Sun-dried tomatoes really had a ‘moment’ for a while. But then I, like many others, sort of forgot about them while chasing new and fun flavors. However, recently I put together a recipe for Egg Muffins 3 Ways, and I used sun-dried tomatoes in one of them. This was mostly because when I looked into my fridge, I saw a almost empty jar of sun-dried tomatoes. And I thought, ‘what could I do with these’?...
Even though this has the 4th of July written all over it, it’s really the perfect cake for all sorts of picnics and summer gatherings. Of course, if you want to make it for the 4th of July, it’s fun to use the berries to make a flag. But with its buttery yellow cake topped with vanilla buttercream, the sky is the limit, beyond flag-themed toppings! The cream cheese frosting from my Carrot Cake would also be a great bet too if you want to mix it up....
The beginning of fall for me always starts with apple season! I know many people are super excited about pumpkin, but for me, my go-to fall flavor has always been apple. And what’s more fall-inspired than caramel and apple together? So I thought that combo might be nice to put together into a blondie brownie situation. And as it would happen that was a good idea – I mean of course right – what’s not to love?...
So I’ve altered one of my favorite smoothies of all time to make it a creamy base for all kinds of toppings. For these bowls, I added some sliced oranges, pomegranate arils over the top. Then I sprinkled on some Paleo Granola Dust and drizzled it all with yogurt. In keeping with the cranberry orange theme, I made my batch of Granola Dust with dried cranberries in place of the dried figs called for in the recipe....
This recipe has truly changed my life! I’m sure you’ve heard something along those lines before, but it’s true, and it could change yours as well. I have tried so many different deodorants from the commercial ones containing aluminum to almost every natural brand that exists. Each one worked, sort of, to one degree (no pun intended) or another for awhile. I was never happy with what I was using until I found this recipe on Crunchy Betty’s site....
I’ve never actually bought linen spray, the price tag has always been a little too high. There’s also the fact that most of them contain synthetic fragrances, that make both Tyler and I sneeze! Not too long ago though, a good friend bought a bottle for me, (extravagant, spoiling presents are so great). But now I’m hooked on the stuff because it just smells so good. So…, I set out to make my own....
Are there ever too many variations on a good brownie? Well… I’m thinking most definitely not! While you’ll mostly find me firmly on the side of ‘don’t mess with a good thing’. Sometimes I like to hop sides and do just that – play around with the classics. But really today’s brownies aren’t that far out. After all German chocolate cake isn’t that far from German chocolate brownies. And why not ditch the cake in favor of a moister more chocolatey base?...
As we pulled in, there was just one car, and even they were leaving. So since we couldn’t resist having a popular spot to ourselves, we decided to hike it after all. This particular day had actually started the night before over at the Cavell Meadows trailhead where we waited up for most of the night chasing the predicted aurora that never showed up. So with just a couple fitful hours of sleep under our belt, we woke up and hiked the Cavell Meadows which was beyond stunning....
Recently I found this great sprouted blend, (at Costco) with wild rice, brown rice, and quinoa – from there I was off and running! I still had some blood oranges after my Citrus Spinach Salad, (because I chronically over-buy yummy produce) so the natural choice was to pair their candy-like flavors with the nuttiness of my new found sprouted blend. Next I added rosemary roasted sweet potatoes, (optional but delicious) and placed it all over a bed of spinach, topped with the creamiest lemon garlic dressing!...
This peach sorbet is simple to make with just four ingredients. You start by freezing fresh peaches, then add just a touch of sweetener, lemon, and a hint of cinnamon. Straight out of the food processor, it has a texture like soft serve. However, you can also freeze it for a few hours for a firmer texture. Either way, it is one of my favorite things to make on the hottest days of summer....
Seared chicken thighs bake together with veggies and herbs d’ Provence, with a little fresh lemon juice and asparagus added in towards the end of the baking time for crisp-tender spears! The lemon/herbs d’ Provence pairing is a favorite of my husband’s and I’m always looking for ways to create new dishes with it. This dish looks and tastes 100% company worthy, but it’s so easy to make that I’ve found myself putting it on the menu for regular ole weeknights!...
You probably know by now that I’m all about simplicity, and never more so than in the summer! When produce is at it’s peak, it tastes amazing all by itself, so I’ve been guilty of eating tomatoes plain right off the vine all summer long. But… last weekend we went to this phenomenal Italian restaurant in Calgary (it’s called Mercato if you’re in the area), and they had semi-dried tomatoes in several dishes....
I’m a huge lettuce wrap fan, especially in the summer. I tend to crave lighter meals, with lots of fresh produce, and of course packed with flavor. However, that being said, sometimes I like to ‘bulk up’ my ‘light’ meals. So if you’re feeling extra hungry, try adding cooked vermicelli rice noodles into your lettuce wraps as well. Asian style lettuce wraps happen to be some of my favorites. Maybe it’s because they’re so full of flavor and always hit the spot for me....
If you would’ve talked to me about meal prepping a few years back, I would’ve said no way, and no thank you! I love to cook, and I find it’s the perfect way to unwind after work. I’m also big on variety, so meal prepping in the way I understood it didn’t sound appealing at all. (You know the kind… where every meal is laid out for the entire week....
It’s no secret I enjoy creating and eating cheese boards. So it’s only natural I’m also obsessed with the Italian version called ‘Antipasto’ as well. An antipasto platter is made up of all Italian ingredients. But I’m not telling if a few other things sneak onto your board as well! The thing I love about this type of ‘recipe’ is that it’s just a guideline really. You can make a giant board like the one pictured here....
What are we going to eat for breakfast? This was a common question in the middle of the Canadian Icefields during our last big hiking trip. Energy bars are so versatile and perfect for breakfasts or a quick snack, especially when you’re on the go! I was definitely wishing for some homemade energy bars on our trip instead of yet another bowl instant oatmeal (absolutely HATE oatmeal for breakfast, a little weird, I know)!...
But since we were already there, we made the best of it, and started setting up to get a few shots. It was rough going to say the least, and I think for both of us, patience was wearing thin. We’d climbed a mountain on just a few hundred calories, (see Day 7 for the whole story) and had only had a small piece of cheese for dinner. We were also predictably exhausted, but neither one of us can ever say die, so we soldiered on....
I remember clearly standing my ground on a few occasions and refusing the cake much to the mystification of the adults. I’d happily just eat the veggie tray rather than the chocolate cake – very weird behavior wouldn’t you say!?! It wasn’t that I didn’t like chocolate, oh no… that wasn’t it at all. In fact from and early age I remember my mom teaching me to savor and enjoy dark chocolate....
The Iceline Trail in Yoho National Park is such a fantastic hike, it’s hard to know where to even begin! We wanted to get in to see the famous Lake O’Hara, and do some of the hikes in that area, but as you might know that area is difficult to get in to. We tried to see if we could get in on a last minute cancellation, but we didn’t have any luck, (although others have so it’s worth trying)....
I feel like an egg bake is kind of a weird recipe to get super excited about, especially with summer upon us. But I’ve made this 3x in the last 2 weeks, and I’m showing no signs of slowing down! So what is an egg bake exactly, well… it’s like a crustless quiche but without the heavy cream. You can make an egg bake with whatever little bits and pieces you have leftover in the fridge, (much like a frittata)....
