homemade shawarma
Shawarma is a traditional Turkish dish (originating in the Ottoman Empire) in which the meat is slowly roasted on a spit, then shaved off and wrapped in pita bread. In Canada, especially in Nova Scotia, it’s called a donair. While donairs are topped with a sweet, tangy sauce, a shawarma is typically topped with tahini.…
diy bath bombs
Gift-giving from the heart is always welcomed, IMHO. Back in August, I hosted a baby shower for my daughter, Laura, and one of her requests was for me to make bath bombs as baby shower favors for our guests. I have to admit I was a little apprehensive but as I queried the web, it…
pumpkin & cream cheese gingersnap tart
Our Thanksgiving has come and gone but this cream cheese gingersnap tart can easily be enjoyed for the upcoming holiday season. While pumpkin pie is not everyone’s favourite, I would hazard a guess that most enjoy cheesecake. This dessert is the perfect marriage between the two.
pumpkin trick or treat
Pumpkin carvings as long as I can recall have always been associated with Halloween. As a kid, every house in the neighbourhood had at least one. But imagine my surprise when we lived in Asia and our Australian and New Zealand friends thought the tradition was weird or off-putting! According to Britannica, Halloween is based…
crabapple jelly
“The practice of putting by summertime produce for winter use was a necessity, not a luxury.” This quote is from The Fannie Farmer Cookbook published in 1906. It was a period when the country was more rural and people lived off their land. I have the 1979 version which I used extensively as a young…
power balls – boost your energy
Our grandson is now five weeks old and what a cutie-pie he is! My daughter is nursing and spoke to me about lactation cookies. Um, what? I had never heard of such a thing although admittedly it has been 29 years since I last had a baby (hehe!). While we were out one day at…
egg breakfast in a jar
One of the easiest breakfasts to make! Egg breakfast in a jar takes minutes to prepare especially when short on time. All you need is a jar with a cover. The ingredients below are a guideline. Check your fridge for other items such as chopped red bell pepper, tomatoes, leftover chicken, breakfast sausage, smoked salmon,…
watermelon baby carriage
Last month I happily hosted a baby shower for my daughter (it’s our first grandchild). I loved planning it! The last time I hosted a baby shower was for my friend Michelle who was expecting twins…that was 35 years ago! I was trying to recall what I served and what stood out was the watermelon…
passatelli with parmigiano cream & balsamic vinegar
A pasta made from breadcrumbs? Umm, yep! When I was preparing this, Mr. S was dubious but one bite and all doubts were erased. Passatelli hails from Italy’s Emilia Romagna region. This frugal traditional Italian dish is made with stale bread, Parmigiano Reggiano, eggs, and lemon zest.
gummy robots
On Sunday I hosted a baby shower for our daughter, Laura. It was a stunning day and the event was a huge success; lots of laughter and mini conversations all about the momma-to-be. Laura is expecting a boy! Our party planning discussions included gummy bears. The thing was, though, the gummies we wanted weren’t available.…
cherry shrub syrup
It’s cherry season! Plump and juicy, cherries are one of my favourite stone fruits. The thing is, though, their shelf life is limited (5 to 7 days) and they are not cheap. To not waste any, I usually end up making a dessert. This time I decided to make a shrub syrup.
grilled pineapple with italian meringue icing
I started grilling pineapple well over twenty years ago! I love it as it’s a super easy dessert to make. Grilled pineapple is scrumptious on its own but throw in sweet dips like melted chocolate, dulce de leche, whipped cream, and this grilled fruit is bound to delight all age groups.
fish pasta
Ever wondered what to do with leftover cooked fish? For the record, I am not a fan of eating day-old cooked fish. However, Mr. S is and he enjoys constructing a cold fish sandwich…eww! However, this fish pasta has changed my view. Last week I was in the mood for pasta but didn’t fancy a…