a competitive BBQ cook's food curiosity
The last time the McDonalds McRib sandwich was sold in Canada was in 2013. So, the only way to enjoy a McRib – Double Smoked Boneless Rib Sandwich at the SmellaQue house is to make it from scratch. There’s no $5.89 burger available around the …
Herbs like ginger, cilantro and mint make a beautiful medley when paired with smoked chicken in this Vietnamese Chicken Noodle Salad. Smoked chicken has its own aroma and flavor profile that is best elevated with fresh flavors. When its barbecue season, I’m fortunate to enjoy …
This week’s Supper Challenge is “poppy.” While I love lemon poppy seed loaf, the cooler weather and autumn season brings about pheasant if you know a few hunters. Cooking a savory dish with poppy seeds called for the color and flavors of cranberry, so Poppy …
The delicate balance between sweet and savory is achieved in a simple surprising vegetable dish, Miso Chocolate Cauliflower. This dish is unexpected. However, the addition of the separate ingredients works. The savory aspect of white miso is mellowed by creamy chocolate. The sweetness of chocolate …
What if the squishy yet meaty texture of Acorn squash is paired with a light, fluffy, toasted cornbread and rounded out as a dish? Ideal for brunch or light lunch, it’s a surprising delightful and composed dish. This recipe also works great with leftover cornbread. …
Harvest Grains and Grill Bowl, a guilt free and surprisingly satisfying meal. I typically don’t order vegetarian bowls at a restaurant, add in the extra challenge to cook grains into a tasty dish? I’m in. The secret to delectable, is to ensure all aspects are …
This week’s Supper Challenge is “Spice It Up.” As I was enjoying a warm autumn’s day, I really had to stretch the spice aspect. Autumn is a time of pumpkin spice lattes, root vegetables and belly warming comforts foods. So the best I could do …
Beet Tartare, not Beef Tartare. While I haven’t turned into a vegetarian, we could all use more vegetables in our diet. This is a fun way to enjoy some – on a salad, as toast or as a spread. It has the visual appeal of …
Korean Barbecue stands out because of simple flavors that pairs well with interesting cuts of meat; Pork Jowl Lettuce Wraps are no exception. Jowl is the face meat, along the jawline and chin. While pork cheeks are also part of the face, this smaller cut …
I love Asian cooked green beans because they are always cooked with a ton of flavor, no blanching in an Asians kitchen, thus, Miso Green Beans! With the earthy base of miso and spicy kick, you’ll enjoy these and be cooking this again! Best thing …
Squid is deceivingly easy to grill and for a simple flavor twist, Korean Grilled Squid Rings hit the spot. Starting the grill with aromatics – onion and scallions will perfume the air to get your mouth watering. The sweet caramelization of the onions balances the …
One of my biggest pet peeves (in my quiet voice) is dry meat. Given the opportunity for a delicious, juicy meal, I find it difficult to enjoy when the meat is chewy, grainy and just dry. Some cuts like pork loin or chicken breast are …
Happy Canada Day! What says, “Canadian” in a cool summer meal on Canada’s birthday? Caesar in a Caesar salad. When Walter Chell developed a custom cocktail for a restaurant opening, he likely didn’t consider this would be an iconic Canadian drink. This savory cocktail with …
Cows don’t have hands, let alone fingers, so what is Smoked Beef Finger Meat? These big gnarly 1 inch strips of meat look like fingers off your local friendly giant. But thankfully, this cut is just the rib meat on your local cow. More specifically, …
Ooey gooey cheese stuffed meatballs is pretty much a non-discussion item for dinner. When I bought a 5lb package of lean ground beef from Costco for this week’s Supper Challenge “bite size” theme, I didn’t expect to prep the whole package. Nor did I expect …
Avocado Toast was all the rage for a while; so that got me thinking, what about a Grilled Mushroom Pesto Toast? A hint of smoke, an herb garlic spread and flavor all the way! With this week’s Supper Challenge listed as “pesto,” pasta was not …
When you’re >1000 km from the closest ocean, Crab(less) Tofu Cakes can substitute. What do you know? They’re vegetarian and perfect for Meatless Mondays too! On a serious note, I’m clearly a carnivore at heart, so when it comes to any sort of cooking, the …
