So I’m deep in the throes of newborn life, which means that all the sweetness I’ll be baking up this season is cute baby snuggles. But just because I’m not baking doesn’t mean you shouldn’t. Here are some Christmas treat ideas from yours truly and from all around my specially curated corner of the web:

Dried Cherry & Pistachio Mexican Wedding Cakes: This recipe of mine is a hit every year. These grain free cookies are melt-in-your-mouth and no one in your life will ever know they are gluten free.

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Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always loved synonyms. I am fascinated by words and language and meaning. I really like to talk and write so naturally words are my favourite currency of expression. Having multiple ways to say the same thing just amazes me. So much choice and creativity in language! I remember my brother passed down his old dictionary and thesaurus set to me (this was back when there was no powerful thing called the Internet that you could use to look up EVERYTHING). I rarely used the dictionary but I coveted that Webster’s thesaurus with it’s tattered green cover.

Talking about Fall is like entering into synonym paradise, it is a synonym addict’s dream place (I’m planning to start a synonym support group, PM me for details). I mean, how many of our other seasons actually have 2 names?! I mean Winter is just Winter but Fall, well Fall can be called Autumn too depending on who you ask. …

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Alright lads and lassies, have I got a treat for you today. A mango lassi is a traditional Northern Indian drink that is often served as a beverage in Indian restaurants. It’s a simple but delicious combination of yogurt, super sweet ripe mangoes and cardamom.  There are many variations and, Madhur Jaffrey, a renowned Indian chef even has a spicy, minty lassi in my favourite cookbook of hers.

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So it’s been a little while since I’ve shared what I’ve been cooking in this little nook of the Internet. Well you see my friends, I’ve gone and gotten myself knocked up and boy did that throw me for a loop…

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Psssssst….I think it’s safe to say that summer is finally here. You know what that means right? It’s the start of grilling season. Bring on the dry rubs, marinades and sizzle.

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There’s this mantra I’ve been saying around the house lately that seems to describe our family dynamic and approach to life just perfectly. Wanna hear it? Here goes: We are not a Hallmark family. …

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I get it, it’s March and the grey and the cold and the rain and the snow and the slush is getting to be a bit too much. I totally get it…I dislike that stuff so much that I escaped to the sunshine capital of the United States just to get my happy on. …

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I know it looks like we’re mostly a pork household around here given this and this and this but I promise we really do eat our greens (and our reds, oranges, yellows and purples too).

Everyday I take a salad to work for lunch. If you’re anything like my co-workers, you’re rolling your eyes at me: “oh how virtuous of Marilene, eating a salad for lunch; she never gets takeout, she never eats junk”.  I can assure you my daily bring-my-own-salad- for-lunch ritual has much humbler (and less noble) origins……

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I have no idea how today is December 22nd.  The month has flown by at lightning speed and now I find myself working double overtime so that I can bake all the things and buy all the gifts.

But then I take a big deep belly breath and remind myself to take a pause because I don’t like going into the Christmas season burned out and stressed. That’s not very Christmas-y at all. …

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