Christmas desserts in my childhood home always had two fruity treats — Christmas pudding and mince tarts. The warm, fruity pudding was a must as far as my dad was concerned. He could hardly wait to get the main course over so we could enjoy the Christmas pudding with lots of rich vanilla sauce. Both […] Read more
Tag Archives TEAM Resources
Come in from the cold to a menu that warms the insides
I love this time of year in the kitchen. There is more time for cooking because the outside work is done and we can spend time indoors, on a yard work sabbatical. With cooler temperatures, we crave warming menus that offer flavour and sweets that deliver sugar and spice. Over the years of doing this […] Read more
Appetizers make Christmas entertaining more informal
Informal entertaining has taken over from the painstaking dinner parties I have always hosted. Now it is usually happy hour and most often it is potluck. There is enough stress in the holiday season already. Make entertaining easy. Simple cheese and fruit plate There is no need to make it complicated. A few simple, good […] Read more
Spice up Christmas cookie exchange with Advent calendar
Cookies are a delicious Christmas tradition, but they weren’t always a Christmas thing. Families were not leaving cookies and milk for Santa Claus until the 1930s. In those difficult times, parents wanted to show the children a kinder way. And thanks to Queen Victoria, gingerbread cookies became associated with Christmas. Christmas cookies are small bites […] Read more
Fall a good time to enhance menus with seasonal foods
My kids are all grown up, but I still have fun sharing the excitement of this spooky season. It’s a time when children can transform themselves into their favourite character, and for a day or two they are immersed in an imaginary life. With my own kids, I remember after every country stop the almost […] Read more
Apples are great for cooking, but choose the correct one
There are more than 100 varieties and cultivars of apples grown in Canada. Those that originated in Canada are the McIntosh, Ambrosia and Spartan. With so many choices, how does one decide which one is best for your intended use? The best apples to store long-term have thick skin and tend to be crisp and […] Read more
Nutrition can be on the menu when the guys get together
When guys get together to watch a game, go hunting, have a meeting or hang out, hearty and hopefully healthy foods are needed. For ease of serving and convenience, use tin foil pie plates rather than paper plates, as they are sturdier, have a higher rim and can be washed for reuse if desired. Slow […] Read more
Thanksgiving cooking can be less muss and fuss this fall
Thanksgiving doesn’t have to be the big turkey with leftovers until Christmas. This is the first time I have cooked a turkey breast and it was so easy. It easily feeds six people and without the muss and fuss of a full bird. Don’t let the roasting pan go dry in the oven or it […] Read more
Fall’s bounty has been picked — here’s what to do with it
The fall season is upon us. The leaves have decorated the landscape with colour and are now floating down to blanket the earth. The air is crisp in the morning, with sun for a much shorter time during the day, followed by the most amazing night skies. All of these changes mean that the yard […] Read more
Missing an ingredient? There’s often a substitute for that
Have you ever gone to make a recipe, only to discover that you don’t have some of the ingredients? It’s also possible that some of the people you’re cooking for may choose not to eat certain foods due to food allergies or a diet choice and are looking for an alternative food. One of the […] Read more
