Red + White Recipes for Canada Day!

Happy Canada Day! That special day where we celebrate ourselves with fireworks, beer, barbecue, The Tragically Hip, and all thinks red & white.

Here is a round up of some of my red and white recipes. Wishing you have a safe and fun long weekend, from me, Handsome Rob, and Cooper!

Cooper wishes you a Happy Canada Day!

Wine Roasted Rhubarb & Strawberry Shortcake

Wine Roasted Rhubarb & Strawberry Shortcake

Red Velvet Cake

Red Velvet Cake

White Chocolate Cheesecake with Raspberry Vodka Sauce

White Chocolate Cheesecake with Raspberry Vodka Sauce

Strawberry Rhubarb Pie with Mascarpone Whipped Cream

Strawberry Rhubarb Pie with Mascarpone Whipped Cream

Sweet Cherry Tart with Port

Sweet Cherry Tart with Port

Raspberry Almond Thumbprint Cookies

Raspberry Almond Thumbprint Cookies

Red & White Recipes for Canada Day

Red Wine-Roasted Rhubarb & Strawberry Shortcake for Mother's Day

Wine-Roasted Rhubarb & Strawberry Shortcake

I recently returned from a wine-soaked weekend holiday in Naramata, BC. For those who are unfamiliar with this beautiful wine region, Naramata is perched just northeast of Penticton, overlooking the shores of Okanagan Lake. Dotted among the winding country roads are over twenty wineries, each with a lovely setting and tasty wines, of course. I came home with over a case of unique vintages; some to enjoy now, and some to save for special occasions. One bottle in particular stood out as a recipe-friendly red — a 2010 Montage from La Frenz Winery. This robust red is a blend of Shiraz, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, with notes of dark fruit, plum, cherries with a vanilla finish. — perfect for making this Red Wine-Roasted Rhubarb and Strawberry Shortcake!

Strawberries 'n' Cream Ice Cream

Strawberries 'n Cream Ice Cream – the perfect summer ice cream treat

It is the tail end of strawberry season here in the valley. I finally got motivated to go down to Driediger Farm — a local berry farm — and grab the last of the strawberries. Thankfully, they were still red, plump and juicy. I have to say that there's no better aroma than freshly picked strawberries, warmed by the sun. Heaven!

Sunday Brunch: Belgian Waffles

When in Bruges...

My family recently gathered to celebrate my Dad's 80th birthday with a birthday brunch of Belgian waffles. I had not made waffles in ages, so I was thankful for an excuse to use our waffle iron, which had been languishing unused in a dark corner of the cupboard.

I served the waffles warm, with whipped cream mixed with cream cheese, vanilla and a bit of sugar. Topped with sliced strawberries, freshly picked from a Fraser Valley garden, and fresh blueberries, the waffles made a decadent brunch for a special guy.

Strawberry Rhubarb Pie with Mascarpone Whipped Cream

I have been waiting impatiently for strawberry season to begin. Strawberries here are sweet, red jewels bursting with flavour. The season is late in starting where I live due to the cold, wet spring. I have been eyeing my friend's rhubarb plants with the evil plan of relieving her of it when the strawberries come in, so that I could make a Strawberry Rhubarb pie. But the cold, rainy days continued. The rhubarb matured and the strawberries remained infuriatingly green. I made the decision to go ahead with my vegetable larceny. The rhubarb was ruby red, still firm and juicy inside. The stalks snapped off the plant with a quick tug. I trimmed the leaves and they went back on the garden bed under the rest of the plants as mulch for next year.

The crisp scent of the cut stalks foretold the tart brightness of the rhubarb and strawberries together. Balanced with a rich, buttery crust and the tangy-sweet creaminess of the Mascarpone Whipped Cream, I was ready to get this party started!