It’s Spring(well at least sometimes it feels like Spring) and I’m in the mood to cook with bright green vegetables!! This recipe is based on a standard pesto recipe but instead of JUST using basil, the recipe includes a cup of green peas. I was intrigued so I tried it. You will notice that it’s  slightly sweeter and has a different texture. I think it’s a keeper. (not all recipes are keepers by the way).

GREEN PEA PESTO (from AllRecipes.com)

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This is one Healthy Salad

Last week, I made a Lemon Poppy Seed Loaf  from the Rose Reisman Brings Home Light Cooking Cookbook. While making the loaf, I decided to flip thru the cookbook to look at other recipes that I had tried and liked, but had not made for many many years. Sure enough, pg 56 was circled. I can’t believe I don’t make this salad more often. It’s a winner.

I ‘m attracted to this recipe as it’s crunchy and colorful and went perfectly with the rest of the meal which included: salmon, roasted squash, a green salad and rice.

I don’t know about you, but there’s something about broccoli salads that I enjoy. I have a feeling it’s due to the emerald color of the broccoli that it obtains after it’s perfectly steamed. I’m also a huge fan of another broccoli salad that I use to make that includes grapes and sunflower seeds. Stay tuned for more salad recipes (and the lemon poppy seed loaf recipe as well).

Broccoli, Snow Pea and Baby Corn Salad with Orange Dressing

Ingredients:

2 cups chopped broccoli florets

1 cup snow peas, cut into pieces

1/2 cup sliced red onion

3 cups torn lettuce (I’ve never used lettuce before – just so you know)

half  of a medium red pepper, sliced

3/4 cup drianed mandarin orange sections

1/2 cup sliced water chestnuts

1 can of drained baby corn cobs

1 tablespoon raisins

1 tablespoon chopped walnuts (or pecans)

DRESSING:

3 tablespooons olive oil

3 tablespoons frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed

1 1/2 teaspoons red wine vinegar

1/2 teaspoon crushed garlic

4 teaspoons lemon juice

1 teaspoon sugar

METHOD

1. Steam or microwave broccoli and snow peas just until tender crisp. Drain and rinse with cold water. Pat dry. Place in a serving bowl

2. Add onion, red pepper, lettuce, oranges, water chestnuts, baby corn, raisins and walnuts

3. Dressing: in small bowl, mix oil, orange juice, vinegar, garlic, lemon juice and sugar. Pour over salad and toss well

ENJOY

P.S. Rose Reisman Brings Home Light Cooking is a wonderful cookbook full of healthy recipes and is definitely a keeper!! Proof:  I moved in September and this cookbook did not end up in the garage sale.

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I’ve blogged before about “Desserts with Two Ingredients”  but I challenged myself to think of more desserts that had only two (or 3) ingredients and I did it!!

My busy brain thought of  these two recipes that are  super easy, and tasty desserts. Well to be honest, one recipe I thought of myself and the other recipe I found on the Life Made Delicious website.  The first recipe I have been enjoying since I was a kid. (thanks Mom!!)

Here’s the recipes. (I won’t keep you in suspense much further).

Chocolate Covered Bananas

Ingredients:

Two ingredients! Could life get any better?

1 cup of melted chocolate chips

3-4 bananas

Method

1. melt the chocolate chips

2. dip bananas into the melted chocolate

3. place on a plate that has been lined with wax paper.

4. insert a wooden stick or steal a plastic stick from those molds!!

5. freeze

FINAL PRODUCT

Cheerio Covered Bananas

Ingredients:

Oops..this recipe has 3 ingredients!!

plain yoghurt

bananas

Cheerios

Method:

1. dip banana into yogurt (I used Liberte yogurt because I’m a huge fan these days of this product)

2. place the banana on a plate lined with waxed paper

3. sprinkle Cheerios on top (do not roll into a plate of Cheerios – sprinkle!!)

4. insert a wooden stick

5. freeze

FINAL RESULT:

I bet know these desserts will be a hit. Who said desserts had to be cakes or pies or tarts or cookies?

Enjoy!!

Disclosure: I am part of the Life Made Delicious Blogger program and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.

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This type of snack totally appeals to me!!

What do you crave…sweet or savoury snacks?

I think about this question a lot. I also think about these questions:

• have you ever met someone who doesn’t like chocolate?
• have you ever met someone who doesn’t like potato chips?
• have you ever met someone who doesn’t like ice cream?
• have you ever met a child who doesnt like pizza?

