One can’t help but feel at total ease with Kary Osmond. Being on the set of her CBC Television show Best Recipes makes you feel like you’re just hanging out with your BFF making a meal…ok, she’s making the meal and I’m just chillin’ by the side with a cocktail in hand! Kary is fresh faced and so welcoming that you instantly feel like you’ve known her all your life!
Kary started cooking as a passion. She just loved cooking for her friends. She grew up in a family who owned a Ukrainian catering & deli business where she earned her “chops” so to speak.
She began her career in corporate marketing but quickly realized her dream was to create pies, not pie charts. So, she enrolled herself at the well-respected George Brown College Chef School in Toronto.
UrbanMoms was invited to spend some chillaxing time with Kary Osmond at the CBC Holiday Set Crawl.
UrbanMoms: What’s makes your cooking show different from others?
KARY: Our promise is that every one of the recipes we feature is “tested till perfect” in the Canadian Living Test Kitchen. Our team of recipe testers don’t do it once, a recipe is tested until it’s absolutely perfect! And it is! I don’t get to re-create any of the recipes more than once. I know that I have a time-limit to show the viewers how a recipe is done and our production team only allows for one take.
UrbanMoms: Your production schedule is crazy! Don’t you want to head to a restaurant after a long day?
KARY: (laughs) It is always a full day of production. We shoot 3 shows a day and believe it or not, I still prefer to go home and cook after that! I don’t go out often to restaurants.
(…now I really think she’s pretty much perfect).
UrbanMoms: About entertaining at home, what’s the etiquette when people bring over wine? Are you obliged to open it and enjoy that evening?
KARY: I think it’s meant to be a gift for the host. Usually the host would have preselected what wine they would like to serve for the evening. So, the gifter shouldn’t be offended if it’s not opened that night. Having said that, if a dinner party is good and the wine runs out..why not! Enjoy! Actually, I usually bring 2 bottles -one for the host, and one to drink! lol
UrbanMoms: What do YOU like to give as a host gift?
KARY: Other than wine? I love giving a small cheese board with some cheese on it ready to serve – then the host keeps the cheese board as a thank you gift! OR I love really cool kitchen gadgets! Once I gave out the world’s greatest pot scrubber!
UrbanMoms: What’s your favourite holiday drink?
KARY: White Russian! It’s sooooo good!
UrbanMoms: Who’s on your playlist?
KARY: Adele, Death from above 1979, and The Smiths
UrbanMoms: Your bar always includes?
KARY: Vodka, Jim Bean, Wine!
UrbanMoms: Naughty or Nice?
KARY: Ha! Naughty… I’ve got my father’s mouth and my mother’s charm!
Here’s a simple appetizer recipe from the Canadian Living Test Kitchen!
Walnut, Brie and Grape Salsa Tartlets
By The Canadian Living Test Kitchen
Ingredients
3/4 cup (175 mL) quartered seedless red grapes
2 tbsp (30 mL) finely chopped shallots or green onions
1 tbsp (15 mL) white balsamic vinegar or cider vinegar
1/4 tsp (1 mL) salt
1/4 tsp (1 mL) pepper
3 oz (85 g) Brie cheese
1 pkg croustades, (24 crispy shells)
1/3 cup (75 mL) chopped walnuts, toasted
1 tbsp (15 mL) minced fresh parsley
Preparation
In bowl, toss together grapes, shallots, vinegar, salt and pepper. (Make-ahead: Cover and refrigerate for up to 2 hours).
Cut Brie into 1-inch (2.5 cm) cubes. Fill each croustade with heaping 1/2 tsp (2 mL) of the walnuts and 2 pieces Brie; top with 1 tsp (5 mL) of the grape mixture. Sprinkle with parsley.
Baked Variation: Fill tartlets with walnuts and Brie; bake in 350F (180C) oven until cheese is melted, about 20 minutes. Top with salsa; sprinkle with parsley.
All new holiday episodes airing: December 12-23
Host Kary Osmond helps take the stress out of holiday entertaining by bringing viewers back to the basics, with some of the very best recipes from Canadian Living. She’ll share tricks, tips and recipes for great homemade gift ideas, and will show you how to make the perfect holiday cookies, one “Tested Till Perfect” recipe at a time. With delicious no-fail festive food ideas that you and your family will love.
Visit the website CBC’s Best Recipes Ever with Kary Osmond
Yum! I think this is something even I might be able to make!
Another terrific interview, Sonya – YAY!!