1st GangUp Challenge of 2013

I like to challenge myself in the kitchen because I can never seem to stick to a recipe (unless I am baking, baking is a science you don’t mess with) when I am trying out something new for dinner.  I look at a new recipe and think….hmmm..what if I added this instead of that? or maybe add more or less of a certain ingredient?…or I know hubby wouldn’t eat it with that in it…. hence why I never give reviews on any recipes I try off the internet – it wouldn’t be fair to judge a recipe after I fooled … Read more...

Soup’s On!

Mmmmmmmm…..who doesn’t love the aroma of a pot full of home-made soup?   I am a sucker for new soup recipes too.  As soon as I come across one that really gets my taste buds fired up – I haul out the soup pot.  One of the benefits of soup is that it can also be one of your best tools for Weight Loss.  Soup needn’t be full of fat to be delicious!

Soup is not only a take-the-chill-off meal in the winter months, but it also delivers your daily intake of required meat, veggies and water, all in one … Read more...

Christmas Shortbread Cookie Baking Bonanza Day!

That is a mouthful of a title…but not as yummy as a mouthful of buttery, flaky, shortbread cookies!

Yesterday my daughter came over for our annual Christmas cookie baking palooza day.  This is our 3rd year of baking cookies together, prior to that, she was always baking them with her cousin.  But since her cousin moved to BC a few years ago for school, she has been painfully missed.  So I happily stand in for my niece and offer up my kitchen to the Gods of Flour Scattering.  Yup, plural, I do believe there is more than one, hence … Read more...

It’s Healthy Food Time

Sometimes you need to step away from the butter laden, ooey-gooey, rich, decadent, make-you-swoon recipes and stabilize your blood sugar or before you know it, you will be living in sweatpants and over sized t-shirts hauling around an oxygen bottle for the rest of your life.

Not to get all preachy….ok, maybe a ‘little’ preachy…but the average person should aim to get 25 – 30% of their daily calories from fat, of that amount, approx. 7% should come from saturated fat (meats/dairy).  Less than 1% should come from trans fat and the rest should come from mono and poly unsaturated … Read more...

How To Make Your Own Croutons

Making your own croutons takes about as much time to make a pot of coffee…and just as easy.  Trust me, once you make your own croutons, you will never go back to store bought again.  With the use of heart healthy Olive Oil, they are much better for you than the butter/transfat laden commercial variety too.  These are made from day or two old fresh bread.  Not the packaged, preservative laden stuff either, because no matter how long you leave it out, it just doesn’t get stale enough to be used as croutons. 

Grab a fresh baguette (preferably whole wheat … Read more...

Tile Backplash Project – Part TWO

Where did I leave off…..oh yeah…drywall done, taped, primed and painted.  After arriving at the Homestead Friday and even though he had just spent 3 ½ hours in a car, hubby got to work hanging the upper cabinets back up on the wall.  He really is a hard worker, I am totally blessed to have him as my hubby. 

It took just over an hour to get the cabinets back up, which went off without a hitch.  I then rewashed the glassware and dishes that I had wrapped in newspaper as they were packed them away until we could get … Read more...

Replacing a Tile Backplash-Part ONE

Sounds fairly simple doesn’t it?  But sometimes the easiest of plans often go awry….

Awry…what an interesting word too, and the best one that describes our *minor* kitchen reno as the definition of Awry is: ‘Away from the appropriate, planned, or expected course’…clearly, that was happening here.

When we bought the Homestead a year ago, the previous owner ‘prettied’ up the place to sell.  We knew this going into it as it was obvious from the first look at it.  So we were going to live with the little odd things for the time being until we got the major … Read more...

Easy as Apple Pie

One of the best things about Fall are Apples.  Apple season is now in full swing with lots and lots and lots of fresh, crisp apples ready for picking, eating, canning, juicing and baking.  I am an Apple Snob though, only liking a few specific varieties to eat fresh.  I do venture into other varieties for baking, as long as they stand up well to the cooking process.

Canadian Thanksgiving is approaching quickly and I am usually pressed for time in getting dessert ready in the days leading up to the annual food-a-thon.  So this year I decided to venture … Read more...

Sugar Rush

Seeing as yesterday’s post was disappointing in the fact that it didn’t include a sweet, yummy dessert recipe….I have decided to make it up to you and include one.  Aren’t I nice?  By the way – for those looking for a waist-line friendly recipe….look elsewhere!

This one is aptly named in the post title too.

Sugar Rush indeed.  These little beauties will make your teeth scream from all the sugar.  Hands down, probably my hubby’s favourite dessert item.  This recipe comes from his Aunt Eileen, who made the best Butter Tarts….EVER.

Aunt Eileen’s Butter Tarts

 Ingredients

2 Eggs

1 Cup … Read more...

Healthy Blueberry Muffins?

Believe me, it is possible to make healthy, low fat, low sugar muffins.  I know you may love your Timmy’s Muffin in the morning, but they are so full of fat (even the so-called ‘low-fat’ ones are not what they are cracked up to be) and sugar, you can literally watch the scale move up after you eat one.  After eating one every day for a week, you are pretty much guaranteed to see the ‘Wide Load’ appear on your backside….

I must admit, I had a good time this past summer.  Lots of fun in the sun, good food … Read more...