Braised Lamb Shanks in Red Wine
Braised Lamb Shanks in Red Wine are just so darned good. Continue reading Braised Lamb Shanks in Red Wine
30 Minute Moroccan Fish with Chickpeas
Our daughter made us a lovely Moroccan style meal of poached fish with chickpeas in 30 minutes! At the same time she put together a vegan version for herself. Both Fish and Vegan recipe cards included! Continue reading 30 Minute Moroccan Fish with Chickpeas
Not My Uncle Herb’s “Everyday” Sourdough Sandwich Bread
Everything you need to know to make delicious Sourdough Sandwich Bread. Continue reading Not My Uncle Herb’s “Everyday” Sourdough Sandwich Bread
Don’t Try This At Home -Kitchen Gardening
Sometimes I don’t follow the rules when it comes to starting seeds in my kitchen! Continue reading Don’t Try This At Home -Kitchen Gardening
My Husband’s Sourdough Bread
My husband is my “Sourdough Man”. He creates Sourdough treats on a regular basis and I have asked him to tell us how he does it! Continue reading My Husband’s Sourdough Bread
Growing Perennial Flowers from Seed
I just love cottage gardens, filled with perennial flowers. Lately, I’ve been starting perennial plants from seed indoors – getting ready for spring!
Continue reading “Growing Perennial Flowers from Seed”
Groundhog Day
Lots of facts about Groundhogs and Groundhog Day! Happy Groundhog Day 2024!
Continue reading “Groundhog Day”
My Favourite Midnight Pasta
A recipe for Spaghetti Aglio e Olio – or Midnight Pasta – with a few additions: black olives, shallots, hot banana peppers and bacon. It’s a simple take on the Naples classic and it is my absolute favourite.
Continue reading “My Favourite Midnight Pasta”
Five Ways to Turn Blue Monday Around
Five ways to turn Blue Monday around! (It’s not a real thing anyway!) Continue reading Five Ways to Turn Blue Monday Around
Leftover Turkey Pie
Indulge in our comforting turkey pie recipe, a culinary creation that transforms leftover turkey into a family Boxing Day tradition.
Continue reading “Leftover Turkey Pie”
French Canadian Tourtière
A recipe for a French Canadian Tourtière. Our family’s traditional holiday meat pie. Continue reading French Canadian Tourtière
Chocolate Chip Meringue Teardrop Cookies
A recipe for Chocolate Chip Teardrop Cookies. This delicious cookie is a baked meringue with chocolate chips added to provide a bit of flavour contrast. Happy baking. Continue reading Chocolate Chip Meringue Teardrop Cookies
Birds Nest Cookies
A Recipe for Walnut Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies – or Birds Nest Cookies with Jam – as part of my Christmas Baking Countdown. I am trying recreate family recipes to make new memories this Christmas. Continue reading Birds Nest Cookies
Walnut Football Cookies
A recipe for our family’s traditional walnut football cookies. Continue reading Walnut Football Cookies
Refinishing Wood Stairs Old House
We refinished the wooden staircase in our 130 year old home. It was a daunting task, but we are happy with the results. Continue reading Refinishing Wood Stairs Old House
My First Black Friday
In recent years, Canadians have been embracing the Black Friday frenzy, a phenomenon that was once exclusively American. My first encounter with this shopping extravaganza was during a trip to the United States for a hockey tournament over the American Thanksgiving Weekend – talk about a cultural shock!