I’ve got a hankering for the sweet crunch of Coconut Shrimp, the question is, can it be made at home? Of course! I live in the Prairies, so seafood is far distance away. The easiest and most economic way to access seafood is frozen. But …
The best days as a Mom, includes baking with the kiddos in the kitchen. For this year’s Mother’s Day, I am so incredibly fortunate to be baking another batch of these delectable Carrot Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting and Lemon Curd with the kids. …
The special aspect of BBQ, is that it is enjoyed in every country, with different ingredients and different flavor profiles. BBQ is a universal food experience. Grilled meats are not isolated to North America, Asia loves it too! It was so much fun to consider …
Krapow Gai or Thai Basil Chicken (or Pheasant) is a fresh Thai dish, especially great for a weeknight! The largest challenge of infusing basil into a dish, is to ensure the basil is highlighted, while keeping the dish fresh. The basil and the chicken must …
Avocado Basil Pheasant Salad Rolls is not your run of the mill salad roll. Similar to Thai Basil Chicken (Krapow Gai) without the spicey tingle, the infusion of basil and cilantro really accentuates the avocado. With “avocado” as this week’s theme for Supper Challenge, I …
What are Match Green Tea Blondies? It’s a green tea latte in a blondie square. It is tea and dessert all in one. Can you imagine? The difference between brownies versus blondies is dependent if the classic treat contains chocolate or not. Brownies contain …
Deliciously rich and creamy, this restaurant style, Creamed Spinach can be made in your own home. Plus, who doesn’t love the antioxidants, iron content and the health benefits of spinach? This recipe is a keeper! Creamed spinach is an excellent side dish to steak, chicken, …
There is something elegant about a dish that includes a pistachio crust, the great part is, its easy! Pistachio Matcha Crusted Halibut is uniquely nutty with a vibrant citrus zing! Halibut is a mild, firm fish that enables this combination well. Alternatively, another white fish …
I love love love sweet breads and this Cinnamon Almond Knotted Bread is no exception. Its perfect for brunch, breakfast, snack, tea time, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas – generally anytime. This knotted sweet bread is tender and sweet and looks beautiful. Inspired by an Estonian …
Smoked Rack of Lamb is amazing. Its flavorful, its delicious and you can find it local in Canada! Ontario and Alberta are two of the largest producing lamb provinces in Canada, where >800K sheep grow domestically. I like buying local knowing that I’m supporting one …
Its a household treat at Thanksgiving for Sweet Potato Casserole, but for “Easter” Supper Challenge, I wanted to enjoy a more savory version of this root vegetable. I wanted to use fresh herbs with a flavorful umami base. I think this casserole is just that! …
Jalapeno Popper with brisket, also known as Texas Twinkies are oh, so good! An ultra flavorful fusion filled bun seemed like a great excuse to cook something new with leftover brisket and enjoy the spicy cheese goodness of a jalapeno popper. An Asian steamed bao …
I’m anxiously awaiting a warm holiday, so in the meantime, my travels will have to be done through food. This week’s supper challenge is themed “Spanish,” in consideration of the anniversary of Kent’s first cook, Paella. I love seafood. My distance to the ocean is …
This Japanese street food is an Asian cross between a cabbage based pizza and a pancake. A cooked cabbage patty with delicious toppings like bacon, shrimp, squid or octopus can be enjoyed. In North America, an okonomiyaki sounds a little odd, but don’t judge it …
Pineapple Chicken Thighs make a quick and easy weeknight grilled meal. Needless to say, the chicken is full of flavor and the sweet is a hit with the kids. Found some chicken thighs when “deep freezer diving” for Supper Challenge and wanted to enjoy it …
Tailgating, finger foods, game eats and camping food cheers for Bacon Wrapped Mozza Dill Pickles! Yummy! Superbowl weekend screams “Big Game” eats as the theme for SupperChallenge!
