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 ]

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 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 ]

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 ]

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 ]

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 ]

Today, I’m making a recipe for banana bread I would like to share with you. It’s my Damson Plum Banana Quick Bread! I have been making banana breads quite a bit, as people have been ordering from the Neighbourhood Chef Menu locally in Niagara. So, I’m sharing this new recipe with you all, which, by the way, had rave reviews already! FABULOUS…the lasagna and banana bread is fabulous! ~ Roman  [ Read More ]

I really cannot name off one person that doesn’t love Cinnamon Toast done the way I do it! It’s the old-fashioned way without the cheat step. However, it only takes about 2 minutes to whip up, nonetheless. So, whether you’re a child who has a sweet tooth, or a child-at-heart with a sweet tooth, then you are in luck. In fact, it might be just the way your mom made  [ Read More ]

Last night, my sweet tooth got the better of me, and I had a few moments to spare… …so I wanted something that was a bit sweet, maybe warm and really delicious, maybe reminiscent of being a tiny bit healthy too would be good, to alleviate the guilt! LOL So, I thought I would make some breadcrumb cookies after looking through my ingredients and what I had in the pantry.  [ Read More ]

I want to share with you my amazing new recipe for Raspberry Banana Quick Bread. Raspberry is one of my favorite flavors on the planet, and it goes so well with banana bread too. This recipe will showcase both flavors in a magnificent way. I have Banana Bread on the Neighbourhood Chef menu, and tonight, one of my good friends, Jenny D from DV8 Hair Salon in Niagara Falls made  [ Read More ]

If you’ve never had a peanut butter banana sandwich, don’t knock it until you try it yourself. In fact, did you know that a Grilled Peanut Butter Banana Sandwich was Elvis Presley’s favorite food? It is very delicious, and my dad was a huge fan of plain old peanut butter banana sandwiches, not even toasted. This is a kicked up version I quite enjoy making when I’m in the mood  [ Read More ]

What sounds better than homemade apple pie? Not much, right? Well, today, I’m sharing with you my specially created recipe for my friends at Alpha Beta Pie (shout out to Jewlz Bailey), for Apple Pie Quickbread. This recipe is reminiscent of that wholesome, favorite, grandma-used-to-make pie flavors just about everyone LOVES, apple & cinnamon…what a combination. My Apple Pie Quickbread Recipe is infused with those flavors and a few twists  [ Read More ]