Though it seems somewhat logical to assume the Neapolitans have only given us the wonder of three-flavored ice cream, it is also the pizza that originated in Naples. Considering its popularity, it’s hard to believe that the pizza is barely one-hundred years old, born in 1889 as a dish prepared during the visit of Queen Margherita. This most basic of pizzas, consisting of little more than dough, tomato sauce, mozzarella and basil (a classic Italian combination, symbolizing the colors of the flag and basically all that’s good in the world) started a culinary marvel that would soon span the globe. A Little Slice of Heaven…

• 1 cup shredded coconut
• 3 cups rolled oats (do NOT use instant oats)
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil or margarine
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 3/4 teaspoon salt

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. In a non-stick skillet over medium heat, toast the coconut until it is fragrant and lightly browned. Keep on eye on this and stir frequently because it will quickly go from brown to burnt. Put the coconut in a large mixing bowl and toast the oats until warmed. Combine the coconut, oats, brown sugar, honey, oil, cinnamon and salt and spread out on a baking sheet. Bake the granola until your house smells like a comforting bed and breakfast, about 20-25 minutes. Allow granola to cool, then break apart into chunks and store in an air tight container. Add additional ingredients if desired, such as toasted nuts or seeds or dried fruits, after the baking process to prevent burning.

On Halloween I’d pour my pillowcase full of assorted treats onto the floor and sort them into piles. There was a pile for chips, a pile for chocolate bars, a pile for rockets (which are apparently called Smarties in the US?), a single toothbrush and then a mound of the inedible candies like those “chewy” caramels, anything that didn’t come in a wrapper (poison! LSD!) and Goodies. Goodies, to me, are the most god awful candy creation ever devised by man. In case you are unfamiliar with this confection, as I suspect we may only unleash such things on Canadian children, goodies are a candy-coated licorice flavored candy. To me, there’s something about it that’s akin to making chocolate covered brussel sprouts. That is, if there is a proper way to introduce licorice to a child, this is definitely not it.

It was during this time in my life, when my palette was particularly vulnerable to such a viscous onslaught, that I developed a pronounced hatred for the flavor of licorice and all things licorice flavored. Red licorice however was always a favorite of mine, being used from everything from snack to makeshift straw. Red licorice is flavored with cherry and/or strawberry and is really not licorice at all though, sort of like how white chocolate is a pale impostor of actual chocolate.

In my teenager years, where I first started fostering a passion for food and cooking, is when I discovered fennel. Fennel Seed…

3 tablespoons vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
8 raspberries
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
3 cups mixed greens
2 tablespoons dried cranberries
2 tablespoons walnuts, chopped
2 ounces feta, crumbled
salt and pepper

1. Puree vinegar, honey, raspberries and olive oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
2. Combine with mixed greens, cranberries, walnuts and feta. Serve immediately.

Makes 4 servings

1/4 cup warm water
1/3 cup honey
2-1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup warm whole milk
1 tablespoon ground coriander seed
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons butter, melted
4 cups flour

1. Whisk together warm water and honey in a small bowl, then stir in the yeast. Allow to proof for 5 minutes while preparing other ingredients.
2. Combine the egg, milk, coriander seed, cinnamon, cloves and salt in a large bowl, beating until smooth.
3. Stir the yeast mixture into the egg mixture, as well as 5 tablespoons of the butter. Gradually incorporate the flour until it becomes a smooth dough. Add more flour if necessary.
4. Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface until smooth and elastic, at least 5 minutes. Place dough in a clean bowl greased with the remaining butter and cover with a damp towel. Let rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk, about 1-1/2 hours.
5. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
6. Punch dough down and form into a round. Transfer to a baking sheet and allow to rise for 10-15 minutes while the oven is warming. Bake until the crust is a light golden brown and the loaf sounds hollow when you tap on it, about an hour. Allow to cool before slicing.

