Relish Recipes — Appetizers

Small Batch Basil Pesto

Posted by Donna-Marie Pye on

Small Batch Basil Pesto
Basil pesto, the iconic green sauce we slather on everything from pasta to paninis is both ancient and modern. A Latin poem from the year 25CE describes pounding together herbs, cheese, oil and vinegar - making pesto the oldest sauce in Europe. Long adored in Italy, pesto made it's way into North America in the 70's and evolved from a motor-and-pestle affair to a shelf-stable condiment. Pesto literally translates into the word "pounded" and is made from fresh basil, nuts, olive oil, garlic and cheese.

Read more →

Deruny (Ukrainian Potato Pancakes)

Posted by Donna-Marie Pye on

Deruny (Ukrainian Potato Pancakes)

Growing up in Whitby, the Ukrainian and Polish heritage was very strong throughout the area. My parents had many Ukrainian friends and I grew up being introduced to a lot of Ukrainian food. I have very fond memories of eating these pancakes at my friend Irene's house. Her grandmother used to make them for us and we devoured them. They can be eaten for breakfast, as an appetizer or a side dish. Whichever way you choose to eat them, a dollop of sour cream is an absolute must-have for the topping.

Read more →

The Lazy Gourmet's Jerk Chicken Naan Pizza

Posted by Donna-Marie Pye on

The Lazy Gourmet's Jerk Chicken Naan Pizza
After all the holiday entertaining, I like to take stock of what's in my freezer as well as give myself a break from cooking - or allow myself to be a "lazy gourmet" for January. This quick and easy pizza is made using store-bought naan bread, Phlippens Jerk Sauce and an array of veggies from my fridge. We also give you alternative ideas for a Butter Chicken or Vegetarian versions at the end of the recipe.

Read more →

Homemade Eggnog

Posted by Donna-Marie Pye on

Homemade Eggnog
Eggnog is pretty much synonymous with Christmas. What other time of year do you get to drink something that’s basically custard spiked with alcohol? A good eggnog is made up of just a few simple ingredients – alcohol, sugar, cream and raw eggs. Now if you are skeptical of drinking something with raw eggs, take note that the Centre of Disease Control (CDC) tested copious amounts of homemade eggnog  to find that the addition of alcohol basically wiped out the risk of any contamination. And if all this isn’t enough to entice you, December 24th is National Eggnog Day. So go ahead and indulge a little – it’s the holidays.

Read more →

Cranberry Spiced Snack Mix

Posted by Donna-Marie Pye on

Cranberry Spiced Snack Mix
You can't go to a holiday party without a bowl of this fun party snack mix appearing. The original recipe came out in 1952 when it appeared on the back of the Chex cereal box. It's been tweaked and revised many times over the years and this version is no different. Feel free to put your own spin on it by skipping the nuts or making it vegan or gluten-free. It rarely lasts long once the bowl is put out!

Read more →