There is nothing better than grilled, plump, juicy shrimp complemented by Cuban mojo (pronounced “mo-ho”) on a hot summer night. It would be even better if such a meal could be enjoyed on the humid island overlooking a white sandy beach. Citrus, garlic and herbs …
Its a much lighter meal when cauliflower rice fills your plate. Its not hard to skip the carbs and fill your rice with flavor instead. This is the perfect accompaniment to Cuban Mojo Shrimp, so if you want a full meal, this is it! In …
My kid’s have excellent taste. They asked me to cook a Beef Wellington. Right…. I guess the a la carte must be excellent at Bistro SmellaQue? How am I going to execute this dinner request? Foodies often miss the level of difficulty in cooking a …
Asian cultures cook and serve whole fish all the time, so when I saw a fresh whole sablefish (black cod) at the store, my jaw dropped and I couldn’t wait to take it home and enjoy it roasted at home. My favorite dish at Japanese …
These Apple Cider Biscuits with Pepper Jelly and Apple Slices are phenomenal! I started the week stumped on how to create a dish from “apple cider” for our weekly @supperchallenge. But as I thought about the familiar flavors of apple and buttery biscuits in a …
There’s something festive about orange cranberry icebox shortbread cookies that I love. While everyone else bakes up chocolate or fudgy treats, I like to break the mold <haha, break the cookie mold>. That’s the great thing, not only is this cookie equally as festive, but …
Old fashioned whipped shortbread with a maraschino cherry is classic. I have to confess that any Christmas cookie platter holding whipped shortbread will mean that I will make a hurried walk to snatch up this melt-in-your-mouth treat. <I can’t even say I’m embarrassed. First one …
Save yourself some $$ and enjoy Oyster Rockefeller at home in a casserole form with a touch of smoke. When you can get double or even triple the value in oysters, this is a great deal. Even better, oysters pairs with smoke beautifully, so this …
Oyster Boulettes (Fried Oyster Balls) is most likely to be found in New Orleans or in Creole country. I cooked Oysters on the Prairies for this week’s theme of Supper Challenge this week “naughty,” since I was unable to locate Prairie Oysters. <Ha! Lucky for …
Known as pasta pillows in our house, this potato pasta or gnocchi is a simple fresh pasta easily made at home. Because of the ridges and the slight curling of the pasta, it perfectly traps your favorite sauce! Gnocchi taste (by itself): seasoned potato, generally …
A new flavor on some old favorites, a barbeque peanut sauce can do the trick. Great for salad rolls, salads, noodles or seasoning for a stir fry, this tangy and nutty combination is a crowd pleaser. For more savory flavor, add more soy sauce, for …
This week’s Supper Challenge theme is “Social Media inspired”. You know, the Tik Tok, Instagram or Facebook 1 minute videos full cooking and assembling a dish? Usually the videos show ooey gooey cheesy goodness or a cake baked and beautifully decorated. As usual, I took …
This week’s supper challenge theme is “TV or movie inspired” theme. There are so many options to choose from! Who doesn’t start drooling or find their stomach rumbling when watching a good show? Its a dream come true to think food could rain from the …
In South American, European and Asian cultures, beef tongue is a delicacy. Its flavorful and very tender. The “trick” is not to think of it as tongue. Its simply beef! If there is a restaurant with beef tongue on the menu, I’ll be ordering. …
As this week’s supper challenge theme of “Halloween,” this is both a trick and a treat. Taco de Lengua is a beef tongue taco and smoking the beef tongue for extra flavor is worth it. Don’t worry, these tacos are not as scary as you …
I was incredibly giddy when gifted a bag of tomatillos. In Canada, locating tomatillos is uncommon, to say the least. Ask a Canadian where to find tomatillos and they say, toma-wha? Describe a tomaillo as a green tart tomato and more blank stares – you …
For Supper Challenge this week, the theme is “layers.” With fall in full swing, I’m looking for comfort food and a challenge – so harvest vegetarian lasagna??!! If I’m going to all veggie, those veggies better stand out and be full flavored. Alright, veggies, layer …
After a big meal like Thanksgiving or Christmas, a lighter dessert can be enjoyed without feeling stuffed. A cranberry lemon pudding cake with cumin yogurt and maple glazed walnuts is festive, tart and a nice touch of sweet. Growing up, boxed pudding cakes were the …
I’m not kidding, this vegetarian soup with lentils is absolutely delicious! Second helpings by everyone at dinner! I love a challenge, especially for the weekly @supperchallenge. For “apple” this week, I want to cook apples in a savory way. When I came across a recipe …
How can you elevate the King’s classic peanut butter, bacon and banana sandwich? “School Lunch” is the theme of this week’s supper challenge. Do you remember peanut butter banana sandwiches? How to take a simple sandwich to the next level? Bacon. What else? Nuts are …
Breakfast will never be the same. This plate is so good, I enthusiastically encourage beer for breakfast! It is 5 o’clock somewhere. And its out of the box. Beer Infused Peach French Toast with Ricotta and Blues Hog Champions Blend BBQ Sauce is delicious! If …
Ever heard of a tamale pie or a cornbread pie? If you live north of the American border, it turns out, a cornbread crust cooked on top of typical tamale fillings makes a tamale pie (also known as cornbread pie). But don’t get distracted, leftover …
You’re curious! And I bet you don’t even have a bucket of ice cream close by. Haha! All kidding aside, these dill pickle wings are not run of the mill and SO DELICIOUS! I admit I have wrinkled my nose to the notion previously, but …
When a weekly supper challenge involves “chips”, Dill Pickle Potato Chip Soup was the first thing that came to my mind. Chips are a comfort food. It only seems natural to pair comfort food with comfort food, in a soup. Luckily, I was inspired by …
