Next Weeks Menu

Posted on May 24, 2013 by Deborah

I am so excited I can’t contain myself. This weekend I will be solo at the Homestead as hubby has to work a special project. Why am I so excited you ask? Aside from the obvious hogging of the whole bed every night?

It is Mexican fiesta weekend, that’s why! It is also a time to enjoy a vegetarian meal or two without having to make something else for hubby who prefers meat to be included in his dinners.

I am trying out 2 new recipes this weekend, Chilaquiles con Pollo y Salsa Verde (this from an episode of Triple … Read more...

Next Week’s Menu

Posted on May 17, 2013 by Deborah

Woot! Our first ‘Official’ long weekend of the summer is upon us! Even though summer doesn’t arrive for another month, we Canadian’s take full advantage of any temperatures warmer than -10C and add it to our short summer season.

Holiday Monday marks Queen Victoria’s birthday. Sure, she’s been long gone for a while, but we still like to honour her birthday with a day off, family BBQ’s, fireworks and of course, plenty of cold beverages and lounging in the sun. She is also nice enough to let us continue with our time honoured tradition we affectionately call ‘The May Two-Four … Read more...

Smoothie…out the Bumps

Posted on May 15, 2013 by Deborah

And Lumps

Awwww Spring. Time to put away the heavy sweaters, hoodies and jeans and pull out the shorts, T’s and tank tops….but….dangit…apparently some evil little gremlins broke into your Spring/Summer clothes storage and altered all your clothes ~ making them all too tight.

What to do?

Smoothies of course.

Smoothies are a great way to get in your protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals without piling on the calories. Choose your ingredients wisely though. Not all smoothies are made alike.

Opting for Fat-Free Yogurt and eliminating the use of fruit juices will keep Smoothies in the healthy, whole food chart … Read more...

Next Weeks Menu

Posted on May 10, 2013 by Deborah

There is a whole lotta BBQ’ing going on next week. With the arrival of beautiful Spring weather, I like to ditch the stove in favour of the BBQ. I love the smell of a steak fresh off the grill, served up with slices of big, fat, juicy tomato and a Caesar salad..yum…mouth is watering already.

This weekend hubby is stag at the Northern Homestead as I have business to attend to at home, which makes me sad, BUT, it also makes me happy because Friday and Saturday nights dinners for me will be of Mexican flavour ~ Woot! Hubby really … Read more...

Best Breakfast Sammie ~ Ever

Posted on May 9, 2013 by Deborah

I love Breakfast.

No, really…. I LOVE BREAKFAST…

I am one of those people that once I have dragged myself away from my beloved pillow and made that first cuppa tea, I HAVE to have breakfast lest I keel over from hunger and light-headedness.

Within 45 minutes of getting out of bed, if not fed, my stomach growls just as fiercely as a newly awakened hibernating bear. Best not bar the kitchen from me unless you want to lose your arm.

Monday to Friday, I am a good girl with breakfast. Eating my whole rolled oatmeal with flax seed meal … Read more...

Next Weeks Menu

Posted on May 3, 2013 by Deborah

What a crazy week it has been. Lots of stuff accomplished….windows in the City Homestead were cleaned inside and out, hubby got started on the dreaded hedge trimming, lawn and garden all work done, the hot tub has been drained and cleaned out for the summer, interior Spring cleaning is done and the weather has finally warmed up enough that I was able to start hardening off my seedlings in preparation for planting outside next week…oh, and I think we had our regular jobs to do amongst all that too….

I am also trying to think up/devise a protective netting/cover … Read more...

The Best of April

Posted on May 1, 2013 by Deborah

ZOOOM…… Another month whizzes by like a kid on a skateboard. Where the heck does the time go? Although I am pretty darn happy, no wait, I am ecstatic even… to be rid of April. April Showers, April Snows, April Hails, April High Winds, Mother Nature threw the book at us in April. She apparently is getting back at us from…what??? What’d we do to her??!! Don’t answer that…..

Instead, concentrate on being here in the infant stages of May wondering, praying, and hoping that Mother Nature will finally deliver the nice, warm, Spring weather and keep it here. She … Read more...

Rhubarb Bonanza

Posted on April 30, 2013 by Deborah

There are a few things in this world that really make me thank Mother Nature for….Rhubarb is one of those things. A truly wonderful gift to the culinary world.

Seeing those first few crimson red stalks poking up through the earth after a long, cold winter make me jump for joy while reaching for the pie dish at the same time, which makes me wonder….is it a vegetable? Or is it a fruit?

After a few minutes of googling, I found out it is neither. The tart and tasty rhubarb is an herbaceous perennial plant that thrives in the Northern … Read more...

Next Week’s Menu

Posted on April 26, 2013 by Deborah

As we approach May, I for one am thankful that January…. um.. I mean…April will finally be O-V-E-R. I have had my fill of snow, sleet, monsoon rains and high winds….with only a few precious days in between of warmth and sunshine. Here’s to hoping May finally sees us getting the steady, normal Spring weather patterns we should be having by now as I am itching to get more gardening done.

Meanwhile, many projects abound at the Northern Homestead and the City Homestead as well in the coming days/weeks. The bizarre storm of last week has hubby gearing up … Read more...

Mlyntsi ~ Ukrainian Griddle Cakes

Posted on April 25, 2013 by Deborah

This is a follow up to last week’s Cookbook Fetish post, whereupon I had a few requests for the pancake/griddle cake recipe…so instead of hoarding it, I decided to share it. I know, highly amiable of me isn’t it?

As mentioned, this recipe is pretty simple, but it is also simply outstanding. You will have no need to go back to a prepackaged pancake mix ever again. With a short ingredient list that you already have in your pantry ~ guaranteed (if you don’t, you must be in college) you will wow your family this Sunday morning with hot, fresh … Read more...