Shrimp Baguette Bites

Bread is one of those appetizers that I just can't turn down, but I also love cocktail shrimp and cheese, so why not mix them all together?

Steamer Smashed Potatoes

I happen to be a potato skin kinda girl, so I tend to prefer smashed up potatoes that still have potato peel and chunks over whipped ones (not that those aren't amazing, too)!

Salted Caramel Butter Sauce

I am crazy about the combination of salt and caramel; it has that lovely bit of salt and the richness of caramel without being too sweet.  I grew up as a total milk chocolate fiend, so my tastes have definitely changed over the years!

Grilled Double Cheese BLT

BLT - delicious.  Grilled cheese - delicious.  Both together - heavenly!

Pumpkin Apple Crisp

Warm, autumnal pumpkin and traditional, comforting apple,  A perfect flavor blend, in my opinion!  A friend once made crisp with a cereal topping, and I thought it was a brilliant idea, as it makes it so easy to get that good flavor and crunch on top of the fruit.

Red Pepper and Brie Grilled Cheese

Growing up, grilled cheese was probably one of my favorite sandwiches ever.  To this day, it is still a nice, simple comfort food.  But, my taste in cheese has changed matured, and I am crazy about brie.  Brie and red pepper jelly are one of the greatest flavor combinations, and they make an amazingly melted, delicious sandwich.

Vegetable Tuna Casserole

I don't care what anyone says, I absolutely love tuna!  It is delicious, healthy and great hot or cold.

Margherita Flatbread Pizza

Just the thought of tomatoes and basil mixed together makes me drool; add some cheese and I am in heaven!  

Pizza Pasta

Pizza or pasta?  If you can decide, why not mix them?  You can customize this dish to match whichever kind of pizza you are craving!

Lamb-chos with Cheese Sauce

I have always loved sharing a big dish of nachos with friends, but I have a strange dislike of taco seasoning on beef, so we always get them without the meat.  I can't explain my aversion to the ground beef because I love chicken and fish tacos; i guess it's just one of those things!   This week, I decided to try it with lamb and it was delicious!

Twice Baked Pumpkin Cinnamon Bun Casserole

Fall is definitely the time for warm, pumpkin treats and cinnamon.  While we usually make a classic pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving, I also like to try and make at least one new recipe each year.  This casserole is soft and gooey like a good bread pudding!

Golden Borscht

I still remember the first time my mom made borscht and we all gave her a funny look as we stared at the bright red soup.  However, it was delicious and is now a family favorite.  While I can get beets year round, I am only lucky enough to get golden beets for a brief period of time in the fall.  So, of course, I had to turn them into a slightly less stain-threatening shade of soup.

Papaya Pumpkin Tarts

It's fall again, which means an abundance of delicious pumpkin-spiced treats will be bombarding us at every turn.  I am a pumpkin lover, so I am going to share one of my favorite treats.  For me, papaya just tastes warm, so it blends perfectly with the traditional spices that go with pumpkin.

Polenta Bruschetta

I love tomatoes, especially when they are served up as bruschetta, and I have recently discovered a love of polenta.  Together, they make a great appetizer!

Baked Zucchini 'Spaghetti'

Baked spaghetti used to be one of my favorite go to recipes, but somehow I just forgot about it over the last few years.  With fall coming, good hearty meals will be making their way back onto our household menu!

Watermelon Peach Bellini

Watermelon and peach is one of my favorite summertime combinations, and I love adding them to drinks.  My girlfriends and I love to get together for brunch, and this is a delicious, refreshing drink to serve with our meals!  The fruit will make enough puree that you can freeze the extra and have it for another day.

Cauliflower Polenta Grits

First of all, yes, I do realize that polenta and grits are technically two different things.  Humor me, because it's just easier to call it grits instead of making up a long, rambling name to describe this dish.  This dish is a great way to use up any leftover polenta that you may have and it is a perfect side to serve with pulled pork!

Asian Chicken Noodle Salad

I spend a lot of summer weekends barbecuing with friends and family, and I always like to bring something to the party.  This noodle salad is light and refreshing and always seems to be a big hit!

Chia Seed Pudding

Chia seed pudding is quick, easy and delicious!  It can be enjoyed as both a breakfast or a dessert, and requires minimal effort.

Guava Pots de Crème

Guava isn't common where I live, so I had never bought fresh guava before, but these ones smelled so amazing that I couldn't resist.  They were small, but so ripe and amazing!  The tartness of the guava makes it work well in a dessert that has a sweeter component to balance it out.

Vegetable Loaded Zucchini Chicken Carbonara

I have always been a huge fan of both pasta and vegetable dishes.  Since buying my spiralizer last year, I have found myself satisfying both loves in a new way.

Roasted Caesar Salad

I have to admit that I actually love salad; there's nothing like a nice big bowl of vegetables to make me happy.

I went to a restaurant with a couple of girlfriends and we decided to try their grilled Caesar.  It sounded great but, unfortunately, it was soggy and bland.  However, I loved the idea of a grilled salad, so I decided to try it at home.  And, being the vegetable lover that I am, I added lots of lovely extras!

Hydrating Chia Seeds: 3 Consistencies

I'm sure most people are aware of chia seeds, but I know that a lot of people aren't sure how to use them.  You can certainly eat them dry (i.e. throw a tablespoon into your cereal), but I prefer to hydrate mine first.  For me though, there isn't a one-measurement fits all hydration; the consistency is determined by the how I plan to use it.

