Recipes

This is a great Sunday brunch and an excellent way to use up the end of your Christmas Egg Nog.

For every cup of leftover eggnog, whisk in an additional whole egg. Add a pinch or three of cinnamon and a dash of nutmeg. Dip bread slices into the eggnog mixture & turn them over. Fry the soaked bread on both sides in melted butter over medium heat until the egg is cooked.

Serve with warm maple syrup or simply dusted with confectioner’s sugar. Add some bacon & a cup of fresh coffee.

Day 10: Gift & Stocking Stuffer Ideas

You say, gourmet salt? 

We say, absolutely! The best salt has a distinctive flaky texture and taste that lends a certain piquancy to virtually any dish. Ask a top chef about salt and they’ll almost certainly cite sea salt flakes from Maldon as a favourite. We love the taste that a little seasoning from Maldon salt brings to dishes whether savoury or sweet.

Gourmet salt consistently tastes better from start to aftertaste. And there is something really beautiful about a gleaming rock salt or shimmering sea salt flakes as a finishing touch, sprinkled by hand over a culinary creation.

It makes a perfect gift for the foodie on your gift list. Trust us - they'll love it.

Gluten-free Chocolate Chip Cookies

These might be even better than "regular" chocolate chip cookies!

Ingredients

• 4 cups (22 oz) gluten-free flour
• 1 tablespoon xanthan gum
• 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 ¼ cups (10 oz) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 ¼ cups (10 oz) brown sugar
• 1 cup plus 2 Tbsp (7-7/8 oz) sugar
• 2 large eggs, at room temperature
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 16 ounces dark chocolate wafers
• Maldon sea salt

Day 9: Gift & Stocking Stuffer Ideas

Today's recipe is a great way to celebrate the season! Who doesn't love a warm cup of chowder to ward away the winter chill?

And if seafood is something that gives you a thrill, why not sign up yourself and a friend for one of our forthcoming Seafood Classes in 2018. We only use the finest fish from our friends, local vendor 1 Fish 2 Fish, so you're in for a treat no matter which class you attend!

Our January and February class calendars are all online now!

Buy a class vouchers online and call us to reserve your seats today!

Smoked B.C. Salmon Chowder

Ingredients

• 2 stalks celery, chopped
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 small green pepper, chopped
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 3 tbsp. butter
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup uncooked potatoes, diced
• 1 cup shredded carrots
• 1 ½ tsp. salt
• ½ tsp. pepper
• ¾ teaspoon dill weed
• 1 can cream-style corn
• 2 cups half-and-half cream
• 6 oz. smoked salmon chunks (we LOVE the smoked salmon at 1 Fish 2 Fish)

Day 8: Gift & Stocking Stuffer Ideas

Does someone on your gift list love to bake? At Well Seasoned, we have a great selection of tools and ingredients for the amateur or professional baker. We do custom gift baskets and have several baking cooking classes queued up this winter. Pastry Chef Janice hosts a Fruit-Filled Dessert Class on January 10th and a Chocolate! Chocolate! class on the 24th! Buy a class vouchers online and gift it to the sweet-tooth on your gift list.

Another great gift for the baking enthusiast is quality Vanilla. Vanilla paste is a thicker form of vanilla extract which includes the seeds from the vanilla pod. Another alternative to vanilla extract is vanilla powder, which is made by grinding vanilla beans. Vanilla powder is more potent than extract and does not contain alcohol which allows it to be added to warm drinks, like coffee and tea, without evaporating (perhaps a coffee lover themed gift is the way to go?) Whichever vanilla you choose, it's sure to be a hit!

Classic Vanilla Bean Shortbread

Ingredients

• 3 ½ cups (16 oz) all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup (5 ½ oz) berry sugar
• 1 3/8 cups (11 oz) unsalted butter, at cool room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
• ½ cup (3 ½ oz) sugar, for finishing

Ingredients:

• 6 eggs, separated
• ½ cup super fine sugar
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups brandy, rum, whiskey (your choice)
• 1 cup whole milk (Avalon Dairy tastes the best)
• Fresh Nutmeg

Instructions:

Beat egg yolks, ¼ cup sugar, nutmeg, salt and vanilla together until very thick and light yellow. Slowly beat in the alcohol and the milk. Cover and chill overnight. Shortly before serving, beat the egg whites to soft peaks. Gradually beat in remaining ¼ cup sugar, beat this mixture to soft peaks again, creating a meringue-like cream.

Then slowly pour this cream over the chilled brandy mixture, folding in gently. Serve the eggnog in a mug with freshly grated nutmeg over the top for garnish.

Day 7: Gift & Stocking Stuffer Ideas

Whether an amateur, casual or professional cook, a good cutting board and knife is essential. We carry a variety of Epicurean brand cutting boards that are simple, long-lasting, and most-important, functional. Visit us in store to see our selection!

While the tools are important, what you really need to "cut the mustard" is sharp skills and we've got just the cooking class. Buy a voucher to one of our 2018 Knife Skills Cooking classes and send someone on your gift list to a class that works with their schedule! Better still is that all students who sign up for our Knife Skills classes receive an Victorinox Knife and Cutting Knife!

From Demo Classes to Advanced Prep, we've got a cooking class for everyone!

Fennel and Lemon Risotto

Pssst: Today's risotto works great with our Day 3 recipe + gift idea post: Goat Cheese Arancini with Honey Balsamic Reduction. Use your leftover risotto to make a great Arancini.

• 1 large fennel bulb, base trimmed
• 2 tbsp. butter
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 1 garlic clove, finely chopped
• 2/3 cup Arborio rice
• ¾ cup dry white wine
• 2 ½ cups hot vegetable stock
• Zest of 1 lemon
• 3 tbsp. parmesan grated