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 December 5, 2017   •   9 Comments Dinner

From sides to stews: a sweet potato recipe round-up

Sweet potatoes are front and centre in the Simple Bites winter kitchen, but not just as a side dish.

In addition to the recipes included in today’s round-up, I find ways to incorporate them into all sorts of meals from breakfast to dinner. I try to roast off a few spuds here and there when I have the oven on for holiday baking projects, then stash them in the fridge for convenience.

In the past I’ve smashed the roasted sweet potatoes and stirred them into a fragrant brown rice pudding. I’ve scooped a few spoonfuls into my smoothies, and together with almond milk, dates, cinnamon and ice, it makes for one delicious shake. I’ve puréed them and added them to chia pudding and even my morning muesli. Once sweet potatoes have been roasted and puréed, you can use them like pumpkin in a wide variety of cooking and baking.

Today’s recipes stay on the savoury side of things. From a delicate buttermilk biscuit to a wintery vegan stew, there’s a sweet potato recipe here for everyone.

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by on July 30, 2017   •   10 Comments Dinner

Campfire One-Pot Macaroni & Cheese

We’ve been road tripping through the blistering hot Niagara region of Ontario for the past week, visiting friends, picking stone fruits and enjoying plenty of beach time.

This easy pasta has come in handy for a quick meal when we have returned to our Airbnb hungry after a day of exploring. In the past I’ve always relied on the one-pot dish for camping trips, but it is a good recipe to have in your back pocket for any time you need a fast – and comforting – meal.

Here I’ve included photos of the Dutch oven campfire macaroni & cheese, but you can also prepare it in a heavy bottomed pot in your own kitchen.

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by on July 19, 2017   •   10 Comments Dinner

Do-Ahead Cider Ribs

I‘m furiously trying to wrap up about six deadlines to clear my schedule for our vacation next week, but I had to leave you with this recipe for ribs.

I served up a mammoth platter of sticky, cider-braised, barbecued-finished ribs to friends at our recent Canada Day party. And they were a massive hit. And it was my first time to ever – ever– prepare ribs. So I’m here to tell you, this is not only a great recipe for entertaining, but it’s also one for the novice rib cook.

Along with the rib recipe, I’ve included a peek at our menu for the party. It was super easy to pull together; keep reading and you’ll see why.

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by on April 24, 2017   •   12 Comments Dinner

Warm salmon & spinach salad with roasted beets, avocado, feta and olives

We did a quick road trip over the Easter long weekend to the coast. Specifically, the East Coast. More specifically, Halifax.

What? That’s faaaaar, you say? Too much driving for a weekend? Naw. We stretched the weekend to five days, and took our time getting there, visiting family in Quebec City and friends in Moncton. Besides, we’re seasoned travellers – especially the kiddos.

We enjoyed a much-needed break in one of Canada’s most charming cities, and spent most of our Easter Sunday beachcombing at Crystal Crescent Beach and scaling the bluffs at Herring Cove. Glorious. We spent a slow grey morning sipping lattes at our favourite café and ate lobster, fish and chips at a dive diner. It felt like a mini vacation.

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