I’ve tried hard over the years, to make it to the Canadian Tulip Festival in Ottawa. I decided to take Friday and Tuesday off of work and visit Ottawa AND Montreal. This particular blog post will be dedicated to the Ottawa segment of the trip.

As always, the first thing I did upon arriving in Ottawa was to stop at Golden Palace (2195 Carling Ave) for an egg roll (or two). Please google “best egg rolls in the world”,….guess what appears?

It also dawned on me that I hadn’t been to Perth for a while so on Saturday we headed to this charming city to visit their farmer’s market.

Naturally I wanted to buy something and this product intrigued me. I’m thinking of putting it on a piece of salmon and then baking it. What do you think?

I didnt’ buy this Loon Kombucha but I should have! #next time

After the farmers market we drove back to Ottawa and went directly to Dow’s Lake to visit the tulips. Please forgive me but I’m going to bore you with a few photos of some beautiful tulips.

See what I mean? One flower is more stunning than the next one!

I can’t decide which photo I like best.

I had a little bit of energy left to drop by Seed to Sausage (729 Gladstone) to pick up a bottle of this root beer syrup by Michael’s Dolce. I had been seeing this product on Instagram and was waiting to return to Ottawa to pick up a bottle, so I was thrilled that I have my hands on it!!

 After our quick trip to Ottawa, we proceeded to Montreal.

Stay tuned for Long Weekend: Montreal – Part 2.

We all grew up with regular pasta, right? Then whole wheat pasta came along and now I’d like to introduce you to yet another type of pasta. It’s from Catelli and it’s called SuperGreens.

It’s rich in flavour and packed with veggie goodness. Think spinach, zucchini, broccoli and kale.

I’m not kidding. I’m a fan.

For dinner one night, I cut up some yellow and green zucchini and fried it up with some garlic and onions.

I added it to the Catteli SuperGreens Pasta and before you know it – I had myself a pretty yummy dinner.

This is the perfect dinner to make when you have almost nothing in the fridge. All you need is pasta (which I’m sure is in your pantry), a zucchini, onion and garlic. It couldn’t get easier.

While we are on the subject of pasta: I’m curious to know how many varieties of pasta are in your pantry? Please leave a comment and let me know. I’m really curious seeing as I’ve blogged about “How Many Cereals are in Your Pantry” and “How Many Mustards are in Your Fridge”. For the record: I’ve got 5 different boxes of pasta in my pantry. (spaghetti, penne, farfaile, macaroni, fusilli )

Disclosure: I was provided with product for this blog post, however all opinions are my own

 

One of my foodie friends finally launched a personal blog (www.onmytabletoday.com) and to celebrate this occasion I decided to make the first recipe he posted!

It was easy to make and a huge hit with my guests.

Here’s the recipe for Roasted Cauliflower with a Tahini Glaze (recipe from www.onmytabletoday.com)

Ingredients:

1 Cauliflower
4 Tbsp Olive oil
salt and pepper

For the glaze:
4 Tbsp Tahini
2 Tsp Garlic, minced
1 1/2 Tbsp Honey
2 Tbsp Sambal Oelek (Spicy Sauce) – I chose not to make mine spicy
4 Tbsp Hot water (to adjust glaze’s consistency)

Instructions:

1. Take the largest pot you own and fill it with water. Add some salt and let it come to a boil.

2. Immerse the cauliflower in the salted boiling water for no longer than 6-7 minutes. (ps I got distracted and boiled the cauliflower to death and had to go out and buy another cauliflower). USE A TIMER.

3. Once you remove the cauliflower from the boiling water, massage  it all over with olive oil and salt and pepper.

4. Broil the cauliflower for 5 to 7 minutes. (use a timer as you don’t want to burn it). Check on it every once in a while!!

4. Prepare the glaze and then massage the glaze all over the cauliflower (this is the fun part)

6. Broil the cauliflower once again for another 6-7 minutes. (till it gets brown) USE A TIMER.

7. Top with pomegranate seeds and serve immediately.

Naturally it was such a hit that I decided to buy another cauliflower and try another recipe that I found online.

Roasted Cauliflower with Lemon Tahini Sauce – (original recipe from the Vegetarian Times)

1 large head cauliflower, cut into 1-inch florets (about 1 ½ lb.)
4 tsp. olive oil, divided
2 cloves garlic, minced (about 2 tsp.)
2 Tbs. tahini
1 Tbs. lemon juice
¼ tsp. salt
1 Tbs. chopped parsley
1 tsp. toasted sesame seeds

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

2. Toss cauliflower with 2 tsp. olive oil, and season with salt. Spread on large cookie sheet, and bake 12 to 15 minutes, or until cauliflower is fork-tender and slightly browned.

