mushroom soup
Soup is as old as the hills and loved by the world. It’s loaded with vitamins, and nutrients, easy on the pocketbook, and with little effort needed. Although soups are enjoyed throughout the year, the cooler months of winter are when I appreciate them the most. They’re one of my go-to comfort foods. My mushroom…
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chestnut dip
To be honest, I cannot say I was ever a real fan of the chestnut. Perhaps it was the smell of something burning which permeated the air when we lived in Hong Kong. Roasted chestnuts are a beloved winter tradition in Hong Kong. Mobile hawker stalls spring up on sidewalks around the city and outside…
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chicken noodle soup
When it’s cold out, I LOVE making soup. Soup has been around for thousands of years; the earliest dates back to 20,000 BC in Xianrendong Cave China. One does not need a recipe to make soup but for those who like a bit of guidance, my chicken noodle soup is the easiest to make!
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easy to make dhal
Hello, 2022! We are in a deep freeze at the moment and I am craving stick-to-the-ribs comfort food. In place of a soup or stew, I turned my cravings to the Indian subcontinent. Our introduction to dhal was when we first lived in Hong Kong in 1998. Mr. S’ boss invited us to an Indian…
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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…
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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.
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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,…
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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…
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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.
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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.…
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