This week my sweet Hunter turns 16, but she celebrated this past Saturday with her best girlfriends with a dinner out and a surprise party afterwards back at our house. It all started with a text from 3 of her best girlfriends in July telling me how they would like to throw her a dinner and have a surprise party after at our house. I was so thrilled that her friends wanted to do something so special for her… I was right on board to help in anyway I could! I offered to pay for the dinner of course, and all the Read More »
Sweet Peaches & Cream Muffins
You know a recipe is good when you have to hide the results before you go to bed in order to have a few to photograph for the blog the next day. Yup. Such was the case with this recipe. It all started when I found these dreamy & juicy peaches from British Columbia at the farmer’s market. I found myself craving a peachy muffin. As I was sifting through an old community cookbook, I found this recipe with fresh peaches and diced cream cheese….it caught my fancy. I whipped up a batch and it rocked my peachy dreams. The muffins Read More »
Delectable Shrimp Cakes
I am always looking for more ways to get fish into our meal rotations, and these delectable shrimp cakes are a winner with everyone. If you remember, a few weeks ago I shared a recipe for salmon cakes, and they are yummy too, but my husband doesn’t eat salmon, so those cakes only work for meals when he is not at home. This recipe comes from my Mom….and is sooo good and works as a great lunch or dinner. You could add a bun and serve them ‘burger’ style or just with a crisp salad as I have shown here. Shrimp Cakes Read More »
Teens, Acne & Accutane…
It’s long been a noted teen rite of passage that a little acne at times throughout the teen years is normal. The drugstores shelves are loaded with products designed to combat this common teen problem and there is also an expensive acne “treatment’ peddled by celebrities on tv. They all promise cleaner and clearer skin…all you have to do is shell out the dough to buy the stuff. We tried all of them and spent hundreds of dollars on a drawer full of products. In the end….they just weren’t helping. Today I am going to share our story of our journey with this teen issue. Let me give you Read More »
Crazy Good Cherry Crisp
The world needs more cherry trees. Those were my thoughts when I took the first bite of this dessert. So crazy good and sweet. The summer I was sixteen, my best friend and I had a summer job working on her family’s farm and while we had this job, we stayed with her grandparents. Her grandparents were wonderful people and one of the many things I remember about staying with them was the cherry tree in their backyard. It was large and beautiful and loaded with cherries. I remember sitting in the cool shade of that tree eating cherries until our fingers were Read More »
Delicious Strawberry Soup Dessert
Since I am on a summer fruit desserts kick lately, I want to share with you another favourite of ours….Strawberry Dessert Soup. This soup is so cool & refreshing and is a wonderful end to a meal on a sultry summer day. Best of all, it is so simple to make….all it requires is a blender and 10 minutes of time. It is GLUTEN-FREE and there is no baking or hot oven involved. This recipes comes from a cooking class I took a number of years ago and it has been a summer classic for us ever since. The kids love this soup and ask for Read More »
How I Stopped Killing Plants & Learned to Grow Something
Yes, I admit it. I am a horrible gardener. I don’t even think ‘Gardening for Dummies’ could help me. I just don’t have a green thumb or a green anything. However, I do have a yard to take care of and I have to work on getting the green thing going on. I am so proud of myself because this summer I had some very small successes! {I so admire all you gardeners out there who share your lovely gardens & plants on your blog!} This is the garden you see as you walk to our front door. Not so Read More »
Summer Fruit Clafouti
It can’t be summer without some summer fresh fruit desserts, can it? This is the newest favourite at our house…a summer fruit clafouti. What’s a clafouti, you say? To put simply, it’s a name for a simple French country dessert and is made with a quick batter poured over fresh fruit and then baked in the oven. Plus, I love saying ‘Clafouti’ in my best mock French accent! The great thing about this dessert is that you can use almost any fruit you have on hand, or a mixture, which is what I used for today’s clafouti…plums, apricots and blueberries. These Read More »
Deck Makeover Part 1
Let’s begin by sharing a pretty picture first, before the ugly ones burn your eyeballs. Sound good? I thought you would agree. This week, I worked on a little makeover for our back deck. To say it was in sore need of some lovin’ would be an understatement. Things were lookin’ super ugly. Case in point. Here is Ugly Stepsister #1. She’s old, ripped, ragged and needs a fast pass to the nearest dumpster. How did things get so bad? Well, I usually spend 6 weeks of the summer in Nova Scotia, so I can REALLY ignore this ugly Read More »
SodaStream Tasting Bar
A few short weeks ago, the folks at SodaStream Canada contacted me and asked if I would like to try out and review their system. Would I? You bet your grandmother’s rocking chair I would! I had recently tried the Sodastream at a friend’s house and I was smitten with the idea. I even seriously looked at them one day in a store with thoughts of buying one for our family. This is what the awesome folks from SodaStream sent me: A Green Fizz starter kit and a sample pack of flavours to try. We were so excited to get this package Read More »
Scrumptious Salmon Cakes