3. Meanwhile, heat remaining 2 tsp. olive oil in small saucepan over medium heat. Sauté garlic in oil 1 to 2 minutes, or until fragrant. Stir in tahini, lemon juice, 5 Tbs. water, and salt. Simmer over low heat 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat.

4. Spoon over the cauliflower or broil for 5 minutes. You don’t have to put it back in the oven- but I did and it was delicious. Sprinkle with parsley and sesame seeds, and serve.

Happy Cooking!!

 

The school year is coming to an end and I swear I’ve finally perfected the “what’s-going-into-the-lunch-box” syndrome.

Here’s the options:

a) FRUIT: This is the easiest part, as there’s always fruit hanging around. (apple, orange, banana, strawberries, blueberries etc). On the occasion, I will mix it up and include a kiwi or starfruit or something exotic.

b) VEGETABLES: Again  – kind of easy as there’s always veggies hanging around in the fridge (cucumber, red pepper, baby carrots)

c) THE MAIN COURSE: Seeing as my kitchen is dairy. I can’t send meat sandwiches to school. So I send: veggie hot dogs wrapped in a  tortilla, tuna sandwiches, smoked salmon/cream cheese on whole wheat bread, pasta in a thermos, rice/veggies in a thermos. For special occasions, I will send party sandwiches (which are always a hit)

d) YOGURT: These drinkable yogurts are bought on a regular basis.

e) SNACKS: Lately I’ve been including Sabra Hummus in the lunchbox. This is a new addition to the lunch box and I’m all too happy to add it in there. No joke – my daughter can tell the difference between Sabra and other brands. Hands down, Sabra is her favourite brand. (specifically the hummus with roasted pine nuts)

True Story: I still remember that my mom put Frito’s in my lunch when I was a kid. I can’t remember what else was in my lunch bag but I remember those small bags of Frito’s.

For more information about Sabra and their wide range of products, , please click here.

Disclosure: I was provided with product, however all opinions are my own

Did you know that May is Celiac Awareness Month? It’s a wonderful opportunity for us to learn what gluten and gluten sensitivities really are, and how they impact many Canadians.

Let’s start by defining Celiac Disease:

Celiac disease is a medical condition in which the absorptive surface of the small intestine is damaged by a substance called gluten. This results in an inability of the body to absorb nutrients: protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, which are necessary for good health. (source: www.celiac.ca)

Celiac disease is a medical condition in which the absorptive surface of the small intestine is damaged by a substance called gluten. This results in an inability of the body to absorb nutrients: protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, which are necessary for good health.

I once thought I was gluten sensitive but it turns out I was lactose intolerant instead. I’m not kidding, but I know MANY people who are one or the other!

As you know I’m a big fan of flavour and good quality products. Gluten avoidance should not mean compromising taste. Agreed?

A good example of a product that is Certified gluten-free by the Canadian Celiac Association is Crispy Minis Rice Chips. They are the perfect example of a gluten-free snack that comes in a variety of delicious flavours.

 

As a sales rep who is often in her car and looking for snacks during the day, Crispy Minis did the trick!

I would now like to share a brief interview with a long time childhood friend who suffers from Celiac Disease. Her name is Shirley Plant and she’s a nutritionist, speaker, writer, cookbook author, recipe creator and wellness activist.

1. When were you diagnosed with Celiac Disease? I was diagnosed when I was 42 with Celiac Disease. This what quite a shock as I had been told to avoid wheat years earlier as allergy testing showed that I had a wheat intolerance. I was eating barley, rye and spelt,( they all contain gluten) it made sense why I was still sick and struggling with chronic fatigue syndrome, tummy issues and anxiety.

2. How did it make you feel when you got the diagnosis? I was really glad to know because I had been struggling with chronic illnes, chronic fatigue, anxiety, tummy problems and adrenal issues for years and depsite changing my diet, eating healthier, I still didn’t feel very well. It was a puzzle for sure and that was when I started to study nutrition and be my own activist

3. Has it effected your lifestyle? It certainly affected my lifestyle as I already was dealing with some food allergies and sensitivities so what I ate was limited. At that time I was not able to eat eggs, dairy, wheat, corn, soy, peppers, pork, chicken and apples. Add gluten to the list and it gets a bit more tricky and limited. Now that I have changed my diet and eaten a more whole foods diet I have been able to add back in organic apples, organic pork, organic chicken and tomatoes.

