by on September 15, 2021   •   1 Comment School lunch

10 School Lunch Tips for Beginners

Around this time every year, I start to rummage through my disheveled Tupperware drawer in preparation for school lunches.

Yep, lazy summer snacking on the back patio is giving way to bagged lunches every weekday.

I attempt to match square sandwich containers with their respective lids, locate all the water bottles and take a sniff into each thermos to see if they’re still safe to carry soups.

After that comes an assessment of lunch boxes, a refresher of my daughter’s school regulations, and a chat with her on menu preferences. It’s important to listen, always. But I didn’t know that in the beginning.

I’ve learned a lot along the way. Today’s post is school lunch tips for beginners – or anyone who is looking for new inspiration.

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by on September 10, 2021   •   8 Comments Traveling

A wilderness reunion and what happened there

If a magical family reunion has to come to an end, at least wrap it up with a seven-foot charcuterie board and an enormous chocolate cake, right?

At least that was the plan, before an intense rainstorm blew down from the mountains, and I accidentally knocked myself out cold on the low eaves of a cabin.

Oh, and did I mention the roaming mama black bear and cubs? Don’t worry, it all worked out and a good time was had by all. Which is precisely why I’m sharing this tale.

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by on August 9, 2021   •   1 Comment Bakeshop

Inspiration for Cooking and Baking with Peaches

From cobbler to Caprese, this recipe round-up is full of inspiration for cooking and baking with peaches.

Local peaches have arrived, and they are worthy of a spot on the table for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Nova Scotia’s stone fruits are slightly smaller than those in Niagara or the Okanagan (I’ve picked peaches in all three regions) but they are incredibly sweet, and in my opinion, unparalleled.

Just like the berries that arrive a month before them, stone fruits deserve their own kitchen celebration. Sure, they are delicious enjoyed fresh in hand, juices dripping, but cooking and baking with peaches really brings out their flavour.

In this post, I’m sharing my finest inspiration for cooking and baking with peaches. From cobbler to Caprese, these August recipes truly highlight the beautiful peach.

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by on August 2, 2021   •   3 Comments Dinner

A Favourite Quinoa Power Bowl Base

A high-protein quinoa power bowl base for quick weeknight dinners. Simple, versatile and vegetarian.

In case you thought power bowls were only for hearty winter meals, let me remind you that they are also ideal for hot summer days.

For the past few summers, I’ve been making the same quinoa and vegetable ‘base’ for quick weeknight dinners and it’s time I shared the recipe. It keeps in the fridge for at least five days, making it practical for those days you just want to stay at the lake or pool until the last possible minute.

You can take this quinoa power bowl base in almost any direction as far as flavours and cuisines. I’ve listed our favourites compilations in the post, both vegetarian and non. Let’s get to it!

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by on July 13, 2021   •   3 Comments 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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