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: Roasted fish, with an Asian twist

    If you’re in the mood for an Asian-style fish dish accented with an in-season vegetable, you’re in luck — that’s exactly what I’ve prepared for today. The fish is salmon fillets that I put in a . . .

    Eric AkisMay 2, 2021

  • Eric Akis: Ricotta adds richness to tender meatballs served with marinara sauce

    You could call it meatball therapy, but I enjoy everything about making them. Choosing what type of meatball to make, rolling them up, cooking them, deciding how I’ll sauce them and, of course, . . .

    Eric AkisApril 25, 2021

  • Eric Akis: A cajun fish fry for two

    I recently bought some wonderfully fresh, well-priced B.C. rockfish fillets from my neighbourhood seafood store and on the way home contemplated how to prepare them. There are many types of . . .

    Eric AkisApril 21, 2021

  • Eric Akis: Make your own egg foo yung

    Scan the menus of Chinese restaurants in Canada, from small towns to big cities, and on many of them you’ll see egg foo yung. Some describe it as an American-Chinese hybrid. That’s because many . . .

    Eric AkisApril 14, 2021

  • Eric Akis: Creamy lemon peppercorn sauce makes for gourmet chicken dinner

    Over the years, I’ve learned that an ordinary-tasting chicken breast can be transformed into something quite gourmet if you prepare it with a bold and balanced mix of ingredients. And that’s . . .

    Eric AkisApril 11, 2021

  • Eric Akis: Monte Cristo makes a meal out of Easter ham leftovers

    I you have leftover baked ham from Easter dinner, an always-popular way to use some of it up the next day or two is in sandwich. They can be pretty simple, ham, lettuce, mustard and not much else, . . .

    Eric AkisApril 4, 2021

  • Eric Akis: Tips for reducing recipes to bake a small batch for your bubble

    A reader, Cynthia, suggested I do a column on reducing baking recipes. It was a good idea, because many folks have been baking during the pandemic and some, those feeding one or two, may want to . . .

    Eric AkisMarch 31, 2021

  • Eric Akis: B.C. halibut, with a southern-French flair

    Fresh B.C. halibut is in season and for today’s column I used fillets of that fish to create an appealing Mediterranean-style dinner for two. Cooking the fish was easy. I set the fillets in a pan. . .

    Eric AkisMarch 28, 2021

  • Eric Akis: Hearty goulash is rich with pork and vegetables

    When deciding what to cook for this column, I checked the forecast and rain was predicted. A good reason to stay inside and prepare comfort food, I thought, so I headed to my kitchen and made . . .

    Eric AkisMarch 21, 2021

  • Eric Akis: Phyllo-wrapped salmon fillets are flaky and delicious

    For those who’ve followed my column over the years, you’ll know one of my favourite ways to prepare fish is to wrap it in phyllo. It’s an ultra thin, Greek-style pastry that when layered, filled, . . .

    Eric AkisMarch 14, 2021

  • Eric Akis: Rib-sticking vegetable soups simple but satisfying

    Sometimes the best lunches are simple ones, such as a nice bowl of soup — one that’s comforting, hearty and rib-sticking and goes great with a thick slice of your favourite bread. I know others . . .

    Eric AkisMarch 10, 2021

  • Eric Akis: Dress up zucchini with 'real' parmesan cheese

    When my wife and I were first courting, we’d cook and introduce each other to dishes we liked to eat. One she first prepared for me was stuffed zucchini. When she did, with an interest in seeing . . .

    Eric AkisMarch 7, 2021

  • Eric Akis: Moroccan-style chicken has spice and tang

    A casserole filled with saucy, bubbling hot chicken always makes for a fine Sunday dinner. The options are many, from cacciatore to coq au vin. But if you’re looking for something with a little . . .

    Eric AkisFebruary 28, 2021

  • Eric Akis: Get hooked on the Big Eric fish sandwich

    I enjoy digging into a hot fish sandwich from time to time, and I can still remember one of the first ones I had more than 40 years ago. It’s hard not to because the place I ordered it from called . . .