Makes 8 servings

2 teaspoons honey
2 teaspoons rice wine vinegar
1 teaspoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon sesame seeds
1 clove garlic, minced
1 cup broccoli flowerets
1/2 cup soy beans
1 cup peas
water

1. Combine honey, vinegar, soy sauce, sesame seeds and garlic. Set aside.
2. Steam broccoli, soy beans and peas until bright green, then toss with prepared sauce.

Makes 2 servings

1/2 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons salt
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon black peppercorns
2 pounds pork spare ribs

1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon honey
2 cloves garlic, crushed
2 tablespoons brown sugar

1. Combine brown sugar, salt, chili powder, cumin, paprika, thyme and pepper and rub liberally over the ribs. Wrap and refrigerate overnight.
2. Preheat oven to 225 degrees.
3. In a saucepan over medium heat combine water, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, honey and garlic. Stir until dissolved together, then remove from heat.
4. Seal ribs tightly in a double layer of tinfoil, leaving a small opening on one side. Fill this with the sauce prepared in the saucepan and then crimp shut.
5. Tilt the ribs to disperse the liquid inside the tinfoil shell and place on top of a baking sheet. Put in the oven and cook until the meat is tender and the bones are easily removed, about 3-4 hours.
6. When the ribs are cooked, remove them from the oven and drain the liquid into a saucepan.
7. Preheat oven broiler.
8. Place the saucepan over medium-high heat and add the remaining brown sugar. Stir the sauce until thickened to the consistency of a syrup, then remove from heat.
9. Brush the sauce onto the ribs, then return them to the oven, about 6" from the broiler, until they become a golden brown, about 1 minute. Slice into 4 sections and serve.

Makes 4 servings

6 ounces rice noodles
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 scallions, chopped
1 medium red pepper, sliced
1 stalk celery, chopped
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1/3 cup water
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 teaspoon fish sauce
1 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon cornstarch
3/4 pound turkey, cooked and shredded
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 tablespoon fresh cilantro, chopped
water

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add the rice noodles. Remove from heat and set aside to cook.
2. Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil, scallions, red pepper and celery, frying until lightly browned.
3. Whisk together the soy sauce, water, honey, sesame oil, fish sauce, garlic, coriander, cumin, red pepper flakes and cornstarch.
4. Pour sauce and turkey into the skillet, stirring to coat, and frying until heated through.
5. Drain noodles and stir into the skillet. Squeeze lime juice over top and garnish with cilantro. Serve with your favorite hot sauce, if desired.

Makes 4 servings

4 chicken legs, thighs attached
2 medium plums, peeled, pitted and chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed
2 teaspoons sesame oil
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1/4 cup orange juice
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
1 green chili, minced
1-1/2 teaspoons ginger puree
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/2 teaspoon salt

1. Combine plums, garlic, sesame oil, soy sauce, orange juice, vinegar, honey, chili, ginger, mustard and salt in a food processor, blending until smooth.
2. Place mixture into a saucepan over medium-high heat, bringing to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and reduce by half, stirring occasionally.
3. Allow the marinade to cool. Prick the chicken several times with a fork, then place in a dish covered with 3/4 of the marinade. Refrigerate for at least an hour, turning once.
4. Preheat oven to 450 degrees with a roasting pan with an oiled rack inside of it.
5. Place the chicken on the rack of the roasting pan and roast until cooked through to the center, about 30 minutes.
6. Brush remaining 1/4 of marinade over chicken and roast for an additional 5 minutes. Allow meat to rest for a few minutes and garnish with lime wedges dusted with cayenne pepper.

Makes 4 servings

1 pound pork tenderloin, scored
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons fig preserves
4 cloves roasted garlic
salt and pepper

1. Combine honey, fig preserves and roasted garlic.
2. Season pork tenderloin with salt and pepper and cover with the honey fig mixture. Marinade for at least an hour.
3. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
4. Place pork tenderloin in a roasting pan and roast, uncovered, until the glaze starts to brown, about 10-15 minutes.
5. Reduce heat to 325 degrees and roast until cooked through to the center, about 40 minutes. Allow meat to rest before carving.

Makes 4 servings