Green Lentil Horseradish Apple Soup

It's Soup Group 2014 and my contribution this year is a Green Lentil, Horseradish, Apple Soup.  What it lacks in beauty (ever tried to photograph a bowl of brown mush?), it makes up for in taste.  The horseradish was a surprising ingredient for me to include.  Prior to the soup, my only experience has been served alongside roast beef.  And in that instance, I disliked it greatly.  Thankfully, a friend made this soup for me to try a few years ago and only out of politeness did I eat it.  Shocked at how tasty it was, I'm a convert now.

Morocan Carrot and Lentil Soup

In February of 1998, I went to an Oscars party at the Hard Rock Cafe with some coworkers.  It was the first time I watched all the nominated films in advance.  I wanted to look like I knew what I was talking about.  When I ran out of people to watch movies with, I started seeing the films on my own.  What a revelation that was!  Movies could be enjoyed by yourself.  I was young and hadn't sorted out my own comfort or interests.  It was the beginning of something very special.  It helped that the films nominated that year were relatively mainstream: Titanic, Good Will Hunting, L.A. Confidential, As Good As It Gets and The Full Monty.

Roasted Yellow Pepper Red Lentil Soup

We are stormed in today here in the Kale Eats kitchen.  The roads are covered with ice and our plans for a family Christmas cancelled.  Luke was quite sad that we couldn't make the trip to visit family, stating that he just didn't feel festive without this tradition.  In a spirit of making the best out of a free day at home I suggested we head to the kitchen together.  The kids plan to make some Christmas cookies but I thought we'd start with a healthy soup.

5 Spice Poached Pear and Beet Salad

It's freezing here in Kale Eats country and I wouldn't have it any other way!  Think I've lost my marbles?  Let me explain.  Our backyard is home to a large ice rink, lovingly built and maintained by Don, year after year.  In fact, I think this is our seventh year with a rink of some sort.  While this sounds very quaint and idyllic, the reality is both hard work (done entirely by Don) and a lot of worrying (also done entirely by Don).  Will it be cold enough to freeze?  Is there a leak in the liner?  Is the ground level enough that the water doesn't need to be too deep?  Friends, this is my entire winter.  The weather channel is constantly being checked, with the long range forecast a beholden sight.  Should Mother Nature alter her course, it's possible swearing occurs.

Cranberry Orange Quinoa Loaf

Old friends are the souls that connect us to our past and keep us rooted in the future.  I had the pleasure of lunching with an old pal today for her birthday.  A mother to four busy kids, she is quite the remarkable woman.  I delivered lunch to her home (kale salad and rutuabaga soup) and this loaf for dessert.  We lunched, we caught up and mostly we basked in a quiet hour for two busy moms to reflect on the journey of parenting, marriage and our own happiness.

Beet & Sweet Potato Soup

Going to work everyday is never going to be my favourite thing to do.  I'd happily stay home with my kids and give back to the community in different ways if it were up to me.  Unfortunately for me, the life we have built relies on me bringing home a pay cheque and thus my dreams of baking muffins every morning and feeding the homeless go unrealized.  Truthfully, if I must work, I am exactly where I want to be.  Surrounded by amazing co-workers and a job that both challenges and satisfies me, I have no reason to complain.

Butternut Squash Apple Soup

When it comes to sharing recipes here, there are certain criteria that must be met.  Firstly, it must taste great.  Secondly, I need to have made it with great success at least two times, most often more.  Thirdly, it needs to be something worth talking about.  Maybe it's a technique that is new to me or using an ingredient that is less common.  Perhaps it's ridiculously good for you and still tastes decadent.  It could be my kids were over the moon about it, making it family friendly without being mainstream.  If we knew eachother in person, these are the recipes I would need to stop you and tell in great detail why you need to make it.

Carmelized Vichyssoise and Pecan Gruyure Scones

There has been an absence of posts here lately.  I've got no great excuse for the lull.  We are a busy family (as usual), but that doesn't generally stop me from finding time to write here.  I suppose the full schedule has led to a little less creativity in the kitchen.  We've had more meals that would satisfy the kids than most readers here.  Sometimes catering to their carb loving ways allows my energy to be focused elsewhere in the organization of family life.

Roasted Beet & Spinach Pesto Cheesy Melt

For someone who doesn't love them, there are quite a few sandwiches on this site.  Don's favourite food in the world is a sandwich and I try to keep things interesting with various veggie combinations.  Previously I would have told you my favourite is the Roasted Zucchini with Lemongrass Aioli.  He would have said his favourite is the Southwest Sandwich .  My friend Lori still talks about the time we carpooled to hockey and I brought along my Beet and Grapefruit Sandwich to enjoy.  As their family enjoyed subs from a drive thru, she threatened that she might just rip that sandwich right out of my hands!  All this to say, I thought I had peaked in my sandwich creations.  I mean, could I really find a better sandwich than those we already loved?

