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Broken Glass – Valentine’s Day

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A popular potluck item for decades, broken glass jello is an easy, pretty and show stopping dessert to make for your guests or with your kids. Fun for potluck gatherings, you can colour code it to your kids birthday party theme, bridal showers, picnics, or any kind of holiday celebration. Simple pick your favourite jello colours and away you go.

Plan in advance of your event as you will need two days to let the dessert set up. I have little cookie cutters that I like to use to cut smaller shapes. With the mini heart shaped cutter in hand, instead of cutting cubes I carefully cut out some jello hearts. When adding to the casserole dish they went in just before the milk and were selectively placed. To ensure I had an equal mix of red to white I used only 2 small boxes of jello. You could use more however I like the white to show through.

Broken Glass Jello
Broken Glass Jello

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Broken Glass - Valentine's Day
Author: 
Serves: 6
 
Ingredients
  • 2 small boxes of red jello (cherry, raspberry, strawberry)
  • 2 enveloped unflavoured gelatin
  • 1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
  • Supplies: 9x11 casserole dish
Instructions
  1. Dissolve each box of jello into separate tupperware or Glad style plastic containers using only 1 cup of boiling water. Mix well to ensure . Chill overnight or at least 24 hours to set.
  2. The next day in a a bowl add your gelatin and pour two cups of boiling water over top to bloom the gelatin. Stir until combined. Let cool a little and add sweetened condensed milk cooling to touch.
  3. Cut the jello into small cubes (they do not need to be the same size but close) and add to 9x11 casserole dish. Pour cooled milk mixture over jello, cover with plastic wrap and chill over night.
  4. Using a flat thin small knife or spatula, carefully cut around the side of the casserole dish to loosen sides. Slide along bottom and remove pieces carefully.

 

Baked Apple Pancake

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The first time we had this baked apple pancake we were hanging out in the Okanogan in B.C. The people we were staying with made breakfast and this was one of the items they served. It was so good I immediately asked for the recipe, wrote it on a recipe card (over 10 years ago people, internet was still blooming) and tucked it away into my little black recipe box.

The little black recipe box made an appearance recently over the holidays, the Baked Apple Pie remade and much to my surprise absolutely adored and inhaled by my two little kids. I added a few of my own touches to the recipe and will be making it again soon using other fruits like pears, plums, summer stone fruit, even grapes.

The really cool thing about this pie is it puffs up while baking and settles back down once it comes out of the oven. Let everyone see it as it comes out of the oven for the ooohs and aaahs. Serve it with a sprinkle of icing sugar and some maple syrup.

Baked Apple Pancake

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Baked Apple Pancake
Author: 
Recipe type: brunch, breakfast, lunch
Serves: 6
 
Ingredients
  • 1½ cup apples (approximately 4) peeled, cored, sliced
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • ½ tsp nutmeg
  • 3 eggs beaten
  • ¾ cup flour
  • 1 cup milk
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp vanilla
  • Pam
  • icing sugar
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 425F.
  2. Spray a 9inch vessel (baking dish, pie plate, cast iron pan) with cooking spray.
  3. Heat over medium heat and add butter and sugar. Once sugar has dissolved add apples, cinnamon and nutmeg. Cook for about 5 minutes.
  4. In a medium sized bowl lightly beat your eggs. Whisk in milk, flour, salt and vanilla. Sprinkle on a little more cinnamon and bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes until puffed and the edges are golden. Remove from heat and serve immediately with a sprinkling of icing sugar and drizzle of maple syrup.

Jalapeno Tex Mex Dip

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We’ve upgraded the classic 7 Layer Dip that was all the rage back in the 80’s and 90’s with this simple Jalapeno Tex Mex Dip featuring Greek yogurt, to make us feel better about eating it.

A regular on many tables back in the day, the 7 Layer Dip is really a North Americanized version of Mexican food. And a super yummy one at that. I recall enjoying it at gatherings and potlucks, it was always out when there was food to share. Then it seemed to disappear for awhile. One to snag a recipe when I try it and love it, I typed it out. Oh yes I did. Typed it out and taped it to a recipe card. Because that was then.

Recently we visited with family and enjoyed a table full of potluck items, goodies and a similar variation of the 7 layer dip. Only with 2 layers. Got me thinking about the 7 layer dip and that it was time to find this recipe and do a redo. I pulled it out and changed it up removing the “layer” part of it. Created the base and topped it with all the good things.

I’m not a fan of canned black olives so we always use sliced kalamatas which my girl loves. If you do not like jalapenos, don’t add them.

 

Jalapeno Tex Mex Dip
Jalapeno Tex Mex Dip

 

 

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Jalapeno Tex Mex Dip
Author: 
 
Ingredients
  • 4oz cream cheese (half a regular size brick), softened
  • ½ cup greek yogurt
  • ¾ cup sour cream
  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • 3 tbsp taco seasoning
  • 2 tbsp taco sauce, mild, medium or spicy
  • 2 avocados, diced
  • ½ lemon, juiced
  • 2 cups grated cheddar cheese
  • 1 tomato, diced
  • 2 green onions, sliced
  • ¼ cup sliced kalamata olives
  • 1 fresh jalapeno, sliced thin
Instructions
  1. Add cream cheese to a large bowl. Smooth it down in the bowl. Mix in greek yogurt, sour cream, mayonnaise, taco seasoning and taco sauce. Spread evenly on bottom of small casserole dish or pie plate.
  2. In a small bowl pour lemon juice over diced avocado and mix to prevent browning.
  3. Over your base sprinkle on cheese, tomatoes, avocado, green onion, sliced kalamatas and jalapenos if using.
  4. Set in refrigerator for up to an hour or more before serving.
  5. Serve with tortilla chips.

 

Smoked Salmon on Pumpernickel Rye

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Coming from the Pacific West Coast, I’ve eaten my fair share of smoked salmon. Even freshly smoked then canned via my momma. As a child my dad would catch river salmon and smoke it regularly. I craved it. When I moved to Vancouver I had a hard time eating smoked salmon that was not his. Eventually lox and cream cheese on bagels won me over and I let go of that craving. But it still resides in my thoughts as a taste I will never forget.

Did you know this recipe’s origins are German? We were asked to bring an appetizer to a recent celebration. An appetizer that celebrates one of our cultures. Since we have a Spanish student living with us, I wanted to hi-light some Spanish food. But he’s 16 and we couldn’t get it together. So I reached out to another former student from Germany, one who has become a second daughter to us. I am partially German with relatives living in Germany so I was intrigued to see what she would suggest. She sent me pictures of lox on Pumpernickel German Rye Bread and advised it’s very popular in Germany. I clearly had no idea! Uber excited, I set off to track down the bread and the lox.

Smoked Salmon on Pumpernickel Rye
Smoked Salmon on Pumpernickel Rye

Pumpernickel German Rye Bread is a heavy, dense and simply flavoured bread. Lox is sold everywhere here but as a touristy item. Fortunately thanks to twitter I located some that was both a decent price and delicious. The bread came from the European deli. #Bam

 

Smoked Salmon on Pumpernickel Rye
Smoked Salmon on Pumpernickel Rye

 

What I put together really didn’t look much like the photos she sent me but more based on my memory of lox on bagels with cream cheese. And the best part of it all, our Spanish student helped me assemble these German appetizers!

