by Aimee Sugaring Off: it’s the sweetest season here in Eastern Canada. The warm spring air draws the sap up the trunks of the tall maples where it is collected and boiled down for pure maple syrup. March is entirely bearable because it gives us this liquid gold. One taste is worth all the slushy snow and frozen mud, but we go far beyond a mere taste! Maple syrup is the sweetest way to eat local in spring, and I feature it in both sweet and savoury dishes. Today’s post is a round-up of some of our favourite maple recipes for brunch, dinner and dessert. Our family has a long history of collect ..read more

by Aimee Today I’m sharing a handful of cherished Ukrainian recipes that anyone can prepare at home. It’s a humble cuisine that is steeped in tradition, rooted in love and shared with pride. Over the past year, we have borne witness to the pain and suffering of the Ukrainian men, women and children as they have endured a senseless war. I couldn’t let this day pass – one year since the invasion – without acknowledging that I indeed #StandwithUkraine. As a borscht-cooking, varenyky-pinching member of the Ukrainian diaspora, I’m honoured to share the food of my mother’s heritage with you. These r ..read more

by Aimee Hello readers! Thank you all so much for the warm response to my last, deeply personal post ‘New Year, New Journey‘. It was very moving to hear your stories; and I thank you for sharing. I really appreciate all the advice, and feel your support. It’s taken some time to adjust to our Food Adventure (as we are calling it instead of elimination diet) but we are taking it one day at a time. At first, eating gluten-free and dairy-free is all consuming…you can’t let up for one minute or there’s a kiddo slipping whole grain tortilla chips into the grocery cart. After a few weeks, however, a ..read more

by Aimee Hello 2023! Dear Readers, I’ve never been great at following food trends or blogging for the masses. I write what is close to my heart. I might craft a post about Paska bread prompted by the war on Ukraine, or develop a recipe inspired by my latest muse, like a simple spinach salad discovered on a trip to Greece. I write from life experiences and I always have. This new year my food journey is taking a slight detour. In brief, our daughter Clara’s naturopath has recommended she try an elimination diet for a few months. Please know that the following opinions are merely my own, and I a ..read more

by Aimee Menu suggestions and recipe links for all of your holiday meals from brunch to cocktails to dinner. The countdown to Christmas and the end of the year is truly on. I’m jotting down menu ideas and making grocery lists. Careful planning is how I stay organized for the next few weeks. That planning, combined with meal prep and some batch cooking is also how I ensure that I am relaxed with my feet up on Christmas day. Truly! I thought I’d share a few menu suggestions in case you needed inspiration. Even if you find one dish that will round out your menu, then I have been successful. Simpl ..read more

by Aimee It’s the best time of the year! I’m sharing my favourite cookbooks of 2022 just in time for you to create a Christmas wish list. I hope you’ll see one or two of these titles waiting for you under the tree. I love that a simple cookbook can launch a culinary journey experienced from the comforts of your own kitchen. This list is rich with prospects…the only question is, where to you want to go? Greece? India? Romaina? Prince Edward Island? Read on for the round-up. Favourite Cookbooks of 2022 Between the war on Ukraine, and my recent trip to Greece, it’s safe to say that my cookbook ob ..read more

by Aimee A simple, make-ahead beverage, this festive white wine sangria features winter fruits and crisp apple cider. Sipping sangria doesn’t have to stop just because summer is truly well and over. In fact, a wintery sangria is my preferred flavour profile for this popular party drink. I love how white wine sangria can be made ahead in a big batch; no last minute mixing or mess of individual cocktails. It really does make holiday entertaining simple, and that is the goal. Read on for my Blushing Quince & Cranberry White Wine Sangria recipe, and then add it to the list for your next gather ..read more

by Aimee A fall comfort food favourite, this simple sheet pan roast chicken dinner is ready in under an hour. A trip to the farmers market inspired this recent family feast. The dish warmed up the kitchen on a cold evening, and perfumed our home with aromas of roast potatoes, garlic and thyme. An alternate title to this post is ‘How to Get Your Family to Eat Brussels Sprouts’, because this really worked for my crew. And this is precisely why I had to share the recipe with you for the coming winter months. The sprouts take on a lot of flavour while roasted alongside chicken, and are slightly sw ..read more

by Aimee A beloved fall dessert, this simple apple crisp is lightly spiced and not too sweet. A classic! In full disclosure, I was planning to share a streusel-topped apple pie recipe with you, but our Thanksgiving celebrations left me a little burned out on pie making. Also? My sister showed up with a classic apple crisp – tangy and sweet – that was so dang delicious, it had me wondering why I bothered with pie at all. I said it! If you’re looking for a comforting fall dessert that’s also an easy kitchen baking project, a simple apple crisp is the best option. And as it turns out, it’s time I ..read more

by Aimee A post-hurricane perspective, plus tips for feeding a family during a disaster. Always bake before a storm! We’re on the other side of Hurricane Fiona now, power has been restored and things are getting back to normal. We made it. It’s time to reflect on how we could have better prepared AND what we did well, then file it away as a reminder for next time. Save this post for reference ahead of an incoming natural disaster, should you have time to prepare, as we fortunately did. I’m sharing a 24-hour timeline of our experience and each life lesson we learned along the way – like always ..read more