Thai Charred Corn & Coconut Soup

We've had this soup three times in the last few weeks.  The fresh local corn screams summer time while the warm soup leans us toward fall.  Jos has been packing it on her lunch at school too.  Since it's only the second week of school, I'm going to do my best not to complain about packing kids lunches here.  Honestly, although I love all things food, even I tire of creating food that will survive a school day and be quickly consumed.

Eggplant, Harissa & Herb Gremolata Sandwich

It's back to the grind this week in Kale Eats kitchen.  Back to school, work and the rink means a lot of busy days.  Was it a busy in your home too? Did you survive it?  No matter how prepared I am, the hectic nature of September always catches me off guard.  Suddenly we are up earlier, filling out forms, sharpening skates and meeting teachers.  It will be a challenge to make quiet moments in our schedule this fall but I am committed to making it happen.

Asparagus Cashew Soup

It's been a quiet weekend here in Kale Eats kitchen.  Jos was off camping with a youth group and Don was working.  That left just Luke and I to fend for ourselves.  We spent some time bickering about what to do.  He was happy to lay on the couch and play video games.  I thought we should go outside and enjoy the weather.  Eventually he decided he wanted to go across town and play tennis with some friends.  I said, "sure, let's go!"  Excited to get outdoors I was already putting my shoes on when he dropped the next sentences: "I think I can go without you mom. Just the kids can go. Not to worry, you don't need to get over protective." 

Vegetarian Dolmades

Sharing an office at work is a little like living with someone. We share a space that's often where one goes to retreat from others.  It's been over five years that I've been shacking up with my sweet friend Norma at work and I wouldn't change a thing. Happily for me, we have a lot in common.  She loves food, children and a good laugh.  That's probably all I needed, but she's got even more going for her!  Generous to a fault, she gives her time, her ideas and compassion with me and all the clients we work with.  Every morning she greets me with a smile, asks how the kids are this morning and often, what is that beautiful lunch you just pulled out?  A grandma who has raised her own, I love to hear the wisdom she shares when I complain about my kids or hubby.

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. 

Vietnamese Meatball Soup

While vacationing in Arizona Josilin wrote a blog of our daily adventures.  Her best friend also wrote one while visiting San Francisco at the same time.  At the end of our day it was fun to choose what Jos wanted to upload and share with her friend; and even more fun to see what she had to share with us.  I am amazed at how social media savvy these young girls are and can't help but wonder what their futures will hold.

Arugula, Rutabaga Barley Salad with Hazelnuts

Congratulations to Sarah on winning the giveaway for my 100th post!  Please be in touch with an address for me to mail the cookbook to you.  (random.org did the selecting)  Thanks to those of you who left a message and to the many who visited, but didn't comment.  I can't wait to see what the next 100 posts will bring.  Something tells me it will continue to include lots of salads like this one.  Rutabaga might not be your first choice for a salad topper, but you'd be surprised just how good it is.  Tossed with a little maple syrup the sweetness plays nicely against the peppery arugula.  The second go around I put some salty feta on top.  Although not pictured it was the perfect addition.

Sweet Potato Salad Wrap

Have you entered the 100th post giveaway yet?  You still have a few days to leave a comment and win an amazing cookbook.  In the meantime, let's talk sweet potato salad wraps.  When it comes to trying new foods, I like to think I have a good eye for what makes a tasty recipe.  Even without a picture, I like to believe I know whether something is worth making or how it might need to be tweaked for success.  Sometimes, I am wrong.

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?

Thai Coconut Mushroom Soup

It was a dear friend's birthday last week.  She is an amazing mother of four children and a true friend to me for the last twenty years.  I volunteered to bring lunch to her home to celebrate the big day.  With an 18month old underfoot, it's sometimes easier to avoid fancy-shmancy restaurants.  With the other three children at school, she put the big guy down for a nap and we settled in to this tasty soup.

Seafood Gumbo

When it comes to favourite meals in our home, seafood is always the top of the list for both Don and Josilin. Since the kids were young, Don has told them both that in order to be a true to their Cape Breton heritage, they must love fish. But it is the one protein I struggle to cook the most. My favourite preparation is fish tacos, but the other three all say “you can’t taste the fish!” They want their seafood flavours to shine and dominate. I kinda want them hidden.