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Smoked Salmon on Pumpernickel Rye
Author: 
Serves: 15
 
Ingredients
  • Smoked Salmon
  • Cream Cheese, room temperature
  • Capers
  • Red onion, sliced thin
  • fresh dill
Instructions
  1. Cut your bread into smaller pieces. It's a firm bread so it will hold up well.
  2. Spread on cream cheese.
  3. Add some of your smoked salmon.
  4. Sprinkle on some red onion, capers and dill.
  5. Serve immediately.

 

 

Crockpot Cinnamon Hot Chocolate

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As Fall approaches my kids remind me it’s time to make hot chocolate. I have a small but legit Starbucks habit (don’t hate) that started when I lived in Vancouver. Whenever I indulge my habit here, the kids seem to be with me and always request hot cocoa. I may or may not have turned them into hot chocolate monsters.

We spend a lot of time outdoors in the winter, sledding, skating, playing in the snow. The promise of warm hot cocoa topped with marshmallows is never far from their minds. It’s easier most days to grab a premade mix. These days I want the kids to experience home made hot chocolate and learn to love it.

 

Crockpot Cinnamon Hot Chocolate
Crockpot Cinnamon Hot Chocolate

 

This hot chocolate was ready two hours before they came home from school. I was surprised it thickened as it sat on low in the crockpot. They were not used to it being so thick and weren’t sure if they liked it or not.

 

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Crockpot Cinnamon Hot Chocolate
Author: 
Recipe type: beverage
Serves: 6
 
Ingredients
  • 4 cups milk
  • ¼ cup cocoa
  • 1 cup chocolate chips
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • 2 tbsp maple syrup
  • pinch of salt
Instructions
  1. Toss all ingredients into a smaller, round (mini) crockpot. Stir in the cocoa powder, put lid on and let it cook for 2 - 2.5 hours.
  2. Around the 2 - 2.5 hour mark, remove lid and stir. Pour into a mug, top with marshmallows or whipping cream.

 

Googly Eye Halloween Treats

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The last three years we’ve had an International Student living with us. First Germany, China and now Spain. You learn a lot about yourself and sometimes the student when you allow them into your home to share their culture and learn about yours. Of the 3 students, we’ve had two good experiences so far, 1 not so great.

Did you know Halloween is not something celebrated by those who live outside of North America? We North Americans tend to do holidays BIG, HUGE in fact. It humbles me every time a student comes to live with us and I quickly realize bigger is not always better. You soon realize you really don’t need all the things. Except well maybe the food (food blogger, what can I say).

We love to have fun with our food and what’s more fun than putting edible Googly Eyes on snacks and sending them to school with your kids lunches? As I prepared the fruit and juice boxes my kids were chomping at the bit to bring them to school. Keeping their lunches interesting ensures they will continue eating well.

Recently we were in the kitchen with Deb Matejicka from The Weather Network talking about googly eyes and fun Halloween treats for the kids.

Tip: Pick up googly eyes at your local craft store, Bulk Barn or buy them online.

This is how we make these fun treats for the kids!

1. Remove straws from juice boxes. Poke a hole in a strip of white tape and place over drink spout for straw. Wrap juice boxes up in white duct tape, white electrical tape or medicine tape. Add googly eyes and secure with a mummy bandage (piece of tape). Tape straw to back of box.

Googly Eyed Mummies
Googly Eyed Mummies

2. Using a tube of white icing as your glue, glue two eyes to pears, apples, bananas or oranges. Completely edible minus the peels.

Googly Eyed Fruit
Googly Eyed Fruit

3. Make your favourite rice krispie recipe and lay out on a rimmed baking sheet. Chill until firm. Cut into rectangle shapes. Pick up some candy melts and carefully melt the chocolate. Dip one corner of your rectangle rice krispie into the chocolate. Add 2 googly eyes to the chocolate part and lay on baking sheet. Chill to set.

Googly Eyed Rice Krispies
Googly Eyed Rice Krispies

4. Add googly eyes to granola bars, cookies, brownies and squares, chocolate bark, caramel popcorn, cupcakes, vegetables (why not), and using icing glue them on to straws for your smoothies or milkshakes.

Fun for kids Googly Eye Halloween Treats
Fun for kids Googly Eye Halloween Treats

Here’s the Youtube link with Deb Matejicka.

Have you used edible googly eyes before? What’s your favourite way to use them?!

Armenian Roasted Vegetables

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A sucker for roasted vegetables, I couldn’t wait to make this recipe by Olia Hercules and her Mamushka cookbook. Fall and winter has us roasting vegetables regularly. I’ve roasted cabbage before and loved it so the combination of these Armenian Roasted Vegetables was quite intriguing to me.

Ensure you cut your vegetables thick as illustrated in the recipe. I’ve noticed while making recipes from this cookbook they use a lot of dill and yogurt in Eastern European Cooking. Our student from Spain has advised the same. Things I would have never known had I never joined the cookbook club. My mom used to cook with dill she grew in her garden. Dilled baby potatoes are one recipe that stands out from childhood. It’s an herb I adore. Serve these veggies along side a roasted chicken, pork loin or beef roast.

Olia also suggests to change things up, try adding some feta before serving.

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Armenian Roasted Vegetables
Author: 
Recipe type: side, dinner, lunch
 
Ingredients
  • half a small head of cabbage, cut into thick wedges
  • 1-2 carrots, peeled and sliced
  • 1 zucchini, thickly sliced
  • 2 celery sticks, thickly sliced
  • 1 small onion, peeled and quartered
  • 1-2 cups cauliflower florets, thickly chopped
  • 1 pepper, cored, seeded and thick slices
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 beefsteak tomato, thickly sliced
  • 1 tbsp chopped fresh dill
  • salt and pepper
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 400F. Place all the vegetables except the tomato in a large roasting pan.
  2. Pour the oil over and season well with salt and pepper. Mix everything together with your hands and pop in the oven until the edges of the vegetables start to char, 30 minutes.
  3. Arrange the tomato slices on top, season and place in the oven for another 15 minutes. Sprinkle the chopped dill over, taste for seasoning (adjust if necessary) and serve.

 

Apple Sponge

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There are only so many days in a month and when you have over half a cookbook flagged with recipes to try, the struggle becomes real. Plus kids, activities, events to attend, life in general! But I’m determined and so I made my way through a good handful of recipes from Olia Hercule’s cookbook Mamushka.

The monthly cookbook club I belong to allows you to try any recipe you want and share it to Instagram. There are no other requirements besides check out what others in the club are making. I have found through this process this year there are several recipes I would make again. This being one of them.

This Apple Sponge contains no rising agent. You create height by beating air into the eggs. The cake was moist and using Fall apples harvested at their peak makes it the perfect Autumn dessert. I added salt to the recipe to enhance the flavour but that’s entirely your choice.

Olia’s mom would make this whenever they had a craving for something sweet, calling it biskvit (“a sponge”).

