastes like them. In today’s recipe, ingredients used. . .

    Eric AkisFebruary 26, 2020

  • Eric Akis: Pork belly, with a French flair

    A Times Colonist reader, Suzy, asked if I had a really good recipe for pork belly. She bought some on sale, because she had heard about them the past few years, but wasn’t sure how to prepare it.. . .

    Eric AkisFebruary 23, 2020

  • Eric Akis: Ginger snap cookies, two ways

    A Times Colonist reader, Don, asked if I had a good recipe for thin ginger snaps — a very crispy cookie that does actually snap when you break it. I knew I would find one or more in my vast . . .

    Eric AkisFebruary 19, 2020

  • Eric Akis: Lasagna roll-ups a meat-free treat

    If you love lasagna, but want to switch things up, don’t layer the noodles — roll them up. That’s what I did in today’s recipe. As you can see in the step-by-step photos, before rolling the noodles. . .

    Eric AkisFebruary 16, 2020

  • Eric Akis: Steak Diane stands the test of time

    When I was a chef’s apprentice in the early 1980s, the hotel I worked in had a fine-dining restaurant. That restaurant, as with others in that era, offered several dishes that were prepared on a . . .

    Eric AkisFebruary 12, 2020

  • Eric Akis: Decadent bites for Oscar night

    The Academy Awards are on Sunday and if you’re hosting a viewing party, you might want to serve decadent bites to nosh on. If you’re looking for something you can prepare in advance, make blini.. . .

    Eric AkisFebruary 5, 2020

  • Eric Akis: Bread pudding, Italian style

    I routinely get recipe or column requests from Times Colonist readers and they can really vary. Recently, a reader asked if I had a good recipe for pork belly. Another wondered if I could provide . . .

    Eric AkisFebruary 2, 2020

  • Eric Akis: Cuban sandwich for the win

    The Super Bowl is Sunday and the game is being held just north of Miami. If you plan to watch and want to serve a food popular there, make Cuban sandwiches. Some describe Cuban sandwiches as the . . .

    Eric AkisJanuary 29, 2020

  • Eric Akis: Vinegary sauce gives braised bird a subtle, palate-pleasing kick

    When you first read the name of a recipe, you sometimes get the wrong impression of how it will taste That happened to me when I first saw a recipe for a French dish called poulet au vinaigre, . . .

    Eric AkisJanuary 26, 2020

  • Eric Akis: Wontons food of good fortune for Chinese New Year

    Chinese New Year begins this Saturday and festive gatherings marking the occasion will continue until the next full moon. Enjoying foods said to bring good fortune is an important part of the . . .

    Eric AkisJanuary 22, 2020

  • Eric Akis: Pot roast to please the winter palate — and the budget

    Last Sunday morning, I stepped outside for a moment — the wind was howling and the rain was coming down sideways. I hurried back inside and checked the weather forecast. Snow was predicted for . . .

    Eric AkisJanuary 19, 2020

  • Eric Akis: DIY breakfast sandwich is simple, economical and just as quick as fast food

    Being curious about something inspires some of my food columns, and that was the case today. Last week, I was out just before 8 a.m. food shopping. On my way to the store I passed a fast-food . . .

    Eric AkisJanuary 15, 2020

  • Eric Akis: A hearty stew, just like Mom used to make

    With a very modest income and four hungry sons and a husband to feed, my mom had a tight budget for preparing family meals when I was growing up. Things were even tighter after New Year’s because . . .

    Eric AkisJanuary 5, 2020

  • Eric Akis: A very merry West Coast dinner

    If you need an attractive West Coast-style main dish for a festive holiday lunch or dinner, bake a whole side of salmon. It’s not hard to do and when presented on a pretty platter, it looks . . .

    Eric AkisDecember 22, 2019

  • Eric Akis: Sumptuous Dungeness crab for all with bisque

    Dungeness crab is sumptuous, but if you want to feed six guests a whole one each, it can be an expensive proposition. There is a way, though, to turn one large Dungeness crab into something that . . .

    Eric AkisDecember 18, 2019

  • Eric Akis: Chicken Marbella a festive holiday dish for a crowd

    The first time I tried chicken Marbella, 30 plus years ago, I found its flavour so intriguing that I immediately started musing about the origins of the dish. Since it contained ingredients such as. . .

