A year ago today, I started working as a Territory Sales Manager for St.-Albert Cheese Co-op. It’s been a great year introducing this brand to retailers as well as restaurants throughout the GTA.

My history with this Cheese Co-op goes back to my childhood, as my dad use to buy their famous curds regularly when I was a kid growing up in Ottawa.

FYI – In Ottawa these curds are EVERY where. In Toronto, you can find these amazing curds at Longos, Metro and Food Basics!

Many people say to me: “What do I do with them?” or “I don’t have a deep fryer to make poutine”. Well here’s a few ideas how to enjoy St.-Albert curds!

My favourite way to enjoy curds is simply snack on them right out of the bag.

However I’ve also added them on roasted potatoes with gravy (my version of a poutine)

I’ve also added them to my omelette with asparagus.

One night, I simply added these delicious curds to a plate of steaming spinach. Add a bit of pepper and dig in!!

I hope you get a chance to pick up a bag of St.-Albert curds one day soon. You won’t be disappointed. Promise.

For more information:

Website: http://fromagestalbert.com/?lang=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FromagerieStAlbert/

Long weekends are the perfect time to host a brunch. I started off with a trip to Evergreen Brick Works Farmers’ Market which provided inspiration to go home and start cooking.

For example: I bought a package of this…which I had never seen before and found out that it was totally edible and a member of the legume family!

Here’s what I managed to make in slightly over 2 hours:

1. Chopped Egg: Not only did I add a little cream cheese, but I added a touch of Kozlik’s Horseradish mustard to it. Plus..I decorated the plate with the above mentioned flowers.

2. Chopped Tuna. Here’s my little secret…add a touch of cream cheese when you mix up the tuna and the mayo together.

3. Salad: I bought a package of organic salad mix with edible flowers and threw it in the bowl with some more cut up romaine. How pretty is this?

4. Beet Borsht shooters: These shooters certainly were a conversation starter when guests arrived.

5. Asparagus Tart: SO. EASY. TO. MAKE. Click here for the recipe.

6. Blueberry Cobbler; Um…my guests really liked it. Can you tell? Click here for the recipe.

7. Mint Pea Salad: Always a summer hit however I forgot to take a photo. Can you believe?

8. Avocado Corn Salad: I added a small amount of jalapeno and this made all the difference. Click here for the recipe.

9. Roasted Tomato/Roasted Garlic with St. Albert Twisted Cheese on Pumpernickel Rounds

At the buffet, there were bagels, a small cheese tray, banana muffins and a cucumber salad too but I’m too tired to post anymore photos. Plus I don’t want to bore you!! However, here’s what the buffet looked like.

Can’t wait to entertain again!!

Happy Cooking.

 

About once a month I buy a box of party sandwiches for dinner or for a snack. There’s never ANY leftovers. EVER. I will repeat – EVER. I usually pick them up at Bruno’s, Pusateri’s, Daiters, or What A Bagel.

When I was trying to figure out what to serve at my birthday party last week,  it dawned on me that party sandwiches would be a welcome change from the usual sushi platter.

I contacted Lesley’s Party Sandwiches & Catering and made fast friends with Lesley who also shared the same birthday as me!! (too funny). I found out that she’s been in business for 29 years and was the first independent party sandwich supplier in the city! I also found out that I could drop my off my platters and she would will fill them up with an assortment of party sandwiches, such as:

• brie and fig preserve
• cream cheese and cucumber
• egg, tuna, and  salmon salad,
• smoked salmon and cream cheese and MORE.

So I dropped off my platters and witnessed how party sandwiches are made! There is a reason why I’m not making party sandwiches!!

Just before the party – they were delivered. HOW SWEET IS THAT? This is what my platter looked like. Pretty….Don’t you think?

Lesley’s Party Sandwiches are perfect for baby showers, baby namings, tea parties, office parties, engagement parties, graduations and more!! She also makes a variety of salads and beautiful fruit platter and vegetable platters too. #justsayin’.

For more information:

Lesley’s Party Sandwiches: 55 Glen Cameron Road, Unit 19, Thornhill, ON (905) 660 0551

Disclosure: Lesley’s Party Sandwiches provided me with an assortment of party sandwiches. However all opinions are my own.

 

 

I will be honest. I have no time to write a long blog at the moment. Here’s why:

-I’ve been enjoying the sun (err…suntanning WITH sunscreen) and I think my brain is also suntanning.

-I’m off to Hartford Connecticut for a family bar mitzva and the only thing I can think about is #road trip

-I haven’t packed yet which means I’m scrambling at the moment!

So this is going to be a BRIEF blog post about my BRIEF breakfast this morning.

It all started with this cute little 5 minute breakfast sandwich maker from Hamilton Beach.

In the morning, I let this cute little appliance warm up for 5 minutes. I then assembled the ingredients into the cute appliance and put the timer on for 5 minutes. Notice, I’m using the word “cute”…over and over again. This appliance is truly adorable AND functional too!

BINGO – Breakfast.

 

Now only if I had 5 minutes to clean the sink!! Notice there is no picture of my sink…LOL

For more information: Please visit Hamilton Beach. They really do have an awesome line up of amazing appliances. Please note: that this cute 5 minute sandwich maker won’t be available till August. K?

One more thing: Thanks Fathcom Communications for inviting me to the Hamilton Beach #Social Media Kitchen event. It was nothing short of fabulous.