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Apple Sponge
Author: 
 
Ingredients
  • Butter for greasing pan
  • 5 eggs
  • ¾ cup + 2 tbsp superfine sugar
  • 1⅓ cups flour
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 4 green apples, cored and thinly sliced
  • icing sugar for dusting
  • pinch of salt
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350F. Grease an 8x12 inch cake pan with butter.
  2. Beat the eggs and sugar together in a bowl with a handheld mixer for at least 5 minutes (use a timer if necessary) until very thick, pale, and foamy. The amount of air you beat in is essential.
  3. Gently fold the flour and a good pinch of salt into the egg mixture.
  4. Mix the cinnamon with the apples, then tip the apples into the prepared cake pan and pour the cake batter evenly over the apples. Bake until a skewer inserted into the cake comes out clean, 35 minutes.
  5. Let it cool in the pan. Dust with some icing sugar, cut into squares and serve.

 

 

Spinach Artichoke Dip

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With so many variations of Spinach Artichoke Dip out there, how do you find just one to love?!

This recipe was inspired by Liz of OMA’s Gourmet Garlic. We started bantering back and forth on this thing called twitter, maybe you’ve heard of it, and I learned she sells garlic grown in her garden in Aldersyde, Alberta.

Growing garlic runs in the family Liz explains, her dad received some garlic from a Russian friend in the mid ’80’s and grew it for years in his backyard garden. Her mom carried on with the growing of the garlic after her father passed away. In 2003 Liz received some garlic from her mom and decided to plant some of the cloves in her own garden. They started to sprout and 9 cloves produced 9 bulbs of garlic. This is where Liz’s story begins.

 

OMA's Gourmet Garlic
OMA’s Gourmet Garlic

 

Garlic is planted in the Spring over 6-8 weeks as this offers the best harvest, Liz says. The garlic cures for four – six weeks before selling the fresh begins in October and November.

Today this naturally grown garlic is sold to several local Chefs, restaurants and stores in fresh or dehydrated forms. And if she’s not busy enough tending her garden and weeds, Liz writes a column affectionately called the ‘Tales of the Stinking Rose, in the Wild Rose Country’ in ‘The Garlic News’, a quarterly Canadian publication.

I recently met Liz for the first time when I picked up some garlic granules and dehydrated garlic. She had me taste just 1 or 2 itty bitty specks of the granules before I left. That’s all you need Liz said and by golly she was right. I was my own sweet stinking rose for the rest of the day from those two little itty bittys samples.

OMA’s Gourmet Garlic is available fresh and dehydrated (powder, granules or spice mill grade). You can find her on Facebook: OMA’s Gourmet Garlic.

I used a light sprinkling of the garlic granules in this Spinach Artichoke Dip. This is a small recipes and serves two nicely. Or one who doesn’t want to share.

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Spinach Artichoke Dip
Author: 
Recipe type: snack, game day, potluck
Serves: 2
 
Ingredients
  • 5 cups fresh spinach
  • 1 14.5oz can of artichoke hearts, rough chopped
  • 1 8oz block of cream cheese
  • ¼ cup mayonnaise
  • ¼ cup sour cream
  • ¼ cup greek yogurt
  • ⅓ cup + ¼ cup parmesan cheese, grated
  • ½ cup old white cheddar cheese, grated
  • red pepper flakes
  • garlic granules or garlic powder
  • ¼ cup water
  • Cooking spray
Instructions
  1. Preheat your oven to 375F.
  2. Spray a small casserole dish with cooking spray. Set aside.
  3. Over medium high heat add a sprinkle of water. Toss in your fresh spinach and cook 1-2 minutes or until spinach is wilted. Put on cutting board and rough chop. Toss into bowl.
  4. Add artichokes through white cheddar cheese reserving ¼ cup parmesan cheese. Mix well.
  5. Toss in a pinch of hot pepper flakes and sprinkle of your garlic granules or powder. Gently mix in and pour into your prepared dish.
  6. Bake for 20-30 minutes and during the last couple of minute sprinkle on the ¼ cup of parmesan cheese. Serve hot with your favourite chips or crackers.
  7. Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/creamy-artichoke-and-spinach-dip-recipe.html?oc=linkback

 

 

Berry Orange Smoothie Bowl

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Valentine’s Day is fast approaching and this year it falls on a Sunday. We created this Berry Orange Smoothie Bowl a couple months ago and thought it would be perfect for Valentine’s Day! It’s loaded with healthy goodness and has some extra zing with added orange zest and fresh mint. The kids love this combination.

We tend to celebrate Valentine’s Day with food and as a family. I’ve never been caught up in the day, and the need for romantic things, but I enjoy more the time spent together (with all electronics off), watching the kids delight in making up cards for their friends and baking some delicious treats. After all food is love or is that love is food?

Our favourite thing to do on Valentine’s Day is to fondue. Some people think fondue went away and make a big deal about it coming back. Actually it never left the building. Back in the 90’s I would swap ideas with friends out East who put on big fondue parties. I picked up lots of great tips and tricks for dips and still have the email print out of her recipes!

The next decade I started blogging and hearing about different ways to fondue. Back in the day it was more oil fondues but we’ve been doing broth for the past 14 years. So from what I’ve seen, it’s never stopped or slowed down. We love it and make it a tradition to fondue on Valentine’s Day. Now the kids are older and we don’t have to worry so much about  them burning themselves or getting tangled in all the cords. This year we have invited over my single mom friend and her two kids. Our International Student from China will also get to experience fondue for the first time. We do broth, cheese and chocolate. I’m getting quite excited thinking about it.

Valentines Blog Hop
Valentines Blog Hop

This year I’m participating in a Valentine’s Day Blog Hop Recipe round up with local food bloggers. Be sure to check out their blogs to see what’s cooking in their kitchen this Valentine’s Day and Family Day Long Weekend here in Alberta. They are Merry About Town, Food Mamma, Dish N The Kitchen, and Edible Life in YYC.

Happy Valentine’s Day to you, however you choose to celebrate!

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Berry Orange Smoothie Bowl.
Author: 
Recipe type: breakfast, lunch, snack
 
Ingredients
  • 1 cup frozen berries
  • ½ avocado
  • 1 cup fresh spinach
  • ½ cup coconut milk
  • Zest & juice of 1 medium sized orange
  • ¼ cup mint leaves, fresh
  • 1 tbsp frozen raspberries
  • Chia seeds
  • 1 tbsp toasted, slivered almonds
Instructions
  1. In a blender add frozen berries, avocado, spinach, coconut milk, orange juice and mint. Cover and blend until smooth.
  2. Pour into bowl and sprinkle on your chia seeds, orange zest, frozen raspberries and toasted almonds. Serve immediately.

 

Find Last Minute Stocking Stuffers for the Family at London Drugs

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Christmas is around the corner and one thing we haven’t purchased yet is stocking stuffers! We love opening our stockings every Christmas morning but always seem to leave this part of Christmas shopping until the last minute – ack!! There are four of us in the family if you don’t include the pets which means I shop for my husband, two kids and well sometimes myself. OK in all fairness my husband does pretty good in the stocking department but I may toss in my own items here and there.

In addition to this each year for the past 5 years we put together two more stockings to support our kids school fundraising initiative. It’s called Warm Feet For The Street for The Calgary Mustard Seed. The kids fill a stocking or sock with useful articles for a person who’s home is on the streets and must carry all their items in one bag. We also have family come for Christmas or we host an International Student on occasion who stays with us over Christmas, and yes, they get a stocking to.

