In today’s day and age, it feels like we’re bombarded with new information coming at us from the left, right, center, and even behind. Imagine if that info could inspire us to lead healthier lives, and give us solutions for real family life. Here are a few publications that are still worth the paper they are printed on (in my opinion anyway). Go flip some eco pages, and buy a new fruit, veg or vegan cookie, cook with your kids, plant something, and learn to stay healthier, sleep more, and smile. What else do we dream of?
If you have kids, you need to read this magazine for great content about protecting your family’s health, and protecting their future. With simple tips and great product suggestions, you’ll feel like a better parent whether you had time to read every article, or even just one. This eco mag is think and filled with so much, but it’s printed on Cascades’ Canadian-made Enviro100% post-consumer waste recycled paper, which saves 34,076 L of water, and 619kg of waste for every issue they print.
Going veg is on the rise, as people learn about the health benefits for both us and our world (Meatless Monday has never been so popular – Hurray for progress!). This vegan lifestyle magazine is serving up the latest in meat-free news, covering issues about health, politics, and global events, and of course, delicious recipes too. You can subscribe to have this publication delivered to your door, or get it tree-free into your inbox.
This is the ultimate resource for all things edible, local, and seasonal. Search for your own city’s edition to learn about what’s going on in your local foodshed, and find out how to keep it healthy, safe, and sustainable for the future. Learn about the people who grow your food, your local food artisans and chefs, farmers’ markets, restaurants, cafes, and more. You’ll never love or appreciate your food more than after reading these articles and getting connected your community.
“Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.” – Sir Richard Steele
Lisa Borden, owner of marketing firm, Borden Communications, offers a holistic approach to consciously marketing responsible brands and services. She encourages everyone to be their own expert by offering new perspectives, and helping them find the clarity to uncover simple solutions to daily challenges. She claims that she is not a coach, a consultant, or a concierge, but rather a strategic blend of all of these roles - working to increase efficiencies, revenue, health and happiness. As a consultant to small businesses, corporations, non-profit organizations, school groups and individuals as well as a dynamic campaign and brand ambassador and motivational speaker, her message is always clear. Every action and every dollar matters and has an impact - so we’d better take each step wisely. Together. Follow Lisa on twitter @LisaBorden.
I am preparing a dessert for my gourmet club tonight themed ’secret ingredients’. Each of us will bring a part of the meal and enjoy it together. We have been meeting for over ten years, and for a long time it has been a gathering of friends, and the ‘gourmet’ part is optional. I could write more, but that is the subject of another blog post.
I found my dessert in the recipe section of the Sneaky Chef website. It suddenly occured to me that this would be a great link to pass on to anyone with picky eaters in their family. There is also an accompanying book series to go with it.
Spring is here, and in an attempt to bring the season indoors, I made a new dessert last weekend … Ina Garten’s Lemon Cake Recipe. The result was fresh and lovely, served with strawberries and vanilla ice cream. Perhaps one of the best parts was that the recipe makes two loaves, and I was able to put one away in the freezer to enjoy any day I want to make extra special.
Snow is not usually something that receives a warm welcome.I love winter.Snow is fun best of all, I love the magical feeling I get when I see the snow sparkling outside.Below, I have included activities that you can do in the warmth of your home (Play date word search fun, French toast soufflé or Family movie night) and I have also included some fun activities that willget you out into the fresh winter air (Divide & shovel, Tip the cup and Frosty treasure hunt).Like most things in life, balance is very important.Some people like to “hibernate” and stay warm and others prefer to go out and enjoy the many activities that winter has to offer.In my opinion, everything is good in moderation…. except perhaps the French toast soufflé, which is good in abundance (the recipe can be found below).
Play date word search fun:
This is a fun activity to do with a friend or a sibling.Each person can create their own word search using words that are related to winter. You can do this on the computer or on a piece of paper.Make a chart with 12 rows and 12 columns.
Write 10-12 words at the bottom of the word search and then start placing the words into the empty chart (they can be spelled in all directions - up or down or across and even diagonally, if you are feeling really adventurous).
When you are done, exchange your word searches.Take the time to find the words your friend or sibling has hidden, while they try to find yours.
Here are some good words to get you started: Snow, Shovel, Skiing, hockey, skates, hot cocoa, scarf, mittens, fireplace, blanket, and ice rink.