    Eric AkisFebruary 24, 2021

  • Eric Akis: Hearty curried-vegetable soup offers a serving of comfort

    The cold spell made me think a hearty, nicely spiced soup would be the perfect recipe for today — something comforting and rib-sticking that one could enjoy on a snowy day, or a damp and rainy one.. . .

    Eric AkisFebruary 14, 2021

  • Eric Akis: Seafood tower for two makes luxurious Valentine's Day dinner

    If your partner and you love seafood, for Valentine’s Day dinner, why not lessen your pandemic blues and treat yourself to a fabulous seafood tower. The kind they might serve in a fancy restaurant . . .

    Eric AkisFebruary 10, 2021

  • Eric Akis: Cordon Bleu offers a blue ribbon French dinner

    The French words “cordon bleu” — literally, “blue ribbon” — have several meanings. Cordon bleu can refer to a person highly skilled at cooking. It’s also the name of a prestigious culinary and . . .

    Eric AkisJanuary 31, 2021

  • Eric Akis: Use tofu for a meat-free version of Kung Pao

    Tofu is made by cooking and grinding soybeans to yield a milky-looking liquid. Like milk when making cheese, that liquid is then coagulated, turned into curds, moulded, pressed and formed into . . .

    Eric AkisJanuary 27, 2021

  • Eric Akis: No meat needed for halloumi cheeseburger

    Today’s column was influenced by an international source. My son Tyler is currently living in Stockholm with his girlfriend, Sarah, who suggested I do a column on a cheese called halloumi that is . . .

    Eric AkisJanuary 20, 2021

  • Eric Akis: Pork piccata with lively lemony sauce

    A little bit of lemon can lift up the flavour of a wide range of savoury dishes. Today it provides that support in an Italian-style dish called piccata. Piccata is made by sautéing an escalope — . . .

    Eric AkisJanuary 17, 2021

  • Eric Akis: Pecans add crunch to saucy fish dish

    The process of creating today’s fish recipe began in my living room, when I sat in my favourite comfy chair with a stack of cookbooks. One of them was the late Paul Prudhomme’s classic tome Chef . . .

    Eric AkisJanuary 10, 2021

  • Eric Akis: How to make flavourful homemade chicken stock

    A reader, Bill, asked if I could do a column on making chicken stock. He said that during the pandemic, more people are cooking at home and they — and he — would appreciate some ideas for making . . .

    Eric AkisJanuary 6, 2021

  • Eric Akis: Roast duck an option for smaller, special meal

    If you want to roast a duck for a special meal — a Christmas or New Year’s dinner, for example — but are only feeding two, there’s a tasty upside: that one duck can be used to create three tasty . . .

    Eric AkisDecember 20, 2020

  • Eric Akis: Beef tenderloin roast makes a perfect holiday meal for two

    If you’re looking for a special meal to serve your partner this holiday season, a beef tenderloin roast for two would be a luxurious option. Particularly when served with a spectacular sauce. . . .

    Eric AkisDecember 13, 2020

  • Eric Akis: Two B.C. cookbooks for the foodie who has everything

    If you have a foodie on your Christmas gift list, a new cookbook is something they’d enjoy unwrapping. Today, I’ve written about two cookbooks by B.C. authors to consider putting under the tree and. . .

    Eric AkisDecember 6, 2020

  • Eric Akis: Hot, crispy prawns, ready for dunking

    If you’re in the mood for a seafood treat, it’s hard to go wrong with coconut prawns. Hot, golden, crispy and, because of that coconut, rich-tasting — all made even more inviting when the prawns . . .

    Eric AkisDecember 2, 2020

  • Eric Akis: Cookies to ease your worried mind

    During the COVID-19 pandemic, many folks have turned to baking to help knead, whip and beat out the stress they are feeling during these unsettling times. It’s a happy distraction from what’s going. . .

    Eric AkisNovember 25, 2020

  • Eric Akis: Grandpa’s chicken brings back delicious childhood memories

    When my wife, Cheryl, and I first moved in together, we cooked dishes we enjoyed when we were kids and teens. We still do. On Cheryl’s side of the ledger was one called Dad’s chicken. Dad’s . . .