London Drugs Alberta
A few of the London Drugs in Alberta

With all these stockings to stuff, and Christmas closing in on me, I need to be able to do one stop shopping versus running all over town or the mall. Where does one go to get it all done? Well I always find what I need at London Drugs. They have everything I want to stuff all my stockings and then some. I even pick up dog and cat toys for under the tree, because you know, they are part of the family after all.

If you are wondering what to get that special someone or need some suggestions I’m happy to offer up some ideas based on why I pick up my stuffers at London Drugs.

London Drugs Flashlights
London Drugs Flashlights

Stuffers for Him:

First thing you need to do is zoom in on what he’s into. Is it cars, mechanics, technology, reading, coffee, cooking, or bubble baths? Find out what the man likes and then visit a London Drugs store near you with a plan that goes beyond underwear and socks. They have everything for the techie geek like all the new hot Apple and tech products. Magazines are good fillers, as are chocolates, coffee, movies or music, and even jerky’s which my man loves. If he’s into BBQing, stuff his stocking with some new spices. Is he a gamer? They’ve got games and headphones that might kind of fit in a stocking depending how big your stocking is. If he travels a lot, check out the accessories in the travel section. Still stumped? Check out the hardware & home accessories section for more ideas. My husband can never have enough smaller flashlights and you will find those in London Drugs. Plus batteries!

London Drugs Stocking Stuffers for him
London Drugs Stocking Stuffers for him

Stuffers for Minions

I talk to some parents who don’t know what to put into their kids stockings. So I tell them to break it down. Boy vs girl. Some gifts overlap like the typical chocolate and candies. The seasonal [Christmas] section has all kinds of goodies to choose from and they even have Christmas movies and music. You will find lots of itty bittys in the toy section. My girl loves bath items and my boy does to. Jewelry and make up bags (to store hair stuff and lip gloss if to young) are also a big hit. In the magazine section they have books & magazines for kids. I do love to encouraging reading so my kids will get magazines. Pokemon and hockey cards fit nicely into stockings. As the kids get older (tweens – teens), personal care gift packages, memory cards, usb’s, batteries, cables, headphones and even movies and popcorn make great stuffers. Gift cards to and nail care items like polish or manicure sets (which boys need to).

Stocking Stuffers for Minions
London Drugs Stocking Stuffers for Minions

Stuffers for Her

To me this is the easiest stuffer to fill. Maybe cause I can relate so well. Guys I would follow the same guidelines as stuffers for men. What is she into (cooking, bath & body, technology, games, reading)? Once you can write down 2 or 3 things she loves, your ready to get started shopping. Many women love bath and beauty products and perfume – you can even buy a gift set and take it apart to stuff the stocking! It’s fun to pick up several face masks – they are thin and stocking size. Does she enjoy tea and books? Fitbits and pedometers are a great gift for the lady who is wanting to work out more. Kitchen gadgets are one of my favourite things and many fit perfectly into stockings. Pictures, photo games, scrap booking..you will find all these items at London Drugs.

London Drugs Stocking Stuffers for her
London Drugs Stocking Stuffers for her

We make our stockings fun, edible and sometimes a little serious but we love that you can buy Stocking Stuffers for everyone at London Drugs. If you walk in and are not sure where to start, ask one of the employees, they are super helpful and can help you get the job done. Another great thing you may not know about London Drugs is they have a hassle-free return policy and price matching guarantee allowing them to save you trips around Calgary! You can find out more about the London Drugs Guarantee here.

What are your favourite stocking stuffers to buy or receive?!

Thank you to London Drugs for inviting and sponsoring me to write this post. As always, my opinions are my own based on my own experiences.

Celebrate the Season with Cococo Chocolatiers Holiday Delights – Giveaway

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The holidays are not quite the holidays in our house without indulging in chocolate. Here you’ll find it in baking, under the tree, in stockings, put out for snacking, and sometimes even in advent calendars and hidden in my closet. We can honestly say December without chocolate is like coffee without the coffee beans. One of our favourite chocolates to have in the house during this time is the chocolate from Cococo Chocolatiers, a local manufacturer and retailer of sorts of chocolately goodness.

Cococo Chocolatiers, owners of Chocolaterie Bernard Callebaut, are based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and offer their products exclusively at over 30 retail stores in Canada and the United States. It’s also available for online purchasing (winning) and they offer up some tasty recipes for you to try using their chocolate. Recently these guys took home prizes at the Canadian National Chocolate Competition, a nationwide arm of the International Chocolate Awards, including Gold, Silver and Bronze in numerous categories.

There are so many beautiful items to choose when you visit their stores or shop online (Bernard Callebaut), that it’s sometimes hard to choose and even harder to leave with just one item. I am especially fond of their fusion chocolate bars, sea salt caramels…..salted peanut butter chocolates..and well the list might be longer than expected.

So today is Friday and I’m so excited to be offering you the chance to win some Chocolaterie Bernard Callebaut Chocolate just in time for the holidays! We are giving away three prizes on the blog so you have a chance to win 1 of 3 delicious prizes!

First Prize is A Stylish Advent Calendar. If you like chocolate, then you’ll love this take on the holiday classic. For 12 days before the holidays, you can sit back and enjoy selections including flavours like Honey Anise, Apricot Jelly and Nutmeg Orange. The Cococo 12 days of Christmas chocolate box celebrates the holidays in style. A perfect gift!

12 Days of Chocolate
12 Days of Chocolate

Our second giveaway is the Tidings of Chocolate Traditional Chocolate Yule Log. The holidays aren’t the holidays without friends, family and a table full of treats. Only available during the holiday season, Cococo Chocolatiers, owners of Chocolaterie Bernard Callebaut® offer a traditional chocolate Yule Log that you will want to add to your holiday spread. Packed with a selection of individual chocolates, this holiday favourite comes in various sizes and can be filled with 16, 24 or 35 chocolates. Yum right?

Chocolate Yule Log

Our third prize, and a personal favourite giveaway is not one but two Chocolate Bars That Rival Willy Wonka. Experience a new kind of chocolate bar with exclusive spiced fusion bars. These unique bars are infused with various spices and finished with Habanero Sea Salt. With flavours that include Oregano Fusion in dark chocolate and Rosemary Fusion in milk chocolate, these bars are the perfect addition to any holiday charcuterie board or glass of wine by the fire. I agree, they are the perfect accompaniment to a glass of red anywhere.

Chocolate Fusion Bars
Chocolate Fusion Bars

 

Enter this amazing chocolate giveaway below. It’s open to Canada only (excluding Quebec – sorry!) and will run until Friday, December 11th, 11:59pm. At that time 3 random winners will be selected and notified by e-mail. They must respond within 48 hours. Winners will receive their chocolate directly from Cococo Chocolatiers.

Thank-you Cococo Chocolatiers, [Chocolaterie Bernard Callebaut] for providing samples of this incredible giveaway, and for sponsoring this post. As always, all opinions remain my own. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

How to Assemble a Charcuterie Board

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Charcuterie boards have become all the rage in recent years with many restaurants offering it on their menus. When you think about it, charcuterie is a term that’s been in our vocabulary for a long time, just called something different. Like sausage and cheese plate. Right?!

