by on December 2, 2019   •   8 Comments Bakeshop

The Twelve Days of Holiday Baking Projects

Happy December! It’s the last month of the decade, so let’s wrap it up with a celebratory dessert or two, shall we?

I’ve been wanting to write this post for at least four Christmases now, but it never felt quite right. Last December we had just moved into a new home, but with most of my kitchen equipment still in boxes, my holiday baking was minimal.

However, we’ve just celebrated one terrific year in Nova Scotia and I am feeling very festive. On any given day in the Simple Bites kitchen there are oranges drying, lemons preserving, pie crusts chilling and gingerbread baking.

The holidays are a time to be a little extra … so make a splash and play in the kitchen. The Twelve Days of Holiday Baking Projects are meant to inspire you to tie on an apron, break out the cookie cutters and create a festive masterpiece.

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by on November 26, 2019   •   4 Comments Salads

How to Make a Winter Salad with Seasonal Ingredients

Here’s what I love about winter salad ingredients: they last a very long time in your fridge, ready and waiting for that moment when you overdid it on holiday cookies and are craving a huge salad.

My fridge usually has an assortment of crisp apples and pears, carrots and winter squash, curly frisée and staunch cabbages that I can use to throw together a winter salad. I also use red onions, pomegranate and watermelon radishes to keep things colourful and interesting.

Compared to the more delicate summer vegetables, like cucumber and tomatoes which soften and spoil after a few days, hearty winter produce stays vibrant and flavourful if stored correctly.

So today we’re going to learn how to make a winter salad with seasonal ingredients.

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Nova Scotia Lakeside Living || Simple Bites
by on November 20, 2019   •   24 Comments My Culinary Journey

From Homestead to Lakeshore: One Year Later

Exactly one year ago today the family and I stepped through the doorway of our lakeside home and began a completely new chapter in our lives.

For us, this is an anniversary well-worth noting, as it took nearly two years to uproot ourselves from Québec, transplant to the Halifax area and fulfill a dream.

It was always a lifestyle move: a conscious effort to slow down, be closer to nature and anchor ourselves in a coastal community where families are cherished and people are friendly.

So how did that work out for us? One year later, I think it’s time to share a peek at our family life now, tour the new Simple Bites kitchen and open up about community here on Canada’s East Coast.

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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.

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by on November 10, 2019   •   3 Comments Side Dish

Roasted Squash with Yogurt and Spiced Pistachios

Have you ever fallen in love with a recipe, making it over and over again, serving it to friends and working it repeatedly into your weekly menu plan?

That was my reaction to this recipe for Roasted Squash with Yogurt and Spiced, Buttered Pistachios – a decidedly wintery dish with strong comfort food vibes.

The recipe came to me via Allison Roman’s fantastic new cookbook, Nothing Fancy, and is just one of a few dishes from the book that I’ve got on repeat. (This Garlicky Beet Dip is another favourite)

Since the recipe features acorn squash, this is the perfect opportunity to continue our series on winter squash and put a bit of a spotlight on the Acorn in particular.

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