Chocolate Chili Cranberry Scone

At this stage of the game, there are not too many babies in our life.  Most of our friends have kids close in age to our own and all of our nieces and nephews are way past baby stage.  It amazes me how fast time goes by and how quickly they all grow up.  I held a newborn boy the other day, just one day old.  As I looked down at this beautiful being my heart melted.  All wrinkled like an old man and a body still curled up like he's in his mama's belly, I was smitten.  We are so excited for our friends to become first time parents.  It's truly the best job on this earth.  Holding that baby reminded me just how fleeting time with them is and renewed once again, my desire to make every moment count.  Even when they drive me crazy with messy rooms and forgotten instructions.

Arugula Fennel Hazelnut Soup

It's a long weekend here in the Kale Eats kitchen and we're enjoying every minute of it.  Funny how one extra day makes you feel like you've got more time on your hands.  My winter walks were a little longer, our board game playing have been multiple and a pot of homemade soup for lunch seems reasonable.  Of course when a soup comes together this simply, I have no excuse not to be making it any day of the week.

Tomato Cashew Paneer

Cooking for Don has it's ups and downs.  I can count on two fingers the foods he won't eat (peanut butter and pork belly).  Almost everything I make is appreciated and happily consumed.  But.. he never gets excited about food.  He doesn't want to plan meals or talk ingredients or dissect some dish at a restaurant.  He just wants to be nourished with healthy tasty food. The advantages to this are that I always get to cook what I want. As long as it isn't high calorie or smothered in sauce, he's game to eat it. 

Banana Date Oatmeal Cookies

The kids had a snow day this week.  It was the first time schools have been closed for a very long time.  Luke says it has never happened, but I think perhaps five years ago there was another winter storm that blew through.  The night before both kids slept with their pj's inside out and a spoon under your pillow.  Rumour has it this will bring on a snow day.  Luke is now convinced it worked.  I don't have the heart to tell him that every weather station was predicting this storm.  Why not let him believe in a little magic?

Roasted Vegetable Hemp Seed Lasagne

A few years ago I was out for a walk when a car pulled up beside me.  I was certain the driver's next words would be: where is the gas station? funeral home? arena?  Living in a small town right off a highway means people end up here looking for staples.  Even if they've come to town intentinally, some landmarks  are not easily found.  A river runs through the town and so the streets are not a grid and some streets start on one side of the river and continue on the other.  It's not uncommon to give directions to any of these places and I was ready and willing to happily direct them.  However, on this day, the driver instead said to me: are you Josilin's mom?  Panic sank in.  What emergency was going on at my home that this random stranger had been sent out to find me? 

Fennel Blood Orange Pistachio Kale Salad



 

It's a beautiful winter day here in the Kale Eats kitchen.  Freshly fallen snow and a good blast of sunshine streaming in the window.  I can't decide if it's a good day to snuggle up in doors or better to brave all that snow and get a dose of Vitamin D.  Luke was so excited to see the snow this morning.  It's hard not to join in a child's enthusiasm.  Of course all that snow meant shovelling for me and sledding for him.  Who wouldn't want to go sliding down a hill right about now?