Spiced Rhubarb Iced Tea

Watching the Food Network, it is not hard to have food envy of all the Food Trucks throughout North America.  I long for the days when we might see this type of eating establishments on wheels come through Southern Ontario.  In the meantime, I have stumbled upon a few places that are providing fun one-day-only type lunches. There is great entertainment in not knowing what you might be eating and also racing to get there before it's sold out.

Forbidden Black Rice Salad with Mango

Shopping in a new store the other day and came across a product I had never seen before: Black Forbidden Rice.  With a name like that, I knew I had to buy it.  Marketing experts should put the word forbidden in everything. Forbidden Brussel Sprouts anyone?  It totally made me want to buy it immediately.  It also happened to be beautiful to look at and was relatively economical to buy. 

Key Lime Cookies

 It's been a tough week in our community.  When tragedy strikes, it can impact each of us in a different way.  Feelings of helplessness, anger, fear, sadness and hope abound.  As our family tries to make sense of all that has happened, I have found myself finding more joy in the small things.  I no longer take for granted that my two beautiful blessings: Josilin and Luke will be here, as they are, each day.  I'm hugging them a whole lot more and annoyed a whole lot less, because today is the only guarantee we have.  Moments like these cause me to pause and remember what is important and to worry a whole lot less.  Perspective.

Pesto Quinoa Salad

I don't like to repeat meals too much at home.  Whenever I am asked, "what is your favourite meal?" my answer is, "the next one!"  While I love to try new things, inevitably there are some meals that are repeated.  This quinoa dish is one that I've had a lot of requests to bring to potlucks, cottages and lunch dates.  One particular potluck involved a group of hockey coaches standing by the dish stating, "what is that?" followed by "looks kind of weird?".  Imagine my satisfaction when not only did they go back for seconds, they asked for the recipe.

Coconut Gluten Free Cupcakes

Nothing says 'I love you' like some homemade gluten free (GF) baking.  Huh?  What's that?  You've never heard this before??  Let's back up a little bit.  As food intolerances/allergies increases, so do the number of guests in your life who request these accomodations.  And so often they are left being offered fruit, ice cream or dreadful store bought GF chalky desserts. This is when you arrive armed with the tastiest GF cupcakes to save the day!

Sweet Potato Torte

Becoming a mother is without a doubt the best thing that has happened in my life.  It didn't start out quite so smoothly.  I suspect when my friends learned I was expecting there were a few fears that I may not succeed.  In my single days I was notorious for weekends of sleeping in til noon, waking to pick up the paper from my front step, only to then recline on the couch and read for a few hours.

Creamy Carrot Coconut Soup

When Don and I were shopping for our first home, he was sure he wanted a small town and I was sure I wanted an urban centre.  I spent the majority of my childhood and youth dreaming of escaping small town living and here he was suggesting I return to it.  Fast forward ten years and I can tell you with confidence that the small town has worked out wonderfully for my kids and our family.  Close proximity to a city certainly eases any fears I have of truly being out in the middle of nowhere. 

French Lentil Butternut Soup

Do you like your food to be pretty?  Although we hear that you eat with your eyes first, I can't help but think my mouth is always making the final decision.  Sometimes a photo can inspire me to make a dish, but the ingredient list is what will get me into the kitchen. The minute a list starts using processed ingredients or a lot of high calorie components, I'm turned off regardless of how good it looks.

Grapefruit Waffles

Every school day my kids start their day off with a hot breakfast.  I've had more than a few moms call me crazy for doing this over the years, but nothing makes me happier than sending them out the door with a full stomach to start their day.  It also has the added advantage of creating less pressure to ensure their bagged lunch is meeting their nutritional needs, especially when I know how often it comes home only half ate.

White Bean Cakes topped with Kale and Tomato

Don ate this meal and exclaimed: "seriously, just open a restaurant already!"  I was most thrilled with this enthusiasm because my primary purpose for the meal was nourishment.  The endless pursuit of healthy eating has been ramped up this spring at our home.  Maybe it's the looming swimsuit season or a couple road races we've signed up to participate in.  Regardless, I'm thrilled to have hubby's commitment to making healthy food choices.