The Black Peppercorn

Hello! I'm Steve, and I'm thrilled you've visited The Black Peppercorn. Cooking has always been a passion of mine, inspired by my parents who were both talented in the kitchen. While my friends and roommates often relied on takeout and instant noodles during our university days, I found joy in visiting the local farmer's market to gather fresh ingredients for a week filled with delicious cooking adventures.

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Shrimp Gumbo

1 month ago | theblackpeppercorn.com | Steve Cylka

With the oil and flour, make a medium dark roux. Add the oil to a pot and heat it on medium/low heat. Whisk in flour, a little at a time and cook, whisking constantly, until the roux becomes smooth and thick. Continue to cook, constantly stirring with a wooden spoon and reaching all over bottom of pan, until roux darkens to the desired color. It should be a hazelnut brown colorAdd the onion, pepper and celery and cook at a medium high heat for 5 minutes, stirring often.
Lemon Bars

May 13, 2024 | theblackpeppercorn.com | Steve Cylka

Mix the 2 cups flour, 1/4 cup icing sugar and 1/4 cup sugar together in a bowl. Using a pastry blender, cut in the butter until it forms a shortbread consistency. Press the crust in a 13×9 pan and bake in a 350F oven for 18-20 minutes. Using an electric mixer, beat the eggs with the 2 cups sugar until smooth. Add the lemon juice and zest. Separately mix the 4 tbsp flour with the baking powder. Beat that into the filling mixture. Pour the lemon filling over the crust and bake at 350F for 22-25 minutes.
White Chocolate Gumdrop Candy Cups

Feb 17, 2024 | theblackpeppercorn.com | Steve Cylka

A super simple recipe using only two ingredients. These candy cups can be made quickly and will likely be gobbled up even faster. I love making candy cups. They are great during the holiday season of Christmas and New Years. They are also great over Valentines Day and birthdays. I usually make 2 or 3 different kinds of cups every time which gives a variety of flavours.
Pork Lumpia

Jan 20, 2024 | theblackpeppercorn.com | Steve Cylka

How To Make The FillingBrown the ground pork in a skillet over medium heat until fully cooked through. Let cool slightly. Drain the grease and using a mesh strainer, press out any of the excess liquid. Set aside and let cool to room temperature. Place the shredded cabbage and carrot in a food processor. Pulse until finely chopped, but not pulsed into a paste. In a large bowl, add the ground pork, pulsed vegetables, garlic, soy sauce and salt. Stir until well combined.
Pecan Snowballs

Dec 22, 2023 | theblackpeppercorn.com | Steve Cylka

Add the butter, 3/4 cups icing sugar and vanilla to a large mixing bowl. Beat with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Add in the pecans and beat until well combined. Add the flour and beat at a slow speed. Increase the speed slowly as the flour gets incorporated into the cookie dough. Roll the dough into 1 1/4 inch balls and place on a non stick baking sheet or one lined with parchment paper. Bake in a 350F oven for 12-15 minutes. Remove from the oven and let the cookies cool just a little bit.
Meat Pie

Dec 13, 2023 | theblackpeppercorn.com | Steve Cylka

Meat Filling InstructionsHeat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and sauté until soft and starting to caramelise. Remove the onions from the skillet. Add the beef and pork to the skillet and brown until fully cooked. Break the meat up into small bits as it cooks. If there is a lot of grease, you can drain it before moving to the next step. Stir in the seasoning and the previously sautéed onion. Cook to a few more minutes. Add grated potatoes and broth.
Perfect Pie Crust

Dec 12, 2023 | theblackpeppercorn.com | Steve Cylka

How To Make Pie DoughIn a large bowl, whisk together the flour with the salt. Use a pastry blender to cut in the lard until it is a coarse meal consistency. In a small bowl, whisk the egg with vinegar. Stir into the flour mixture. Add some of the cold water, a little at a time and gently knead the pie dough. The dough should come together but not be too wet. Gather into a ball, cover with plastic wrap and place in a fridge to chill for at least an hour.
Chewy Ginger Raisin Cookies

Dec 8, 2023 | theblackpeppercorn.com | Steve Cylka

The first step is to mix together the wet ingredients. Beat together the butter, 1/2 cup white sugar, brown sugar, egg, vanilla and molasses. Mix until smooth and creamy. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, ginger, cinnamon, ground cloves, salt, baking soda, and baking powder. Slowly beat the dry ingredients into the wet mixture. Beat until the cookie dough is well combined. Mix in the raisins. Roll the dough into 1 1/2 inch balls. Place the remaining 1/3 cup sugar in a shallow bowl.
Asian Broccoli Salad

Dec 5, 2023 | theblackpeppercorn.com | Steve Cylka

I love broccoli salad – you know the kind that has bacon and sunflower seeds. It is a classic salad that we love to have, especially at BBQs, potlucks and family gatherings. This broccoli salad creates a new type of salad full of Asian flavours. This Asian broccoli salad is often enjoyed for several reasons:Crunchiness: The combination of fresh crisp broccoli, carrots and other crunchy ingredients like nuts or seeds, provides a satisfying texture.
Pepperoni Pizza Spaghetti Squash

Nov 17, 2023 | theblackpeppercorn.com | Steve Cylka

Cut each spaghetti squash in half lengthwise. Use a spoon to scoop out all the seeds and stringy pulp. Brush the inside of the of the squash halves with oil and place, upside down, on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake in a 375 oven for 40-45 minutes, or until the inside of the squash is cooked through. Remove the squash from the oven and flip over. Use a fork to scrape the insides of the squash to pull up all the stringy strands of squash so that it looks like a pile of spaghetti pasta.