French toast soufflé
This is my family’s “ultimate” winter comfort food. As the temperatures start to drop, every day that goes by, my children beg, negotiate and plead for me to make this dish. The nice thing about it is that part of it can be made in advance!
Ingredients
10 cups Challah (egg bread) cut in 1” cubes
1 (8 ounce) package light cream cheese
8 eggs
1 ½ cups1% or 2% milk
⅔ cup 5% or light cream
½ cup maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar
½ cup blueberries tossed with a tsp. of white sugar (optional)
Directions
1.Place bread cubes in a lightly greased 9”x13” glass baking dish. (If you are planning to add the blueberries, add them to the bread cubes and mix them around.)
2.In an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each egg is added.
3.Stir in milk, cream, maple syrup, and vanilla extract and mix until smooth.
4.Pour cream cheese mixture over the bread. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
5.The following morning, remove the soufflé from refrigerator and let it stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.
6.Preheat the oven to 375°F.Bake uncovered for 30 minutes.
7.Sprinkle with confectioners’ sugar and serve immediately.
Makes 10-12 Servings
Family movie night!
What a great way of getting all of your family members together for some much needed quality time.
Here are some tried and true suggestions that can help make your family’s movie night a great success:
·Pick a movie start time:Decide upon a specific night of the week and starting time and stick to it. Friday nights are often good movie nights because it’s a nice way to de-stress after a long week of work and school.
·Which movie is best?Obviously, different people have different movie tastes, especially people of different ages. Trying to find a movie that makes everybody happy can be quite a challenge. Here is a list of some of our family’s favorites…
Monsters, Inc.The IncrediblesFinding NemoThe Lion King
AladdinBrother BearCinderellaSleeping Beauty
Mary PoppinsThe Sound of MusicBack to the FutureToy Story
Kung Foo PandaDaddy Day CareCharlie and the chocolate factory
The Tooth FairyHarry PotterE.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
The Princess Diaries
·Consider a theme:Encourage your kids to come up with creative snacks based on the movie. If you are watching the movie “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”, chocolate themed treats will do perfectly! Chocolate milk, ice cream or bowls of different chocolate “WONKA” treats, like chocolate covered raisins or snack size chocolate bars that are generally available year round and especially around Halloween.
·Be creative:Get the kids to create tickets for the movie. A cute idea is to have the kids “usher” their parents to their seats, using a small flashlight like in the olden days.
·Comfort Zone:Plenty of comfy seats are a must. Bean bag chairs, cozy warm blankets and large pillows on the floor make for a very comfortable and cozy setting.
·Serious Snacks:Movie candy and buttered popcorn (microwave is perfect), along with pop or water canlend an air of authenticity
Movie nights are definitely wonderful traditions that your kids will remember long into adulthood!
Winter Olympics:
Here are some games and activities to keep your kids busy in the winter, and off the couch!!
“Divide and shovel”: Divide your family members or other willing participants into two teams. Take a shovel and “draw” a line down the middle of your drive way.Provide both teams with utensils and tools for clearing the snow. Don’t forget to allocate space to dump the snow! The winning team is the one that managed to “clean up” their side of the driveway first.
“Tip the cup”: This is a great way to practice your pitching skills and to develop your hand eye co-ordination. Place 10-12 plastic drinking cups along a fence. Make snowballs and take turns trying to hit the cups off the fence. Each cup that is “tipped” is a point.
“Frosty treasure hunt”: This idea comes from one of my favourite sites www.kaboose.com.It involves hiding all of the winter accessories that you children would need in order to build a snowman or snow person! Before heading outside, give them clues or a treasure map to lead them to all of the hidden items. Then, when they have found all of the items, take a walk to a park or your own yard, and help them build a snowman with all of the items they have collected.
Whatever you decide to do, try to enjoy all of the wonderful activities, moments and memories that winter 2011/2012 hopes to deliver!
Shelley Sefton is a chef, recipe developer & creator of “Yummy in my Tummy” - classes for kids that offers them the opportunity to experience exciting adventures in the kitchen – combining education, art, food and most important of all FUN! Contact: (905) 597-0672 or sdsefton@rogers.com.