4. Whats the biggest challenge for those who have Celiac Disease? Making sure they do not get exposed to or ingest gluten.  Celiac Disease is an autoimmune condition that creates inflammation throughout the whole body so even ingesting a small amout of gluten can make someone with Celiac Disease very ill.

5. What advice would you give to someone who has been recently diagnosed with this disease? To know what they can and cannot eat. For me it’s about what I can eat. It’s important to know all the foods that may contain gluten like soy sauce, malt, hydrolyxed protein, modified starch.

Bonus Question: How will you be celebrating Celiac Month? By writing a blog post about how to avoid gluten and along with one of my yummy tasty gluten free recipes.
You can check out my blog about Celiac Awareness here https://www.deliciousalternatives.com/celiac-awareness-going-gluten-free-really-means/

For more information about Crispy Minis Rice Chips, please click here. You can also follow them on twitter: @CrispyMinis

For more information about Celiac Awareness Month, please click here.

Here’s to snacking without compromising taste of quality!!

Disclosure: I was compensated for this blog post however all opinions are my own

 

This week I had the opportunity  (and time) to visit two new restaurants and naturally I would like to share them with you.

Restaurant #1: The newly opened Caplansky’s at 156 Cumberland. Yes, The Deli King,….Zane Caplansky, has brought deli to Yorkville and this particular location is the launch of their first franchise!

The space is bright and colourful and has some fun features like a pickle on the front doors and pickle wall paper too.

As for the food: I sampled the Turkey Reuben (exclusive to this location),  BBQ Beef Brisket and a Smoked Meat Reubensque. Of course, I liked all of them! I wish I could tell you I liked one more than the other, but I can’t.

The media event that I attended, also had some fun swag that was brilliant…Pickle Socks in a Mason Jar.

Restaurant #2: It’s called Toast and it’s a pop up restaurant that will be open every weekend throughout the month of May (9 am to 3 pm) in the Distillery District (45 Mill St).

You pick the type of bread and then pick either savour or sweet toppings. Easy Peasy and DELICIOUS

Sweet options include: Nutella Cheesecake Mousse, Birthday Cake Batter, Carrot Cake Whipped Ricotta, Salted Caramel Milk Jam, Ball Park Peanut Butter.

Savoury options include: Green Goddess Goat Cheese, Huevos Diablos, Pudina Cream Cheese, Hummus 2.0, Grilled Corn Mash.

One bread with one topping is $6 and well worth it. I couldn’t decide between the sweet or savoury so I decided to go half and half (Huevos Diablos and the Salted Caramel Milk Jam).

Then you can sit down and enjoy your Toast!

The three woman behind this concept use to work for The Steve and Chris Show (Joanne Lustead, Amrita Singh and Lindsay Agnew) and while travelling to San Francisco saw a similar concept. Oh how I love these types of stories.

Congratulations to both restaurants. Hope to see you again soon!!

 

Here’s a few ideas for you and I hope you like them. I really tried to be creative. #justsayin

1. Give mom the gift of a one-on -one computer lesson.

Here’s a photo of my mom using my old iPhone 5. Bye Bye Flip Phone! She had one on one lessons with a friend who specializes in teaching seniors how to use smartphones/facebook/tablets etc. BEST GIFT.

2. Give Mom a calendar with 12 of your favourite photos.

I’m in the process of doing this RIGHT now using the new Kodak App. Oh how I love technology.

3. Give mom a new appliance from Breville.

I’m in love with all my Breville appliances and she will be too!

4. Give mom the gift of Technology. Take a peek at what Samsung has to offer these days. See this wireless charger? I know I would be one happy mom if I got one of these. LOL

 

5.. Give mom a subscription: May I suggest a subscription to Netflix, or Texture? (I’m a fan of both)

6..  If you have old letters that she sent to you at camp…. bring them out and read them to her. Seriously, this is so much fun.

7. Head over to Etsy. There’s no shortage of unique gifts on this website.

Hope these ideas were useful and have a wonderful day.

Toronto has no shortage of fabulous events. Here’s a few that are on my radar for the month of May!

