Nothing embodies the earthy flavours of autumn more that mushrooms. The Japanese word ‘umame’ means a taste sensation produced by glutamates. It’s sometimes considered a 5th basic taste along with bitter, sweet, salty and sour. And mushrooms dish this out in spades.
Leftovers for school lunches? Check. Healthy side dish? Of course! Nutrient-rich dinner? Absolutely. This Fall Quinoa is a simple idea for a weekday dinner that will be in the family’s top ten as soon as they try it. Serving it in an empty squash or mini-pumpkin elevates this dish for holidays.
This Greek orzo salad is packed with nutrients and anti-oxidents. It’s great for spring picnics or school lunches. I like to add a sprinkle of feta as well for contrast and extra protein.
Serve this salad as is or with rotini pasta or chickpeas for variety. Makes 4-6 servings
1 1/2 cup Cucumber (English) ~ 1 1/2 cup cubed
1 1/2 cup each red orange and yellow pepper cubed
3 medium vine ripened tomatoes
Given that my dog just sort of got impounded (it wasn’t my fault)… I thought I should do a shout out to the SPCA! Especially if it’s called National Cupcake Day. National Cupcake Day is on February 26th, a fundraising effort supporting animal welfare societies across Canada. It’s easy and delicious to participate. Register your participation online at: www.nationalcupcakeday.ca. Plan a cupcake party at work, home or school; start fundraising by encouraging friends and family to donate online in advance; bake your favourite cupcakes; share them with family and friends; and collect donations to prevent cruelty to animals.
Once every month I make these school day frozen breakfast burritos with the kids as kitchen helpers. Wrapped in plastic and frozen in a big bag, they can be pulled out the night before and refrigerated. Pop them onto a panini maker, an air fryer or in the microwave to heat. On mornings when we are late for school (that would be most mornings), I wrap the ends in tinfoil and call them ‘hand snacks’ so the kids can eat them on the way. You can add as many vegetables as you like and eliminate the sausage to make them vegetarian-friendly.
The following turkey preparation safety tips are adapted from US CDC online documentation: It’s Turkey Time – Safely Prepare Your Holiday Meal. Health Canada also provides turkey preparation tips. Whether you’re a seasoned chef or a novice preparing your first holiday meal, be aware of safety issues when thawing, preparing, stuffing and cooking your turkey. Food safety is especially important as you prepare a holiday meal. Within the last couple of years, public health officials have investigated outbreaks of food-borne illness that were caused by bacteria in jalapeños, spinach, peanut butter, frozen pizza, frozen pot pies, and frozen beef patties. Many consumers are now more aware of the ongoing importance of food safety.
This low-fat leftover turkey sandwich is pretty much why you go to so much work to make Thanksgiving, Christmas or Easter dinner. Using half the fat mayo makes it even lighter.
We’re not even going to presume to give you a different Christmas or Thanksgiving turkey recipe than the one your family normally uses, but we will suspect that come Boxing Day, you’ll have a ton of turkey waiting to be ‘remade’ into family-friendly dishes. (Aren’t you glad we didn’t say leftovers?) This is a great recipe, and you can substitute tofu or chicken for those who want to avoid the tryptophan-induced sleepiness that comes on after eating turkey. Here’s our take on Acadian Turkey a la King.
These delicious and moist pancakes are perfect for an outdoor spring brunch or re-heated for a quick weekday breakfast. Kid-approved for flavour and fun, and mom-approved for nutrition, this fruit-infused recipe is sure to be a winner at the breakfast table. Using applesauce or store-bought fruit snacks in both the batter and the topping boosts the nutrition and sweetness naturally, and provides one full serving of fruit per cup. Mix-up your “fruit-ine” and substitute different flavours to change the recipe and delight your taste buds. Swap traditional maple syrup for the creamy fruit topping for an extra burst of flavour and nutrients.
Passover is a Jewish festival that commemorates the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt. It is celebrated for eight days, usually in late March or early April, according to the Jewish lunar calendar. Between crafts to preparation and rituals during the Seder, kids can play a huge part in the Passover celebration.
The central ritual of Passover is the Seder, a ceremonial meal that takes place on the first two nights of the festival. The Seder is a time for family and friends to come together to retell the story of the Exodus and to give thanks for the freedom that the Israelites gained.