EDIT: I am resurrecting this old post from 2014 because I still love this simple, quick, "lazy carbonara" recipe (and so do my kids). If there was ever a day when I just wanted to curl up in the corner of my couch with a blanket it's today. Yesterday we spent the entire day pulling weeds and trying to tame the mess that is our backyard and now I am sore, sore and tired; … [Read more...]
Four Secret Rules to Making Perfect Nachos at Home {Recipe}
Now, don't laugh, but it took me years to figure out how to make decent nachos at home. Every couple of months I'd give it another go and something always went wrong. The chips were burnt around the edges but the cheese was barely melty, the chips were soggy in the middle, or the toppings were so-so. I would throw up my hands, say "I give up, I can't make nachos!", and a few … [Read more...]
“Fancy-Spooky” Halloween Cookies, with Go-To Cookie Cutter Sugar Cookies Recipe
I promised my nieces Halloween Cookies. “Aunt Holly, will you bake some Halloween cookies?” No problem. “Fancy-spooky decorated ones?” Ummm… Sure kids, why not. I used to love baking elaborately decorated sugar cookies for Christmas, but that was back when I had a large kitchen to work in with lots of counter space to roll out dough. Now I have a tiny apartment kitchen … [Read more...]
Settling the Back to School Jitters with the Goodness of Goldfish
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Goldfish Crackers. All opinions are 100% mine. My kids were nervous about going back to school this year. Up until this point back to school season has always been a time of excitement in our household, but this year both of my kids were far more anxious and scared than they were excited. It caught me off guard. I was … [Read more...]
Slammers Make a Grand Slam Snack Time Hit
My kids have been long time fans of Go Gourmet products. As babies and toddlers they loved Baby Gourmet, as preschoolers and kindergarten kids they adored Squoosh packs, and now as big grade school going kids they are crazy about Slammers. Honestly the only bad thing I can say about Slammers is how quickly my kids inhale them. They've barely finished saying "Mom, can I … [Read more...]
10 Recipes & Crafts to Celebrate Canada Day
Canada's 150th birthday is coming up! How are you planning to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Confederation? It's amazing what differences an invisible border between us and our cousins in the south can do, but divisive it is, and it's led to some interesting foods that we can call uniquely Canadian. In Canada, eh... Milk might be something found the world over, but … [Read more...]
17 Easy Smores Recipes to Enjoy at Home
With the first day of summer just around the corner, it's time to look forward to exciting adventures in the sun with the family in tow. When I dream of summertime fun, I can't help but immediately think of camping. Pitching tents, paddling in a canoe, and the absolute must, setting up a campfire. Campfires are a magical place, filled with laughter, songs & stories, a … [Read more...]
9 Delicious Canada Day Dessert Recipes
Canada Day is not far off! If you host a party at your home, then you will soon be starting to think about what you are going to serve, and dessert is always a highlight of any party. Canada Day themed desserts are always fun and add a little patriotic touch to the get-together. Here are 9 Delicious Canada Day Dessert Recipes that will make your Canada 150 celebration … [Read more...]
D.I.Y. Mulled Cider Recipe
Forget that powdered stuff, mulled cider is so easy to make at home. It's a favourite cold weather treat in our house. Coming home from school to a warm cup of cider is always something my kids look forward to (particularly on days when the walk home from the bus is chilly). You can get this ready in about two minutes and then leave it simmering on low until you're ready for … [Read more...]
What do you do with pie scraps? You make a Sugar Dog!
When I was a kid my mom used to make these homemade tourtieres each year around Christmas. My favourite part of the whole process was waiting around to see how much leftover pie dough there would be. I'd be hoping my mom would make us kids a "sugar dog" or two. I always worried she would forget. Or that she would somehow use up every last bit of dough in making her meat … [Read more...]
Warm Up Your Cold Winter Nights with Mulled Wine { Recipe Favourites }
Homemade mulled wine is so simple to make. The recipe basically amounts to toss a bunch of things in a stock pot, simmer, and enjoy. You're cutting the alcohol with cranberry juice and apple juice or cider. So it won't get you silly as quick as drinking plain old wine. Plus there is just something so cozy about a warm drink on a cold night. The mere act of holding a warm mug of … [Read more...]
My Mom’s French Canadian Meat Pie Recipe
My mom makes the best French Canadian style meat pie. I've been after her for years to teach me her tourtière recipe. She's been making meat pies for Christmas for as long as I can remember. Each year in late November or December she spends a day in the kitchen, with her tall metal stock pot, cooking homemade tourtières. When I was a kid she would set aside an entire day … [Read more...]
Celebrate the Holiday Classics with Keurig & Van Houtte
When I was a kid Christmas was about toys. It was all about the tree, the ornaments, and the packages under that tree. It was all about the things. I was more focused on the things that I gave, or that I got, than I was on the experiences. I mean it wasn't just about what I myself got. I was equally excited by the presents that others around me received. But still, it was all … [Read more...]
A Recipe for Black Velvet Beef Stew (a.k.a. Snakebite Stew)
Okay, so here's the story. Back in my pub night filled misspent youth I used to like ordering this drink which was a mix of hard cider and stout (usually Guinness). It's known as a Black Velvet, or sometimes it's called a Snakebite. Last night I was making stew for dinner. I often add beer to our stew. This time, thinking back to the taste of that Black Velvet drink, I … [Read more...]
Day of the Dead Sugar Skull Sugar Cookies
The kids loved the cookies I made for Halloween especially the skull cookies. They were actually quite easy to make so we got together and they decorated their own Day of The Dead Sugar Skull Cookies. To put these together we used: Go-To Cookie Cutter Sugar Cookie recipe skull shaped cookie cutter Wilton icing decoration flowers candy corn candy coated … [Read more...]