This recipe is totally inspired by my friend Tracey, who made these for me for lunch recently and I loved them so much that I wanted to share….scrumptious salmon cakes. I felt like a queen when she served this amazing lunch. My Maritimer roots are totally showing on this one…I love fish cakes! Salmon cakes are easy to make and quick to cook and make a wonderful lunch or dinner, along with a salad and sour cream, tzatziki or chutney for dipping. This recipe starts with ground salmon, which I found at my local grocery store {Superstore}. If you are not Read More »
Ice Cream Sundae Dessert Tray…
Last week, when it was so hot in our neck of the woods, we had a few friends over one afternoon and I put together this fun dessert tray for the kids…an ice cream sundae dessert tray. The kids loved it and I loved how easy it was! I was completely inspired by these cute napkin that my mom sent me in the mail. The bright burst of fun colours inspired the whole tray. The sundae dishes I picked up at Superstore a number of years ago on clearance for a ridiculous 30 cents each are perfect for sundaes for kids…non-breakable Read More »
Tray Makeover
Hello Friends! I hope your week is going great so far! We are enjoying cooler weather this week…so I have been able to get some home decor projects crossed off my list…which feels so nice because I was just dying to try out some new spray paint colours and work some magic on a tray. You know how I love to prowl around Homesense to look & dream? {Do you have a store that you love to visit and dream in?}The clearance aisle never disappoints as I always seem to find something that is super budget-friendly…like this tray. And check Read More »
Five Cup Salad
Who remembers this salad? It’s an oldie but goodie. Five Cup Salad or Ambrosia. It could also be called, “5 Minute Salad” too, because, literally that is what it takes to make. I hadn’t had this salad for decades until I had it at my cousin’s house a few years ago. And it was so good. How many times have I mentioned ‘heat wave’ this week, but I have to say it again…with the recent heat wave and our lack of air conditioning, I have been making low cook or no cook foods this week. I made this for dessert for us. Read More »
Salted Caramel Ice Cream Sandwiches
On Monday, I experimented and combined two things I love…ice cream sandwiches and salted caramel flavour. With the recent heat wave in our city, the boy and I went out and bought 4 different kinds of Chapmans ice cream. Oh. Yes. We. Did. It just only seems right that if we must suffer out this heat, then some ice cream therapy is required. We bought vanilla & chocolate ice cream. Peanut butter crunch frozen yogurt. And ice cream sandwiches. Except….I got a hankering for something in salted caramel….so I played with my food. It was a super easy creation. I cut Read More »
Spicy Chinese Chicken Salad
Can I just say first that our family loves this Chinese Chicken Salad?! Crunchy greens, a bold spicy dressing, tender chicken and topped with crunchy wontons…it’s all so good and especially tasty on a hot day. I have been making this salad for about 4-5 years when the weather gets hot. My daughter loves it so much that she requested this for her birthday dinner last year. This dish takes a little time to prepare, but the effort is so worth it. The steps involve preparing the greens, shredding chicken, mixing the dressing and making the crunchy wontons. {This recipe was adapted from a Read More »
The Real Best Pasta Salad Ever….It’s Not Gloppy, Runny, or Soggy!
Hello Friends! Today I want to share with you this recipe for a pasta salad that is so easy to make….but yet not too runny, gloppy, saucy, soupy, or soggy. Yes. It’s true. It can be done! We are in the middle of a heat wave in our city, so I have been avoiding the stove like mad. I have been making cool salads and other low cook dishes for us to enjoy. I started making this pasta salad a few years ago when those creamy mayo and condensed milk-type salads were not getting eaten at my house because people found them Read More »
Lemon Chip & Sweet Cranberry Scones
Now that the kids are home for summer vacation and our mornings are not so rushed, it is nice to make them a special treat for breakfast. I call it “LOVE FROM THE OVEN”. One of our favourites are SCONES…made with buttermilk & so soft & tender. Today I am sharing a NEW recipe….. made with a new-to-me-product…lemon baking chips…. the results….these wonderful & amazing lemon chip & sweet cranberry scones. To be honest, I had never heard of LEMON CHIPS until I was browsing the aisles of the Bulk Barn last week and found them among the chocolate chips. I didn’t Read More »
A Peony Tea Party for Two
This week brought one of the most beautiful seasons of the year at la casa….peony season. Oh how I adore my peonies! Each June when they bloom, I am so grateful to the woman who planted them…the original owner of our almost 20 year old house. She planted not only these beauties…but lilacs, hostas, raspberries and others. And they bring to so much beauty to our home. It is so wonderful to be able to step outside with a pair of scissors and come back in with a bouquet. I put together this little bistro table for a luncheon with a Read More »
Canada Day Party
Here in Canada, we are getting ready for the best long weekend of the Summer…..Canada Day Weekend. Canada Day falls on Sunday this year, so most people also have Monday off, which makes for a great weekend of fun. I did my running around & organizing today for a Canada Day BBQ we are hosting at our house on Sunday for some friends. I get this habit from my Mother…who always plans for parties DAYS in advance! We like to entertain in a very casual way…with a buffet table laid out, so people are free to eat & relax where they Read More »