When I put together a charcuterie board, or a cheese board, it’s essentially different every time. It always depends on the season, the event, and what I feel like when I shop for ingredients. Sometimes I go into the store with a plan, other times I wing it knowing I need the basics of meat and cheese.

With the holidays fast approaching, and several gatherings in our future, I will most likely end up preparing charcuterie boards. Here we show you how easy it is to prepare one for your next event.

Charcuterie Board
Charcuterie Board

First thing you need to consider is presentation. How will you display your items? Pieces of tile purchased at a home reno store, wooden boards, pottery or rustic platters, a cake stand or tray with handles along all become the perfect platform for your spread. Pair it with some smaller bowls or dishes and cheese knives, tools or markers. Have extra fresh herbs on hand? Pretty up your board with the addition of herbs.

The Cheese. If you go to a specialty cheese or European store to buy your cheese, the selection can be slightly overwhelming. Plan on purchasing both soft and firm cheese. Consider the type of cheese it is: cow, goat or sheep milk. Choose a couple in each category (soft and firm) including a blue, and an aged cheese. Be sure to include a popular, common cheese. Ask an employee for assistance if you are still uncertain in your selection. Remember to bring your cheese out and let sit on the counter for at least 15 minutes before serving.

The Meat. Pick 3 different types of meat. A salami (ie: sopressata), bresaola, prosciutto or sausage all sliced thin. Try to arrange the meat on your board looking a bit messy or whimsy. Roll it if you choose, layer sausage pieces, in the end it doesn’t have to be perfect. Smoked salmon or pate could also be included on your board. The meat, like cheese, should be served at room temperature.

Sweet, Salty, Crunchy. Think nuts, olives, pickles, artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes, peppers, tapenade, dried fruit, compotes, preserves. These items really enhance the flavour element you have created on your board, and are perfect in those smaller bowls or dishes we talked about.

Crackers & Bread. Offer a variety of breads and crackers. Thinly sliced baguette, crostini, bread sticks, and a small selection of crackers are great choices. I really like the thin water crackers and Leslie Stowe style crisps.

Fresh. Ensure you have some fresh fruits or veggies on your board. Have you ever tried apple slices with cheddar cheese or brie? Pear with blue cheese? Grapes or figs are a lovely addition to any board. We encourage you to try different fruits with the cheese you have selected for a little wow factor.

Your board doesn’t have to be jam packed with all the things. Keep it simple, do what works for you. Some boards we’ve created over the years: Greek, Mediterranean, seafood, grilled, meats and mustard’s, cheese and pickles, and even as simple as crudites. A little goes along way, just make sure you have some variety.

 

Espresso Cookies

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I like coffee and I love the smell of coffee. But I can typically only drink about half a cup of coffee and I even drink it cold. Sometimes it just doesn’t sit right and I after a couple sips I’m good. Always been that way – weird right? Unless of course it’s full of baileys or some other delectable enhancer. But I do like to eat my coffee. In baking and rubs and whatever else might work.

I whipped up a batch of dough and dropped in some of my ground espresso. What happened next was this insanely delicious cookie dough. In fact it was hard to stop eating it. The ground espresso showed beautiful flakes in the dough. It’s easy to roll out and doesn’t need to be refrigerated to firm up first.

The cookie dough displays a strong coffee flavour. The baked cookie just a hint. In fact my kids love this cookie (they are to young to drink coffee so they don’t really recognize the coffee flavour). You can add some sprinkles or not. Cut out any shape you like, re-roll and start over. These cookies were so good I’m going to go espresso & cookie crazy I think since the combinations could be endless.

 

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Espresso Cookies
Serves: 24
 
Ingredients
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • ½ cup brown sugar, packed
  • ¼ cup icing sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp ground espresso, finely ground
  • 2 cups All-Purpose Flour
  • Red and green sprinkles
  • Cookie cutters
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 300F.
  2. Add butter, brown sugar, icing sugar, egg and ground espresso to bowl. Stir well to combine.
  3. Add flour, mixing well.
  4. On floured surface, roll dough to ¼ inch thickness and cut into desired shapes.
  5. Place on parchment lined baking sheets leaving space between cookies.
  6. Bake for 12 minutes, turning and rotating pans half way through.
  7. Let cool in pan for 5 minutes then transfer to wire rack.

 

Pork Fondue in Lemongrass Broth

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The holiday season is a time to build lasting memories with family and friends. To reconnect with those you don’t see or speak to very often, and an opportunity to create new traditions with those you love.

Christmas traditions in our home included opening new pyjamas on Christmas Eve, and marking off December days on an advent calendar. These are the moments we carry with us, not the gifts we receive, and it’s these special times we like to reflect upon with our own family while we create new memories.

As children we did not have family close by, so Christmas’s were spent with friends. You could always count on Christmas music and singing, traditional turkey dinners, and lots of laughter. As adults with our own families we also spend Christmas with friends since our family once again lives far away.

One new holiday tradition we enjoy is fonduing on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. On Christmas Eve we gather with a large group of friends and on New Year’s Eve it’s whoever is available.

Christmas Fondue Tradition
Christmas Fondue Tradition

Our traditional Christmas Eve Fondue-palooza evening begins with a gathering of friends at The Festival of Lights at Confederation Park, an urban park in Northwest Calgary. You can drive along the outskirts of the park to view the lights, or park and wander around the grounds to get a closer look. A smaller hill allows both kids and adults to work up an appetite by sledding down the slopes. We enjoy sledding and taking in the lights until it gets a little to cold.

After an hour or two at the park, our group packs it in and heads back to the house to prepare for our potluck evening. Every family pitches in bringing food and beverages. This broth fondue can be prepared in advance and reheated when it’s time to eat. In addition there are several cheese fondues on the table, like this Bacon and Cheese fondue, followed by a chocolate fondue. Games are brought out, glasses kept filled, and a bustling conversation ensues all while sharing plates and dipping little morsels of food into steaming broth & cheese pots.

 

Bacon & Cheese Fondue
Bacon & Cheese Fondue

 

Fondue is an exciting way to get family and friends together around the table, and initiate some great conversations while having fun with your food. And of course electronics and phones not allowed! Here is one of several broth fondues we enjoy during the season, Pork Fondue in Lemongrass Broth. Freeze leftover cooled off broth and use later one in soups and stews.

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Pork Fondue in Lemongrass Broth
Serves: 6
 
Ingredients
  • ¼ cup lime juice, fresh
  • 2 tbsp cold water
  • 4 tbsp olive oil
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tsp coriander, ground
  • salt and pepper
  • 1 large pork tenderloin, cut into thin slices
  • 2 shallots, minced
  • 10 cups (2 tetra packs) beef broth
  • 2 stalks lemon grass, minced
  • 2-3 tbsp cilantro, chopped
  • 2-3 tbsp mint, chopped
  • 2 tsp fish sauce
  • pinch of red pepper flakes
Instructions
  1. Marinade: In a bowl mix together lime juice, water, 2 tbsp oil, garlic, coriander and a pinch of salt and pepper. Pour over pork in plastic bag, zip it up, shake to coat and refrigerate for 30-60 minutes.
  2. Broth: In a pot heat 2 tbsp oil over medium high heat. Add shallots and saute until soft. Pour in 5 cups beef broth, lemon grass, fish sauce and red pepper flakes. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to a simmer for about 15 minutes. Toss in your cilantro and mint and let simmer an additional 10 minutes. Transfer to your fondue pot.
  3. Remove pork from marinade, spear with fondue fork and cook for about 3 minutes or until cooked.
  4. As you start cooking, your broth will cook down a little. Add broth as you go to keep enough in the fondue pot to cover the meat when emerged.
Notes
Delicious accompaniments include parboiled baby potatoes, sausage or pepperoni sliced into chunks, and lightly steamed broccoli or cauliflower.