I absolutely know that I crave more savoury foods than sweet foods.

My top savoury foods:

• potato chips (jalapeno, black pepper….)
• popcorn with parmesan cheese
• nachos with fresh salsa (not the jarred stuff))

My top sweet foods:

• butter tarts
• rum ball (strange, I know but I love this treat)
• Greg’s roasted marshmallow ice cream with hot fudge sauce

But if you ask me “When was the last time I had a butter tart, or a rum ball or Gregs Roasted Marshmallow ice cream…the answer would be MONTHS AGO.

See what I mean? I really do prefer savoury snacks. It’s even better when there is a combination of both. For example, take Nature Valley Sweet & Salty Granola Bars.

That type of item is perfect for me!! Perfect. Congratulations to General Mills for understanding my needs!!

What do you prefer to snack on? Sweet or Savoury? Tell me.

Disclosure: I am part of the Life Made Delicious Blogger program and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.

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Since I began to blog, I have had the opportunity to meet some wonderful women  who are “foodie” entrepreneurs. My list looks like this: @TheBumpercrop, @afoodgypsy @DivaQBBQ @PascalesAllNat @ViewtheVibe @CakeStarGirlz @Sable_Rosenfeld @LeDolci @MediumRare @TasteofCheese and more!!  I truly admire these women who have a vision and run with it.

I can now expand this list to include the following women “foodie” entrepreneurs:

1. Gourmet Bitches

These two women have introduced a new food truck to the Toronto landscape that offers healthy, nutritional options. I was invited to their soft launch recently and fell in love with their kale and arugula salad. It had a spicy cayenne dressing that made this salad truly flavorful and unique. Look out for this special food truck.

Look forward to eating this again!!

2. Popover Girl

I met Popover Girl aka Lora on International Pi Day!! (how appropriate). I think I was introduced to her on twitter and was eager to meet her IRL (in real life). She specializes in sweet and savory gourmet popovers and sells them at the Toronto Underground Market. I hope you get a chance to try her delicious popovers some time soon!!

The Popover Girl herself!!

Love the eco friendly packaging. Brilliant.

3. The Cupcake Girls

The famous Cupcake Girls from WNetwork were in Toronto a few weeks ago to scout for a retail location. I got a chance to meet them briefly (too many events, too little time) and to try their tasty cupcakes.

The Cupcake Girls!!

Hope to see these cupcakes in Toronto very very soon!!

I am continually amazed by the food scene in Toronto and have enjoyed watching it grow. Not to mention, I have met some wonderful woman “foodie” entrepreneurs!!

Cheers to all of you!!

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I went to the Green Living Show last year and knew that I would be returning. No question, the environment has becoming more and more important in our every day lives. Infact, I just got rid of my gas guzzling mini van and can’t wait to drive my far more fuel efficient Nissan Versa. But let’s get back to the Green Living Show – it’s a show you don’t want to miss. They have it all.

• a green beauty bar
• an electric vehicle show
• live bird demonstrations
• an eco music movie swap
• a farmers market
• the sweaty equity  yoga pavilion
• the organic council of Ontario pavillion
• Toronto Fair Trade Town
• and lots more!!

Naturally I spent a lot of time at the FARM FRESH FARE. (perhaps too much time) It didn’t take me too long to find a few salads to take pictures of. I mean how gorgeous are these salads?

Chef Christopher Palk of L’Eat Catering created this beauty of a salad:

Ontario Chopped Salad with Pickled Ramp Buttermilk Ranch, House Made Red Wine Vinegar and Mustard Vinaigrette or Green Apple, Herb and Cider Vinegar Dressing

The chef was happy to show me the list of ingredients that went into this “All Ontario Chopped Salad”. I was blown away.

This salad created by Chef John from Table 17 also caught my attention. He created a pea shoot and peanut salad with an Ontario Peanut Dressing.

Here’s another stunning salad that was created by the Garbardine Restaurant: Smoked and cured Ontario Pickerel with red fife bagels, baby lettuce and creme fraiche .

I also made a point of visiting my favorite exhibitor….Island Spirits. I met Trudy last year, and went up to stay at her fantastic, unique property in May 2011. I actually told her that next year, I would volunteer in her booth to give a “live testimonial”. (by the way, Trudy…I am serious about that offer)

I strongly encourage  you to head down to the Direct Energy Centre this weekend and check out this great consumer show.

Hours: Saturday April 14 from 10- 9 and Sunday April 15 from 10-5.