Sea Life Collage {Kids’ Craft}
Now that summer has arrived and school and pre-school programs are finished for the year, you may find yourself looking for a few fun-ilious activities to keep the children busy and happy for a few hours. To continue with our sea theme that was started on Monday with a Sea Creature Lunch, here is a fun piece of artwork to make with your little people which involves all of the things small hands love….gluing, painting & choosing fun sea creatures. My daughter made this artwork at when she was 4 years old with a family friend and it was one of her favourite pieces Read More »
Sea Creature Lunch for Littles…
Today I am sharing a cute lunch idea for those small sea monsters in your house. Sometimes it’s a nice change to get away from the usual lunch foods and mix things up a little with a creative spin. I have created this fun beach-themed lunch to add some excitement to a hot summer day…best of all, you can enjoy this without leaving the house. Get kids involved by having them help you assemble the plates by adding the mamma & baby octopus and fish crackers. For this lunch you will need: Hot Dogs to make Mama & Read More »
14 Pretty Straw Ideas
Are you all as crazy about these lovely, vintage looking paper straws as I am? I love them….they take an ordinary drink and make it extraordinary, don’t you think? Did you know that one of the top suppliers of paper straws in Canada and the US right now is a Canadian company called Greenmunch, which is located about 30 minutes away from me? Greenmuch has the most amazing collection of party ware supplies including paper straws ,beautiful treat bags, baker’s twine, mason jar accessories, and lots of other things. On Monday I received a goodie box from them and it Read More »
Kid’s Day Pack For Travel
All of us who have travelled with children know that it can be so fun and yet so very tiring. We live more than 3000 miles from my parents and extended family, so I have spent summers traveling with my children alone for 6 weeks to make a trek across the country to visit family & friends. Below is what I came to rely on as THE BEST THING ever for my kids! Let me share with you my system for travelling with kids for day trips and on plane rides. It all began when, while traveling with the children, I noticed that I Read More »
Summer Mantel
I spent some time today creating a new tablescape for our living room. It felt so good to get out some shells and starfish and play around. I just shopped the house for natural/white items and a few bursts of aqua and green. I found the ‘ocean’ piece last summer at Homesense and I pulled it out for the first time today. Do you know the reward of changing tablescapes every once in awhile? It makes you feel happy when you pass by…just a small change can do that! Have you been playing with any accessories/tablescapes lately?
Sweet & Easy Canada Day Dessert…
We are counting down the days to summer vacation! My daughter is in the process of writing final exams and my son has only has a few days of school left. Canada Day is coming up on July 1 and we are usually in Nova Scotia, but this year we are at home in Alberta. We are making plans to host a fun BBQ in our back yard with some friends and then heading to the fireworks in our city. As I begin some menu planning for our gathering, I wanted to come up with a dessert that I could serve that Read More »
11 Best Camping Tips & Recipes…
With camping season upon us, I thought I would share 11 recipes & tips to help make your camping excursions easier. We love camping! It is one of the rights of passage of summer for us! We are campers in the true sense of the word…. we sleep in sleeping bags in a tent under the stars {or rain} to the sounds of nature’s music. Our camping kitchen is outside…it consists of a picnic table, a campfire, a table top barbecue & portable kitchen set-up with a sink and the our cooler of food. I find one of the things that Read More »
Easy Cake Pops
With all the cake pop craze that has been going on for the last 3 years, I have been very tempted to make some many times….they look just so gosh darn cute! But when I read the recipe for ‘cake pops’ and it said to make a cake and then smash the cake up and mix it with cream cheese or frosting….it sounded very backwards to me…make a cake and say what? All this work and smash it up…..seriously? But then this little baby came on the market… the Babycakes Cake Pop Maker! I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw it Read More »
Yummy Kool Aid Slurpees
I’m a kid from the 1970’s. Back then…Kool Aid was cool. It really was. There was no gatorade, powerade or red bulls. It was simply a package of Kool Aid for kids for a special treat. And if you went to a birthday party, it was usually Kool Aid or Pop Shoppe Pop that was served. I remember drinking Kool Aid even when I was in University…and having a discussion about favourite flavours with my roomies. I miss those days! We had packages of Kool Aid kicking around the house, and while I was surfing the net for something else, I Read More »
Tortilla Dessert Roll Ups In Foil Packets
Here we are at Day 5 of Camping & BBQ Recipes Week already and in the tin foil packet and on the BBQ today are Tortilla Dessert Roll Ups. These are not only easy, but can be customized to include any ingredients that make your taste buds smile! For this fun dessert you will need: Tortillas, wheat or corn and then whatever things your family likes such as: chocolate chips marshmallows bananas almonds, peanuts or walnuts chocolate chips peanut butter Nutella Directions: ~Kids can help make their own tortilla roll ups!~ Spray tin foil sheets lightly with cooking spray. Read More »
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