    Eric AkisNovember 22, 2020

  • Eric Akis: Comfort food from Sri Lankan hill country

    Taking a long flight somewhere to enjoy new cultures and foods is not, for obvious reasons, in most of our current plans. We’re staying close to home and looking forward to the day that we can . . .

    November 15, 2020

  • Eric Akis: Three-cheese chicken lasagna with mushrooms and spinach

    A reader, Helen, asked if I could feature a creamy chicken lasagna recipe that used more than one type of cheese. That sounded like a tasty idea, so I set to work. I started by simmering chicken . . .

    Eric AkisNovember 1, 2020

  • Eric Akis: Is it a pumpkin or a squash? It's complicated

    Almost every fall since I began writing this column, I’ve offered recipes using canned pumpkin. On some occasions, readers have written to tell me that, despite the labelling, canned pumpkin is not. . .

    Eric AkisOctober 28, 2020

  • Eric Akis: Get dunking with two tasty dips

    Ladies and gentlemen, roll up your sleeves and get ready to dunk! Today I have a couple of tasty dips for you to try that will require you to grab some tortilla chips and happily dunk away. One . . .

    Eric AkisOctober 21, 2020

  • Eric Akis: Prawn and vegetable stir-fry with udon

    When I make a stir-fry it sometimes takes me back to my culinary school days where my instructors drilled into me the importance of “mise en place.” It’s a French term for having all your . . .

    Eric AkisOctober 18, 2020

  • Eric Akis: Pulled turkey sandwiches give leftovers a southern twist

    If you’re roasting a turkey for Thanksgiving and have leftovers, making sandwiches with sliced turkey on your favourite type of bread is a common way to use them up. Most folks, including me, . . .

    Eric AkisOctober 11, 2020

  • Eric Akis: Double up on pumpkin spice with squares and a latte

    If you enjoy the taste of pumpkin you’re in luck, because today I’m offering a sweet way and a hot and foamy way to enjoy it. The sweet way is a recipe for pumpkin squares that tastes similar to . . .

    Eric AkisOctober 7, 2020

  • Eric Akis: Stuffed chicken a tasty option for Thanksgiving

    If you’re downsizing Thanksgiving this year and not roasting a large turkey, what else could you serve if you still want to enjoy a whole bird? Well, if taste, juiciness and aroma all matter to you. . .

    Eric AkisOctober 4, 2020

  • Eric Akis: Broccoli and aged cheddar a magic combo

    Two foods that work marvelously together are broccoli and aged cheddar cheese. The flavour of mildly mustardy, earthy tasting broccoli is always brought to a finer place when combined in some way . . .

    Eric AkisSeptember 30, 2020

  • Eric Akis: Brown rice oat pancakes a healthy, gluten-free treat

    If you like pancakes, but want or need to make them gluten-free, brown rice flour is a good alternative to all-purpose flour. Today’s recipe yields light and tender pancakes that contain all the . . .

    Eric AkisSeptember 23, 2020

  • Eric Akis: Jamaican-style beef patties a spicy treat

    When my wife and I visit my sister-in-law Cindy in Thunder Bay, she often makes Jamaican-style patties. She was inspired by a trip to Jamaica years ago and the fact that she and everyone else in . . .

    Eric AkisSeptember 20, 2020

  • Eric Akis: Sheet-pan dinner shows off Island produce

    COVID-19 has caused planners to cancel, reschedule or rethink how they’ll hold events around the world. I got firsthand knowledge of how one group in Europe took the latter approach. A few weeks . . .

    Eric AkisSeptember 9, 2020

  • Eric Akis: Plums add touch of sweetness to chicken dish

    Putting fruit in savoury dishes adds a balancing touch of sweetness, appealing colour and, of course, the fine flavour of the fruit you use. All those things proved true when cooking today’s roast . . .

    Eric AkisSeptember 2, 2020

  • Eric Akis: Tasty appetizer, decadent dessert use in-season fruit

    I have two colourful late summer recipes for you to try. One you can serve as an appetizer or light lunch, the other a classic Italian-style dessert with a twist. The former is an adaptation of a. . .

