Archives for January 2018

by on January 28, 2018   •   2 Comments Link Love

Eleventh Hour Weekend Links

We’ve just landed back at home, travel-weary, but feeling revitalized after our winter adventures in British Columbia.

I spent the time offline, for the most part (cell reception on the side of a mountain isn’t exactly reliable), and that was a much-needed break. The rest, the immersion in the quiet woods, the thrill of hurtling down a slope on skis  – it all brought inspiration, and I have a lot of kitchen adventures in the plans. I’m eager to jump back into work this week.

For now, here’s a round-up of links I’ve been reading in the airports while in transit. There’s still a bit of the weekend left for us, and for the rest of you, consider this your Monday motivation. Enjoy!

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by on January 23, 2018   •   7 Comments Dinner

January Carb-Lover’s Pasta Round-Up

We’ve been immersing ourselves in winter sports ever since we started our vacation in British Columbia and boy, do you work up an appetite while exercising out in the crisp winter air.

Downhill skiing on the incomparable Hudson Bay Mountain, cross-country skiing at the scenic BV Nordic Centre, ice skating on Lake Kathlyn and snowshoeing up around Crater Lake – if there is a snowy adventure to be had, we’re game.

A decent chunk of the remainder of our time has been cooking for the incredible appetites of the six rosy-cheeked cousins (my kids plus my brother’s). A humungous bowl of pasta always does the trick for dinner, and the little customers love it too.

Inspired by the mountain of spaghetti and meatballs I prepared for dinner tonight, I’ve decided to share a round-up of pasta recipes from the Simple Bites archives. Whether you’re looking for a simple weeknight dinner or you need to carb load after a day on the slopes, there’s a recipe here to inspire you in the kitchen.

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by on January 16, 2018   •   4 Comments Breakfast & Baked Goods

The Best Ham and Egg Breakfast Sandwich (freezer-friendly)

Any hand-held breakfast-on-the-go that can sustain me for over eight hours deserves to be documented on this blog and passed along to you.

As I rushed out the door to the airport last Saturday morning, with a stash of warm ham and egg breakfast sandwiches tucked into my bag, I never imagined we’d be stuck in an airplane on the tarmac for nearly five hours before take-off. We had an 8:15AM departure, and the plan was to enjoy a leisurely lunch during a three-hour layover on our way to the small ski town of Smithers, BC.

But as it turned out, a winter storm had other plans for us, and that cheesy breakfast, eaten on the way to the airport at 6AM, was my last meal until about 4 in the afternoon.

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by on January 10, 2018   •   4 Comments Recipes

Cheesy Leek and Lentil Rolled Omelet with Artichokes

Over the holidays I hosted brunch a few times here on the homestead and today’s recipe was a hit at every gathering.

Serving brunch is my favourite way to pack friends in around the table when it is bitterly cold outside. Danny brews countless pots of French press coffee and I set up a hot cocoa bar for the kids, complete with homemade marshmallows. Everyone is happier in the morning (meaning the younger crowd) and as most of our friends have small children, it makes sense to get together early and wrap up by nap time.

I always like to bake when I’m hosting brunch –  scones, spiced swirl buns, citrus madeleines – there are always tried and true baking recipes to rely on for these special occasions. However, when it comes to rounding out the menu, I always get stuck when it comes to eggs. I’ve never been a fan of strata, and frittata is something I make for dinner when I need to clean out the cheese drawer. So what to make when you want to serve eggs to a crowd and are looking for something a little more exciting than a scramble?

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by on January 6, 2018   •   16 Comments My Culinary Journey

Happy New Year and looking ahead to 2018

Happy New Year, friends.

I’ve hesitated to write the first post of the year for the very silly reason that I’ve felt pressured to come up with something inspiring. Remarkable! Fresh! The truth is, however, that I’m not feeling hugely inspired these days.

In the past I’ve ushered in the new year with all sorts of challenges and goals – all of which were absolutely sincere, don’t get me wrong. There was a reminder in January 2017 to do small things with great love and I committed to more gatherings around my table. 2016 was the year I invited you to take the Pulse Pledge, and in 2015 I shared 11 healthy family food habits to embrace.

The year before that we talked about 18 healthful snacks, better for you, better for your wallet. I’ve also covered the best foods to stock in your pantry and brought in new lunchbox ideas with 9 Cures for the Midday Blues. Yes, January is a popular month for setting new goals and pumping ourselves up to eat more nourishing, homemade foods. It makes perfect sense – as long as it is genuine.

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