Continue reading “My First Black Friday”
How to Spatchcock a Turkey
Spatchcocking a turkey is the game-changing cooking technique you never knew you needed. It will make your turkey cook faster, and result in succulent, juicy meat and a perfectly crispy skin. Elevate your holiday feasts to a whole new level of deliciousness! Continue reading How to Spatchcock a Turkey
Pear Upside Down Cake – Vegan
Vegan Buttermilk Pear Upside Down Cake is rich in flavor, light in texture, and 100% plant-based. This dessert will become your new go-to recipe for special occasions. Continue reading Pear Upside Down Cake – Vegan
Growing Veronica
Veronica, commonly known as ‘Speedwell,’ is a stunning perennial that graces many gardens with its colorful spikes of flowers. Its varieties range in hue from purples and blues to pinks and whites. Besides its ornamental beauty, Veronica is relatively easy to grow, making it a favorite for both beginner and experienced gardeners. Continue reading Growing Veronica
Painting the Cottage Deck
Stepping onto a wooden deck overlooking a tranquil lake can be one of the most calming experiences. The water’s gentle ripples, the chirping birds, and the scent of fresh air all combine to provide a serene getaway from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. But as picturesque as it might seem, the wear and tear from nature’s elements can take a toll on such decks, making a fresh coat of paint or stain not only aesthetic but often essential.
We painted our extra large cottage deck – a DIY story.
Continue reading “Painting the Cottage Deck”
Unleash a Symphony of Shades in Your Garden – Hosta Love!
I dream of a lush carpet of green, a mosaic of leaves in various shapes, textures, and patterns, all dancing to the whims of dappled sunlight under the pine trees. Hostas are the unsung heroes of the shade garden, bringing drama and elegance to forgotten corners.
Continue reading “Unleash a Symphony of Shades in Your Garden – Hosta Love!”
Vegan Cinnamon Pumpkin Spice Biscotti
Pumpkin spice and everything nice; that’s what autumn desserts are made of! Combine the classic crunch of Italian biscotti with the warm flavors of pumpkin spice and make it vegan too! An easy recipe.
Continue reading “Vegan Cinnamon Pumpkin Spice Biscotti”
Vegan Pumpkin Pie
An easy recipe for Vegan Pumpkin Pie that will satisfy everyone in the family!
Continue reading “Vegan Pumpkin Pie”
Book Review – The Spy and The Traitor – By Ben Macintyre
The Spy and The Traitor is a true story about the life of a spy – Oleg Gordievsky. A non-fiction book review.
Continue reading “Book Review – The Spy and The Traitor – By Ben Macintyre”
Scotch Bonnet Hot Pepper Sauce
It’s time to harvest and jar all those hot peppers we’ve been growing. A great recipe for Scotch Bonnet Hot Pepper Sauce with canning instructions.
Continue reading “Scotch Bonnet Hot Pepper Sauce”
Painting the Cottage Wooden Floor
Our summer cottage had an old wooden floor painted forest green which I did not love. We gave it a coat or two of neutralizing paint for a quick makeover.
Continue reading “Painting the Cottage Wooden Floor”
Lollipop Lamb Chops
Lamb Lollipops are one of our go to entrees for entertaining – they are simple to prepare, but delicious and impressive.
Continue reading “Lollipop Lamb Chops”
Blanket Flowers
Blanket Flowers have been the biggest surprise success in our Northern cottage garden this summer!
Continue reading “Blanket Flowers”
Labour Day
Labour Day, observed on the first Monday of September, signifies more than just the end of summer in Canada. It’s a rich tapestry of history, family traditions, and seasonal changes. For our family, it was often the last big day to barbeque before the kids went back to school, or attend a local fall fair (last year even a rodeo!).
Continue reading “Labour Day”
Spicy Red Pepper Jelly
Little jars of spicy red pepper jelly – make a nice addition to a cheese or charcuterie tray. They make great little gifts as well.
Continue reading “Spicy Red Pepper Jelly”
Blueberry Boy Bait
Blueberry Boy Bait is a recipe for a delicious cake baked with blueberries with a hint of cinnamon. The title is old-fashioned and maybe even inappropriate – but it really is boy bait!
Continue reading “Blueberry Boy Bait”
Duck, Duck, Goldendoodle
A few pictures of ducks in the blueberries and our doodle trying to protect his property.
Continue reading “Duck, Duck, Goldendoodle”
Butter Tart Squares
Butter Tart Squares taste just as delicious as those classic Canadian butter tarts, but are so much easier to make!