    Eric AkisAugust 30, 2020

  • Eric Akis: A Mexican patio meal for two

    If I were a waiter in a restaurant I would describe today’s recipes as a sunny and bright tasting Mexican/Caribbean-style dinner for two. The kind of meal nice to enjoy on a patio while sipping a . . .

    Eric AkisAugust 26, 2020

  • Eric Akis: Peach Melba — a dessert fit for a star

    B.C. peaches are in season and if the late renowned French chef Auguste Escoffier was alive and living here he’d surely be cooking with them. In fact, The Escoffier Cookbook: And Guide to the Fine . . .

    Eric AkisAugust 23, 2020

  • Eric Akis: Chicken satay, Singapore style

    I recently watched an old episode of the late Anthony Bourdain’s CNN television show Parts Unknown where he visited Singapore. As he explored and ate his way around that city-state, it brought back. . .

    Eric AkisAugust 12, 2020

  • Eric Akis: Rice croquettes call up fun flavours of Italy

    I bought a beautiful basket of very ripe red tomatoes the other day and turned them into sauce. After making it, I pondered what to serve with it, leafed through my Italian cookbooks for . . .

    Eric AkisAugust 9, 2020

  • Eric Akis: Skillet BBQ Mac and Cheese rich with Island cheeses

    Palate-pleasing, comforting and rib-sticking, it’s no surprise that mac and cheese appeals to all ages. And another big part of its allure is that it can be prepared in myriad ways. For example, . . .

    Eric AkisAugust 5, 2020

  • Eric Akis: Summer soup stocked with garden veggies, topped with pistou

    During the COVID-19 pandemic, I, like everyone else, have moments where I’m anxious about what’s going on. That’s when I like to get moving and get my brain occupied with other things — like . . .

    Eric AkisJuly 26, 2020

  • Eric Akis: Gobble up some gazpacho

    Once or twice every summer, I like to make cold soup. Something savoury, well chilled and refreshing that perks up and pleases your palate and is perfect to serve on a warm day. When deciding . . .

    Eric AkisJuly 19, 2020

  • Eric Akis: Throw some chicken wings on the barbecue

    Once in a while, I get a craving for chicken wings. If it’s summer, I’ll head out and cook them on the barbecue. Last week, I barbecued some wings that I flavoured Asian-style. I first marinated . . .

    Eric AkisJuly 15, 2020

  • Eric Akis: Beautiful B.C. blueberries in cookies, summer salad

    When B.C. blueberries are in season, I like to keep a basket or two on hand to snack on. They have a sweet, slightly tart, appealing taste and are a good source of such things as vitamin C and . . .

    Eric AkisJuly 8, 2020

  • Eric Akis: Wild salmon, berries right combination for summer

    When I think about B.C. foods and summer, wild salmon and berries always come to mind. Both are available fresh at this time of year and a flavourful fact is that you can deliciously serve them . . .

    Eric AkisJuly 6, 2020

  • Eric Akis: Are you a Canadian foodie? Take this quiz and find out

    Canada Day will soon be here, the time of year I offer another edition of my annual Canadian food quiz. Give it a try, eh, and see how you do. You’ll find the answers here. 1) In their most . . .

    Eric AkisJune 28, 2020

  • Eric Akis: Pasta salad for your picnic basket

    Packed for a picnic, served for a cool summer lunch, or offered as a side dish, pasta salad is cool, palate-pleasing and perfect to enjoy on a warm summer day You can also flavour it in all sorts. . .

    Eric AkisJune 24, 2020

  • Eric Akis: Chicken sandwich, Japanese style

    Chicken katsu is a Japanese-style panko-coated piece of fried chicken that’s become a popular dish around the world. It’s easy to understand why — it’s crispy on the outside, juicy in the middle . . .

    Eric AkisJune 17, 2020

  • Eric Akis: A sheet-pan dinner with in-season spot prawns

    When it comes to seafood in B.C. we are spoiled. Halibut, salmon, albacore tuna, ling cod, crab, sablefish, oysters, clams and mussels are just some of the tasty choices we have and there’s much to. . .