(Left: 1 Tbsp/cup, Middle: 2 Tbsp/cup, Right: 3 Tbsp/cup)

Arlene's Green Tomato Topping

This past fall, I was lucky enough to get some delicious fresh tomatoes and onions from a co-worker.  She brought in a nice assortment of red and green tomatoes, and I don't get green tomatoes often, so these were definitely a treat!  That's why this topping is name in her honor.

Watermelon Peach Sangria

In my mind, Sangria and summertime go hand in hand.  There's something about sipping on a fruit and wine concoction on the patio with your girlfriends that just feels right.

 

Coco-Chia Chiller

For a lot of us, summer means barbecues and beverages while we take in the nice weather.  I find that it is nice to switch from beer and coolers to some lighter drinks once in a while .

Tasty Tuesday: Coconut Oil

I have been using coconut oil for almost 10 years now, and I am still so in love with it.

Homemade Coconut Cream

If you are like me and you love trying new recipes, you know that some ingredients can be almost impossible to find in your local stores.  Coconut cream is one ingredients for me.  I can find milks, butters, oils, liquefied oils, flakes, shreds, etc. but not the canned coconut cream.  Fortunately, it is actually very easy to make!

Tasty Tuesday: Chia Seeds

Chia seeds are one of the latest superfoods to gain major popularity, and they can be easily incorporated into your diet.

Easy Breakfast: Microwave Eggs

If you like eggs, breakfast, minimal effort and are not totally opposed to the use of a microwave, this one is for you!

I personally love eggs, and I think that they make a great, filling breakfast.  This takes only minutes to make and it tastes delicious.

Tasty Tuesday: Donairs!

How did I live for so long never having tried one of these amazing creations??

I hadn't even heard of donairs until a couple of years ago when I was away at university.  Did I ever actually try a donair while I was in university?  Of course not.  I didn't have a clue what it was!!  Well, if you don't know either, let me tell you that a donair is a little pita wrap from heaven.

Croque Monsieur Style Breakfast Quesadilla

I love savory breakfasts, and I am always looking for ways to throw more greens into my meals, so breakfast quesadillas are always a great option.

Avocado Toast

I am a daily breakfast eater, but I am not a huge fan of cereal.  I generally prefer more savory foods in the morning, and I won't say no to a nice slice of bread.  This makes avocado toast perfect for me, as I can season it any way that I like.

Tasty Tuesday: Homemade Coconut Granola

One of my good friends was kind enough to drop off some homemade granola this weekend, and it is delicious!

Mixed Bean Salad

A simple bean salad is great for BBQs and summer events.  Beans are incredibly easy to use and work with many flavors.

Easy Mayo-Free Deviled Eggs

I don't think I tried deviled eggs for the first time until I was an adult, but this is now one of my go-to recipes for easy snacks.

Bloody Caesar Shrimp

I have to admit that I am not very familiar with Epicure products, but I went to a party recently and decided to try out some of their products.  The one that really grabbed my attention was their Bloody Caesar mix, which is actually meant to be used in drinks.  However, as soon as I smelled it, I knew it would be amazing on shrimp!

Beet Caprese Salad

I love the freshness of Caprese salad and the richness of beets, and I have found that beets actually add a nice dimension to a Caprese salad.

Eggplant Zucchini Stacks

When prepared properly, eggplant is one of the most versatile, flavor absorbing fruits (yes, it's a fruit).  It works especially well with zucchini and tomatoes.

Salad Bouquets

I love serving salad as a starter or side with any meal, but for special occasions, I like to make it look fancy.

Trout Stuffed Peppers

Trout is a new adventure for me, but I am absolutely loving it.  I love salmon and tuna, but it is great to have another option in the mix.  I cooked up a trout and then used the leftovers to make great stuffed peppers!

Quinoa Slaw Salad

As summer and BBQ season approaches, I am reminded of just how much I love all of the side dishes.  One of my favorites has always been coleslaw, but I like mixing it up with extra veggies and a little bit of quinoa.

Super Simple Sweet and Spicy Shrimp

I love seafood, particularly shrimp!  It is something that cooks up so quickly and can pair with any number of flavors.

Cucumber Pesto

Yes, I am still on a cucumber kick.  It is perfect on its own, in salads, and even as a sauce, which you might not normally think of.

Easy Marinated Cucumber Salad

Cucumber is so delicious, and one of my favorite foods.  It is cool, fresh and crisp and pairs beautifully with tangy, zesty flavors.

Baked "Poutine" Yams

Poutine has become so popular over the last few years, but I don't eat french fries very often.  So I decided to change it up and mix the great aspects of poutine into a baked yam.

Jade Blend Rice

I love Bulk Barn and I always find interesting new things to try there.  Unfortunately, they keep their rice in  dispensers in the candy aisle (which I try to avoid) so I missed out on trying this delicious rice mix for a very long time!

Maple Bread French Toast

Superstore just put out a new maple loaf, and it is perfect for making french toast!

Tasty Tuesday: Chicken Taco Salad

I am not a fan of beef tacos in any way at all (bad experience when I was younger), but I have so much love for chicken taco salad.  As with most things, the absolute best is usually homemade, so I finally caved and bought one of those metal dishes for baking tortilla shells into bowls.  What a good investment!

Amped Up Cream of Mushroom Soup

Warning: if you are anti-canned food, leave now.  Sometimes, we just don't have the time or energy to make everything 100% homemade.  There is nothing wrong with that and, with a few special touches, the results can be delicious!