Continue reading “Butter Tart Squares”
Bread and Butter Pickles
The cucumbers are ready to pick! A recipe for bread and butter pickles.
Continue reading “Bread and Butter Pickles”
Painting a Brick Fireplace
Painting the fireplace in our Northern Ontario Canada cottage. A DIY Before and After story.
Continue reading “Painting a Brick Fireplace”
Purple Sauerkraut
Preserve beets and red cabbage by fermenting with salt. A purple sauerkraut recipe Continue reading Purple Sauerkraut
Carrot Ginger Sauerkraut
Preserving Carrots by fermenting with a Carrot Ginger Sauerkraut recipe.
Continue reading “Carrot Ginger Sauerkraut”
Cabbage Turmeric Garlic Sauerkraut
Make sauerkraut at home with this easy recipe. Fermented cabbage is not only delicious but also packed with probiotics and health benefits.
Continue reading “Cabbage Turmeric Garlic Sauerkraut”
Daylilies
Daylilies are cheerful, easy to grow, they prevent erosion and shade other garden plants – and the price is right!
Continue reading “Daylilies”
How High’s the Water?
The Water level is rising at our Ontario cottage. We keep asking each other “How High’s the Water?”, which reminds us of a Johnny Cash song.
Continue reading “How High’s the Water?”
Vintage Vegan Radio Pudding
Radio pudding is a vintage classic dessert – made with simple ingredients. A simple cake-like pudding baked in a butterscotch syrup. We have made this classic dessert in vegan style. Continue reading Vintage Vegan Radio Pudding
Signs of Spring
This past week in Southern Ontario we have had a lovely quick blast of summer temperatures! We are heading back to colder temperatures again next week, but we’ve had a wonderful time of it while it lasted!
Continue reading “Signs of Spring”
The Story of My Experiments with Truth
Our house is littered with unread and partially read books. This autobiography of Mohandas K. Ghandi has made it to my favourite bookshelf. I very much enjoy reading non-fiction – and in particular stories of history. This book kept me riveted!
Continue reading “The Story of My Experiments with Truth”
Growing Lupins
Starting lupins from seed to add to our Northern Ontario island garden. All about the island, starting lupin seeds, and growing lupins.
Continue reading “Growing Lupins”
We Made Our Own Wine
We had fun making a batch of “home made” wine at our local make your own wine store!
Continue reading “We Made Our Own Wine”
Blue Jays Spring Training Tour
We took a last minute trip to Florida to watch some Toronto Blue Jays spring training games and had a wonderful time with very little advance planning!
Continue reading “Blue Jays Spring Training Tour”
Lamb Stew
A delicious recipe for Lamb Stew – perfect for a spring or Easter dinner.
Continue reading “Lamb Stew”
As Canadian as Peanut Butter
The history of peanut butter – A delicious and healthy Canadian food!
Continue reading “As Canadian as Peanut Butter”
Tiramisu Cheesecake
We prepared this easy Tiramisu Cheesecake for a birthday celebration. It’s a seemingly fancy dessert but we made it no-bake and without eggs or mascarpone cheese.
Continue reading “Tiramisu Cheesecake”
Spring Head Start – Seed Starting
Get a jump on spring gardening with simple seed starting tips. Learn how to choose the right seeds, create the perfect environment, and care for your seedlings for a bountiful harvest.
Continue reading “Spring Head Start – Seed Starting”
Ontario’s Ice Harvest History
Our mysterious island barn is a legacy of Ontario’s historic Ice Harvest industry.
Continue reading “Ontario’s Ice Harvest History”
Kitchen Pantry Update
A vintage thrifted baker’s rack painted – becomes a pantry. Continue reading Kitchen Pantry Update
Vegan Roasted Butternut Squash Soup
A very easy recipe for a delicious roasted butternut squash soup that just happens to be vegan!