“What does a New Year mean to you?”…. I asked my family this question as they sat around the breakfast table. As expected, the two year old doesn’t quite understand the question yet. However, she has enjoyed a lot of quality parent time over the holidays and that seems to be enough for her. My son, who is almost 7 years old, is excited about having another birthday in the new year. Although, he is not excited about the additional responsibilities that come with getting older! With winter firmly setting in, my daughter, who is almost 9 years old, is excited at the promise of the spring and summer that accompany the New Year…and especially her first sleepover camp experience! For many, a new year can also mean new friends, now jobs, new challenges and new opportunities. When I think about New Year, I first reflect on the events of last year and then I envision all the possibilities to look forward to next year.
This month I have chosen a new recipe to share with you that uses something “old” and delicious, to create something “new” and even more delicious. I have also included a recipe for “rice mice” which provides a great way to use your “old” leftover rice to create something “new” and unique.
Recently, for my youngest daughter’s birthday, I made my usual cookie platter with 8 varieties of cookies. At the end of the party, I took all of the leftover cookies and put them in a resealable bag. Unfortunately, shortly afterwards, my beautiful cookies became cookie crumbs. So I went to my computer and searched for “what to do with broken cookie crumbs”. The following absolutely delicious recipe came up. I tested it on our family and friends over the holidays and it was a real hit!!
Butterscotch Cookie Crumb Cookies
You will need:
1/4 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar (tightly packed)
2 egg yolks
1/4 cup milk
1 cup flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp soda
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup walnuts
1 cup cookie crumbs
What to do:
1. Preheat oven to 350F and spray a cookie sheet with non-stick cooking spray.
2. In a mixer, cream butter and sugar. Add egg yolks and continue mixing.
3. Stir in flour, salt, baking soda and cinnamon, alternating with the milk.
4. Finally fold in walnuts and cookie crumbs and drop by teaspoonfuls onto a cookie sheet.
5. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes.
This is a great way to use up any rice you may have left over from a holiday meal and it gives your kids the opportunity to create an adorable looking mouse.
You will need:
1 cup cream cheese
3 - 4 cups rice, cooked and cold
Licorice string (for the tail)
Black olives, sliced (for the ears)
Frozen corn and peas (nose and eyes)
What to do:
1. In a large mixing bowl, mix together the rice and cream cheese. Add enough cream cheese so that the rice sticks together well.
2. Form mouse-shaped mounds with the rice mixture and place on waxed paper.
3. Press a piece of licorice firmly into the back, for a tail.
4. Place two slices of olives on top of the head, for ears
5. Lastly, take one pea for the nose and two corn niblets for the eyes and press firmly into the rice mouse.
Now you have your very own rice mouse!
Not all old things should be “out”, the poodle perm, maybe, but my husband’s grandmother’s sinfully delicious cheesecake will always be “in”.
Learning to appreciate the things from yesterday and at the same time embracing the things that are yet too come is what life is all about.
Wishing you a happy and healthy holiday,
from my family to yours…and a peaceful 2011
Shelley Sefton is a chef, recipe developer & creator of “Yummy in my Tummy” - classes for kids that offers them the opportunity to experience exciting adventures in the kitchen – combining education, art, food and most important of all FUN! Contact: (905) 597-0672 or sdsefton@rogers.com.
We have an excellent cookbook to recommend for friends and family who love to bake … and you!
Desserts 4 Today by Abigail Johnson Dodge features one hundred and twenty-five flavorful desserts with just four ingredients, making baking accessible even with a busy schedule, and leaving lots of time for the people in your life.
Browse through five delicious sections - Cookies, Creamy Desserts, Frozen Desserts, Fruit Desserts and Pastry Desserts. The recipes are simple yet sophisticated. In addition, many of the recipes feature optional switch-ins and ideas to gussy it up and tailor the recipes to your table and tastes.
Care to be dazzled? Raspberry-White Chocolate Tart, Orange-Glazed Grilled Peach Melba, Creamy Mocha Semifreddo, Kiwi Lemon Mousse, Mini Bittersweet Chocolate Cheesecakes, Nutella Fudge Brownies and more.
Desserts 4 Today is available online and at bookstores across the country.
