by on January 18, 2021   •   2 Comments Breakfast & Baked Goods

A Great, Basic Crêpe Recipe

Beginners can learn how to make a basic crêpe recipe with this tutorial, including recommended tools and suggested toppings.

Before the days of sheltering in place, homemade crêpes were only a special occasion food in our home. Often requested as a birthday breakfast, these elegant, lacy pancakes were revered by my kiddos as the ultimate treat.

Our first lockdown last spring changed all of that, when we found ourselves with more time on our hands than ever before. My 8-year-old, Clara, showed a keen interest in learning a great, basic crêpe recipe.

She also brought a deft hand for swirling the batter and an attentiveness to the stove. Call it a homeschooling culinary lesson or call it cravings, crêpes made the menu once a week and have remained in our repertoire ever since.

Frying crêpes for a family of five is a true labour of love. There are no real shortcuts. I can, however, recommend acquiring an apprentice to join you in the kitchen. After all, two pans are better than one.

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by on January 11, 2021   •   5 Comments Soups/Stocks/Stews

Creamy Carrot Ginger Soup

A simple vegan recipe for Creamy Carrot Ginger Soup, bolstered by chickpeas and seasoned with a hint of warming Garam Masala. A winter staple.

In case you’re feeling like you haven’t found your groove in the new year yet, you’re not alone. I’m beginning to accept the fact that I may not ever get into an acceptable routine for 2021.

Amid the ongoing changes and global uncertainty, there are still some constants: the stability of the kitchen, the availability of root vegetables, and the comfort of homemade soup.

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by on January 5, 2021   •   3 Comments Dinner

10 Vegetarian Dinners for Winter Months

If you’re looking for inspiration for vegetarian dinners for the winter months, you’ll love this recipe round-up of simple and nourishing meatless main dishes.

Happy New Year!

There’s been a subtle shift in the Simple Bites kitchen. I always make gradual changes to our diet after the holidays and find that’s a more realistic approach to healthy eating.

The cookie cutters are put away and the hand-cranked pasta machine hauled out. After all, we love our carbs in January, and fresh noodles are a fun way to get kids in the kitchen.

We’ve eaten up all the holiday treats and I’ve re-stocked the pantry with the whole food essentials. The slow cooker is out and I’m revisiting our favourite winter recipes.

There’s a focus on vegetables, particularly meatless mains for winter family dinner. That’s where today’s recipe round-up of vegetarian dinners comes in handy.

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by on December 22, 2020   •   3 Comments Entertaining & Holidays

A Few Really Great Food Ideas for the Holidays

Over the past few weeks, I’ve hit fifth gear a few times in the Simple Bites kitchen. This is one of my favourite times of year to play with my food.

In my flurry of cooking and baking, I’ve come up with a few really great food ideas for the holidays that I just had to share. Nothing here is planned, more of series of inspired moments that turned out to be quite fun.

Read on for a cheery crêpe Christmas tree, a brilliant use for leftovers, an elevated winter pie and an introduction to the #Jarcuterie trend.

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by on December 15, 2020   •   15 Comments Bakeshop

Small-Batch Chocolate Swirl Meringue Cookies

A small-batch version of our family favourite, these Chocolate Swirl Meringue Cookies are festive and fun.

Meringue cookies, in any shape and any flavour, are always the first treat to disappear from the holiday cookie plate. Snatched up by my kids, there are usually only a few crispy shards remaining by the time I’m ready for something sweet.

This year I am wising up and creating nearly the whole cookie tin or plate with meringue cookies. I’ll leave room for a few shortbread, of course. Since my family are about the only guests I’m baking for, I may as well keep the customers happy.

Read on for a recipe you’ll want to add to your permanent repertoire and bake up for years to come.

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