No dress rehearsal, this is our life. Gord, you were ahead by a century. Today, as I was ready to start my morning, I read the news of Gord Downie's death, and I wept. Normally a stickler for proper grammar, I'm sure this post will be full of run-on sentences and garbled thoughts. Whenever I think Canadian music, I immediately think of Gord Downie and The … [Read more...]
Lumpiang Shanghai ~ Filipino Spring Roll Recipe
Some of my earliest memories are of my mom, her sisters, and my grandmother gathering around the kitchen table and making Lumpiang Shanghai and other Filipino food together. There would always be lots of laughter and chatter as the sisters worked together to prepare a feast for the family. The sound of laughter and the fragrances that came from the kitchen will forever be some … [Read more...]
Holiday Entertaining ~ Tips & Recipes for a Fabulous Party
Entertaining is something I absolutely love. Though we live in a very modest old farm house, our home is always filled with people. At times, it seems our home is busting at the seams with the volume of people we host. I love it though, and I'm always excited about holiday entertaining! Since I love holiday entertaining (and entertaining in general) so much, I wanted to … [Read more...]
Maplelea Girls: Canadian Dolls for Canadian Girls #MapleleaLove
Canadian girls. What exactly does it mean to be a Canadian girl? I asked my little one what she thought it meant to be a Canadian girl. My eight year old said that Canadian girls are smart, kind, active, helpful, and unique. I thought it was sweet that those were the first adjectives that came to her mind. Being unique is something my Little One is proud of. She is … [Read more...]
Big Fun at Big Nickel and Dynamic Earth #SudburyTourism
Inquisitive minds will enjoy checking out Big Nickel and Dynamic Earth in Sudbury, Ontario. I have to admit that I have lived in Northern Ontario for twelve years, and this was my first time checking out Dynamic Earth. It's been on my travel bucket list for a while now, and I can now say that I'm checking it off the list. I've been to Science North countless times, and … [Read more...]
Northern Ontario Railroad Museum & Heritage Centre #SudburyTourism
"I never even knew such a place existed in the North!" (Little One, aged 7 in reference to the Northern Ontario Railroad Museum & Heritage Centre) I have to be honest. Living in Northern Ontario for the past twelve years, I've only really made Sudbury trips for either doctor's appointments, running errands, or just spending the day off-island. Sudbury has always just … [Read more...]
Sudbury Graphic-Con #graphiccon2016 #SudburyTourism
Many of you may not know this, but I am a total geek...and proud of it! Growing up, my middle brother and I collected comic books. We used to earn an allowance and our allowance money always went towards comic books and candy - in that order. As kids growing up in the 80s, watching Saturday morning cartoons with a bowl of cereal in hand was a ritual for us. That was … [Read more...]
Filipino Spring Roll Bites
The reason I call these Filipino Spring Roll Bites is that these appetizers are bite-sized versions of the Filipino favourite. Lumpia, also known as spring rolls, come in the vegetable version and the meat version. I love the vegetable lumpia and my husband and daughter love the meat version (Lumpia Shanghai). Ever since I was a little girl, experiencing my Mom and her … [Read more...]
Genmaicha: Gen Mai Tea ~ Evoking Memories Through Flavours
I often find it incredible how a certain fragrance, taste, or even a song can evoke memories. Have you ever had that experience where a certain smell can transport you to a particular time in your life? My Dad said that genmaicha does that for him. Dad recently told me about how his Grandmother used to use the leftover rice from meals and roast the grains to use for making … [Read more...]
Macaron Obsession
Le macaron - French merringue-based confection made with egg whites, confectioner's sugar, granulated sugar, almond powder/ground almond, and food colouring. Often confused with the macaroon. Please! I beg you! Do not call a macaron a macaroon! I realize it's trivial, but hearing people use the word macaroon when talking about macarons really is a pet peeve of … [Read more...]
Specialty Cheeses & More at Quintina’s in Spring Bay #Manitoulin
Living on Manitoulin Island brings new experiences every day. Whether it be finding a new fishing spot or secluded place to swim in the summertime, you'll be surprised at some of the hidden gems this special island is home to. One of those hidden gems is Quintina's and we love them for their specialty cheeses! We recently discovered Quintina's specialty cheeses at the … [Read more...]
Happy Year of the Monkey 2016! Plus a Beef & Broccoli Recipe!
Gung Hei Fat Choi! Happy New Year! As we welcome the Year of the Monkey, we wish you a happy, healthy New Year. Living on Manitoulin Island, I wanted to make sure that Little One is aware of her cultural heritage and that she embraces her roots. Yes, she was born in Canada and is Canadian, but she also has Filipino, Chinese, Caribbean, Scottish, English and even a bit of … [Read more...]
Lengua Estofada
Though my grandparents on my maternal side have both passed away, I think of them often. Most days, life goes on as it always does, but every now and then, something triggers a memory and I miss my grandparents tremendously. Cooking with my little one reminds me of my childhood and spending lots of time in my grandparents' kitchen. I was always curious about our … [Read more...]
This is 40 – A Big Milestone
A big milestone is coming up for me. I woke up this morning and realized that in exactly one week, I will be turning 40. Wow! This big milestone has been on my mind for the past few years, yet, surprisingly, as the date approaches, it's not a big deal anymore. I remember when I was a teenager, thirty seemed ancient to me. I couldn't even fathom what life would be like … [Read more...]
Thinking about my culinary roots with TVO’s The Food Chain: Girl Eat World
Some of my earliest memories involved spending lots of time in my grandparents' kitchen, observing them prepare food from their culture. Back then, it wasn't food from their culture -- it was soul food. It was food that nourished our family and brought loved ones together. When I think about food, and its important role it plays, it is not just for sustenance, but there … [Read more...]