Curried Asparagus Crostini

Have I persuaded you to start a book club yet?  This remains a rare treasure on our busy calendar of activities: a night just for moms.  Our most recent meeting was to discuss the wonderful book Bel Canto.  Set in South America, it brings together citizens of multiple countries to endure a hostage situation.  I won't reveal any more of the plot, just trust me that it is well worth the read.  I loved how the book drew me in and made me feel as though I was a hostage myself.  Hearing what the other ladies thought of the characters and the ending made for some lively discussion when we met.

Spicy Ethiopian Fava Beans

Belonging to a book club has been one of the better decisions I have made.  For years I thought I would enjoy this experience, but with young kids and a shift working husband it just wasn't feasible.  In the fall of 2011 I took a leap and sent an email invite to eight women asking if they would consider joining me in a book club.  I thought maybe four would say yes, and we would have a quaint little discussion group. Instead, all women said yes and we haven't looked back since.

Buttercup Squash Tomato Soup

It's the end of the hockey season for Luke today and that can only mean one thing: spring is on it's way!  Except, this year it really hasn't made much of a showing in these parts.  Oh well, that just means more warm soup on lazy Saturdays at home.  One of my favourite soups, this buttercup squash tomato is made in such a short time with so few ingredients, I feel a little magical pulling it together. 

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? 

Warm Rice Salad with Chicken, Carmelized Onions and Chicken



Comfort food that is still healthy is a tricky task.  What each person describes as comfort varies and for that matter, so does what is healthy.  Jos and Luke will always love their mom's mac and cheese, but we can't eat that every night.  I don't even want to eat it every week!  (confession: I never eat it.  I only make it when Don and the kids are home eating without me.  And even then, there is sweet potato pureed in).

Roasted Eggplant, Tomato & Black Bean Soup

 What to make to make in the inaugural use of my new Le Creseut dutch oven?  Spoiled this year with a beautiful gift of a dutch oven I was both nervous and excited to create something in this magical cookware.  Does it really make things better?  Well, the verdict is out on that but I will choose to believe all things made in this pot will taste better than any version before.

Chana Masala with Curried Spinach

In the summer of 2011 Josilin was able to participate in a global village program for a month in Denmark.  When she was preparing to go we were worried about many things.  Would she be safe? Homesick? Lonely?  I never once considered: would she be hungry?  In recent years there have been multiple stories of what a food revolution is happening in Denmark, including the best restaurant in 2012 and 2011. The night before she left I offered to make any meal she wanted or take her out to any restaurant.  She chose to eat at home and the meal she wanted was this one.  Chana Masala has been a favourite of hers for years, so I was not that surprised she wanted this.  Leftovers pack nicely in her thermos for lunch and it can be made days in advance.

Tomato Jam

There are lots of tomatoes in our house right now.  Between the CSA, our garden and the kind neighbours' garden, we are overflowing.  This recipe is a clever one because it can be put together very quickly and with little effort.  No peeling of tomato skins or removal of seeds and you can literally use whatever variety you have on hand.  Seconds at a market would be perfect for this.  We enjoyed it slathered on baguettes and with crackers and cheese.  I'm planning to enjoy it with some vegetable curry and meatloaf as well.  It's quite versatile and incredibly tasty.  Sweet and savoury with a nice bit of heat it's the perfect condiment to have in your fridge.

Polenta with Delicata and Arugula

Luke had a friend over the other day to play some board games and badminton.  At lunch time I called the boys in and presented them with this dish.  The young boy looked at his plate, looked at me and said "what is this?"  I explained it was polenta and while he wasn't obligated to eat it, I hoped he would at least try it.  He said, "well it's better than the green pancakes you served me last time!"  Now to be fair, the pancakes in question were in fact these broccoli fritters, which are mighty tasty, but you can't blame him for being a little nervous about coming to the lunch table.

Farro with Grilled Summer Vegetables and Pesto Vinaigrette

 Here's one more salad from the summer of never ending salads.  I've posted quite a few of these on the site already: a carrot one, a black bean and corn one, a sugar snap pea one, a black rice one, and many  more.  I'm not sure I could pick a favourite out of all of them, but this one was pretty close.

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.

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.

Chickpea Beef Stew with Orange

 We don't eat a lot of meat at our house.  Partly for health reasons and partly because Don and the kids don't really like it very much.  Recently I read a new blog where the author is aiming to complete 30 things before her 30th birthday.  It's an inspiring list and there were quite a few that had me excited to create my own list.  One of these items is to go vegetarian for a month.  My immediate response was "I could do that."

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.