10-Minute Tomato Bean Soup

10-Minute Tomato and White Bean Soup

Taste the flavours of Tuscan cooking with a minimum of fuss.  You can blend, heat, and serve this hearty Italian-style tomato soup in 10 minutes or less. From my mother I inherited a penchant for soups.  She is a soup artisan, crafting homemade soups like Pasta y Fagioli on a regular basis.  Her friends are often the ones who benefit from the big batches she cooks.  We tasted … Continue reading 10-Minute Tomato and White Bean Soup

Sparkling Saskatoon Berry Punch

Sparkling Saskatoon Berry Punch

  Parties are popping up everywhere this month, with graduations and weddings and anniversary celebrations happening.  And to celebrate with a glass of punch is certainly appropriate and desirable in this case, thanks to the berries.  I’ve rarely met a punch I don’t like, and though I’ll drink it in any colour, I prefer to tint mine with mostly natural ingredients. If you are not … Continue reading Sparkling Saskatoon Berry Punch

Deviled Eggs with Olive Tapenade

Tapas-Style Deviled Eggs

Deviled eggs can be enjoyed in at least 100 ways in my opinion.  Taco seasoning, curry powder, or pesto sauce are just few possible variations on the standard recipe.  This past weekend I enjoyed some topped with dill and a slice of sweet pickle. But olives are another way to add some Spanish flair to a such a classic picnic dish.  And with olive tapenade, these … Continue reading Tapas-Style Deviled Eggs

Cilantro Olive Tapenade

Appetizers = one of the best inventions ever.  In my ideal world, meals would consist of an endless array of appetizers and be eaten outdoors whenever possible.  Though I have never had the good fortune of experiencing a tapas party, I suspect I would never wish to leave if I did.  Furthermore, if you browse my recipe index, you’ll notice that there are far more … Continue reading Cilantro Olive Tapenade

Mango Lemon Bars

Mango Lemon Bars with Coconut Crust

Whether you’re ready for a party or in need of a boost, you cannot go wrong with citrus.  The bright aromas are a natural mood enhancer!   We’ve been drooping this week, with fluctuating weather, my husband not feeling well, and the kitchen in chaos.  So as I suggested before, when life gets you down, make lemon bars.  Amen? Last time I created Citrus Swirl Lemon … Continue reading Mango Lemon Bars with Coconut Crust