by on March 2, 2021   •   4 Comments Kids in the Kitchen

Tips for Kids in the Kitchen

Practical tips for cooking and baking with kids in the kitchen, with suggestions for beginner recipes, too.

Dear Readers, I know that this particular March is bringing up a lot of feels.

It’s been a full year of pandemic life. We still have our ups and downs, as we adapt and work to build resilience. However, there are many benefits to this season as well, as I’ll share below.

Since so many of us are cozy at home for March/Spring break, I wanted to take this opportunity to encourage you to get the kids in the kitchen. Around here we have tradition of Spring Break Cooking Camp in the Simple Bites kitchen – so join us!

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by on February 9, 2021   •   7 Comments Bakeshop

The Best Doughnut Recipe

A simple tutorial for an old-fashioned doughnut recipe, with helpful cooking tips and suggestions for toppings.

A snow day last week provided the perfect occasion for an impromptu doughnut-making party. My youngest, Clara, and I rolled, cut, fried and glazed a perfect dozen. They didn’t last long.

My best doughnut recipe is for yeasted, lighter-than-air treats, scented with nutmeg, and not too sweet. We usually toss half in cinnamon sugar and glaze the rest with maple – a Canadian classic.

I know most of the country is in a deep freeze, and many (most?) of you have children home from school. This seems like an ideal time to share my best doughnut recipe.

Read on for tips, the tutorial, and – in my opinion- the best kept secret for making doughnuts at home.

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by on February 2, 2021   •   9 Comments Dinner

Sheet Pan Fish Tacos

A simple recipe for sheet pan fish tacos with a zesty lime crema. This dish is easy to make and loved by all.

Here’s a favourite family meal of ours that’s on the table in less than 30 minutes and has minimal clean-up. Are you in?

Great, because sheet pan fish tacos have been making my kiddos happy just about every Tuesday. It’s a meal we team up on and we’re in and out of the kitchen in no time.

My youngest, Clara, makes our guacamole – this has been her thing ever since she was about four. The boys set the table and are in charge of the hot sauce line-up (what is it with teens and hot sauce these days?).

Hit the jump for the fish tacos recipe, as well as my homemade fajita seasoning and a zesty lime crema.

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by on January 25, 2021   •   Leave a Comment Quick Bites

Blueberry Lemonade Smoothie

This simple blueberry lemonade smoothie recipe is an ideal nourishing snack and brings a little sunshine on dreary winter days.

Here’s a vibrant, tangy sip that will make you temporarily forget about the cold. Seriously, how is it still January? Christmas seems like a distant memory.

If you are looking to wake up your taste buds, then this is the recipe for you. We throw the lemon – peel and all – into the blender, and then balance out the sourness with sweet blueberries (from that freezer stash of course!).

This is the time of year that I stock Simple Bites kitchen full of ingredients for smoothies. Frozen fruits and vegetables, non-dairy milks, jars of seeds and nut butters – this is my one of strategies for healthy eating in winter.

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by on January 18, 2021   •   3 Comments Breakfast & Baked Goods

A Great, Basic Crêpe Recipe

Beginners can learn how to make a basic crêpe recipe with this tutorial, including recommended tools and suggested toppings.

Before the days of sheltering in place, homemade crêpes were only a special occasion food in our home. Often requested as a birthday breakfast, these elegant, lacy pancakes were revered by my kiddos as the ultimate treat.

Our first lockdown last spring changed all of that, when we found ourselves with more time on our hands than ever before. My 8-year-old, Clara, showed a keen interest in learning a great, basic crêpe recipe.

She also brought a deft hand for swirling the batter and an attentiveness to the stove. Call it a homeschooling culinary lesson or call it cravings, crêpes made the menu once a week and have remained in our repertoire ever since.

Frying crêpes for a family of five is a true labour of love. There are no real shortcuts. I can, however, recommend acquiring an apprentice to join you in the kitchen. After all, two pans are better than one.

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