Rice with Delicata Squash and Kale

With fall activities in full swing our calendar is becoming increasingly full.  Between swimming lessons, hockey and youth group commitments we are often eating in short windows of time before heading off to an activity.  It is during these busy times that I will try to have quick meals at the ready so there is no stress attached to meal times.  I really believe in nourishing the little athletes as much as possible. Don accuses me of being a little fanatical about this topic, but I figure there is no harm in trying to give our kids whatever advantage may come from a well fueled body.  I can't stand the thought of them being in the water or on the ice and wanting to perform but having their body fail them. 

Smoky Corn Black Bean Salad

We're just back from a few days at a cottage with family.  For the last twelve years, we have gathered as a family of grandmothers, aunts, sisters, cousins and children.  My kids have attended this tradition every year of their life, including both as newborns.  There were a few years there when we had 6 children under the age of five where we started to question our sanity, but overall it's been great.  One of the perks is that this group of women and children are always keen to let me play chef for the week.  In exchange, I'm excused from washing dishes --THIS is the ultimate payment for me.

shakshuka

Ever had shakshuka?  A dish that can be pulled together quickly and economically and tastes great too.  It's been a standby supper, lunch, brunch and breakfast menu for some time in our family.  Essentially it is eggs poached in tomato sauce but once you taste it, you realize it is so much more.  I have seen a lot of variations of this recipe, some with feta, with jalapenos, with chickpeas... the list goes on.  I've tried a lot of versions but this is my current favourite.

Tri Colour Pepper Farro Salad

 Where do you find your food inspiration from?  Sometimes all it takes is a good sale to help me decide what ingredients I want to use. I am that lady who scours the reduced produce shelf or anything marked down for clearance. I am amazed at the perfectly good produce that grocery stores will put on clearance.

Barley Pomegranate Salad

Hands down, my favourite cookbook so far this year is Plenty by Yotam Ottelenghi.  Every single recipe in this cookbook has been amazing and this salad is no different.

Lemongrass Kale Salad

 I'm feeling a little under the weather today.  Whenever I'm feeling ill I inevitably try to think of the food that will heal me.  I'm not sure if it's the healing properties of fresh food that makes me feel better or just the placebo effect of believing it will.  Either way, this is a fine tasting salad that is quickly pulled together.

Almond Butter Chickpea Wrap

It’s funny how some foods just by smell or taste can take us back to a place we’ve been or people we were with.  This Chickpea Almond Butter Wrap is full of bittersweet memories for me.  The first time I tasted these flavour combinations was out for lunch with a dear friend.  Both of us were anticipating it would taste like hummus and we were pleasantly surprised to be wrong. That first serving was actually in a pita and I found the bread a little too much when it was really just the filling taste I wanted.  Not long after that lunch out our local newspaper ran an article highlighting this café and included a recipe for the sandwich.  It wasn’t long before I was making the sandwich at home with my own adaptations and every time remembering the lovely lunch when I first had it.