    Eric AkisDecember 15, 2019

  • Eric Akis: Holiday upgrade: prawn ring with trio of sauces

    In December, during the Christmas “holiday season,” every major grocery store flyer will offer shrimp rings for sale. I know people buy them by the boatload, because at every potluck party I go to . . .

    Eric AkisDecember 11, 2019

  • Eric Akis: Pork Daube a French casserole for an aromatic feast

    If you’re having a casual dinner party and want to warmly welcome your guests, have a big pot of something savoury and delicious cooking in the oven when they arrive. There are certainly many . . .

    Eric AkisDecember 8, 2019

  • Eric Akis: Cream cheese stars in holiday spreads

    When I was a kid, my mother always kept a brick or two of firm cream cheese in the refrigerator during the Christmas holiday season. She had it nearby just in case she needed to whip up some simple. . .

    Eric AkisDecember 4, 2019

  • Eric Akis: Seafood stew for two with a B.C. catch

    A cool December night is the perfect time to make a hearty, aromatic, spirit-lifting stew. It could feature meat, but if local seafood is your thing, head your boat in that direction. That’s . . .

    Eric AkisDecember 1, 2019

  • Eric Akis: Soup’s on, with a minimum of fuss

    A reader, Margot, wrote that she had tried my recent mulligatawny soup and turkey pho recipes. She said she enjoyed them, but noted that she was 91 and it took her a bit of time to prepare them. Margot’s note, in a very sweet way, challenged me to come up with some recipes that were a little simpler to prepare

    Eric AkisNovember 27, 2019

  • Eric Akis: Making meatloaf magic, minus the meat

    A reader, Diane, sent me a note asking if I had a recipe that was meatloaf in style, but made with lentils, not ground meat. I didn’t, but told her I could create one and I’m serving it up today.. . .

    Eric AkisNovember 24, 2019

  • Eric Akis: Let burgers be your Grey Cup winner

    Many Canadians will cosy up in their TV rooms to watch the Grey Cup in Calgary this Sunday. Well before kick-off, they’ll be cooking up a plan on what to dine on while cheering on their team. . . .

    Eric AkisNovember 20, 2019

  • Eric Akis: Spicy chicken dish awakens senses

    Last week, my wife and I both had colds. Luckily, when we’re sick, we crave similar styles of food. Among our favourites are Asian-style dishes with a robust taste and aroma guaranteed to awaken . . .

    Eric AkisNovember 17, 2019

  • Eric Akis: Mulligatawny soup to spice up a brisk fall day

    One way to attract attention to a dish is to give it a compelling name — something intriguing that makes you wonder why it was given that handle and makes you want to try it, simply out of . . .

    Eric AkisNovember 6, 2019

  • Eric Akis: Scallops make for luxury mashup

    Mashed potatoes go great with roast beef, chicken and meatloaf. But this comforting dish also pairs well with seafood, especially plump scallops. Today, I have combined the two to create a rich . . .

    Eric AkisNovember 3, 2019

  • Eric Akis: A tasty veggie chili for Halloween

    If you need a big pot of something to feed a crowd, perhaps for Halloween night, a bubbling cauldron of rib-sticking chili is a good choice, especially if you want it to be meat-free. Vegetable- . . .

    Eric AkisOctober 30, 2019

  • Eric Akis: Autumn-inspired risotto also a feast for the eyes

    Even when I’ve made a dish countless times, some still surprise me with how their key ingredients transform during the cooking process, from humble-looking to superlative. Risotto is a fine . . .

    Eric AkisOctober 27, 2019

  • Eric Akis: Kicked-up version of budget bologna sandwich is truly delicious

    Thursday is National Bologna Day. It’s a celebration of this sausage and sandwich meat, a chance to enjoy some bologna and, perhaps, reminisce about your experiences eating it. Bologna, sometimes. . .

    Eric AkisOctober 23, 2019

  • Eric Akis: How to make fuss-free mac 'n' cheese

    In my long tenure as Times Colonist food writer, some of my most popular recipes have been comfort foods. Among them, those for macaroni and cheese seem to top the list. In response to that, over. . .

    Eric AkisOctober 20, 2019

  • Eric Akis: Use wontons instead of pasta for ravioli

    If you like the idea of making your own ravioli, but don’t have the time or skill to make your own pasta, you can eliminate that step by replacing the pasta dough with store-bought wonton wrappers.. . .

