The sun was setting quickly, but we wanted to see the wild coast that we had heard so much about. We settled ourselves into the bed & breakfast that would be our home for the next 5 days, and were antsy from the 2 hour drive from Nanaimo. We needed to start exploring and filling ourselves up with everything this secluded edge of … Continue reading
Breakfast in Paris
Having been to Paris enough times to appreciate the necessity of a neighbourhood boulangerie (bakery), it was with delight on my family’s last trip, that I pinpointed a boulangerie across the street from our rental apartment on rue de la Fédération (15th arrondissement). Each morning, before rousing the kids, with pure anticipation, my husband and I would make … Continue reading
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
One of my favourite things about fall is that we have an excuse to make (and eat!) comfort foods. Soups, casseroles, stews – hardy food to warm us up as the days become cooler. But as the days become cooler our dessert choices need warmth to them too. Desserts that have apples, figs and, of course, pumpkin, … Continue reading
Shrimp & Spicy Sausage Paella
1 Tbsp. olive oil 8 oz. spicy sausage (chorizo), cut into chunks 1 1/2 c. white rice 1 c. onion, chopped 1 tsp. turmeric 1/3 c. clam juice 2 c. chicken broth 1 – 16 oz. can of tomatoes 1/2 cup Cono Sur Pinot Noir (Organic) 12 fresh shrimp, peeled & deveined 1 c. frozen … Continue reading
Side Effects of Travel
Whether it’s a trip to Paris or a weekend jaunt to the mountains, simply getting away from every day routines can open your mind and enlighten your perspective. Putting space between yourself and the constraints of your daily grind through travel is practical and beneficial. Practical because you can choose to go away overnight or … Continue reading
Lentil & Pork Dumplings – Lentil Recipe Revelations Challenge
Lentils have been a a part of my life for as long as I have been cooking. I remember when I was 12 or 13-years-old I would spend an inordinate amount of time tediously chopping celery, carrots and onion for a veggie red lentil soup that my mom had shown me how to make. I … Continue reading
My Paris Kitchen by David Lebovitz – Cookbook Review
What is it about people packing up up their lives and starting fresh in Paris that is so mesmerizing? David Lebovitz did just that 10 years ago. He was living and working as a professional cook in San Francisco when he decided to move to Paris. He didn’t speak French, but despite obvious communication and … Continue reading
Thinking over coffee: Moving Forward and Growing
So, you have a choice. You always have a choice. And where you are today is a culmination of the choices you have made. I’m not saying that you have control over your life because things sometimes just come up that couldn’t have been anticipated. But, how you handle yourself and your situations usually come down to … Continue reading
Eggs Benedict…because you deserve it
Pic by Lesli Christianson-Kellow Maybe you think it’s too hard. But, I am here to tell you that creating a delicious Eggs Benedict in the comfort of your own home is possible. Just follow my recipe. Let me know how it works for you! Eggs Benedict EggsBacon (I just used regular bacon)English Muffins (Or maybe … Continue reading
The Canadian Food Experience Project: Eat more greens, but don’t forget to eat chocolate (Challenge #8)
More kale salad, more kefir, more salmon and wild blueberries are in store for me in 2014, but you can be sure that I am not giving up salted caramel macarons, s’mores or brownies…I will just eat more kale to cancel out my sugary vices. Sometimes I eat kale braised in olive oil and sprinkled with chopped … Continue reading