This show-stopping, make-ahead, no-bake, vegan matcha cake is a grown-up version of a childhood favourite: ice cream cake. Sweet, creamy, and refreshing, this is one recipe you might find yourself repeating through the year.
To easily remove springform pan from cake, wet a kitchen towel with hot tap water and wrap towel around sides of pan. After 30 seconds, remove towel and gently unmould matcha cake. Smooth sides of cake with a spatula if desired.
Per serving:
Line bottom of 6 in (15 cm) springform pan with parchment paper.
In food processor, pulse pistachios, dates, coconut, and salt until crumbly. Add 1 Tbsp (15 mL) maple syrup and process until mixture is sticky and holds together when a bit is formed into a ball. Transfer to prepared springform pan and press into even layer over base of pan. Place in freezer while making next layer.
In blender, combine remaining 3 Tbsp (45 mL) maple syrup, avocados, matcha powder, lime juice, water, and vanilla until smooth. Pour mixture over prepared crust. Smooth out top and freeze until firm, about 5 hours or overnight.
When ready to serve, garnish with edible flowers (if using), extra pistachios, and a dusting of matcha powder, if desired. Unmould from springform pan and slice with warm knife. Keep any leftovers frozen.
Tourtière is, for me, the dish that best represents Québec. It can be traced back to the 1600s, and there’s no master recipe; every family has their own twist. Originally, it was made with game birds or game meat, like rabbit, pheasant, or moose; that’s one of the reasons why I prefer it with venison instead of beef or pork. Variation: If you prefer to make single servings, follow our lead at the restaurant, where we make individual tourtières in the form of a dome (pithivier) and fill them with 5 ounces (160 g) of the ground venison mixture. Variation: You can also use a food processor to make the dough. Place the flour, salt, and butter in the food processor and pulse about ten times, until the butter is incorporated—don’t overmix. It should look like wet sand, and a few little pieces of butter here and there is okay. With the motor running, through the feed tube, slowly add ice water until the dough forms a ball—again don’t overmix. Wrap, chill, and roll out as directed above.
My love of artichokes continues with this classic recipe, one of the best ways to eat this interesting, underrated, and strange vegetable. Frozen artichoke hearts are a time-saving substitute, though the flavour and texture of fresh artichokes are, by far, much superior and definitely preferred.
Cervelle de canut is basically the Boursin of France, an herbed fresh farmer’s cheese spread that’s a speciality of Lyon. The name is kind of weird, as it literally means “silk worker’s brain,” named after nineteenth-century Lyonnaise silk workers, who were called canuts. Sadly, the name reflects the low opinion of the people towards these workers. Happily for us, though, it’s delicious—creamy, fragrant, and fresh at the same time. Cervelle de canut is one of my family’s favourite dishes. It’s a great make-ahead appetizer that you can pop out of the fridge once your guests arrive. Use a full-fat cream cheese for the dish, or it will be too runny and less delicious.