Is there anything better to cap off a busy week (and to kick off the weekend) than an order of takeout? Usually by the time the clock strikes 5 on a Friday evening, the last thing you want to do is spend your precious time cooking supper (and cleaning those darn dishes). Believe me, I get it. Takeout can absolutely have a place in any home as a special treat - not a weekly (or daily) habit. Plan for days that you'll pick up take-out, try not to rely on it as a mealtime crutch

Who doesn't love the simplicity of split pea soup? It's warm, comforting and filling - an autumn trifecta! Pea soup has been a cold-weather staple in my household for as long as I can remember. When I haul out my grandmother's recipe, I know I need to dedicate at least half an hour to washing, peeling and chopping all sorts of vegetables. That's why I have been so keen to streamline her recipe without sacrificing flavour. I think I have a winner here! Using frozen chopped

I have a quick, cool-down treat for you today, and one that is both parent and kid approved - Homemade Smoothie Pops! We've featured smoothies on the blog before (Mint Chocolate Smoothie); I like them because they're easy, versatile and most of all because they taste so darn good! I'm not one to fuss with a smoothie recipe because as long as there is a solid amount of fruit in the mix, it will no doubt taste delicious. I picked up a frozen pop mould for .98 cents at a local g

Is there anything better than a picnic with someone you love? Whether you’re on a beach, in a park, on your deck or on your living room floor – picnics make mealtimes sweeter. I’ve never had a picnic basket of my own, so over the years I would make do with a canvas bag and plastic plates, cups and utensils. Of course, there is nothing wrong with this – especially if you can reuse your dishes for environmental (and economical) purposes. I have had many memorable picnics thi

I have to admit that when it comes to muffins, I have never strayed too far from my Mom’s banana chocolate chip recipe. It’s sweet but not too sweet and combines two of my favourite things: bananas and chocolate. With berry season upon us on Prince Edward Island, I thought it was time to start testing new recipes featuring blueberries! I knew I wanted to use all whole wheat flour to boost the amount of fibre and do some experimenting (reducing sugar and oil amounts). I hav

On a recent trip with friends, I was introduced to the adult version of ramen at an amazing restaurant in the city. When we landed home, I immediately went online to find a recipe that could help guide my very own ramen bowls. I was hit with post after post of ramen recipes; I guess I’m quite late to the game! I think the last time I had a bowl of ramen was the infamous packaged variety when I was in university - such a stereotypical story, isn’t it? I looked at a couple o

Stir-fries of all kinds have a place in my home, I don’t discriminate. They’re quick, easy, inexpensive, balanced and so flavourful. Admittedly, I’m usually not a recipe follower and most of my stir-fries are created by first taking a look in the fridge, freezer and pantry for my 4 stir-fry components (meat/meat alternatives, vegetables, grains and flavour). A typical weeknight stir-fry might have frozen shelled edamame, frozen veggie mix, leftover frozen rice (oh yes, you

I’m going to go ahead and say it…sometimes I secretly think salsa should have its very own food group - I love the stuff that much! Using salsa in recipes is a wonderful (and easy) way to bring life to an otherwise ordinary dish. I’ll admit, this recipe was one of those ‘fire it together and see what happens’ kitchen moments. With one too many jars of opened salsa in my fridge (like I said before; I may have a slight salsa problem), I was looking to prepare something quick,

If you’re new to the world of lentils, this is definitely the post for you. Lentils can be used in a wide variety of dishes and are packed in protein and fibre (which helps to keep us feeling fuller, longer). Some use lentils to fully replace meat in dishes, while others like to simply “stretch” costly meat in a recipe (think ½ ground beef and ½ lentils in a spaghetti sauce). Lentils are an important staple in Lebanese cooking and I grew up eating them, a lot. My grandmothe

After enjoying so many sunny and warm days this spring, I actually welcomed the rainy weather last weekend. Rainy days provide me with the excuse to tend to my introverted side, which is usually done by putting on some music and getting creative in the kitchen. A rainy Sunday was in the forecast; I knew it was just what I needed to boost my energy for the week ahead. A few months ago, I stumbled upon a new bread recipe online and tried it out a few times. The original reci