    Eric AkisOctober 16, 2019

  • Eric Akis: Give thanks for turkey pho

    My son Tyler is obviously a forward thinker, because two weeks ago he sent me a text and said wouldn’t it be great to make pho with leftover Thanksgiving turkey. I thought it was a great idea, and . . .

    Eric AkisOctober 13, 2019

  • Eric Akis: Nanaimo’s signature dessert gets stamp of approval

    This is the fifth and last instalment in my series about classic Canadian desserts featured on a booklet of stamps released by Canada Post this year called Sweet Canada. I previously wrote about . . .

    Eric AkisSeptember 25, 2019

  • Eric Akis: Easy-peasy chop suey

    My first experience with North American-style Chinese food occurred when I was a kid living in Saskatchewan. One winter, my Moose Jaw-based peewee hockey team traveled to Swift Current to play a . . .

    Eric AkisSeptember 22, 2019

  • Eric Akis: Savoury muffins and scones go from snacks to meals

    A scone tastes delicious topped with sugary jam. A sweet muffin rich with bits of fresh fruit is also appealing. But today, I’ve turned things around and given both baked goods a savoury taste. . . .

    Eric AkisSeptember 18, 2019

  • Eric Akis: Take comfort in rich and warming cod au gratin

    I was leafing through some of my older cookbooks the other day, including Fat-Back & Molasses: A Collection of Favourite Old Recipes from Newfoundland and Labrador. It’s a humble-looking . . .

    Eric AkisSeptember 15, 2019

  • Eric Akis: A nice slice of Saskatoon berry pie

    This is the fourth instalment in my series about the five classic Canadian desserts featured on a booklet of stamps released by Canada Post this year called Sweet Canada. In my first two columns,. . .

    Eric AkisSeptember 11, 2019

  • Eric Akis: Making sauce from a squash

    September is a month when a bounty of locally grown squash becomes available at farmers markets and grocery stores. I bought one, a beautiful looking butternut squash grown in Saanich, and prepared. . .

    Eric AkisSeptember 8, 2019

  • Eric Akis: Homemade pickles, lickety split

    If you like homemade pickles, but don’t need or have the time to make a pantry full of them, you can make what some call “quick” pickles. You can make them in smaller amounts, you don’t need to . . .

    Eric AkisSeptember 4, 2019

  • Eric Akis: Turn bountiful basil harvest into pesto

    I planted basil this year. It grew well, and during the summer I’ve regularly snipped some to use in a range of dishes. I still have tons of basil left, so with fall just around the corner, I . . .

    Eric AkisSeptember 1, 2019

  • Eric Akis: Butter tarts, a clear Canadian favourite

    This is third instalment in my series about the five classic Canadian desserts featured on a booklet of stamps released by Canada Post this year called Sweet Canada. Four weeks ago, I wrote about. . .

    Eric AkisAugust 28, 2019

  • Eric Akis: Shrimp makes for West Coast take on lobster roll

    I have been on a sandwich bender lately, with recent columns featuring recipes for vegetarian bahn mi, pork bunwiches with apples, sauerkraut and cheese, and gourmet breakfast toasts. After the . . .

    Eric AkisAugust 25, 2019

  • Eric Akis: Give your breakfast added flair

    Many people have toast topped with a preserve or other spread for a quick breakfast. But if you’re not in a rush and are feeling adventurous, why not turn that toast into something a bit more . . .

    Eric AkisAugust 21, 2019

  • Eric Akis: Sauerkraut a umami-bomb of flavour

    A reader, Tony, asked me, in short, if good things about sauerkraut outweighed the bad. I’m answering that query in my column today. Sauerkraut, German for sour cabbage, is often thought of as a . . .

    Eric AkisAugust 18, 2019

  • Eric Akis: Quebec puts a stamp on sweet treats

    This is the second instalment in my series about the five classic Canadian desserts featured on a booklet of stamps released by Canada Post this year called Sweet Canada. Two weeks ago, I wrote . . .

    Eric AkisAugust 14, 2019

  • Eric Akis: Culture clash makes great sandwich

    If you enjoy a good sandwich, but need inspiration on how to fill it, marrying tastes from two different cultures could provide it. That’s what happened in Vietnam in the 1950s, when Saigon . . .