 Disclosure: This post was sponsored by the makers of ZANTAC®, but the opinions expressed are my own.

 

Pumpkin Creme Brulee

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One of my favourite desserts for as long as I can remember is creme brulee. This year I have been experimenting with creme brulee quite a bit. I tried a delicious summer peach brulee this past August but didn’t get the measurements right, or used to much peach – which added to much liquid and my custard didn’t set. Great flavour though!

It’s important to note when you freely add things to the custard it can easily change the consistency and not set up. And you can over cook the custard (trust me). I tried this pumpkin recipe 3-4 times before I got the measurements right. It’s a delicious option for your holiday meal and feels light when you are eating it after finishing a big meal.

The canning jars are the perfect vessel for brulees, but please be careful when torching your sugar…getting to close to the edge of the glass can cause it to break! While I have admittedly never broke a custard dish from torching, my husband, a former and non practicing fire fighter has broken one of the glasses. It happens and it gets tossed.

Pumpkin Creme Brulee
Pumpkin Creme Brulee

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Pumpkin Creme Brulee
Serves: 6
 
Ingredients
  • 2¾ cups heavy cream
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • ½ tsp cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp ginger
  • ¼ tsp nutmeg
  • ½ tsp vanilla
  • ⅛ tsp cloves
  • pinch of salt
  • 8 egg yolks
  • ¾ cup pumpkin puree
  • 1 tbsp maple syrup
  • ½ cup white sugar
Instructions
  1. In a saucepan over medium high heat, combine the cream, sugar, spices and salt. Stir to dissolve the sugar and heat cream to just under boiling (watch for bubbles to form around outside edge of cream). Remove from heat and set aside.
  2. While cream is heating whisk egg yolks together in a large bowl. Mix in your pumpkin and maple syrup.
  3. Gradually add about ¼ cup of the hot cream to the yolks, whisking constantly, then slowly add the remaining hot cream and stir to fully combine.
  4. Cover your bowl with plastic wrap and let sit in the refrigerator for a minimum of four hours or over night. This will allow the spices to intensify the flavour of the custard.
  5. When ready to cook, strain the custard through a sieve into a clean bowl and preheat oven to 300.
  6. Turn your kettle on and boil some water.
  7. Arrange your jars or ramekins in a large baking pan.
  8. Carefully ladle or pour the custard into the jars/ramekins, filling them about ⅔rds full.
  9. Place the baking pan on oven rack and carefully pour enough hot water into the pan to come halfway up the sides of the jars/ramekins.
  10. Bake until the edges have set but the center still jiggles when the ramekin is gently shaken, about 40 to 45 minutes.
  11. Remove from the water bath and let cool on a rack for 30 minutes. Put lids on jars or cover ramekins with wrap/foil and place in fridge until ready to serve.
  12. When ready to eat sprinkle 1-2 tbsp of sugar evenly on each custard jar.
  13. Use a kitchen blowtorch or the broiler to evenly melt and caramelize the sugar.
  14. Serve immediately.

 

 

Pumpkin Creme Brulee
Pumpkin Creme Brulee

 

Halloween Bark

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A great way to use up that extra Halloween Candy, and chocolate is to make bark. You can use dark or milk chocolate in place of the white, and the variations of bark are endless. This year I hit the bulk bins early to pick up some candy for my sons Birthday Monster Cupcakes. I always tend to overshoot the moon and buy more than what I need giving me….leftover candy!

I always find if I don’t get rid of the candy/chocolate, I will eat it. Just a piece here there…but eventually it disappears. So to avoid this temptation, I decided to toss it all into some bark. The kids love it and it goes pretty fast.

Make sure you have chocolate wafers or melting chocolate. Mix everything right in reserving a few pieces to dot on top just to pretty it up. It all tastes the same whether you mix the candy all in, or perfectly drop the pieces on top.

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Halloween Bark
Author: 
Recipe type: Halloween candy, snacks
 
Ingredients
  • 4 cups white chocolate melting wafers
  • 2 cups candy and chopped chocolate bars
Instructions
  1. Melt chocolate in the top of a double boiler or on low heat in microwave. Let cool and set aside.
  2. Toss in mixed candy and chocolate stirring well.
  3. Pour onto parchment or foil lined cookie sheet (or jelly roll pan, the larger the better). Refrigerate for 30 minutes, remove and break into pieces.
  4. Store in a ziplock freezer bag and try not to eat it all at once.

 

Roasted and Fresh Carrots with Lentils

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We always have luck growing carrots in containers on our deck. Not so much luck with radishes (worms) or lettuce (aphids) however but we haven’t given up yet amidst trying almost everything. The kids love to plant seeds, and watch them grow. It’s something they look forward to every year. They especially enjoy the coloured carrots, and admittedly always plant way to many seeds so we end up with all kinds of carrot shapes, and sizes. But it’s fun, I let them do their thing, and they are learning so much from this process.

Garden carrots ready for roasting
Garden carrots ready for roasting

I was asked to submit some recipes for the Winter edition of a Gluten Free Magazine. Many of my salad or vegetable recipes tend to be gluten free, so I knew exactly what I wanted to make, sides for a holiday dinner. Which could also be a delicious meal for one with some added protein. I had ideas, well several so I decided to make a trio of sides for the magazine. It’s a day of chopping I will never forget as I somehow managed to chop off part of my finger while preparing the parsley for this dish. Fortunately the kids were home (my daughter came to my aid), and my husband just walking in the door. He cleaned the counter/cutting board, and re-chopped a fresh batch of parsley for me so I could get the dish finished, and photographed since the deadline was looming. Plus there was still work to be done, and a cut finger wasn’t going to stop me although it’s the first time I’ve cut it this bad since I worked in a butcher shop when I was 16.

The first time I tried crispy lentils was at a Food Blogger Conference in Vancouver. They were sprinkled on a fish dish (halibut I believe) and it was delicious. I came home and started making crispy lentils which I sprinkle on everything. I promise to post that recipe soon.

The Trio of Sides recipes I made for the magazine are these Roasted and Fresh Carrots with Lentils, Lemon Roasted Potatoes with Parsley Pistou and Brussels Sprouts with Candied Walnuts.