Continue reading “Vegan Roasted Butternut Squash Soup”
Winter Squash
Squash are versatile, easy to grow in the garden and nutritious. What could be better? Continue reading Winter Squash
Lobster Macaroni and Cheese
A delicious recipe for Lobster Macaroni and Cheese.
Continue reading “Lobster Macaroni and Cheese”
Blogging 2023
An update about why I blog, WordAds, affiliate marketing, Search Engine Optimization, my Bing struggle and blog appearance! Continue reading Blogging 2023
Kitchen Island Counter Replacement
We replaced the existing wooden countertop of our kitchen island with quartz. This was a quick refresh to our existing kitchen in our 130 year old home. Continue reading Kitchen Island Counter Replacement
Calgary to Cochrane to Canmore Drive
We took a day trip from Calgary Alberta through Cochrane to Canmore and back. Map, distances and Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary review. Continue reading Calgary to Cochrane to Canmore Drive
Happy New Year 2023
Happy New Year 2023 Continue reading Happy New Year 2023
Best Red Wine Gravy
Try this luscious dark gravy for prime rib roast made with red wine and beef stock. This recipe is very easy, doesn’t require complicated ingredients and tastes delicious. Continue reading Best Red Wine Gravy
Christmas Shopping Then and Now
Three anecdotes about Christmas Shopping now and in the not so distant past. Continue reading Christmas Shopping Then and Now
Best Vegan Shortbread Cookies
A traditionally flavoured and textured shortbread cookie recipe – but prepared in a vegan style with only four ingredients Continue reading Best Vegan Shortbread Cookies
Vegan Peanut Butter Cookies
An easy recipe for vegan peanut butter cookies, that doesn’t require any special ingredients. Continue reading Vegan Peanut Butter Cookies
Vegan Butter Pecan Cookies
An easy recipe for Vegan Butter Pecan Cookies, with only five ordinary ingredients. Continue reading Vegan Butter Pecan Cookies
Vegan Cocoa Sugar Cookies
Vegan cocoa sugar cookies are crisp and taste chocolatey delicious – made with 5 simple ingredients Continue reading Vegan Cocoa Sugar Cookies
Christmas Photo Traditions
Christmas photo traditions including a composite picture, family calendar and photo Christmas cards.
Continue reading Christmas Photo Traditions
Coq Au Vin – Rustic Elegance
A recipe for Coq au Vin – a rich, rustic, comforting classic with red wine, chicken, and vegetables. Continue reading Coq Au Vin – Rustic Elegance
Canadian Flights
A story about our flights from Ontario to Calgary and back on Flair Airlines, and some thoughts about Westjet and customer service. (and an update!)
Continue reading “Canadian Flights”
Heroic Vegan Pumpkin Spice Cake
This easy vegan pumpkin spice cake will make you a hero and has only two ingredients! Continue reading Heroic Vegan Pumpkin Spice Cake
Happy Thanksgiving!
Photos of wild turkeys crossing the road Continue reading Happy Thanksgiving!
Pork Roast over Ratatouille
An easy to prepare recipe for Pork roast served over Ratatouille -a delicious family style comfort food recipe. Continue reading Pork Roast over Ratatouille
Planes, Trains and Automobiles
Some Links to Travel Booking Websites Continue reading Planes, Trains and Automobiles
Old House Floor Upstairs Landing
A before during and after story about our 1890s floor refinishing project Continue reading Old House Floor Upstairs Landing
Green Tomato Relish
A recipe and canning instructions for Green Tomato Relish – what to do with those green tomatoes? Continue reading Green Tomato Relish
Fiesta Salsa
Preserving the last of my tomato harvest with Fiesta Salsa – recipe and canning instructions Continue reading Fiesta Salsa
Bruschetta Preserves – A Canning Recipe
We love bruschetta, and we love growing and harvesting our own tomatoes. Wouldn’t it be nice to have fresh a bruschetta spread, ready to serve in a flash during the winter? The following post is about preparing Bruschetta Preserves, with a recipe and canning instructions.