‘Tis the season to be jolly as they say but if you find yourself more than a little humbug at this time of year it’s probably because you’re the one that has to host the big family dinner. The way I see it, you can be one of two people; the super organized one who starts baking in October and making homemade gifts in July or the person who has a good grasp on reality and feels no shame in cheating a little! I fall somewhere in the middle, annoying enough to have my menu ready but realistic to know I need a little help or a cheat sheet at this time of year. And cheating does not mean you love your family any less! In fact by cheating, I give myself more time to spend with a glass of holiday cheer with good friends and family. So embrace your inner cheater and use some of my quick tips to help you get through this holiday season!
1. Delegate, delegate, delegate! Santa does it with the elves so why can’t you? Going on the assumption that those who will share your holiday table are good friends and family, there is nothing wrong with asking them to help out with a dish or two. However make sure you are specific in your ask so your table doesn’t end up looking like an all you can eat cheapo buffet! Easy items for guests to bring are no cook holiday nibbles like a dynamite cheese plate, or a made in advance dessert like frozen lemon mousse or gourmet chocolates and cookies that can be just put on a platter. Even mashed potatoes can be done in advance by a guest and reheated in the oven at your house!
2. Speaking of doing things in advance, try to plan most of your dishes so they can be prepared will in advance of your guests’ arrival. Soup as a first course is an ideal starter because most soups can be prepared up to 3 days in advance and only require a gentle reheat just prior to serving. Or a cold plated first course such as smoked salmon, capers, red onion and a dill vinaigrette can be prepared and plated in the morning. Simply cover each plate with food wrap and stack in refrigerator until ready to serve. Vegetables can be cleaned, prepped and blanched the day before, leaving you less to do prior to dinner – which is the goal.
3. If a big traditional meal like roast turkey and all the fixings has you stressed, then throw caution to the wind and prepare what you feel comfortable doing. The point of getting together during the holidays is just that, getting together and whether you choose to do it around a grilled steak or a seared tuna shouldn’t make a difference to your holiday cheer!
4. Cater to your guests! And by that I mean, if your budget allows for it, hire a local caterer to do some or all of your meal. If you work out the time it takes you to plan, shop, prepare, cook and serve a big meal you might be surprised how affordable having someone else do it for you can be! You can then concentrate your energies on setting a vibrant winter wonderland table and spending more time with your guests!
To get recipes, inspiration and style ideas to help you with any of my cheater tips, visit my website at www.thecookscompanion.ca and make your holiday meals something to celebrate!
Nadine Hughes is the creator and owner of, The Cook’s Companion and The Menu Companion, through which she offers kitchen consultations, menu planning services as well as private cooking classes for adults and teens throughout Southern Ontario. She is also an award winning author. Pick up a copy of her latest cookbook “The Groove Mamma Goes Gourmet – Easy Ways To Put The Fun Back Into Entertaining” (awarded Best Canadian Entertaining Cookbook at the 2009 Gourmand Cookbook Awards) for $7.98 at www.groovemamma.com
Winter is the perfect season to create projects to keep you and your family busy while it is freezing cold and snowing outside. Even though playing video games and watching TV are always good ways to keep ourselves occupied, it is also good to find some activities that require using our imagination and creativity.
The benefits of working together on at home projects is that you see your hard work come to fruition, while being wonderfully creative and enjoying quality family time…something we could all have a little more of! There are no limits to using your imagination and there are no rules to limit your fun, except to be safe!
Below you will find some fabulously fun crafts and delicious recipes for the whole family from the age of 2 to 102. In our house, these are considered activities for everyone.
Snow family puppets: This adorable snow family will provide your family with hours of puppet show entertainment!
You will need (many of the supplies below can be found at your local dollar, art supply or craft store):
Plastic wrap
1 white knit glove
Hot glue gun (adult supervision required)
5 tiny orange pom-poms for noses
10-12 Small pom-poms for ear muffs and hats
Chenille stems cut in 2 inch pieces (also known as pipe cleaners)
Scrap pieces of felt for scarves
Black acrylic paint
Paint brush
White felt
Scissors
How to make it:
1. Fill fingers of glove with plastic wrap. This will keep the glove from sticking to itself from the glue and will act as a “filled finger” which allows for a good fit when done.
2. Glue chenille pieces over the top of each glove finger and the pom-poms at the end of each chenille piece for ear muffs.
