Golden Goodness: Christmas Eve Cauliflower

The house is cozy on this Christmas Eve, as the cold wind blows about outside and the aroma of butter and chocolate still lingers in the kitchen. It's been a bonkers busy month, with major cookie baking - both for my holiday boxes and for the Saskatoon Farmers' Market, where I now have a table and sell my baked goods (and cookbooks!) every weekend. This decision came about in early October, just as I was about to launch my second cookbook, and I have to say it's one of the best I've made. Perhaps starting a business in the midst of a pandemic is a bit wacky, but heck, folks have done nuttier stuff. I love working for myself, and baking delicious cookies for awesome customers is just the best. I've got some great ideas coming in the new year, so if you're in Saskatoon, stay tuned for that!

Summer Spread: Herby White Bean and Feta Dip

 

This is a sponsored post. While I was compensated by the Ontario Bean Growers, I've been a huge fan of all things bean related for a very long time. All opinions are mine.

While the “official” start to summer is less than a week away, I’ve been feeling those summertime vibes for some time now. It’s another scorcher of a day here in Saskatoon, and with a house that lacks air conditioning, finding meals to cook without generating any heat inside the house is a huge deal for me. Heck, even when I boil the tea kettle, my thermostat goes up by half a degree! Gotta love old houses and the sweat boxes they truly are. Oh what I wouldn’t give for a finished basement and/or the hum of air conditioning right now. Alas, I’ve sweltered in the summer for well over a decade here, and I am more or less used to it. Doesn’t mean I won’t whine about it from time to time!

Take It Easy: Spiced Ginger Beef

This is a sponsored post. I was compensated by Saskatoon Co-op, but as always, all opinions are my own. 

Everyone likes a quick meal that's super easy to throw together. Right? Right! I'm pleased to have partnered with my local Saskatoon Co-op to help get the word out about their brand new What's For Dinner promotion. Inside each Saskatoon Co-op store, there's a display which is basically a one stop shop to get all of your ingredients for the featured recipe that week. Saskatoon Co-op has really taken the guess work out of grocery shopping by putting all of the items in one display case. No need to run around the store and try to find ingredients, because honestly who has time for that? These days, I want to get in and out of grocery stores as quick as possible. There will be a new featured recipe every week, which will be a great way to introduce something new to the usual meal rotation. And you may find some new favourites you'll want to make over and over again. And honestly, grocery shopping will be less of a hassle and more of a breeze! Look for the What's For Dinner display in your local Saskatoon Co-op store for a new recipe each week. This is a super helpful way for busy folks who want to put supper on the table as quickly as possible, and still have it be delicious and nutritious. 

A New Year, A New Cookbook!

"Anything can happen! Anything can be!" 

~ Shel Silverstein

Happy New Year! I hope everyone enjoyed their holidays, and while I can't believe we've slipped into a new year, a new decade, here we are. I'm slowly coming out of the chocolate and cheese coma that is December, and ready to get roaring on my brand new project that will consume a great deal of my 2020. I'm writing another cookbook! Vegetables: A Love Story will be published in the fall of 2021 by the fantastic team at TouchWood Editions once again. I'm super excited to finally share the news with you, though I first broke it on my social media a few weeks ago. You follow me over there too, right? For more behind the scenes cookbook adventures, be sure to see what I'm up to on the Instagram and Facebook. Plus, sometimes there are photos of cats! And cookies!

Get Ready: Banh Mi All Beef Smokies

This is a sponsored post. All opinions are mine. And, as usual, I will only write about products that I really love! 

Those coveted summer days are finally upon us and I couldn't be happier! Oh how lovely it is to just sit in the sun, feeling the warmth on my face, lighting me up from the inside out. I can't believe how it's already the middle of June, and there are only a few months of these glorious days ahead of us. Time, it goes. So, promise me that you'll make these next few months the best ever, okay? Eat things that make you happy. Get outside and do something that makes you sweat. Travel places you've always wanted to go but never had time. Make the time. You won't regret it. Invite your pals over for food off the grill. Drink cold drinks. Tell stories until the stars come out.

A New Year & a New Kitchen Toy: Roasted Beet Hummus

Disclosure:  Cuisinart sent me this lovely food processor free of charge.  All opinions about it are my own.  

Happy New Year, dear friends.  I hope you all survived the holidays relatively unscathed.  I'm super glad they are over, and now we can carry on with everyday life.  Keep in mind that my everyday life still involves cookies and cakes, but also plenty of vegetables and pulses.  It's all about the balance, you know.