I had the idea of this savoury barley salad because I wanted to come up with a variety of recipes that call for barley as the main ingredient. It's September and the weather is getting cooler. This time of the year calls for soups and stews. I don't know why, but every fall, I make lots of barley dishes. We've also been harvesting lots of product from our gardens on our … [Read more...]
Homemade Brown Sugar Boba
Little One loves bubble tea and boba milk, so when she saw Inga Lam's homemade brown sugar boba video, she just had to make it! We live on a small island in rural Northern Ontario, and there are no bubble tea shops here. Whenever we go to the city, Little One always has to get her boba fix. If anything, this pandemic has been giving Little One lots of time to teach … [Read more...]
Chinese Green Beans
Little One and I are obsessed with green beans. We're especially crazy about Chinese Green Beans. You know, the green beans you get when you go to a Chinese buffet? I tried to reproduce the dish at home so we can have it whenever we want. This came pretty close. Print Chinese Green Beans Craving Chinese green beans like at the Chinese buffet? Flavourful green … [Read more...]
Everything Eggnog! Cookies, Cakes, Lattes & More!
It's pretty safe to say that I am an eggnog fan! I get super excited in November when the grocery stores start selling eggnog! I've even tried making my own from scratch! There's just something so special about this beverage! It puts me in the holiday spirit. To me, the rich, creamy beverage reminds me of Christmas! The first time I had eggnog was at my uncle's place in New … [Read more...]
Celebrating Pi Day! 15 Perfect Pies You Will Love!
For mathematicians, Pi Day means 3.14159 and...for foodies, it means pies, pies, pies! Funny story: When my husband and I were engaged, all the ladies and farmers' wives in our township asked me how my pie crust and homemade bread were. Apparently, those are deal breakers if a farmer's wife cannot bake a good pie or homemade loaf of bread! Pi Day It's almost March … [Read more...]
The Easiest Chocolate Dessert You Will Ever Make
My mother-in-law makes this chocolate dessert every now and then, and this is a definite crowd pleaser. Everyone loves this dessert. The best thing about it is that it is really easy to make, and it only takes about ten minutes to make it! That means if you have guests who drop in for a meal unannounced or if you need a last minute dessert, you can make this and people will … [Read more...]
Jerk Fish Poutine
Jerk Fish Poutine? Some may think it sounds crazy, or even sacrilegious, but I have to tell you that Jerk Fish Poutine is surprisingly delicious! Disclaimer: This post was written in affiliation with Grace Foods. All thoughts and opinions expressed on this blog are my own. For purists, perhaps any alterations to the original Quebecois favourite may very well be unheard … [Read more...]
Thai Coconut Chicken Curry
Thai Coconut Chicken Curry is another one of my favourite Thai dishes. The bit of heat, the layers of flavour, the aromatics, the creaminess from the coconut milk...What's not to love? I have to admit that when I taught my first Thai cooking class, I made the curry to the heat level I am accustomed to. I didn't realize that it would be too hot for some people's … [Read more...]
Three-Ingredient Homemade Cheese Recipe
I know. Three-ingredient homemade cheese recipe? I kid you not, my friends. We go through cheese like crazy in this house. I even have a monthly "cheese allowance" for when I go to our local fromagerie. I love cheese that much! Really. I cannot live without my Bella Vitano Balsamic, Bella Vitano Merlot, applewood smoked Gouda, Huntsman, Brie, Camembert, and … [Read more...]
August Long Weekend BBQ #PerfectPairings #SummerFresh
August long weekend is fast approaching. It feels as though school just let out, and all of a sudden, August long weekend is just around the corner! How on earth does that happen? Summer always seems so fleeting. To savour the remainder of our Summer days, we like to BBQ and have friends and family over. If you're looking for a great recipe to make, our eight year-old … [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...]
Layered Eggplant, Zucchini, Tomato Gratin & a #BakersSecret Giveaway!
One of my absolute favourite dishes is my Layered Eggplant, Zucchini, Tomato Gratin. Years ago, I used to just put throw in all my vegetables for my ratatouille in a baking dish and cook them, but I find the presentation for this dish is so visually appealing. When it comes to making side dishes for our meals, I love a very generous helping of vegetables. I've been … [Read more...]
Celebrate with a Slice this Holiday! Breville Canada Crispy Crust Pizza Maker Giveaway
Christmas is the one time of the year when my whole family is able to get together. Now that my brothers and I are grown up and have families of our own, our it's often a challenge getting our schedules to sync. This said, we always make sure to coordinate our vacation time for Christmas. It's extremely important for us to celebrate together. When I think of all the food … [Read more...]
Mini Chocolate Chess Pies
It's National Chocolate Day, so we whipped up some Mini Chocolate Chess Pies. One of my husband's favourite desserts is Chocolate Chess Pie. Hubby mentioned recently that I haven't been baking as much as when we first started dating. Before we got married, I baked him gourmet cheesecakes regularly. Now, he only gets homemade gourmet cheesecake on his birthday or on … [Read more...]
Salmon with Maple Dijon Glaze
One of the greatest things about living on an island is that we have access to fresh fish. A favourite of ours is salmon. Manitoulin Island is a fisherman's paradise. The fish you can catch depends on the time of year, and which lake you are fishing at. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned fishing enthusiast, or whether you like fishing from the shore, the dock or … [Read more...]