Roasted and Fresh Carrots with Crispy Lentils
Roasted and Fresh Carrots with Crispy Lentils

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Roasted and Fresh Carrots with Crispy Lentils
Author: 
Recipe type: sides, salad, dinner, lunch, gluten free
 
Ingredients
  • 30 small carrots
  • 1 tsp fennel seeds
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1 cup roasted green lentils
  • Salt & pepper
  • ½ lemon, halved
Instructions
  1. Roasting Lentils: Pour 1 cup green lentils into a pot. Add 2 cups water, 2 bay leaves, half a lemon and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Cook for about 25 minutes. Let cool for about 10 minutes or make the day before and refrigerate.
  2. Preheat oven to 400F. Pour one cup cooked lentils onto parchment lined baking sheet. Add a pinch of salt, pepper, 1 tbsp olive oil and lightly toss. Spread out evenly and roast for about 10-15 minutes stirring once half way through. Set aside.
  3. Assemble: Preheat oven to 400F. Trim carrot tops and peel about 20 carrots. Line a baking sheet with parchment. Toss carrots on baking sheet with 1 tbsp olive oil, salt, pepper and fennel seeds. Roast about 15-20 minutes. Remove & set onto platter.
  4. Peel the remaining carrots into long ribbons and place in a bowl. Add 1 tbsp of olive oil, salt, pepper, parsley and squeeze of lemon juice. Toss lightly. Scatter over roasted carrots. Garnish with roasted lentils and season with salt as needed.

 

 

Trio of side dishes
Trio of side dishes

 

Pumpkin Coconut Smoothie

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October always feels like pumpkin month. Thanksgiving here in Canada is celebrated in October, so we’ve been enjoying turkey, celebrations, great food, and pumpkin deliciousness for awhile now. I’m big into smoothies, and usually just want to drink mine immediately without taking the time to set up a photo.

Today as I was rummaging through the fridge for something breakfast related, I found some leftover pumpkin puree, and coconut milk (from a previous smoothie). This was the making of a delicious new smoothie, and one I need to share with you.

The pumpkin taste is not strong. All these flavours just flow together making this a very delicious breakfast or lunch.

5.0 from 2 reviews
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Author: 
Recipe type: snack, breakfast, lunch
Serves: 2
 
Ingredients
  • 1 banana
  • ½ cup ice or crushed ice
  • 1 cup coconut milk
  • ¼ cup plain greek yogurt
  • ¾ cup pumpkin puree
  • 1 tbsp maple syrup
  • ½ tsp cinnamon
  • ground nutmeg, sprinkle
  • allspice, sprinkle
  • flaked coconut
Instructions
  1. All all ingredients into your blender and blend until smooth & frothy.
  2. Top with a sprinkle of ground nutmeg and flaked coconut.

 

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

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Some recipes just start with a memory don’t they?! Roasted Pumpkin Seeds is one of those memories for me that followed pumpkin carving and one we always looked forward to. Recreating those memories with my own kids brings me so much joy!

My mom would roast the seeds with salt – plain and simple (which is sometimes best)! I like to branch out and explore other flavours. One spice I adore is Ras el Hanout so I use this one often. I’ve tried cinnamon sugar, maple syrup, taco seasoning, old bay, salt and pepper, hot sauce seeds, chili or cumin with fresh rosemary. Any spice you would add to roasted nuts will also work on roasted pumpkin seeds. Since we usually end up carving four pumpkins, we can some times have lots of seeds. I separate into three bowls and experiment.

The first thing you need to do is gut your pumpkin. Pull out all the seeds and the gunky strings and then try your best to separate the seeds from the gunk (you won’t get it all, trust me). Place the seeds in a large bowl and add water. Swish the seeds around with your hands to remove any additional gunk. Do the best you can – a little on the seeds never hurt anyone! Remove from water and lay on paper towels or a clean dish towel.

Let them dry a little. You don’t need them completely dry, but your seasonings will stick better if mostly dry. Do you like my terminology here?! “A little”, “completely”, “mostly dry” ha ha ha! Once at this point you are ready to follow the recipe below.

Have you experimented with pumpkin seed flavours? What is your favourite flavour?!

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Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
Author: 
 
Ingredients
  • 2 cups raw pumpkin seeds
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp melted butter
  • 1-2 tsp spice
  • salt & pepper
Instructions
  1. Toss cleaned seeds into a bowl. Mix in olive oil, butter and your favourite spices. If not using a premade seasoning mix that already has salt (ie: taco seasoning), add a good sprinkle of salt and pepper.
  2. Pour onto parchment paper lined baking sheet and bake at 300F for 30-40 minutes. I stir them once at about 20 minutes.
  3. Store in a container with a sealed lid.

 

 

 

Bacon Wrapped Turducken

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Thanksgiving has different meanings for different folks. Many celebrate and express gratitude through their religion, while others look forward to the tradition of spending time with loved ones, friends, community, and enjoying the harvest. There is typically always food involved, and it’s tradition to cook a turkey. Did you know Thanksgiving day is celebrated primarily in Canada and the United States? Last year our International German student was quite amazed to learn about a holiday she knew nothing about, and even more surprised at the feast we had prepared to celebrate this day. Thanksgiving definitely blew her away, so imagine how she felt when she learned and participated in her first ever Halloween.

In my youth we spent holidays with friends as family lived too far away, and winter time travel across Provinces from that small northern town was not exactly something you wanted to do willingly. Today we live in a City where we also have next to no family around, so we make our own traditions, and have recently started spending Thanksgiving with friends, alternating houses every year.

turd v1

This year, Echelon Foods asked if we would be interested in sampling one of their Bacon Wrapped Turduckens. Having had an Echelon Turducken roughly 4-5 years ago, I knew we were in for a treat. Well who am I kidding, they had me at bacon. One great experience can only be made better with bacon, right? At this point my European followers might be wondering what a turducken is. Simply put it’s a deboned chicken stuffed in a duck stuffed in a turkey, and in this case, wrapped in bacon with an Italian sausage stuffing inside. Some even call it a Three Bird Roast. Luxurious, yet simple, solid but unique. The question begs to be asked – how does a turducken becomes a turducken?

the meal

Since it wasn’t our turn to host Thanksgiving dinner this year, I left the turducken in the very capable hands of my girlfriend Jody who is also a delicious cook. Our biggest hurdle and decision which should have involved wine was…do we cook low & slow, or do we rev it up a little and getter done. We choose the quicker method, and Jody cooked up that turducken like a pro. You can tell by the photos it came out beautifully. 12 of us sat down to enjoy the feast, the friendship, our health, the food & wine and our bacon wrapped turducken.

Important to note this turducken is available locally throughout the year. It’s a beautiful addition to a meal and something you might just get hooked on.

Echelon Foods provided me with a turducken to try and review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Reese Peanut Butter Chocolate Nanaimo Bars

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Right now in my world there is nothing better than recipe testing with Reese Peanut Butter Chocolate Spread. I’m beyond excited and fully wearing my fat pants. Why you ask? Well since the product arrived, truth be known, I’ve been diligently taste testing it every day, with a spoon, to ensure it hasn’t gone bad. I do what I have to for the people.

I’ve always adored Reese Peanut Butter Cups. In fact I secretly remove a few from my kids Halloween candy bags every year making up some excuse like whoops the cats got in and licked them if they discover some missing. As a mom you do what you gotta do. I’ll let you in on a little secret to – Reese Peanut Butter Cups taste amazing squished into a S’more.

When the call came out for Canadian Bloggers to support the product in Canada, I couldn’t resist throwing my name in the hat. What better way to challenge yourself by creating something extraordinary. I was fortunate to get picked along with several other fabulous food bloggers across Canada. We be having a Reese’s Peanut Butter Chocolate Spread Party. Seriously though what an idea to go all twitter crazy sharing our recipes.