Continue reading “Bruschetta Preserves – A Canning Recipe”
Zesty Chili Sauce
A recipe for a zesty ketchup-like chili sauce that is easy to prepare with your tomato harvest Continue reading Zesty Chili Sauce
Blender Herb Garden Tomato Sauce
A simple recipe for tomato pasta sauce with herbs from the garden. This is a freezer recipe for a basic but flavourful sauce recipe that avoids the step of peeling the tomatoes. Continue reading Blender Herb Garden Tomato Sauce
It’s Tomato Harvest Time
This post is the beginning of short series about harvesting our home grown tomatoes – and what to do with them all. Preserving (or putting up) tomatoes and some details about tomato nutrition.
Continue reading “It’s Tomato Harvest Time”
Zucchini Relish
A recipe for Zucchini Relish – with canning instructions. What to do with your zucchini harvest. Continue reading Zucchini Relish
Junque from the Sheds
Our island sheds were filled to the brim with old stuff – and a few treasures that I painted blue. Continue reading Junque from the Sheds
Blueberry Hill
A story about growing blueberries with jam FAQs and lots of facts about varieties, nutrition and planting tips. Continue reading Blueberry Hill
How to Make Blueberry Jam
A recipe for blueberry jam with canning instructions and a printable recipe card. Continue reading How to Make Blueberry Jam
Original Post – Labour Day
A little bit of Labour Day history Continue reading Original Post – Labour Day
Garden Dirt – The Dirty Truth
Spreading the word about types of soil, composting, the evolution of soil and dirt – and a few puns about dirt just for fun. Continue reading Garden Dirt – The Dirty Truth
The Mad Trappers
We rescued a marooned red squirrel with a live wildlife trap. Continue reading The Mad Trappers
Make Homemade Ice Cream
It’s easy to make ice cream at home without a machine or special equipment and just two ingredients plus your flavour of choice. Continue reading Make Homemade Ice Cream
Make Homemade Strawberry Rhubarb Jam
What could be better than making homemade strawberry rhubarb jam. Rhubarb is an easy to grow perennial vegetable and is wonderful with strawberries. Continue reading Make Homemade Strawberry Rhubarb Jam
Island Cottage Life
We love our island cottage. A story about the pros and cons of island life. Continue reading Island Cottage Life
Ontario Wildlife Photos
We were blessed to see these examples of Ontario wildlife this summer. Continue reading Ontario Wildlife Photos
How to Clean Oil Paintings
How to clean old oil paintings at home – a DIY project Continue reading How to Clean Oil Paintings
Hot Dogs, Pogos and a Twist
A little bit of history and trivia about hot dogs, pogos and corn dogs and a recipe for corn dogs.
Continue reading “Hot Dogs, Pogos and a Twist”
How to Grow Basil
You can never have too much basil – A few tips about how to grow basil. Continue reading How to Grow Basil
Canadian Tulip Festival – Ottawa
The Canadian Tulip Festival in Ottawa Ontario – May 13 -23, 2022 – is an enjoyable and easy to access event. Continue reading Canadian Tulip Festival – Ottawa
The Greatest Salesman That Ever Lived
I take those sales calls because I remember the greatest salesman that ever lived. Continue reading The Greatest Salesman That Ever Lived
How to Make Ravioli
We had fun making fresh homemade ravioli ourselves. Continue reading How to Make Ravioli
Cottage Memories
My husband loves cottage life. It’s funny that his childhood cottage memories are so similar to mine. Continue reading Cottage Memories
The World’s Biggest Easter Egg
Do you know where the World’s Largest Easter Egg is? This post is a silly look at some giant roadside attraction style eggs, a few Easter egg facts, and some egg quotes.
Continue reading “The World’s Biggest Easter Egg”
Dining Room Before and After – Removing Wallpaper
An old house dining room before and after – and how to remove wallpaper Continue reading Dining Room Before and After – Removing Wallpaper