by on April 12, 2021   •   Leave a Comment Recipes

The Best Asparagus Recipes

A helpful round-up of the best asparagus recipes to make this season.

Spring has arrived and I couldn’t be more excited.

I’m soaking in the sunshine and eagerly awaiting the first garden produce to finally make its appearance. My chives are up, in a deep green bouquet, and the peas and spinach shouldn’t be far behind.

Bundles of asparagus bring a much anticipated burst of green after a long winter. It’s delicious at its simplest: lightly steamed, grilled or roasted with a squeeze of lemon.

Asparagus is also a very versatile vegetable that adds a lot of nutrition to galettes, quiche, pizzas, and more! Today’s round-up of the best asparagus recipes includes plenty of inspiration for the whole spring season.

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by on March 15, 2021   •   6 Comments Desserts

Rhubarb Carrot Cake with Vanilla Mascarpone Frosting

A lightly spiced rhubarb carrot cake recipe with a creamy, dreamy frosting that’s perfect for any spring celebration.

This sophisticated snacking cake features winter carrots and the first rhubarb of the year in a marvellous merging of two seasons.

I’m so excited to bring you this recipe after many rounds of testing. Part spiced carrot cake and part rhubarb coffee cake, this is the springtime dessert mashup you need as winter melts away.

It’s scented with cinnamon and nutmeg and generously frosted with a decadent whipped mascarpone. But it’s those jammy nuggets of baked rhubarb inside that really make this carrot cake unique.

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by on March 9, 2021   •   Leave a Comment Dinner

7 Sheet Pan Suppers

A round-up of my most popular sheet pan suppers – easy dinner recipes that come together quickly and are loved by all.

I‘ve long sung the praises of the sheet pan supper, made popular in my house back when I had three small children and was writing two cookbooks.

The appeal of tossing all of the ingredients on a pan, sliding it into the oven and walking away is undeniably attractive to the busy parent.

Of course, many of those meals became family favourites and they are still in regular rotation today (I’m looking at you, fish tacos). Now it’s time to share them with you for your next meal plan.

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by on March 2, 2021   •   3 Comments Kids in the Kitchen

Tips for Kids in the Kitchen

Practical tips for cooking and baking with kids in the kitchen, with suggestions for beginner recipes, too.

Dear Readers, I know that this particular March is bringing up a lot of feels.

It’s been a full year of pandemic life. We still have our ups and downs, as we adapt and work to build resilience. However, there are many benefits to this season as well, as I’ll share below.

Since so many of us are cozy at home for March/Spring break, I wanted to take this opportunity to encourage you to get the kids in the kitchen. Around here we have tradition of Spring Break Cooking Camp in the Simple Bites kitchen – so join us!

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by on February 9, 2021   •   6 Comments Bakeshop

The Best Doughnut Recipe

A simple tutorial for an old-fashioned doughnut recipe, with helpful cooking tips and suggestions for toppings.

A snow day last week provided the perfect occasion for an impromptu doughnut-making party. My youngest, Clara, and I rolled, cut, fried and glazed a perfect dozen. They didn’t last long.

My best doughnut recipe is for yeasted, lighter-than-air treats, scented with nutmeg, and not too sweet. We usually toss half in cinnamon sugar and glaze the rest with maple – a Canadian classic.

I know most of the country is in a deep freeze, and many (most?) of you have children home from school. This seems like an ideal time to share my best doughnut recipe.

Read on for tips, the tutorial, and – in my opinion- the best kept secret for making doughnuts at home.

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