The 'How to Cook' Blog

Happy Cinco de Mayo, firstly! You have found the BEST Cinco de Mayo recipe out there this year, hands down… These are probably my favorite cookies ever. They give you a spicy cinnamon flavor that rivals the best hot cinnamon hearts with the crunch of a cookie. They are easy to make, have exciting ingredients in them, they are ridiculously tasty, they are a great conversation piece, and are a  [ Read More ]

I seem to bake a lot of banana bread in our house. It’s tasty, it’s easy, it’s easy to switch up with different flavors, perfect for a snack, dessert or a breakfast item. I get a ton of requests for different banana breads through my Neighbourhood Chef menu, and this is one of them… Enjoy this bread with seasonal berries, or use frozen berries, if desired or necessary. Type: Bread  [ Read More ]

This stellar recipe is from the February 2013 Edition of “Cooking Adventures with Kimberly” for Tonka Live Magazine. Need something quick to grab in the morning on the way out the door to have some great fun out on the lake in winter? (You know, or something similar to that…LOL) Are you just snooping around your kitchen for a snack? Well, this is a killer recipe that will get you  [ Read More ]

Today, I wanted to create a new iced tea flavor we haven’t had in a while. I love Rose Water, and if you’ve never tried it, and like the smell of roses, you may just like the flavor too. Rose Water does a marvelous job flavoring desserts, as well as beauty products alike. A fabulous pink coloration can color other foods, as well as impart an aroma that’s out of  [ Read More ]

Well, the past few weeks have been hectic, to say the least. I am finding myself with less and less time to make breakfast and organize in the morning, not to mention that winter can knock it out of you, physically speaking. So, I am planning ahead and baking muffins that are quick to heat up with butter, and easy to pack or grab on the run. Perfect for helping  [ Read More ]

This is a lovely recipe perfect for the Holidays as an iced tea, but can be heated up as a hot tea as well to enjoy fire-side. Now, the recipe calls a cranberry syrup, also called cordial. I have included the link to the recipe and the cooking video tutorial for How to Make Cranberry Cordial. Only the peels or “shells” of the lemons are used in this recipe, and not  [ Read More ]

This is an “old school”, easy recipe I want to share for Episode #3 of my new cooking show, “Cooking Adventures with Kimberly” for January’s Edition of Tonka Live Magazine. What could be more fun and childlike than making snow-cones? But when was the last time you actually had a REAL snow-cone? I mean, the kind made with real snow, not crushed ice! Well, I’m here today to encourage you  [ Read More ]

What could remind you of the Holidays more than cranberries do? Cranberry Cordial can be used to flavor beverages like your Homemade Lemonade or tea, sweeten desserts or add that “je ne sais quoi” to other dishes, or maybe even a fabulous homemade vinaigrette for a salad. This is such a simple recipe, and you’ll be able to double up and make Sugared Cranberries & Cranberry Sugar, in addition to  [ Read More ]

This may very well be my favorite cranberry recipe ever! If you’ve never had these, and even if you’ve never really cared for cranberries before, do try these… What’s more Holiday-like than sugared fruits looking all heavenly on a tray or platter with cookies. It’s reminiscent of a Victorian Christmas. So beautiful, so addicting. Once these cranberries dry, when you pop them in your mouth, the sugar shell crunches, then  [ Read More ]

Confused as to what the heck Superfine Sugar is, and why it’s necessary at all? Well, superfine sugar is known to be used when making candies, canning, brining and other specialty applications. Basically, it’s just a finer grain of sugar than the caster sugar, and this is due to further processing, which you can accomplish in your very own kitchen. This way, you’ll always have superfine sugar when you need  [ Read More ]

If you did not get the opportunity to come on out this past Thursday, November 8th to the 2012 Women in Finance Event in Grimsby, Ontario, Canada at Casablanca Winery Inn, then you certainly missed out on a great time with nearly 300 other like-minded ladies to network & enjoy an evening of Fun & Finance. No problem, though…Here’s the video of the presentation by Cooking with Kimberly’s web chef,  [ Read More ]

One of my very favorite desserts or treats, since I was a little girl, is butter tarts. Now, I don’t prefer them with nuts at all, and love them with raisins, but want to give you a great option, especially wonderful for Holiday Cooking. Something you may not know, or may take for granted, is that butter tarts are thought of as a typically Canadian dessert. You never know who  [ Read More ]

It’s that time of year again…Cold outside and the weather is getting downright frightful. No worries!  Get in the house, sit in front of the fireplace and enjoy this Cranberry Lemon Spiced Punch to the fullest! I created this recipe especially for the ladies I’ll be presenting it to at The Women in Finance Event at Casablanca Winery Inn in Grimsby, Ontario, Canada on November 8th, 2012. Want to register?  [ Read More ]

For some strange reason, I haven’t baked cornbread in quite some time. Not that I don’t love it, it’s amazing, especially when I bake sweet cornbread from scratch. However, tonight, I wanted that same comforting soul food recipe flavor, without the long 45 minute bake-time. So, to solve my problem, I decided to bake sweet cornbread muffins, as it cuts the bake time in half. Try these out. They are  [ Read More ]

Today, I looked at my counter and the pears that aren’t quite as crunchy as they used to be. I certainly didn’t want to waste them, so I decided to make an amazing Pear Sauce, just like you would cook an apple sauce. This is a great Fall-time treat, made very similarly to a Fall favorite recipe. Be creative…You can make nectarine sauce, peach sauce, even sauces with berries that  [ Read More ]

Have you checked out my Neighbourhood Chef Menu, if you live in Niagara? Tonight, I have a client who has ordered banana bread, but not just ANY banana bread…he wanted a peanut butter chocolate chip banana bread… …And that’s what he will receive! I must say, it smells unbelievable in my kitchen right now as the banana bread is baking, and it looks unbelievable too. Wish I would have made  [ Read More ]

I love experimenting with traditional breakfast favorites and making them into a symphony of flavors on your plate. Spicing up your classic recipes is a great way to expand your cooking repertoire without having to learn too many more skills, if you are a beginner in the kitchen. What sounds more yummy than apricot pancakes for breakfast though, right? Hot, fluffy and fragrant with melted butter and hot maple syrup!  [ Read More ]

Order Granny Smith Apple Seeds from the ‘Cooking with Kimberly’ Kitchen GardenEver wanted to grow your very own Apple Tree? How about a Granny Smith Apple Tree? Sounding good so far? Want to eat like “Cooking with Kimberly“? These Granny Smith apple seeds came from the apples off the apple tree right out of the “Cooking with Kimberly” Garden in Ontario, Canada! You will receive 2 “Cooking with Kimberly” Granny  [ Read More ]

I really don’t enjoy the cold weather that comes along with the season of Autumn, but I do enjoy the switch of seasonal foods. All of those yummy spices that make your house smell like a home at Christmas, root vegetables, soups & chowders, stews & chilies… Tonight, I made Pan Sauteed Caramelized Apples as a side dish to my Pork Sirloin Chops served with Boiled Potatoes & Carrots, and  [ Read More ]

French toast is a marvelous way to start your morning… …not only because it tastes amazing, or smells mouthwatering, but because it`s so quick and easy to make too. You will likely have all of the ingredients you`ll need, and you can whip up a quick breakfast in a jiffy! So delicious, this Classic Recipe is something you will always love. Type: Breakfast Serve With: Canadian maple syrup and/or powdered  [ Read More ]