1 Massey Centre invites the community to attend its first “Cook for New Lives” gala fundraiser. This event is taking place at George Brown College Hospitality and Culinary Arts Centre on Wednesday May 4th from 6 to 9 pm.  Tickets are available for $99 which includes a cocktail reception, gourmet cuisine, no-host bar and silent auction.

2. Toronto Jewish Film Festival. (May 5th to May 15th).  I’ve been attending this festival for a few years now and every year I attend a few films that leave a huge impression on me. Can’t wait.

3. My favourite Sample Sale is coming up. This sale will feature Fall/Winter clothes for the upcoming season and it should NOT be missed. TRUST ME.

4. Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival.(May 1- 31, 2016) Did you know that CONTACT is the largest photography event in the world and features over 1500 artists in 200 exhibitions? I’ve never gone (believe it or not) but I’m really going to try this year and attend one of the many exhibits across the city.

5. Appleseed Cider Festival. Need I say more?

6.  The Canadian Tulip Festival. I know it’s not in Toronto but I just had to include this festival. It’s well worth the drive to see this spectacular event which features over a million tulips in 50 varieties blooming in public spaces across the National Capital Region.

Like I said, there’s no shortage of things to do in May.

ENJOY.

 

 

About a year ago, I bought the condo that I had been renting. As soon as my signature was dry, I lifted the carpets that were 14 yrs old and put in hardwood floors.

A year later, I knew that the 14 yr old kitchen had to be gutted. This meant:

-new counters, new sink/faucet, new appliances, new cabinets, and a backsplash.

See what I mean? This kitchen HAD to go.

I then packed up 26 boxes of STUFF. (specifically serving dishes and small appliances). These boxes overtook my bedroom and it wasn’t pretty but I knew it would be worth it.

The renovations started on Feb 10th when I went away on vacation. When I returned, I realized I would be making meals out of my bathroom for the next 4 weeks. It wasn’t a fun period. Trust me.

I selected all the appliances from Sears and I can’t say enough about their service. They got my business as they were the only store that answered my call. (I’m a huge fan of customer service).

My kitchen is now complete and I’m beyond happy with the new look. What a huge difference!

Of course my new kitchen needed a new appliance!! See that coffee machine in the corner of the photo? I’m now the proud owner of a Breville Barista Express Espresso. Stay tuned for a blog post K? In the meantime, please click on this link so you learn more about The Breville Cafe Quality campaign and their commitment to ensuring we all have a good cup of quality coffee in the morning!

Here’s to my renovations that are now complete and celebrating with an excellent cup of coffee!

When I saw this recipe on the internet, I knew I wanted to make it.  It looked stunning and it didn’t require a million ingredients. Plus I knew it would be the perfect side dish for my salmon.

Here’s the recipe for a Zucchini  Rose Tart (adapted from www.Buonappa.net)

Ingredients:
1 roll puff pastry

Filling:

1 cup ricotta cheese
2 eggs
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

1/4 cup mozzarella cheese
a lot of  fresh oregano, fresh rosemary or fresh thyme!

Decoration:
4 multi color carrots (purple, orange and yellow)
2 zucchini

Instructions:

1. Roll out the puff pastry and place it in the bottom of a greased oven proof baking dish. However,  I was using this recipe for Passover so I covered the bottom of my serving dish with Matza.

If you are using puff pastry, bake in the oven (with weights) at 350 for 20 minutes. Lets cool

2. Mix together in a bowl: eggs, ricotta cheese, parmesan, mozzarella cheese, and fresh herbs (this made all the difference, I promise you).

3. Spread the mixture over the puff pastry (or matzo in my case)

3. For the vegetables: peel the carrots and split in half. Then take your peeler and peel long ribbons. Do the same with the zucchini but don’t peel them. Then place all the ribbons in 2 cups of water and put them in the microwave for 5 minutes. DRAIN.

4. Now for the fun. Roll up each ribbon and then place into the filling (which will acts as a “cement). This take TIME. Make sure you have enough TIME and enough RIBBONS. It took more time and more ribbons than I thought but it was SO worth it.

5. Brush with olive oil (which I forgot to do. Oops)

5. Bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes

Full disclosure: I swore a few times while making this but I will make it again. It was really worth it.

FINAL

I served this dish along with:

-Salmon with balsamic onions

-Roasted Cauliflower with a Tahini Glaze

– Beet salad with mint/feta cheese

-Spinach salad with blood orange and pecans

Happy Cooking!