Food

Thanksgiving Round Up

WHOA…Thanksgiving really snuck up on me this year. October 7th and here we are. For us, Thanksgiving always includes turkey. When I make turkey, it’s usually flavourful and tender, never dry. Why? BRINE people, BRINE. If you can, get your bird soaking for about 1 hour per pound in a water-salt solution. This infuses extra water into the turkey and allow it to plump up. Exposure to many hours of cooking won’t dry it out this way. My simple, put-it-together in 2 minutes brine recipe is at the bottom of this post.

I wanted to share a round up of other Thanksgiving favourites of mine to build your own menu:

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My Veggie Eating Hacks

I have a mantra in life. Ya wanna hear it? Okay here goes…

Eat your veggies

I can see how you might find this to be a bit superficial. I mean how can this be my life’s mantra; isn’t there a more profound philosophy to live by? But obviously, since I run a food blog, I think food is very important. And vegetables are definitely the most important food of all. …

Diner Greek Salad

This was a total pregnancy craving. For some reason throughout pregnancy I really wanted to eat Greek salad, but it had to be that cheap, inauthentic diner salad that is usually served with chicken souvlaki. You know those kinds of diners right? The ones that serve all day breakfast and mac and cheese, always have free coffee refills and feature some “international” dishes like lasagna and Mexican omelettes? …

Marilene’s Buttered Coffee

So it’s January and it’s drab and all anyone is talking about is how they’re revamping themselves. The gyms are crowded and all everyone is ever eating is salad. Many have embarked on the January Whole 30 (including us). Maybe some people are trying to give up coffee or at least reduce the amount of caffeine in their lives.

Enter this: my buttered coffee alternative. Because here’s the thing, I’m married to a coffee afficionado and…well…um…errr I don’t really like coffee. It’s a little too bitter for me even when it’s prepared perfectly….

Chocolate Cookies, 2 Ways

Having had a baby 8 short weeks ago, Christmas looks a little bit different for us this year. Usually I would have made dozens and dozens of cookies and delivered them to my dearest friends and family. I would have prepared marshmallows from scratch for hot chocolate on Christmas Eve and I would have made homemade cinnamon buns for Christmas morning’s breakfast. This year, there simply wasn’t time for any of this between feeding and changing diapers and getting to know our little daughter. In fact, the Christmas season has mostly snuck up on us and I still don’t feel like I’ve caught up yet. Oh well, there’s always next year….

Christmas Cookie Round-Up

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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Blueberry Oatmeal Smoothie

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. …

Spiced Green Mango Lassi

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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Dutch Baby & a Baby Story

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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Put it on Everything Chili Powder

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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