    Eric AkisJune 14, 2020

  • Eric Akis: A taste of New York cheer with cheesecake

    Last week, I was looking at family photos and came across ones from a trip my wife, son and I had taken to New York. We had a marvellous time and those photos made me reminisce about the food we . . .

    Eric AkisJune 7, 2020

  • Eric Akis: Right on! It’s rhubarb season

    B.C. rhubarb is in season and today I’ve used it in two quite diverse ways. My first recipe sees rhubarb added to a baked good that might be nice to serve for Sunday brunch: rhubarb coconut muffins. . .

    Eric AkisMay 31, 2020

  • Eric Akis: Savoury strudel can be star of show

    It’s handy to have recipes that can serve two purposes. Today’s spinach and three-cheese phyllo strudel is an example. If you need a side dish for such things as lamb, kebabs, chicken or salmon, a . . .

    Eric AkisMay 27, 2020

  • Eric Akis: Fresh B.C. asparagus, three ways

    Asparagus is in season, and its fine flavour and colour always inspire me to prepare it in all sorts of ways. If you’ve followed this column over the years, you’ll know that soup is one of the . . .

    Eric AkisMay 20, 2020

  • Eric Akis: Fire up grill for bold beef ribs

    I was in the grocery store the other day looking for a nice steak to cook for dinner and got distracted when I saw packs of meaty beef back ribs for sale. I couldn’t recall the last time I had . . .

    Eric AkisMay 17, 2020

  • Eric Akis: Piragi fits bill as favourite snack for Mother's Day or any day

    It’s Mother’s Day, and in this column over the years I have written about my mother, Julie, and the food she cooked when I was growing up. Today, though, I thought I would talk about my father’s . . .

    Eric AkisMay 10, 2020

  • Eric Akis: How to make sushi rolls at home

    You really appreciate the skills of a well-trained sushi chef when you make sushi yourself. The chef makes it quickly, precisely, flavourfully and attractively, while home cooks can struggle, . . .

    Eric AkisMay 6, 2020

  • Eric Akis: Potatoes and yams take centre stage

    Baked potatoes and yams are often served as a side dish. In today’s recipes, though, I’ve elevated their status and made them the star on the plate. With regard to the spuds, I made twice-baked . . .

    Eric AkisMay 3, 2020

  • Eric Akis: How to make your own butter, bread and cheese

    A lot of flour is being sold during the COVID-19 pandemic — an indication that many folks have gone into pioneer mode and are making bread. Ask them what goes good with it and many will say butter.. . .

    Eric AkisApril 29, 2020

  • Eric Akis: Tasty tostadas, with a B.C. twist

    Early this year — which seems like a lifetime ago, given what’s happened with the COVID-19 pandemic — my wife and I had a lovely little getaway in San Diego. While there, we dined at several . . .

    Eric AkisApril 26, 2020

  • Eric Akis: How to make a fluffy, delicious omelette

    A number of readers have asked me to offer basic cooking techniques — skills they could learn or improve on while staying close to home during the COVID-19 pandemic. I liked the idea, so today I’. . .

    Eric AkisApril 22, 2020

  • Eric Akis: Singapore-style noodle dish easy to prepare, cooks quickly

    In a recent column on menu planning for the COVID-19 crisis, I suggested home cooks include dishes that used ethnic ingredients. That was because I found ingredients such as Asian-style rice . . .

    Eric AkisApril 19, 2020

  • Eric Akis: Tortilla pizza delivers for kids

    As I noted in recent columns, many Times Colonist readers have reached out to me and emailed suggestions on topics I could write about during the COVID-19 pandemic. Readers have also sent recipe . . .

    Eric AkisApril 15, 2020

  • Eric Akis: A hearty soup for leftover ham

    The COVID-19 crisis is affecting how we cook and eat. Some ingredients normally well-stocked in grocery stores are becoming scarcer and we’re being forced to switch things up. I was reminded of . . .

    Eric AkisApril 12, 2020

  • Eric Akis: How to make a seven-day dinner plan

    I’ve been receiving many emails from readers offering great suggestions about food-related topics I could write about during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among them was one from Megan, a reader who . . .

    Eric AkisApril 8, 2020

  • 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

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