3. Use a triangle shaped scrap of felt to form a simple hat. Wrap the wide end of triangle across the head of the finger puppet (at the tip of one of the fingers) and glue the point of the triangle down the back. Glue a pom-pom on top.
4. Make scarves from felt strips, fringing the ends with scissors. Glue in place.
5. The orange pom-poms can be used for noses.
6. Dip the handle end of a small paint brush into black acrylic paint. Carefully dot on eyes and mouths. (If you have tiny black pom-poms they can be used instead of paint for the eyes or you can also practice with a black marker)
7. Allow everything to dry and remove the plastic wrap from the fingers.
8. Put the family of finger puppets on your hand and create a puppet show!
Caution:
Always use caution when using hot glue guns. An adult should supervise or handle the gun themselves while children position the materials. White craft glue can be used instead, but takes longer to dry.
Re-sealable plastic bags
White tempera paint
A variety of pasta shapes
Waxed paper
White school glue
White cardboard cut in different shapes (circles, hexagons, squares)
White ribbon or string
What you need to do:
1. Place a variety of pasta shapes in a re-sealable plastic bag
2. Add enough paint to coat, close the bag and shake until the pasta is well coated.
3. Pour the pasta onto sheets of waxed paper and allow to dry
4. Glue the white pasta onto the cardboard shapes, making different designs
5. When it is dry, use a hole punch to make a hole and thread the ribbon through
6. Now you can hang you snowflakes anywhere you desire.
Note: These snowflakes are a great way to decorate your Christmas tree.
Soup it up! - create and customize your very own soup!
This recipe is easy to follow and gives family members the opportunity to add their own personal touch!
You will need:
1 onion, diced
1 TBSP olive or canola oil
8 cups broth (chicken, beef, vegetable or water will do)
4 cups vegetables (diced, sliced or shredded)
salt and pepper
How to make:
1. Prepare vegetables so that they are ready when needed.
2. Take a medium sized saucepan and drizzle olive oil on the bottom.
3. Put the heat on medium heat and sauté onions for 3-5 minutes.
4. Add vegetables and sauté for another 5-10 minutes.
5. Pour in stock and cover, bringing to the boil.
6. When the soup starts to boil, reduce the temperature to low heat.
7. Cook for 30 minutes, until the vegetables are tender (soft when cut into).
8. Allow to cool for 10-15 minutes and then use a hand blender to puree, or if you prefer, leave the soup in a chunky consistency.
Delicious additions include: croutons, noodles, shredded cheese or crushed crackers
Caution:
Always use caution when using an oven or stove. An adult should supervise.
Simply sweet snow people
You will need:
1 toothpick
black food coloring
3 marshmallows
2 pretzel sticks
3 chocolate covered buttons
¼ cup white frosting
What to do:
1. Use the white frosting as glue to assemble the 3 marshmallows to make the head and body.
2. Using a toothpick and the black food colouring, dot on eyes, a nose and mouth on the top marshmallow. 3. Using frosting and “glue” three chocolate covered buttons on the shirt (middle marshmallow).
4. Stick the pretzel sticks into the middle marshmallow, on the sides for arms.
5. Mmmm! Enjoy!
Snow Ball
I made myself a snow ball as perfect as could be
I thought I’d keep it as a pet and let it sleep with me
I made it some pajamas and a pillow for it’s head
Then, last night it ran away
But first — it wet the bed.This is one of my favourite poems written by Shel Silverstein, a well-known cartoonist, poet and songwriter.
Shelley Sefton is a chef, recipe developer & creator of “Yummy in my Tummy” - classes for kids that offers them the opportunity to experience exciting adventures in the kitchen – combining education, art, food and most important of all FUN! Contact: (905) 597-0672 or sdsefton@rogers.com.
Have you ever made a fantastic recipe from a favourite recipe book, magazine, newspaper or friend just once, and never again? The recipe is then forgotten, or you can no longer locate it?
We have an idea to solve this problem … the family recipe binder!
Take a binder and keep it on the book shelf with your other recipe books. Use simple dividers to organize appetizers, salads, soups, poultry, fish, meat, pasta, side dishes, cakes and cookies etc.. When you make a recipe that you want to cook or bake again, copy it into the binder, even if it is in a book. You will be able to access it and find meal inspirations quickly.
