On its Way: Curried Butternut Squash Soup with Coconut Milk

You guys. I've held my new cookbook in my hands and I'm in love. Seeing all of the words and photos and recipes come to life in this beautiful hardcover beauty has thrilled me to my core. I'm so happy that Vegetables: A Love Story is beginning to find its way into your kitchens and hearts. The official publication date is just over a week away (October 12th), but I've delivered many preorders to those who've ordered directly from me in Saskatoon, and even sent some copies as far away as Montreal and Vancouver. If you've been following me on social media, you've watched the progress of the book unfold. It's been a journey, that's for sure! I'm simply over the moon that Vegetables: A Love Story is on its way, out into the world, from my kitchen to yours.  

Pulse Pledge: Chickpea and Lentil Curry with Kale and Sweet Potatoes

Eleven days into the new year, and how is everyone doing?  Apart from the clothes fitting noticeably tighter than perhaps a month ago, things are swell here.  I also just got back from Toronto, where I was fortunate to meet up with old friends and pretty much eat all the things.  If you were following me on Instagram, you probably saw the divine burger from Burger's Priest, or the crispy chicken bun from Momofuku, or my first ever Krispy Kreme doughnut.  I totally wasn't messing around.  Then there was the fantastic private lunch with Chef Michael Smith and a handful of other Canadian food bloggers at the beautiful Fairmont Royal York.  We enjoyed a bit of a tapas menu featuring pulses - lentils, chickpeas, dry peas and beans - and one day I hope to recreate a chickpea beignet like the one I tasted there.  So good.  Then there was Pulse Feast, a party to kick off International Year of Pulses.  I mingled with pulse growers from the prairies, other food media and chefs.  It was a grand time, full of inspiring conversation and fantastic food, featuring pulses of course.  I swear there was a platter of lentil fritters following me around all night.  Sweets!  I can't escape them!  
 

Curried Cauliflower & Lentil Soup with Winter Pesto

"What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness."

~ John Steinbeck

Indeed, Mr. Steinbeck.  By all accounts I deserve a very sweet summer, given the extended cold snap that made me grimace and curse and contemplate moving to warmer climes.  It was the kind of cold that chills straight to the bone, that freezes exposed flesh in a few minutes, that stalls cars and builds character.  March definitely came roaring in like an angry Lion, but apparently on the weekend temperatures will be hovering around zero (zero!!!) which means the shedding of layers and bad attitudes is about to begin.  Just goes to show if we wait long enough, there is a reprieve to the suffering; that light will triumph over darkness and hot damn I can put away the lady longjohns for another year.  

Pinch Me: Curried Carrot Soup with Coconut Shrimp

 

Where do I begin?  This week has been insane - but in the best way.  On Friday I found out I won for Best Main Dish in the Canadian Lentils Recipe Revelations Contest.  Remember that Lentil & Chickpea Curry with Coconut Milk?  That was the winning entry!  Lucky, indeed.  Thank you so much to Canadian Lentils for the recognition.  I'm super pumped, and that Amazon gift card is going to be put to good use:  new chef's knife, maybe an ice cream maker because I keep whining that I don't have one.  And books. Like this one, and this one.  And maybe the Drive soundtrack, if only to remind me of Ryan Gosling every time I hear it.  Le sigh.