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!

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)

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.

 

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.

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.

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.

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.

Coconut Rice

One of my old co-workers used to always bring in delicious coconut rice from a restaurant, which is sadly no long in business.  Since we can't buy it anymore, I guess we have to make it!

Ruby Mimosa

I once spent an amazing vacation on an island sipping mimosas for breakfast.  This is a classic drink, but it is also fun to add a twist sometimes!

Orange Banana Bread

I am not really a fan of bananas, but I love banana cake and banana bread. After the success of the orange flavored cupcakes I baked for Mother's Day, I was inspired to create an orange banana bread. This recipe will not make the banana bread taste overly orange-y, but instead adds just a slight orange flavor to the bread.

Toasted Lobster Ravioli

Yes, I realize that this is the second lobster ravioli recipe in as many weeks, but this is a great, simple snack to prepare for New Year's Eve.  It only has a few ingredients and it is ready within half an hour.  Toasted ravioli is a nice, crunchy snack that is perfect for dipping!

Lobster Ravioli with Creamy Zucchini, Tomato and Kale Sauce

Costco sells 2 packs of lobster ravioli for an amazing price and I am in love!

Butter Tart Topped Shortbread Cookie Bars

Butter tarts and shortbread cookies have always been two of the most popular Christmas treats in our house.  There is often a debate over which dessert to pick, but now you won't have to!

These bars perfectly combine the airy lightness of shortbread with the gooey sweetness of butter tarts.  Bits of butter tart topping work down through the shortbread base, mixing in throughout the bar, preventing it from separating when you slice it.

Pepper and Tomato Sauce

Now that winter has hit, there is nothing more comforting than pasta with homemade sauce!

Sage & Olive Oil Buttercream

I realize that this may sound like a strange combination, but I think that's why I wanted to try it.  I was making Randy's blueberry cake for her birthday and I didn't want to put plain old buttercream icing on top (even though I love the stuff).  So I decided to get creative.  The flavours are very mellow; you get the slightest taste of herb cutting into the sweetness.  So, without further ado, here's the recipe!

Make Dinner Easier!

Like many of you, I have a regular 9 to 5 job and the last thing I want to do when I get home is start cooking dinner.  So, I have recently started precooking my chicken breast and then freezing the cooked chicken for use later.  I used to buy the value packs of chicken breast, individually wrap them, and then throw them in the freezer.  This is great, but then I still have to cook it . . .  and sometimes I just don't want to take the time to do that after work.

5 Days of Pizza

Near the start of this week, I suddenly had a craving for pizza. But I didn't want to order pizza from anywhere; I wanted to make my own. I made 5 different pizzas over the course of the week, all of which I made on whole wheat pitas. I will give a bit of a warning though - the middle gets soggy really fast! Divvy these up and eat them right away!

Cupcake Love: Berry Cupcakes with Buttercream Icing and Caramelized Toasted Lemon Zest

Who doesn't love cupcakes? Especially when Duncan Hines makes it so easy to create your own masterpieces! All you need is Duncan Hines White Cake Mix (Betty Crocker just won't do) and a little bit of creativity.

Mason Jar Coconut Chai Tea Latte

I don't drink coffee, but I am an absolute sucker for a good tea, hot or iced. Starbucks' Iced Chai Tea Latte is one of my favorites, but at $4.88 each, I am perfectly happy to make my own at home. As long as you use a pre-made chai tea concentrate, it takes only minutes to throw one of these together.

I also think that it look super cute in a mason jar, and the jar makes it easy to travel with.