With several ideas floating around my brain, there was one idea that stood out. A dessert served mainly around the holidays and one recipe I know like the back of my hand since I helped my mom make it growing up a very long time ago. The good old Canadian Nanaimo Bar [The Good Old Hockey Game song just came to mind by Stompin Tom). See I made this treat last month (July) for our International German Student who after 11 months was leaving us to go home. I wanted to send her off with one final Canadian treat. It was then I discovered since Nanaimo Bars are not baked, they really can be made any time of the year and are the perfect summer bite. So I made them with the Reese’s Peanut Butter Chocolate Spread changing up some of my quantities from the Nanaimo Bar Recipe I have posted. It worked!

My kids are going crazy for this dessert today as I’ve let the guinea pigs have a taste. So I had to photograph the squares quickly and get the post up. The biggest challenge has been trying not to eat the whole jar. #DoYouSpoon

Reese's Peanut Butter Chocolate Nanaimo Bars
Reese’s Peanut Butter Chocolate Nanaimo Bars

This post is sponsored by Hershey’s Canada and I’ve been compensated monetarily and with product to create a new recipe.

5.0 from 1 reviews
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Reese Peanut Butter Chocolate Nanaimo Bars
Author: 
Recipe type: dessert, holiday, treat
Serves: 12
 
Ingredients
  • Base:
  • ¾ cup butter
  • ⅓ cup sugar
  • ⅓ cup cocoa
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 cup coconut
  • 2 cups graham wafer crumbs crushed
  • Middle
  • 4 tbsp butter
  • 1½ cup Reeses Peanut Butter Chocolate Spread
  • 2¼ cup icing sugar
  • 2-3 tbsp milk
  • Top:
  • 8 ounces (1 box) semi sweet chocolate squares
  • 2 tbsp butter
Instructions
  1. Assemble Base:
  2. In a double boiler (over medium high heat) add ¾ cup butter, sugar, cocoa, vanilla & egg, whisking until well combined. Stir until mixture reaches a custard like consistency (thickens slightly).
  3. Mix in graham wafer crumbs and coconut. Stir until combined and press into ungreased 8x8 or 9x9 square baking pan.
  4. Assemble middle:
  5. In a large microwave safe bowl add 4 tbsp butter and Reeses Peanut Butter Chocolate Spread. Microwave on medium - low in 30 second increments until completely melted. Add icing sugar one cup at a time and alternate mixing with 1 tbsp of milk until all icing sugar is used. Your mixture consistency should be creamy & delicious. Spread evenly over your base and refrigerate until firmed up.
  6. Assemble top:
  7. In a microwaveable bowl add butter and semi sweet chocolate. Melt chocolate/butter on low in 30-40 second increments stirring in between. Continue until chocolate almost melted. Remove and stir until remaining chocolate is completely smooth. Pour chocolate over squares and give a little shake to evenly distribute. Refrigerate to harden top layer of chocolate before cutting and serving.

 

Festive Mars Bars Squares

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I am apparently a Mars Bars Squares Virgin. Who knew these delicious treats existed. I learned about them last summer on our way out of town on a camping trip. It always seems to take us soooo long to pack up no matter how many lists, and how efficient I am at getting things ready in advance. We can’t win. So by the time we get out of town we are exhausted by over excited kids and packing up…hence ready for a drink. But we are driving and have to wait for a beverage. So on this particular outing, we opted for coffee instead.

I checked out the GPS and there was surprisingly one on the way to our camping destination. So we stopped at at little place called Latte Da for our cuppa joe and were thrilled to find sweet treats available to. The folks in this little cafe were very friendly and when we walked in, they just so happen to be bringing out this huge platter of, well Mars Bars Squares. Intrigued, we bought a couple and devoured them before we left the cafe. Spectacular. A delicious tasting bite. I asked how they were made and Laurie, the  owner, graciously shared her recipe with me.

I went on to make these a couple times over the summer and then while thinking about my Christmas Holiday Baking Round up, the thought came to me to make them again…but with a little candy cane twist.

 

Festive Mars Bars Squares
Festive Mars Bars Squares

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Candy Cane Mars Bars Squares
Author: 
Recipe type: dessert, treat, snack,
 
Ingredients
  • 4-5 regular sized mars bars (I used 4 little mars bars to replace one big)
  • ⅓ cup butter + ¼ cup for top
  • 1 cup milk chocolate chips for top
  • 3.5 cups rice krispy cereal holiday edition
  • ¼ cup crushed red & green smarties
  • ¼ cup crushed candy canes
Instructions
  1. Melt mars bars and ⅓ cup butter in large pot over low heat. This will take a few minutes of stirring and watching as you don't want the mixture to burn.
  2. Once melted pour in your cereal. Mix well until all combined.
  3. Pour into a 9 x 9 square baking dish.
  4. In a microwaveable bowl add remaining butter and milk chocolate chips. Melt on low stirring every 10 seconds until melted.
  5. Pour melted chocolate over top of rice krispy mixture.
  6. Sprinkle with crushed candy canes and smarties. Let chocolate harden in refrigerator before serving.

 

Gingerbread Dip

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In preparing for our annual Ladies Wine Night & Cookie Exchange I was well, unprepared. There I said it. Sick, bake sales and other life stuff slowed me down.

Our cookie exchange night is something I started 4 years ago. It’s a fun night for us moms/ladies to have a fun evening without kids. We typically all bring a bottle of wine, some bites to share and in this case a dozen cookies per attendee. Since I hadn’t given the night much thought, I started thinking about a cheese ball a friend use to make back in the 90’s. Simply made with cream cheese, butter and cheese. Tasty but not so healthy. As I was thinking about the cheese ball I was eating one of my Orange Gingerbread Cookies. See where I am going with this? Somehow an AHA moment happened. And the 2 ideas collided.

I used the spice list from my gingerbread cookie and started measuring and adding to taste, carefully writing down quantities. Didn’t want it to sweet. Didn’t want it to molasses-e. In the end it turned out delicious despite my suspicions it might not. I always like more feedback when I create a recipe, so I needed me some taste testers. The only ones available were Luisa, our German student and the ladies who were coming over that night. They are always pretty keen to taste my food. Thankfully. In the end, everyone who likes gingerbread liked it. One discovery that came after the fact…if you let it sit a day or two in the fridge, the flavour somehow improves.

This dip in all fairness is a little rich. Not something you could eat tons of but definitely an enjoyable addition to a table filled with goodies. I tried it with veggies and no go. Apples didn’t really cut it for me either. Plain crackers/crisps or macaroons/shortbread did work and tasted really good. This recipe is a keeper.

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Gingerbread Dip
Author: 
Recipe type: Appetizer, dips,
 
Ingredients
  • 1 package cream cheese, softened
  • 3 tbsp butter, softened
  • 3 tbsp brown sugar
  • ½ tsp cinnamon
  • ½ tsp ginger
  • ¼ tsp nutmeg (fresh ground)
  • ¼ tsp cloves
  • pinch of salt
Instructions
  1. Cream together cream cheese and butter in a bowl. Mix in brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves and a pinch of salt.
  2. Pour into your serving bowl and sprinkle with a little more fresh grated nutmeg. Add some sprinkles if you really want to be festive.
  3. Serve with plain artisan crackers, flatbread crackers or shortbread cookies.