A great place for a burger in Ottawa. Chez Lucien on a snowy wintery Sunday night.

I’m baking off my Cheddar Jalapeño Sourdough this morning. It smells so good in here. Enough good smells to wake the others? We’ll see.

After reading Stanley Tucci’s book last year called Taste: My Life Through Food I was introduced to Pasta e Fagioli. It you check the internet, there are many recipes. It seems you’re authentic if it includes beans and pasta. Families have their favourite ‘other’ ingredients. Sometimes there is a nod to tomatoes. Sometimes there is meat. Sometimes there is greenery, like kale. Sometimes it’s more stewy than soupy. It seems to be what’s on hand at the end of a grand week or weekend of cooking.

We haven't had roast beef since April 16 last year. Meat is shockingly expensive. But a friend told me about a super sale back in December so I bought a roast and tucked it into the freezer. $15.17/kg. The Mister made dinner and I made the gravy. Grateful for him. And this roast.

When I was growing up, we had our big dinner on Christmas Eve. It was the Danish way. It worked for us to do it again this year.

For Danes, it’s popular to make æbleskiver each Sunday of December. The Danes don’t just celebrate on the one day of Christmas Eve, they celebrate the starting on the first Sunday of Advent and carry on for the entire month. Food is a big part of these festivities.

We have a birthday in the house. My weekend project was making the cake for tonight. Can't wait to taste it. Do you like Black Forest Cake? #BirthdayCake #BlackForestCake #Baking #Ottawa

Working on a granola recipe. This has rolled oats, pecans, shredded coconut, pepitas, sunflower seeds, dried currants, dried cranberries, dried apricots, oil, maple syrup, cinnamon, vanilla extract, salt. Still some adjustments required.

I’m trying a new finger crimp on my quiche’s pie shell. It’s called the Sunflower Crimp. I learned it from Erin McDowell. She authored The Book on Pie. This crimp is her classic finger crimp plus an extra step.

Holiday Bakers: If you like Gay Lea butter, it’s on sale at the Superstore for $4.49 until November 23. Limit of 6. Both salted and unsalted. #Ottawa