    Eric AkisAugust 11, 2019

  • Eric Akis: Winter fare can be summer treat

    I love a good meatloaf. It’s a comfort-food dish I usually make in autumn or winter, when the weather’s cool, skies are grey and the rain won’t stop. But the other day, I developed an immense . . .

    Eric AkisAugust 7, 2019

  • Eric Akis: Add B.C. seafood to sublime chowder

    If you enjoy corn chowder stocked with potatoes, the best time to make it is right now, when fabulous locally grown corn and potatoes are available. If you want the chowder to be even more . . .

    Eric AkisAugust 4, 2019

  • Eric Akis: Delicious blueberry grunt dessert worthy of recognition from Canada Post

    This year, Canada Post released a food-themed booklet of stamps called Sweet Canada. They feature images of five classic desserts from around the country: blueberry grunt, butter tarts, Saskatoon . . .

    Eric AkisJuly 31, 2019

  • Eric Akis: Open a new chapter on your cooking

    If you’re looking for inspiration on what to cook this summer, I have two cookbooks that will give you a pot full of ideas. As a bonus, both focus on using ingredients the Canada Food Guide says we. . .

    Eric AkisJuly 28, 2019

  • Eric Akis: A Cobb salad with Roquefort for summer

    Restaurant owners who offer new dishes never know which ones will become so popular they can never take them off the menu without a customer revolt. That was certainly the case in the 1930s, when. . .

    Eric AkisJuly 24, 2019

  • Eric Akis: How to make and use clarified butter

    A reader, Nancy, asked me questions about clarifying butter. I decided to answer them in my column so anyone who is interested can learn about the process, including if certain butters work better . . .

    Eric AkisJuly 17, 2019

  • Eric Akis: Go topsy-turvy with Cherry Tomato Tarte Tatin

    If you follow this column, you will know I have a thing for summer tomatoes baked in pastry. A few years ago, that led me to create a recipe in which ripe, various coloured ones were cut into . . .

    Eric AkisJuly 14, 2019

  • Eric Akis: Serving up summer on a plate

    You’re having friends over for a summer lunch and want to serve something that’s not too fussy to prepare, but is still very flavourful and eye appealing. Can’t decide what to make? I have a . . .

    Eric AkisJuly 10, 2019

  • Eric Akis: Adding salt to water key to flavourful, robust pasta

    A reader, Joe, sent me an email and said when he was growing up in England his mother always added a teaspoon or so of salt to the water used to boil potatoes and other vegetables. He added that . . .

    Eric AkisJuly 3, 2019

  • Eric Akis: Time for a Canadian food pop quiz!

    Canada Day is Monday, so it’s time for another edition of my Canadian food quiz. Answer the 20 questions below! On a mobile device, or quiz not loading? You can also take it at this link. . . .

    Eric AkisJune 30, 2019

  • Eric Akis: Cherries jubilee a divine dessert

    Last week, I fancied making a special dessert and wanted it to feature fresh fruit. I noticed several food stores were trumpeting the fact that plump and juicy B.C. cherries, the first of the . . .

    Eric AkisJune 26, 2019

  • Eric Akis: Latin American ceviche, B.C. style

    If you’re looking for a bright-tasting, light and pretty seafood dish to serve on a warm summer day, it’s hard to go wrong with ceviche. I was reminded of that last weekend at the B.C. Seafood . . .

    Eric AkisJune 23, 2019

  • Eric Akis: Shipwreck with a happy ending

    Times Colonist readers send me all sorts of cooking-related queries. Some are easy to answer, such as where to find a particular food product. Others are more involved and it takes me longer to . . .

    Eric AkisJune 19, 2019

  • Eric Akis: Grilled flat iron a bold, beefy take on steak

    When I’m in a restaurant and in the mood for a steak, I’ll order a flat iron if I see it on the menu. It’s a tender, flavourful cut of beef and, as an added bonus, it’s more moderately priced than . . .

    Eric AkisJune 16, 2019

  • Eric Akis: Chilled poached salmon served with two aioli flavours

    My wife, Cheryl, son, Tyler, and I recently had a sunny Saturday celebratory lunch with his girlfriend, Sarah, and our mutual friends Anne and Adam. Our plan for the occasion was not complicated.. . .

    Eric AkisJune 12, 2019

  • Eric Akis: Filipino-style barbecue pork skewers

    Have you ever invited someone over for a special meal and could not decide what to prepare? That’s how volunteers of Victoria’s Philippine Bayanihan Community Centre — Lorina Miklenic, Norma Duy,. . .

