by on November 23, 2020   •   1 Comment Gift Guides

My Favourite Cookbooks of 2020

A round-up of the outstanding cookbooks of 2020, featuring family dinner, bold flavours, the joy of pie and much more.

Yesterday I sat down with a notepad and a stack of cookbooks to make a menu plan for the week. Leafing through the pages, I was filled with a tangible sense of gratitude.

I’m so fortunate to be able to outline our eats for seven days straight. It is a absolute privilege to be able to plan out holiday nibbles, brunch baking and Christmas confections, too.

I don’t take my food security or the cookbook collection for granted. I am thankful.

[Read more…]
by on November 15, 2020   •   13 Comments Gift Guides

24 Food Gifts from Canadian Artisans

The ultimate 2020 guide to Canadian-crafted food gifts that are ethical, unique and exceptionally delicious.

I‘ve always said the food gifts are the best gifts. I still stand by that sentiment.

This year, however, I’m not crafting all my holiday presents by hand in the Simple Bites kitchen. Yes, I’ve championed homemade edible gifts for over a decade, but 2020 calls for a change.

We’ve spent countless hours in the kitchen just keeping everyone fed. And then there’s been all the stress baking and home canning.

So should you also choose to put your feet up, this post is for your online, home shopping convenience.

[Read more…]
by on February 12, 2020   •   1,422 Comments Entertaining

Giveaway: Le Creuset Minimalist Dinnerware Set

Win a set of timeless stoneware dinnerware that will last for a lifetime of gathering and entertaining.

In the world we know today, true hospitality requires one to be a rebel.

The act of opening yourself up to give or receive a meal is a radical one. It flies in the face of a culture fixated on speed and self-reliance.

In celebration of the ten-year blogiversary of Simple Bites, today’s giveaway is for a 48-Piece Minimalist Dinnerware Set from my friends at Le Creuset!

This contemporary yet classic collection will help you set a beautiful table when hosting friends and family.

[Read more…]
by on November 12, 2019   •   8 Comments Hospitality

Simple, Essential Tips for Entertaining at Home

If you’ve pulled up your calendar recently and thought “This is the year I’ll host a holiday dinner or throw a festive party” then today’s post is for you, as we’re going to deep dive into entertaining at home.

Christmas Eve is just 6 weeks down the road and New Year’s Eve a mere 7 days after. It’s never too early to begin planning.

In this post I’ll explain how to choose a menu and help you discover your hospitality style. I’ll also list the questions to ask before planning to host and help you figure out the flow of the event.

So set the date for your party (ahem, bookmark this post for repeated referencing) and let’s get started.

[Read more…]
by on July 2, 2019   •   9 Comments Entertaining

Prepping for Simple Summertime Entertaining

Over the next five weeks, we’ll be hosting five families at our little lakeside homestead.

We could’t be more thrilled about our line-up of summer visitors; it means that we can hunker down in full staycation mode and still get to visit with out-of-town family and friends. Most people are making the trek to Nova Scotia for the very first time, and we’re going to ensure they have a wonderful visit.

So how do I feed a stream of house guests while still relaxing and enjoying my first Maritime summer? It comes down to combination of loosely structured menu planning, strategic meal prep…and letting go of perfection.

[Read more…]