Easy entertaining is the least stressful way to manage the holiday season. Make these ahead and keep in the refrigerator for those unexpected drop-in guests. Keep a selection of crackers on hand. Cheese is loved by almost everyone and dried fruits, honey and nuts complete a welcoming spread. Spinnakers Baked Cheese This was served at […] Read more
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Bite into your Christmas list with a cookie exchange
A Christmas cookie exchange is a fun and social event during the holiday season. For ease of sharing, package your contribution in individual take-home containers for each person and include the ingredient list and storage suggestions. Chocolate Roll-out Cookies 2 1/2 c. all-purpose flour 625 mL 1/4 c. unsweetened cocoa powder 60 mL 1/2 tsp. […] Read more
Tackling a kitchen makeover
The success of a kitchen renovation is in the details. It is well worth the effort to make comprehensive notes of every little detail. Not only will you save time in the long run but it will also save money by having fewer recalls of the trades. The first question to answer is whether to […] Read more
Easy to make comfort food
Nothing beats the aroma of fresh baked bread wafting through the house. Bread machines may be convenient but it isn’t difficult to make breads from scratch either. The four main ingredients are flour, yeast, salt and water. Bread flour makes a superior loaf because it is higher in the protein, gluten. When water is added […] Read more
Ocean is awash with offerings for nutritious dishes
Most of us don’t live near the ocean but that is no longer a reason to not use seaweed or sea vegetables in our meals. There are several foragers on both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts that have successful businesses collecting and drying a number of varieties. The collection locations are often remote for better […] Read more
A new twist on traditional Thanksgiving dishes
Create your own traditions this year with these new ideas for Thanksgiving dishes. Green Beans and Shitake Mushrooms You can substitute cremini mushrooms or dried shitakes for fresh ones. The stems of dried shitakes should be removed because they are tough. 6 tbsp. butter 90 mL 8 oz. fresh shiitake mushrooms, stemmed, caps sliced 250 […] Read more
Healthy diet includes a variety of plant proteins
Daily intake of meat or plant-based protein is ideal for optimum health. A diet focused mainly on meat-based protein may be lower in dietary fibre and the many nutrients found only in vegetables and grains and higher in fat. A plant-based protein regime will have more variety in nutrients, will have a good source of […] Read more
Desserts with savoury twist tease the taste buds
Savoury flavours in desserts are not a new fad. The Europeans traditionally serve a cheese course at the end of a meal. Aged Parmesan with a good quality balsamic is delightful. Prosciutto- wrapped melon slices are often an appetizer but there is no reason they could not be a dessert. The addition of savoury flavours […] Read more
A healthy way to start your day
By the time Nicole Davis reached high school, she had decided that happiness could best be found by moving away from the Prairies. After working in the big city and travelling around the world, she found herself back home working with her parents, Cathy and Gene Davis, who operated an organic homestead farm near North […] Read more
Healthy chickpeas pack a protein punch
Chickpeas, like most other pulses, are a good source of cholesterol-lowering fibre. In addition, their high fibre content prevents blood sugar levels from rising too rapidly after a meal, making them a good choice for people with diabetes, insulin resistance or hypoglycemia. When combined with whole grains such as rice, chickpeas provide a fat-free high […] Read more
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