    Eric AkisJune 9, 2019

  • Eric Akis: Chickpea salad with Turkish flavour

    Turkey is an interesting country, a small part of it in southeastern Europe and a large part in western Asia. It’s also part of the Middle East and over its long history, the Greek, Persian, Roman,. . .

    Eric AkisJune 5, 2019

  • Eric Akis's Sunday Dinner: Shellfish makes salmon dish sublime

    Baked salmon fillets can taste wonderful on their own, but they’re sublime when accompanied by shellfish. Today’s Sunday Dinner recipe begins with salmon fillets that are brushed with a little . . .

    Eric AkisJune 2, 2019

  • Eric Akis: Strawberry Shortcake 2.0

    June is almost here and with it the start of shortcake season. Flavourful local strawberries will soon be available to complement this baked good, making it as divine as can be. According to the . . .

    Eric AkisMay 29, 2019

  • Eric Akis: Kiss of Caribbean in ribs and rice

    If you want to flavour grilled pork back ribs, Caribbean-style, get your mojo going. I’m not talking about boosting your charisma. I’m talking about mixing up a Cuban-style sauce whose . . .

    Eric AkisMay 26, 2019

  • Eric Akis: Bread sticks, with an Italian twist

    A reader asked for a recipe for cheese bread sticks, the six-inch-long, two-inch-wide type with cheese interlaced. In supermarkets with in-store bakeries, those cheese sticks often incorporate . . .

    Eric AkisMay 22, 2019

  • Eric Akis: Black beans become Southwest-flavoured burgers

    It’s a long weekend and I suspect many burgers will be cooked and enjoyed for a casual, summer-is-almost-here supper. If that’s on your agenda, too, and you want to make one where the patty . . .

    Eric AkisMay 19, 2019

  • Eric Akis: Gin cocktails fit for a royal holiday

    The Victoria Day long weekend is almost here and if you want to toast the occasion in a royal way, get out the gin. I’ve used it in three splendid cocktails, including one our monarch would enjoy.. . .

    Eric AkisMay 15, 2019

  • Eric Akis: Rustic Italian pleasures with mushrooms, polenta and goat cheese

    If you love mushrooms, you’ll be happy about today’s column. That’s because I have cooked up four types and let them star in an Italian-style entrée.They include three fresh . . .

    Eric AkisMay 5, 2019

  • Eric Akis: Branch out on a Mexican staple with Pork Chili Verde

    In Canada, when one envisions a bowl of chili, a red-hued, bean-rich, ground-beef mixture is what first comes to mind for many. That’s understandable because that style of chili is often dished . . .

    Eric AkisMay 1, 2019

  • Eric Akis: White pepper adds spice to chicken stir-fry in lettuce wraps

    A reader asked me what the difference was between black and white peppercorns, and how those differences affect their culinary usage. A good question. And if you, too, are unsure of the answer, . . .

    Eric AkisApril 28, 2019

  • Eric Akis: Go green by tucking into asparagus

    I enjoy all kinds of soup, but my favourite at this time of year has to be asparagus. This puréed, vibrant-green, silky-on-the-palate soup tastes and looks like spring. Over the years, I’ve . . .

    Eric AkisApril 24, 2019

  • Eric Akis: Ham’s encore a cheesy casserole

    If you’re one of the many folks baking a big, beautiful ham for Easter, in a day or two you may wonder what to do with the leftovers. If you enjoy cheesy, bubbling casseroles, I have one tasty . . .

    Eric AkisApril 21, 2019

  • Eric Akis: Take it easy with an Easter ham

    I love baked ham, but don’t have it very often. Lucky for me, Easter is right around the corner and I now have a wonderful reason to cook one for dinner again. The type of ham I’m talking about . . .

    Eric AkisApril 17, 2019

  • Eric Akis: Take time to make your own falafel

    Falafel seems to be a food most people enjoy in a restaurant or from a food truck or stand. Or, if people do make it themselves, many will go the convenience route and use a boxed, just-add-water . . .

    Eric AkisApril 14, 2019

  • Eric Akis: A sheet-pan dinner just for the halibut

    B.C. halibut is in season and there are many ways to cook it, such as grilling, pan searing and steaming. But if you want to create a dinner that is mostly cooked in one vessel, get out a sheet pan. . .

