potato, chive, and cheese soup with chive oil

May 12, 2017July 27, 2017 ~ annika ~ 21 Comments

Spring appears in whispers and hushed tones, as the bellowing winter bows away. -Author Unknown

As the snow melts away after months of winter and the ground begins to thaw, my brave chives are always the first to poke their green stalks out of the ground. And while the other herbs in my garden just begin to show signs of life, my chives are ready for the first harvest. As soon as that happens, it’s time to whip up a batch of this potato, chive, and cheese soup. It’s a much anticipated tradition here; a celebration to mark the start of a new gardening season. It’s a rich and creamy soup, perfect for these still cool, damp days of spring, but with whispers and hushed tones of chives and Emmental. For additional allium flavour and visual appeal, it’s garnished with a drizzle of chive oil.

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kale pesto

kale & almond pesto | conifères & feuillus

April 28, 2017June 27, 2019 ~ annika ~ 18 Comments

This time of the year always gets me excited. Yes, there’s my birthday and the wisdom that comes with it but I think it has more to do with the allure of watching the city landscape transform after a long, cold winter. Almost overnight, lawns transform to lush green (except my lawn of course!), dormant buds burst open into gorgeous blossoms and birdsong fills the air. It’s also the time of the year when we sow seeds and reclaim our urban gardens. Of all the garden space and pots that we have in our backyard, five pots are always set aside solely for basil seeds. And though that promises a healthy supply of basil in the coming months, at the present moment making pesto requires some creativity. Kale, as it turns out, makes a great substitute. Continue reading “kale pesto” →

cheddar & onion scones

cheddar cheese and onion scones | conifères & feuillus

April 24, 2017April 5, 2018 ~ annika ~ 23 Comments

Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning to dance in the rain. -Vivien Greene

At this time of the year, I get really impatient with my herbs, checking every morning for signs of life on the surface of my herb garden. Despite my impatience though, they only come up when they they are good and ready to do so. My chives are always the first to make their debut and when they do, I am sure to make cheddar & chive scones to mark the long-awaited arrival. But while I wait, I make these cheddar & onion scones instead. They are equally delicious and loaded with the same allium goodness!

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