One of my favourite coffee drinks, ever, is the blended and iced Vietnamese Coconut Coffee, or Cà Phê Cốt Dừa. Twice over the years we have hosted Vietnamese students and I have learned much about the food, culture and coffee! Inspiration As I’ve always said, inspiration comes from everywhere. But for this coffee it comes from our students, my adoration of Vietnamese food and seeing someone post recently about this coffee during their travels through Vietnam. My mouth instantly started drooling, as it had been awhile. Vietnamese Iced Coconut Coffee Here’s what you do if you don’t want to ble ..read more

Waldorf Salad with Candied Walnuts is a classic salad that originated at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City, with roots dating back to the 19th century. History of the Waldorf Salad This salad is known for its simple yet elegant combination of fresh ingredients, typically including apples, celery, walnuts, and mayonnaise-based dressing. Oscar Tschirky, the renowned maître d’hôtel, is widely credited with creating the Waldorf salad. Originally consisting solely of apples, celery, and mayonnaise, this iconic dish has undergone significant evolution over the past century. As a result, it ..read more

The easiest Honey Mustard Chicken Thighs have quickly become a family favourite. Bone-in Chicken Thighs are roasted in a creamy, savoury sauce featuring Dijon mustard, luscious honey, fresh garlic and a hint of spices. They are delicious and you are going to LOVE this recipe. What to serve with Honey Mustard Chicken Pasta, it fabulous with the chicken and sauce. I also like it with gnocchi simply made in a brown butter sauce, topped with Parmesan cheese and lots of freshly grated black pepper. mashed or roasted potatoes are delightful. Roasted vegetables, steamed green beans or frozen peas, c ..read more

This Vodka Lemon Punch is a slushy burst of citrus making it a refreshing sipper for summer days on the porch, patio or poolside. The punch is kept in the freezer and is enough for a crowd, or is ready to go for when you want a glass at the end of a long, hot summer day! Vodka Lemon Punch During the long hot days of summer we always look forward to a big pitcher of beverages to help beat the heat. This recipe in our family is also known as Grandma Baker Slush and is a beverage made in the Baker family (in Manitoba) for decades. Additionally, we have learned it was very popular with the early ..read more

Steamed green beans are mixed with a Dijon mustard and basil vinaigrette becoming Green Beans with Basil Vinaigrette, a delightful and refreshing dish we love to bring to potlucks. Green Beans with Basil Vinaigrette My days living in Vancouver are a big part of who I am today as I was introduced to so many new tastes and cultures. I reference those days in many of my recipes in this blog. This dish was born from a Vancouver experience and a favourite one to serve in the summer using garden fresh green beans and fresh basil. The beans are steamed or blanched, mixed with a pickled shallot Dijon ..read more

A popular salad in Chile, Ensalada Chilena (Chilean Salad) uses ripe, summer fresh tomatoes mixed with white onions and topped with fresh herbs. Chilean Salad (Ensalada chilena) In Chile, this is a traditional salad featuring light ingredients made with ripe tomatoes, white onions and fresh herbs. It’s common to have it served with spicy chiles/peppers, however we’ve kept the heat out of this dish in this recipe since not everyone likes spicy food as much as I do. Use whatever tomatoes you have access to at your market, grocery store or garden. I’ve had a similar salad in Germany called tomat ..read more

Pastitsio is a layered pasta dish made of noodles and a savoury and aromatic meat sauce that is topped with a cheesy white sauce. It’s baked until bubbling and browned on top. Pastitsio What is Pastitsio? My first experience tasting and making this Greek dish was when I lived in Vancouver. I ordered it at a Greek restaurant and later found a recipe in a cookbook which I tweaked and made into my own variation. It made a lot and since I was single in the city, I froze leftovers. Pastitsio is a layered Greek pasta dish much like a lasagna. The first layer (pasta) is typically made with a tubular ..read more

Homemade Irish Cream is a cream based liquor made with whiskey. It’s luxurious, silky and smooth enjoyed over ice, mixed into hot coffee or used to create your favourite cocktail. Irish Cream The key to making a great Irish Cream is using a good, reputable whiskey. We’ve made this recipe quite a few times over the years trying both Canadian Rye Whiskey and Irish Whiskey. While I don’t sway one way or the other, I do have a love for Canadian or American whiskey! To make this recipe you simply blend ingredients, bottle and let the Irish Cream sit for a couple days in the refrigerator allowing t ..read more

Lasagna Soup combines a hearty and robust tomato based broth infused with ground beef, Italian sausages and herbs making it a family favourite perfect for a cold winters day! Lasagna Soup We take the flavours from our Simple Lasagna recipe and combine them to create this incredibly flavourful Lasagna Soup! Ground beef and sausage add extra flavour and texture. We’ve even served this soup with a dollop of Fresh Ricotta cheese on top! This is a filling soup therefore we don’t serve it with any sides however a green salad on the side would be lovely.   PRO TIPS: When I make soup with pa ..read more

All it takes to cook squash is a little olive oil, butter, salt, pepper and time. Roasted Acorn Squash is an easy to make side dish or even a main meal option perfect for breakfast, lunch and dinner! Roasted Acorn Squash Cooked squash is one of my favourite vegetables. My mom introduced me to cooked squash in the 90’s and if you follow my blog you will note she wasn’t a great cook but she got better after seeing a nutritionist and channelling her inner Julia Child. This happened after I moved to Vancouver to go to University but when I returned home to visit she was always introducing me to h ..read more