by on July 13, 2021   •   1 Comment Outdoor

10 Camping Kitchen Must-Haves

Tips for simplifying outdoor gear and my essential camping kitchen must-haves. Brought to you by Libra.

For the past two summers I’ve been working towards a minimalists camping kitchen. I wasn’t even sure it was possible, not for a family of five, with ferocious appetites and gourmet tendencies.

Part of my incentive to explore a compact version of outdoor gear came after leafing through a popular cookbook and spotting a ‘mellon baller’ on the list of camping kitchen must-haves. Uh, I’m sorry, but no. You’ll never get away for the weekend if you have to think about packing everything.

It’s time to get back to basics. Just the fire, the forest and you — all contained in their respective places, of course. In my recent experience, it IS possible to pair down gear for campfire cooking. Today I’m sharing my essentials, along with a few favourite drinks and snacks.

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by on June 28, 2021   •   2 Comments Salads

Yogurt-Chive Potato Salad Recipe

This Yogurt-Chive Potato Salad is a creamy, mayo-free update on a classic. It’s a make-ahead summertime side dish that travels well and is loved by all.

For most of my life, potato salads were simply not my thing. At gatherings, I’d skip the mayo-dressed dish, passed over for other, more desirable salads such as broccoli or spinach. If I ventured into the world of potato salad, it was usually this grilled sweet potato salad topped with goat cheese.

My appreciation for potato salads developed when I ditched the mayonnaise and started using Greek-style yogourt, instead. No sweet relish, either, but a fine dice of dill pickles and all the fresh garden herbs around. Now, I crave this side dish all summer long, especially for picnics or alongside barbecue.

I never really used a recipe, but friends started asking for one when I’d bring the salad to a pot-luck. Eventually I wrote down what became Yogurt-Chive Potato Salad and today I’m sharing it with you! Read on for the recipe, as well as a photo recap of my cookbook club on beautiful Cape Breton Island.

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by on June 24, 2021   •   1 Comment Entertaining

How to Cook an East Coast Seafood Boil

Here in the Maritimes, nothing quite says summertime celebration like a good old East Coast seafood boil.

Whether you’re serving it up on the beach or in the backyard, this shellfish feast is always memorable for all the right reasons.

A seafood boil is relatively simple to pull off – really! It’s all cooked in one giant pot and served up on newspaper for easy clean-up. It’s a great way to feed a crowd (and impress them, too).

Summertime feasts are back, so invite your friends, set the table and make up for lost time with an epic East Coast Seafood Boil.

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by on June 3, 2021   •   3 Comments Dinner

Do-Ahead Campfire Burritos

Do-Ahead campfire burritos are a simple and delicious meal, perfect for your next outdoor adventure.

Hello June!

Restrictions have been lifted here in Nova Scotia and our first camping weekend is coming up in a few short days. After weeks of lockdown, we can’t wait for a road trip and a few starry nights around a fire with friends.

“Real food’ camping meals don’t have to be complicated or take a lot of time to prepare at the campsite. These do-ahead campfire burritos are a perfect example.

I like to prep them in advance and freeze them. This makes the last minute food prep more manageable. And as a bonus they double as an ice pack in the cooler.

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by on May 25, 2021   •   1 Comment Bakeshop

Any-Ingredient Fruit Crisp: A Zero Waste Formula

A recent rhubarb harvest inspired a baking project over the long weekend. I tossed rhubarb with lavender sugar and creamed butter with oats for the first ~ exquisite ~ fruit crisp of the season.

While I worked, I thought about how this rustic dessert is a perfect example of a zero waste recipe. I also realized I’ve never written about crisps or crumbles on this blog, despite the fact that I bake them up all. year. long.

So here we go! Kicking off this post are my genius zero waste tips for fruit crisps. By the end of this post, you’ll have a handy fruit crisp formula: a master recipe for this beloved dessert. And in between, I’ll inspire you to get creative with alternative ingredients for both fillings and toppings.

I’m also sharing my recipe for gluten-free, zero waste Nutty Fruit Crisp Topping. And I had to include instructions for a do-ahead, big-batch fruit crisp topping for those weekends when you’re feeding a crowd.

We have a lot to cover in this post, so let’s jump right in.

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