Hint: If you bring e-waste you can receive FREE admission, compliments of Samsung.

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Passover starts tonite at sundown which means a lot of Jewish people will be having Matza Balls in their chicken soup. I actually make them all year round but that’s another story. I usually make them from a mix but for this blog entry, I decided to kick it up a notch and make them from scratch.

What’s the difference – you ask?

• From a Box: it has nasty ingredients (ie monisodium glutamate) but it’s convenient and they pretty much always turn out right.
• From Scratch: no nasty ingredients but it takes almost twice as long to make

Simple Ingredients

Lifted up the cover for the photo!!

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup matza meal

1 tsp baking powder (may be omitted during Passover)

2 tsp of salt

4 eggs

4 tsp vegetable oil

METHOD

a) mix eggs and vegetable oil in a small bowl

b) mix baking powder and matza meal in another bowl

c) mix wet ingredients into dry ingredients but do not overmix

d) put the mixture in the fridge for an hour

e) boil a pot of water

f) make small balls (again not the size of golf balls more like large the size of a large marble!!)

g) place balls into boiling water, COVER and simmer for 40 minutes. (do not touch – yes – that’s right – do not touch)

RESULTS:

It was a no brainer – the matza balls from the recipe tasted “real” vs “salty”. As for the texture – both were light and fluffy.

Not sure I will be buying the mix again. It’s SO much healthier to make my own.

By the way – its worth googling a few matza ball recipes online. Each one was different i.e one recipe even called for club soda.

Happy Passover and for those who celebrate Easter – Happy Easter.

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Visiting a Trader Joe’s was on my bucket list for 2012 but I’m proud to say that as of last week, I can now tick it off. I finally went to a Trader Joe’s on my visit to Detroit last week.

I will repeat this story again because I think it’s the coolest story ever: When I was in Trader Joe’s, I approached a random sales person to guide me around the aisles and said: “Hi I’m a food blogger from Toronto” and he replied “Are you Mom Who Runs? we have been chatting on twitter”. Naturally we became fast friends, cameras were whipped out and photos were taken of me and @JoeFoodie.

Here’s what I bought:

Item #1:

Buy Me. I did.

This chocolate bar was 99 cents. Thats right..99 cents. I bought 4 of them and should have bought a dozen!

It was NUTS how good these taste!!

Items #2 and Item #3: Marcona Almonds with Rosemary and Rosemary Pecans and Cranberries, that are too good to describe, so I won’t.

More Goodness

More items: @JoeFoodie suggested I buy these Chocolate Vanilla Bean Cookies and he was bang on with this suggestion. Definitely not an Oreo. As for the Gorgonzola crackers…I bought them because one of my facebook friends told me to buy them. (I’m easily convinced…can you tell?)

chips and beer - the best combo

@JoeFoodie suggested I buy these quinoa and black bean tortilla chips plus these beers. Again – I’m kicking myself that I didn’t buy more.

This happens every time I shop in the States…I simply don’t buy enough!! Why can’t I get it right?

The good news: I will just have to return to Trader Joe’s. I hear they are opening up on in Rochester so perhaps it’s time to eat my way thru Rochester. Road trip anyone?

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Usually I enjoy making soup, but with these types of temperatures…. soup is NOT on my mind. Instead, I was inspired to make frozen yogurt as a result of this tweet I saw on twitter:

@FamilyBites: I am totally making this tomorrow! RT @dinnerwithjulie: Liberté Lemon Fro-Yo y’all. http://t.co/4rqy1SSv

I clicked on the link and said to myself “I MUST TRY THIS. STAT”….so I did. (this doesnt suprise you does it?).

As you know, I bought a Cuisinart ice cream maker/frozen yogurt machine last year. It was in “hibernation mode” over the last 6 months so it was time to bring it out. Plus, I was having guests for dinner and thought this would make the perfect dessert.

I followed these smple instructions:

a) bought Liberte yoghurt  (that’s a step, right?)

Step One: Go to the Grocery Store!!

b) put the entire container into the Cuisinart ice cream/frozen yogurt machine.

Let the Frozen Yoghurt Machine do its magic!!

c) flicked the button on. (oh what effort) and waited 10 minutes while it did it’s magic

d) served it to my guests!!

How simple! How healthy! How Perfect.

Summer is going to be great AND summer is going to be TASTY too.

One final note: I am now very curious to compare different brands of yogurts and different flavors as well. Stay tuned for a report.

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