    Eric AkisApril 10, 2019

  • Eric Akis: French-style beef stew, even when you have to hold the wine

    A reader recently asked me if there was a substitute for red wine in recipes such as beef bourguignon or coq au vin. That’s because an acquaintance of his who enjoys his cooking and those classic . . .

    Eric AkisApril 7, 2019

  • Eric Akis: Banana bonanza? Make a frosted banana snacking cake

    My wife and I regularly keep bananas in our fruit bowl but ran out of them early last week. We both noticed and, oops, we both ended up buying them. We went from having no bananas to having too . . .

    Eric AkisApril 3, 2019

  • Eric Akis: Fish dish puts steamer to good use

    We all have cooking implements we bought and thought we’d use more often, but instead they end up sitting in a cupboard unused for months at a time. For me, one is my collection of . . .

    Eric AkisMarch 31, 2019

  • Eric Akis: Waffle grilled cheese an old classic

    I always see used waffle irons, often in great condition, at garage or church sales and at consignment shops. I’m guessing some of the previous owners no longer make waffles, or not very often. But. . .

    Eric AkisMarch 27, 2019

  • Eric Akis: Prawns, kale, pancetta, chickpeas in caesar-style salad meal

    Weather conditions can certainly affect what you feel like making for dinner. In my case, cool days in late February and early March made me want to prepare rib-sticking comfort food. But the . . .

    Eric AkisMarch 24, 2019

  • Eric Akis: With icebox cookies, you can have freshly baked treats all week

    It’s March break, and if you’re looking for something to do with your out-of-school kids or grandkids, baking cookies can be a very sweet activity. Refrigerator cookies, also known as icebox . . .

    Eric AkisMarch 20, 2019

  • Eric Akis: Make the most of Vancouver Island lamb

    If you want to dazzle your partner with a meaty, sumptuous, restaurant-style entrée that’s not too difficult to prepare, braised lamb shanks are a good bet. You’ll find them on several local . . .

    Eric AkisMarch 17, 2019

  • Eric Akis: The lucky charm of this chocolate cake

    St. Patrick’s Day is this Sunday and if you want to mark the occasion in a sweet, Irish-themed way, get out your bundt pan. You’ll need it to make my decadent cake, which incorporates Guinness and . . .

    Eric AkisMarch 13, 2019

  • Eric Akis: How to get crispier roast chicken that's a cut above

    A reader named Murray sent me a note saying he was having a hard time getting dark, crispy skin on his roast chicken. Some of the things he was doing to achieve that goal were helpful, such as . . .

    Eric AkisMarch 10, 2019

  • Eric Akis: Thai-style chicken soup with rice and ginger packs a punch

    If you have a cold or think you’re getting one, or you just want something soothing that will lift your spirits and fill you up, make chicken soup. I’m not talking about chicken noodle soup. I’m . . .

    Eric AkisMarch 6, 2019

  • Eric Akis: Pasta marinara with roasted broccoli, plus skillet focaccia

    Some of the most satisfying meals are the least pretentious. A good example is a hot bowl of pasta served with a flavourful sauce, simple garnishes and good bread. The pasta can be any type you . . .

    Eric AkisMarch 3, 2019

  • Eric Akis: Poke bowls surf in from Hawaii

    After a recent column on how to make a burrito bowl, a few readers asked if I could offer a recipe for a poke bowl. It sounded like a tasty, on-trend idea, so here it is. Poke, pronounced “. . .

    Eric AkisFebruary 27, 2019

  • Eric Akis: B.C.-caught 'sole' à la meunière

    Adventurous cooks are always keen to learn new ways to prepare fish. But wise ones know it’s sometimes best to fall back on a classic, proven technique if you want to guarantee your catch of the . . .

    Eric AkisFebruary 24, 2019

  • Eric Akis: Make mine a brat burger

    If you have a craving for a meaty, juicy burger, but want to put a European twist on it, make a brat burger. It’s flavourful, and the process begins as it would for bratwurst sausages. Bratwurst . . .

    Eric AkisFebruary 20, 2019

  • Eric Akis: Making a better shepherd’s pie with lentils

    A reader named Gwyn sent me a note saying that, because of the new Canada Food Guide, she was trying to incorporate more vegetables and less meat into the food she cooks. One dish she recently made. . .

    Eric AkisFebruary 17, 2019

More Stories



Find out what's happening in your community.

Most Popular